After grabbing my pack of supplies and finding myself in front of Lilly's door to invite her to breakfast as usual, I decide to wait for her in the hallway, so that I can make sure she's all right after our conversation last night. Opening her door, she's surprised to see me, I usually don't wait around in the hallway, and instead meet her in Andy's apartment.
"Good morning Lilly. I just wanted to check and see how you were doing after our conversation last night." She looked surprised at first then she gave me a small smile.
"I'm doing okay, thanks for listening last night, and for what you said. It means a lot to me." Lilly responded.
"Good I'm glad. Shall we?" I stepped out of her way and motioned my hand towards Andy's door.
Filing in and sitting at our usual spots around the table, we said our good mornings and talked about the inevitable hardships to come, and what they would entail over our breakfast. After the conversation and meal concluded, I left excited to reach my new class threshold, and to see if it would be the last, so I could finally get my class.
My usual hunting of beasts proceeded, but I focused on feeling the void energy I received from attacking with my blades. I confirmed as best I could that my theory behind the phenomena was indeed correct, and that whatever the Void did to me was allowing its energy to mix with my own. The mixed energy I then wielded was producing the Voids signature annihilation effect whenever it came in contact with a monster, thus producing void energy and sending it back into to me to further mix with my energy. It was a cyclical process that was hopefully slowly improving my energy.
After confirming and understanding the void energy phenomena, I switched my focus to considering the implications of this, and more broadly the entirety of what occurred, and what I should do about it moving forward. It seems as though I've garnered a massive boon, unless a large number of people fall through reality into the Void, and are not only not destroyed, but welcomed by the dark mass of oblivion. I find this highly unlikely. Assuming I am correct, then I should be using this boon to its utmost and cultivate my void aspected energy into something incredible.
I consider how I can use my connection to the Void to benefit me over the next few hours as I near the next class energy threshold. With a quick execution of a trio of raptors before they can even close half the distance to me, I finally feel that I have reached the class threshold and am completely full. Quickly, but competently clearing a nearby store, I give my full attention to the words scrawling across my vision.
Congratulations, you have reached the maximum threshold for level 1.
You now have access to the [Class] system.
You may now choose a class.
Warrior:
A standard class for those that like to use their brawns as their primary asset.
Stat increases per level: +2 Strength +1 Vitality +1 Endurance +1 Free stat
Rogue:
A standard class for those that like to use their speed and stealth as their primary assets.
Stat increases per level: +2 Dexterity +2 Agility +1 Free Stat
Archer:
A standard class for those that like to use distance and accuracy as their primary assets.
Stat increases per level: +2 Dexterity +1 Agility +1 Intelligence +1 Free Stat
Tank:
A standard class for those that like to use their resilience as their primary asset.
Stat increases per level: +2 Vitality +2 Endurance +1 Free Stat
Cleric:
A standard class for those that like to heal from safety instead of fighting.
Stat increases per level: +2 Wisdom +2 Intelligence +1 Free stat
Mage:
A standard class for those that like to deal damage from afar.
Stat increases per level: +2 Intelligence +2 Wisdom +1 Free stat
Random:
A random class for those looking for something different, and willing to put their path in the hands of fate.
Achieved Class:
A class that has been earned and reflects what you have accomplished.
Void Tainted Spell Blade:
You have shown incredible efficiency with magic and forming it into a close to medium ranged weapon despite the danger. Your energy has become tainted with Void energy and thus reality will now try to force your energy out of this plane when outside of your body.
Stat increases per level: +5 Intelligence +4 Wisdom +4 Agility +3 Dexterity +4 Free stats
Note that it is NO LONGER possible to improve your class options by accomplishing feats and gathering more energy for your class, as you have reached the maximum energy threshold.
"Void Tainted Spell Blade. Now that's what I'm talking about!" I only barely kept myself from shouting at the top of my lungs, and instead did a double fist pump into the air.
This was what I had been working towards for the last few days, slaughtering monsters for over 12 hours every day. What I had been refining my technique for. I knew even before I read the last line that this was the best option I was going to get. I could feel that I was at maximum capacity for the class energy I could store for level 1. Even reading the second part of the class's description couldn't get my spirits down, it was just something I would have to figure out. I'm confident that void energy is worth the downside.
Taking a few deep breaths, I mentally selected the class. Void Tainted Spell Blade.
