Each of them stood for a moment in silence. Sweat was pouring down their bodies and they’d all looked exhausted. They slowly examined each other, doing a preliminary check, and feeling relieved that they all mostly looked the same.
Ian and Marshall had undergone the largest transformations. For one, Ian had legs now, so that was a big deal. Marshall… he had muscles. They weren’t big beefy muscles, they were more like the muscles of a statue. His eyes were a deep orange color which seemed to shift wildly like roiling flames. Marshall looked down at his fists, which suddenly transformed into stone and then back to flesh. He nodded to himself and looked back at the group.
“Ian! You’re not a worm!” Marshall called out.
Ian looked at himself in wonder. He twisted his body, feeling out his range of movement, hopping up and down a few times on his new legs. One of his eyes flashed briefly and he paused, appearing to see something nobody else could.
“That’s new. So, what did everyone pick?”
They each flashed up their screens, beginning with Calvin. He and Amy had both selected Aetherborn. Amy described the options she’d received and they were much different than Calvin’s. Only two of them were human-related, and one even mentioned she would become a large space-faring creature like a jellyfish. Calvin was definitely happy she didn’t choose that.
Marshall was up next.
Biotech: Biotechs were one of the first human civilizations to join the Collective. Their immense scientific knowledge was focused on enhancing the human genome. Upon system integration, their scientists learned how to weave nanite energy directly into their genetic structure. Biotechs are born with the ability to influence the nature of their body, making physical changes to it at will, expending only energy in the process. Biotechs have incredible self-healing capabilities, being able to entirely reforge sections of their body. (Toughness +8, Speed + 7, Power +8, Control +8)
“Marshall, looking good man. The workouts paid off. How do you feel?” Calvin asked.
“I feel damn good. It’s weird. I feel like me, from before. But I also instinctively know my body is different and how to use it. Like I’ve lived with it my whole life.”
“It’s so strange right?” Amy asked. “It looks like we all stuck to being at least somewhat human.”
“Ian, what did you end up with? You got your legs back. The system forgot my hand.” Calvin remarked.
As they somewhat expected, he’d chosen to become Augmented. They’d all had that option on their lists and judging by the description, it was rather popular within the Collective. They could see why. It gave anyone the power to mold themselves as they saw fit.
“When I made the selection, I was given a list of augments I could choose to start with. Legs of course were my first choice. Got me a nice new set of robo legs that enhance my speed. Sorry, Seth. I’ll let you take a peek at them though and see if you can come up with any enhancements for them in the future. I think you and I will be hanging out a lot. I also got a new eye. It enhances my vision skill and feeds me a ton of data about my body and the world around me”
“I also selected Augmented.” Seth said, “I took a series of neural enhancements giving me access to some knowledge in the augmentation field.”
Calvin looked down at the bestest girl. She’d grown so much larger. Her eyes now radiated a deep blue light. Her paws were the size of small plates now and the party collectively noticed her brand new pearly whites. They did not want to be on the receiving end of those fangs.
“Freya, you look pretty scary now. What did you end up with?” Marshall asked.
Her tail was going 1000 miles per hour and she let out a powerful yip. Well, yip isn’t quite accurate anymore. It was an augmented bark that seemed to emanate from the air around her instead of just her mouth.
Aetherwolf: The Aetherwolf were the loyal guardians and protectors of the Aetherborn. During the cataclysm that reshaped their species, the humans and their wolf companions were reformed together. Their connection to each other is inseparable. Aetherwolves are masters of the nanite fabric. They have great resilience and agility and are attuned to the various dimensional fabrics weaving their way through reality. (Toughness +7. Speed +8, Power +5, Control +9)
Tank stared at them in awe.
“Everything alright?” Calvin asked him.
“More than alright. With a name like Olympus, and you guys looking like you do now… this is going to be the place of legends. You guys get new classes yet?”
“Nope, that’s next on the agenda. I’m ready, you all good?”
They nodded and immediately dove into their class selection options.
Calvin noticed this time, it was much different. Before when they’d chosen their classes, they’d just received descriptions of them. Now he could see if they were tied to his race evolution, and as he looked at each option, his mind was filled with images of what the class could do. He briefly felt each class innately as he concentrated on them. He could feel how they resonated with him, how each movement felt, how the skills channeled through his body.
He could also feel the same from Freya. Their connection had grown immensely and he still wasn’t sure just by how much.
