The faint glow of her new class sheet hovered before her, casting a pale, mechanical light over her face. She stood barefoot on the rocky shore, the tide lapping at her ankles as she took in the intricacies of her new class.

Rune Machinist.

The name alone intrigued and unsettled her. It was unlike anything she’d encountered before—a hybridization of ancient magic and intricate engineering. This wasn’t the whirling grace of her Dervish class, a dance of blades and agility that had defined her for so long. No, this was something colder, sharper, more precise.

Her eyes scanned the glowing interface, taking in the descriptions of her abilities. She’d seen countless character sheets in her time playing Ludere Online, but this one was different. The words pulsed faintly, as if alive, as if the class itself wanted her to understand its purpose.

“Runeforge: Create and deploy runes to manipulate the battlefield.”

“Kinetic Relic: Summon constructs to defend, attack, or provide utility.”

“Machinist’s Insight: Analyze weaknesses and optimize output in combat situations.”

She traced a finger along the shimmering glyphs, her lips pressed into a thin line. The descriptions were fascinating—powerful, even—but they didn’t make her feel whole. Not yet. Losing her Dervish abilities still felt like a piece of herself had been torn away, leaving her raw and exposed.

“Fine,” she muttered, straightening her posture. “Let’s see what you can do.”

Aviva tapped the icon for Runeforge, and immediately, a surge of energy coursed through her hands. She stumbled back, surprised, as glowing geometric shapes materialized in the air around her. Lines of fiery orange magic intersected to form a complex rune, spinning in place like the gears of some ancient, arcane machine.

The rune pulsed faintly, almost beckoning her to act. Instinctively, she reached toward it, her fingers grazing the edges of the glowing construct. A prompt appeared before her:

“Select function: Amplify / Disrupt / Bind.”

Aviva’s lips quirked into a wry smile. “All right. Let’s disrupt something.”

The moment she selected the option, the rune dissolved into shards of light that streaked across the shore. One struck the water, sending a ripple of energy outward in a perfect circle. Another embedded itself into a jagged rock, the glyph glowing faintly before the stone cracked and crumbled under its force.

Her heart raced. This is… precise. Powerful.

But the sheer control required was unlike anything she’d done before. It wasn’t the chaotic, instinctive flow of combat she was used to; this was strategy, calculation, execution. And it required her to think in ways she hadn’t needed to as a Dervish.

“Guess I’m not dancing anymore,” she murmured, flexing her fingers and watching the residual magic spark and fade.

She turned her attention to Kinetic Relic, eager to test another ability. This time, the magic flowed slower, more deliberate. A blueprint materialized in her mind—an intricate construct of spinning gears, enchanted cables, and glowing runes. Her hands moved almost unconsciously, tracing lines in the air, weaving the magic into a tangible form.

The result was a small, spider-like automaton, its body humming faintly as it came to life. The relic clattered to the ground, its tiny limbs clicking against the stones as it waited for her command. Aviva knelt, watching it intently.

“Scan the area,” she said softly, testing its response.

The automaton whirred to life, its glowing eyes scanning the horizon before skittering across the beach. Aviva followed its progress, her chest tightening with an unfamiliar mix of pride and unease. This wasn’t the kind of power she was used to. This was something… different.

But before she could think further, the air around her changed. The faint hum of the ocean receded, replaced by an oppressive silence. The automaton froze in its tracks, its lights flickering as if sensing the same thing she felt—a presence.

Aviva spun around, her heart pounding. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the sand as the air grew colder. And then, like smoke curling out of the void, Dedisco appeared.

The god’s figure shimmered, a dark amalgamation of light and shadow that pulsed with quiet authority. His presence bent the space around him, warping the very fabric of the world.

“Aviva,” he said, his voice low and resonant.

She glared at him, her hands curling into fists. “Of course. Why wouldn’t you show up now?” Her voice dripped with venom, her anger bubbling just beneath the surface.

Dedisco’s gaze didn’t waver, though his tone softened. “You’ve done well to embrace your new class.”

“Spare me the compliments,” she snapped, stepping forward. “What do you want, Dedisco? More manipulation? More half-truths? Or maybe just another convenient ‘revelation’ to make us dance to your tune?”

His form flickered, but his composure remained. “I came to guide you.”

Aviva barked out a harsh laugh, the sound echoing across the empty shore. “Guide me? That’s rich. You’ve done nothing but lie and scheme since the beginning. You knew the Kelligorn were coming, didn’t you? You knew, and instead of warning us, you let us stumble around blind while you played your little god-games!”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Dedisco’s form darkened, shadows pooling at his feet. “You don’t understand—”

“Then make me understand!” Aviva shouted, her voice raw. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re willing to sacrifice us for your plans. Pag, me, everyone stuck in this game—we’re just tools to you!”

The god’s presence surged, the air around them vibrating with the weight of his power. “Enough.” His voice was sharp, final. The ground trembled slightly beneath her feet.

Aviva didn’t flinch. She refused to back down.

Dedisco sighed, his tone softening. “The Kelligorn would have come regardless. Whether through the Kellin’s alliance with Dave or another path, their arrival was inevitable. This world—Ludere Online—was meant to prepare you. To teach you magic. To give you the skills you would need to face them. But the timeline has collapsed. Dave’s betrayal forced my hand.”

