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Chapter 4: Time for Class

I take a seat on the floor and focus on my class options while Chloe distracts herself with the latest on social media. I’m not confident how long it’s going to last in this new post-System world. Truthfully, I’m not high on the longevity of any of our other technology from the old Earth, for that matter. But right now, our technology is still working and social media is our best source of information from other people in real-time.

Predictably, the situation looks grim. Plenty of people have decided to give into their most unsavory impulses. Chloe mentioned a couple of bank robberies. Far more menacingly, reports of people going on murdering sprees to try to gain Experience have already started popping up. It’s thankfully not quite at a boiling point, but it’s a matter of when, not if at this point.

Worse still, I have half a mind to join them. Not because I feel any sort of positive way about murder, especially when I’m more likely to be on the receiving end of them. But because the last thing I want is to be at the mercy of some crime lord who has ten levels on me. Or a cop with the same, which, honestly might just be worse given the force of law behind them. Really making me think that [Divine Paladin] isn’t the class for me.

I start cycling through various ideas for what I can do. First, I imagine myself as a mage, which isn’t hard at all. Conjuring the power of the elements, raining fire and brimstone down upon my enemies, wielding the power of storms and lightning. As I do, I get the predicted class offering.

[Choose [Evoker] as your first class?]

Ah, so an [Evoker] as in, elemental evocations. That suggests that classes, at least early on, are quite a bit more narrow than I give them credit for. Then again, the status window does say ‘first’ class. Presumably, that means I can get broader and stronger classes later on, probably after a certain amount of time, or reaching a certain level. I go ahead and check the descriptor just to be sure the class does what I think it does.

[Evoker: An [Evoker] is an offensive-focused mage who focuses on inflicting damage to her enemies. She does this by evoking the power of destructive elements in her fingertips. With fire and lightning at her beck and call, few can match her offensive potential.

However, all this comes at a cost. An [Evoker] spends most of her time studying the mysteries of the arcane, the System, and how the two interface with each other. As a result, an [Evoker] doesn’t focus on her physical body, sacrificing their [Vitality] to increase her [Mind] to its limit. Permanent -1 [Strength], +1 [Speed], -3 [Vitality], +7 [Mind] when choosing this class. +2 [Mind], +2 free stats each level.]

Yep, pretty much as expected. This is the standard ‘Black Mage’ style of squishy wizard. Lots of [Ether] due to a sky-high [Mind] stat, plenty of potential on the back lines, flinging spells from afar, but about as durable as my shirt, may it rest in peace. A fun class, but I’m not sure if it’s what I should be specializing in, especially given Chloe is also a backline healer.

Worse still, the System isn’t giving me any information about how classes evolve or what specific evocations I’ll get. My guess is that I’ll get to choose one or two, and maybe gain more as I gain levels, but I’ll have to choose the class to find out for sure. If this were a couple hundred years after System Integration and we had solid documentation on how classes worked, I might select it. As it is, I’m not keen on taking the class right away. I silently curse the System for its lack of information and documentation, and I feel something that resembles sarcastic glee pushed directly into my mind.

I imagine myself next as a swordswoman, dashing through mobs of rats and other fell creatures, striking with deftness and dodging just as quickly. The System responds.

[Choose [Swashbuckler] as your first class?]

[A Swashbuckler is a master duelist in martial combat, but is even defter at combining her weapon skills with parkour. Unlike the more traditional [Fighter] class, a [Swashbuckler] eschews heavy armor and large shields for greater durability and weapon finesse, though still frequently employs a small shield to help parry attacks. She dances through enemies, avoiding attacks with subtle grace, and then strikes with a flurry of blows.

[Swashbucklers] are the most dextrous of martial combatants, though they suffer in [Strength] and [Vitality] relative to other frontline classes as a result of their specialization. Permanent -1 [Strength], +7 [Speed], -1 [Vitality], -1 [Mind] when choosing this class. +2 [Speed], +2 Free Stats each level.]

If I were alone braving this new world, this would be an excellent choice. The best way to avoid dying is simply never to be hit in the first place. However, since I need to defend Chloe, I feel like the best aspects of this class are going to end up wasted.

There’s also a dichotomy where my best stat is my [Mind], which is all the way at 17 despite not putting any points in it. This suggests that I’d be a better fit for a magic type class, but I really need to be a frontline fighter for my friend. If only there were some class that could take advantage of my stats but also not crumple to a stiff breeze? Especially something like…

My thoughts are cut off as I see two new classes appear, both of which pique my interest.

[Alchemist. An [Alchemist] is an expert in the creation and development of poisons, salves, and other potions. Through the power of chemistry and medicine, she can buff her allies, brew powerful medicines, and reproduce the magical abilities of [Evokers], [Healers], and [Reality Mages], albeit to a lesser extent.

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Her flexibility is her greatest asset, but the inability to prepare for everything and store potions for every situation is her greatest weakness. Nevertheless, a well-prepared and forward-looking [Alchemist] is to be feared on the battlefield, or wherever else one might encounter her. Permanent -2 [Strength], -1 [Speed], +1 [Vitality], +6 [Mind] when choosing this class. +1 [Vitality], +1 [Mind], +3 Free Stats each level.]

