Cal sat down in front of the R.I.S. console with everyone gathered at the tables in the room. The room now had video feeds on the console itself so that others could read alongside Cal without crowding him. This was much easier than the constant interruption he had previously had to endure.
Defense Quest System
Hold Dallas Laboratory For Two Hours Complete
Reward
R.I.S. Upgrade Module System
New Goal
Hold Dallas For Two hours
Rank: Intermediate
“Wait, what? Do we have to hold the entire city?” Stan shouted.
“Looks that way. That isn’t something we are remotely capable of right now. At least, I don’t think we are.” Cal answered.
He had no idea how they could do that. They were going to need some significant improvements on the magical front to make that even anywhere near possible.
“We’re going to need Melissa’s help. Those mech suits of hers could give us an advantage.” Andrew said.
“Yeah, we should try to talk to her this loop, assuming we can find her before the end.” Cal agreed.
“Even if we can’t find her until the end, I think we are better off joining her defense attempt and making contact that way if we have to.” Andrew countered.
“Agreed again, we’ve got a lot to do before we can continue the Dallas defense, it seems, but we can discuss that more later. Let me finish going through this.” Cal wanted to get through this so he could go explore the changes to the realm.
He selected the Upgrade Module System next.
R.I.S. Upgrade Module System
Current Available Upgrades
Increase Party Size to 20 - Cost: Free
Advance Class System - Cost: Free
Cal selected them both and quickly added Frank, Bill, Albert, and Ralth to the party. He then moved to the advanced class selection screen, which had everyone in the party listed. He selected himself to see his current options.
R.I.S. Party Analysis
Name:
Cal Marshall
Cal
Species:
Mana Infused Human
Class:
Courier
Fighter
Wizard
Specialty:
Food
Fists, Rifles
Electricity, Rock
Level:
5
1
1
Bonded Entities:
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Grannus
Fulginanis
Elemental Affinities:
Earth
Lightning
Rank:
1
3
Note: Deeper Analysis Available With Terminal Growth
The only difference he saw was that his race had apparently changed. Bolt and Barron were now merged into the singular Fulginanis, and that his lightning affinity had climbed. There was a new option below his stats, though.
Gryalth Killed 50/50
Class fusion available
Fuse base classes into tier 1 classes?
“Interesting, I guess we know what that did. Anyone against me doing this?” He asked the room.
No one spoke up.
He pressed the fusion button.
Cal’s brain lit up as though someone had stabbed a red-hot pick directly through his skull. He screamed, at least, he thought he did. He was having trouble perceiving the world anymore. Something was happening to his body on a fundamental level.
The pain faded, and he came back to his senses. He was still sitting in his chair, but several people were now standing around him.
“What the fuck just happened?” He coughed out.
“You just stopped talking or moving all of a sudden about five minutes ago. We were about to carry you to your bedroom. Are you okay?” Stan answered.
“I think so, holy shit that hurt. I’ve been through some insane pain, but that was a new level. It felt like every part of me was ripped apart and rebuilt.”
“Do you want to go get some rest?” Stan asked.
“Yes, but not yet. I want to read what changed on my class sheet.”
Cal looked back at the monitor and reselected his advanced class profile.
R.I.S. Party Analysis
Name:
Cal Marshall
Cal
Species:
Mana Infused Human
Tier 1 Class:
Lightning Dancer
Description:
This class is skilled in quickly moving across the battlefield while blasting ranged lightning attacks.
Specialty:
Channel Electricity
Earthen Shield
Darkness
Level:
1
1
1
Bonded Entities:
Barron
Fulginanis
Elemental Affinities:
Earth
Lightning
Shadow
Rank:
1
3
1
Level Up Goals:
Gryalth 0/100
Condorpion 0/50
Hell Moose 0/1
Note: Deeper Analysis Available With Terminal Growth
“Yeah, that explains why I feel so weird. I'm pretty sure I just had my body altered to fit my new class. I’ve gotta go lay down. Can you all collect Many Legs and Many Eyes today? I want to have a big meeting tomorrow about our loop goals.” Cal said.
“Yeah, of course, go get some rest. I’ll take care of those two. Bug, go with him and keep him company.” Stan replied
“Okay, Dad.” Bug rubbed her head on Cal’s leg
“Thanks, Dad. Come on Bug.” Cal said
“Always, I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
*
Cal woke up on his own this time. He finally felt refreshed, but something was off with his mana channels. He could feel the energy pulsating at a much finer level than he had ever been able to before.
He grabbed one of the tiny threads and tried pushing it into his right hand. It fizzled long before it reached his hand. He tried again, this time very carefully nudging it, almost swimming it along his channels until he felt it in his fingertip.
He pointed the finger carefully at an empty soda can on his dresser. He aimed and released the mana. A laser-thin beam of electricity shot from his fingertip. It pierced the can and continued on into the wall.
“Shit,” Cal muttered.
He chased the beam into the hall. He watched it ricochet off the door handle on the door to the room across from his and then finally dissipate as it hit his wall again.
“What just happened?” Albert asked from the end of the hall.
“I promise I didn’t just accidentally fire a laser from my finger through the wall. And if I did, I would never accidentally do it again. Probably. I hope. Good morning, Albert. How are you?” Cal gave up trying to devise an excuse and went with a topic change instead.
“I’m fine, though I suspect if I had been thirty seconds earlier, I may not have been. Have you looked in a mirror recently?” The capybara asked.
“How recently?”
“Since you did your class fusion thing.”
“Nope, why?”
“Well, there’s a tattoo on your forehead that looks like a magical rune. You may want to see Bill about that. I was heading to dinner if you want to join me and ask him.”
“Yeah, that seems like a good idea.” Cal was starving. He felt like he hadn’t eaten in days. He figured it must have been the class fusion.