18. Preparing
Callie still wasn't sure what Cultivation would do for her, but all that talk about spiritual pathways and Qi sounded interesting anyway! However, the loss of Magic was the real downer in this scenario.
'I was so ready to start using spells! I've already unlocked a bunch of them, and they're all completely useless to me without any mana.'
Callie rolled her eyes and hardened her resolve. 'Alright, we'll get a bunch of stuff done before unlocking Magic and Cultivation. Maybe I can even earn enough to get that first System Resources unlocked?' Callie thought, without much hope. 'Eh, probably not, but it won't hurt to try!'
Callie switched screens to her Missions, now determined to get Daily Missions as well as every other option she can quickly access. She pulled up the rewards for unlocking Daily Mission 1 first.
--Unlock Daily Mission 1--
As a newbie to the system, you should begin unlocking some of the cheaper Premium Features! Premium Features, such as Daily Missions, create greater options for Host and hold surprises, as well. Unlock Daily Mission 1 and complete your first Daily Mission!
Mission Objectives:
-Unlock Daily Mission 1.
-Complete first Daily Mission w/o Failure.
-Bonus Objective: Fail a Daily Mission.
Rewards: +4 System Points; +3 Mission Points; +200 Gold; +20 Exp
Bonus Rewards: +1 System Point; +1 Mission Point; +1 Regeneration Skill Book; +5 Exp
'A bonus objective?' Callie mused. 'Well, that's new. How many more surprises do you have for me, System?'
--Host has Unlocked 5% of System Features--
'Unlocked? You make that sound like there are some hidden points and objectives just for unlocking system features...'
For once, the System remained silent. No pop-ups, no little dings or scrolling messages. Callie frowned as she realized the System wasn't going to answer her this time. How very suspicious!
'Whatever. Keep your secrets!' Callie smirked. 'For now, anyway...'
Even more determined to discover every secret the System had to offer, Callie opened another Mission.
--Unlock Titles--
As a newbie to the system, you should begin unlocking some of the cheaper Premium Features! Premium Features, such as Titles, create greater options for Host and hold surprises, as well. Unlock Titles and earn your first Title!
Mission Objectives:
-Unlock Titles.
-Earn your First Title.
Rewards: +2 System Points; +1 Mission Points; +100 Gold; +5 Exp
'So, no Bonus Objectives. Hmm. I wonder if the System has any Hidden Objectives, too, like some games like to do.'
--Affirmative--
'Oh, so that you see fit to answer, huh?' Callie says with a grin. 'Well, I guess that's to be expected anyway. You like to be all secretive and mysterious, so Hidden Objectives would, of course, exist.'
Next, Callie decided to scope out the rewards for Magic and Cultivation, respectively.
--Unlock Magic--
As a newbie to the system, you should begin unlocking some of the cheaper Premium Features! Premium Features, such as Magic, create greater options for Host and hold surprises, as well. Unlock Magic, meditate for the first time with mana, and use a Spell!
Mission Objectives:
-Unlock Magic.
-Meditate w/ Mana.
-Use a Spell.
Rewards: +10 System Points; +20 Mission Points; +2000 Gold; +100 Exp
--Unlock Cultivation--
As a newbie to the system, you should begin unlocking some of the cheaper Premium Features! Premium Features, such as Cultivation, create greater options for Host and hold surprises, as well. Unlock Cultivation, meditate with Qi, and try your first Cultivation Technique!
Mission Objectives:
-Unlock Cultivation.
-Meditate w/ Qi.
-Use first Cultivation Technique.
Rewards: +10 System Points; +20 Mission Points; +2000 Gold; +100 Exp
'Oh, but those rewards! They're so much better than any of the other ones I've gotten so far. I guess the System takes in all that waiting time and rewards me accordingly?' Callie contemplated this information. 'And I bet these two definitely have hidden objectives and rewards! Shouldn't you give me hints on what the hidden objective might be?'
--Unlock Hints for 100 System Points Now? Y/N--
'Oh for God's sakes...you're an evil, penny-pinching System, you know that? I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, since you've so kindly given me so much, but every question I ask, you respond with, 'Give me more points.' It's obnoxious.'
