Jack went over each Class one by one. He started by considering the Dragoon class. He imagined the thrill of leaping into the air, striking from unexpected angles with unparalleled precision. The thought of being able to maneuver swiftly, landing powerful attacks, and evading counterstrikes, was compelling. He could see himself executing acrobatic feats, exploiting his mobility to control the battlefield. But as he pondered further, Jack realized that the Dragoon, despite its impressive physical prowess, lacked any magical integration. It was a well-rounded class in terms of attributes, boosting Dexterity, Agility, and Endurance. Still, it left him feeling that something crucial was missing—an element that connected more deeply with the magic he had been exploring.
Next, Jack’s gaze fell upon the Waveblade. The idea of combining Water Magic with spear combat was intriguing. He envisioned himself manipulating water to enhance his attacks, creating barriers, or summoning watery allies to support him in battle. The Waveblade’s versatility and adaptability to various combat situations were appealing. With its focus on blending magic and physical combat, it could offer quite an edge.
The Infernal Sentinel was another class that caught his attention. Jack imagined the power of integrating Fire Magic with his spear skills. The Infernal Sentinel’s ability to ignite weapons and unleash bursts of flame promised explosive, high-impact combat. The idea of dominating the battlefield with relentless, fiery assaults was exhilarating. However, Jack was also aware that this aggressive playstyle might come with vulnerabilities. The focus on offensive power and fire might leave him exposed to enemies with strong defenses against flames or magic. Additionally, the Sentinel’s heavy emphasis on offense meant he might lack the defensive options needed for prolonged engagements.
The Mindbreaker offered a unique combination of physical prowess and psychic abilities. Jack envisioned himself harnessing the power of Psychic Magic to control the battlefield with mental attacks and shields. The ability to disorient enemies, protect allies with mental barriers, and enhance his own physical capabilities through sheer willpower was tempting. The blend of psychic and physical combat seemed like a powerful and versatile approach. H
The Vanguard’s description as a front-line fighter with a focus on resilience and leadership intrigued Jack. He pictured himself leading charges into enemy ranks, using his weapon and armor in perfect harmony. The Vanguard’s emphasis on defense, alongside powerful strikes, promised a reliable role in any group combat scenario.
The Vanguard’s strength seemed to lie in its ability to endure heavy blows and protect allies, making it an invaluable asset in battles requiring frontline resilience. Jack imagined the practicality of being able to absorb damage and provide crucial cover for his companions. The boost to Constitution and Strength would certainly make him more robust and able to withstand prolonged engagements.
However, Jack couldn't ignore the trade-offs. The Vanguard’s defensive focus, while invaluable, might limit his offensive capabilities compared to other classes. He would be less about rapid, dynamic combat and more about steadfast defense and sustained combat effectiveness. The class lacked the magical integration that other options offered, which meant he would miss out on the strategic versatility provided by classes like the Waveblade or Mindbreaker.
In addition, while the Vanguard’s defensive abilities were impressive, Jack pondered whether it was the right fit for his current goals. His primary interest lay in enhancing his spear mastery and integrating magical elements into his combat style.
Finally, Jack’s eyes rested on the only Epic Class available. The description promised an almost supernatural connection to the spear, integrating Fire, Water, and Psychic elements into its mastery. The idea of becoming a living embodiment of the spear, channeling the power of Soul to perform incredible feats, was mesmerizing. Jack could almost feel the immense power and precision that came with this class. The thought of wielding an awakened spear with unparalleled skill, drawing upon his own vital essence, was thrilling. The Spearsoul offered the most significant boost to his stats. However, Jack knew that the class’s rarity and complexity would present considerable challenges. He was unsure what changing one of his attributes would entail. It might prove to be a great advantage or a detriment. He also wasn’t sure what the consequences would be for choosing to bond with the wrong spear. What even was the wrong spear? Was it a spear he hadn’t used for very long? Would he have some kind of emotional connection to the right spear? There was too little information to go on.
As Jack reflected on each class, he weighed their benefits against their drawbacks. The Dragoon offered impressive agility and spear combat skills but lacked magical integration. The Waveblade, Mindbreaker, and Infernal Sentinel classes all provided powerful magical abilities but came with their own limitations. The Vanguard provided strong defensive and offensive capabilities but was less focused on spear mastery. It also didn’t provide as many stat points as the other classes aside from the Dragoon.
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Deciding to wait a bit before making his choice Jack turned his attention to his Profession options. As he began to look them over, he heard a sound from the tunnel. It was sound that made his eyes widen and his blood run cold. It was the desperate fearful howl of a wolf.
