[Recruiting the next batch of climbers. James, please select the first battle format.]

61-3 spoke only seconds after James had finalized his decision. Talk about timing. Any later and this wave wouldn't get to choose from the new crafting classes.

{You have activated Edit Quest. -5 Tower Points. 1717 Tower Points remaining.}

{You have added “1 Low Quality Health Potion” to the Reward(s). -25 Tower Points. 1692 Tower Points remaining.}

{You have added “1 Low Quality Mana Potion” to the Reward(s). -50 Tower Points. 1642 Tower Points remaining.}

{You have added “2 Gold” to the Reward(s). -20 Tower Points. 1622 Tower Points remaining.}

{You have added “60 Berries” to the Reward(s). -5 Tower Points. 1617 Tower Points remaining.}

A loss of 105 Tower Points a day. Still wish I could just spend 1150 points up front to have it repeat itself indefinitely. It's not an expensive daily cost, but things like this add up over time!

"61-3, could you display one observer from each party of climbers going through the first battle, once it starts?"

[Affirmative. James, should I do so at the start of each first battle within the Tower until you request otherwise?]

"Yes, please, that would be great. Thank you." I'm glad 61-3's making offers like this now, trying to predict what I'm wanting and asking about setting up routines like this. It'll save me a lot of time going forward.

"Actually, could you also edit the First Battle quest each time to add all of the rewards I just added to it?"

[Affirmative. 105 Tower Points will be spent at the start of every day to add the Rewards of "1 Low Quality Health Potion, 1 Low Quality Mana Potion, 2 Gold, 60 Berries" to the quest rewards. Your confirmation of the quest will still be required before it can be submitted, however.]

"Oh." Right, I can ask them to create quests, but not to confirm them for me. Asking for something like this isn't useful if I still have to manage it each time. I was hoping for something that would let me work past the daily First Battle if I had to without stopping, but if I can't fully automate the process... "Never mind then, don't add anything to the quest for me... Good job picking up on what I was aiming for, though, I appreciate it."

[Affirmative. Prior request has been deleted.]

Screens began popping up in front of James, as the First Battle for the fifth wave of Climbers began. Eventually, there won't be a point in watching this. There's only so much I can do to prepare people ahead of time with the same battle happening over and over. Anything else I learn to add to the broadcast will have to come from what happens after the First Battle, but for now, I can still learn how the Crafting Classes can fight, or the equipment they start off with.

<----->

{System Integration in process. Michael Lucius, please select your Class:}

Michael Lucius found himself staring at a glowing blue screen in front of a featureless black void. Despite the darkness, Michael could see himself clearly, including the fact that he was wearing a new set of clothes.

What is this? He pulled at the left sleeve of the long sleeve shirt he now wore. Plain gray, cotton, linen, or polyester... I can't tell by feeling it, I can't even tell I'm touching the cloth at all. He froze as the realization struck.

"I don't... Feel anything..." He said aloud, his shoulders relaxing slightly at the sound of his own voice. No cold, no warmth, no aches from work or chronic pain I still had when I went to bed... It was both peaceful and alarming in its abnormality. Suddenly, he felt an ache in his head, as the screen in front of him pulsed brighter.

Right, I'm in the Tower. Nothing else explains it. I haven't seen this room before, but I remember the blue boxes from the news... He sighed as he covered his face with a hand. Even with everything going on, with the sky and the towers crashing into the city, it's hard to believe this is really happening. My life is some kind of video game now... Another ache, stronger this time, as the screen pulsed once more.

"Alright, alright, I get ya." Let's see what we got. I listened to the news talk about this before, but I should make sure I'm remembering right.

{System Integration in process. Michael Lucius, please select your Class:

Standard Classes:

-Warrior: (+2 Strength, +1 Resilience, per Level)

Class Skill: Weapon Proficiency: (Passive) You automatically have basic proficiency with any Non-Magical Weapon that you wield, including knowledge of how to fight against Non-Magical Weapons.

Starting Skills: Double Strike, Taunt (Class Exclusive), Pain Resistance (Passive)

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Gambeson and Leather Armor), One Weapon ((Any One Handed Melee Weapon), (Any Two Handed Melee Weapon), (Any Ranged Weapon), (Shield))

-Rogue: (+2 Agility, +1 Magic Capacity, per Level)

Class Skill: Critical Eye: (Passive) As you focus on a single enemy, you become increasingly aware of what type of attacks they are weak to, and any weak points within their body or armor.

