Status Window

+ "Whoa, Asharaa… this has so much detail… Can you give me some hand?"

++ "Yeah, it looks super complicated and long. I wasn't expecting this either. But there's a full breakdown of everything the system gives us, and I downloaded it… Alright, let's start from the beginning."

Asharaa paused for a moment to organize the information before continuing.

++ "Besides your name, which is obvious, there's race. We've been categorized as 'inferior Humans' But before you get offended, it's not meant as an insult or a way to put us down. The system evaluated us genetically and, based on its own data of an average human, classified us as a lower-tier variant."

+ "Honestly, that stung a little at first…"

++ "Same here…"

++ "After race, there's 'age'. According to this, our bodies have a maximum lifespan of 138 years, and you've spent 18 of those without me. This is measured based on our genetics and overall physical quality. Then comes 'Realm' which is the system's own power hierarchy. There are multiple realms, and right now, we're at the lowest one—Common."

+ "Like those cultivation novels I read some times?"

++ "Maybe, but not exactly… The system sets goals for us. For example, to advance to the Apprentice Realm, we need to reach Level 5, have a Physical Quality of 10, a Mental Quality of 10, and 10 KA."

+ "So, all it does is categorize our power levels? There's nothing cooler than that?"

++ "Actually, each realm unlocks new system abilities and gives us XP, SP, and GP… I'll explain all of that in due time, okay?"

+ "Alright, sorry, go on."

++ "Okay… 'Status' determines our social rank, and right now, we're classified as worker class. Next is 'Title' which we earn based on our actions. For example, if we start killing people, we'd get a title like 'Murderer' or even 'Serial Killer.' hehehe. And finally, there's 'Level' which increases with XP gained from completing missions. Right now, installing the system gave us the 10 XP we needed to reach Level 1."

+ "Do you think everyone with a symbiote has a system like this?"

++ "I doubt it. This system is probably a unique ability granted by your grandfather's necklace… What I mean is, that the system and I, are separate entities. It's not an ability I possess—it's something different."

+ "Okay, let's move on to the next part of the status window. I should focus on one thing at a time—I can't process all this information like you can. My brain's overheating already…"

++ "I know, not everyone can be as amazing as me."

+ "Yeah, yeah—next section, please."

++ "Jealous much? Alright, moving on. This next part is really important, so pay attention. First up is 'HP', which represents our health. Right now, because of minor Kidney failure, muscle weakness, and vitamin and calcium deficiencies, we only have 49 out of 66 HP."

+ "What the fu*k?! But I feel fine! Kidney failure? Am I dying?!"

++ "Calm down, little girl… No one dies from Kidney failure, even in the fringes. especially since we're only just starting to show symptoms. With the system's help, we don't even need medication. The muscle weakness and vitamin deficiencies are just from poor nutrition."

+ "Okay, but how does HP get calculated? How does the system even know how healthy we are?"

++ "Good question. You're not as dumb as I thought, little girl."

+ "Thanks, Grandpa. Now can you continue?"

++ "Haha… Alright. HP is determined based on secondary physical stats, which we'll get to later. The system uses vitality, endurance, and endurance to calculate our HP."

+ "Isn't that a bit too detailed? It feels like we have to constantly track everything…"

++ "The real world works the same way—we're not living in a novel. Besides, you have me to keep track of everything for you. No matter how hard things get, we've got each other, right?"

At first, Asharaa's habit of referring to both of them as a single unit—we—had been a little unsettling. But now, all Damon felt was reassurance.

+ "Of course… We've got each other."

++ "That's the spirit, little girl."

+ "Stop calling me that… Anyone would be freaked out by that kidney stuff."

++ "Well, until you prove to me that you're a grown man, that's what I'm calling you. Moving on to the next section…"

++ "'KP', or 'Ka Points', represents the Ka energy stored within our cells. Right now, we have 60 KP, which is gradually altering our body. However, we can accelerate these changes by circulating Ka energy throughout our body."

+ "It's getting more complicated… I really hope I don't have to micromanage all these numbers all the time."

++ "Don't worry, you'll figure out where to focus soon enough."

