Class Choices and a Sudden Appearance

Waking up, Drai was still looking at the inside of his helmet. However, this time there was a notification window in his visual field. It was a light blue semitransparent rectangular screen. When Drai tried looking through it, the screen vanished from his sight. Then Drai tried focusing on it again and it reappeared.

'Amazing!' Drai thought as he appreciated this function.

Messages began to appear in the System window.

[Booting system…]

[Establishing connection…]

[Transferring target data…]

[Calculating variables…]

[Converting experience…]

[Tabulating resources…]

[Boot completed.]

Then these lines vanished as a new message appeared.

[Welcome to the System. To verify neural integration, please attempt to proceed to class selection.]

Drai was confused by this since there was no button to proceed or anything similar. Then he tried thinking of opening the class selection section. This seemed to work because the message disappeared and was replaced by a list of options which excited Drai.

[Please choose your class:]

[Neo-Strongman]

[Heavy Pugilist]

[Eco-Maso]

[Lesser-Golem Hybrid]

[Iron Stomach]

[Seed of Titan]

'Wow! There's a lot of options!' Drai exclaimed. 

'Hehehe... They all sound so cool and strong! Let's start looking at their details.'

Drai focused on the first option. The page vanished and a new one appeared.

[Class: Neo-Strongman]

[Description: Transcending the limitations of modern humans, Neo-Strongman is a product of bioengineering which focuses on strength and durability, inspired by strongmen of the past. Through drastic improvements on soft tissue and bone density, Neo-Strongman exhibits at the minimum twice the capabilities of said strongmen with plenty room to improve. At their weakest, Neo-Strongman resembles an average human but way heavier.]

[Traits: High strength and constitution. Above average in other parameters.]

'Hmm… it's a rather standard class by the looks of it,' Drai thought as he read the details.

'It basically multiplies the parameters of the strongest unevolved human with strength and durability being the focus. I'm not sure how it compares to those magic classes in terms of force. But maybe magic is an outlier since Mom could even lift things that Dad couldn't. I wonder if the basic strength of this class is stronger than Dad's.

'I think how it resembles an average human can be advantageous in certain situations. Maybe in fights my opponents will think that I'm a mage or something, then I can bait them to approach me. It would be fun catching people by surprise. This class definitely has some merit.

'Well, let's check out the others first. Maybe the other classes are even weaker than this one,' Drai decided while focusing back on the class selection page.

'Let's see… Heavy Pugilist.'

[Class: Heavy Pugilist]

[Description: Heavy Pugilist is a heavyweight close-quarters combat specialist which emphasizes bare-handed fighting. Despite its large build, Heavy Pugilist is rather agile and dexterous, resulting in its devastating striking force. Heavy Pugilist also highly utilizes the environment to their advantage.]

[Traits: Very high strength. High agility and dexterity. High affinity for CQC-related skills. Increased intelligence when fighting in forest and urban terrains.]

'This one focuses on combat, huh? I've never done any fighting so I don't know if this high affinity thing is good or not. Maybe it has access to many low SP fighting skills. If I get into the military, this might be good. But the military also uses weapons while this class doesn't have any advantage with them. Not that I'm interested in joining the military though.

'Okay, to the next one.'

Reading the next class's details, Drai became speechless.

[Class: Eco-Maso]

[Description: Eco-Maso, or Ecological Masochist, is the way of self-abuse by natural means. Through years of joyful self-torment, Eco-Maso is highly resistant to pain and permanent damage. Although this escalates the difficulty of finding proper outlets for these desires, when successful in such endeavors, Eco-Maso receives benefits whereas others agonize.]

[Traits: High pain and damage resistance. Increased health regeneration. Acts of self-abuse utilizing aspects of nature temporarily increase stats and may provide EXP and SP depending on the severity and fulfillment. Inflicts mental debuff to those witnessing the act.]

After blinking his eyes repeatedly to make sure he wasn't imagining the stuff he was reading, Drai smiled wryly.

'This class has good traits, but why do I feel insulted?' Drai didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 'At least give it a sensible name, damn System.'

Drai felt giddy imagining that after choosing it, he'd be forced to see this cursed class in his status window for the next few years, or even worse, he might have to mention it to others, for example in the academy.

"Hi, I'm Alex and I'm a Fire Mage. I know several long range fire spells. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, I'm Nora and I'm an Apprentice Bard. I can apply my buffs from range so just call me when you need it. Let's get along well!"

