"Secondary classes can reward a certain range of stats depending on the rarity and how well you do in the test that pairs with the rarity. So if you chose to do a common class test for your secondary class, you could earn as many as 7 stats per secondary class level, or you could earn as few as 1 stats per secondary class level." Xerxes started. He had waited to begin explaining until Lucas woke up an then pulled his aside as well.

"With a legendary class, you could earn as many 50 stats, but as few as 35. So, the stats scale quickly with the rarity." He said, pausing for a moment. Owen took the moment to ask a question, "But if I could gain as many as 50 stats per secondary class level, why wouldn't I just farm my secondary class and not worry about my actual level?"

"Because its experience isn't based on killed monsters or anything like that. Your secondary class works differently than you main class does as well. For you main class, you have to follow the specific path the class is based around, which means fighting and doing achievements that fall in line with that path. That is the only way to level it up. It is why you haven't gained a single class level since arriving. Your secondary class acts differently. It is more of an achievement focused class and it levels up every after you have leveled up several times, based on the results of the test."

Owen fought hard to stay focused while Xerxes explained everything. He wanted more than anything to rush off a complete his secondary class test, but Xerxes seemed to notice his anticipation. Sighing, Xerxes gestured towards one of the chairs and both he and Owen sat down. "I know you want to go receive your class test as soon as possible, but you should let me finish explaining everything first at a minimum. I don't want to be blamed when you get a less than ideal secondary class because you rushed."

That cause Owen to focus up, the last thing he wanted was to be stuck behind both Myra and Peggy in progress. He had been happy to find out they had tied in levels for the first time since he had met them, but if he picked a bad secondary class, then he could get screwed in progress and slowly be left behind. Turning his full attention back towards Xerxes, who nodded after seeing the new determination in Owen's eyes, Owen gestured for him to continue.

"I'm glad to see that you realize how important this is for your future. Back to where I left off, while stats are the main differentiator between class rarities, there are passive bonuses you can receive that can also be used to identify what separates class rarities." Xerxes said and then turned fully to Owen. "Do you mind letting me see what options you have for your secondary class?" Owen nodded uncertain as to why Xerxes was so serious when asking. Xerxes seemed to pick up on his thoughts and ignored the system panel that was sent to him.

"The reason as to why it is so important, is that your secondary class is a representation of your path and you. Sharing any information, including rarity, should only be done with those who you trust." The reasoning made sense to Owen, so, Xerxes turned his attention to the secondary class notification that Owen shared with him.

Owen wasn't sure he had ever seen Xerxes more surprised. "This is unbelievable, you have access to create any type of secondary class at any rarity. This might be the first time I have ever seen this. Just what have you been up to on earth that you would've not only gotten these options, but also met all of the requirements?" Owen shrugged, "I thought you would know better than I did. I don't feel like I have done anything special, but I have been busy."

Xerxes looked interested, "Tell me about what you've been up to on earth, I can't imagine what it must be in order to unlock all of these options." So, Owen spent the next hour or so, describing everything he had been doing on earth and Lucas chimed in here and there. "Hmm," Xerxes mumbled as Owen finished. Lucas had left as Owen had gotten close to the end of his recounting everything that had happened and Xerxes just kinda stared into the distance for a while.

"I am even more surprised that you're alive, than I was when you first arrived. It sounds like gates on you world currently act a little differently than they had on mine, but what surprises me most is how reckless all of your decisions have been. Choosing a gate that it out of your level range is a ridiculous decisions, but what is even more outrageous to me is that after you managed to clear one, you had gotten strong enough to essentially clear one by yourself. I know that it is in part due to me underestimating the effects of a 2nd grade soul temper, but still I can count dozens of times when I would've expected you and your friends to die." Xerxes said, sounding somewhat frustrated.

Owen felt like he was being scolded, despite nothing in Xerxes tone hinting at as much, but he still felt the need to defend himself somewhat. "We didn't really have a choice, none of us were strong enough or fast enough to go and clear every gate by ourselves, so we wanted to get strong enough that we could help prevent our city from being overrun and destroyed." Owen said, trying his best not to sound too defensive.

"You misunderstand me, I am not trying to make you feel bad for doing everything you've done, but I more than anything wanted to make you understand how risky it was, but at the same time it helps explains why you have all of the options you do." Xerxes said. "Some of the requirements for the different class rarities are dependent on your achievements. Doing something so dangerous as pitting yourself against an entire city's worth of gates. While also pushing back the waves of monsters, that is the type of action that usually results in you being offered something like a hero rarity class."

"Is a hero class a higher rarity that a legendary?" Owen asked, immediately considering if he should pick the hero option. He didn't especially want to be anything like the savior of mankind, but if it was a higher rarity than legendary, then why not go for the best. His hopes came crashing down somewhat as Xerxes shook his head. "No, both the hero class and unique class are separate from the normal rarity grades. A unique class is more of a custom class and based off of your results in the class test, you have a higher amount of personal choice when designing your secondary class."

"A hero class is much more specific than any of the others, because the expectation is that you will perform however you expect a hero to do so. If you think they need to protect the weak and other things like that, then you will be limited in choices that don't at least somewhat revolve around protecting the weak." Xerxes stayed quiet for a moment and Owen realized that his teacher wasn't sure what advice to give. Owen wasn't sure what the right path for him would be either. He had acted like a hero, according to the system, but he followed a somewhat unique path, and he still had a legendary rarity option.

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Without a way to directly compare the benefits of each, Owen wasn't sure what to choose and it seemed like Xerxes didn't know either. "I would think about it for a while. This will be the last step you take, before the long journey to the peak. Rushing it is ill advised, but I'm not sure what the right path would be for you. Just keep in mind there will be no rush and that while it seems hard to pick the best option, all three options are still going to be powerful and be able to take you to the top. You just need to be okay with the path you'll have to follow."

