Hearing it, Zephyr thought it was possible as Eliazar himself was a demi-god. However, Ericson didn't knew that as he didn't have the ability to see the stats of Eliazar unlike Zephyr.
"Um. Isn't that only possible by going to the class instructor?"
"Hahahaha!"
The laughter of Eliazar bursts out hearing Ericson.
"Ah sorry. It was just out of reflex."
Eliazar apologized after he immediately regained his composure. He then explained.
"Let me explain the tiers to you first. There are 6 tiers in Tensura. The first one is the tier you currently had, the Tier 0 which was the apprentice or official class. Then followed by Tier 1 and higher. As far as I know, for humans like you, a martial artist.
Tier 1- Intermediate Martial Artist
Tier 2- Martial Master
Tier 3- Martial King
Tier 4- Martial Emperor
Tier 5- Martial Demi-God
Tier 6- Martial God.
While for us from the Nephilim race,
Tier 2: Greater Nephilim
Tier 3: Arch Nephilim
Tier 4: Nephilim Noblesse
Tier 5: Nephilim Demi-God
Tier 6: Nephilim God)
As a transcendent race, a nephilim was born at Tier 2 unlike you humans and other non transcendent races at Tier 0."
"The terms of the tiers from the other races are different but it is almost the same principle."
Ericson nodded as he now have a proper understanding about the tiers. He then glanced at Eliazar wondering whether he could really make him a Tier 1.
"Don't worry, you might now know this but I'm a Tier 5 myself."
Sensing his doubts, Eliazar spoke that he was a demi-god like it was nothing but Ericson widened his eyes after hearing that.
'I'm actually in front of a Demi-God NPC!?'
He didn't expect that he would be able to meet one easily. He then glanced at Zephyr who had no particular reaction as if he already knew that.
'What is he probably thinking?'
Ericson wondered what's going on Zephyr's mind on seeing a demi-god NPC that should only be discovered in the late stages of the game. However as a gaming newbie, he did not know that it was common for players to treat an NPC as just a bunch of data.
A super NPC like Eliazar would only be considered a stronger pile of data but Ericson had overlooked this fact due to the naturalism of Tensura. Zephyr on the other hand didn't care about this aspect as it would also be the same even he would meet a Tier 6 entity.
Even he didn't react much when he met both Hyrkan and Sun Wukong, much less the others.
After explaining, Eliazar then smiled as he said.
"Then how about we start your advancement?"
Ericson nodded as he then closed his eyes. A golden light surrounded him. The spectating Zephyr could tell that Eliazar was responsible for the light. Just like what happened to Zephyr, Ericson also received an advancement quest of fighting or exterminating a monster that was tier above him.
However, as they were fighting and killing Tier 1 and Tier 2 monsters on their way here, Ericson was able to bypass the quest resulting for instantly being a Tier 1 player successfully.
Mesmerized by the system prompts of increase of his stats and his newly acquired class skills, he was now able to understand why he felt it was harder to fight monsters that has tier higher than the player. Seeing the notifications of him successfully turning into a Tier 1, a word escaped from his mouth.
"Amazing."
He then turned his attention to Zephyr who was already a Tier 2 and admired him even more. Remembering the power that Zephyr had showed from the previous fight and the notification of stats increase, he thought.
'The increase in stats was 50%. A percentage increase!'
As a genius, even with just this informations, he was now able to understand how Zephyr became powerful in the game.
"I should acquire and accumulate as many stats as much as possible before I ascend to Tier 2."
With that, he decided to not rush being a Tier 2 and should strengthen his foundation first. For the time being he had played in Tensura, he learned that leveling isn't the only way to increase the stats. One could also increase the stats by acquiring titles.
This is also the reason why Zephyr's stats skyrocketed during his tier advancement as he was also able to achieve massive feats and achievements resulting him to obtain many titles that gives him bonus stats and many others.
As one would experience a 50% increase in stats during advancing a tier, Ericson now understood that Tier advancement was VERY beneficial to those who possessed massive and enormous stats like Zephyr as the increase of the stats was also very massive.
As Ericson was emersed in his own thoughts, Eliazar's warm voice woke him up from his daze.
"Congratulations for advancing to a Tier 1 Player."
"It's because of your grace Lord Eliazar."
Ericson replied as he bowed at the same time to express his sincere gratitude. Seeing Ericson's politeness, Eliazar's impression about him increased which resulted for Ericson to increase his affinity with the demi-god NPC.
"It's really not a big deal anyway."
As a transcendent, it was no big deal for him to ascend Ericson to Tier 1. He then continued.
"To be honest, I did not expect for you to be Zeke's Successor though."
The eyes of Ericson lit up hearing the name of his class' predecessor and hopefully hoping to obtain a clue about his class while Zephyr became interested in hearing the name of the past generation legend to come out from the mouth of a demi-god who had lived for thousands of years.
"Um...Do you know him? Zeke...I mean."
Eliazar became interested on continuing this topic.
"Well I know a thing or two about him. Even us Nephilims who doesn't have contacts to humans had heard about him. He's quite famous during his prime hundreds of years ago along with Sword Saint Izroth, Legendary Archmage Ian, Legendary Magic Swordsman Orion and many other legends during their generation."
