Chương 106: The First Class Selection

The dungeon chamber on the 6 th layer was incredibly humid. I used my shield to redirect the water beam. This room featured floating metal spheres that attracted things and defied gravity in other locations. The unusual chamber also had floating water balls, and the Fish monster shot water beams. There was a loud crack as Ozy unleashed a large burst of lightning that traversed through several of the floating balls of water.

I leaped upwards as the lightning died down and began cutting through the monster fish one after another. Fighting in three dimensions was terrifying, but I just focused on the next monster in front of me. I could survive a high fall, and Healer Melon was here in case I broke a bone or injured myself. That gave me the confidence to rush forward. A giant monster fish leaped out at me. Ozy flew in and slammed into its side before it could bite down on me. The fish went hurtling towards the ground.

I spun and stabbed out with my Beginner's Blade and cut down another monster fish that had leapt at me. The battle took half an hour, and it was utterly exhausting. My stamina points were almost empty. Escaping the water spheres was easy, needing only momentum and angle adjustments after overcoming gravity. Even with help from Healer Melon and a stamina boost, this was one of my worst battles. But it was that difficulty that gave me enough experience to reach level 20.

I could feel pressure on my soul like a switch I could flip.

"That was exhausting," Healer Melon said.

"I hate dungeon chambers like this. Fighting in three dimensions is the worst. I hit level 20."

"Congratulations. We have time to spare as well to make our ascent out of the dungeon. You have been really pushing yourself the last couple of days," Healer Melon said.

"If I am going to fight, but also get the most out of it, instead of doing things halfway. But this chamber is being added to the list of very annoying environments. Without a good range attack or aerial movement skill, it was exhausting."

"You still did well."

"I couldn't have done it without you or Ozy. I am still only good enough to clear up to the 5 th layer by myself. After that, I need help," I replied, putting off my class selection while I caught my breath and let my body rest.

"Well, do you want to head back now or do your class selection?"

"I want to do the class selection," I said and pushed on my soul. Something flipped, and everything disappeared, the dungeon chamber, Ozy, and Healer Melon. I was sitting in a white expanse.

"Hello?" I called hesitantly. I then saw myself, but with glowing white eyes.

"Are you me?"

"You could say that. I am also a guide or part of your subconscious. The part of your soul that interacts with the System," the Not Me said.

"When you leave here, the memory will fade."

"What, why?"

"This is a singular moment being stretched out. Your physical body cannot comprehend everything occurring in such a short period of time. You aren't really here. Your soul gathered enough energy to reach out. This is the trigger for a new class."

"But you clearly know things I don't. How can you be me?"

"I am the part of your soul that touches upon the System that allows you to gain levels, stats, and skills. It isn't a natural process. I know enough to guide you through your choices, but beyond that, I can't tell you anything."

"Anything you can tell me?"

"Class selection. The System structures things and gives options for what can occur. That is also why you are here, and I have this knowledge to guide you. Beyond that, I only know what you do."

"Well, currently, I have a Tier 0 class labeled as Child, with a ranking of blue. With the effects of 10% Increased Skill Acquisition, Increased Learning Speed, Increased Stat Gain, Increased Physical Gain, and Increased Mental Gain."

"Your memory does us credit, and your mother's help has pushed your class far higher than it would normally go at such a young age."

"Does that mean I have a lot of options?"

"No, actually, it is the reverse. I won't insult you by presenting anything mediocre or a step backward. People never consider such classes seriously. For a tier 1 class, the System is going to give you three options. And before you say Spellblade, consider each of them." If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Only three? I would expect something like five or seven."

"Three. Be grateful it isn't just one with how far you have pushed things before getting your first class."

"Doesn't the one I was born with count?"

"It does and doesn't. It's labeled Tier 0 for a reason, but I don't know what that reason is. Now, do you want the best option first or last?"

"First, of course, so that I can compare it to the other two. You would know this if you were me," I replied with a questioning look.

"I am you, but I am not. You can worry or not worry about this, but you won't remember, and I'm just here to help you with class selection. Now let's start with the first option." Not Me waved their arm, and the description of the class appeared in the air. Tier 1, Adult Human (Blue) Increased Skill Acquisition (+10%), Increased Learning Speed (+10%), Increased Stat Gain (+10%), Increased Physical Gain (+10%), Increased Mental Gain (+10%)"What?

This class is like my previous one, but the System upgraded the tier, although the class color hasn't changed."

"Because it keeps its versatility. While it doesn't help you advance more than you already are, it also doesn't cut off other paths you wish to pursue. Now for the second option." Tier 1, Adult Swordsman (Indigo) Increased Sword Skill Acquisition (+60%), Increased Sword Attack Power (+60%)"Why can this class be indigo and the first one cannot?"

"It is about sacrificing potential for greater power in certain areas. In terms of classes, your current one is at the very limit of what is possible."

"And if I chose the first option, could I upgrade it further with another soul fruit?"

"Yes, but it wouldn't be easy. Soul fruits, despite the name, don't grow on trees."

"Are there any other ways to improve the first choice?"

"I don't know. I really don't. Class selection is all I know. Now for your third choice." Tier 1, Adult Polymath (Indigo) Increased Learning Speed (+300%)"How does attack power even work?" I asked while thinking back on the second option.

"Changes in your Mana. If you are holding a sword, you will instinctively adjust to better deal damage. It is the same with learning and skill acquisition, the process takes place in your subconscious and affects your mind instead of your body and weapon."

"I don't like any of them," I replied, and Not Me sighed.

"If I don't choose, what will happen?"

"You will be in a coma. While time passes incredibly slowly in the outside world, it isn't completely still. For every minute here, one second passes outside. So, five seconds have gone by since you started class selection."

"They aren't bad choices, but they aren't good."

"It is a Tier 1 class."

"Other people have classes that increase in power."

"That's because they go with options where they specialize. The secret of classes is that they never increase in power except from an outside force. They just become narrower and have a higher potential each time they increase in tier."

"I won't remember this."

"Nope. But a part of you will know, and the College is bound to have studies discussing this somewhere. Now you need to decide whether you want to see some of the garbage options." I was curious about those.

"Maybe one." Tier 1, Adult Sweet Consumer (Indigo) Increased Sweet Skill Increase (+50%), Increased Tastiness of Sweets (+50%) My laughter was dry and deadpan. Not-Me waved a glowing white hand, and the joke class disappeared.

"What about going up another color?"

"No. At each class selection, you can only increase the class color by one rank."

"And what does the color mean?"

"The potential of the class and the range of effects it can support."

"Anything beyond violet?"

"No idea."

"What?"

"No idea. I really don't know. Unless you have a violet class, it is unlikely I will ever know. Now, do you want to narrow your class for greater power?"

"I feel cheated. No one remembers this?"

"No."

"What if I use soul skills? Can I come back here?"

"Your energy created me when it connected to the System to arrange for a class. Once you leave, I will be gone. When you come back here for your next class, it won't be me, but another creation specifically made to guide you. And no, I don't feel like I'm dead. I am you and will become a part of you as the Mana used to form your class in your soul."

"On further consideration, I find the three options are all equally interesting. The first one is the one I am most tempted by. Will I be able to upgrade the other options naturally if I choose them?"

"Yes, but it's harder because they have less potential. The first class is a gamble if you can boost its color. The second and third classes offer more immediate benefits and will help you progress in a specific direction. When you learn spells, the second class can transform into a spellblade class. Tier 1 classes are quite basic."

"With the third class, would I level up all skills four times as fast?"

"It is a bit more complicated than that, but ultimately yes. Spreading out the effects of a class reduces its power but offers more versatility and possibilities. Focusing on a specific effect will boost that effect much higher."

"Could I choose one effect to boost?"

"No. Ultimately, what is possible is what you have focused on. There are class options with an effect only focusing on the Mind stat, but you wouldn't want them. The three I presented to you are the best from all the classes you would consider. If you have something in mind, then I can bring it up."

"No, I was curious. Even if I forget all of this." It really wasn't an easy decision.

"If the first class increases to indigo, how will the percentages change?" I asked.

"They will all go up two percent, and you can add another effect. For the second class, the boost will increase by ten percent if it changes to violet. For the third class, it will go up by fifty percent." The third class was highly tempting. With it, I would easily gain skill levels. But was it worth sacrificing my potential for increased stat gains and greater versatility?

"When I get a tier 2 class, will these options still be there if I go with the first option?"

"Possibly. But they also could not appear. Right now, you have an incredible amount of potential. The class options are basically the best available. But that might not always be the case. You had two soul fruits, and many other things happened before this class selection. These actions allowed the best possible option to appear. Many people would get options like two and three, but without the color increase." In the end, it all came down to how much I trusted myself and what I wanted. This was a tough decision.