Congratulations, you have gained the Class: Void Tainted Spell Blade.
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Congratulations, for using energy to create an attack without the help of the System you have been given a skill based on this attack along with a bonus to its use for creating it yourself.
Congratulations, you have received Skill: Energy Blade
Energy Blade: A blade of energy that can be used to cut or be thrown a short distance.
Bonus for Energy Blade: Additional energy can be added to the attack to launch the blade from your hand.
Energy Blade: A blade of energy that can be used to cut or be thrown a short distance. Adding energy allows the blade to be launched instead of thrown.
Congratulations, for not only using energy, but controlling, and reining it to create an attack spell on your own, you have been given a skill based on this ability along with a bonus to its use for doing it without System assistance.
Congratulations, you have received Skill: Energy Control
Energy Control: (Passive and Active) Control your energy within and outside of your body to a greater degree.
Bonus for Energy Control: (Passive and Active) With improved control over your energy, you can now use your energy to sense other energies around you.
Energy Control: (Passive and Active) Control your energy within and outside of your body to a greater degree, even sensing other energies around you.
Congratulations, you have received Skill: Burst
Burst: A skill using your energy to facilitate a brief but intense movement.
Congratulations, you have received Skill: Void Tainted Sight
Void Tainted Sight: (Passive) All beings related to the Void must be able to see without light for there is not light within the Void.
Congratulations, you have received Skill: Void Tainted Cowl
Void Tainted Cowl: Call upon the darkness of the Void and become wrapped in darkness so complete the light retreats from it for fear of being consumed.
Congratulations, you have reached Level 1.
For reaching level 1, you have received stats according to your class.
+5 Intelligence, +4 Wisdom, +4 Agility, +3 Dexterity, +4 Free stats
Congratulations, for creating your own skills through an impressive use of energy without the assistance of the System, you have received an addition to your Title: [Primus]
Addition to Title: For creating your own skills through an impressive use of energy without the assistance of the System. +5% effectiveness to all stats +10% to control of personal energy.
[Primus]: As the first existence to wield energy in the newest universe, and without the aid of the System, you truly are a genius comparable to the mages and progenitors of the first universe before the system touched upon reality, and a first among billions of billions. +20% effectiveness to all stats +45% to control of personal energy.
Taking a deep breath after reading through the massive amounts of text I had to stop myself from breaking out in dance. Gaining my class was more incredible than I imagined. Before I got carried away testing my new skills, I brought up my status. Status.
Name: Cassius Heart
Titles: Primus
Class: Void Tainted Spell Blade (Lvl 1)
Unallocated Stats: 4
Strength: [10] +20% effectiveness
Vitality: [9] +20% effectiveness
Endurance: [8] +20% effectiveness
Dexterity: [13] +20% effectiveness
Agility: [11] +20% effectiveness
Intelligence: [17] +20% effectiveness
Wisdom: [18] +20% effectiveness
Skills:
Energy Blade
Energy Control
Burst
Void Tainted Sight
Void Tainted Cowl
"Wow that is beautiful." I can't help but say out loud.
Quickly deciding how to use my unallocated skill points, I put one into Vitality, two into Endurance, and the last one into Agility, bringing my stat totals to, 10 Strength, 10 Vitality, 10 Endurance, 13 Dexterity, 12 Agility, 17 Intelligence, and finally 18 Wisdom. My reasoning behind this was that I should at least have standard human levels in everything, and I wanted to bump my agility up a little further so that it wasn't so low compared to my other 3 primary stats, though Intelligence, and Wisdom ranked a solid first and second place respectively followed after by dexterity and agility, also respectively. I felt the 5th 6th and 7th most important stats would be Endurance Vitality, and finally Strength, in that order. I by no means have figured out what each stat point does, but I have fairly decent guesses based on books and games and am going to continue accordingly until proven otherwise.
With my stat sheet up to snuff and out of the way, I focused in on the new addition to my title. Considering I have now received two additions to my title instead of receiving two new titles, I am going to assume that they are pretty rare, and that getting one is difficult, but receiving additions is easier once you have obtained a title to begin with. With that said I now have a huge advantage over other people. Thanking myself for my incredible enthusiasm that earned me this advantage I give myself a mental pat on the back for my unequivocally awesome nerd power of being excited to wield magic. Looking at the actual benefits of my title, the 20% increase in effectiveness of all my stats is going to give me an exponential increase in power over time as I gather more stats. The other increase of 45% to the control of my energy, has already been incredibly useful even before it got the boost just now, it was l likely a large part of why I was able to create the skills that I did.
