Thalion opened his eyes to find himself standing on the surface of strange, black water. It looked impossibly dense, refusing to let him sink beneath its glassy surface. Everything around him felt unreal. A golden light surrounded him, though there was no visible source, no sun, no moon, nothing but the endless darkness.

Where am I? Did I drown? Is this the afterlife? He tried to make sense of his surroundings. The place was neither heaven nor hell, at least not the hell he expected. There was no fire, no scorching heat. But the light that bathed him relentlessly? That could be a form of torture. If this were a real place, he thought, any legal court would call it cruel and unusual punishment. His paranoia spiked; this must be hell. No way, heaven would be this harsh. Then his mind flashed back to those strange moments in the water. Why did everything turn red? And that voice What did it mean by "integration complete"?

Before he could explore his thoughts any further, a golden figure appeared before him. It was humanoid but completely devoid of eyes or mouth, its head crowned by three backward-curved horns.

A voice echoed in his mind, cold and indifferent.

“Greetings. I am the voice of the system. My role is to provide information about the system and guide you through the tutorial.” The figure’s tone was flat and emotionless. “I will also assist you in selecting your starting class.”

Thalion blinked, struggling to keep up. “Wait, so this isn’t hell?” he asked, half disbelieving.

“No,” the figure responded, its tone unchanged. “This is a subspace where you will choose your starting class. Once that is done, you will be sent into the tutorial.”

“Starting class... like a video game?” Thalion stammered, trying to wrap his head around what was happening.

“Exactly,” the figure sighed, as if tired. “Think of it as preparing you for energy control so you don’t die within the first five minutes. After that, yes, it's much like a starting class in a video game.”

Thalion latched onto a tiny sliver of hope. “Okay… and once I finish this tutorial, I’ll go back to Earth, right?”

The figure hesitated, almost bored. “In a sense. Your world no longer exists as you remember it. Earth has merged with five other planets and is now part of the system. Survive the tutorial, and you’ll be sent to the New Earth with the other survivors.”

Great, Thalion thought bitterly. Still alive, but now I have to survive some death trial to live on this New Earth. It could’ve been worse, though. At least he wasn’t trapped in this creepy subspace forever. Or dead.

For now, he had more pressing questions. “What exactly is the system? And if I need a class to survive the tutorial, what are we being prepared for? Will life on the New Earth be even worse than before?”

The golden figure spoke again, its voice filling Thalion’s thoughts. “The system is... everything. It governs reality, but before we get into that, focus on the words ‘Status Screen.’”

The moment Thalion concentrated on it, a translucent window appeared before his eyes.

Status:

Name: Thalion Walker

Age 30

Height 1.93

Level 0

Race: Common Human (H)

Class: None

Health: 25/25

Mana: 35/35

Stamina: 40/40

Experience points 0/50

Stats:

Strength: 10

Agility: 7

Endurance: 8

Intelligence: 13

Wisdom: 10

Dexterity: 5

Perception :6

Toughness: 6

Vitality: 10

Fate: 3

Titles:

none

Bloodline:

none

“Your status screen represents your capabilities, making it easier for you to track your progress and improve,” the statue-man explained. “Currently, you are at level 0. You must have come from a world with low mana density, which puts you at a disadvantage compared to others. But don’t worry, you can level up by earning experience points. With each level-up, your stats will increase based on your class. For instance, a heavy warrior will gain more health and strength than a light warrior but will sacrifice agility and endurance.”

The voice paused for a moment, then continued, “And that’s not all. Once you reach E grade, your lifespan will extend to roughly 2,000 years. If you manage to ascend to godhood or obtain a race or class with divine rarity, you will become immune to the ravages of time. That’s why so many humans, beasts, even plants, strive for power. Immortality is the ultimate goal. Additionally, power breeds control. You’ll see self-declared kings and queens appearing during the tutorial, even without divine intervention. Worse still, some classes that use living beings as fuel for their abilities will contribute to slaughter and the rise of slavery, plus many other things you would call evil.”

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Thalion’s expression hardened as the implications sank in. The idea of slavery sickened him, but it wasn’t enough to deter him from his new path. In his old life, he had little interest in wealth or power, preferring simple pleasures like spearfishing with friends and lounging by the beach. But now, with immortality dangling before him, everything had changed. He was determined not just to survive but to thrive.

The statue-man’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Your status screen will also display your unique skills. Upon entering the tutorial, you’ll receive the skill Identify, which allows you to perceive the properties and weaknesses of items, creatures, and environments. You’ll also gain Echoes of Worlds, which enable you to understand and speak every language present in this new reality. These abilities will help you navigate both the tutorial and in the world beyond.”

Thalion nodded, absorbing the information. But one pressing question remained. “How does the tutorial work? And what do I need to know about these gods and the worlds Earth was merged with?” His curiosity was tinged with urgency.

“Oh, an ambitious one, are we?” The statue-man replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. “The tutorial is divided into five stages. After we finish here, you’ll be teleported to the first stage. To advance through the stages, you must fulfill specific requirements. Details will appear on your status screen once you enter. For each achievement, whether slaying a beast or leveling up, you’ll earn System Credits. Every seven days, the System Shop opens, allowing you to exchange credits for items, skills, and knowledge.”

The statue-man continued, his tone growing more serious. “As for the gods, they can bestow blessings upon individuals during the tutorial or through the System Shop. These blessings grant you access to classes or skills tied to the deity, usually of higher rarity. They can also boost your stats and offer guidance. I can’t reveal much about the other planets yet, but suffice it to say they all had higher mana densities than Earth. Their inhabitants will begin with more stats and at higher levels. Some may have already reached F grade.”

