Chapter Fourteen: Peter makes a decision.
A dozen glowing bottles of different hues as well as five small fabric pouches materialised where the Shadowspawn had been evaporated.
Before anyone could react and check what the items were, a system announcement sounded in their minds.
Congratulations!
The Shadowspawn Empire has seen fit to reward your party with extra rewards.
Due to interference from a minority Shadowspawn group, gifted rewards have been increased courtesy of The System.
Alex, being the only uninjured party member, was chosen to check out what rewards they had been given. Eagerly Alex ran towards the pile of rewards, bending. He quickly scooped up what had appeared and brought them over for everyone to examine.
In his arms were a dozen glass bottles with various liquids contained within, each bottles design was identical to the next. They each had a bulbous base that sported a long, narrow neck that ended in what appeared to be a cork stopper. The twelves bottles were five red, five blue and two black.
First off were five blood red flasks. The liquid occupied the bottom half of the container and gently bubbled of its own accord.
Lesser healing potion (common)
Description: Restores 60% of users' health over a 60-second period. Restores blood, muscle mass and seals wounds.
The next five were identified as mana potions and contained a swirling vortex of blue liquid.
lesser mana potion (common)
Description: restores 60% of users' mana over a 60-second period. removes mana based afflictions.
The final two bottles were by far the most disturbing, a tar like substance resided within the bottle, the liquid not happy to remain in place and instead constantly morphed shape, one second resembling a hand, the next teeth and other body parts.
lesser renewal potion (uncommon)
Description: Regrows lost body parts, restores mana channels. Restores 20% of users' resources over a 60-second period.
The remaining items were a small fabric pouch, a little bigger than your palm, and a scrap of paper.
Currency pouch (unique)
Description: One of the most common items in the entire system, these fabric lined pouches can be stored in subspace until needed and can contain an unlimited amount of any currency that is recognised by the system. Only usable by the user and cannot be stolen from.
Soulbound
Currency: 100 credits.
Tutorial lottery ticket (common)
Description: gives the user on successful completion of the tutorial one entry into the tutorial lottery to obtain one randomly selected item that will complement your class.
It was quickly decided by the group for Matthew and Emily to try one of the health potions to restore their injuries.
With grimaces, they both consumed their potions and the effects were immediate, disturbing popping sounds could be heard as both Emily’s ribs and Matthew’s Arm bones snapped sickeningly back into place. They both cried out in agony. Their wounds were the next thing to be healed getting them both back into fighting shape in record time, the health potion continued to work for the full minute, after its dramatic body fixing, its remaining healing was less pronounced and could only be viewed by checking their status pages.
With their injuries taken care of, the potions and lottery tickets were quickly stored in Rory’s inventory so they could concentrate on Peter's class choices.
“okay I’ve been given five choices for a class. What do you guys think?”
Though up till this point only Rory had reached level ten and been awarded a class, Peter's selection of classes seemed to be decent and had received two epic classes.
Warrior (common) – The lowest part of the martial path. This class is available to anyone that has used their body or a weapon to destroy another living thing. A weapon, whether it be a sword or a fist, are extensions of a warrior's body and their conduit to slay foes and protect allies. Receive 1 extra point every level up, 10 stat points assigned on gaining the class.
As a group their opinion was that the Warrior classes wasn't one to even consider as not only was it the lowest rarity class and gave the least stat points, there appeared to be at least three over class selections that were already very similar but of greater quality.
Spearman (uncommon) - You are one with the spear and it is one with you. Through continued use, you have gained familiarity with the spear and been rewarded this class. In your hands, a spear is a living breathing extension of yourself and can perform feats normally not possible. Receive 2 extra points on every level up, 12 stat points assigned on gaining the class.
This class seemed like a decent choice and a more specialised version of the first Warrior class Peter had received. It was also a higher grade and awarded more stat points. The class had one major flaw: Peter no longer used a spear and now carried a sword and there was no guarantee that he would find a system enhanced spear in the future.
