Chương 39: Another Gate

Joe was roughly ten minutes east of Heliopolis when he decided to test his new Quarterstaff on a few packs of Wolves and Devilish Porcupines. He hadn't realized how close he was to hitting level fifty in his Class until a notification popped up after slaying ten Beasts. System Message Ding! Class Farmer has reached level 50 - stat points distributed. Exp penalty in effect due to failure to protect innocents. Your Class Farmer (Unique) has evolved into Magical Farmer (Unique).

New Skills Acquired: Skill Mana Seed Sowing (Magic) Skill Mana Ploughing (Magic) Joe's Class had evolved. The first thing he did was dump his free points into Agility. Then, wanting a quiet place to review his new skills, he found an intact abandoned house nearby and stepped inside. New Skills: Mana Seed Sowing(Magic) - Using the mana present all around, you can plant seeds by sight and not just by touch. Mana Ploughing(Magic) - The ground and soil around you is your playground.

You can now use any mana at your disposal to plough the ground you touch, turning it soft or hard at your whim. Use your vast knowledge of farming to make everywhere you go a test for anyone who challenges your mastery. Joe wanted to laugh at the ploughing skill, but he had to admit, it was actually pretty damn good. The ability to alter the ground beneath his feet in the middle of a battle would allow him to manipulate terrain on the fly, turning any outdoor fight to his advantage.

The Mana Seed Sowing skill was just as exciting. He could already imagine planting seeds with a glance, shocking everyone around him. These two new skills significantly improved his flexibility. He was beginning to anticipate a day when he had an entire arsenal of abilities to overwhelm any opponent. Joe also savoured the internal surge of power that came with every level-up. The forty stat points he gained each time his Class levelled up gave him an unmistakable feeling of growth.

He flexed his arm, watching the expanding muscle beneath his clothing. His arms had increased to more than twice their size since before the system. But now, the physical growth had nearly stopped. He was thankful for that. The last thing he wanted was to turn into a walking muscle mass. Still, he had to admit, his body felt like it had reached its peak form. He was satisfied with his current body size. Tall but not gigantic like Hakeem. Muscular, but not bodybuilder muscular like Kai.

He wondered if his stats influenced his appearance, or was it a system-determined alteration or something subconsciously influenced by his mind. Walking through the abandoned house, he found a dusty mirror and stopped. Removing his sunglasses, he stared at his reflection.

"Who are you?" he murmured. The face staring back at him was his, but it was so different. He had changed a lot. The sharpness of his jawline, the way his eyes gleamed with intensity, the slight wildness in his aura, it was all unfamiliar, yet familiar simultaneously. He rarely had the chance or time to look at himself recently. Always on the move, always outside, constantly training or fighting. Did it really matter how different he looked? He wasn't sure.

But he felt the change within him and wondered where it led. What he was becoming…

"How could I stay the same when everything around me has changed?" He pondered. Pushing the thoughts aside, he refocused. He had a destination in mind. But just as he stepped out of the house, he froze mid-step. Ten steps ahead, a swirl of mana formed, the air distorting in that all-too-familiar pattern. A Gate was forming. Joe sat before the newly formed Gate, using Flourish to purify the surrounding area and make it more suitable for him.

The Beasts nearby had bolted the moment the Gate appeared, as if repelled by its presence. They seemed scared of it… Joe activated Mana Sight and Dao Sight. For the first time, he noticed something new: waves of mana pulsed out from the Gate in a rhythmic pattern. It was like a heartbeat, a silent pulse disturbing the natural mana flow. He wasn't sure what to do. Using Natural Identify, he focused on the Gate. Class Gate. That was all it said. At first, Joe assumed this Gate had nothing to do with him.

He was just in the right place at the right time. He had a Unique Class that had not changed rarity when it evolved. Was there a higher rarity than Unique? He didn't think that was the case. But he also had no idea, truth be told. So, he assumed this was just a random occurrence on his journey. He was about to head back to Heliopolis and let Kai and Sarah handle it when something stopped him, a nagging feeling. He was missing something important.