Owen got up and said his thanks to Xerxes before he went to his room. He had to think carefully about how he wanted to continue. The hero's path didn't feel like anything he wanted to continue. In fact, he was pretty sure he wasn't the only one who was going to get it. more than likely, both Peggy and Myra would get the same option, since they had helped save some of the city, but the thing he was most worried about was the warning that Xerxes had given him.

If he did choose something like the hero's path, then he would be trapped as someone that would need to both fight and act like a hero. He didn't want that, most people didn't matter to him, what did matter to him was that his friends were okay. In his mind, he crossed off the hero option. He could already tell that he was leaning towards the unique option, but there were some aspects to it that worried him. He had been told that he would have more control about some of the specifics in the class, but what if it didn't reward very many stats.

The legendary class was tempting, but after being told about how unique classes worked, it just felt like less, even if it gave a remarkable amount of stats. He wasn't sure which option to pick, but as more and more time passed, he was more and more certain that he would choose the unique class option. Even if he would get less stats, it would still be nice to have some control over how the class would function.

When he had come to a decision, he went and found Xerxes sitting in the same place as earlier, though instead of sitting down and drinking tea, he was marking the ground with some unfamiliar power, creating what looked like a constellation, but more similar to the ones that ran the training gauntlet, rather than the one that existed in Owen's core space.

Xerxes noticed him once Owen had gotten close enough and gestured to a chair and he himself stood up an brushed himself off. "So, I assume you came to a decision?" Xerxes asked as he poured himself and Owen cups of tea. Owen nodded and Xerxes sighed. "I don't like the idea of rushing, but if I am being honest, it is better for you to do it here, rather than on earth, if only because it takes a while and earth while be a little more unfamiliar when you arrive."

Part of Owen twinged slightly at the reminder, he just hoped that not too much had changed, though he knew that with the population of earth being what is what, each and every sponsor was going to be given a chance to change something. Pushing the thought from his mind, he turned to Xerxes expectantly. "We will want to cancel your contract first, otherwise it will effect both you and your familiar."

"Do i need to go grab Briar then?" Owen asked, hoping to free Briar as soon as possible. He couldn't forget the hope he had seen in Briar's eyes when he agreed to help free them if possible. His thoughts were interrupted when Xerxes shook his head no. "You might want it to be close by, it will make it easier, but it isn't required. Though when you leave for earth, you will need to make physical contact with Briar, otherwise they will likely be teleported to a random location on earth since they will then be considered a normal monster."

Owen nodded, but quickly got up an rushed through the school grounds until he found where Briar had been training. "Xerxes said he is ready to help annul the contract." Owen said panting. Briar looked at him surprised, before a big grin formed on their face. It quicky fell into one of contemplation, before it spoke.

"Are you sure you're okay with annulling the contract? Most keep familiar as another source of strength, I won't be required to be with you anymore if it is annulled." Briar said, with a look of concern on their face, but Owen shook his head. "You already expressed your interest in living a free life, I don't want to hold you back from that, plus even if we annul the contract, I am still interested in you being a part of our team, just so long as you're interested?"

Briar nodded, now more excited and they both made their way back to Xerxes who was in the middle of drawing up a separate constellation design, far away from the first. As they approached, they heard Xerxes's voice gave them instructions. "When I am finished with this, Owen you must feel for the energy that binds you to Briar's soul. Once you find the connection, you must sever it and slowly move the energy that connected the two of you, back into your own core. Once you finish, the contract should be void."

"This circle should help you feel the power that connects you to each other, but it can be a very long and intensive process. It isn't possible to take breaks without something likely going wrong, so you must be fully prepared to push through the entire process." Xerxes said as he finished drawing the constellation into the ground.

As both Owen and Briar stepped into the circle, Owen immediately felt their connection become stronger. Closing his eyes, he moved into a seated position and began to feel for their connection. He could see a thick cord of energy in his mind connecting his core to Briar's. As he felt along the connection, it felt like it was continuing to grow stronger, but he realized it wasn't the energy was shifting back and forth more than usual and Owen realized that the way to make the bond between them more obvious, it had to be fully active. Which meant, as Xerxes had said, it would be a lot harder and more intense than he expected.

As he moved his perception all of the way to where the energy connected with Briar's core, he grasped it fully and began to twist and pull at the cord of energy. Several minutes passed as he felt the cord began to stretch and and another several minutes later, he had managed to separate the cord fully from Briar. As he slowly wound the cord of energy towards his own core, he felt it tugging at him with an almost overwhelming amount of force, trying to reconnect itself with Briar's core.

It began to drag him back towards the core, but with a flex of his will, he managed to stop it and slowly began pulling it back towards his core again. Desperate to finish quickly, he began cycling his core faster than he ever had before, trying to push the cord into it and have it be consumed. He lost all sense of time as his core began to pick up speed and slowly consumed everything that had made up Owen's bond with Briar.

Once the energy was completely gone he opened his eyes and the whole world seemed to shake and vibrate. Briar was lying on the ground, though a quick check let him know that Briar was just unconscious. He didn't feel great himself, but he had system notification and he smiled, though it faltered a moment later.

*You have lost the title, Familiar Trainer.

You are among the first people on earth to successfully sever a contracted bond. You have gained the title, Unbound. This title makes it impossible to be forcibly entered into a bonded contract by anyone within 100 levels of your level.*

"I assume you just gained the unbound title?" Xerxes asked. Owen nodded, still feeling like his head was about to split open from some unseen pressure. "You should go rest, you still have two days before you are sent home, tomorrow, you can go and unlock your secondary class, but for now rest." As if Owen had been waiting for permission, he collapsed to the ground unconscious.