LOCATION: LI WEI’S HOME
CITY: BEIJING, CHINA
DATE: JANUARY 17, 2032 | TIME: 7:00 AM
By 2032, the Core Council and a number of the early inductees had reached another major threshold: Level 100.
The Level 50 Trials had required some interesting choices.
Fighters chose whether to double their stats or build an exoskeleton inside their body which provided enhanced protection.
Rogues could likewise double their stats or choose a skill called Shadewalker that allowed them to walk through an ethereal plane undetected. At least to those in the normal material plane.
Healers could select the stats or a mega heal called Last Light that could be used only once every thirty days, but could bring anyone but the Healer back from the brink of death to full health instantly. It was invaluable on the battlefield, making Healers even more sought after.
The Mage option was intriguing, and almost every Mage in the first wave of Level 50 Trials selected it. Internalized Aether Conduit was a transformation that was in a way similar to the Fighter’s exoskeleton. For Mages, this feature began the process of converting their biological pathways to actually create its own mana, or the energy required to support their spells and skills.
Internalized Aether Conduit meant that Mages could continue casting spells even when they weren’t in nanite-rich environments.
And, it turned out, it provided a bit of foreshadowing for at least one portion of the Level 100 Trials.
Li Wei sat with his wife, Mei Lin. Their daughters had long ago retired for the night, and the married couple sipped on hot tea while they nuzzled on the couch.
“Are you nervous?” Mei asked, looking up at her husband.
Mei and the girls were all approaching Level 85, so while they were getting closer, they still had some time before they’d have to go through the experience.
Li smiled warmly and pulled her closer.
“Going into the unknown always carries some amount of trepidation,” he said. “But I am ready for it. I’m supposed to get the System message first thing in the morning, so we’ll read it together with the family.”
“Do you think you’ll need to travel?”
Li shrugged. “I have no idea. Grim thinks Ronan and Darian know what’s coming, but neither of them are talking. I volunteered to be the first one, so they’re all waiting for my report.”
Mei sighed. “It will probably be painful, right? These things usually are. I worry for the girls.”
Li laughed. “You know they’re both tougher than we give them credit for. They’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about.”
Mei Lin finished her tea and sat up, leaning forward to set the cup on the low table in front of them.
“Well, I’m the wife of the Jade Sentinel. It wouldn’t do for me to spend too much time or energy worrying. I’m sure we’ll all be fine. You’re right. We’re stronger than we look.”
“Exactly. Now, let’s get some rest. I’m sure tomorrow is going to take everything I have.”
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They headed to bed, and Li chose to just simply rest. It was the first time in over a year that he had slept for over five hours straight, but he woke feeling completely refreshed.
As soon as he rose, he was greeted by a message.
---
System Message
Name: Li Wei
Race: Human – Augmented
Augments: Enhanced Exoskeleton
Class: Jade Sentinel
Level: 100 [Pending Trial]
You have reached Level 100 through years of toil, determination, and grit. Congratulations. This is no small achievement.
You have pushed yourself to your limit. However, your physiology as it is now cannot contain any more power.
To continue along your path, the vessel must be bolstered.
Your Level 100 Trial will achieve three goals.
- Stage I: Prepare your body to handle stats from 500 through 1,000.
- Stage II: Prepare your body to generate power and energy on your own, without requiring an environment suffused with nanites.
- Stage III: Prepare your brain to process bits of System code in a distributed redundancy.
Each stage of this Trial will take time.
Be patient with yourself and with the process.
The purpose behind each goal will be explained before you undertake it.
We begin with the first goal.
Are you ready to commence Level 100 Trial [To Bolster the Vessel]?
[Y / N]
---
Li sat back and thought about what he’d just read. It was a lot to take in.
Processing System code with our brains? Why would we need to do that?
But no answers were coming. Not yet, anyway.
He walked to the kitchen, which was already lively. Mei was dividing up scrambled eggs from a pan onto the girls’ plates. They scooped some kimchi from a jar onto the eggs with chopsticks, and began digging in.
As they ate, the girls started talking over each other, trying to tell their mother about their adventures in Allovia the previous night.
Li smiled. He could feel the warmth in the room and it soothed his soul.
“Good morning, my three favorite girls in the world!”
The kids dropped their chopsticks and ran to hug him.
“Father!”
“Good morning!”
Mei sat a cup of oolong tea on the table as Li took a seat.
“So?” she asked. “Did you get it?”
Li nodded.
“I did.”
He read the message aloud for everyone.
Mei pursed her lips.
“I don’t love the sound of that, but at least it says it will be a slow process. It seems like trying to do all of that too quickly could be devastating.”
“I agree,” Li said, taking a sip of the hot tea. “I already sent a message to Grim sharing the text with him, and he said he’d cover my Peacekeeper duties in case I have to travel or if I’m weakened by the process.”
They finished breakfast and the girls left for school. Mei had some work to do as well, so Li stepped into his study.
He sat in his padded leather chair and leaned back.
He crossed his hands over his stomach and closed his eyes, checking his stats one more time before he began.
---
Character Status
Name: Li Wei
Race: Human – Augmented
Augments: Enhanced Exoskeleton
Class: Jade Sentinel
Level: 100 [Pending Trial]
Profession: Peacekeeper Force Co-Leader
Level: 95
Health: 7,890 / 7,890
Stamina: 5,290 / 5,290
Mana: 4,824 / 4,824
Core Attributes (Stats):
Strength: 517 [capped at 499]
Dexterity: 402
Endurance: 529 [capped at 499]
Vitality: 526 [capped at 499]
Intelligence: 518 [capped at 499]
Wisdom: 402
Charisma: 521 [capped at 499]
Perception: 391
---
With his bonuses factored in, he was over the 500 threshold in five of his stats. It appeared the System capped those at 499 to avoid endangering him.
“I wonder if I should bring all the stats up to 499 before I start,” he wondered aloud.
But in the end, he decided to kick off the process. He had made a commitment, and the others were waiting for his report, and it was his turn to go first.
He was about to dive into the unknown without any idea as to what waited for him on the other side.
“Here we go,” he said, mentally selecting Yes to the prompt, and beginning the first Level 100 Trial of anyone on Earth.