He watched as the guard unsheathed his sword, his superhuman dexterity and strength allowing him to whip it around in a blur. A wave of air pressure shot out, breaking over Jonathan’s body. He simply raised one eyebrow, and started walking forwards. Judging by what he had just seen, the man was at least at the second threshold for Strength. However, Jonathan doubted that he had the copious bonuses that he had to the stat.
As he neared, the guard swung his sword again, using the flat part as if to suggest that Jonathan was too weak to take a strike from the blade. There was a blur of motion too fast for most of the people in the tavern to see, and the sword was knocked out of the guard’s hands. A moment later, Jonathan’s fist was buried in his gut, denting the low quality armor that the man was wearing. He shot off his feet and into the wall, cracking it. It was a lot more durable than any stone Jonathan had seen before, which was good. He could go all out in terms of physical power.
“You bastard!” The guard roared, his aura expanding outwards. People ran from their seats, vacating the premises. Jonathan and his opponent ignored that, sizing one another up.
“Takes one to know one.”
The childish insults were far more effective than Jonathan would have expected, which meant that his foe probably had never been disrespected before. It was highly likely, going by his cockiness, that he had never been in a fight against someone superior to him.
Jonathan charged, not letting his foe recover, and he bulldozed him into the wall, stunning him. The barkeeper watched from behind the sturdy wooden bar with fear in her eyes as the two men clashed. Jonathan eventually got the better of his enemy and knocked him out with a thunderous headbutt, sending him collapsing to the ground.
“How much for a room?” He said to the barkeeper, pretending as if none of that had happened.
“Fif-fifty Leviathan Marks, sir.”
Jonathan nodded and tossed some onto the counter, not bothering to count. He knew that it was a bit over, but that would help pay for the repairs. Leaving the bar behind, he walked up a set of stairs and onto a dingy second floor, lined with rooms. Keys hung on a placard at the top of the stairs, next to room numbers. Jonathan picked one at random, and headed for the room. He was not planning on staying here for long.
He used the key as soon as he reached the room, and walked in, finding a small cot, and nothing else. People at his level didn’t need much more. The cot was simply to rest on, nothing more, as it lacked even a pillow. He quickly sat down and entered his class selection process. As before, there were five options, one of which was clearly an upgrade of his current one. Humoring the System, he went through them all.
The first one was a figure of a man, so grotesquely enhanced by his strength that he almost appeared to be a square. Jonathan opened the description, already knowing that this was not for him.
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Student Strength-Touched Warrior
Tier 3 Epic Class
Your body is your temple, a temple made out of muscles and strength. Using just your superior physical might, you can destroy anything in your way. Intelligence? Speed? Who needs them when you have brawn?
+15 to Strength, +5 to Resilience, +5 to Constitution, +3 additional free points.
The class was better than his current one, despite its lower ranking. However, he knew that there were better ones to come. The next statue was of a nearly naked man, wearing only a pair of gauntlets and a loincloth. An aura of savagery surrounded him, sending sparks out into the void.
Student Disciple of the Fist
Tier 3 Legendary Class
The fist, and the fist alone, is the path that you walk. Stepping onto this path will allow you to achieve wonders with just the power of your own two hands, but will also prevent you from developing other fighting styles. The Fist is eternal.
+10 to Strength, +10 to Dexterity, +5 to Resilience, +5 to Constitution, +5 additional free points.
The class was quite tempting, but it was not the one for him. He had been saved by his split focus countless times, and sacrificing his Void abilities for this would not be worth it. He suspected that he would simply end up upgrading his current class at this rate, but it was still wise to check through all of the options first.
The statue after the Disciple of the Fist was a representation of a Void magus, holding a staff wreathed in the devouring light of consumption. It looked extremely powerful, but Jonathan withheld from any decisions before he knew more.
Student Voidcaster
Tier 3 Legendary Class
The Void becomes you. A power of endless consumption, you have sipped upon its dark waters for long enough to become a part of a greater whole. Channel that power to obliterate your enemies, all in the name of nothingness.
+15 to Intelligence, +15 to Wisdom,, +5 additional free points.
It was simply the upgraded version of the Voidcaster class that he had been offered upon reaching Tier 2. It was still tempting, but he knew that he was not a mage at heart. He savored the power of his physical form, and if he could have a measure of magical power, even if it would never match that of a similarly powerful mage, he would be happy.
With a sigh, Jonathan headed towards the next statue, one unfamiliar to him. A man, his face twisted in a manic grin, burned amid fires of deepest purple as he channeled the power through every iota of his being. Strangely enough, his expression only showed intense happiness, without a drop of pain. Shuddering slightly, Jonathan read it.
Student Void Acolyte
Tier 3 Legendary Class
Within the dark embrace of the Void, there lies a hidden path. That of negation. You may be able to channel its all consuming majesty with ease, but there is still another step yet to come, one of unbinding and oneness with your chosen element. Your form is that of the nadir itself, endless, and the end, consumer and the consumed. Beware, for your mind shall become one with your element, with no hope of return.
+40 free points per level.
It was a class that offered high stat bonuses, especially considering their unbound nature, but with an insurmountable drawback. Jonathan instantly closed the message as soon as he fully comprehended it, horrified at the thought. There was no way he would ever give up his mind for power. It defeated the whole point of progression.