Derek stood staring blankly at the wall before him as his mind awoke from a sleep, though he had been active right until this point. His interface abruptly forced itself before him without him summoning it.

Congratulations:

You have met the requirements for the following classes:

Warrior

Barbarian

Berserker

Guardian

Wizard

Elementalist

Elemental Barbarian

Elemental Berserker

Elemental Warrior

Elemental Guardian

Eldritch Knight

War Wizard

Rune Crafter

Enchanter

Please select a class or dismiss the window for selection at a later date.

Derek considered each of the choices for a moment. The basic classes at the top were interesting, but now that he could use a wide variety of weapons and elemental magic, they weren’t the best choice. The more specific classes held more of an appeal, but the path that Marie had suggested was the most desirable.

The rush of all out combat and the life-or-death struggle made him feel more alive than anything else. Derek selected the Elemental Berserker. A surge of raw energy rushed through him. Muscles thrummed with strength as they reshaped themselves. The fibers grew and strengthened while being reinforced with mana. His senses wavered as the sensory organs became more sensitive. Derek’s entire being rocked as his brain adapted to the changes. His mana control and capacity increased. His grasp on his mana felt tangible, almost granular, in contrast to the fog of before.

Derek leaned on the table for support as his body shook from the abrupt changes. He could feel the mana flooding into his body as if starved.

Congratulations:

You have gained the class Elemental Berserker.

+5 Physical Ability

+5 Magical Capacity

New Ability: Berserker

New Ability: Aura: Bloodlust

New Ability: Elemental Infusion

New Ability: Elemental Impact

New Ability: Elemental Awareness

His mind spun as it absorbed the information on each of the new abilities. Without even trying to use his mana, he could feel a greater control over it. Shaking off the initial disorientation, Derek turned to find Leroy eyeing him with a mix of concern and awe. “Everything alright?” Leroy asked, breaking the silence.

Congratulations:

Synergy Detected:

Berserker

Ravager’s Resolve

Have merged into the ability:

Ravager’s Fury

For a span of thirty seconds, cloak yourself in an invulnerable shield, rendering all attacks ineffective. Each strike absorbed not only fuels your protection but also prolongs the ability’s active duration. Concurrently, your physical prowess surges to twice its natural might. Upon the ability’s conclusion, the accumulated energy erupts outward in a formidable wave of force. This power can be summoned once every 18 hours.

Derek nodded, steadying himself against the table. “Yeah, just… new upgrades.” His voice was steady, betraying none of the turmoil that had just raged within.

How the system worked was beyond Derek’s understanding. The fact that his abilities could merge if they were enough alike brought new possibilities to mind. Though at the moment all he could focus on was his body adjusting to the changes and his mind flooded with the abilities, how they worked, their limitations, and even hints on how they could be used creatively. The new abilities cemented the months and months of training, research, and practice that he had experienced.

As Derek re-calibrated, Leroy’s cautious tone brought focus. “Your eyes are glowing red.”

Derek cleared his throat as he stood. “Yeah, it should fade in a second.”

They fell into silence for a long moment as Derek regained control over himself.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Well, I’m ready.” Leroy stated.

Derek’s mind was in a weird state, but looked over Leroy’s plate armor and nodded. “You look like a warrior. Let’s go before someone catches us.”

The armor had been a rough attempt at fitting the orc’s armor to Leroy’s body by Jenny who was becoming quite adept at reshaping the armor. Derek’s own armor was on that list, but she had a few other projects first.

It took Derek a few minutes to remember why they were going out in the rain and near darkness. Derek tossed Leroy the rain jacket before pulling on his own. It felt like Derek had been gone for months, but he knew it was only a few minutes. It was an odd dichotomy. With each of them wearing a headlamp, they exited out the back of the garage and ran down the street. Leroy had plenty of stat points in his physical ability and that helped him keep up since they had a two-mile run to the school.

