--
TJ watched as the special class transitioning scroll dissolved into motes of light after use.
Following that, a string of system alerts rang in his ears, almost deafening him.
**
[Class Transition Starts! ]
[Generating...]
[Alert!]
[You received your personalized Class Transition Quest! ]
[Quest: Class Transition]
• Reach the peak of 5★ Novice Rank (Clear)
• Gather 1000 exp for the Apprentice Rank upgrade (Clear)
• Have at least one Apprentice Level Skill (3/1)
• Kill VR Monsters (Clear)
[Alert!]
[Quest Cleared! ]
[Generate Class Templates? ]
**
TJ was momentarily surprised, but it didn't last long.
He wasn't expecting to clear the quest right away. He knew that first-time class transitions are usually easy, but he still expected to work for it anyway. But it seems that he doesn't have to.
TJ thanked his old self for being determined and thorough. If he hadn't taken advantage of the opportunity in the VR world, he would have to spend more money right now to clear this quest.
"Go ahead, system. Show me what you got."
[Generating...]
[Please wait a moment...]
[Beep!]
TJ's eyes widened. All of a sudden, the system window flashed dangerously red. He panicked at the sudden change and didn't know what to do.
[Alert! Alert! Alert! ]
[The system has detected that a particular entity is interfering with the Class Template Generation! ]
"What!?" TJ was alarmed.
[Scanning...]
[Culprit found! ]
[Entity: 『???』 was determined to be the source of interference.]
[Searching for possible options...]
"What the hell!?" TJ stood up in disbelief.
『???』 was the unknown curse that was revealed upon his awakening. It was the source of his constant psychosis, causing him to suffer every day.
TJ had long wanted to get rid of this curse, but it was troublesome. He's been carrying it for so long that he's long gotten tired of it. Unfortunately, he never had the money, resources, or connection to get somebody to remove it from him.
He had gotten used to it after having it this long. He even thought that he doesn't mind it anymore; he had all the time in the world to remove it anyway.
But never in his wildest dreams did he ever imagine that this curse would react to his class transitioning.
TJ paced back and forth in his room, feeling distressed and anxious.
He had already used the scroll. From that point onwards, there's no turning back. He hadn't even recovered from his initial surprise after finding out that he had cleared the quest already, and now this happens.
"Come on, System...Atlanta, you have to help me with this."
"I..."
"I didn't ask for this; you should know that."
"They lied to me. This has never been my burden to carry. I..."
"I never wanted to be cursed. Please, you have to do something. Not like this!"
[Searching for protocols...]
[Please wait...]
[Notice!]
[Protocol EVA-0110: Malicious Foreign Entity Interference, takes effect.]
[Protocol EVA-0110: Malicious Foreign Entity Interference]
• Professionals afflicted by elements considered as Malicious Foreign Entity (MFE) by Atlanta will receive the system's grant and protection.
• Upon confirmation, the MFE will be eliminated, and the culprit behind the malicious act will be reprimanded heavily.
• This protocol only takes effect when the target individual's well-being and professional career are being threatened by the MFA.
"Yes! Yes! Come on! Do it!"
Hope reignited in TJ's chest as he discovered this. He never thought that a protocol like this existed. Although he wished that it had been discovered sooner, better late than never.
"It's all good. Just get rid of it, please!" TJ felt his anxiety mounting. The system was taking too long. He's afraid that every second of delay just makes his situation worse.
[MFE detected.]
[Purging!]
TJ felt something simmering under his skin. He involuntarily closed his eyes, and then his body suddenly collapsed on the bed due to the sudden loss of energy.
He was paralyzed without any warning. His consciousness drifted in between states of consciousness, yet surprisingly, he's still aware of what's going on.
TJ's consciousness blurred all of a sudden. Then, he discovered that he was suddenly transported into an abyss, one that looked back at him.
He felt his heart sinking to his chest as he prayed to all saints and gods for somebody to come and get him out of here.
From a distance, he could see pillars of light trying to penetrate the abyss but failing miserably. The deep and murky abyss just swallowed the light without spitting anything back; not even a sparkle of light could escape.
And as much as he tried to, TJ found himself looking back at the abyss. The longer he stared at it, the more harrowing the experience became.
The voices swarmed him. And unlike the usual, he couldn't make out what they're saying, but there's definitely more of them now.
