Well, if that wasn't annoying. The pop-up filled my vision, causing me to almost walk into the closed door of the Master bedroom. Grumbling under my breath, I left my trail of clothes on the floor, heading into the bathroom. Filling the tub, the steam rising up from the water, I checked under the sink, maybe I could find something for the bath.

  Everything looked freshly stocked. Count on Marie to make a quick run to the store to get the basics. Tossing in a lavender bath bomb to help calm myself, I sank into the water. The heat felt like a blessing after I submerged myself.

  Feeling the need to distract myself, I took another look at my status sheet. So much to take in. The problem I was having when I looked at it, aside from the shitty UI. I saw different ways I could go. My race gave me the stats to go physical; yes, it also offered an avenue following a hybrid style. Then there were my potential skills, moving me into a tech build. Granted with unconventional equipment. In a way, it was a bit embarrassing.

  Still, Ari was right in saying who was going to laugh when they got shot in the face. I wasn't going to lie to myself; the pull to tinker and create was stronger in me than ever. I could only imagine the potential of what I could create. Probably could make enough things to fill in any role within a group. Of course, having all this freedom did little to help me make a decision. This was real, and if I messed up, I couldn't go back to an old save or pay to reset myself.

  It was definitely that idea of messing up that kinda froze my mind. Sure, I had time, but it could easily slip past my fingers.

  Hearing the door open pulled me from my thoughts as Marie came in. The scent of her desire was on a whole other level, which caused me to feel a bit guilty. I had caused it. Yet from what I understood so far, it did amply what was ready there. I couldn't force someone to want me. Of course, one advantage was having high charisma, but something told me I couldn't let it affect someone not attracted to women.

  She set a small plate of finger sandwiches and a cup of tea with a pot on the ledge of the bath. Thanking her, she smiled back, and I caught her looking at the swell of my breasts, visible above the bubbles. I pretended not to notice, didn't want to embarrass her. Honestly, I don't remember her doing that before, or was I just a little blind to it?

  I went back to that shelter quest for a moment, rereading it. Maybe I could buy a cabin or something in the woods. That would probably count. It didn't say it had to be in a special underground bunker or anything like that. Honestly, it wasn't high on my list of questions, so I dismissed it again and called out to Ari.

  It took a minute, but she appeared on the other side of the hot tub in a red bikini. Well, if you want to call a pair of shoestrings a bikini. OK, yeah, I did. “ Would you mind answering some questions for me? “ She gave a nod as she waved her hand, and a cute little glass of red wine appeared in her hand. I giggled at how adorable it all looked, and she just stuck her forked tongue out at me. Holy shit, that was a long tongue. I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thought of it.

  “So what is up with core and body? How does it rank and affect my build long term? “

  Watching her sip her wine. Did I have other questions that burned in me like the succubus thing, the new quests I got, or that damned whispering in my head? That was really annoying. I didn't want to deal with it at the moment, though. This seemed like it would take my mind off the darker thoughts.

  Ari's sultry voice filled the air. “ Well, the body aspect is easy. Ranking it up makes you tougher. Also, the higher your rank, the more mana you can hold, which in turn means you won't burn out with higher-grade equipment, and your skills have more room to grow. It is possible to have a skill or ability powerful enough to burn your body out from its requirements of mana and physical exhaustion. To rank it up, once you hit level twenty, you will get a quest to find a treasure that you take when you reach level twenty-five.”

  Treasures, wasn't that a cultivator thing? I looked at her, confused. “ Aren't treasures a different System?” Oh, the rabbit hole I was falling into with my expanding knowledge of what this System was about. She nodded.

  “Yes, so when this System was created by the Master System, it went into an agreement with two other Systems. This is a trial alliance between Systems to see if they can make stronger warriors. Even though different Systems battle over resources and universes. They are all bound together by greater enemies that would wipe them all out.”

  Good information to have. “OK, that is really cool. So it is taking the best of three Systems. I can see how that would hold more potential. So what about core then, and do you get to follow a more specific System, or is the whole leveling thing a mix and match?”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  “Yes and no. When you level your core for the first time. At level twenty, you are given a choice of three quests. Which one you pick is the path you will follow for the rest of your life. But even as you continue that path, there will be influences from the other two Systems.”

  Drinking the tea, I began to feel a bit calmer. I don't know what tea Marie used, but it was nice. It had a subtle soothing flavor with just a touch of spice to the taste. Drying my fingers on the towel nearby and enjoying another small sandwich, Ari continued.

  “So if you choose the cultivator path, you focus more on learning to cultivate the mana around you, building the strength of your core. Once it reaches 99 percent, you can't level it till you complete the quest for a treasure and reach level twenty-five. Then you have your regular System core. Your choice of this path will send you on a quest to find four core shards. The quality and type of shards will depend on the danger level of the quests you take. The System gives you options.”