They ran through the rain and Leroy complained the whole time.

“Why do we have to run in the rain?”

“Because we are on a secret mission.”

“To do what?”

“Get a dry erase board.” Derek answered.

“Why?”

“Because I want one. And we can check the school for food while we’re at it.”

“You said we would find monsters.” He complained after a few more minutes of running.

“I don’t know where the monsters are located, but there should be some around here.”

As they navigated the relentless downpour, the school loomed ahead, its silhouette visible against the streetlights. Shattered glass doors welcomed their entry into the eerie atmosphere. They stepped through the wrecked frame out of the rain. Derek held his finger up to be quiet.

“Where’s the cafeteria?” Derek whispered.

“How should I know? I didn’t go to school here.”

Derek moved down the hallway slowly, listening for sounds. A classroom door opened silently under Derek’s gentle push, revealing a space that seemed frozen in time. His light found the whiteboard, which he promptly unhooked and stowed away into the virtual storage of his bracelet, along with a handful of dry-erase markers scavenged from the room. After collecting all the dry erase markers in the room, Derek pointed his light at the emergency exit map that usually showed a floor plan. He ripped it off the wall and started walking down the hall to the much smaller rooms. Janitor’s closet, principal and admin offices, and finally the storeroom. Seeing that it was locked, Derek shouldered the door open with a loud crash of ripping metal.

“Well, if they didn’t know we were here, they do now.” Derek said, not bothering to lower his voice.

“Yep.” Leroy confirmed.

Derek stripped the room of all the school supplies and they moved on. The school building was dark, their headlamps were the only form of light. Navigating the dimly lit corridors, the school was quiet as they moved toward the cafeteria. Derek and Leroy paused at the entrance to the cafeteria, the sound of their breaths mingling with the constant drizzle of rainwater.

“Here it is.” Leroy said a sarcastic tone, pointing at the sign above the open doors, which they had both obviously seen.

The light from their headlamps illuminated a pile of goblins sleeping, somehow not waking, from the racket. Derek grinned at Leroy before finding the light switch and turned all the lights on, flooding the room with stark, fluorescent light, startling the goblins from their slumber. Causing all the goblins to wake up.

A sea of disoriented eyes turned towards them, and the cavernous room echoed with the rising cacophony of goblin voices.

“Your up, Leroy.” Derek said with a grin.

The goblins shouted and chirped as they saw the two enter their home. They grabbed their weapons as they climbed to their feet. As the goblins clumsily armed themselves, their initial confusion morphing into aggressive posturing.

Leroy, hesitating at the threshold of the unexpected battlefield, met Derek’s gaze. “All of them? Just me?” The weight of the moment settled on his shoulders, a mix of dread and resolve flickering in his eyes.

The goblins, snarling and crude weapons in hand, advanced with a chaotic fervor, their eyes gleaming in the harsh light. Leroy fumbled with his sword, his hands slick with nervous sweat. Derek, with a steady hand, steadied the scabbard, assisting the blade to freedom.

“I’m right here if things get dicey,” Derek assured. “You shouldn’t have a problem with them. You are way over leveled for this.”

Derek strategically cleared the area by kicking the cafeteria tables, sending them sliding across the floor to crash into the wall, creating some space. He avoided the fight, letting Leroy take them all. Leroy took a hesitant step forward. The weight of the sword felt alien in his grip, his stance awkward. Yet, as the first goblin lunged, something shifted. The fear that clouded Leroy’s mind gave way to a rush of adrenaline. His movements, though unrefined, carried the weight of determination. With each swing, each dodge, Leroy’s confidence edged forward from the shadow of doubt.

Derek couldn’t help but smirk as Leroy landed his first successful blow, the goblin collapsing under the force. “That’s it!” he called out, pride lacing his words. “Use their momentum and numbers against them. You’re stronger than you think.”

