--
TJ's mood improved as he learned more about his misunderstood class template.
Now, he went ahead and checked the information about his skills...
[Sinbound Retaliation] (Entry 0/100)
Type: AOE, Counter/Burst
Description: When struck while guarding, releases a dark pulse of energy that damages and curses nearby enemies
Range: 3 meters
Curse Effect: Enemies are inflicted with [Brittle].
CD: None
"A defensive skill right away? Well, it's a Knight Class after all, so it's not surprising. Still, not bad." TJ nodded to himself.
He noticed that there were no skill perks for this one, though. It wasn't really a big deal because it could still be upgraded through his boon.
"Well, maybe the perk is the [Brittle], one that goes to the enemy instead of me."
The [Brittle] affliction lowers the target's defense by 5/10/20/40/80/120%, from Tierless to Tier V, respectively.
It wouldn't be surprising if this turned out to be the case. It's even possible that the skill will gain more curses instead of skill perks as its level increases.
Well, that'll be determined in the future. For now, there are other skills to check out.
[Oathbreaker's Reprisal] (Entry 0/100)
Type: Single Target, Execution/Finisher
Description: A single brutal strike that deals bonus damage based on negative status effects the enemy has.
Curse Effect: [Reset] if this attack kills an enemy; otherwise, inflicts [Bleed].
CD: 10 secs.
[Black Aegis] (Entry 0/100)
Type: Shield / Defensive Skill
Description: Manifest a cursed barrier of negative energy to self or an ally. Blocks one attack completely, then explodes with corrupted force.
Curse Effect: Enemies caught by the explosion gain [Slow].
CD: 30 secs.
"More defensive skills? Is this a Tank class? This isn't what I had in mind." TJ pursed his lips. "Well, at least there's an offensive skill. But still, I'm more geared towards the Duelist type. Do I need to change my style?"
See, TJ was originally gunning for the Magic Knight class.
TJ liked the [Knight] profession since they're reliable. Boring, sure. But reliable, nonetheless. They're not flashy, nor really famous, but they get the job done. That's what he liked the most about them. Even though a lot of people look down on Knights and see them as fodder, it didn't lessen TJ's attraction towards the profession.
Usually, he'd start with the Knight Class, then transition again to the Magic Knight Class afterwards.
Fortunately, he had two boons, and one of them happened to allow him to increase his mana quality and quantity despite being at the Novice Rank and having no supplements. This allowed him to skip over the ordinary [Knight] class template and had a great chance of getting the [Magic Knight] class right away, which was a Fusion Class Template.
Unfortunately, his curse interfered.
All the rules and tendencies that should've allowed him to get the class that he wanted were ignored, and his current class was rudely stamped on him regardless of whether he liked it or not.
The freedom of choice was taken away from him, and he still felt bitter about that.
From the skills he had seen so far, the [Accursed Knight] class seems to fill the role of a front-liner—a tank, if you will, or at the very least, a bruiser.
And while that's really bad. It doesn't suit the skillset he developed so far.
TJ now has two protective skills he could use: the ordinary Mana Barrier, which he levelled up quite a bit, and now, this Black Aegis. The Sinbound Retaliation is also a defensive skill, though it's conditional.
The Oathbreaker's Reprisal sounds cool, and it resets on kill, but it's too early to say if it's actually good enough for his needs.
The last two skills he unlocked were skills called [Pain Forged] and [Unyielding Torment].
[Pain Forged] (Entry 0/100)
Type: Passive
Description: Gain strength through adversities and hardships.
Effects: Gains [Strength] when seriously injured.
[Unyielding Torment] (Entry 0/100)
Type: Passive
Description: Stability in spite of torment
Effects: Gains [Fearless] and [Willpower] when cursed/hexed or in the presence of said elements.
These two were awesome; that much TJ could already tell. And it further solidified the idea that this class was indeed supposed to be a front-liner with these skills.
That said, TJ was already having a headache about how he's supposed to level these passives up. He's got some ideas, but it's unsure if they'd work or not.
As for the locked skills, TJ decided to save them for later. He didn't want to spoil himself right now. Besides, he's got a lot of skills to try out, and they're more than enough to occupy him.
"I can't go back to the school to borrow the training room," TJ muttered to himself. "I could rent a training area somewhere in the market. After all, I'm rich now. But not now, maybe tomorrow...or never, whatever."
After reading all of the skills that were unlocked after his first class transition. He closed his eyes and sank into the chair.
His perception sank further into his body. There, he felt the electrifying flow of mana thrumming under his skin. It left a trail of cool and refreshing feeling in their wake, making him feel light and alert, somehow.
But deeper than that, slumbering within the very depths of his consciousness, was 『???』.
The curse, it's there. It's dormant and still feels as gross and corrupted as ever, but it didn't do anything detrimental to him anymore.
It's always been there since he got it; his perception of it only got stronger the older and stronger he got. It's like a slumbering beast that's sealed within him. One that he has no control of, nor could he get rid of.
Unlike the cool and refreshing feel of mana, the curse felt viscous like slime. It feels tainted too, like it's eroding him from the inside.
Despite this, though, for some reason, the system didn't think that it's a malicious foreign entity. Why? TJ honestly has no clue. If you ask him, a curse couldn't get any more malicious than this, yet the system doesn't seem to see it the same way.
The silence of his mind still surprised him, though.
He still believed that the voices would return sooner or later, but deep down, he also wished for them to never return. He always liked it when his mind was silent.
It's easier to think and sleep when it's like this. He got this curse at such a young age, though, that he'd gotten used to it already.
"I have no complete understanding of this class just yet," he muttered to himself, "which is to be expected. It hasn't been a day since I got it, after all."
"But why this? Why force me to this path? Why would this...unknown entity within me interfere? Curses or hexes don't do that as far as I can remember."
For a brief second there, two faces from his past flashed past his memory. Faces of his biological parents. It was then followed by his sister's face, which made him ask:
"You three...just what the hell did you give me?"
**
In a place very far from where TJ was...a castle that's seemingly made out of ice crystals could be seen.
The castle was gorgeous and magnificent. A true wonder that stood amidst a continent where winter was ever so present.
There were many rooms in this castle; the interior was surprisingly normal and warm compared to its outside appearance. There were also a lot of people here, all armed in gleaming and heavy armor or thick leathery gear that prevented them from turning into ice sculptures due to how low the temperature around here was.
In one of the many rooms in this beautiful castle, a lady with near-unparalleled beauty and grace could be seen.
She's got long platinum blonde hair with piercing sky blue eyes. Her face was angular, her cheeks sported a healthy natural blush, and her plump and pouty lips stretched into a thin line as she peered outside of the window.
This lady was about six feet and three inches tall, without counting her sky blue heels she wore. She's wearing a long white gown adorned with pulverized diamonds. A thick, white, and furry cloak was draped over her shoulders, one that is made from the pelt of a Compact Snow Polar Bear.
That much was obvious given how its carved-out face rested on her right shoulder, attached to the rest of the cloak.
The fair lady was seemingly staring at an empty space, but in truth, she was looking at her personal system interface, one that only she could see.
Her eyes lingered on the messenger icon, staring at it as if something's going to happen to it at any moment now.
No one knows how long she's been doing this; even the fair lady herself can't remember anymore.
In the end, she could only sigh and say, "It's understandable. I did leave him behind and never said a word for two years, after all."
"I'll make it up to you, I swear."
"Just wait until I reach the 4th floor."