Sacrifice

< Status Points used -6 >

< Status Points: 4 >

< Skill Points Used -5 >

< Skill Points: 5 >

"( Seriously System, what is going on right now? )" Shiro asks the System using his mind, as the System is actually able to hear his complaints through thoughts alone.

< " The Quest is complete, Astral Player get Astral Player's rewards, your EXPs, new items, etc etc... (^-^) ">

< " Now Astral Player is at the Max Level of 40." >

"( Max Level? Level 40? )" Shiro asks.

"( I thought you said that in games, the max level is around Level 100 is it not? )"

< " Yes, but since Astral Player's Astral Core is not that upgraded, it was already been fixed but it cannot contain more power from Astral Player's leveling growth since the Core is over capacity with the Astral Player's EXPs " >

"( Huh? elaborate further will you!? )" Shiro asks the System which explains that Shiro's Astral Core could only allow him to reach the Max Level of Level 40 due to some unknown reason. Despite that, thankfully, the System had some solution to dealing with that stagnation which is.

"( [Level Sacrifice]? )" Shiro asks as the System answers that, the EXP Energy gained after Shiro's completed the mission is so high, the System can use those overwhelming EXPs to increase the maximum level capacity of Shiro's Astral Core.

But in order to do that, it requires many of those unused EXP including some levels that Shiro has right now.

"( Levels, how many levels do you need? )"

< " Oh Astral Player want to give some of Astral Player's Levels? " >

< " How about the unused EXPs? does the Astral Player want to keep it? " >

"( No, use it too... )"

"( All of them, since I want to have no unwanted problems regarding my Leveling in the future. )" Shiro orders as the System then tells that it will cost all of the unused EXPs and also.

< " The System needs 30 Levels of Astral Player's current levels. " >

< " Astral Player Levels will be reduced and some options and items will again be locked during this process.">

< " But don't worry, the System won't reduce Astral Player's Current Status since it has nothing to do with the Player's Level Up, only the available Status Points that Astral Player gained from the level up that will be taken, not from the training regiments. " >

< " And also, Astral Player Shiro... " >

"( Yes. )"

< " During this process, the Astral Core will be busy since this process requires a lot of time to complete. " >

< " Not only does this will interrupt Astral Player's leveling, but Astral Player's level will not be increased since Astral Player won't get any EXPs during this process. " >

"( Really, does it have to do with the Astral Core upgrade? )" Shiro asks as he wonders that is the cost really that hard.

< " Yes, since the System's Leveling Function will be fully occupied during the Astral Core's upgrade process. " >

< " Hence, all of the System's efforts will be spent for a long time, so Astral Player needs to forgive the System if the System can't fully help Astral Player's needs in the future. " >

"( Wow, such a long and boring process... )" Shiro yawns while looking at captain Raymond and Tracker who are currently healing themselves with the device they bring. Shiro is currently volunteering to guard them in order to speak privately with the System.

"( How long it will take, by the way? )" Shiro asks.

< " It will take, hmmm... " > System then shows Shiro the exact time needed for the process.

< 2 Mth (Months): 9 W (Weeks): 69 D (Days) >

"( What the fr~!!!! )" Shiro spits as he sees the time, not in hours anymore or in days, but already in terms of months, which shocks him immediately.

At the moment, he sees his level and the things he just received, all of them are above the levels spared if he continues with this process, a process that will take more time for him to hone the prowess he gained just recently with the System, something that he never thought to bloom during his lifetime and only blooms after his death, in this afterlife.

"( Even if I only use these privileges of powers, abilities, and weapons for maybe just by hours, I can already feel like I'm getting used to this... )"

"( I also felt a bond with the feeling to at least have something to survive, something that made me stand over any hardships. )"

"( But, it seems there are some limits that need to be removed first, and went through all of that, it seems that in order to remove my limits, I need to perform some ridiculous process of its removal. )" Shiro remembers the process of his first leveling, in order or level up, he must first be captured and tortured before finally gaining the opportunity to find the very item needed for him to Level Up.

As he thinks of it, he looks at his Astral Armor and Sword, the two very mysterious items that even the System still can't calculate their full capabilities.

"( Even when I'm at level 1, I still can use these two mysterious items... )"

"( I wonder... ) " Shiro wonders about it, immediately asking the System if the items from the Dragon Monarch can still be used even during this Astral Core Upgrade process.

< " Hmmm... (>~<) " >

< " Hhmmmm... (>~<) " >

< " Hhhhmmmmmm... (>~<) " >

< Scanning, Calculating, Predicting >

< Loading Answers... >

< ... >

< ... >

< (!) Answer Found (!): >

< Answer: " Yes, Astral Player Shiro can still use it. " > the System tells him which Shiro then feels better since he had a lot of confidence, because of it.

"( After leveling up, I only unlock many things but I'm still not getting used to it for I haven't even gotten the chance to try it. )"

"( But these items, the ones I acquired from the Dragon Monarch's corpse... )"

"( These items I already get used to, as it feels that I already have some kind of bond with them. )" Shiro says

As Shiro is quite relieved after knowing he can still use the Astral Armor and Sword, he then tells the System to do it which made the System quite shocked as it wonders if Shiro really wants to do the process.

"( Hey, I don't want to be stuck again in one point. )"

"( Hours ago, I was still stuck at level 1, but now the maximum growth can only be at the maximum of level 40. )"

"( I don't want that, I want more... )" Shiro says as he gives the System the nasties expression he could muster as he craves more.

"( So please, System... )"

"( Use my levels and EXPs... )"

"( Remove my limits even further, don't let me stuck again! )" Shiro orders the System which made the System cower in fear as it gives the afraid and shocked emoji.

< " Sheeeshh... (~^~) " >

< " Okay then, (>^<) " >

< [ Preparing the Astral Core Upgrade] >

< [ Taking all unused EXPs and 30 Levels from the Astral Player's Current Levels of Level 40 ] >

< Taking away the ingredients needed. >

As it happened, Shiro feels his levels getting drained, as the value quickly reduced to Level 10. It costs Shiro to feel weak again, but not that weak since at least he doesn't have to start from level 1 again.

< Available/ Unused Status Points taken. >

< Available/ Unused Skill Points taken. >

< ... >

< ... >

< [Astral Core Upgrade Start.] >

" Hahh.... "

" I'm drained, guess this is the cost in order to attain more, isn't it? " Shiro says as he contemplates his actions.

" No matter, at least that with this, I hope I can attain more in the future without any problems. "

" I can only hope of it. " Shiro says while looking at his two acquaintances that are still in the recovery process.

" Now after this, what should I do to them...? " Shiro wonders while looking at the Souls who are currently on their Portable Healing Pod, meant to rejuvenate them from any injuries.