Both classes had their advantages. Honestly, they both sounded great, but I thought to what had been working for me so far. What had been my saving grace actually, there is no way I would have made it this far without my experiences in Salve. In Salve, I was not a healer, that just hasn’t been how I’ve played. I have been a fighter, a whirring, two-handed dervish, the closest thing to that was the Barbarian. My pulse quickened at the thought of picking a class, there would be no going back now. "I'm going for the Stormbreaker Barbarian," I declared.

The instant I made my choice, what Korrok would later call my Heads-Up Display or (HUD) illuminated right before my eyes, immersing me in a slew of statistics, and details. It honestly looked like someone had put a video game user interface right over my eyes. Taken aback by all of the information, I faltered, I found myself blinking rapidly trying to navigate the sudden sensory barrage.

"Whoa," I muttered, trying hard to maintain my balance. Once I managed to steady myself, I turned to Korrok, my eyes filled with a touch of confusion. " How do I scroll on this thing?" I asked, motioning in front of me.

Korrok grinned, but his eyes showed more steel than amusement. “Might feel like you're tryin' to drink from a firehose at first. But give it time. It'll start making sense. Focus on what you need, and it'll come to you. This new world you’re in... it demands patience, just as much as it does strength.”

“Is there a tutorial mode, or am I expected to intuitively know how to navigate, this feels like it’s a learn-on-the-job kind of deal." I said.

“"You can talk all day about what you'll do. But talks cheap. Action, now that's something real. Dive in, make mistakes, and learn. That's the only way forward. Korrok insisted.

Focusing intently, I nodded, "Alright, display my stats for me."

On command, the HUD transitioned, revealing a structured summary of my attributes:

* Strength: 13

* Dexterity: 13

* Constitution: 14

* Intelligence: 12

* Wisdom: 10

* Charisma: 14

I peered closely at the figures presented, I remembered the liaison reading these same numbers to me earlier, but I was too overwhelmed then to really process it. Now it was like I was hearing it for the first time, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little excited by it all. A mischievous grin formed on my lips. I couldn't resist rattling off some witty comments as I was again shown my stats, indulging in some banter.

"Strength's sitting at 13? Strong but I’m not Hulk or anything," I laughed. Eyeing the next, I smirked, "Dexterity's decent. I can roll with that. Constitution's firm too - nice to know I'm resilient."

When my gaze landed on the Intelligence metric, I feigned a sigh. "A mere 12 in Intelligence? I’m a goddamned professor, just what I needed, another inferiority complex. I’ll never be able to show my face at work again," I joked. I chuckled when I looked at my Wisdom rating, commenting, "Ah, a solid 10 in Wisdom, just mirroring real life. And Charisma's at 14? My new bod must be counting for something, this is just the right amount of charisma for smooth-talking my way out of sticky situations."

My laughter echoed in the room for a brief moment before I shifted to a more serious tone. "Alright," I began, locking my eyes onto Korrok, "let's delve into the level one ability for this Stormbreaker Barbarian class."

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Seeing my change in mood, Korrok took the cue and started to break down the capabilities the Stormbreaker Barbarian class bestowed. He laid out that the abilites were designed to evolve alongside the character, being unlocked at levels 1, 5, and 10. He detailed the specific abilities as:

* Level 1: Boltfury Slash - An ability that lets me channel the pure force of a lightning bolt into my weapon, culminating in a power-infused blow. The effectiveness of this strike would be directly linked to my Strength attribute.

Fully engrossed in his role as my guide, Korrok's voice interjected seriously, "Your path, it's yours and yours alone. The choices you make, they ain't just about gettin' stronger. They're about who you become. And sometimes, what's right ain't always what's easy. You might find you and your class may change, adapt."

"If a normal rarity class is chosen," he continued, "the class provides a set of abilities that might grow but they might not. But your class abilities are more likely to grow with the rarer classes, like the ones you’re choosin’ from. They will grow and change based on how you act and your decisions. Best you remember that."

He paused, letting that sink in, and I tried to wrap my head around everything he told me. "It's not just how you fight, but the choices you make, the paths you walk. Show mercy, and perhaps your storm will learn to heal. Show no quarter, and your tempest will ravage all before you. The land itself might recognize your bond with the storm, rewarding you with powers that echo the tempest's fury."

"And it's not just your combat style that influences these changes," Korrok continued, and I felt a thrill of anticipation. "Your choices and behaviors can also affect your abilities. If you consistently show mercy to defeated enemies, your abilities may adapt to reflect a more compassionate barbarian, perhaps even allowing you to channel the healing properties of the storm to mend wounds. But, if you ruthlessly cut down all who stand in your way, you might find your abilities become harsher, more destructive."

"The system also considers the way you interact with the world. Suppose you often find yourself at the heart of storms, it recognizes this and could reward you with abilities that draw power from the tempests, further emphasizing your bond with storm energies."

The more Korrok explained, the more I realized the complexity and potential of this reality I'd become a part of. "The possibilities are vast and the potential for customization and growth is nearly limitless. The class mechanics adapt to your style, truly making you a unique reflection of your decisions and actions. It's a living, evolving system that provides a more immersive, responsive, and personalized experience." I could feel the excitement building in me, eager to explore and master the new world that's opened up before my eyes.

"Remember Everett," Korrok continued, "your journey here is not just about power or survival, but the choices you make, and the future you still may yet grasp."

“Future? What do you mean future?” I questioned.

“The time's not right for such talks. But know this, I've seen things, and there might yet be paths open to you, options you don’t even know to consider."

“How can I just wait.” I nearly yelled.

“You must Everett. There is nothing that can be done for now. You need to concentrate on the present, learn what you can about the system, succeed at your quest, and win the tournament. The road you're on, it's long and unforgiving. No telling if what you're chasing is attainable or if it's just dust. But if you don't chase it, you'll never know. Just remember, everybody has a limit to how much they can carry before they break. Make sure what you're chasing is worth the weight."

I was nearly speechless and had nearly given up hope of home, but Korrok seemed to hint that it was possible. I had to concentrate on winning, on the system. Shaking off these thoughts and getting my mind as much on task as I could, I glanced back at Korrok. “Okay, where do we start.”

Korrok gave me a nod, his expression solemn. “There's much you need to learn about this world, its systems, and its ways. I'll start by teaching you about skills and trades. But first, to confirm your class, you must prove yourself in a quest."