Jack raced down the tunnel, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound of the howl echoed off the stone walls, sending a shiver down his spine. He recognized the tone—it was a howl of distress, of pain.
As he sprinted down the dark, narrow passage, Jack's thoughts raced just as fast as his feet. He had been pondering over his class options, carefully considering each one's strengths and weaknesses, but now all of that was shoved to the back of his mind. Right now, all that mattered was getting to the source of that sound.
The tunnel twisted and turned, the walls damp and slick with moisture. Jack’s breath came in ragged gasps as he pushed himself harder, adrenaline surging through his veins. He could hear the echo of his own footsteps, the slap of his boots against the wet stone floor, and the distant, almost ghostly sound of the wolf’s howl. Each cry was weaker than the last, sending a spike of worry through him.
The clinging shadows of the third floor enveloped him as he left the boss's door behind and he had to slow down to avoid running into the walls. Fortunately, his Night Vision Skill had advanced far enough for him to dimly make out where he was going, and his high Agility made his run short.
As he came in range of their mental link Jack’s mind was bombarded with Goldeyes’ agony, confusion, and desperation. The wolfs fear was palpable, a primal, visceral terror that cut through Jack’s resolve like a knife. He could feel Goldeyes’ struggle to maintain clarity amidst the pain, his thoughts frantic and fragmented. There was a sense of overwhelming helplessness, mixed with a fierce determination to protect his friends despite his dire circumstances.
“Hang in there, buddy!” Jack mentally shouted at his companion. He felt a new emotion in his Companions turbulent mind then.
Hope.
He rounded the corner and skidded to a stop, his heart racing as his eyes widened at the scene before him. The tunnel had given way to a small cavern, dimly lit by a few of Cael’s makeshift lanterns scattered across the floor. The space was bathed in an eerie, oppressive darkness that seemed to smother the light, swallowing it whole. In the center of the cavern loomed a colossal figure—an ominous, shadowy entity that defied any clear form, its presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Jack's pulse quickened as his Identification ability revealed it to be an Elite Nocturne.
The Nocturne was a swirling mass of darkness, an indistinct, shifting amalgamation of shadows that flowed and reshaped itself with an eerie fluidity. Its form was difficult to discern as if the very essence of night had coalesced into a monstrous shape. A faint, void-like light pulsed at its core, an ominous beacon of pure darkness that seemed to draw in all surrounding light. The edges of its form rippled and flickered like living smoke, merging seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, rendering it nearly invisible in the cavern's murky depths.
From the Nocturne’s form like the branches of some dark, twisted tree, tendrils of darkness extended outwards, their tips coiling and curling around Lyla, Cael, and Monsoon. The tendrils seemed like an extension of the Nocturne’s will, reaching out with a predatory grace to ensnare and crush its prey. Lyla was suspended mid-air, her body twisted painfully as the dark tendrils tightened around her. Her staff lay discarded on the floor, the light it emitted swallowed by the surrounding gloom. Her face was contorted with agony as she struggled helplessly against the relentless grip.
Cael was pinned against the cavern wall, his arms stretched painfully wide as the shadowy tendrils dug into his flesh. The pressure was so intense that it left visible indentations on his skin. He gasped for breath as the tendrils choked, his face a mask of pain and desperation.
Monsoon, the Wavewolf, was the most tightly bound. The Nocturne’s tendrils had wrapped around his powerful limbs, squeezing with an unyielding force. Monsoon’s blue fur was matted with blood and sweat, his eyes wide with fear and pain as the crushing pressure continued to build. His growls of anguish resonated through the cavern, mingling with the oppressive darkness.
Goldeyes was the worst off, his body barely visible amidst the chaotic swirl of darkness. The Nocturne’s tendrils had ensnared him with a merciless grip, wrapping around his midsection and limbs with an almost sadistic precision. The pressure was unrelenting, causing his once-proud form to contort grotesquely. The wolf's deep, howling roars of agony filled the cavern, a stark contrast to the eerie silence that had settled over the scene.
The shadows around Goldeyes seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy, feeding off his suffering. Each contraction of the Nocturne’s tendrils caused the wolf's skin to tear open, revealing glimpses of raw, bleeding flesh beneath. The very essence of the darkness seemed to cling to Goldeyes, sapping his strength and life force with every passing moment. His eyes, usually filled with a fierce, fiery spirit, were now clouded with pain and fatigue, the bright gold dimming to a muted, sorrowful hue.
Jack’s gaze swept over his friends, a fierce wave of anger and determination rising within him. The sight of their suffering was a sharp, painful reminder of what was at stake. He gritted his teeth, focusing on the Nocturne, whose shifting form and dark tendrils were both mesmerizing and terrifying.