Thalion’s mind raced as the figure described the first planet. “The first world, Veridara, is scarred by endless war. Noble houses fought for centuries, with one family finally emerging victorious. The Marquess family now rules Veridara with an iron grip, controlling both the planet and its magic. Their mastery of water magic gives them the ability to command the seas, control the weather, and even bend water itself to their will. The people of Veridara know rebellion is futile, any resistance is met with ruthless brutality.”

Thalion’s fists clenched as he processed this new reality. He had always been content with his simple life. But now, with a chance at power and perhaps more importantly, endless life, there was no way he would settle for mediocrity.

“On the second planet, Krytos, four Orc clans are locked in an endless cycle of warfare. Their brutal battles rage ceaselessly across the land, each clan vying for dominance, driven by ancient rivalries and an unquenchable thirst for blood.

The third planet, Zyphoria, is ruled by vampires, who ruled the world with unyielding authority. These fearsome beings sustain themselves by feeding on the blood of the living, plunging the inhabitants into constant fear of the night. The planet's cities lie shrouded in eternal twilight, where the vampires thrive, growing stronger with every drop of blood they consume. Other races, mere cattle to these dark overlords, struggle to survive in a world where every shadow hides a predator.

Eltaris, the fourth planet, is ruled by a merciless Elven king, whose tyrannical reign has enslaved all non-Elven races. Under his brutal control, the Elves wield absolute power, while other races labor in chains, their lives dictated by the king's cruel whims. The Elves’ mastery of powerful magic only deepens the oppression, as none can withstand their overwhelming force. Fear and subjugation fill every corner of the kingdom as the Elven king enforces his dominance with ruthless precision.

So, as you can see, competition will be fierce," the statue-man concluded in an almost sorrowful tone.

Thalion’s eyes narrowed with determination. This situation was bad. It sounded like the people from other planets got a head start. Not to mention that orcs, elves, and vampires were probably stronger by default even if they had the same level. Thalion was always a bit crazy when it came to dangerous situations. If there was a storm rising on the ocean, he saw it as a perfect opportunity for surfing. Nothing was better than those powerful, over 8-meter-tall waves. Most didn’t even try it in fear of getting injured. In his mind, this was just one more reason to do it. Anyway, enough thinking; he needed to close the gap between him and the fuckers from the other planets as fast as possible. Getting killed by some vampire that was just statchecking him wasn't the way he wanted to die. There was no time to waste. "What starting classes do you have?" he asked, his voice intense.

"I like this one," the voice laughed. "There are six starting classes, but don’t worry, your options for specialization and new classes will expand greatly during the tutorial."

“The Mage is a master of the arcane arts, wielding devastating spells to control the battlefield, the voice started with a serious tone. They unleash powerful elemental attacks, erect protective barriers, and manipulate the forces of nature. Though formidable in magic, mages are physically fragile, relying on intelligence and mana to keep enemies at bay.

The Archer, on the other hand, excels in long-range combat. With precision and agility, they take down enemies from a distance, often before the target even knows they’ve been hit. While quick and elusive, archers are vulnerable in close combat and rely on traps or specialized arrows to survive.

The warrior is a balanced fighter, skilled in both offense and defense. Versatile in combat, they wield swords, axes, or spears and wear medium armor, making them adaptable in various situations. However, Warriors lack the specialization of other classes and require strategic thinking to excel.

The Heavy Warrior is a powerful tank designed to absorb immense damage while delivering devastating blows. Clad in heavy armor, they wield weapons like greatswords or hammers to crush enemies with sheer strength. Though slow and ineffective at range, they are essential for holding the line in prolonged battles.

In contrast, the Light Warrior sacrifices power for speed and precision. Armed with daggers or short swords, they excel at dodging attacks and delivering swift, lethal strikes. However, their light armor leaves them vulnerable if caught off guard.

Finally, the Healer is a vital support class, specializing in restoring health and curing ailments. Using restorative magic, they keep allies alive and enhance the team’s overall effectiveness with buffs and protective spells. However, healers have low offensive abilities and are often prime targets on the battlefield”, the voice finished its long and detailed explanation.

“I definitely won’t be a healer,” Thalion thought after listening to the voice. Given his experience playing Elden Ring, where having a large health pool was crucial for surviving boss fights, the Heavy Warrior seemed like the obvious choice. But the thought of constantly taking hits didn’t sit well with him. Light Warriors were lethal, but one mistake could mean death. He discarded that class too. That left the Mage, Archer, and Warrior. The Mage had immense potential, the Archer could attack from afar, and the Warrior offered a balanced option between light and heavy warrior.

"You mentioned it would be easy to change classes during the tutorial. Can I, for example, build a tank Mage or a warrior with magical attacks?" Thalion asked deep in thought.

"Yes," the statue-man replied, his tone serious. "There are no limits when it comes to shaping your class. In fact, it’s crucial that you find your own path."

After careful consideration, Thalion chose the Mage class, believing it offered the most potential moving forward.

A notification popped up on his status screen.

Congratulations! You have chosen the Mage class

You receive 3 healing potions, 2 mana potions, and one spatial ring

Please select your outfit

His vision shifted, revealing over 50 different robes floating before him in various colors and styles. After some thought, he selected a black robe with a hood and mask, reminding him of a Sith warrior.

“Now our meeting comes to an end. Good luck in the tutorial,” the voice said, and in an instant, Thalion was teleported away.