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Every creature has a class choice and can evolve into a higher form. But most will only choose one and reject the other. The reasoning is that it is slower to reach the threshold for a level cap when possessing both a class and the ability for evolution.

Take a large number of humanoids, for example. Almost all have rejected evolution in favor of classes. Because of this, those in power stay in power by spreading false propaganda to the masses, making it more challenging in the long run to become more powerful and reach their limits sooner than most.

But it's the opposite for monsters and beasts. Almost all of them reject having a class as it makes them weaker for longer than was needed. Only the smartest and luckier ones who have decided to keep both will survive the hardships of slow growth as they are forced to learn to use both to their fullest potential to become more powerful.

While rejection seems like a bad thing, it does come with benefits, such as faster leveling and bonuses to stats or skills. Only a few have broken through into divinity and become a god with only one part of the system.

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I woke with a splash of water hitting my body. It didn't burn with incredible pain anymore. A small blue window appeared in my vision as I lay there floating in the water like liquid. It wasn't intense at the shallow end of the pond seeing as my tail four could reach the bottom. Not drowning anytime soon, the message opened up.

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The system has offered you a class. Do you accept it, or will you reject the classes given by the system?

Yes/No?

Warning rejecting a class will give you bonuses for stats but will forever lock the class system from you.

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Thinking this over, I could see my thoughts running in circles. Why would anyone reject free power given to them without any drawbacks or consequences over some extra stats that don't even tell you how much you get? That seems like it would only limit me to only my race. The sheer stupidity of someone rejecting this would be the worst mistake a creature could make. Instead of gambling with the chance to get a lot of stats or only getting a slight boost would be very idiotic of them.

I have no idea what regular stats look like, but it feels like it would be a waste to squander the opportunity given by the system. So I accepted, saying yes to the message. And a new message popped into my vision.

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Congratulations on accepting the class system.

You seem like a clever little Void monster.

You will receive three choices, so pick one wisely, for you may only receive one class.

1. Novice monster brawler. You fight with your body as your primary weapon, leaning more towards physical domination over the magical talent that flows through your veins. STR, VIT, and AGI will gain a slight increase in stats, and class skills will be given after a quick scan of your face and body to provide skills suitable for you.

2. Novice Twilight Mage. Medium or close combat is the way this mage fights. Enemies rushing towards you, fling a few spells at them, then when they get close, empower your claws to rip them asunder. It uses Void and Light magic; one heals while the other destroys. Reap havoc on those who stand in the way of Twilight. STR, INT, and VIT will gain a slight increase in stats when leveling. Skills relating to magic will be given when chosen.

3. Novice Hunter. A monster hunts from the shadows using stealth to prey on foes who fail to sense danger approaching. Sneaking has become ingrained into you as the shadow melds with your form, keeping you hidden from sight. AGI will gain an increase in stats. Skills will be given after a scan of the race and body to optimize skills provided by the system.

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This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

This was pretty nice. Each of them gave off a good image in my mind. The first class would enhance my physical prowess and combat skills giving me a higher chance of surviving a fight.

The second option was honestly excellent not only did it give me magic and increase what stats my race did as well—and being able to heal sounded like a good trade-off any day.

Thirdly was a shadow hunter class which only gave AGI as a stat increase, but it didn't say that it was a slight increase either. Being able to slink into the shadows and kill things without other monsters noticing sounded good, but what happens when a stronger foe catches me without being able to hide from it? Will I be able to escape from something like that, which could see through stealth?

Fuck, this is a hard decision to make. After all, this will shape who I will be in the future. I wonder if I can ask the system about what stats do.

“Fish tedcn diadsel FRfdaS,” I said. Trying to speak, my sounded like metal being rubbed together while a cat was trying to throw up a hairball. What's a cat, and why did that pop up when thinking of what it sounded like?

But it seems like someone responded to my question. It didn't look like the other message I received.

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Stats are the physical or magical measurement of power granted to the soul when the system increases in level.

STR is the manifestation of raw power the body holds to such incredible feats as ripping the head off an enemy's body or lifting something heavy to use as a weapon. This also increases the physical damage you do.

VIT is when a body becomes more than what it used to be, hardening to the point where you take less damage from attacks. Stamina and health increase every time this stat is increased. But it also increases the resistance to harmful effects on the body, like poison and other things that negatively screw with the body.

AGI is when you become faster and better able to respond to your body. Reflexes increase, making you able to react to things that were far harder to deal with. This also increases how agile you can do specific tasks more quickly the higher this stat is.

INT covers almost every aspect of magic, from how fast you use it to how quickly it regenerates. The number of mana increases as this stat does while also increasing the resistance from magical attacks or effects.

CHS generally uses speech to sway others to your way of thinking easier than it would be without it. Increases the likability of said person. And has some magical properties, such as gaining more favor with classes that use patrons to improve their magic power, like Priests, Sorcerers, and other courses that use popularity for ability.

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That explains a few things, so thank you, whoever you are for the information you gave me.

Now back to it. I didn't want to be a stealthy type of monster. The physical one seemed relaxed, being more dominating through pure raw power alone. But it was the healing and destruction magic that called to me. It uses what my race was meant to do anyway, letting me fight up close or from some distance away. Even if I did get hurt it could just be healed, and the war would continue until something died, either me or the other monster.

I chose the second option to become a Novice Twilight Mage. Moments passed as nothing happened, and pain lanced through my head as knowledge of magic was placed directly into my soul. Not a sound escaped my mouth, and I tried to scream in pain. And as suddenly it hit me, it left just as fast.

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Congratulations, you have selected your first class and now have become a Novice Twilight Mage.

May you survive the future perils that are to come.

Be warned. It will only be a matter of time before those who betrayed you and stripped you of all your power and memories will come for you. The Light God won't be able to harm you, but his followers will try to break into the Void to kill you to stop you from gaining even more power than you once had.

Now that I have told you that my debt was paid in full to the Mother. But if you reach into the Realm of Gods and become one someday, I will welcome you personally to the place where you will rule. But that is only going to happen if you survive the hell coming your way.

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I just stood there, shocked at what I read. Did I make a mistake when I chose to live again?

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The system is calibrating the status page, and please wait while everything is being created and designed for you.

The time till completion is 10 minutes.

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I must wait a little while for the system to complete my status page. Sighing, I began to move to the shore of the pond. After standing up on the pond's edge, I looked around the area to see where I was.

A dark purple sky greeted me as twin moons lit up the surrounding area—Grey trees with black leaves. White grass covered the silverish dirt. Scanning the tree line, I waited for the time to end.

No noise was heard from anywhere near me, so I didn't think anything was watching me, but I could hear something that sounded like fighting off in the distance. Listening to the fight's noise, it said it was heading away toward the white mountain. Even the pond was red-like liquid. Everything was a weird color like this wasn't supposed to be correct but wasn't wrong either. This feels weird to me for some reason.

Well, until the timer hits zero, I stay put where I can see everything around me.