Predictably, the System didn't respond to this rant. Callie, however, didn't expect an answer, and instead switched screens, deciding to check on how many System Points she had available to spend. If she had enough...she'd go on a quick spending spree and get all of her rewards at once!
'Hmm. So I've got 37 System Points? That's enough to buy everything up to the Skill Store, including the Gacha Game and Lottery, but not the Titles or Daily Missions or the many others I want to get. However, I'm sure buying all of those will net me more System Points...and I think skills might be the perfect answer with what I might do with my time when I can no longer use the System!'
Callie glanced once more and frowned as a particular message caught her eye. 'System, what does Level Max mean?'
--Lvl. MAX Means this Skill Must be Upgraded or Combined to Increase Any Further in Skill--
'Well, can I upgrade them?'
-Affirmative. Upgrade the Reading Skill Now? Y/N--
'Yes!'
--Reading Skill can be Combined with the Analysis Skill and Become the Observation Skill. Combine these Skills for 30 Skill Points Now? Y/N--
Callie's forehead furrowed as she heard this. 'Wait, I thought we were upgrading the skill? And combining the skills costs skill points?'
--Reading Skill can be Upgraded to the Speed Reading Skill for 10 Skill Points. Upgrade this Skill Now? Y/N--
'So upgrading costs skill points too? What are the benefits of upgrading versus combining? And why didn't you list both options to begin with?'
--System Preferences: Saved--
--Upgrading a Skill Makes that Skill More Powerful, but Combining 2 Skills Makes Both Skills Considerably More Powerful--
'So combining is better than upgrading then? Hmm. Well, are those all my options for this skill?'
--Affirmative. Option 1: Reading Skill can be Combined with the Analysis Skill and Become the Observation Skill. Cost: 30 Skill Points. Option 2: Reading Skill can be Upgraded to the Speed Reading Skill. Cost: 10 Skill Points. Choose? 1/2--
'I've always struggled with decisions, you know? But strangely, most of the decisions you give me seem to be pretty straight-forward: of course, I'm going with the better option and combining them! 1, please.'
A blinding light seemed to flash before Callie's eyes, leaving her temporarily blind, and cringing with a blaring headache for a full 30 seconds. As short as the time was, it certainly felt like longer to poor Callie!
--Purchase Complete. Reading Skill has been Combined with the Analysis Skill and is Now the Observation Skill Lv. 1--
'Alright, well, can the Pain Resistance Ability be combined, too?'
--Not at this Time--
Callie considered those words. 'So, it can be combined, but not with the current options?' Callie grinned. 'Well, can I upgrade it?'
--Pain Resistance Ability can be Upgraded to the Pain Numbing Ability for 10 Skill Points. Upgrade Now? Y/N--
'If that's my only option, let's try it! And go ahead and load a description for both my new skills, please!'
--Purchase Complete. Pain Resistance Ability has been Upgraded and is Now the Pain Numbing Ability Lv. 1--
Once more, a blinding light took over Callie's vision and pain swamped her senses. This time, the pain seemed to go away much faster than the last, and soon Callie's vision cleared once more. As the light faded, Callie was left with two pop-ups to read.
--Observation Lv. 1--
The Host has combined the Reading and Analysis Skills and created the Observation Skill! Spell: Analyze acquired! Spell: Observe acquired! x2 reading speed. +100% information when analyzed. +5% information when observed.
--Pain Numbing Lv. 1--
The Host has endured great pain and upgraded the Pain Resistance Ability to the Pain Numbing Ability! The more pain the Host endures, the better this ability becomes! +100% resistance to pain! -80% feeling in effected area.
Callie smiled to herself. 'Well, then. I might want to upgrade most of my skills before I use up all the System Resources on getting magic!'
Before Callie could switch tabs over to the store and begin her planned spending spree, however, two arms suddenly wrapped around her little newborn body, startling her. She dismissed the window in front of her, but could only gape at the creature holding her.
'Is this a...zombie?'