Bab 25: Tier 1 Requirements
In a quiet hall of gray stone, a figure danced in the dim light.
Steel gleamed in the sunlight streaming in from narrow windows high above. Sounds of low whistling sang of a blade slicing through the shadows and columns of light. Feet moved; stance shifted to stance like water; a sudden, powerful stroke left ripples in the air with its passing. Sweat clung to a slender, shapely form, dripped from long, smooth hair tied back in a ponytail.
Alone in an unlit personal space, Crystal practiced the sword. Sometimes with slow, deliberateness, other times with blurring speed, she moved from form to form, mercilessly slaying many an invisible, intangible opponent in her own mind's eye.
This was not the utilitarian Uta Form, nor the firm Iwa Form. No, this was a much more graceful and agile form, the Third Form, known as Yanagi, a favorite of many girls to practice and a favorite of many, many guys to observe.
Soft flickering light alerted her of a visitor. A figure appeared in a screen showing the Personal Space entrance and the person requesting access. Crystal slowed down her movements, slowed down her breathing, carefully sheathed her unsharpened practice sword in a scabbard that was not there. Then, she turned her attention to the door and the flickering light alert.
"Lights on." Crystal ordered her Personal Space. "Lounge mode."
Furniture flickered into place. Lights appeared, turning the dim solemn ambience into a homey lounge. Crystal sat down on a sofa and called, "OJ."
A cup of cold orange juice appeared in front of her, taken directly from her Personal Space's inventory.
"Let in the visitor." Crystal ordered.
In came Cody Rivers. "Hi, Crystal. You mentioned we could come to you for advice and stuff. I know you've already left Initial Village and all but I was wondering… are you free right now? Can I ask you for some advice?"
"Sure." Crystal nodded. "What's up?"
So he told her.
"Sword Mods?" Crystal glanced over him. Lines of scanning reports flickered into being over her visor. "Huh. Still at Tier 0 rating? That's bad. You have a practice sword, and your biosuit might qualify as leather armor, but you have no kit to speak of. Cody, before you try to upgrade your weapon, you should at least fulfill the minimum requirements to reach Tier 1; that means you should be working on classes, your armor and your kit, not your weapon."
Tier 1 was 'squishy', Cody remembered. Also, Mole Serpents were rated at Tier 2. "I'm not even considered Tier 1 yet?! Then… I'm below 'squishy'?!"
"The nickname for Tier 0 students is 'Tissue'." Crystal nodded gravely.
"I'm rated as 'tissue'?!" Cody quailed.
"No survival chances other than sheer blind luck." Crystal confirmed. "But you're halfway there. You've learned a sword style… oh? You've even signed up for Psuche Activation and Rudimentary Telepathy. That's enough for a Tier 1. Your practice sword counts as a Tier 1 weapon, even unmodified. You can talk to Specs if you want to modify it; she has the equipment for at least minor modifications. So in terms of classes and weaponry, you're fine. But you need to put together a decent kit."
"What's a 'kit'?" Cody asked.
"Consumable items you could use for contingencies." Crystal explained. "I want you to pick up some Emergency Flares, Detox pills, and some sort of Bug Repellent. I recommend Ultrasonics."
"Would this do for an Emergency Flare?" Cody showed her his Ring of Light.
"Yes. That's good. That's perfect." Crystal nodded. "Now go pick up anti-toxins, anti-venoms, antibiotics, something to purify water and stave off bugs. Actually, just go find Specs and buy her Tier 1 Kit special. You can ask her for a discount for excluding the flares."
"How much would that cost?" Cody grimaced.
"I think she was selling the set for 100 credits. But if you're friends with her, maybe she'll sell it for less."
"But… if I buy that, then… I won't be able to afford my class fees on Monday!" Cody protested. "And I still need to pay 40 credits for class on Tuesday too!"
"So settle your classes first. But don't delay too long on that Kit." Crystal advised. "It might not seem as glorious as a new sword, but remember; staying alive is priceless."
