Jaeden took a deep breath and explained what little he knew about the three choices. As he spoke, Liandra’s head tilted slightly, her expression thoughtful. When he finished, she leaned back on her heels, the weight of the moment evident in her posture.
“You’re lucky,” she said after a pause, her tone musing. “At least you have something to tell you what you might expect, no matter how cryptic the information. For us, without a system as you call it, we have to muddle our way through - train with our masters or forge our own paths - and hope.” She glanced down, her gaze distant for a moment as though recalling her own trials. Then, her expression brightened, and she looked up at him with a mischievous grin. “Why, the choice is easy.”
Jaeden raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Please elaborate, oh wise mentor,” he teased, his voice tinged with playful sarcasm.
She rolled her eyes but played along, raising her fingers to tick off her points. “The third option is an enhancement of your natural tendencies - I reckon that it is a choice given to you based on who you are. Nothing more.” She ticked down another finger. “The second option is obviously related to your luck and such things as your dice. The way you used them to defeat the demon; how you have survived this long without a class; your ability to get out of the most absurd circumstances - it defies probability.”
Jaeden nodded along, her insights aligning with his own thoughts. “And the first option?” he asked, leaning forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.
“That one is the only true option,” she declared with a certainty that caught him off guard. “And here’s why-” She held up her last finger and then pointed it at him, her expression sly. Before he could react, she poked him squarely in the chest. “It is a choice without choice, that’s your hint. Only you can walk this path. I am willing to bet it will open the door to many opportunities. And by choosing it, you are not giving up on the other two choices - you are merely elaborating on the only one that leaves you free to be you.”
Jaeden blinked, trying to fully grasp her logic. Her words resonated on an intuitive level, even if they didn’t entirely make sense. Trusting his instincts, and her, he decided to act. “You’re probably right,” he admitted with a wry smile. “As usual.”
He turned to Sassy, who had perched herself comfortably on his shoulder, her tiny arms crossed as she watched the exchange with a bemused expression. Quirking an eyebrow at her, he asked, “What do you think?”
Sassy shrugged, then reached out to poke him in the ear. “Up to you, boss.”
Jaeden laughed at her nonchalance, shaking his head. With a glance back at Liandra, who offered an encouraging nod, he made his decision.
“Alright,” he said, his voice firm. “Let’s do this.”
Sassy broke into her system voice, and spoke:
“Choice confirmed. Nice one. Omnipath class selected. Circle 15 advancements applied to newly chosen class. Circle 11 Milestone Reached: Choose Class Evolution.”
Jaeden barely had time to relish the moment before a new set of options materialized before him, and he groaned audibly.
Omnipath Evolutions available:
Way of the Sword
Way of the Shroud
Way of the Shaman
“You thought you were out of the woods, eh? Not so fast, hero,” Sassy snarked, her voice dropping out of the system speak, and instead dripping with playful derision. “You’ve got plenty of choices left to make.”
Jaeden read the new options aloud to Liandra, who nodded thoughtfully. “Well, at least those seem to make more sense,” she offered.
“Though I’m not sure why the Way of the Shroud,” she added, her brow furrowing. “You haven’t displayed much in the way of magic to speak of.” She shot him an apologetic smile, and Jaeden shrugged in response.
“No, you’re right. I don’t really have any magic… not that I know of, anyway.” He paused, his mind flickering to the ritual he’d participated in and the strange skills he’d gained as a result. “But it’s not like I’ve used any of it much,” he admitted.
“I should probably choose Way of the Sword -it makes the most sense. But then again, I’ve been wanting a good magic class choice. It’s just that…” He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. “If I choose a magic-oriented evolution, I just know I’ll be behind the curve.”
He turned to Sassy with a questioning look. “What do you think?”
Sassy rolled her eyes dramatically. “I think you’re overthinking this. Would the Way of the Sword make sense? Sure. Would either of the other evolutions work? Probably. Besides, there are other benefits to being circle 15. So, does this somehow stop you from advancing further and choosing something else later? No. So, just pick already.”
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“Thanks. That’s so helpful,” Jaeden quipped, his tone heavy with sarcasm.
The banter was interrupted by Liandra’s sharp intake of breath as she noticed something important in what the pixie said. “Circle 15? Are you genuine?” she asked, her astonishment evident.
“Why? Is that good?” Jaeden asked, tilting his head. “I mean, it feels pretty good. But like I said, I’ve gotten along pretty well without a class so far.”
Liandra’s expression shifted between amazement and exasperation. “You don’t understand,” she said, her voice firm. “For every level you advance, every circle you attain, you acquire essence advancements that you can use to increase your… potency.”
Jaeden’s brow furrowed, and his lips quirked into a lopsided grin. “That probably doesn’t mean what I think it means,” he joked, earning a reluctant laugh from Liandra.
