[NR] Concept - Chapter 757

Jason pauses on the road and turns to look directly at Courtney, “Wait, so the reason we’ve been fighting almost exclusively wolves and goblins is because the System was calibrating us against them? What would have happened if I had starred my stats while behind?”

Courtney shrugs, “No clue.”

Jason, “Also, I don’t think my actual strength was going up out there and I don’t feel stronger now. Like, for such a massive increase over so few weeks? At the very least, my walking should be off some.”

Courtney shakes her head, “Your stats all went up while at the same time, you faced progressively stronger enemies. Basically, the perfect training course to acclimate you to your strength. If I had to guess, you did get stronger, but the System held you back somehow.”

Jason frowns, “That shouldn’t be possible. I very specifically have gone out of my way to take control of my body. My stats should be my own!”

Courtney, “You aren’t a world unto yourself. Your power still comes from outside. To use a plant as comparison, even if the plant grows more leaves, if some outside force reduces the light it is getting, the plant won’t be making any extra surplus. With your Strength and other such stats being the result of that surplus.

“Especially given what I know of your body. And the System, even in the Deep Wilds, has the ability to ‘block the sun’. What with the fact that you apparently get your Energy from the same place the System interfaces with people. It doesn’t need to get its lines into you, the System can simply restrict the flow.”

Jason gestures at himself, “But my Energy hasn’t increased?”

Courtney shrugs, “Maybe it is a quality thing? I don’t know. This isn’t exactly a common problem for players to have. I won’t claim you're the first to take control of your body away from the System. I even suspect that such a step is part of breaking the level cap.

“However, you’ve clearly gone way beyond even that. Because I’ve found a reference to another thing you have that most people don’t.”

Jason raises an eyebrow, “What else is there?”

Courtney laughs, “Your concepts, of course.”

Jason, “Wait, other people have concepts on their status?”

Courtney stares at him with a look of disbelief, “Did you think you were the first to try ‘cultivator’ stuff in the game? Oh sure, you’re the first to use real cultivation techniques, as far as we know. But there have been fire mages staring into candle flames, trying to feel the essence of fire since the very beginning.

“The catch is that it seems you normally need to be level 100 before you can and it isn’t connected to gaining a core early. Because there are magnitudes more people who manage to gain a core before 100 than there are that develop a concept ever.

“Though admittedly, I chalk that up partly to most people who hit 100 having given up on the whole ‘cultivation’ thing. Oh, and it’s just really freaking hard.

“Excuse my language, but I don’t think you understand how difficult people consider what you’ve done. There are no public examples of someone suspected to have a concept. Which considering there is a top ten list of ‘people most suspected to have broken the level cap’ going around?

“And even in the private chats and forums I have access to, there isn’t any public information. All because the one known concept with any actual confirmation behind it? Some guy who grew up learning the spear because of family tradition.

“Wasn’t famous or anything. It was simply a thing his family kept up and part of that wasn’t spreading the style around. Except this guy was good, and once in NeoRealm, his skill with the spear blossomed. Still, he kept a low profile because that’s just how his family worked, I guess.

“Anyway, he’s dead now and we don’t know the details of that. Maybe he isn’t even dead, despite the verified reports and video of his body. Whatever, he gained a concept though we aren’t sure of the specific name it had. Guesses are either ‘the spear’ or ‘piercing’ given what he gained.

“At a percent understanding? Even a basic stab with his spear gained True Damage. Not a lot, but the fact he got it basically for free? Unheard of! And that was with a single concept.

“True Damage goes through everything as far as we know, including System restrictions. The only way to avoid the damage is to not be hit, whether it is a System-protected building or a level-capped boss monster.”

Jason nods, “I can see that. Though I doubt it is truly unblockable. Such effects aren’t unknown to me, but can be countered by others.”

Courtney having grown a bit heated at this point, threw her hands up. “Oh sure, I’m sure other concepts can counter it. Except No One Has Concepts!”

Jason, “Well, that would be one way to counter it. More that I was meaning is if the concept was piercing, just don’t let it stab you. Force him to smack and slash at you instead. The universe, as a general rule, does not like absolutes.”

Rosha rubs Courtney’s back with a hand. “Calm down. It must have been hard finding this all out. Don’t mind Jason and his lack of common sense. We likely needed this information no matter what else happens.”

Jason nods, “Yep, knowing what concepts can do is helpful. Especially since I suspect you two will gain your own soon enough.”

Rosha looks up. “Why? We aren’t exactly cultivating in-game, like you are.”

Jason shakes his head, “We’re directly connected and so I suspect you’ll gain some concepts once your irl cultivation firms up. Having a concept isn’t hard once you know yourself.”

Rosha, “Then why is it so rare, even for those of a high enough level? It isn’t that meditation and self-inspection are unknown things. People try to get in touch with who they ‘truly’ are all the time.”

Jason gestures at where the dantian would be, “Body, Mind, and SPIRIT. Level 100 is a bottleneck that exists outside of the game mechanics set up by the System. To break through, you get a special quest, and despite all the help people get on these quests? Most never manage to complete it. Going through a qualitative change, even through an avatar, is one possible way to connect with that part of oneself.”