Holy warrior (epic) - You have beheld monstrosities beyond imagination, you have ruthlessly cleansed the undead on multiple occasions. Through holy fire, may you smite your enemies and heal your allies. Allows the use of holy magics without an Orb of Power. Receive 5 extra points on every level up, 20 stat points assigned on gaining the class.
The holy warrior class was tied for the highest rarity Peter had received. Everyone was excited when the class description mentioned the ability to heal as while their bodies' natural recovery had increased drastically thanks to the system, people had still died from their injuries. The fact that the class allowed Peter to use holy magic without finding the correct orb of power was a shocking development, what would happen if someone picked a class that used magic, would they be unable to cast any magic until they found an appropriate orb?
Swordsman - darkness (rare) - Countless enemies have fallen to your sword. Embrace the powers contained within your sword, improving the chance to inflict darkness so that you may continue to slay your enemies when they cannot see to defend themselves. Receive 3 extra points on every level up, 14 stat points assigned on gaining the class.
This class seemed to tie in nicely with the new sword Peter had acquired. This class also appeared to be a more specialised version of the warrior class, but this one was a higher rarity than spearman and further specialised to darkness magic.
Gladiator Apprentice (epic) – You stand undefeated! Your enemies lay crushed and scattered at your feet! Fame! Glory! Wealth! Power! All can be achieved while braving the path of the gladiator. Through endless competition, you will be given every opportunity to succeed. Will you continue your victory by vanquishing your foes, or will you too, fall to the might of your opponents? Receive 5 extra points on every level up, 20 stat points assigned on gaining the class.
Peter's other epic quality classes description varied massively to the others, sounding more like an advertisement than anything else.
The first two classes were quickly discounted due to being higher quality classes already present.
Gladiators' apprentice while epic quality was also discounted due to the fact it mentioned Peter having to face endless competition. Where would this competition come from? Would Peter be forced to fight constantly for his life if he picked the class? It just wasn’t worth risking it.
Both the Holy warrior and the swordsmen class seemed like fantastic choices. One gave him new fantastical powers while the other built on his current strength and equipment. In the end, while the group gave Peter their opinions, it was his decision alone to make.
After making his choice, power rushed through Peter due to the influx of his awarded stat points and with his new skills imparted upon him.
Tapping her shoes in impatience, Emily, with a smile, asked, “Don’t keep us waiting. What did you choose?”
Returning the smile himself, Peter informed then of his class and the new skills “I picked Holy warrior I was too scared of picking the swordsmen class and then having the sword break, would I still be able to blind people if I no longer had the sword.”
“just let me check the skills”
As soon as Peter read the description of the skills, they appeared as an image in Rory’s vision.
Smite level 1 – Smite your enemies from afar by raining down hammers of Holy light or bless your weapon to deliver justice personally.
Holy reversal level 1 – Through the power of the Holy light, mend the wounds of anyone you deem worthy.
Consecration level 1 – Temporarily bless the surrounding ground to purge evil, damaging beings of chaos, darkness, curse, blight, blood and poison. Fortifies and bolsters any allies contained within its radius.
Eager to try out his new spells, a glowing golden hammer appeared in Peter's hand and with a grunt he sent it spinning end over end towards the Amphitheatre walls, sparks of light exploding off of it as it travelled. With a crash, the hammer hit the barrier, protecting the walls, causing the hammer to explode in a shower of light.
Impressed with the result of his new skills, Peter once more called upon smite this time, however, ribbons of gold enveloped his sword. Just as Peter was going to lazily swing his now golden sword, something went wrong, a loud crack echoed around the arena, wisps of darkness started to blossom off of the sword, areas of darkness also appeared along the swords length as it seemed to reject the Holy power.
Peter frantically tried to cancel the spell on his sword.
Another louder crack echoed once more around the arena, followed shortly by six tinkling noises as what once was Peter's sword lay shattered on the sandy floor
“Fuck!”