  Well, that was different, so as you progress, the System gives you the choice of your own power level. Though I could imagine the harder quests would increase the chance of death. Risk to reward.

  “What is the difference between the two choices?”

  “The biggest is that a cultivator has less direction from the System. As they develop themselves, they can influence the direction their skills and abilities take. Where the System would generally give limited options, but help keep a build more focused. Each side has its strengths and weaknesses.”

  I could feel myself going more towards following a System path out of the two. “The third?”

  “Beast core System. The quest for this one is usually to kill a certain beast at a rank higher. Sometimes the quest is any beast. The higher the rank of your class, the more specific the quest will be. The core you use to rank up can cause changes to your body, taking on an aspect of that creature. Also, it will begin to influence your class. “

  Definitely not me, but damn, that path had its own potential as well. The more I learned, the more I liked this System. Well, aside from being snarky.

  “I like it. It gives you options without being complicated. So I take it level twenty-five is a milestone? “

  The little demon smiled at my question as she sipped her wine with a dainty hand, like she was some high society diva. A nod,” Oh, Level twenty-five is your first evolution. You get class upgrade choices. Sometimes your race will also evolve or gain new abilities. Skills: the skill cap is raised from 5 to 10. And other things can happen; it just depends on what you have achieved during the leveling process. “

  I was feeling better. Yeah, I was still a bit scared and upset that I could lose control if I wasn't careful. I did feel a bit calmer, though. “So, someone who is a Legendary class but just coasted their way vs someone who is a common class who busts their ass could even out the power difference?”

  “Yup. System rewards hard work. Good decisions. Some risk-taking. It wants to ensure users can't just rely on a family name,money, or the fact that they were stronger than others, and assume it will remain that way. I have seen a few people get killed when someone they bullied evolved and came back for vengeance. It's not pretty.”

  I wonder what is out there that the System has to ensure only the strongest survive. More questions, others answered. Downside to not growing up with the System, I suppose. “ I can see the advantage of growing up with the System, so how do newly integrated planets survive the establishment?”

  Ari was quiet for a while. That faraway look in her eyes. I didn't like it. The logical side of my brain might understand why information was being withheld it didn't mean I had to agree with it.

  “What I can tell you is this, Sara. Most worlds don't survive. Many factors are involved. It can be a lack of unity and or leadership within the race or races on the planet. Also, the classification of a world on integration can be a factor. The lower the class of the world, the less protection the System can give it. “

  That just didn't bode well. My gut was telling me that Earth was not going to get a happy ending. Of either kind. “What about those that survive. Are they taken as slaves? Welcomed by the newly arriving overlords? Are we free to explore the universe?” This was frustrating, and I had to fight my eyes from watering. It wasn't like I wanted to be a hero from a book or comic. Hell, I always felt the bad guy in that superhero movie who wanted to wipe out half the population was the good guy,

  With all of that, I still wouldn't want to see that amount of death and suffering. Ari shrugged. She didn't have an answer either. I assume, like everything else, there were more factors involved.

  Grandpa and I had many discussions on my views of humanity a few times. It bothered me. No, not the view itself, but the fact that I felt different from most people. Honestly, I didn't believe others when they said that they would help everyone they met. Think that when you are fighting over a can of beans, no one knows how to hunt or forage. It was my opinion that when the shit hit the fan, people would be out for themselves. We would see the worst of humanity. But still, it was hard when you speak of your feelings on it, and people give you the side eye.

  Well, like the wisdom machine he was, Grandpa offered this to me. If you are always true to who you are and you aren't harming anyone, it doesn't matter. Everyone has skeletons in their closet, Sara. Even me. As long as you treat others well and help those who need it while ensuring your own safety, then who are they to judge?

  I suppose he was right. I smiled for a moment as I always enjoyed his little nuggets of wisdom that seemed to sometimes just come out of nowhere. Yet they were always spot on. I suppose one goal for myself is to try to be even a quarter as wise as he was. Maybe he did have skeletons in his closet, but to me, he would always be my hero.

  Coming back here was bringing up too many memories too fast. I felt strained emotionally, along with everything else that was happening. I really just wanted to crawl into bed and hide under the pillows and blankets for a few days. Then my phone rang. Of course it did.

  Ensuring my hands were dry, I answered it, putting on a cheery voice. It was a struggle to keep my emotions hidden, but I think I was getting better at it. The call was short. Renee, the building manager, wanted to come up to meet me since she had taken over the building while I had been living elsewhere. She was just doing her job. I couldn't be mad at that. I had about thirty minutes before she would come up. Guess bath time is over with.

  Patreon