++ "Next, we have 'KA', which determines our level of control over Ka energy. The higher it is, the more precision and finesse we have. According to the system, Ka can be used to manipulate elements, materials, energy, technology, and even living organisms. So yeah, the higher KA, the better."

+ "So, the difference between KP and KA is like mana and magic in novels and holo-comics? KP is how much energy I have, and KA is how well I can control it?"

++ "Clever little girl…"

+ "I hate you."

++ "Haha, no, you don't… Next is 'Blood' which, as an inferior Human, is classified as inferior, due to poor cellular composition. Blood helps with oxygen transport, energy distribution, healing, and overall maintenance. To improve our blood quality, we need to increase our vitality stat."

++ "Then there's 'Charm' which comes from the combination of Attraction and Charisma. Both physical and mental stats influence it. And before you start thinking it's just for flirting, let me tell you—it's not. Not that a little girl like you needs to worry about that. Charm actually determines how much influence you have on people, making negotiations, leadership, and persuasion easier."

+ "Haha, okay, what's next? XP? What's that for? Your explanations are great, by the way."

++ "I feel bad if the only thing you found interesting was the Charm stat... yes… 'XP' comes from system missions and random events triggered by interacting with people or the environment. Right now, we need 100 XP to reach Level 2."

++ "'MC' stands for 'Mutated Cells', but it's locked, so I don't know much about it yet. 'GP', or 'Genetic Points', are rewards we get with every level-up. We can use them to improve our physical and mental stats. Essentially, each GP is Ka energy specifically refined for enhancing our abilities."

+ "That's insane… So, these changes actually affect our genetics?"

++ "Exactly. 'SP', or 'System Points', are earned every five levels. They unlock new system features, but right now, we need them for something else—hacking into the Symbiot Hall servers without frying our neural system. Of course, we first need to figure out how to access the real Galactic Net, not just the Fringes network."

+ "So, you're saying we need a citizen's holo-watch? Looks like we need to take another trip to New Thebes."

++ "I was thinking about checking under Fernandez Bridge… Maybe we'll find a citizen's corpse—someone who committed suicide. That'd be much easier."

+ "Why would a citizen kill themselves? They have everything—freedom, respect, a good life… You'd have to be an idiot to throw that away. But I guess it's worth checking out."

++ "It's unlikely, but it's on our way to New Thebes... Alright, I've explained the important parts. The only thing left is your foundation. This section consists of Physical Quality and Mental Quality, each with its own subset of stats, which can be increased using Genetic Points. However, the overall Physical and Mental Quality stats themselves can't be changed directly because they're determined by the ratios of their respective substats.

Also, 'Attraction' and 'Charisma' can't be adjusted directly either. Attraction is derived from Strength, Dexterity, Vitality, and Endurance—the exact stats that influence our appearance. Charisma, on the other hand, comes from Mental Strength, IQ, EQ, Wisdom, and Will—the stats that give power to our personality."

+ "Even though the level of detail is overwhelming and takes time to get used to. that same complexity makes it easier and more comprehensive when it comes to increasing our power. But I have a question—do you have the same status stats as me? I mean, do they affect you too?"

++ "Of course! Otherwise, why do you think we can't just hijack the government's system, directly connect to Galactic Net, or hack into the Symbiot Hall servers? It's because your Mental Quality stats and its substats, determine my power as well. The stronger you become mentally, the stronger I get too. So hurry up and get to it!"

+ "Okay, okay... What about these other Titles next to the status window? What are they?"

++ "Oh, those? They're all system functions—things like Genetic Talent, Missions, Communications & Media, Maps, POV, Inventory & Bank, Mutated Organs, Lab, Workshop, Library, and finally Settings. But we don't have access to any of them except for the Missions tab, so I didn't bother explaining them. Well, we do have that one SP the system gave us, which we can use to unlock Inventory, but the rest are locked due to our low realm."

+ "No, no... We need that SP to get ourselves registered as Compatible. Otherwise, how are we supposed to enter the Military Academy? That single SP is basically our lifeline right now!"

++ "hehehe… Knew you'd say that, little girl."

+ "Damn it, I thought you'd forgotten already..."

++ "Hahaha..."