...Well, that will probably be annoying.

How is the System's preference for users' difficulty levels determined?

"...Well, that information gives me approximately half the start of a plan."

...Are supernal skill points considered amongst the points taxed by a death?

Zone difficulty targets are determined based on the number of nearby users and their average number of points invested.

All points invested are included when applying re-instantiation penalties.

"Seems like you're talking to the system again. There are people who consider that rude, not me personally but something to be aware of."

...Are they considered as per their converted weight in baseline points, or...?  And in what order are points actually removed?

Ugh, that's just not good.

"So noted; what gave me away, anyway?"

Universal points and skill imports are assessed at the same rate as the basic point types.

"Your eyes."

"What, you're sharp enough to track the saccades?  Damn.  That's pretty sharp."

"Thank you, I like to think I've made good choices in what I spend points on."

"Knowledge is power, when power's not power enough."

"That's an interesting caveat. Regardless, you said you had a plan, do you care to share it or are you still worried about being overheard?"

"Sometimes power overwhelming is the easiest solution," she quips wryly.  "And sometimes knowledge alone can't fix what broke.  Mmm - as far as a plan I might have...Well.  It's just powerleveling and refusing to let the System break me, in the end.  With more finality than you'd be capable of."

Allison stares at her for several long seconds before she says, "I see."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm absolutely going to be applying various and diverse skills to the System once I've done that, but...First I need to actually get to the point where I can smack it on the command prompt, by stealing as much of its power and knowledge as I can.  The rest?  It'll just be like fixing up my gloves, but moreso."

"I hope you find more success than the others I've met with that goal."

"Were any of them cheating?"

"If by cheating you mean using outside context magic then no."

"Then I think I have more of a chance.  Might be a long and hard road, but...I can see it, at the very least.  And that's the first step to doing."

At last the reach the gate, it blends into the surrounding wall until it's opened from the inside to reveal a stone lined tunnel that goes for maybe 15 meter before emerging again into the sunlight.

Allison turns to her before going through.

"I find I don't know what to say. I've had this conversation many times before but you're correct that you do have a special advantage." She takes a deep breath. "What I will say is that it may do you well to ask for help. And also, welcome to Breyersville."

"I agree, I don't plan on doing this alone.

"And...thank you.  I think, despite the bit where I'm trapped in a real live deathgame, that I'm honestly glad to be here.  I imagine you're still on watch duty, but I'd consider it a favor if you'd point me somewhere quiet-ish so I could work on repairing my armor?  Also to your library, or - "

Say, does her datapad have signal?

"Hmm, quiet is in somewhat short supply. We try to use space efficiently and that means there isn't much empty space. I can show you to the library but they won't want you working on your armor there. If you just want quiet-ish there's the public workshops there are usually people talking there but typically quietly they respect the shared space."

No her tablet isn't connecting to anything.

"A public workshop will do.  And I will definitely want to visit the library, too.  Preserving knowledge is very important."

"Indeed it is, the nearest workshop is this way." She walks to Student's side, gesturing whenever there's a turn. "You know I don't think I caught your name." The buildings they pass are somewhat eclectic, some of them are built from local materials like the tunnel, the guard towers and the wall, while others seem slightly worn but neatly painted and made from bricks, concrete, synesthetic materials and other bits. There are guardtowers interspersed with the other buildings and sometimes built on top of them and a occasionally fused stone structures with large gems at the top that come up to about waist height.

"Tian'kenata, Thoughtful Student in my native language.  And yours is?"

She's fascinated by the variety of architecture on display, especially the gem-topped pedestals.  "I recognize a lot of these materials and styles, but what's with these?"

"I'm Allison Cray. The pedestals are early warning systems, they alert us to attacks from below the ground or high altitudes. It's not perfect but it's usually enough that we can have people in place to mitigate any damage. Haven't lost anyone to ants in over two years now so they're working."

"Interesting.  I assume that there's countermeasures imposed regarding seismographs, echonography (or whatever it's called), radar, magnetometry, et cetera, by the System?  Or...oh, aerial attacks would have the problem that yes, that is a danger but also a bird, hmm...but I have some thoughts about improving those defenses, and unspent points..."