Systematic

Kai thought it might have been hard to keep his mind from wandering, from going back, but the combination of survival and vengeance kept him surprisingly focused. Perhaps it was because he had always had a one-track mind that never gave up on what he set out to do.

Regardless, it made the lonely travel throughout the strange forest much more bearable. Or, in a way, he figured he was not that alone. He talked to his system, getting a feel for what it could do as he snaked his way through tree trunks and bushes.

'Alright, now that you feel a little more talkative, how about you finally tell me what you are? Why you're in my head?' asked Kai mentally, not wanting to make unnecessary sound. By now, he had actually seen critters on the forest floor.

A group of odd mice so round they looked like furry white balloons with big, shiny black eyes to match. Almost as large as a small dog, too. They scurried away quick like lightning when he approached, but he knew that they were prey, and where there was prey, there were predators.

Alone in a forest like this, it was only a matter of time before he met his end to some strange creature unless he had a way to defend himself.

[The system is in place to ensure the host's survival and to allow him to develop necessary strength.]

'Yeah, sounds good, I'd very much like to survive too, but what can you do to make sure I don't die?'

[Inquiry registered. Response: Would the host like a full overview of the system's current capabilities at the compatibility of level 1?]

'Be my guest.'

[First, the system provides host restoration processes. Utilizing biomass stored within the host body via consumption, the system may repair all manner of physical wound.

In addition, the system is capable of neutralizing any physical toxins that may attempt to impair the host's capabilities. Certain bodily needs such as the management of waste thus become unnecessary for the host.

Note: host restoration requires active mental command from the host. Thus, the host should be careful of trauma to his brain. In addition, the system is unable to utilize biomass to repair wounds that are not physical in nature such as impairments to the mind or soul]

Kai stopped by a tree trunk and cocked his head. 'Well, guess that's a way to let me know souls exist. But figure I shouldn't be surprised by that after all I've seen so far. Go on. Give me the rundown on all the stuff about bloodlines and what that even means.'

[Second, the system's primary function is to store and regulate bloodlines consumed by the host. Bloodlines are the raw essence of creatures bearing power. Consuming a sample from any such creature will grant the host access to their bloodline, essentially giving the host the ability to manifest physical parts from said creature.

At the current compatibility level, the host may have two bloodlines active within himself at a time. However, any bloodlines the host does not wish to use may be moved to Storage or broken down into pure essence to improve system compatibility, increasing progress towards the next level.

Note: manifesting said parts expends biomass. The degree to which the host decides to alter his body increases the rate of biomass expenditure. In addition, the host may only manifest one active bloodline at any given moment. Switching will require a temporary delay.

Advice: be wary of expending biomass for host restoration processes are tied to the very same resource.]

'Alright then, let me go ahead and manifest the bloodline I have in me right now,' thought Kai.

He knew he could will his status screen to manifest in the periphery of his vision to get a sense of his active bloodlines and remaining biomass, and he confirmed with a nod that the bloodline he stored from the thing trying to poison him back at the apartment was still there.

He looked down at his hand, trying to will it to become something else. When it did not, he tried to jog the system's memory. 'You know, the [Blood of Zahhak] thing?'

[Unable to process request. Analysis shows that the [Blood of Zahhak] requires a compatibility level far higher than what the host observes now to manifest.

Sensing discontent within the host.

Expanding explanation.

Certain bloodlines contain power far beyond what the host's current physical body can contain. Attempting to manifest traits from such sources possesses a 99.99% chance to ensure rapid deconstruction of the host's body, leading to inevitable demise.

This goes against the prime directive of ensuring the host's survival.]

'I got stabbed in the chest for nothing then?' Kai shook his head, knowing that without the system's ability to heal him, he would be dead thrice over already.

He had to work with what he had and be grateful for it. 'Alright then, how do I raise my compatibility level with you aside from breaking down bloodlines I can't use?'

[Inquiry registered. Response: Host may gradually improve system compatibility by consistently using the system's processes such as host restoration and bloodline manifestations. Continuing to consume additional bloodlines provides a much more efficient method of improving compatibility.

Utilizing and manifesting bloodlines will also enhance compatibility. Choosing to completely assimilate a bloodline, breaking it down such that it cannot be manifested anymore, will provide the greatest boost to compatibility.

Note: bloodlines that are beyond the host may be degraded down into a weaker form that the host may use. However, the [Blood of Zahhak] is of an essence that cannot be degraded. Thus, assimilation is the only option available.]