"He was also famous that he remained undefeated throughout his lifetime and had reached the pinnacle of martial arts."
Eliazar paused for a while then continued.
"Rumors also said that Zeke had the highest potential to attain and obtain transcendence among all of the legends."
Saying that, he also explained that not everyone can become a transcendent. Especially if your from a non- transcendent race like humans. Even legendary figures who obtained enormous rise in status were not exception to this.
It could also be said that the transcendent race was truly given a certain previlage as they were guaranteed to become a true transcendent. However, that was not without demerit.
Even they can attain transcendence easier and entering Tier 5 or the demi-god realm, it also became much more harder for them to advance to Tier 6 and becoming a True God unlike those who become a transcendent that came from the non-transcendent races.
"Well that's why I'm still stucked of being a Tier 5 for more than thousands of years and it's not just me."
"Hearing that from you, does that mean that none of the non-transcendent races was able to attain complete transcendence so far?"
Zephyr voiced out his question as he was truly curious about this.
"Partially. You might not know this but if one becomes a Tier 5, they would become even more connected to the world. To put it simply, we become even more sensitive to the 'Law of Causality' throughout Tensura."
"Because of that, in hundreds of years ago, so far, I was not able to sense someone becoming a Tier 5 that came from a non-transcendent race except for the famous Monkey King and others but that was thousands of years ago."
"Does that mean that the previous generation legends are included with this?"
Eliazar just smiled as he did not reply but it the answer was already obvious to both Zephyr and Ericson.
For the Humanity's Strongest, Undefeated Martial Emperor and The Greatest Magician Of All Time to be unable to become a transcendent, Zephyr was able to picture out how hard for one to become a transcendent.
It now also made sense for Zephyr as he remembered the content in the diary of the Legendary Archmage Ian.
"Back to your question earlier, as far as I remember from the rumors I heard centuries ago, I heard that Zeke the Legendary Martial Asura or the Undefeated Martial Emperor left another part of his legacy somewhere in the Great Jura Forest."
The moment Eliazar said that, Zephyr narrower his eyes after hearing the Great Jura Forest as he remembered about the Arcane Dragon Hyrkan Lexus and the Legacy of the Monkey King in there.
Ericson on the other hand has a different reason to be stunned. It was because his first class quest has appeared in front of him. Seeing the change in Ericson's expression, Zephyr wondered what happened to him but didn't asked as it was not his habit to meddle into someone else's business nor he had any interest in doing so.
Knowing Zephyr's personality, as a party member, Ericson immediately sent his class quest to Zephyr.
[The quest 'Zeke's Successor' has been updated.]
[Zeke's Successor]
Difficulty: Class quest.
You have certainly been given Zeke's initial skills.
But do you know exactly who Zeke is? Can you proudly carry out his will?
Who is Zeke? If he was simply a martial artist with good skills, his legends wouldn't be scattered across the continent.
First, start with the clue of the martial art that defies the heavens, and follow Zeke's legend. If you can collect all of the legends, you will truly understand Zeke and succeed his will.
At that moment, a new legend will be born.
* There is no time limit for this class quest.
* If you accept the class quest of a legendary class, you can't change your class again.
* The legendary class quest has the power to transform Tensura's world, according to the results.
Class Quest Clear Conditions: Complete all linked quests successfully.
Class Quest Clear Reward: Unknown.
* First Class Quest: [Zeke's Martial Style.]
Unable to obtain the final piece of transcendence, Zeke decided to leave his legacy across the West Continent of Tensura in hoping for someone to achieve his goal that he was unable to achieve.
If you head to Feral Valley that is to the south of the Great Jura Forest, you will find a clue to Zeke's Martial Style carved on a northern cliff.
* First Class Quest Clear Condition: Learn Zeke's Martial Style.
First Class Quest Clear Reward: Unknown.]
Seeing it Zephyr wondered how Ericson was able to get a class quest as they were just listening to the words of Eliazar. He then remembered the aspects of a super named NPC.
Aside from having the compensation effect of being stronger than the player of the same level with all their abilities (attack, defense, magic power, health, mana, skill cooldown, etc) set higher than a player and having an infinite growth potential and overall stats like a player. They also have a profound effect on the worldview and story of the game.
He speculated that as a Tier 5 NPC, Eliazar was able to satisfy a requirement to trigger the class quest of Ericson that should only be considered somewhere else but got changed because of the demi-gods presence.
"Good for you."
After coming up with a solid hypothesis and conclusion, Zephyr nonchalantly congratulated him but he doesn't really care about it. Not knowing the developers in the Atlas Corps were having a tremendous headache because of this unexpected development.
"Hehe...Thank you Brother Zephyr."
Ericson replied with gratitude even he knew that Zephyr doesn't really care as he could sense Zephyr's good intention behind those words albeit slightly.
Eliazar then turned his attention towards Zephyr with interest. Specifically, towards in the part behind his head.
"Hoho...After all these years...I didn't expect that I would meet one. The little kyuubi that was hiding, I mean."