Chapter 275: Zach

Chapter 275: Zach

To Improve

The agreement was made, the oaths given. For most of them at least. Eratemus was here in a vessel, disclosing what his true body and power was hadnt been necessary. He had simply informed them of all that he could do in his current vessel. The Empire had chosen one person for each of them, one of their so-called Growth Guides. Only that person would be allowed to see the screens of the person they were assigned to, and the oath they gave meant that they would never be able to reveal what they saw.

The oath that Zach had given was the same, it meant that he wouldnt be able to reveal anything that he was taught, any information that he was given about the way that the Empire raised their people. It was a good deal, an even deal. And that was where Zach saw the problem. It was too even, too good. It meant that they were far more desperate for help than anyone had assumed before. Even with the meeting that they had, the others had still been hesitant to really believe it. It was the oaths that they presented, the way that they agreed to Eratemus only sharing things that his vessel could do, that really convinced them all.

And so, they all made the choice, and agreed.

Zach sat in a small private room, arrays pulsing in the walls, keeping the conversation private.

Your current Class Evolution is very interesting, the kreacean, Tiks Orsh, said from across the table from him. He was the Growth Guide assigned to Zach, one who usually served the royal family. Ive never seen anything quite like it before. Youve evolved your Classes in an excellent manner. A bit too spread out, but that is not always a bad thing. It offers choices for a wide array of situations. The fact that you had an Ethereal and Soul oriented Evolution is particularly good. We often guide our Classers to do the samedevote one Class Evolution to a Class that provides protection against Soul damage in some way. Your Stalwart Soul is not the best, but it is good enough.

Zach didnt comment, it was obvious that the man was in his own little world. So instead he listened, trying to understand and glean everything that he could from him.

You built yourself as a mobile warrior, a swordsman with abilities and perks flavored by different Essences On its own, it is a solid advancement route, but this Last Sovereign of Terra perk, it is what pushes you above average. That and your last Evolution. I still cannot believe that you are a Ranker of the Seventh Iteration, and to think that there are two of you. He shook his head. Still, there is little that I can help you with concerning your Class, we have no guides for future Evolutions of yours, so the only thing that I can offer is advice.

Advice will have to be enough then, Zach told him, hesitating only for a split second.

The man had to have seen something in Zachs expression, because his mandibles chitterred in what he knew was a chuckle.

You wonder if we have anything to offer? If we do this simply out of appearances?

Zach shrugged. I dont know you.

True, Tiks nodded. Understand, all that the Empire has built was on the back of Classes. All of our might, our power, the wonders we have achieved. We know Skills, because they are tied to the drive and necessity. And we had that aplenty as we tried to survive in the hostile world, running and looking for a place to call home. A Skill cannot be taught in the traditional sense, but we can guide. The last focus, we know little about. Cultivation never took off in the Empire, in part because it takes a long time, or the right resources and knowledge, for someone to become strong. We didnt have the luxury of that when we were on the run. We had to get power quickly and Class allowed us to do that. And later it just became custom I guess.

He leaned forward, his beady eyes boring into Zach. I know about what they teach in the Settled Territories, or at least most of their factions. They dont know nearly as much as we do, because they hoard their knowledge. A faction would keep their Class a secret, passing it down only to those worthy or their descendants. They would try to improve it, but realistically there is little that they can do when they dont know much. That distrust is what was slowing their understanding. The Empire never had such an issue, we had to share all that we knew just in order to survive.

You think that you know more? Zach asked.

We do, without a question, Tiks answered. The wonders of our Empire came from our Classes.

The things I had seen, were impressive, I will give you that, Zach said with a smile.