Starting Skills: Sneak (Class Exclusive), Double Strike, Hunter's Eye

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Cloak and Leather Armor), One Weapon ((One Handed Melee Weapons: Dagger, Club), (Any Ranged Weapon))

-Mage: (+2 Magic Power, +1 Magic Capacity, per Level)

Class Skill: Spell-Appraisal: (Passive) You may identify the name and function of any spell you see.

Starting Skills: Mana Arrow, Fireball (Class Exclusive), Wave of Force

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Mage's Robes), One Weapon ((Two Handed Magic Weapon: Staff), (One Handed Magic Weapon: Wand), (One Handed Melee Weapon: Dagger))

-Priest: (+1 Magic Power, +2 Magic Capacity, per Level)

Class Skill: Diagnosis: (Passive) You are aware of the health of all Climbers within your Party, as well as the type and duration of any Empowering or Debilitating Spells or Statuses applied to them.

Starting Skills: Heal, Barrier, Cure (Class Exclusive)

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Priest's Robes), One Weapon ((Two Handed Magic Weapons: Staff), (One Handed Melee Weapons: Mace))

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

-Merchant: (+1 Agility, +1 Resilience, +1 Magic Resistance, per Level)

Class Skill: System Shop: (Passive) You have personal access to your own version of the System's General Store. You may buy and sell items from anywhere at any time, and invest Gold and/or Skill Points into the shop to increase the selection of items available.

Starting Skills: Appraise, Discount (Class Exclusive), Detect

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Flashy Clothing), One Weapon ((One Handed Melee Weapons: Dagger, Club), (Ranged Weapons: Crossbow, Sling))

-Fool: (+2 Unassigned Stat Points, per Level)

Class Skill: Indecisive: (Passive) You can buy Skills regardless of Class restrictions, but only receive Skill Points every odd-numbered Level. Class Skills are not included.

Starting Skills: Fool's Luck(Class Exclusive)

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Plain Clothes), One Weapon (Walking Stick)}

"Well... Most of this is new to me." Michael thought aloud, the sound of his own voice helping to ground him as he lingered within the void. As he swiped on the screen to scroll to the last class, however, the screen didn't stop after the Fool Class was revealed, instead continuing on.

"I never heard about this..." He mumbled, as another category of classes revealed themselves.

{Crafting Classes:

-Weaponsmith: (+2 Strength, +1 Agility, per Level)

Class Skill: Recipe Book (Weaponsmithing): (Passive) You have access to the Weaponsmithing Recipe Book that can be used to store/create Recipes. Recipes can be unlocked through repeated Crafting or by spending a Skill Point.

Starting Skills: Quiet Crafting, Disassemble, Double Strike, Pain Resistance (Passive)

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Weaponsmith's Uniform), One Harvesting Tool (Pickaxe)

-Armorsmith: (+1 Strength, +2 Agility, per Level)

Class Skill: Recipe Book (Armorsmithing): (Passive) You have access to the Weaponsmithing Recipe Book that can be used to store/create Recipes. Recipes can be unlocked through repeated Crafting or by spending a Skill Point.

Starting Skills: Quiet Crafting, Disassemble, Double Strike, Hunter's Eye

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Armorsmith's Uniform), One Harvesting Tool (Skinning Knife)

-Enchanter: (+2 Magic Capacity, +1 Magic Resistance, per Level)

Class Skill: Recipe Book (Enchanting): (Passive) You have access to the Weaponsmithing Recipe Book that can be used to store/create Recipes. Recipes can be unlocked through repeated Crafting or by spending a Skill Point.

Starting Skills: Quiet Crafting, Disassemble, Magic Arrow, Wave of Force,

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Enchanter's Uniform) One Harvesting Tool (Butcher Knife)

-Alchemist: (+1 Agility, +2 Magic Resistance, per Level)

Class Skill: Recipe Book (Alchemy): (Passive) You have access to the Weaponsmithing Recipe Book that can be used to store/create Recipes. Recipes can be unlocked through repeated Crafting or by spending a Skill Point.

Starting Skills: Quiet Crafting, Disassemble, Heal, Barrier

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Alchemist's Uniform), One Harvesting Tool (Sickle)

-Carpenter: (+1 Strength, +1 Agility, +1 Resilience, per Level)

Class Skill: Recipe Book (Carpentry): (Passive) You have access to the Weaponsmithing Recipe Book that can be used to store/create Recipes. Recipes can be unlocked through repeated Crafting or by spending a Skill Point.