Then, he remembered one small detail from his Status screen, something he had ignored because he didn't know what to do about it. Class: Magical Farmer (Unique) Level 50, N/A N… A… Joe stared at the letters on his Status. A second-class slot. Was this an opportunity to gain a second class? His mind briefly weighed the choice. Enter the Gate to see if he could obtain a second Class or continue to find his sister.

"It's not even a choice," Joe muttered as he glanced at the sky, then stepped forward into the Class Gate. As Joe emerged inside the Gate, he felt his knees lurch as an unseen pressure weighed down on him. The air was heavy. His movements slowed as if something held him in place. He scanned his surroundings as his mind adjusted to the alien feeling. Dim. Silent. Empty. Like his last Gate experience, he stood in a tunnel with only one way forward. So, tentatively, he walked toward the light at the end.

At first, it felt like he had suddenly gained weight and was lugging something through the tunnel on his back. Then, after about ten seconds of walking, his body tensed. The pressure increased. It wasn't a slow build-up; it slammed into him like a massive weight pressing down on his shoulders. Sweat beaded on his forehead. What's going on? He pushed forward. The force grew stronger. His breath grew heavier. His quick pace slowed to a stagger. He activated Mana-Coating, wrapping himself in a protective layer.

Relief. The weight lessened, and he moved forward again. Ten more seconds. The pressure was almost unbearable. Joe stopped, gasping, but even breathing was a struggle. His lungs refused to expand. He activated Nature's Barding, and suddenly, he could breathe again. He straightened up, took another step. The pressure doubled. His entire body locked up. His arms wouldn't move. His legs felt like lead. His nose started bleeding from the sheer force pressing against him. Every bone, every muscle screamed at him.

Turn back. Go back. No! Joe clenched his teeth, forcing his foot off the ground. He pressed on, forcing his body forward. Somehow, he managed to take another step. He was one step away from the end of the tunnel when. Wham! The pressure doubled again. Joe collapsed to his knees. His vision blurred. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't see. Instinct took over. Nature's Harmony activated. He no longer knew what he was doing; he just acted. Blood dripped from his eyes. It felt like he knelt there for an eternity.

His mind wavered, fading into nothingness. Then, slowly, clarity returned. His body refused to move, but he remembered where he was. He forced his muscles to obey, pushing through the agony. His vision cleared slightly. Through the haze, he saw a desk. A man sat behind it, silver skin, dark hair, waving him forward, encouraging him. Joe gritted his teeth, lifting one knee. He put weight on it. He lifted the other knee. Now standing, he slid one foot forward. It stopped. No… Move! His mind started slipping again.

He needed to finish this. Now. Inch by inch, he forced his other foot forward. Then, with a final burst of mana, he launched himself forward, crashing into the room. He made it. He gasped. Air filled his lungs. It was wonderful. Then, everything went dark. Joe woke up to pain. His body throbbed as if a mountain had crushed him. His mind swam in exhaustion. Where was he? He groaned, raising his head. Even that hurt. He tried to push himself up, but his arms refused to cooperate.

Instead, he moved his fingers toward his mouth, and a healing pill appeared between them. He popped it in, sighing as the healing energy pulsed through his body. The pain began to fade. He lay there, eyes closed, letting the healing work its magic. After what felt like an hour, he finally sat up, wiping at the dried blood on his face. He looked around. The silver-skinned man from earlier sat at his desk, watching him. The man gestured to the chair across from him.

Joe, still exhausted, dragged himself up and collapsed into the chair with a grunt.

"Feeling better?" the man asked. Joe nodded weakly, then instinctively tried to use Natural Identify. Nothing.

"Identify skills don't work in this gate," the man said casually.

"Even evolved ones like yours." Joe's brows furrowed.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Claorp." Joe shook off the lingering pain.

"Claorp?"

"Correct. Excellent, you still retain your brain functions. That will make this easier." Joe gave him a confused look. Claorp continued, voice disturbingly casual.

"The last person who made it through the Gravity array at E-grade lost all brain functions and died before I could finish explaining the Class choices." Joe stared in horror.

"Excuse me, what? People die here?" Joe asked. Claorp, completely unfazed, motioned to a cup on the desk.

