[Choose.]

The word floated in front of Julian, cold, almost commanding.

“Choose…?” He glanced between the two sceneries surrounding him—one of Ellie, and the other, of himself standing at a forge, hammering away at a glowing sword.

But why was this even a choice? He and Ellie have already separated, there was… nothing for him on the other side.

There was only the fire and the metal now. And so, his hand just started to reach toward the version of himself crafting; his heart, drawn to the comfort of the forge.

“Please…” But as soon as he took a step forward, Ellie’s voice completely shattered his resolve.

“Julian, wake up… please wake up.” Ellie’s cry was faint, barely even a whisper, but in his mind, it may as well be louder than the clanging of the metal.

“Ellie…” His heart twisted as he saw her. She was there, sitting beside him, her hands gripping his tightly, tears streaming down her face.

She was hurting—because of him.

"Julian… wake up,” Ellie whispered again, the desperation in her voice breaking him. “I need you.”

“I don’t know… I don’t know what I’m going to do…” Ellie’s sobs echoed around him, wrapping around his chest like a vice, making it harder to breathe.

“If I knew… if I knew it was going to be like this, I wouldn’t have left. Please… please Julian, wake up.”

“...Ellie.” Julian’s heart sank even further as her words washed over him. He stood there, torn between two worlds—Ellie, the woman who had loved him deeply despite everything, and the forge—both who had given him light in the darkness.

Her tears… they drowned him in a sea of guilt.

He was finally seeing her, finally seeing how much she had loved him—how much she still loved him. But at the same time, he saw how deeply he had actually hurt her, how much… his obsession with blacksmithing had stolen from their relationship.

Staying with her now, trying to hold onto something broken, would only hurt her further—her tears, it made Julian’s decision now even easier.

“...Thank you, Ellie.” With a final glance at Ellie, Julian turned his back on her, walking toward the forge. It was… the only path that made sense…

…the only way he could stop himself from destroying her any further.

And so, he walked on. But then, he suddenly realized something—no matter how far he walked, no matter how hard he tried, the forge suddenly seemed so unreachable.

“What’s… going on?” The distance between him and it never shrank. He started to run, but still, the forge stayed just out of reach.

And when it seemed he was getting near, Ellie’s cries just suddenly grew louder, stronger, begging him to turn around.

His legs felt heavy, as if his own body was urging him to go to her, to comfort her, but he knew. He knew if he turned back now, he would never be able to leave again.

“No… That’s enough, Julian…” He closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and kept walking, “I choose this path!”

And with those words… everything vanished.

[Your resolve is stronger than steel. But is it truly resolve? Or is it only selfishness, and you lie to yourself and believe otherwise?]

“...What?” Julian’s eyes widened at the words, “Where’s the—”

[No matter, we will see.]

Suddenly, the darkness lifted, and he found himself standing in a city street.

Tall buildings towered above him, far taller than the Tower of Mana, their sharp edges slicing into the chaos of a smoke-filled sky. The air felt heavy…suffocating. And the ground beneath his feet was littered with all sorts of debris.

“Is this… Earth?” Julian whispered, taking in the unfamiliar sight. It was strange—this was his home, the place he had lived his entire life, but he had never seen it. Not with his own eyes. But he knew, he knew what it was.

“Julian!” And suddenly, a voice called out which made him quickly turn around, only to see a woman running toward him, her arms outstretched, seemingly reaching for him.

“You’re…” And though this was the first time he had ever seen her, there was no mistaking who she was.

“…Mom?” Julian’s voice trembled.

“M… Mom!?” He took a step toward her, his words almost screeching his throat… but she just ran past him without a glance.

“...Mom?”

She wasn’t running toward him—she was running toward a small boy, a child with a cane far too big for his tiny hands.

“Is that… me?”

The boy tapped his cane across the ground, seemingly unaware of the chaos around him. And in his other hand… was a severed arm, the same shade of skin as Julian’s now.

“D… Dad?” Julian whispered, his breath turning heavy as he stared at the hand. It was rough, very much like his hand right now.

“Mom!?” the young boy then called out, his voice extremely desperate…scared. “Mom!? Where are you? Why is…why is Dad’s hand so cold!? Mo—”

“Julian, run! Julian!”

“No…” And soon, a daemon suddenly appeared, causing Julian to just stop breathing there and then. It was smaller than the one he had killed in the Below, but it was no less terrifying—Its twelve legs moved with unnerving speed, its head writhing with tentacles that felt like they also crawled across the ground.

“Mom!” Julian roared, his legs pushing him forward. He reached out for her, every muscle in his body screaming along with him. “No! No!”

He was so close. Only a few more steps. He could save her.

But then… another daemon descended—wings spanning so wide it covered the sky…

…and it started tearing through his mother right before his eyes.

“What…” He skidded to a stop, his heart crashing to a halt as he saw her limbs ripped apart piece by piece—but she did not scream at all. She did not. Instead, she stared at the young boy, at the young Julian…

…making sure he wouldn’t hear.

