Tian knew he had no choice but to escape the clutches of the officers. He was innocent, yet the circumstances spun by Marcus left him no room to explain. As the officers attempted to escort him to their guild headquarters, Tian subtly summoned a sturdy stone golem. The officers, unprepared for a confrontation of this sort, were caught off guard as the golem positioned itself between them and Tian.
He didn’t want to harm anyone; his aim was to create a distraction and flee. The golem, acting on Tian’s subtle commands, skillfully deflected their attempts to subdue it, its rocky form a bulwark against their assaults. The absence of a ranker among the officers was evident, as they struggled to land a decisive blow on the golem.
“Emerald Hawk, was it?” Tian shouted back at them.
Using the golems diversion to his advantage, Tian dashed through the narrow alleyways, his heart pounding against his chest with every echoing footstep that resonated through the eerie silence of the abandoned quarters.
Navigating through a labyrinth of narrow lanes and shadowed corners, Tian made sure to leave no trace of his path. The city had its fair share of hidden routes and unmarked doorways, which Tian utilized to his advantage to ensure nobody could tail him.
‘I can head back now.’ Tian thought as he saw a notification pop up.
‘Golem destroyed. 0/2’
He felt his mana drain significantly, as he had many things on his mind he felt even more dizzy than he would have otherwise.
Eventually, he found himself standing before the familiar, worn-down facade of his small studio apartment. ‘Home sweet home…” As he unlocked the door and stepped inside, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. The walls of his humble abode, though confining, offered a veil of safety for the time being.
The room was just as he had left it – a single room hosting his entire world. The furniture was arranged meticulously to maximize the space, yet it felt cramped with his bed, workbench, and a few shelves holding various books and materials. The contrast of the chaotic outer world and the organized, albeit cramped, simplicity of his home struck him.
Taking in the peaceful silence comfortably, he unrolled the scroll he had gotten from the goblin shaman. His eyes scanned through the ancient texts and diagrams, feeling a rush of elemental energy coursing through his veins. The world around him seemed to fade as he delved deeper into the ancient knowledge the scroll was imparting.
The words on the scroll shimmered and glowed, resonating with the core of his class. He could feel a new skill forming, an addition of his golemancy and the fiery essence of the scroll. It was something fresh, something potent. His heart pounded against his chest in sync with the rhythm of the newfound power.
‘Activating “Scroll of Elemental Mastery (Rank C)”’
As he rolled up the scroll, the knowledge it held was now embedded within him. The scroll crumbled to ashes; its purpose fulfilled.
‘Acquired new skill: Ember Forge.’
Slumping down on his worn-out couch, he opened his status quietly and inspected the newfound skill.
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Tian Gias
Physical: C- | Mental: B | Magic: E-
Class: Summoner (Compounding)
Skills:
Golemancy Novice (F): Allows the creation of basic golems made of stone or earth.
Ember Forge (C): Infuses a summon with fiery essence, granting them additional fire damage and a burning aura that damages nearby enemies.
Tian only pondered on the skill for a moment before the events of the day began to replay in his head, everything had happened so fast he began to have a headache.
‘Although, I am a ranker again.’ Tian smiled; his usual stoic expression unable to mask the intense joy he was feeling.
He had never heard of a second awakening. To begin with, awakening was already extremely rare, maybe 1 in 5000 people can awaken. So, to have someone get lucky and awaken once, then have their class taken from them by an extremely rare item, and then have that lightning strike them again? It’s entirely impossible.
‘Or I would have thought that before.’ He sighed a well-earned breath as he sat looking at his status screen, although his stats were a bit different, he certainly reawakened. After his class was stolen, he lost his physical and magical stats, his magic was nullified, and his physical stat was lowered to what a normal person was.
Shaking away his thoughts, Tian’s gaze fell upon his wristwatch. In a world driven by the synergy of magic and technology, the wristwatch was more than just a timekeeper. It was a status symbol, a badge of one’s standing in society.
The band of the watch signified the wearer’s class – diamond and platinum for the elites, silver and copper for the lower, and colors in between for the rest. Tian’s watch bore a silver band, a stark reminder of his place in the pecking order.
It was a smart device, assessing a range of factors from personal health and wealth to class rank, crunching the data to assign a societal status. Tian seldom bothered about the intricacies; he had always found the system rather superficial. But today, his focus was on the numerous missed messages flashing on the screen, each vibration earlier lost in the rush of his escape.
The messages were from a woman named Aria, a kind-hearted mage who had offered Tian a helping hand when his previous guild, Wayfarer, betrayed him. She had taken a liking to him, offering solace in the cruel, competitive world they navigated.
Despite her warm gestures, Tian often wondered if it was just pity that drove her to help him. But regardless of her motives, he was grateful. Opening the messages, he could sense the concern in her words.
[12:31 PM] Tian, I saw the news about the incident downtown. There was a savage beast attack, and someone mentioned a guy trying to fend it off... The video I saw had someone that looked way too much like you. I'm worried. Please tell me if you're okay.
[01:02 PM] Tian, where are you? The news said the person who tried to fight the beast was seriously injured... Please respond. I’m really scared for you.
[01:44 PM] I checked the site of the incident. They didn't find anyone matching your description among the injured, but they didn't find a body either... I don’t know what to think. Please Tian, respond.
[02:30 PM] I’m at the hospital now, checking if they brought you here. I can't find you anywhere. Tian, wherever you are, please be safe.
Tian felt his heart pang with guilt as he thought about everything she had done for him, things like giving him enough money to get back onto his feet, - although he had already her back - but more importantly the kindness she had shown him over the past year.
[09:12 PM] Aria, I'm alive. Sorry for the late response, today's events took a toll on me. I’m laying low for now due to some complications. I’ll explain everything later. Thank you for your concern, it means a lot.
Almost as though she were awaiting his message a series of dots appeared before a message responded to his own.
[09:12 PM] Oh thank heavens! I was scared out of my mind! Please tell me what happened after the incident, where did you disappear to? T-T
Tian thought carefully for a few moments, eventually he decided it best for them to talk in person. After everything she had done for him perhaps it was best to share the good news of him reawakening with her, as he didn’t trust anyone else enough to.
[09:14 PM] I’m a bit tired now, would you be able to talk in person tomorrow? The usual place?
[09:14 PM] I’ll be there! ^-^