As he concentrated on the options, he could picture her by his side, he could see her using her skills in concert with his. They would be able to make this choice together.
Alright girl, let’s do this.
(Aetherborn) Legionnaire (Gold): The legionnaire is not a force to be taken lightly. Their command over their weapon is second to none. The legionnaire specializes in spear and shield combat, becoming a deadly force with nearly impenetrable defenses. They eschew elemental combat in favor of purely physical prowess. Legionnaires often fight in the vanguard as elite shock troops, able to take on entire hordes with just a few numbers in their ranks. (Toughness +4, Power +4, Speed +2)
Calvin mentally focused on this class. With a large shield in hand, he glided effortlessly across the illusory battlefield, his movements precise and calculated. Exuding an otherworldly sharpness, his spear effortlessly cut through the air. Each swing of his spear created powerful ripples emanating from its tip. Beside him, a spectral army of legionnaires replicated his every action. The legionnaires, moving in perfect synchrony, advanced together along the battlefield, forming a formidable and deadly phalanx. The ground quivered with each footfall.
Alongside him, Freya emerged, her body bursting into flames, igniting the surroundings as she charged through. With a leap, she transformed from fire to electricity, soaring through the air like a lightning bolt. As she collided with the ground, a colossal crater was carved, and her body solidified into stone. This was only the first choice and she’d already come out of the gate with some insane power potential.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
No He’d felt through the link. While the class looked insanely powerful, she just wasn’t feeling it and moved on. Calvin felt much the same about his class. He felt strong as hell but it lacked much of the flavor he’s been used to.
Beastmaster Adept (Gold): The beastmaster relies on their command of natural and artificial beasts. Their relationship with these creatures allows them to lead the pack as an alpha. As the beastmaster progresses, they gain the ability to control stronger beasts in greater numbers. The beastmaster’s skill set allows them to create artificial combatants to add to their pack. (Toughness +4, Power +2, Control +4)
He briefly focused on this ability and saw that he now commanded a pack of small robotic wolves. He gave a few experimental commands and immediately shifted away from this. It wasn’t him.
There was a caster class he was definitely not interested in and skipped right over it.
The next one looked pretty amazing.
(Aetherborn) Stormlancer (Platinum): Stormlancers are storms incarnate. They command the battlefield with absolute destruction. A stormlancer has attuned their bodies to the elements. Lightning, rain and wind heed their call as they march through their foes unheeded. The stormlancer is bonded to their spear with the weapon not only being a deadly instrument of their wrath, but a piece of themselves and a focus of their power. A stormlancer without their lance is incomplete. (Toughness +3, Power +6, Speed +2, Control +4)
Calvin stepped into the illusory battlefield. Lightning illuminated the sky, crackling and dancing across the dark clouds, while thunder roared with an incomprehensibly loud boom. Beneath his feet, the ground trembled with the force of the powerful storms. The winds were so fierce that debris became airborne, only to be forcefully brought back down by the torrential rains. The spear he gripped in his hand resembled a bolt of lightning plucked directly from the heavens. With each jab, bolts of energy sizzled through the air, scorching the ground in their wake. Each swing of his spear caused a vortex, drawing everything towards its core. He was connected to this class at a level deeper than he’d thought possible. He wanted nothing more than to become this person.
Suddenly, Freya appeared next to him, her fur tingling with the power of lightning. With a powerful howl, a shimmering wall of pure electricity emerged, pulsating with an intimidating energy. The debris that made contact with the barrier was instantly vaporized, causing lightning bolts to be unleashed upon impact. She charged through the barrier and was blasted forward with incredible speed. As her claws tore through the air, a powerful gust of wind was unleashed, propelling blades of air forward with unmatched force. She tilted her head back, her eyes fixed on the sky, and released a powerful, primal howl. With a flash of lightning, three bolts descended from the clouds and unleashed a pack of storm-attuned wolves onto the battlefield below. Each wolf represented a different element. Freya vanished and then materialized at one of the wolves’ positions, swapping places with them.
SYNERGY AVAILABLE. SPIRIT LINK UPGRADE AVAILABLE: COMBO SKILLS.
Calvin discovered that he had complete control over the wolves that Freya had called forth, enabling him to guide them effectively in the midst of battle. He was also able to perform the same trick Freya had, switching places with the wolves. When he switched places with a wolf, he could feel the raw power of their element surging through his veins. By switching with the water wolf, he could summon a wall of water that surged and crashed with immense force. The wind wolf increased his speed to a supernatural level. Switching with the lightning wolf caused electricity to crackle along his skin and out through his weapon, empowering his attacks.