"Now, please, drink this. I noticed you took a healing pill, but it seems low-grade. This will speed up your healing significantly." Joe, still trying to process everything, hesitated. Then, trusting his gut, he picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp. Joe tried to scream as agony tore through every cell in his body. It felt like he was being ripped apart from the inside. His veins burned, his bones ached, and his mana fluctuated wildly. Then… Bliss. Absolute bliss.

The pain vanished, replaced by a wave of pure euphoria. He exhaled sharply. He had never felt better in his life.

"Holy shit, that hurt," Joe exhaled, catching his breath.

"But wow, I feel amazing now. Thank you." He flexed his arms, rolling his shoulders. His muscles felt brand new; his body was refreshed and stronger. It was like being reborn in a brand new body; it felt incredible.

"Excellent," Claorp said, clapping precisely four times before stopping abruptly.

"Now that you are back to one hundred per cent, let me first congratulate you on surviving the gravity array." Joe smiled broadly, giving a little bow. Claorp continued, voice smooth and official.

"Welcome to the Space Class Selection Gate, Progenitor Joseph Caldwell." Joe's ears perked up.

"Please, just Joe is fine."

"Excellent, Just Joe, welcome," Claorp responded without missing a beat. Joe sighed. Close enough. Then his mind caught onto what had been said.

"Wait, did you just say… Space Class?" Joe asked, excitement lighting up his eyes. His pulse quickened. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"Correct!" Claorp clapped his hands.

"You have indeed entered a Space Class Gate. Only those with the Space Affinity skill can enter. That makes you one of the few in the entire Multiverse, eligible for a Space Class." Joe stared at him, stunned. Not only was he eligible for a Space Class, but it was rare, even in the Multiverse. His grin stretched wide.

"Wow, I don't really know what to say." Then, a thought struck him.

"Though, technically, I am not part of the Multiverse yet, my world is currently in the integration stage." Joe carefully avoided mentioning the part about failing the tutorial, no need to give this guy more reasons to be shocked.

"Oh my, that is unusual. For this Gate to appear on a pre-integration world is a first for me, I must say. But no matter, you must clearly be at the top…" Claorp suddenly paused. His expression froze mid-sentence as his gaze locked onto something unseen. His mouth slowly fell open.

"Wait, level fifty-two?!" The shock in his voice was palpable.

"How did someone at such a low level get in here? How did you survive the Gravity Array?" Claorp exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief. Joe shrugged.

"Is that really such a surprise? What level was that guy who died?"

"He was level one hundred and ninety-nine in his Class and both Professions," Claorp said, rubbing his temples in sheer exasperation.

"The peak of E-grade. A scion of one of the great houses in the Constanviro Empire." He paused dramatically as if expecting a reaction. Joe just blinked. Claorp eye twitched.

"Right… I forgot you're pre-integration. You have no idea what the Constanviro Empire is." Joe shrugged.

"Never mind," Claorp said in defeat. Straightening, he changed topics.

"Let us get back on track. This Space Class Gate is graded as a Black Gate." Again, he paused, waiting for Joe's reaction. Joe nodded along.

"Do you know what a black grade gate is?" Joe shook his head. Claorp massaged his temples.

"Whatever seed was in charge of your integration must have been faulty. This should all have been explained during the tutorial." Joe frowned, thinking back to the Tutorial 101 book he had read a long time ago.

"Wait, I remember now. Green, Blue, Yellow, Purple, Red… and Black." Claorp perked up slightly.

"Yes, at least you know that. Those are the colour grades which define the difficulty of a gate. This is very important, so please try not to forget." Joe nodded emphatically. Claorp continued.

"As I was saying. This is a Black Grade Gate, the most difficult of all Gate types. Ergo, Space Classes are the most difficult to obtain in the entire Multiverse. Every single one is at the Pseudo-unique rarity."

"Pseudo-Unique rarity? Is that rarer than legendary?" Joe asked, confused. Claorp stared at him. Then sighed even deeper. Joe was starting to feel like an idiot, or this Claorp was just an asshole. Probably a bit of both.