The kreacean chuckled again, then turned thoughtful for a few seconds. Listen closely, he started speaking again. A Class is like a tree. You start at the base, and then you grow up. Based on what you do, what you achieve and what titles you get that tree branches. You get to pick perks that you have satisfied the requirements for. At the start that isnt a concern, there are so many basic perks that you will always have requirements for something. As you Evolve that changes, as you probably learned with your Immortal Class. So, as you climb up that three you pick your path, you could stay with the tree you started on, or you could jump to another, because the more requirements you achieved the more your branches spread and touch other trees. Or you create your own branches if you achieve a personal perk. So far, youve jumped over a few trees, but I would suggest that you stay on the one you are now. Variety in the early Classes is good, having different tools in ones repertoire is great. But now you need more power, and that comes from direct Evolutions.

Zach nodded, somewhat relieved that he hadnt screwed himself completely.

I know what they believe in the Core, or rather how they view Classes. The way that they Evolve them isnt exactly wrong, it works and it gives them power. But there are other ways to do it. A Class, like all other focuses, has what we call mastery edge. It too can manifest a personal Perk, you already have one of those, your Last Sovereign of Terra clearly fits in that category. A personal manifestation of power, a perk that is flavored and titled based on you. We know that such perks dont exist prior to being acquired, but once someone creates it, they became available to others. Usually such perks appear after the Immortal Evolution, primarily because that is when a Classer gets the time to understand their own Class and power, to grow. There is a misconception in the Core, or at least that is what our spies had gathered, that a Class only becomes a personal embodiment only with the last tier.

He paused for a moment, tilting his head. What do you know about the peak of Class? Tiks asked.

Zach tilted his head. Nothing.

Well, Tiks started, his hands moving animatedly in front of him. Once you reach the end of a Class you will be able to create an Oath.

Okay, Zach said. Yes, I can do that.

There was no doubt in his mind. Five years, if he pushed himself, it was possible.

Good, Tiks said. Drink these, then I shall escort you to a training room where one of our Skill Masters will wait for you.

Zach didnt have to be asked twice, he reached out and started drinking.

He walked next to Naha as they were led through an underground corridor. Both his and her Growth Guides were there. It seemed like they would be training together, since both of them will be focusing on Skills, and because they wanted for Zach and Naha to get better at using their True Link perks.

They want to help me Evolve my Class, Naha whispered to him as they walked.

Class wasnt her main focus, so that had been on a back burner for them. They focused on her Skills.

Any idea what kind? Zach asked. Her next Class Evolution was the Immortal one, he wondered how it would impact her Skill immortality, if it even would.

Not quite a direct Evolution, something called the Omnishifter, Naha answered.

Zach didnt have enough info to comment, and there wasnt any more time as they reached their destination. A door filled the end of the corridor and the two guides stood at its sides.

Your instructor is waiting for you inside, Tiks said, his eyes focused at Zach.

Something in his expression alerted him to a sensation. Something that he hadnt really felt before. He frowned and walked up to the door. He tried to figure out what was wrong, when he realized that the sensation came from his arm. He raised his right hand, the Shade Reaver, up and placed it on the door. Immediately he felt the familiar sensation more strongly.

Time? He frowned.

I was wondering if you could sense it. That arm is truly incredible. I hope that once you see that we only wish to help you, you share the means of obtaining it, Tiks said.

Zach met his eyes. Trust me, you dont want to know what it took.

Tiks tilted his head, but decided to drop the topic. He cleared his throat. Time, our greatest Array Makers and Timesmiths came up with this. It is a chamber in which time flows differently, for every month out here, three pass inside.

Zach narrowed his eyes at the door. How?

Well, the details are beyond even me. As I understand it, they cut a piece of the Ethereal Realm out of it and bound it here.

Zach was impressed, he hadnt thought that something like this was possible.

Everyone from your group, well, most everyone, will go inside one of these, Tiks said. Training for as long as possible, unless we need to push the mission up. Two of you will be spending the next two months, six in there, training on your own powers and improving. By then we hope to have chosen our own team members. Then we will have all of the mission team train together.

That was smart, it seemed like they would have more time than they thought. The Empire kept surprising him.

How long ago did you invent these things? Zach asked.

A hundred years ago, Tisk said. They are only a few of them. Creating them costs a lot.

Zach pulled his hand back, he glanced at Naha and then turned to face the kreacean. Were ready.