As I stand, getting ready to test my skills, I can already feel the difference in my stats. Not only has my Agility increased by 5, my Dexterity by 3, and my Endurance by 2 but the extra 5% to their effectiveness is showing too. I feel more limber than I have in my entire life, like I could go out and walk a tightrope even though I've never even practiced it before. While I might actually be able to do that, I think I'll wait to try it out until I get another 20 or so stats in Agility and Dexterity, and maybe even Endurance and Vitality in case I fall. The next surprise comes when I start moving my energy. Not only do I have more energy now, but it responds much quicker. This increase likely stems from three key places. First the 10% increase from my title. Second, an improvement of either my Intelligence or Wisdom, or most likely both. And third, I can feel the passive part of my energy control skill, improving my already impressive control. I can feel that the passive part of the skill is the interior control of my energy, and a passive scan of energy around me. While the active part of the skill has to do with me controlling energy outside of my body and scanning more actively for energies around me.
Making my way outside I feel like I'm a tiger stalking prey. I know in my head that the increase to my stats isn't huge but adding a measly 5 points of Agility to 7 on top of a 5% increase overall is nearly doubling my Agility in less than an hour. I give myself some time to get used to the way my body moves, before I enter any sort of combat. after 30 minutes of different stretches, moves, and exercises, I give myself as much room as possible, and activate Burst. I feel a large drain on my energy, and then I Move. My single step forwards cover the distances of 5 strides. I know the exact distance I traveled because I measured out strides beforehand and placed cans of food on the side of the road for every stride. The really odd part is that I moved exactly 5 strides, the reason it's odd is because I was aiming for 5 strides in my head. I honestly didn't expect to make it that far but figured I should aim for something. On a hunch I decide to go back and try it again, this time aiming for 3 strides. I feel a smaller portion of energy leave and wrap around my body this time. I move exactly 3 strides in a single step. This decides it, I can focus on how far I want to go, and it pulls the correct amount of energy from me to get me there. Presumably I could aim for a mile, and the skill would get me as close as possible with the energy I had available. However, I am unwilling to try that in case there are adverse effects on me.
Activating Burst a few more times, I learn the basics of how much energy it costs to move a certain distance. In general, I find that 5 strides takes about a tenth of my now bolstered energy reserves, meaning that I shouldn't use it too many times in a fight if I still want to have energy left for my Energy Blade, unfortunate that it can't really be used as fast movement, but not unexpected. Taking a break to regenerate my energy, I quickly activate Void Tainted Cowl. It takes a whopping 50% of my energy reserves but stays manifested except for the slow drain of energy from the world's rejection of the void aspect of my energy. I keep my skill active for about a minute before it winks out of existence from the energy drain. While the skill was active, I was able to see through from my side, but I was unable to get a clear idea of if it hid me like invisibility, or if I stood out like a sore thumb as the walking manifestation of darkness in the middle of a sun lit city. This skill will likely be incredible during the night, if I'm not already invisible now, I certainly will be during the night.
After spending an hour regenerating all of my spent energy, I decide it's time to test out my bread and butter, Energy Blade. Manifesting the blade a few times to see what has changed, I figure out that the standard manifestation of the blade is my old energy blade, meant to be wielded ... well like a blade. However, I am able to manifest the blade in its dagger form, with a smaller cost to my energy, however that energy spikes when I launch the dagger into a wall, cutting right through it without a sound. Each of the blades are easier, and faster to manifest, I am unsure whether this is due to my new stats and title addition, or the skill itself, possibly a mix of both. My blades also have more details when they are manifested, though I can choose to add more or less of them at will. The energy required is unchanged regardless of detail. Testing energy requirements, I attempt to add and subtract energy from each manifestation without changing size or shape, and it works the same as before, I can make them denser with my energy, and thus more expensive and powerful, good to know. Finally, the drain on the energies making up my blades from the world repelling the void is irrelevant for the daggers, and manageable for my blade, I can in fact just withdraw and resummon it with ease or just add a little more juice as it gets low.
Feeling that I have tested all that I can without prey, or nightfall, I remedy the situation ... by hunting.