He instinctively knew somehow that everything they were witnessing was only a sample of the possibilities. Their path and skill choices along the way would determine their actual capabilities, but what they were experiencing right now was one such possibility.
Yes Freya thought, and Calvin agreed.
They selected these classes, not even needing to continue testing out different combinations. This combination spoke to them at a fundamental level and nothing else would feel right. Such is the nature of finding one’s path.
CALVIN HAWKINS
Level: 29
Race: Aetherborn
Class: Stormlancer (Synergy)
Grade: E
ATTRIBUTES:
Health Points (HP): 8352/8352
Mana Points (MP): 4408/4408
Stamina: 7772/7772
STATS:
Power: 609
Toughness: 464
Speed: 714
Control: 551
SKILLS MODIFIED
Chain Reaction -> Chain Fury
Chain Fury: The stormlancer can release stored electric charge for a ranged attack. This attack chains through nearby enemies, doing reduced damage with each subsequent chain until the damage is depleted.
Phalanx -> Storm Legion
Storm Legion: Commander of the battlefield, the stormlancer finds themselves facing danger head-on. The stormlancer plants their spear in the ground, generating three short-lived, shield-bearing storm legionnaires. These legionnaires are stationary and wield large, damage-absorbing barriers. While active, storm legionnaires can strike forward with their spears. Upon expiration or destruction, the shields of the legionnaires erupt in a directional wave of lightning. The power of the lightning is determined by the amount of damage absorbed before expiration. This lightning may be empowered through environmental effects. This is a continuously evolving skill, having many options to evolve and grow with the wielder.
SKILLS OBTAINED
(COMBO) Storm Brand: Apply a Storm Brand to a target. This brand empowers the storm-attuned attacks of spirit-bonded synergy classes. Each member of this synergy possesses this skill and can activate it independently on separate targets. This skill grows in power as your synergy grows in power.
Calvin could barely comprehend the changes. His stats were through the roof, the skill changes were incredible, the addition of the combo skill was an extremely welcome addition. He’d wondered how their synergy would play out and it looks like that was beginning to materialize in real and powerful ways. He was a little concerned though. He knew the system would adjust the challenges dynamically based on their power level, and with his power going up so drastically, how would the challenges change in response? He hoped that these changes wouldn’t make life for Olympus any harder than it already was.
He immediately dove into Freya’s menus to see the changes.
FREYA HAWKINS
Level: 28
Race: Aetherwolf
Class: Tempest Warden (Synergy)
Grade: E
ATTRIBUTES:
Health Points (HP): 13608/13608
Mana Points (MP): 5376/5376
Stamina: 11760/11760
STATS:
Power: 504
Toughness: 756
Speed: 616
Control: 672
SKILLS MODIFIED
Shielding Fang -> Lightning Fang
Lightning Fang: Leap in front of an ally within close range, absorbing a portion of incoming damage. The intercepted damage empowers the next bite attack, infusing it with storm essence. This damage can be amplified by environmental effects.
Guardian’s Howl -> Storm Caller
Storm Caller: The tempest warden unleashes a powerful howl into the heavens infusing the battlefield with storm essence. This does not replace other positive environmental effects. While under the effects, a strong storm envelops the area. This essence empowers various allied skills and effects. Allies will not experience negative effects as a result of this infusion.
Pack Hunter -> Storm Hunter
Storm Hunter: The Tempest Warden phases through space reappearing a short distance away. If the battlefield is under the effects of storm essence, a lightning bolt strikes the area from which the Tempest Warden left, dealing damage to the surroundings and summoning a water-attuned wolf elemental. The wolf elemental remains on the battlefield until destroyed and can attack and move independently. This is a continuously evolving skill, having many options to evolve and grow with the wielder.
SKILLS OBTAINED
(COMBO) Storm Brand: Apply a Storm Brand to a target. This brand empowers the storm-attuned attacks of spirit-bonded synergy classes. Each member of this synergy possesses this skill and can activate it independently on separate targets.
Freya, you’re going to kick some ass out there.
Yip! Yip!
Calvin and Freya were the last to finish up. By the smiles evident on the faces around him, he knew they’d all gotten some good shit.