Over the next three weeks, Arthur continued to instruct the students on how to use their various chosen weapons and how to counter opponents with other various weapons they may face, Arthur had gotten really good with the Kopis and using it in conjunction with the gauntlet and energy buckler he had attached.
It was 16 days from the date of his last level up that he finally got the long awaited system notification.
[Level Up]
[You've gained two free stat points]
[Two stat points available]
Arthur immediately noticed he received two stat points instead of the usual one which was a huge benefit. He also noticed there was no experience bar with this level up. He received another notification and he understood why after he read it.
[Please choose progression path]
[Aerial System - Merge system abilities with compatible aerial units]
[Mecha System - Merge system abilities with compatible mecha]
[Infantry System - System continues on current trajectory. Some skills compatible with various combat related units, mechas and ships]
"So, it looks like according to the system, everyone technically has a system designed for individual or infantry use with some of those skills putting some pilots ahead of others as the skills are random, or random to us, and may not be beneficial to the various pilots. It all finally makes sense. I wonder why I'm the only one, or at least I think I'm the only one, that has the option to choose." Thought Arthur as he looked at his options. To him, the choice was easy. He wanted the most use out of his system and went ahead and opted for the the "Mecha System".
[Mecha System chosen, system rebooting to reflect change]
[System reboot successful]
Arthur tried to pull up stats but was hit with a sudden pain everywhere. His whole body was on fire and the muscles visibly rippled under his skin. He fell over not knowing what to do to make the pain stop. Mackenzie and Strong quickly ran over and pulled him up, taking him to the infirmary as that was the only thing they could think to do. Asura took control of the class and guided them out of the training hall telling them training would continue normally the following day.
Arthur awoke in a bed with the sheets pulled over him. Someone had undressed him and hooked him up to a monitor showing all his vitals. He still had an elevated heart rate from what he could see, but everything else looked normal. With no one in sight, he decided to pull up his system to see if he could get an explanation for the events that had just transpired.
[Welcome to My Mecha System]
[Name: Arthur Wright]
[Race: Human]
[Level 1]
[0/100 EXP]
***Primary Stats***
[Points Available: 2]
[HP 50 /50]
[Strength: 20]
[Dexterity: 20]
[Stamina: 20]
***Skills***
[Breaking Point]
[Mecha Integration]
***Passive Skill***
[Martial Arts Master I (upgradeable)]
[Brilliant Tactician I (upgradeable)]
[Melee Weapons Proficiency I (upgradeable)]
Arthur was shocked. This was not a small change and made everything that had happened make sense. His body had to adjust to the massive changes implemented by the system. His primary stats had doubled and his Health, however that was calculated, saw a 1.5x increase. What he was confused by was the reset to level one. He assumed it was because the system had effectively evolved into something new, causing it to start over.
He quickly checked out the new system skill called "Mecha integration" as it was the only other change he saw.
[Mecha integration - Mecha turns into a direct extension of your body through the neurolink]
Arthur was ecstatic. The neurolink was a system designed for mecha pilots to effectively see what their mecha sees and use the mecha's targeting systems and basic control through their mind. What it didn't allow was full control over the mecha through the mind as it was almost impossible to regulate your thoughts with so much going on at once. It was always used as a combat aid and nothing more. The system ability made it sound like he would be able to pilot through the link, taking away the lag pilots would often get when using manual controls. He didn't know if that was the case or not, but he figured he'd find out once he got the opportunity to try.
"Hit level ten I'm assuming?" said a doctor who had just walked in holding a tablet that Arthur presumably showed him his vitals. "It happens to everyone, although it usually takes the whole year to get to this point. You must be training night and day or have some sort of skill that quickened your development. Most cadets are out for a couple of days but you've barely been here for a day."
"That I did" replied Arthur.
"Congratulations are in order then, you may be the fastest graduating cadet out of basic training that this academy has every seen, I will have to talk to the instructors and they will decide what to do. For now, you are free to go back to your room and attend training as normal, although you may not find it challenging in the least" said the doctor.
"Thank you sir" replied Arthur as he stood up to get dressed and leave the infirmary.
Arthur took his time getting back to the barracks as he adjusted to his new body and stats. His frame had gotten bulkier with the increase in muscle mass, and he had grown two inches taller. Luckily he still had a few inches to go before he was too tall for the cockpit.
He walked into the barracks but Strong was nowhere to be found. Arthur decided to lay down and browse the forum while he waited for his counterpart to return so he could tell him the good news.
The forum was full of nothing but posts talking about war. The first years were locked into their forum but that didn't stop them from spreading rumors or talking about what they had heard from their upper classmen. The talk was that the planet Boros had gone silent and that the empire had no idea what had happened to the occupation force.