"Yes, Pseudo-unique is above legendary. It's the highest rarity below Unique. I can't see the rarity of your Class or Profession. Is one of them legendary? Or maybe both? That would go towards explaining how…" Claorp's words cut off abruptly. His eyes widened in shock. Then, without warning, he shot to his feet, face pale with panic. Joe flinched at the sudden movement, instinctively reacting. His chair tipped backwards, and he crashed onto the floor.

"What happened?" Joe yelped, scanning the room for whatever had spooked Claorp. He jumped to his feet, but there was nothing, just the same circular chamber, empty except for the desk and chairs. He turned back to Claorp, now bent at a perfect ninety-degree angle; his forehead pressed to the desk in a deep bow.

"My apologies, my lord. I did not realize I was in the presence of royalty." Now, Joe was completely blindsided. His brain stalled for a few seconds before he slowly sank back into his chair.

"I am not royalty. I have no idea why you would think that. Please raise your head and continue." This whole conversation was draining every fibre of his being. Claorp straightened, though his expression remained awestruck.

"My apologies once more. I assumed that because you have a Bloodline, you must be royalty." Joe blinked.

"How did you know I had a Bloodline?" The question slipped out before he even processed it.

"Only those with a Bloodline can gain two classes," Claorp said.

"Normally, I would have assumed you were here to upgrade a rare class, but it is impossible to upgrade if you already have a Legendary class. Which means you must have a second class slot, because you already have a profession." Joe processed this new revelation. It made sense… but Claorp was working on assumptions. Still, it was too late to refute anything now. He sighed.

"Yes, I have a Bloodline. No, I am not royalty." Claorp nodded, satisfied.

"Excellent. Now I completely understand how you survived the Gravity Array. Double stat gain below level one hundred, plus both your profession and class at nearly equal standing. Your stat points must be monstrous for someone at your level." Joe nodded.

"Oh, and no need to worry," Claorp continued.

"I am a Gate Entity. Once you leave here, our entire conversation will be forgotten." Joe narrowed his eyes.

"But you remembered the man who died?" Claorp smiled, unbothered.

"I remember actions and names so I can report to the Gate's creator, should he return. But actual conversation? Those are erased from my memory by the system. Even a God could not recover memories that the system has erased." Joe nodded, unsure whether to feel relieved or concerned.

"Now," Claorp said, tapping his desk.

"Back to the topic of classes. This is one of only two Space Class Gates the system has ever authorised, due mainly to the rarity of the Space Affinity skill. You are also the tenth entrant into this very gate since its creation." Joe found that last bit of information fascinating. It seemed having a Space Class would be a massive advantage moving forward. Claorp began tapping the desk rapidly as a screen materialized before Joe.

"You will see here that you have a choice…. Oh, wait a moment," Claorp muttered, frowning as he began tapping furiously on his desk again. Joe waited as Claorp worked, the silence stretching out. Five minutes passed, then ten. Finally, the silver-skinned man sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.

"I am sorry," Claorp said at last.

"It seems there is a malfunction of some kind. Only one class is currently available for selection. I have no idea what is going on. I think the system is blocking my access." Joe burst out laughing. Claorp's expression twisted in confusion.

"Did I say something amusing?" Joe waved a hand, still chuckling.

"No, not at all. It's just… the system. It doesn't let me choose anything. Class, skills, you name it, every choice has been removed. So don't worry, it's not your fault. Can I look at the class?" Claorp hesitated, then gestured to the glowing screen.

"Please." Joe leaned forward, reading the lone Class option displayed before him. Space Farmer(Pseudo-Unique) - This is a two-part Class. Only those with the Unique class Farmer can gain this Class. This is a Hidden Class. Not a single soul will see this Class's true name… Only you can read this true description. As a Space Farmer, it is your destiny to traverse the Multiverse in search of the Frontier of Golden Seeds. Joe felt something profound pulse inside him; a spark formed in his mind.

He immediately knew what to do, and for the second time, he activated his Bloodline ability…

"Eternal Moment," Joe said as his vision turned black. Joe watched from above, an unseen observer in a world that felt both distant and impossibly real. A lone man stood in the middle of a vast wheat field, golden crops swaying violently as a powerful wind rushed through them. His posture was relaxed, almost indifferent. Two figures approached on the backs of monstrous steeds, jet-black, horned demon horses that exhaled thick smoke and ash with every heavy step.