***
As Cody finished up his lunch, a visitor arrived.
"Someone is here to see Cody." Vera told them, after checking the door.
"Me?" Cody blinked. "Who is it?"
"It's a girl." Vera told him.
"A girl?!" Cyril gasped. "Cody, do you have a girlfriend? Is she at the door?!"
"That can't be!" Cody protested.
"Room, I.D. the visitor please." Vera requested across the table.
"Visitor is a registered Floran, Yvonne Timbers, Sylvan Wood Forest."
"Cross reference with Academy VR?"
"Yvonne Timbers is a Third Sphere student at Sophia Academy."
"Huh." Cyril glanced at Cody. "Did you order anything from today's sales?"
"Order…" Cody thought for a bit. "Wait. I did buy some Calcium Deluxe tablets."
Cyril snapped his fingers. "That's it then. I believe your tablets have arrived."
Cyril and Cody went to meet Yvonne and pick up the delivery. Cody opened the door, and…
"Cody Rivers, right? You have a delivery…" Yvonne held out a box. "I need a hand-scan signature…" Then, she gasped and almost dropped both the box and the scanner. "C-Cyril Rivers?!"
"Hi." Cyril waved. "Any chance you have my parcel too?"
"Uh… parcel…? What parcel?" Yvonne stared at him blankly.
"Never mind." Cyril sighed. "I guess I still have some waiting to do."
"You're expecting a parcel? Then… there's another delivery job due?" Yvonne suddenly sparkled. "I'll do it! I'll go get it right away!"
She suddenly leapt into the skies, blue energy glowing from her feet as she skated right through the air.
"Wait! I haven't… ah, scrap." Cody grimaced. "There goes my box."
"She'll be back." Cyril said, observing the girl on air skates as she vanished around the next Sky Tree. "Just give her an hour or so."
So Cody waited, using Dad's Massage Cocoon while he waited. Covered in soft, quilt-like down and massaged all over from head to toe, he relaxed and almost fell asleep by the time Cyril called and said that Yvonne was finally back with both their packages.
Finally, he collected his goods and signed off on the delivery while Yvonne gazed at Cyril with stars in her eyes and Cyril very politely examined his own package to make sure everything was in there.
Well, whatever. Cody had his Calcium Deluxe tablets now, and eagerly read the instructions.
"Stop. What are you doing?" Vera suddenly grabbed the bottle.
"Hey! Those are good for my bones!" Cody blurted, trying to say several things at the same time and getting jammed.
Surely Vera wouldn't stop him from taking them? As far as he could tell, Vera wouldn't do anything to harm him or his siblings, and would only encourage the usage of things that brought them benefit, even if they themselves didn't enjoy it.
"Tier 1 supplements for physical enhancement…" Vera snorted. "How old are you, Cody?"
"Five and three quarters!" Cody answered.
"And you need Calcium Deluxe because…?"
"I want to get stronger!"
Vera shook her head. "It's not suitable for your age. If you're thirteen and facing a growth spurt, these would be perfect, but right now, you're still building your physical foundations. If you blindly took these all at once, you could develop hypercalcemia. Before you try taking body enhancement supplements, you should first learn to manage your own body's nutrient intake and development."
"Huh?" Cody looked at her blankly.
"You need to tell your body how exactly to use the nutrients you take in. If you just swallow the pills and expect to get stronger just like that, you're going to get yourself sick." Vera told him. "You have to purposefully absorb the nutrients while they're in your stomach, and direct them toward your bones, then focus your cells on using the calcium to strengthen your bones proportionally."
"I can do that?" Cody blinked.
"Not yet, you can't. That's why you need to learn it." Vera told him. "You need to learn how to use Life Force actively, not just passively."
"You're talking about Psuche Activation!" Cody realized. "That's the class I have on Monday!"
"You have already signed up? Then there will be no problems with me teaching you a bit early." Vera decided. "Now, pay attention."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone