Chương 9: Chapter 8: Evolution

A screen appeared before Thalions face with all the options he had. After chosing one, he would get teleported to the second stage of the tutorial. Time seemed to stop as Thalion scrolled through his evolution options. The sheer number was overwhelming. Before the tutorial, he'd had six class options. Now, there were easily over one hundred. After sifting through them, he managed to narrow it down to the ones he found most appealing.

Mage (Rare) The Mage is a master of the arcane arts, wielding powerful spells to control the battlefield. They unleash devastating elemental attacks, erect protective barriers, and manipulate the forces of nature. While formidable in mana control, mages are physically fragile, relying on intelligence and mana reserves to keep enemies at bay. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 5 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.

Illusionist (Uncommon) The illusionist is a master of deception, capable of creating incredibly realistic illusions. They can make themselves invisible, create doppelgängers, and even alter the perceptions of others. Illusionists are experts at psychological warfare, using their powers to manipulate and confuse their enemies. This specialization is focused on stealth and trickery, allowing the illusionist to outsmart opponents.

Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Chronomancer (Rare) Chronomancers manipulate time itself, slowing enemies, speeding up allies, and even peering into the future. They excel at tactical combat and battlefield control, though their powers come with a significant mental toll. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 5 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.

Shadow Mage (Uncommon) Shadow mages are masters of illusion and deception, drawing their power from the shadows themselves. They excel at stealth, infiltration, and manipulating the minds of their enemies. Their spells often involve darkness, shadows, and illusions, making them unpredictable and dangerous. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Pyromancer (Uncommon) A Pyromancer is a master of fire magic.

They summon fiery blasts, create walls of flame, and control the temperature of their surroundings. However, their reliance on fire makes them vulnerable to water-based attacks. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Water Mage (Uncommon) Water mages control water and ice. They create water barriers, summon ice spikes, and control the tides. Often associated with healing and cleansing, they are also devastating in combat.

Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Wind Mage (Uncommon) Wind Mages command the winds, creating powerful gusts, flying, and even controlling the weather. Their spells are less effective in enclosed spaces, and they are vulnerable to earth-based attacks. Increases intelligence and wisdom, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. These were the natural upgrades for his current mage class.

But Thalion also found some hybrid and unique classes that intrigued him. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Battle Mage (Uncommon) The Battle Mage is a formidable hybrid, blending arcane might with martial skill. Armed with enchanted weaponry or spells that bolster physical attributes, they are a force on the battlefield. Their magical arsenal supports their close-quarters combat style, making them adaptable in any situation.

Increases intelligence, strength, and agility, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Warlock (Rare) A Warlock is a spellcaster who has forged a pact with a powerful otherworldly entity, gaining extraordinary magical abilities at a cost. Warlocks are seen as enigmatic and mysterious, with versatile spellcasting that includes both offensive and defensive magic. Increases intelligence, vitality, and wisdom, plus 5 additional attribute points to allocate as desired.

Ranger (Uncommon) Rangers are wilderness masters, combining archery prowess with a deep connection to nature. Their magic often revolves around controlling animals, tracking prey, and surviving harsh environments. Dangerous in both ranged and melee combat. Increases Strength and Agility, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Blade Dancer (Uncommon) Graceful and lethal, Blade Dancers master both swordplay and elemental magic. Their movements are fluid and precise, and they are elusive in combat.

Their ability to manipulate elements enhances their offensive power, making them a whirlwind of destruction. Increases dexterity, agility, and intelligence, plus 4 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. Shapeshifter (Rare) Shapeshifters can change their physical form and possess a unique ability called "Acquire Form," which allows them to take on the appearance of other beasts. They can store and recall up to three forms at will.

The Shapeshifter and their forms share experience symbiotically, but the active form gains bonus experience. Shapeshifters also have enhanced physical abilities, such as increased strength, speed, or senses, making them formidable fighters. Plus 13 additional attribute points to allocate as desired. There were plenty of classes focused on heavy combat or healing, but Thalion wasn't interested in those. He quickly realized that none of the upgraded mage classes really caught his eye.

Thalion narrowed his choices to Warlock, Chronomancer, Battle Mage, and Shapeshifter. He ruled out Warlock, as the mystery surrounding the pact entity didn't sit well with him. The description of chronomancer sounded more like a support class, and he wanted to be able to stand on his own two feet. That left Battle Mage and Shapeshifter. Both were appealing: Shapeshifter offered flexibility, while Battle Mage was pure power. After a while of contemplating, he decided to go with Shapeshifter.

The idea of transforming into powerful beasts was too tempting to pass up. Battle mage would although be kind of a gamble as no one knew if they get weapons with the evolution or not. Besides, he thought, "What if I manage to take the form of a large beast? That would be ridiculously overpowered!" The possibility of evolving from a fragile mage into a formidable shapeshifting creature sealed the deal for him.

"Yes! No more arrows!" Emily cheered.

"My new class is the Arcane Gunner. This class looks amazing!"

"Haha, that sounds awesome!" Lukas laughed.

"Guess who's going with the Bulwark Berserker? The system must've liked how I smashed those bugs."

"You're not alone, man," James chimed in with a belly laugh.

"I'm picking Bulwark Berserker too." The group shared their class choices. David was going for "Evasive Healer," a class that traded health for agility, while Mike decided on "Blade Dancer."

"I'm choosing the Shapeshifter class," Thalion announced.

"Wait, can you transform into the Mantas we killed and scout for prey?" Mike asked, hopefully.

"Also, what happens to your current abilities?"

"I'm not sure if it works on dead beasts, but I'll need to perform a ritual to claim their form. I keep all my current spells, so my plan is to stay a mage in human form and acquire beast forms for close combat and scouting," Thalion explained. Yeah, Shapeshifter definitely was a good choice. He could already see himself throwing fireballs at enemies from afar and when they came close, he would transform into a beast that would overpower them quickly.

This tactic should allow him to always stay in control of the battle and have some fun winning.

"Sounds great!" Mike said.

"You might even be able to buy new spells for your human form when the system shop opens."

"How can we even talk, didn't time stop?", David asked, looking around in confusion.

"Dude no one knows how this works", Lukas laughed loudly.

"Alright, is everyone ready? Evolution on three?" Mike asked, checking on everybody.

"Yeah, let's go!" James exclaimed.

"Okay. One, two, three!" Mike counted down. With that, they all triggered their evolution and were instantly teleported to the second stage.