The kid hadn’t had to face that kind of challenge without someone backing him up. Leroy backed up and moved, positioning his body as he carved his way through the goblins. The goblins, untrained and carrying basic weapons, didn’t have a chance. Leroy’s body started moving as if trained, but had forgotten the movements. As he fought, his extremely sloppy movements slowly became precise movements as he maneuvered the goblins into position to die.

Derek’s interface phone rang with a call from Marie.

“Hello?” He answered.

“Hey, where are you? It’s getting late.”

“Training with Leroy. Where are you?” Derek said, not exactly answering the question.

“I’m in the garage looking for you.”

“Oh, really?” Derek asked with a sly smirk in his tone. “And whatcha wearing? Something exciting?”

“Yes, really," The exasperation was clear, but she didn't sound annoyed, simply unsurprised as if she should have expected his shenanigans. "...and the same clothes from earlier. Where are you and when are you going to be home?”

“We’re at the elementary school and Leroy is fighting goblins.”

“And you didn’t think to tell anyone?” Marie sighed, a sound that conveyed her mix of exasperation and understanding.

“I did say we were going to train.”

“You know what I mean…” she harrumphed, then sighed. “Just…be careful, okay? And try not to be too late. There’s enough to worry about without adding a midnight rescue mission to the list.”

“Alright, we should be back in around twenty minutes… probably. He’s almost done now.”

“Fine, just don’t let anything happen to Leroy.”

“Yes, dear.” Derek winced as a goblin jumped on Leroy’s back and started clawing at his armor, narrowly missing his face.

She hung up on him and turned his attention back to Leroy, who was methodically slaughtering goblins while trying not to trip over the corpses.

“Marie said we need to hurry back before your parents figure out that we are gone.”

“Then help me.” Leroy said with a grunt of effort as he ripped his sword from the chest of a goblin.

“Alright, I’ll go check to see if there is any food left.”

“No! I mean…” Leroy started, but Derek was already gone.

Derek didn’t have a weapon small enough to swing in here and ended up simply crushing the skulls of the goblins still in the kitchen. He found his way around the serving bar and to the food storage area. Methodically, Derek began gathering the salvageable supplies from the storeroom. The shelves were lined with untouched cans, a testament to the goblins’ lack of interest in preserved foods.

They had opened the freezer, leaving its contents either consumed or in the midst of defrosting. It had been sitting wide open, running at full blast while making a poor attempt to cool the planet. Derek found the breaker and shut the freezer off. Environmental friendly and all that.

Derek stored all the salvageable food and returned to a scene of victory. Leroy, catching his breath, sat triumphantly on a bench, surveying the goblin bloodshed he’d orchestrated. The cafeteria bore the marks of bloody combat, with bloody goblins strewn about and tables shoved aside in the heat of battle.

“Well done,” Derek stated, his tone even. The acknowledgment was simple, devoid of flourish but sincere.

“Derek, you are an asshole.” Leroy replied, but he couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

“Oh, come on, you can’t tell me that these little guys could have hurt you. Not in all that plate armor.”

“Yeah, yeah, shut up Derek.” He retorted.

“Come on, let’s get back before your parents find out we’re gone.”

“I’m going to blame you.” Leroy stated.

“Go ahead. I’ll tell them about how you begged me to take you for an actual fight.”

Leroy grinned. “Good luck explaining the whiteboard.”

“Ah shit. Let’s just hope they don’t ask.”

“What about all the blood?” He asked as they walked down the hall.

“I think I have a spell for that.” Derek replied, already building a water elemental spell to wash away the filth.

Derek cast the spell, causing the blood to run off Leroy’s armor. It took several casts, but the blood was gone from the rain jacket and the armor. Derek managed his own clothes as they stepped out into the rain.

“Wanna race back to the house?” Leroy asked. “Winner gets 100 credits?”

“Do you think you can beat me? I got like twenty stat points on you.”

“Oh, yeah.” Leroy said with a defeated tone, then started running full sprint out of the school.