Before Zane could look at his new class, the system was pushing Zane toward forming his source field and upgrading his tier. Knowledge appeared in Zane’s mind letting him know what he could expect. The energy Zane received when he upgraded his class was fusing with his three source energies.

Health, stamina and mana were known as the three source energies. This was because when the three energies fused together, they would create a unique source for each individual. This was information provided to Zane by the system, but it was information he already knew.

What Zane didn’t know was how the energies fused together. The system didn’t explain how the energies began fusing but it showed him the best way to continue the fusion process. A ball of bright white energy was created below his sternum when the three energies first fused. This was his source and Zane was supposed to use the method given to him by the system to nurture it.

Unhelpfully, the system suggested that Zane could deviate from the method it provided. It gave Zane information on the numerous failures and the few successes of those who deviated from the system provided method. All the people who successfully deviated were able to receive greater benefits when they upgraded their tier. Zane could tell the system would prefer for him to deviate from its method. However, Zane thought it would be foolish to deviate and he didn’t know why the system would suggest it.

Once Zane understood all of the information the system gave him, he began nurturing his source. He started by closing his eyes and focusing his attention on his internal body. Usually, Zane could only vaguely sense his bones and organs when he focused on his internal body. However, now that Zane source begun forming, the light it emitted illuminated his body. He was able to see a clear picture of all the bones, organs, arteries and veins that were in his body.

Getting a better look at the physical aspects of his own internal body was interesting, but Zane’s attention was primarily focused on the red, green and blue glow spreading throughout his internal body. The three glows represented his three energies. Health, stamina and mana. Zane needed to create a channel that would allow all of his three source energies to flow into his source.

Creating the channel required a beginning and an end. The system recommended that Zane use the source as the end and the heart, lungs, and brain as the beginning. The heart would create a channel for health, the lungs would create a channel for stamina, and the brain would create a channel for mana. The three channels would allow Zane to provide a steady stream of energy to his source.

Creating the three channels was a simple process, but Zane did make a few mistakes during the creation. His mistakes caused some of his energy to be destroyed instead of fusing into his source. It took Zane a few tries, but he was eventually able to create three channels that provided steady streams of energies to fuse with his source. Zane didn’t know how much energy he wasted during the creation of his channels. He only knew that his three source energies were at ninety percent when he was finished.

Without the systems method Zane would still have been able to fuse his three energies into his source. He could forcefully fuse his three energies into his source or let his source absorb his three energies on its own. Both methods would result in wasted energy and a poor outcome for his upgrade.

As Zane watched his three energies fuse, he saw his source gradually increase in size. The change was subtle, but Zane was able to clearly sense it due to the natural connection he had to his source. Now that the channels were properly established, and his source was growing Zane was able to relax. However, relaxing wasn’t a good thing for Zane. Since he had time to relax, he had time to think.

The fusion is going a lot more smoothly than I thought it would, Zane thought to himself. I thought I would waste a lot of energy, but with the system method I feel like I’m barely trying. Honestly, I don’t know why the system would suggest I deviate from its method. I can’t think of any way to improve on what I’m currently doing. Well, there is one way I might be able to improve the systems method.

If I were to activate my meditation art it might be able to improve the systems method, Zane thought to himself. It’s a bit risky, but I don’t think anything will go wrong. Even if something does go wrong, it shouldn’t create too many problems. After all, I’m not changing the structure of the channels.

Confident that he could handle any problems that would appear Zane began using his meditation art. He focused his will on the three channels and treated them as weapons. Specifically, he treated them as ordinary rods. A rod, like most weapons, transferred the user’s energy to a specific target. Usually, this energy was meant to harm, but Zane focused on having his energy fuse to his source so he could nurture it.

Immediately, Zane noticed a change. His channels became stronger and the energy flowing through them emitted a stronger aura. The next thing Zane noticed was his source was shrinking and it was shrinking fast. He quickly stopped using his meditation art, but the damage was already done.

Looking at his shrunken source, Zane felt like he made a huge mistake. The aura his source emitted was a lot stronger, but he was worried about its size. The system showed him the size his source should be after he finished fusing energy into it. The current size was smaller than when it was first formed, and he was worried he wouldn’t be able to reach the size recommended by the system.

Pushing aside his feelings of fear and worry, Zane tried to go back to the system’s method. Without using his meditation art, Zane tried to continue sending energy through his channels. It didn’t work. All the energy was crushed as it entered the channel. Zane felt his feelings of fear and worry return when he realized that the changes to the channels caused by his meditation art could not be undone. At least, he didn’t know anyway to undo the changes without pushing himself on the path that would lead to a poor upgrade.

Gritting his teeth, Zane decided to continue using his meditation art and hoped for the best. His source continued to shrink as he sent energy toward it and Zane’s mental state continued to crumble as he watched. Right when Zane began to think his source would shrink into oblivion it stopped shrinking.

Suddenly, it started to grow and rapidly expanded in size. It quickly reached the size it was at before it started shrinking and continued growing until it was at the size the system recommended it be at when he finished fusing his energies. A wave of relief swept through Zane’s mind and the feeling of relief was followed by exhaustion.

