Thief : Common Mage : Uncommon Knight : Common Monster : Epic

In the darkness, I float around while the system displays multiple of these explanation screens, possibly to clear my confusion.

Thief: This Class will set you on the 'Stealth' Path. The Thief Class allows you to move faster, silently, and most of all, monsters and people alike will find it harder to notice you in their peripheral vision. Skills: Soundless, Snatch, Stab, Blind, Escape.

Knight: This Class will set you on the 'Heroic' Path. The Knight Class lets you perform feats of great strength and power. You are much stronger with any weapon as well, especially bigger ones. Skills: Slash, Stomp, Block, Pierce, Bash

Mage: This Class will set you on the 'Magic' Path. The Mage Class will awaken the Mana coursing through your body and open up a new realm of magic, spells of elemental power can be performed at this stage. Types Of Mage: Fire Mage, Water Mage, Earth Mage, Wind Mage Skills: (Depending on the Type, your skills will be distributed accordingly.)

Monster: This Class will set you on the 'Evolution' Path. Forget everything you thought about yourself, this Class will let you transform permanently into a new body, that allows you to use their skills and strengths. Types Of Monster: Minotaur (Your types are unlocked by killing the monster, kill more monsters to unlock more types) Skills: (Depending on the Type, your skills will be distributed accordingly.) Epic Grade Perk: Every new species of monster killed, an option to transform into that monster will appear.

Just what am I looking at right now?

These Classes were exactly what I predicted, there was no way we were expected to get out of the dungeon with just our Variants.

I need to think logically about this, I'm already leaning heavily towards the Monster class, mainly cause it just sounds cool. But I'm a fairly good-looking guy, and I want to return home one day, as a human of course.

***

I awoke, in the same area where we had tea. My neck sort of hurt, it was resting on something. I stared at the ceiling, a familiar face stared down at me, smiling.

“Morning sunshine, what Level are you now?” It was Rika, it was at this point I realized, I was resting on her lap. I sprung my head up, nearly colliding with hers, “whu-whaer-wheres de-the mieno-mine-minotaur?” my head hurts, I can barely think, much less speak.

Just what the hell did my Variant do to me?

Rika laughed, she looked happy “Don't worry, you messed it up real bad. It won't be moving any time soon, or any time at all for that matter.” My head is fuzzy, I can't remember much.

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I feel something moving within my skin, and in the air as well. I remember now, I fought the Minotaur, and then these screens popped up at the end before.. Before I passed out, I overexerted myself.

There's nobody else around except the two of us, the stuff has all been moved away as well. The only thing that remained was burn marks on the floor where the campfire was.

I leaned against the wall, raised my hand and stretched out. I tried to control the feeling, that blood-like substance, it's moving. Depending on the formation of my fingers, it moves and behaves differently. I stuck out my index and middle finger, closing the rest, resembling a finger-gun of sorts. I can feel it..

The Mana all around me.

“What are you doing?” Rika leaned over, she must have guessed already. The mana gathers at my fingertips, a small flame ignites seemingly out of nowhere.

“Mage? You got that option?” Yeah, I'm a Mage now I guess. “I got four, picked this one in my sleep. What about Ryo and Aya?” If my memory serves me correctly, they all should also have enough Levels to select a class by now.

“Ryo’s a Mage too, Aya.. I don't think she told anyone.” That's to be expected, if Ryo chose anything but Mage… I would beat the living lights out of him. A guy with his Variant would be wasted on any other Class.

The flame at my fingertips extinguishes, I get off the floor and onto my feet “Where is everyone anyway? Why are we back here?” I asked, Rika had a smug look on her face, it unsettled me how different she was.

“You’ve stirred up quite the talk Takumi, I had to take you away from the crowd, everyone was trying to wake you up and question you.” Rika said, she got off the floor as well, dusting herself off. “Really? I didn't do much though” It was a team effort, though I got the most Exp, it wouldn't make sense to leave Ryo and Aya out of the glory.

Rika sighed, she looked like she was having fun “Walk with me, I'll explain everything that happened” She folded her arms and we walked. Honestly right now, I don't want to talk to Rika, or anyone for that matter. I just feel this inexplicable urge to rip, tear and burn, I don't know why.

“I knew you would run into that maze, so I rounded some people up and went into the maze after you guys. You’ve outdone yourself by far, we found you beating up a Level 20 Minotaur, and then you just conked out. It was almost comical.. That is, until we got a good look at the body.”

What exactly did the Minotaurs body look like? My memory is muddled, mixed in with the visions. Everything sort of blends together and stitches new stories rather than the truth. It confused my memories of the Giant Encounter as well, all that I remember clearly is leaving the accursed place.

“That Minotaur, we probably wouldn't have known that it was one unless Aya and Ryo told us outright. Its body was covered in deep wounds- especially around the legs- and its head was caved in. Apparently you were so terrifying in action, Ryo and Aya described you as if you were some demigod. Hehe”

The thought probably amused her, I felt looked down upon for some reason, even though it's just Rika. I know she means well, but for some reason, I feel like bashing her skull in.

It's not hard to imagine my classmates spreading rumors about me, stuff like this used to happen all the time in middle school. I guess I've gotten too used to being a shadow in the classroom.

“Everyone wanted to have a piece of you, I had no other choice but to carry you out here. By the way, that maze? The Minotaur was guarding some very livable spaces, there's multiple bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen and some other rooms as well. You hit the jackpot Takumi, feel proud.”

She's speaking, saying something to me.. And yet the words flow in one ear, and pop out the other. I couldn't care less about anything she has to say to me right now. All I feel is the urge to go on a massacre, I don't need food, water or anything like that. I desire violence.

Rika turned to me “Woah, that's a scary look on your face, you good?” I realized I was clenching my face, and thinking some weird thoughts too. “My head hurts, how long has it been since we arrived at this dungeon?” The feeling of exhaustion does not fade, neither does the hate in my body. Whatever's happening to me, I need to get rid of it fast.

“About uhh-” Before she can answer fully, I collapse, it appears my legs gave out from the exhaustion. Luckily she reacted in time and caught me, she put me down against the wall “You should rest, i'll get you some food and water, don't go anywhere.”

I gave her a thumbs up and she left, I dont have the strength to move around anyway.

What an awful first day in another world.