Starting Skills: Quiet Crafting, Disassemble, Appraise, Detect

Starting Equipment: One Armor (Carpenter's Uniform) One Harvesting Tool (Woodcutter's Axe)}

"Why haven't I heard about these... Crafting classes?" Michal wondered, as he stroked his trimmed, graying beard. "I thought I was paying attention to the news. Even if it hasn't stopped me from needing to work, alien invasions are a big deal... Is it because I'm a carpenter? Since I have a 'crafting' kind of job, I'm given the option of a 'crafting' kind of class?"

For the third time, pain blossomed in Michael's mind, enough that he staggered backwards.

{Please choose a class, or one will be assigned to you. Time Remaining: 00:00:59}

The timer appeared above the class selection panel as the pain vanished in an instant, as the number counted down each second.

"Damn it, well, I might as well pick what I'm used to, yeah?" Michael said, as he tapped on the Carpenter Class, and confirmed with the popup that appeared after.

{Class: “Carpenter” has been selected. Please choose your Skill.

"Skill, huh? Let's see... Quiet Crafting, Disassemble, Appraise, Detect... What's Quiet Crafting do?" Another screen appeared, hovering just below where the words "Quiet Crafting" were on the screen in front of him.

{Quiet Crafting: Cost: 1 Mana every minute while active. Stops further generation of the user's Aggression Field while active outside of a Safe Zone, and greatly dampens all sound made by the user when interacting with the Recipe Menu or Crafting Tools associated with your Class.}

"Sound dampening... Wish I had that when I was first getting into woodworking... Well, should still come in handy. I remember something about Aggression Fields attracting monsters, yeah? And I'm running out of time, anyway..."

{Skill: Quiet Crafting has been chosen. You have no more Skill Points remaining.}

{Class and Skill selections finalized. Stand by for Tutorial Initialization.}

An instant later, Michael found himself staring at the sky. "Wha-..." He let out a groan as he tried to sit up and discovered that all of the aches he had lost while in the void had returned. What am I doing on the ground? Was that a dream, or- He heard similar sounds of surprise as other climbers, some on their feet, others either lying or sitting on the ground, took stock of their situation.

Michael got to his feet, staring at his new clothes as he tried to brush the dirt and grass off of him. A short sleeve shirt, cotton or something, a leather apron, leather gloves, and leather boots. Pants feel like thin cotton too. Weird wearing what feels like pajamas or sweatpants with work clothes. I much prefer jeans. No flannel either. I liked flannel. At least I have a belt. He thought, patting his sides. The axe isn't on me, oh! Right, inventory. A screen appeared in front of him, and Michael frowned at it.

"Empty? I should have an axe, right?" He turned to the other climbers in the group, most of them currently going through menus of their own. Right, I need to assign my stat points or something. But one of them, a younger man wearing a flashy vest, had already swiped his menu away when Michael had asked about his axe, and turned their attention to him.

"Your weapon should have appeared right next to you." The younger man said, looking at the ground around Michael's feet. "Ah, there, to your- well, behind you now." The man corrected, as Michael turned to face him mid conversation.

Michael turned around and found the axe, plain looking and partially hidden by the grass. Michael bent down and picked it up. Huh, that was easier than it usually is. Must be that extra strength, or is it resilience that's helping me? My body doesn't hurt half as much as it did when I went to bed. I wouldn't have groaned if I hadn't been floating in a void where I felt nothing at all outside of those damn headaches. Could have just asked nicely... Michael huffed, dismissing the thoughts as he pulled up his status.

{Michael Lucius: Level 0 Carpenter

Exp: 0/50

Status: Healthy

Mana: 10/10

Strength: 2

Agility: 2

Resilience: 2

Magic Power: 1

Magic Capacity: 1

Magic Resistance: 1

Skills: Quiet Crafting

Unassigned Stat Points: 5

Unassigned Skill Points: 0}

Hm. Let's see... Two points into Strength, Two points into Resilience, and one point into Magic Capacity. Ten minutes isn't nearly enough time to make something, but until I get more magic skills it'll be strength and resilience that'll keep me alive. I wish I could reread all about what the stats actually do, but all the news stations say you have to be quick with this.

As Michael finished assigning his stat points and closed out of the menu, he turned his attention back to the other four climbers, who were discussing their skill choices and trying to strategize before the goblins appeared. With a grim expression, Michael stepped forward to join them.