“So now what?” Aviva asked coldly. “We just die for your cause?”

“No,” Dedisco said firmly. “The time dilation here is our only advantage. Days here are moments in the real world. Those who survive can still learn, grow, and become the warriors we need. You, Aviva, have a chance to change everything.”

Her jaw tightened, her anger simmering. “And Pag?”

Dedisco’s gaze softened, his shadows flickering faintly. “He must find you. Not the other way around. His path is his own, but it will lead him back to you when the time is right.”

Aviva’s fists unclenched, though her glare remained. “And if it doesn’t?”

“It will,” Dedisco said with quiet certainty. “Trust in him. And trust in yourself.”

Before she could respond, he was gone, his presence dissolving into the wind.

Aviva stood motionless, staring at the space where he’d been. The automaton at her feet whirred faintly, its tiny lights flickering back to life.

She exhaled sharply, turning back to her class sheet. If this world was a training ground, then she would train. She would master the Rune Machinist class—not for Dedisco, but for herself.

And for Pag.

Aviva stood rooted in place, her pulse pounding in her ears. The air around her seemed heavier, as if the world itself was trying to press her down, to drown her in the weight of Dedisco’s words. The god’s presence had left a void, a lingering tension that buzzed like static in her chest.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to steady her breathing. “Find me,” she muttered bitterly, her voice cutting through the stillness. “Of course, he has to find me. Gods forbid I take charge for once.”

Her automaton skittered toward her, its legs clicking softly against the rocky shore. Its glowing eyes pulsed in sync with the faint hum of her new magic. She crouched down, absently extending a hand toward the construct, her fingertips grazing its cool, metallic surface.

“This is all I have now, huh?” she murmured, staring at the little machine as its lenses shifted and focused on her. It tilted its head like a curious creature, waiting for a command. “Runes and relics. No blades. No freedom to move like I used to. Just… this.”

Her voice wavered slightly, but she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She wouldn’t cry. Not here. Not now.

She let out a slow breath, forcing herself to focus. Dedisco’s words churned in her mind, but she pushed them aside. There was nothing she could do about his schemes or the Kelligorn—not yet. What she could do was figure out exactly what this class was capable of.

She rose to her feet, brushing the sand from her knees. Her automaton followed, its glowing eyes watching her intently.

“All right,” she said, squaring her shoulders. “Let’s see what else you can do.”

She tapped on Machinist’s Insight, the final ability she hadn’t yet explored. The moment she activated it, the world around her seemed to sharpen, as though someone had adjusted the focus of a lens. Colors grew more vivid, edges more defined. Small details she’d never have noticed before—tiny cracks in the rocks, faint patterns in the sand left by the tide—seemed to leap out at her.

A stream of data scrolled across the edge of her vision, glowing faintly in the periphery. Numbers, percentages, weak points. Her automaton’s energy levels appeared as a bar hovering above its head, along with a list of potential modifications she could make. She blinked, startled, as the system offered suggestions.

“Suggested upgrade: Projectile Module.”

Aviva frowned. “Projectile module?” she murmured. She focused on the words, and an overlay appeared, showing a blueprint for a small rune-etched cannon that could be affixed to the automaton’s back. Her lips quirked upward in the faintest smile. “Now we’re talking.”

The blueprint hovered in front of her, glowing faintly, and she reached out instinctively. Her fingers traced the air, and with every movement, shimmering lines of magic began to form in front of her. Gears materialized first, clicking into place with a satisfying hum, followed by a thin barrel marked with glowing runes. It felt like assembling a puzzle—not with her hands, but with her will.

Within moments, the cannon was complete. It hovered in the air before snapping onto the automaton’s back with a sharp click. The little construct adjusted its stance, testing the weight of its new addition, before letting out a faint, satisfied chirp.

Aviva took a step back, admiring her work. “Not bad,” she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual confidence.

The automaton suddenly swiveled toward the water, its cannon glowing faintly as it locked onto something in the distance.

“What is it?” Aviva asked, turning to follow its gaze.

At first, she saw nothing but the churning waves, the moonlight glinting off the water’s surface. Then, a shadow shifted—just barely visible beneath the waves.

Her pulse quickened. “All right, let’s see what you’ve got.”

The automaton let out a sharp whir, and the cannon fired, releasing a crackling bolt of energy that streaked across the water. It struck the surface with a blinding flash, sending up a plume of steam and a loud crack.

The shadow beneath the waves darted away, vanishing into the depths.

Aviva exhaled slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or unnerved. “Great,” she muttered, her gaze lingering on the water. “Something else to worry about.”

The automaton returned to her side, its cannon still glowing faintly. She knelt down, placing a hand on its smooth, metallic surface. “Good job,” she murmured, her voice soft. “At least I can count on you.”

Her mind returned to Dedisco’s words. Trust yourself. Trust him.

She stood, staring out at the endless horizon. The Kelligorn were coming. Pag was somewhere out there, fighting his own battles. And she… she had a long way to go before she’d feel ready for whatever came next.

But she wasn’t about to sit around and wait.

Her hand brushed against the rune etched into the automaton’s side, and she felt a spark of determination ignite in her chest. She would master this class. She would find a way to push past the limits of her abilities.

And when the time came, she wouldn’t just survive. She’d fight.

For herself. For Pag.

And for a future that wouldn’t be dictated by anyone.