I can't wait to get implanted! After looking over the test results, all of us didn't even say anything. We just rushed over to the only remaining unoccupied station. Before we could get any implants, Connor asked, "Could you please explain the color system and what they mean?"
"Sure," this time it was a beautiful young woman with a name tag reading Helena. Rick was barely holding back his drool as we listened to her, "The base level model is grey, that's the model you can't get upgraded. While cheap, it's basically worthless for anything more than mental conversation. Your school has actually decided not to accept anyone implanted with a grey model and any who get one are automatically expelled."
Rick and I whistled while Connor and Beth glanced at each other, "No wonder our parents said to never get a grey or base model!"
Helena looked surprised hearing that, "Your parents must be well connected, that news is being closely held for now. It shouldn't be common knowledge until the tests go live in all schools next Friday."
"Wait, so we're getting tested early?" I asked
"Yes, the implant system was actually invented by a former alumni of Gifted Academy who goes by Shade. He decided to use Gifted Academy as a trial run, but mainly he just wanted to give his juniors a head start. You guys got really lucky!"
"Damn! I always knew our school was awesome but... wow!" We all exclaimed in admiration of Shade.
"Anyway, the color system was made to make it easier for the installers to differentiate between different energy vessels. The implants are actually a type of formation combined with semi-rare materials that infiltrate and merge with your energy vessels. As you get stronger, you will get missions to collect and absorb various materials which facilitate the upgrading and unlocking of certain special abilities. Anyway, White Series implants are for dantian cultivators. Red Series implants are for body cultivators, while Green Series implants are more expensive because they are specially designed to elemental shift for elementalists. Finally, Blue Series implants are for mindscape cultivators.".
"What about Holy Knight implants?" asked Rick.
"Right, I heard we needed one of those, that must be you." Rick nodded to confirm, "There are special series implants for some rare abilities. Holy Knights and Priests are incredibly rare and require a special implant designed to handle Holy energies efficiently. That's why it isn't covered by the normal White, Red, Green, Blue implants."
"Last question," Connor said, raising his hand slightly as if in reflex before lowering it back down. At her nod he said, "How much do these things cost and are there any special upgrades you'd suggest we get over what the principal suggested?"
"White, Red, and Blue series implants are the cheapest, the base models have medium process speed and one affinity starting at $20,000. Green series implants are more expensive and start at $45,000. Each extra affinity is $5,000, special affinities vary but are usually $10,000 per special affinity. Upgrading processor power from medium to high costs $1,000, from high to extreme costs $2,500. From extreme to max costs $5,000. Also, I suggest each of you purchase at least one tool slot. Tool slots are for weapons or tools that you want to be able to use both in real life and VR. Tool slots cost $1,000 each."
By the time she got to the end I was sweating bullets. I knew my implant was going to be covered by the scholarship, but damn! Counting it up, I'm getting a Blue Series implant so 20k. Plus three affinities, another 15k. Max level processing power, so another $8,500 putting the cost of my implant at a $43,500. Where the heck was the school getting that kind of money from?!?!
While I was still reeling, Connor just nodded and handed over all our result sheets while saying, "We'd like you to set us up with the recommended implants here, for Beth please use the red one she's a body cultivator for sure. Also, upgrade her processor power to max while giving each of us five tool slots. Thanks!"
"What?" Rick, Beth, and I all turned to stare at him in confusion.
"I can't afford that!" I exclaimed
Meanwhile, Beth did the math in her head, "That's $22,500 how the heck do you have that much money!"
He just smiled saying, "My dad either didn't know about the scholarships or didn't think I'd manage to get one because after he called earlier he transferred $100,000 to my account. He even told me to help you guys out if you needed it."
"Man, it must be nice to be a second generation rich kid!" I said, eyes going wide at the implications of a 17 year old with $100,000 in the bank.
He just shrugged before saying, "Fourth generation, actually."
"Showoff!"
By that time, Helena had gone through everyone's info and handed us each forms with the types of implants we'd be getting along with the various upgrades, and a spreadsheet showing what the school was paying for and what we were adding on. Helena went on to explain, "The tool slots are very useful, but don't work with just any kind of item. They need to be forged with spiritual items and are more expensive than usual. You should be able to buy or earn such tools/weapons through the implant. Now, if you'll just sign at the bottom and initial here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here...."
It was like buying a house we had to initial so many different statements. I went through them all carefully, just to make sure. My dad made me watch the centipad(parody of disgusting movie where people unknowingly sign up to be sown together like a centipede) once to make sure I knew the dangers of just signing whatever was in front of me... I still claim it was child abuse, but I sure as hell read every contract now.
By the time I was done reading everything and initialing the pod was opening and Beth was getting out asking, "Is it done already? I didn't feel anything."
"The implant process is actually painless and quick, the test is the hard part." She said apologetically, before saying. "I actually got mine yesterday, I'm still recovering you guys are lucky to have such a high level healer on staff. She actually healed the entire senior class!"
Not twenty minutes later our entire group of 25 people were done getting implanted, and Principal Hubert was standing to give yet another speech, "Alright guys, the snow's really coming down out there so go home and be safe. The implants are automatically locked down until you get to a safe place where you can afford to spend at least 4 hours doing the tutorial. Now, because you all passed the gravity test earlier you've been moved into the newly created advance cultivation class that I'll be teaching. You're first assignment is to reach level 10 in MSE before the end of the week."
We all just looked at him confusedly, so he continued on, "MSE is a VR game created by some former students here. It's basically an MMO where you learn how to use your abilities and gain fighting experience. It's full name is "Modern Sorcery and Energy" no idea why they picked such a boring name but, it's their game. As Gifted Academy students you have a special training instance you have access too. Now get a move on, there's already a foot of snow out there and it's not slowing down anytime soon!"
Passing the rest of the senior class who were just now recovered enough to get their own implants, we all rushed to the parking lot.
"You guys should stay over at my place, we have tons stocked up and we don't know if the phone lines will go down in this weather. We need to be able to share info!" Connor was excited at the prospect of having us over for a while.
"Sure!" I said immediately, Rick just nodded.
"I'll need clothes." Said Beth.
"It's not that bad, lets hop in Rick's truck, make a couple pit stops to pick up clothes, and inform our parents. Then, its MSE!" I said, and everyone joined me in cheering. I hadn't been this excited since I learned we were moving to Colorado Springs.