This… This is definitely me, and I notice two things. First, like the [Divine Paladin] offering, I get five stat points total each level instead of four. That, in turn, means a lot more total power in 50 or 100 levels. I like this class offering, but I’m definitely aware that I need to factor in raw stats in addition to personal preference. That doesn’t mean I’d choose [Divine Paladin] over [Swashbuckler]—the forced changes to how I’d have to act rub me the wrong way— but it has literal points in its favor.

The other offering, on the other hand, makes my heart sing, almost as though the class was chosen specifically for me. As it appears, the window flickers a bit. This is the first time I’ve ever seen the System falter or be less than omniscient in any way. I take extra note of the class offering, smiling more and more as I read through it.

[Planetouched Mechanist: The [Planetouched Mechanist] is a tinkerer at heart. Never content with being told ‘that’s just how it is’, she delves deeper into the inner workings of science and technology, seeking to understand them in mind, body, and soul. All [Mechanists] are masters of artifice, building specialized gadgets and uplifting technology, but the [Planetouched Mechanist] goes a step further. Her glimpses of her past life give her inspiration for technology beyond the pale of human understanding.

Although she is not the strongest physically, nor capable of feats of physics-defying magic, her capacity to see into the inner workings of reality and twist them to her advantage make her an absolute menace in combat. At least, when she has access to her wide assortment of gadgetry and mechanical marvels. Permanent +1 [Vitality], +3 [Mind] when taking this class. +1 [Vitality], +1 [Mind], +3 Free Stats per level.]

Yep. The line about getting glimpses of my past life pretty much confirms that the System sees me as some sort of reincarnated individual, and this class hints at eventually being able to get glimpses into who I apparently once was. And the stat spread is great too, meaning I’m not sacrificing future potential by choosing a class that is perfectly aligned with who I am and want to be. If anything, this class offers a lot of future potential with what I’ll be able to eventually create.

I go ahead and cycle through a few other options, more as a due diligence check than anything else. I check out the [Reality Mage] that was listed in the description of [Alchemist]. Though it has a powerful sounding name, it’s the class that focuses primarily on buffs and debuffs. It has spells that increase weapon sharpness and power (somehow), ways to speed up an ally, slow down an enemy, and dabbles a little bit in curses, poisons, and other such afflictions. All in all, a pretty solid class as the member of a group, but not very useful when allied with a [Healer], or whatever exact class Chloe took.

I find a few other options that don’t seem appealing. Not looking to be a second [Healer], nor do I want to be a [Berserker] or similar. I scroll through a few other martial frontline classes, from the standard [Fighter] to more specialized ones like [Javelineer], which specializes in keeping its distance and utilizing throwing weapons. One last double-check to make sure I haven’t missed anything crucial, and I select the [Planetouched Mechanist] class. I get the expected prompt.

[Warning: Choosing a class will have major implications. This decision cannot be easily changed or reversed. Proceed?]

I hesitate for a half-second, just to make sure nothing jumps out and screams at me to tell me this is a horrible choice. But I feel confident in my decision, that my decision is in my best interests, and that this is what’s going to make me happiest and best equipped to face the newly Integrated world. I confirm the selection and see several new notifications.

[Seraphina is now a [Planetouched Mechanist]. Stats modified accordingly.]

[Current Stats: Strength: 12; Speed: 14; Vitality: 15; Mind: 20]

As if forestalling my next question, I see a new pop-up.

[Health and Ether values are unaffected by class changes. Future level gains will be calculated based on new parameters.]

Good to know that my initial speculation was correct. Definitely best to focus on [Vitality] and [Mind] for the first few levels. I probably won’t need a lot of [Strength] for the time being, especially if I can now create weapons that don’t scale with my physical abilities. Sure enough, it seems I’ll be able to do so.

[You have gained the Class Skill: [Tinkerer]]

[Tinkerer: You have a natural curiosity and easily grasp how objects are made and function. Gain basic insight into infusing Ether into technology. More easily able to create and enhance weapons, armor, and other technology, and become proficient with the use of improvised weapons. Warning: This skill does not grant armor proficiency.]

[You have gained the Class Skill: [Flash of Insight]]

[Flash of Insight: In addition to creating technology powered by Ether, you have the ability to create a bright flash of light at will. By infusing any amount of Ether into your hand, you can create a bright flash of light, dazing or temporarily blinding enemies within a small radius. Radius increases with Ether expenditure [Max Expenditure: Level x 20]. You and any targets you designate as friendly are unaffected by this attack.

(Class Skill Slots Available: 4/6)

I stand up and stretch for a moment before turning to Chloe, who is still doomscrolling on her phone.

“Hey, Chloe, can I try my new skill?”

“If you chose a [Mage] class and you’re about to set the carpet on fire, then absolutely not! Apocalypse or not, my mother is still going to kill me if we catch her house on fire!”

“I have a flashbang technique as part of my class’s skill set. I want to test it out.”

Chloe sighs. “It’s probably a good idea to do that down in the basement. And we should probably make sure we got all the rats as well; if there’s an infestation down there, my mother is going to freak the absolute hell out.” She hands me a baseball bat, which I equip before heading downstairs.

[Blunt Bat: A simple baseball bat made from aluminium. Attack +4]

[[Tinkerer] grants improvised weapon proficiency. Blunt Bat Attack: +4 → +5]

[Attack: 13 → 17]