[NR] You Come Out Regularly - Chapter 648 (Patreon)

After his talk with the others, Jason goes back into his house and logs out. While there was stuff to do in NeoRealm, such a major change that had affected his “self” to such a deep extent in there, likely had some effect on him irl as well. Except, when he got out, Jason was in for a shock. Mom was home.

Jenny laughed at his expression when he went into the living room. “Weren’t expecting that, were you?”

Jason frowns, “You knew I would be coming out?”

Jenny rolled her eyes, “Son, you come out regularly. Maybe a bit less as of late. I think you’re just letting NeoRealm time get to your head. Besides that, do you really think what you did wouldn’t put up all kinds of alerts? How did you manage it?”

Jason fixes her with a stare, “You think after making sure I wouldn’t answer such open-ended questions from authority figures, I’d just open up? What did I do to throw up alerts? Because sure, I have a guess, but I want to hear what they think I did first.”

Jenny laughs, “Oh boy! Now, I’m not going to lie and claim that it was a test or anything, but if it had been, you would have passed with flying colors! Anyway, The System simply reported you escaped from its in-body monitoring sub-system.”

Jason, “That’s what they call that? It’s an even stupider name than me just calling them System lines!”

Jenny shrugs, “Eh, that’s what you get when you let a committee name things. Anyway, want to hear what they think about it all?”

Jason nods, “I’ve learned a good bit about how it all actually works in NeoRealm. Let’s hear how they think it works and what it means for me out here.”

Jenny, “That’s a good way to look at it. And I guess the best place to start is that they are meant to be the last step to breaking the level limit. Not only the last step though, but hardest as it requires you throw off all internal System control, including the control which assists when using skills and abilities.

“You obviously aren’t free from the System. It still can monitor and punish you for the most part. The System is just no longer able to directly change your status until the next time you die. Though of note, it will not and I personally believe, can not, re-add the ‘lines’ as you call them.”

Jason smiles, “That last part is good to hear. Already died once the first time I tried to remove them. Wouldn’t want to go through that rodeo every time I died.”

Jenny, “And you might end up taking advantage of that a good few times. There will be people hunting you down to find out the secret. Every major organization has at least one or two level-capped in their roster. That is practically the requirement to become a major organization at this point. Hell, rumors are that most of the biggest places have double digits of them.

“The fact you managed it before even level 100? That’s honestly making bigger waves than the whole energy nonsense. If only because this can more directly impact a group’s strength. Those who break the level cap? I don’t even know what happens to them, but the rumors are Wild!”

Jason sighs, “And of course they won’t believe me if I say stuff like it was my use of Energy that allowed for this?”

Jenny shakes her head, “Nope, and claiming it was being under level 100 with a core won’t either. That has all been tested before. Nevermind the fact those few who managed it couldn’t explain how they did so. You obviously will be able to reveal the secrets.”

Jason sighs again, “What sucks is they might be right.”

Jenny, “Do you really trust our house’s info shield that much?”

Jason raises an eyebrow, “As if you didn’t crank up all the security when you saw me enter the living room. You knew what we would be talking about.”

Jenny shrugs, “You aren’t wrong, but what do you mean you could teach what you did?”

Jason, “Well, by that I mean if someone had an Energy core before level one hundred, I have a method that should get them started on a path. What I did was basically replace the System lines with lines of my own. Did you know the lines are kept in place by space itself? Kind of freaky.”

Jenny closes her eyes and runs the bridge of her nose, “How? No one else has ever suggested such a thing. It’s always stories about being struck by the System or some instinct leading the way.”

Jason nods, “I can see that. I have a pretty unique physique I developed because of knowing about the lines. Though I admit to misinterpreting what they were to start with.

“Anyway, it probably won’t be worth very much to anyone before they hit level cap. In fact, given what you said it would likely be actively harmful. I can hack it because I never depended on System assist for the core of my abilities, plus a few other quirks. Oh, I just realized something. How did you know I have a core?”

Jenny shrugs, “System confirmation that you can’t remove the lines without a core. Until you have a core, the lines aren’t anchored to you in the same way. Even if you remove them, the System will add them back a moment later.

“Like I said, this has all been tested before. And it is easier to remove the lines without a core. Just that the removal doesn’t stick and so doing so is considered worthless. Especially since a few of the more recent level-capped have admitted their past experience with doing so did not help in the least bit.”

Jason, “Welp, sucks to them I guess. I didn’t do anything, but wouldn’t it be funny if the two things they’re watching me for were connected?”

Jenny laughs and laughs and laughs.