'Gotcha, then say I completely assimilate this [Blood of Zahhak]? Where's that put me level wise? And why don't you make things a little easier for me and have some kind of, I don't know, experience bar?'

[Analysis indicates that assimilating the [Blood of Zahhak] will raise the host's compatibility level to 2 with a 100% certainty. A raise to level 3 calculates to 88.32%. System cannot provide further calculations for level 4.]

'Why not? What's stopping your math, huh? Seems like you're pretty on top of it, going up to two decimal points and all.'

[Unable to process request. Please provide another inquiry.]

'The hell?' Of all the questions to not be able to answer, it was this? Kai paused for a moment before accepting the situation, reminding himself again he had to work with what he had. 'What's in it for me to raise my compatibility level? Aside from being able to use better bloodlines. Better be something that'll let me actually survive to get the bloodlines in the first place.'

[Inquiry registered. Answer: raising compatibility level will ease the burden the host faces in utilizing the system's compatibilities. Costs of manifesting bloodline traits will become lower. The amount of active bloodlines not in storage will raise from the current maximum of two.

Note: host restoration process costs will remain the same regardless of compatibility. Restoration is a thoroughly detailed process that is difficult to reduce in complexity.

Further note: the host will develop new abilities related to the system depending on how he utilizes it. There is no pre-established and linear path of evolutionary growth for the host, such would be contrary to the principle of flexible, chaotic evolution.

Hence, the levels between the host and the system determine compatibility, not progress through a determined path: it is a measure of how the host has adapted to using the system in his own and personalized manner.

As a result, it is also difficult to detail the host's compatibility progress in the form of an 'experience bar' as the host deems it.]

Kai looked at his hand. At the soft skin covering it that had never really seen a fight until recently. He was going to make sure he became stronger. Strong enough to hunt down everyone or everything he needed to. He could not be as helpless as he was before with that thing, relying on lucky cheap shots to survive.

But the [Blood of Zahhak] was not something he wanted to break down now, even if it would probably raise his level twice.

That was the only remnant left of that thing.

If he ever wanted to track it down, he wanted to have as many leads as possible, and this seemed like a pretty important one, even if he did not fully grasp what it entailed for now. He would not let any clues that might lead him to vengeance slip through him unless he absolutely had to to survive.

Not to mention that leveling up actually did not do much on paper.

All it did was let him have more active bloodlines and use stronger ones, but that did not matter at all if he could not get to a bloodline in the first place.

Rather, if he was understanding the system right, it was better for him to gain experience with using the system before leveling up if he wanted to develop actually useful abilities.

And right now, the system did not provide him with anything close to resembling raw power.

No inherent boost to his strength or speed or senses. It was entirely up to him to survive, be smart, and find the right bloodlines to make himself stronger.

Of course, the system gave him healing, but healing lost a lot of its efficacy when it got tacked onto someone weak, not to mention it was finite healing gated by a resource.

If he wanted to survive, he needed to find something to consume, and he needed to do it before something else in this forest ate him.

[Sensing host desire to enter threatening situations. Before host engages in actions that may result in harm, the system shows now an updated status for the host]

>>>

System Level: 1

Active Bloodlines (Max 2):

- Blood of Zahhak (Unable to utilize)

Storage:

-None

Collective Ability Charge: Active

Current Stock: 75/100

Essence Integrity: 100%

>>>

[The host understands all aspects of the status aside from 'Essence Integrity' and 'Collective Ability Charge'. Further explaining...

Essence Integrity is the measure of how intact the host's original essence is. Excessively utilizing and manifesting foreign bloodlines will damage said integrity, leading to deterioration of mental processes. A full deterioration of essence integrity will completely overwrite the host's being with the creature he is manifesting.

The host possesses the ability to utilize a 'Collective Ability' He should only utilize it in the case of extreme desperation for it is available for use only once per level. It may be used in one of two ways.

Forced Assimilation: the host may through the touch of the left hand forcibly assimilate an organic construct, disassembling them into pure essence at rapid rate. As such, no bloodline is absorbed, only pure essence utilized for experience.

Forced Evolution: the host may temporarily access and manifest a bloodline beyond his current means. However, the bloodline will break down completely after usage, unable to process even into experience. In addition, essence integrity costs may become more severe depending on the nature of the bloodline drawn upon.

The host should take all this into account when engaging in any life threatening action.

If there is ever a directive to grant to the host himself, it is this: consume and adapt to survive.]