“No… Mom…” Julian started shaking his head repeatedly.

And very soon, the daemons turned their attention to young Julian, their glowing eyes narrowing in hunger. Before they could pounce, however, a hail of bullets rained down, piercing their bodies.

And then, everything just froze.

“Why… did you show this to me?” Julian whispered, his knees buckling as he dropped to the ground. The weight in his heart too much carry.

“What sort of test is this? What do you want from me!? This… this isn’t even a fucking test!”

His voice echoed in the frozen street, the only sound in the silence.

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But then, without any warning, the scene suddenly shifted.

He wasn’t in the city anymore—he was back in the familiar rough road and the clearing, surrounded by the soldiers of the Order of Artemia he had met just before.

But this time, he was watching himself, his crazed self—holding the blade, grinning as he sliced through the neck of a soldier who surrendered, reveling in the blood that showered in the air.

[You are a person shaped by tragedy. Death and loss have defined you. But the question remains… is that strength, or weakness?]

Julian held his own throat. “What does that even—”

And before he could finish his words, a chill crawled down his spine as he realized that his violent version was staring directly at him, their eyes locked.

“Am I your true self, Julian?” His crazed reflection whispered as he dropped the body on the ground before he started circling Julian like a predator stalking its prey.

“Well…?” His smile was unhinged, a glint of madness in his eyes as he slowly tilted his head.

And as Julian followed his crazed self, he saw the other version of himself—the calm, focused blacksmith. The blacksmith version continued hammering away, his hands never faltering as he shaped a blade with precise, deliberate strikes—a hint of a smile, plastered on his face.

“Don’t bother me,” the blacksmith muttered, barely glancing up from his work.

“Or maybe it’s this guy,” the crazed Julian purred, resting his chin on the blacksmith’s shoulder. “Who do you think you are, Julian Winters?”

[Choose.] And the word appeared once more.

“I’m…” Julian hesitated to answer. His mind, now replaying all the visions that was shown to him—all the pain, the grief, the blood. He stood there in silence, the weight of his past pressing down on him.

But then… he shook his head.

“I… don’t want to choose,” he whispered. “You said it yourself—I’m shaped by death and loss. But that doesn’t mean I have only one shape.”

His voice grew stronger as he spoke, the words flowing from him with unexpected certainty.

“A piece of steel… it can be shaped into many things. A dagger, a sword, an axe—or even something as small as a needle. I am…

…I am steel, tempered by life. Grinded, hammered…changed.”

He looked at his two other versions—one violent, one calm. “I am all of this. I am none of this. I… I am myself.”

[There are many things stronger than steel, Julian Winters.]

“Not when I make them,” Julian and his other versions said in unison, their voices melding into one. There was no hesitation, not even a single bit.

[Good.] And with that, the visions slowly vanished, and Julian found himself alone in a white room.

Everything was still. Silent.

[Now, Julian Winters, which path will you take?] And only the familiar words of the Guidance of Artemis appeared before him.

“A path…” Julian closed his eyes, exhaling softly.

“I just want to be a blacksmith,” he whispered, his voice steady now. He wasn’t running anymore. He wasn’t torn.

All he wanted was to craft, to forge, to create—he was obsessed, and it was alright.

[Perhaps. But these are the choices I have laid out for you:]

1. Blacksmith

2. Warrior

3. Bladedancer

4. Radiant Blacksmith

“There’s… four?” The list appeared before him, each option glowing faintly as the information slowly entered his mind.

And as a matter of course, his fingers instinctively twitched toward the first choice—Blacksmith. The natural option, the one he had spent his life dedicated to.

“Hm…?” But then his gaze lingered on the last choice, seemingly more pronounced than the others… and even glowing.

Radiant Blacksmith.

“What’s… a Radiant Blacksmith?” Julian asked quietly.

[Radiant Blacksmith: A blacksmith of the divine light—the very essence that runs the magic of Artemia itself. As a Radiant Blacksmith, you are capable of imbuing weapons and armor with the very essence of light, making them stronger and unmatched. Would you like more information on this class?]

“That’s…” Julian hesitated, intrigued by the idea. The thought of combining his craft with magic—it stirred something in him, a curiosity that tugged at his mind. “...Okay, tell me more about it.”

[Of course, Julian Winters.]

As a Radiant Blacksmith, your body itself will be reforged in the heart of the divine flames. You will be a conduit of pure radiant energy, capable of imbuing weapons and armor with the very essence of light.

You will grant weapons and armors the divine ability to banish darkness and evil from the world.

Your weapons will be capable of healing allies, and burning enemies into ashes. You will guide the way for those who are blind, Julian Winters.

“...Wow.” A rush of excitement crawled through Julian’s entire body as all the information entered his mind. “Can you… show me the Skills I’ll receive?”

[Here are the skills and abilities that would be initially available to you, Julian Winters.]