"Hello, I'm Drai and I'm an Ecological Masochist. I hurt myself with rocks but I swear I'm not weird."

Picturing such scenario, Drai instantly cursed, "F*** this." Then he moved on to the next class, slightly upset at the System's "misjudgment".

[Class: Lesser-Golem Hybrid]

[Description: Through the runic grafting of golem tissues onto human body, Lesser-Golem Hybrid exhibits several traits of a stone golem to a lesser extent. In addition, various minerals become available as both sustenance and power resource.]

[Traits: High toughness with increased resistance to slash, pierce, and elemental damage. Below average agility and dexterity. Able to consume particular minerals to maintain energy levels and increase golemification rate.]

'Whoa, isn't this like a bloodline class!? The ability to consume minerals is quite interesting. Although it lacks agility and dexterity, I think the trade-off is worth it. But I think it doesn't improve strength that much as it's not stated anywhere. Maybe there's a skill for it or it's somewhere further down the evolution line. Hmm…'

Drai looked very interested in this class. He contemplated for a while before deciding to come back to it later.

'If the last two classes suck, I might go with the golem,' Drai thought while opening the next class.

[Class: Iron Stomach]

[Description: Having eaten all kinds of things, Iron Stomach can be said as an all-encompassing gourmand. With an evolved digestive system and tastebuds, any organic matter is a delicacy as well as valuable resource. Its notable features include efficient nutrient-absorption and heightened smell toward beneficial food sources.]

[Traits: Most organic matters are edible and tasty. Able to transform the properties of organic matters into nutrient when eaten, including hazardous substances. Personal gourmet achievements become available, rewarding certain amounts of EXP and SP. Highly reduced excrement production.]

'I don't know how I feel about this class,' Drai thought. 'I guess it was offered because I've been eating those iffy stuff during training, hoping to increase my tolerance against poisons and germs. If this were a skill, I would definitely take it. But to dedicate a whole class just for eating isn't my thing, especially since there's no obvious stat improvement stated in the description. And the 'highly reduced excrement production' part might be convenient, but there's a certain satisfaction in letting out a big one, or maybe it's just me.

'Welp, too bad. I guess I'll just move on. If this last one sucks too, tonight I'll be snacking on rocks, hehehe.'

With low expectations, Drai opened the last class.

[Class: Seed of Titan]

[Description: 

"Will of the Titans"

~1

Our home left behind,

Alas we must fend.

A fate so unkind,

Demise was our end. 

~

A wish from this grave

To foster a seed

So steadfast and brave

To bear a lost creed.

 ~

Excerpt from Codas of Myriad Races manuscript collections, author unknown.]

[Traits: Destined for greatness.]

'…'

Drai was once again speechless.

'Really, System? A poem? Yeah, it might be nice a poem, but what is it doing in my class description?!? It doesn't help me understand the class at all!'

'And the traits are not helping either. What the hell does 'destined for greatness' mean? Does it make me stronger or smarter? Does it have overpowered abilities? Or does it make me rich or handsome?'

Drai was dumbfounded. It was one thing if he found out that this class was weak, at least he would be decisive and not choose it. But with the lack of details, he couldn't even begin to understand the class, let alone decide whether it's worth choosing.

'Does the System hate me so much?' Drai grieved. 'All these years, I've been focusing on strengthening my body, so I never touched any literature! Why does it expect me to understand the poem? This is some next level bullshit!'

Drai wanted to punch the screen. Realizing his frustration, Drai tried to calm himself down. He took several deep breaths before looking at the screen again.

'Okay, System. You win. Let's try to understand this poem a bit. At least it's only two stanzas.'

Drai's brows furrowed as he analyzed the lines. Bit by bit, he gained a surface understanding of the poem.

'Okay, I got the gist of it. Although the details of the message are vague, such as where 'home' is and what they were fending off, I think the meaning is quite literal except for the 'seed' part. This 'seed' is unlikely to be a plant because this 'will' wanted it to be 'steadfast and brave' in whatever it's meant to do, unless these titans are some kind of highly advanced plant creatures. If so, then I guess this class is like a plant hybrid of some sort.

'But how can they foster this seed when they're supposedly dead? Or is it just figure of speech and their 'fostering' is merely done through this 'will', hoping that the 'seed' will be inspired to avenge them or something? Ah, this is becoming more confusing.'

Drai was still in confusion when he heard Vee's voice.

"Participants who haven't chosen their class yet, you have five minutes left. There is another batch waiting for their turn and we also have to consider the time for your transformations to finish."