Zane realized that all of his source energies were below fifty percent, and he would soon have to fight to maintain focus as he continued to fuse his energies. Not wanting to experience any more changes Zane kept his mind clear as he continued to fuse energy into his source. His source didn’t grow larger, but Zane could feel that it was growing more powerful.

As Zane continued to fuse energy into his source, he felt pain and exhaustion. The pain made it hard for him to focus and the exhaustion made him want to go to sleep. While struggling to ignore both feelings, Zane continued sending energy into his source. He felt his vision becoming darker and his thoughts became less clear. He didn’t know how much of his source energies remained, but he continued fusing energy into his source until his vision became completely dark and he lost the ability to think.

Suddenly, Zane found himself in a white space. Immediately, he knew he was inside his source. Zane was ecstatic about his success, but he did his best to calm himself down and begin the next part of his upgrade. Creating his source field.

Currently, Zane’s source was him and he was his source. With a simple thought he ordered the light of his source to spread throughout his body and form a field on the surface of his skin. As the light spread, Zane’s source became dimmer, and his skin started to glow. A few seconds after his skin started glowing Zane received a system message.

You have begun the initial formation of you source field.

Current source field: Flawed

Rewards: A 10% decrease to all tier 0 experience. All harmful tier 0 skills and abilities are 10% less effective.

…

Current source field: Basic

Rewards: A 25% decrease to all tier 0 experience. All harmful tier 0 skills and abilities are 25% less effective. All beneficial tier 0 skills and abilities are slightly less effective. Increases damage and defense by 10%

…

Current source field: Flawless

Rewards: A 36% decrease to all tier 0 experience. All harmful tier 0 skills and abilities are 36% less effective. All beneficial tier 0 skills and abilities are slightly less effective. Increases damage and defense by 18%. All harmful tier 1 skills and abilities are 8% less effective.

…

Current source field: Flawless

Rewards: A 50% decrease to all tier 0 experience. All harmful tier 0 skills and abilities are 50% less effective. All beneficial tier 0 skills and abilities are slightly less effective. Increases damage and defense by 25%. All harmful tier 1 skills and abilities are 10% less effective.

…

Current source field: Perfect

Rewards: A 51% decrease to all tier 0 experience. All harmful tier 0 skills and abilities are 51% less effective. All beneficial tier 0 skills and abilities are less effective. Increases damage and defense by 26%. All harmful tier 1 skills and abilities are 11% less effective. All beneficial tier 1 skill and abilities are slightly less effective. Luck increased by 1%.

Part of Zane’s attention was focused on the system messages, but the majority of his attention was focused on the changes in his body. As light drained from his source, Zane felt his body becoming stronger. The glow on the surface of his skin became brighter and the energy that made up his source field felt more solid as it sat on his skin. Once all the light was gone from Zane source, it became a dim opaque sphere that quietly sat beneath his sternum.

Looking at the current quality of his source field made Zane feel proud. Even with the benefits he received from upgrading race, Zane only expected to receive a flawless source field. He quickly realized that the increase in quality was caused by him using his meditation art. Zane only patted himself on the back for a few second before calming down and continuing his upgrade.

The next step was for Zane to temper his source field with a skill. He could mentally select a skill and the system would help him with the tempering process. However, due to Teacher Isabelle’s training and his own preferences, Zane would be relying on himself. Zane deactivated his meditation and stood up.

For others it would be good to sit down and focus on mentally preforming their chosen skill. Zane understood his tier one skill well enough to know he would be better of punching the air than sitting on the ground. As Zane moved around utilizing his Expert Martial Weapon Mastery skill, he felt his source field become denser and tightly stuck to his skin.

The quality of a source field could be determined by the pressure it gave of and the rewards it brought. As Zane’s source field became denser the rewards increased. The protection from tier zero skills rapidly increased from fifty one percent to eighty nine percent. Once the protection reached ninety percent the increase dramatically slowed down before stopping at ninety three percent.

Once Zane’s source field passed the eighty percent mark it started to dim and sink into the surface of his skin. Once Zane’s source field reached the ninety three percent mark the glow it gave off was equal to a basic level source field. Although the glow was weaker, the pressure his source field created was a lot stronger.

Zane was satisfied with the current level of his source field. He knew that Jason’s source field made it to ninety-six, but that was probably because his meditation method was a higher grade than Zane’s. Although Zane wanted to continue improving his source field, he knew that he had reached the limit with his skill and the system confirmed it.

Congratulations! You have reached the first tier and created a perfect source field.

Source field: Perfect

Rewards: All harmful …

Before Zane could finish reading the rewards, he felt a thrum of power from within himself. It was his bloodline. Heat spread throughout his body and Zane felt his source field continue to improve. The glow dimmed down to the level of a flawed source field and all of the energy in his source field sunk into his skin. Once the heat disappeared Zane once again looked at his system messages.

Congratulations! You have reached the first tier and created a perfect source field.

Source field: Perfect

Rewards: A 100% decrease to all tier 0 experience. All harmful tier 0 skills and abilities are 100% less effective. All beneficial tier 0 skills and abilities are less effective. Increases damage and defense by 50%. All harmful tier 1 skills and abilities are 25% less effective. All beneficial tier 1 skills and abilities are slightly less effective. Luck increased by 10%.