Meera still lay on the ground when Brison brought her back. She was fine, she knew that, but it still felt like it was hard to breathe. Melas's iron grip that crushed her throat was a sensation that she wouldn't soon forget.
Instead of getting up to greet the others who were talking amongst themselves, she lay there watching the stars and brought up her notifications.
*ding!*
[You have killed Colossus Warden – Level 276. For killing an opponent eighty levels higher than your own, you have gained bonus experience.]
*ding!*
[Congratulation. Mirror Image Hunter has gained 11 levels and reached Level 207. You have been awarded 33 stat points.]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Chakram of Echoes effect activated. Upon reaching Level 200 in your main class, you have earned one more Chakrams.]
Her total number of chakrams went to eighteen. She wondered if she should make more of the Level 2 Chakrams.
[Chakram of Echoes Stage 3 effect unlocked. Searing Chakram – Your Level 2 Chakrams will now spin so fast that they twist the winds around them, allowing them to cut anything that comes in close proximity to them without making contact.]
Meera's eyes widened. Okay, that settles it. I'm definitely making more Level 2 chakrams.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror's Affinity has gained 5 levels and reached Level 158. All of your mirror-based attacks will get a 161% boost.]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Armor of Mirrors has reached Level 85]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror Shield has gained 2 levels and reached Level 72]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror Shard Barrage has reached Level 64]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Vitalize has gained 2 levels and reached Level 81]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror Wing has gained 3 levels and reached Level 74]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Shadow Coating has gained 4 levels and reached Level 21]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Shadow Affinity has gained 2 levels and reached Level 56. All of your shadow-based attacks will get a 58% boost.]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mistbound Illusions has gained 2 levels and reached Level 35]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mist Concealment has reached Level 23]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Wild Instincts has gained 2 levels and reached Level 33]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Spectral Resistance has gained 2 levels and reached Level 69]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Iron Skin has gained 6 levels and reached Level 24]
As it turned out, she was getting a class evolution at level 200, and she couldn't wait to see what she got this time.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. You have met the requirements for Class Evolution: Mirror Image Hunter can evolve to The Shadow Image. You have hunted down many foes and taken their skills, but the bulk of your skills have been towards the Mirror and Shadow element. One grants you unprecedented power, and the other lets you bend the shadows to your will.]
[The Shadow Image is someone who can play in the shadows and kill their foes with mirrors. But that is not all they can do. You can utilize the shadows to store, hide, and reuse what you desire most, making you richer in more aspects than one.]
[Would you like to evolve Mirror Image Hunter to Shadow Image? No skills will be lost, and your progression will remain the same. Choosing this class will lock other progression paths.]
The class looked like it would enhance both her affinities. How Pallas was saying I should, but what's this part about storing what I desire most?
*ding!*
[Congratulations. You have met the requirements for Class Evolution: Mirror Image Hunter can evolve to Mirror Blade. You are a force of nature when it comes to using mirrors. You have pushed your mirror skills to the limit and used them to destroy anyone who has dared to stand in your way.]
[A Mirror Blade is more than a person, more than a blade. They are your enemies' fear reflected in your mirrors before they are sent from this world to the Lord of Deeds. Your mirrors will become ever sharper, and your connection to the mirror element will deepen to the point that you are the blade itself.]
[Would you like to evolve Mirror Image Hunter to Mirror Blade? No skills will be lost, and your progression will remain the same. Choosing this class will lock other progression paths.]
This is not bad, thought Meera. Most of her skills were mirror skills, not to mention her mirror chakrams. Both would benefit from this class. But the only thing that gave Meera pause was that it did not mention skills or stealing them.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. You have met the requirements for Class Evolution: Mirror Image Hunter can evolve to Mirror Beast. You have taken deadly blows during battle, only stand back up and continue fighting. Attacks that would have killed others have only slowed you down as you powered through the pain to finish your foes.]
[A Mirror Beast is a force of nature. They can take unparalleled amounts of damage and even regenerate limbs at a whim. You can deaden your sensation of pain to concentrate on the fight. Nothing will stand in your way as you unleash your might on the enemy.]
[Would you like to evolve Mirror Image Hunter to Mirror Beast? No skills will be lost, and your progression will remain the same. Choosing this class will lock other progression paths.]