Sun Forge: Manipulate the raw power of the sun itself into your craftsmanship. You are no longer in need of fire, Artemia and the divine light itself will be your forge.

Divine Weaponry: All your weapons deal increased damage against creatures of darkness. These weapons also radiate light in a radius, illuminating even the darkest areas.

Many more will become available to you, Julian Winters.

“Wow…” Julian’s excitement continued to grow, “...Isn’t this too strong?”

Julian may be completely unaware and ignorant about video games and their elements, but even he noticed just how strong the Class was.

“...What’s the catch?” Julian narrowed his eyes.

[The skills and abilities will not take effect when crafting in the dark, Julian Winters. You will still be able to craft during the night and the dark.]

“Of course…” Julian sighed. Of course, something as strong as this would also have a drawback, “...You should have told me that in the start, MEG—I mean, Guidance. But if I’m still able to craft during the night without any changes… then I don’t really see why I shouldn’t pick this instead. Okay, Let’s go with the Radiant Blacksmith.”

[I have detected that you have an ongoing quest for a Unique Class: Master of Shadows. A penalty may be imposed upon you if you proceed with this choice, Julian Winters.]

“...Right. That was a class… change quest,” Julian almost completely forgot all about that—this was the quest that absorbed all of the weapons he crafted. He does, remember, skipping the information about it.

“Guidance, can you tell me more about the quest or what class I will get?”

[The Master of Shadows is a unique Class Change quest.]

The Master of Shadows has taken a liking to you, Julian Winters and has bestowed upon you the privilege to become a Shadow Blacksmith. Like the Radiant Blacksmith, the Shadow Blacksmith is a very powerful class.

“Hm. I suppose it makes sense that it’s also a blacksmith class,” Julian let out a small hum as the information entered his mind. But after a few seconds had passed, he realized the [Guidance] was no longer giving him any information.

“Wait... that’s it? Do you have any more information?”

[The Master of Shadows has restricted further information about the class.]

“What…?” Julian’s eyebrows started to lower, “What about the skills and abilities I will get?”

[The Master of Shadows has restricted further information about the class.]

“O…kay?” Julian’s shoulders shifted, “Which one is… stronger?”

[...]

“No…? Nothing?” Julian sighed, “Can you at least tell me what the penalty would be?”

[...]

“Really…?” Julian was completely lost. Was there any merit in choosing something that he doesn’t know about?

The only thing that was making him hesitate choosing Radiant Blacksmith here and now was the fact that the [Guidance] told him that the Shadow Blacksmith was also a very powerful class.

But, then again—shadows.

“No…” Julian made his decision there and then, “...I am tired of living in shadows and darkness. Never again. I choose the Radiant Blacksmith class—let me take on the penalty, no matter what it is…

…I can take it.”

[You made the right choice, Julian Winters. Once you have become the Radiant Blacksmith, you will personally be under my protection.]

“Oh…” Julian almost gasped upon the information entering his mind, “...Your protection? Like… Artemis herself…? The main god of this world?”

[A Radiant Blacksmith is unparalleled—]

[How dare you choose another, Julian Winters?]

“W…what?” Julian flinched as the calm floating words vanished, replaced by violent, jagged letters that filled his vision. They blazed across his sight, almost suffocating his untrained eyes, “Is that… the Master Of Shadows?”

[You will regret this decision, Julian Winters.]

And very soon, shadows crept in from every direction… completely swallowing the white space around him. A chill crawled up his spine, prickling his skin as the words grew larger, almost pressing in on him with an oppressive weight.

And then, finally, the violent set of words in front of him disappeared and the calm [Guidance of Artemis] returned.

[The young and petty Master of Shadows himself has chosen the penalty for abandoning his quest.]

“Young and petty...?” Why does it feel like there was something else going on between the two?

[If you succeed through the penalty of the Master of Shadows, the class, Radiant Blacksmith, will be granted to you. But if you fail, the quest: Master of Shadows will remain. No other class will be available to you anymore, your path to becoming the Shadow Blacksmith will be forever cemented, and the Master of Shadows will also impose a punishment upon you.]

“Okay..." Julian breathed out as he started shaking his hands, "Let’s just do this.”

[Defeat the enemy in front of you.]

"Defeat..." Julian stopped moving for a moment, "Uh... I don't have a weapon?"

The floor beneath Julian’s feet trembled, and before he could make sense of the situation, something began to stir within the shadows. A shape slowly crawled out from the blackness, its form twisting and writhing as it rose, towering over him.

Julian’s breath caught in his throat as he watched the creature take shape, its body made of swirling shadows, tendrils of darkness lashing out like a storm. Its eyes—if they could even be called that—burned with a malevolent, sinister light, fixed squarely on him. It looked…

…like a daemon, but also something else entirely.

[Warning: If you die during the penalty… your real body back on your own planet also dies with you, Julian Winters.]

“Wait… what!?”