The riders themselves were horrific abominations, twisted and rotting. Their flesh peeled away in ragged strips, revealing dripping black ichor underneath. Their eyes were bottomless voids, swirling orbs of darkness. But the most unnerving part was their horns, twisting, jagged protrusions jutting from all over their bodies, like something that had grown in agony. They dismounted in a single motion, their movements smooth despite their grotesque forms.

"Jebediah," one rasped, unsheathing a colossal, jagged sword from its back.

"We have come from far to seek you out. You are a hard man to find." The second figure stepped forward, drawing two curved swords from its waist, falling into a practiced stance.

"Jebediah," it growled, "Today, we shall prove to every being in the Ghost Valley Empire that we are its greatest swordsmen." Joe studied the man they addressed. Jebediah barely acknowledged them. His face showed no emotion, and his body language relaxed as if he found the whole situation a minor inconvenience rather than an approaching battle.

"Always you come," he murmured.

"How many now?"

"We are the two-thousandth," they answered in unison. Jebediah finally moved, tilting his head slightly as if in thought.

"Two thousand? I must be getting old. I grow tired of these endless challenges." Something flickered behind his eyes for the first time, a hint of rage buried deep beneath cold indifference.

"Know this," he said, his voice carrying an eerie weight.

"When I kill you, I will kill every single £%^£^&£…." Joe's mind blurred, and Jebediah's last words twisted into incomprehensible distortion. Something prevented him from understanding. The two figures did not wait to hear the rest.

"DIE!" they shrieked in unison, their forms blurring into motion faster than Joe's eyes could track. A blink. A rush of wind. Then, silence. The two abominations collapsed mid-strike, their bodies unravelling like shredded paper, dissolving into dust and scattering into the wheat field. Joe had seen nothing. No movement. No attack. Jebediah stood, unmoved, holding a simple quarterstaff; the only proof that he had done anything was his footprints scattered around him.

His expression remained blank, but now, a deep sadness burned in his eyes. Joe's vision flickered, the world around him dissolving into nothing. Then, he reappeared high above a mountain castle, engulfed in flames. Thick, black smoke billowed into the night sky, carried by howling winds. The stone walls were crumbling, shattered by an unseen force. The very air vibrated with lingering power. Joe's gaze dropped to the castle's central courtyard, where Jebediah stood, quarterstaff in hand.

He faced four undead demon figures, each hulking and grotesque, their bodies wreathed in dark flames. Jebediah's voice was cold, filled with exhaustion and finality.

"I warned you to stop coming, but you kept pushing me. Now I have come to put an end to this foolishness." One of the figures laughed, a grating, ear-splitting sound.

"We will never stop coming until you are dead. Your existence is an abomination!" They charged. Joe barely registered the movement before they were gone. No impact. No struggle. No grand display. One moment, they moved. The next, their bodies disintegrated into dust, shredded by an unseen force. Only their final curses remained.

"We curse you. To live your life in pain for the sin you have committed!"

"Die Jebediah!"

"A curse on your kin. A curse on your bloodline." The last figure hesitated, lingering in the ruins of his fallen comrades. It stared into Jebediah's eyes, unflinching. Then, it charged. And just like the others. It was gone. The scene shattered like glass. Joe reappeared, floating above a quiet farmhouse, nestled in the middle of an endless field of crops. The sky was clear, the air soft and warm. Jebediah sat in a chair on the porch, his once-powerful form now hunched and frail.

Beside him, a small child tugged at his sleeve, eyes wide with excitement.

"Grandpa, Grandpa. Show me your staff!" Jebediah's quarterstaff appeared in his hands, and the child grasped it with tiny fingers, swinging it wildly.

"Boy, that's not how you swing a quarterstaff." Jebediah's voice was gentle but firm. He struggled to his feet, moving as though the weight of centuries pressed down on him. But the moment his hands gripped the staff. Everything changed. The age vanished from his face. His posture straightened, and the fire in his eyes rekindled. Jebediah moved, and the air itself bent around him.