Meera was definitely intrigued by this. If she could cut off the pain sensation, she could do so much, but aside from that, this class didn't provide her with much else. But even that much was a lot.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. You have met the requirements for Class Evolution: Mirror Image Hunter can evolve to Mirror Chakram Savant. Your inseparable chakrams are more than weapons. They are your arms. They have been with you through thick and thin. They have helped you to victory on all manners of foes while stealing your enemies' skills for you.]
[A Mirror Chakram Savant is adept at using the divine chakrams granted to them by the Lady of Mirrors. You will inherently enhance the power of your trusty weapons. They will be stronger, faster, and deadlier. Your aim will be truer, and you will never miss. You will also unlock the Chakram Stage 4 effect immediately.]
[Would you like to evolve Mirror Image Hunter to Mirror Chakram Savant? No skills will be lost, and your progression will remain the same. Choosing this class will lock other progression paths.]
Meera was stumped. She wanted it. It was almost too good to pass up. She waited for any more notifications, and nothing else popped up. So, she had a total of four to choose from. She couldn't discard any of the choices as they all had merit.
It was like the system had taken the form of combat in which she excelled and was giving her the chance to multiply them even further. If it were up to her, she would have taken them all and fused them into one class. But life was never fair.
The last three's merits were obvious—mirror power, healing and chakrams. But the first one played to her affinities. That much was obvious, but the last part stumped her. What did that last part mean about using shadows to store what I desire most?
What she desired most was to find her brother and find a way back home so they could avoid this prophecy business and, of course, avoid her untimely death.
What I desire most...
She put that aside as she tried to narrow it down between her other choices. The chakram one was good, but increasing her mirror power with Mirror Blade would also make her chakrams stronger. Plus, all her mirror skills would get a boost as well.
Mirror Chakram Savant was almost begging Meera to accept it. Each of the effects of the past stages had exponentially increased her Chakram's power. She could only imagine what the next stage would be. But then again, she was only ninety-three levels away from the next stage. It would take her a few days in Brison's rooms to achieve that. She might even hit Level 300 before her deadline to find the queen ran out. She put this class aside for now and looked at the next one.
Mirror Beast was good. Being able to survive deathly wounds and continue fighting with no pain was damn good. It would nullify her wounds to inconveniences. But we feel pain for a reason? That is how people know not to do something that will get them killed.
After much thinking, she decided that she would like to feel pain after all, even if it was the bad kind. So, of the last three, she decided on Mirror Blade, and all that left her was The Shadow Image. She was about to pass up on it when it clicked. There was only one thing she desired more than finding Neel.
Oh, please don't fuck me on this. She drew a deep breath. I choose The Shadow Image.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror Image Hunter has evolved to The Shadow Image – Level 207]
[The Shadow Image – You excel in both Mirror and Shadow skills. The combination of the two has created this unique class suited for you and you alone. You will be able to steal skills and store them in the shadows until needed.]
*ding!*
[Class Ability Change. Stalker has evolved to Hoarder – Level 26. Your can store your stolen skills in your five Shadow Skill slots and swap them out with your regular skills when needed. You will continue to steal two skills from everyone but can only take one.]
Meera's heart beat faster and faster as she checked her skills and saw the newly created Shadow Skills section. Yes. Yes. Oh God, yes! But before she could jump up with joy, new notifications popped up.
*ding!*
[Stat Points Awarded]
[Constitution: +30]
[Power: +20]
[Dexterity: +25]
[Endurance: +35]
[Focus: +40]
[Agility: +25]
[Perception: +25]
*ding!*
[Skill Change. Mistbound Illusions changes to Mirror Phantom. Mirror Phantom – Type: Active. You can create ethereal mirages or spectral duplicates using a mirror at the illusion's core. These phantoms are helpful in creating diversions, confusing foes, or setting up tactical advantages.]
Meera waited longer to see if she would get anything else, but nothing showed up. She quickly allocated her stat points. She put the highest in Focus and spread the rest evenly in everything else, save for Power. She drew a deep breath and looked at her new Shadow Skills section.
Shadow Skills
[Unlocked]
[Unlocked]
[Unlocked]
[Unlocked]
[Unlocked]
The five new open slots made her grin from ear to ear. This was the best choice. The other classes had their perks, but this gave her the freedom to pick up more skills.
"Are you going to get up or keep smiling at the stars?" Pallas called.
Meera stood and dusted herself off. "Sorry, I had to take care of some business."
"Your class evolved?" He gasped. "What in the Judge's name is a… Reflection's Shadow?"