chapter 21 : explanations

* Congratulations soldier Luke on defeating the boss... calculating...3000 PTS are awarded. An explanation on tiers will be sent to your mind. *

Hearing the system, Luke was stunned. Didn't this species have a Second Life? Or was the boss too overpowered already to have it? He couldn't dwell on these things much longer a massive load of information was brutally crashed into his mind. He grunted as he reviewed them.

There were ten tiers. The first four are fodder, the next three are powerhouses and the last three are the peak of the universe.

He only had access to information on the first four. For the others, he only knew that tier 7 and onwards is special and that from tier 4 to tier 6, one can be considered as a real fighting force of the universe and that stats become useless from this point onwards.

The universe is currently in a war against an enemy he is not yet qualified to know of.

Going back to the first four tiers, he knew that stats determined the tier.

Tier 0 is someone having 1 to 9 for their strongest stat.

Tier 1 is someone having 10 to 99 for their strongest stat.

Tier 2 is someone having 100 to 999 for their strongest stat.

Tier 3 is someone having 1000 to 9999 for their strongest stat

The vial of species evolution T2 adds 100 to any chosen attribute.

Also, waiting a bit before ascending to the next tier only serves to have an easier time in the beginning. So people can theoretically ascend the first four tiers instantly. The only problems being the lack of experience for once and more importantly the impossibility of ascending to tier 4.

Tier 1 is the training phase. After the tenth quest, all survivors will ascend to tier 2, no matter how bad they originally were. People at tier 1 are useless, even as mere numbers. All the people who died in the quests will be revived as monsters for another species' quests, and in the case that they die as monsters, they do so definitely.

The mini-boss and boss monsters though are criminals, or rather people who pissed off the managers. The only reason they are not killed is that the managers don't want to waste resources. Indeed, their usefulness in making talents grow makes them valuable grindstones. In the extremely rare cases where they survive as monsters until the end, they are freed.

Tier 2 is named either the soldier phase, either the weeding out phase. Soldiers, because those who only ascend at the end of the tenth quest will be directly sent to the real battlefield, facing the universe's true enemies. Their only strength is numbers as some abilities can be useful on it but they can't do much.

Tier 3 is the same as tier 2, it's just that they are way more useful. Depending on their performance at tier 2, people who ascended can either become soldiers on the battlefield or they can join a special program, that he is once again not qualified enough to know.

....

Mulling over what he just learned, Luke now had a better understanding of the situation. Basically, the universe is facing enemies and species that were deemed as worth it were

" given the right to fight back". These species are valued because some can have people who will stand at the top. They have a bigger probability of reaching greater heights.

Then, the reason why not all species were given that chance was because resources are scarce. So scarce that they can't allow any waste. Finally, the system is neutral but unfair. The value of people determines the amount that the top is willing to invest in them. Those who stand at the bottom are not only replaceable but also recyclable.

Luke originally knew that fairness is impossible and that people would have different opportunities. He is the prime example of this. It's true that he had to face more danger but the returns were worth it.

His mentor once said when he was treated badly because of the phenomenon: Do you think I'm unfair? The world is unfair, everything is unfair! You are only displeased with it when you are at the suffering end of it. When you enjoy it, you are just happy it exists.

This perfectly describes his current situation. He is clearly one of those who profit off it right now.

He shook his head to once again get rid of his thoughts and brought up his vial. He mentally chose which stat to enhance and waited.

..........

Back on the other side, only Isabella, Stevenson and Maria stayed alive. They were waiting for Luke's return and the end of the quest. Only the system prompt did

* Congratulations humans on finishing the third quest. Rewards have been distributed based on your performance. You will now be sent to the resting area. The fourth quest begins in a week. *

With this, they all disappeared in flashes of pink light, most likely signifying their status as Luke's three last extra lives.