Joe watched, entranced, as Jebediah performed his quarterstaff techniques, not the brutal, chaotic movements of Diablolical Quarterstaffmanship but something far greater. Each motion flowed like water, precise yet unpredictable. Devastating yet effortless. Joe couldn't look away. An hour passed, yet it felt like mere moments. Then, Jebediah stopped, exhaling softly as he returned to his seat. The child clapped in joy, beaming up at him. But Joe wasn't looking at the child. Because at that moment.

Jebediah looked directly up at him. His eyes locked onto Joe's. And in that moment, Joe knew. Jebediah saw him. His lips moved slowly, whispering words that reverberated through Joe's soul.

"I see you." The world shattered. Claorp's voice pulled Joe back to the present.

"Just Joe?" Joe blinked, shaking off the lingering haze of the vision. His body felt different, stronger, lighter, more…attuned. He looked up at Claorp, whose silver features were lined with curiosity.

"Sorry, yes. I'm okay," Joe replied.

"Excellent. So, did you read the description? Are you happy with the class?" Claorp asked, leaning forward slightly. Joe hesitated for a beat before responding.

"I am. I just wanted to confirm, what's the class called?" Claorp sighed, rubbing his temples.

"It clearly states the class is Space Mage. It is the most common of space classes," he said, his tone edging impatiently. Joe fought back a grin.

"Right, sorry, just making sure." With a mental click, he confirmed the selection. A surge of energy flooded his body. His vision flashed white, and a wave of power rippled through him. His skin tingled as his muscles tightened, his senses sharpened. System Message Class: Space Farmer (Pseudo-Unique) Obtained congratulations. Skill: Space Jump Obtained. Title: Pseudo-Unique Class Obtained. Title: Dual Class Holder Obtained. Title: Trilogy Holder Obtained. Joe exhaled sharply as his stats spiked dramatically.

What the hell was that? His mind raced, and the sudden increase made him feel almost weightless. He quickly pulled up his status screen to check his new titles. Title - Pseudo-Unique Class. You have obtained a class at the second-highest rarity available in the Multiverse. Title - Dual Class Holder. You have done what only those with a Pure Bloodline can achieve. You have obtained a second class. Plus 10% to all stats. Title - Trilogy Holder. You have achieved the impossible.

You have one of each of the three highest rarities for your classes and profession. Legendary, Pseudo-Unique, and Unique. You are the first to gain this title. Plus 20% to all stats. Joe sat in stunned silence. A thirty per cent boost to all his stats, no wonder he felt so different. His entire body thrummed with newfound strength, sharper reflexes, and heightened awareness. This was massive. He pulled up his stat screen, eager to see the full extent of his transformation.

Stats Strength: 515 (50) Agility: 1006 (140) Vitality: 550 (60) Endurance: 550 (60) Wisdom: 1179 (40) Intelligence: 1179 (40) Luck: 170 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 941 Free Points: 0 Joe stared at the screen in awe. Three stats surpassed one thousand, a massive leap from enduring the Gravity Array. He was filled with joy.

"Congratulations on your new class," Claorp said. Joe exhaled slowly, leaning back as he tried to wrap his head around everything. This was a turning point.

"Thank you," he finally replied, steadying himself.

"Is there anything else I need to do?"

"Just to take this." Claorp handed him a book. Joe turned it over in his hands.

"What is this?"

"A book of space knowledge. It will help guide you on your path to unlocking your space skills," Claorp explained. Joe frowned.

"Won't I just gain skills every ten levels?" Claorp shook his head.

"Not for space classes. You must develop them yourself, through experimentation and experience." Joe's eyebrows rose.

"Really? That actually sounds… exciting." His grin widened. A challenge. He thrived on challenges.

"The exit is open," Claorp gestured toward a doorway that had appeared nearby. Joe rose to his feet, giving the silver-skinned man a respectful nod.

"Thank you, silver-skinned man. I'll put this knowledge you have given me to good use." Claorp bowed in return.

"May your path be long-lasting and fruitful." With that, Joe turned and stepped through the exit, leaving the gate behind. His next destination was clear: back to England and his search for his sister.