“It means, by the time you reach Circle 15, you should have already forged your body, mind, and soul several times over, to beyond human levels. For the average person who is uninitiated, they can never forge their cores. But for those who are, they go from superhuman to deific. And some eventually reach godlike or transcendent tiers of power - physically, mentally, and spiritually. They are true monsters,” Liandra finished, her voice carrying a fervent intensity that left Jaeden momentarily awestruck. The passion in her words lit her features, and for a moment, her normally composed demeanor burned with a fiery zeal.
“So, you mean to tell me,” Jaeden began, trying to process the gravity of her statement, “that my primary stats, being in their 20s, is not normal? It’s… underpowered?” He leaned forward slightly, his brows furrowed.
“Yes, sort of,” Liandra replied, her tone thoughtful. “I don’t know the exact numbers you speak of because you’ve not been to an assessment stone, a guild hall, or anywhere designed to test your capabilities - let alone your strength. But I can tell you this: if what you’re saying corresponds directly to what an assessment stone would report, then yes. You are already above human… but severely underpowered compared to others at your Circle.”
Jaeden turned to Sassy, his worry evident despite his attempt to remain calm. “Is that true, Sassy? Am I screwed?”
Sassy tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her dark eyes. “Depends on what you mean,” she dissembled with a casual shrug. “Because that’s what I was saying - your class evolution is but one step in your series of choices. You’ll also have to choose which stats you want to raise, which skills to improve, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the look in his eyes.
Jaeden’s gaze was intense, his hunger almost tangible as he stared at her, his mind whirring with the possibilities her words opened up.
Sassy’s demeanor shifted abruptly. She crossed her arms over her chest, covering her delicate figure protectively, and fixed him with a mock glare. “Hey! Eyes up here! I feel like someone just walked in on me changing.”
Jaeden blinked, snapping out of his reverie, and waved his hand dismissively. “Oh, knock it off. I wasn’t staring at you - I was thinking about how amazing all of this is and how much I want it.” He flashed her a grin, and Sassy dropped her arms with an exaggerated pout.
“Well, you’re no fun,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him before zipping closer to his face. With a surprising burst of affection, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek, leaving Jaeden stunned. “But I won’t hold it against you,” she added with a wink. “Since I wouldn’t be here without you.”
Jaeden blinked, momentarily thrown by her words and actions. It took him a moment to catch up to the present. When he did, he noticed Liandra watching him, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips.
“Back to the topic at hand. So, basically, what you’re both saying is: once I’ve decided on my evolution, gotten all of my class choices out of the way, then I get to allocate stats. And that means I get to customize my build.” His voice carried a mix of amusement and anticipation.
Liandra nodded along until the last part, where she paused, her brow furrowing slightly. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean by that. But for the most part, yes, you are correct.”
“Great,” Jaeden replied, looking between her and Sassy. “Any suggestions, then, on the evolution?” He waited expectantly as the two shared a brief glance. To his disappointment, they simultaneously shook their heads.
“Well, that’s no help,” he muttered, letting out a theatrical sigh. He glanced down at the swords resting across his lap, an idea sparking in his mind. “What about you two? Any ideas?” he asked, directing the question toward the weapons.
To his surprise, he felt a distinct pull from the Umbra Lux toward the Way of the Shaman. The sensation was almost like a whisper at the edge of his consciousness, urging him toward a path of magic and mysticism. Immediately after, a stronger pull emanated from the Orichalcum Sword of Asterius, this time toward the Way of the Sword. Its intent was clear: mastery through martial prowess and unrelenting strength.
Jaeden sat back, letting out a soft chuckle. “If you two can’t get along, there must be a reason for it. So, I’ll choose the third option.”
He selected the Way of the Shroud, his decision carrying a quiet finality. Almost immediately, another notification appeared, confirming his choice.
Sassy once again spoke in her system voice -Jaeden wondered if that was a quirk, or if it was something she’d grow out of.
“Evolution decided. Way of the Shroud selected. Congratulations, that’s a good one.”
Unique Title Omnist, Upgraded to: Omnistrate.
Congratulations. You’ve proven that you can blend skills and abilities into formidable attacks against your opponents. The Omnistrate has a name for that. It’s called Adaptive Synergy. Yay! Names mean something, so maybe you’ll be better at it or something.”
“Does this new form and consciousness mean you’re going to be even more snarky?” Jaeden asked, feigning exasperation with a mock groan.
“Oh, you have nooo idea,” Sassy replied, her smirk both mischievous and endearing.
“Great. Glad to have you,” Jaeden said dryly before turning his attention back to the flood of messages still waiting in his UI. He sifted through them quickly, dismissing those he deemed unimportant. His attention moved almost reflexively, his focus sharpening as he worked.
And then he came upon his updated character sheet. His brow furrowed as he read the name change emblazoned across the top, the unexpected revelation catching him completely off guard.