'Five minutes… It seems like I'll have to make a decision soon,' Drai said to himself.

'The golem class is a safe choice. It's a hybrid class with the potential to snowball if I can get access to said minerals. The word 'lesser' in its name also indicates a stronger evolutionary stage in the future. And with its highly defensive traits, I'll be able to train even harder. Okay then, let's go with the golem.'

Drai returned to the class selection page, preparing to choose Lesser-Golem Hybrid. However, at this moment he stopped because he felt something stirring within him.

Suddenly, Drai palpitated. He felt alarmed, as if he was about to head into certain death.

'What's happening?!?' Drai exclaimed perplexedly, sweating bullets. He tried to make sense of his inner turbulence.

'Wait… this sense of trepidation… Right! That giant person!' Drai suddenly remembered.

'I've only felt like this once in my life. It was when that powerful being in that scene became a mountain! And this suffocating pressure inside me… I felt something similar before waking up. What does this mean?'

Despite realizing the similarity of both situations, Drai couldn't understand why this feeling abruptly hit him when he was safely choosing his class in the Revelation chamber.

He tried inspecting his body, but he felt no external presence. Other than feeling a sense of dread and his churning insides, everything was the same.

Moments passed by as Drai questioned his state of mind. 'Is this a side effect of the Revelation or was there something wrong with the procedure? And that last scene was strange too as it was the only one that didn't come from my memories.'

In the middle of his puzzlement, Drai heard Vee's voice once again.

"There is one minute left. Participants, please choose your class now. Deliberate impediment of the procedure may result in less than desirable consequences."

Drai was surprised. He didn't think he would cut it close to the time limit. Ignoring the sense of dread, he decided to go with the golem.

'Choose Lesser-Golem Hybrid,' Drai conveyed to the System.

[Lesser-Golem Hybrid class chosen. Proceed with transformation?]

Drai was still in trepidation as he read the System message. Yet, he persevered and closed his eyes as he readied himself to be reborn. Suddenly, in the darkness of his obscured vision, a bright light materialized.

Drai was astounded as he watched this light dim, slowly revealing a figure. It was the person from that peculiar scene. He was looking at Drai with a woeful smile.

And upon seeing this, something clicked in Drai's head.

"You're a titan, aren't you?" Drai blurted. It was a rhetorical question rather than an inquiry. Yet, Drai saw the person's woe lessened as his smile brightened.

"So, this 'seed' thing… Why me? I don't know anything about you guys or your problems. I've never even heard of 'titan' before this," Drai questioned as he realized this figure might be more than a passive projection. Drai also came to understand why that dreadful feeling came about right before he chose to transform.

The person slightly shook his head while maintaining his smile. It's unknown whether he couldn't talk or chose to be silent.

"What if I can't do it?" Drai questioned again. "The words in that poem… What if I can't bear that creed or chicken out? Or even worse, what if I deliberately refuse to fulfill your wish? Will you curse me? Will I die?"

The person didn't respond. He kept looking at Drai smilingly, his thoughts obscured.

Seeing this, Drai went silent. He stared back at this person, trying to grasp his intentions and understand his feelings. He couldn't fathom how this figure ended up inside his mind.

Then, with a deep sigh, Drai said, "Okay. I'll do it. I'll be this 'seed' although I still don't understand what it means. I don't know how it'll turn out in the future or if I'll ever face or solve that problem of yours, but I'll just try my best to be stronger like I've always did. I hope you don't regret sending this 'will' to me."

The person looked at Drai deeply, then nodded. He was now smiling gleefully. Drai hadn't realized that the dreadful feeling engulfing him was now gone. And yet, his inner turbulence somehow became stronger instead.

The figure started to blur. Seeing this, Drai suddenly shouted, "Next time don't write anymore poems! Not everyone is smart like me! And the traits were messed up too! You almost lost your 'seed' being all mysterious, you know!?"

The person was now barely visible, but Drai could see him laugh before vanishing. Drai chuckled as he opened his eyes which now glinted with relief and slight aplomb.

'Cancel class choice. Choose Seed of Titan instead,' He conveyed in his mind.

[Canceling current class choice. Seed of Titan chosen as new class. Proceed with transformation?]

'Yes.'

[Are you sure?]

'Not really, but yes.'

[Please be clear. 'Not really' or 'yes'?]

'...'

'YES! Yes, I'm sure. Please proceed, my dearest and most understanding System,' Drai replied sarcastically.

[Choice confirmed. Permission received. Commencing transformation.]