How many? TJ doesn't know. It might be hundreds or thousands. All of which were whispering right next to his ears, grinding his sanity like no other.
He struggled, clawed his throat from screaming to drown out their sound, and frantically summoned all of his strength and willpower to fight this maddening darkness around him to no avail.
Alas, nothing he did helped.
The abyss closed in on him, wanting to swallow him whole. Defeat and despair finally gripped TJ's heart when all of a sudden, all sound disappeared.
From too much noise to deafening silence, the transition almost made him insane. Then, the flat and mechanical voice of the system suddenly returned.
[ERROR!]
[Purging; Impossible.]
[Entity: 『???』 does not qualify as a Malicious Foreign Entity.]
[Its interference proceeds.]
"Sorry, kid. We didn't want it to be this way either, but you can't get rid of this."
"You can't get rid of us."
"At least not yet."
[Alert!]
[Class Template Generated! ]
[Note: Due to a special entity's interference, the class selection has been modified.]
[1 Class Template Generated.]
**
Rise! Ye[Accursed Knight].
**
TJ felt suffocated.
He felt the abyss around him rushing to his body, forcibly entering through his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
With a gasp that might as well be a scream of existential dread, TJ woke up, rising sharply from his bed.
He was breathing heavily while clutching his chest. He felt the walls closing in. He's having a panic attack, and the brightness around him didn't help at all; it was overstimulating.
His terror and frayed emotions caused his mana to flare wildly, responding to his panic. If it had fangs, it'd be baring them to everything, even at the innocuous plushies on his bed.
"It's okay...it's okay...I'm good. I'm awake. It's not real."
TJ chanted these words like a mantra. Weird as that sounds, it's working.
His pajamas were drenched all over from cold sweat. Unknowingly, the night passed in his torture because it's the next day now, obvious by the sunlight peeking out of his windows.
TJ's face was pale, and terror still radiated out of him, but not as bad as before.
When the feeling subsided, TJ finally opened his eyes and never felt so relieved to be back in his room.
He tried to stand up, but his legs felt like jelly. Still, he pushed through, and despite his wobbling legs, he made his way to the bathroom. He shucked off his drenched clothes and sat on the bathtub, letting the warm water flow and caress his body.
TJ's eyes were hollow. It's like they've completely lost their luster, but his eyesight remains clear. Actually, it's clearer than before; they just look more unnerving now.
And despite the warm waters flowing on his body, TJ could feel a chill running beneath his skin. It wasn't the refreshing sensation of mana; it's something colder...more sinister.
Sigh!
"God damn it. Why me?" TJ wanted to cry but had no tears.
**
[Profile]
Name: Tristan James Whitlock
Age: 17
Race: Human
Bloodline: Human
Allegiance: East Victory
Profession Archetype: Combat
Class Archetype: Accursed Knight
Rank: 1☆ Apprentice (0/600)
Exp: 0
[Skills]: (+)
**
[Accursed Knight]—"Sworn to protect, yet bound by their sins. Their blade shields none but their own regret."
• Type: Fusion Class
• Rarity: ?
• Potential: ?
• Compatibility: 100%
**
"What a load of bullshit," TJ sneered.
All of the happiness and excitement he felt before had completely vanished, replaced by desolate sadness.
"I shouldn't have..."
"I shouldn't have lowered my guard."
"I've been disillusioned by the blessings I received. It fooled me into thinking that, for once, things will actually go well for me."
TJ stared at the insulting template plastered upon him with dark and hollow eyes.
"That's my fault."
"I've been too greedy."
"I've gotten too comfortable when I'm already lucky enough to still be alive."
"…"
"Ugh. Gross. Ew. Depression, ew!" TJ shuddered in the bathtub before reaching out for his shower gels and body scrub.
TJ decided to not dwell on this too much. As much as he disliked it, the outcome wouldn't change. The template has been plastered on him; there's no going back.
He hasn't even looked at what the class actually brings him, yet he's already dissing it.
TJ originally wanted to be a Magic Knight. Boring, yes. But reliable. He never had high expectations to begin with; anything beyond that would be nice.
And the Accursed Knight might sound ominous, but he couldn't really tell unless he learns everything about it.
But before he did just that, he noticed something strange while brushing his teeth.
"Huh, it's strangely quiet today."