Please select a class
This new window was way more interesting than the others.
"Class, well I guess that fits," he said, his smile turning into a sneer. Things could be a lot worse. I could be totally naked with everything hanging out... oh wait, he thought, laughing at himself. He scrolled through the drop-down menu of classes - all the basics were there, just like any old RPG. This isn't a game, he mentally chided himself, checking out the first option.
"Hmm, what have we got here?" he said, tapping his chin thoughtfully.
Warrior
A basic starting class. This class can be further divided into Light, Medium, and Heavy armor weight classes, changing focus from speed and evasion to balance and power. Characterized by the use of melee weapons and possessing a large health pool.
The first class was for basic fighters, the easiest option but also the most boring. It also had the downside of being in the middle of every fight and taking a ton of hits, which was a major turnoff. He didn't want to be fighting up close and personal, that was a good way to lose something important. He moved on.
Monk
Basic starting class. It is an unarmed class that focuses on quick, precise strikes, using punches and kicks to immobilize opponents without causing death. This class pushes the limits of the body, bringing forth an internal energy that can be harnessed. Energy strikes are utilized in a fashion that harmonizes with nature and the elements to bring either destructive force, healing light, or calm tranquility.
The second option wasn't any better than the first one. It was practically the same but without the weapons. I'll definitely pass on that.
"It's a no from me dawg," he chuckled.
Rogue
A basic class that specializes in covert operations and precise attacks. Their approach emphasizes stealth and subterfuge. Rogues typically employ a combination of ranged and melee combat tactics, capitalizing on their agility and proficiency with bladed weapons to kill their opponents quickly. They are also known for their expertise in the use of poisons.
Rogues! The sneaky-boy option for melee classes. Unseen, unheard, fast, and deadly. Able to hide from danger and backstab seemed like a good choice. Not totally sold on the class yet but maybe, on to the next one.
Archer
A basic class. This class is centered around long-ranged combat, utilizing a bow for ranged attacks and a dagger for melee combat. The Archer possesses heightened physical flexibility, with a focus on precise speed over brute strength. This class utilizes enchanted items or artifacts but does not wield magic.
"Ugh, this class is a joke! Even the Monk class seems better. This is pathetic, they should be embarrassed." he whispered.
This was the worst choice ever, this class was totally nerfed. Disregarding how much reach a bow could give you, if he had to fight against melee or magic he'd be dodging forever. Not worth it, He thought.
Mage
Basic starting class. This magically based class is focused on spells, curses, and enchantments in and out of combat. It is ideal for those who prioritize power over speed and strength. Mages wield incredibly destructive force but are otherwise lacking. Staves and wands are often used as a focus to amplify magic, offering greater range and casting speed.
This basically confirmed that magic was real. The idea of throwing around lightning, summoning a tornado, or blasting my enemies with a kamehameha to the nads was awesome, but was that all there was to it? Was magic the basis of everything in the universe, like in all those stories he'd read? He looked to the last option.
Cleric
The Cleric is a versatile and supportive starting class, capable of healing wounds, removing status conditions, and amplifying the strength of party members. While possessing limited offensive capabilities and weak in direct combat, the Cleric is a valuable addition to any group.
Okay, so, a healer, right? Not a difficult choice, and at least there weren't any weapon restrictions. Usually, this was his go-to option in online games, but if he was going to have to fight for real, he'd rather not be defenseless. Healer didn't seem like it was going to be the best option this time around.
Zach picked the mage class, skipping over the rogue option – magic just seemed way cooler. He clicked the arrow at the bottom to move on, noticing that there weren't any confirmation pop-ups for his choices. 'Gotta be careful, or I might accidentally change my gender or species or something,' he thought. Right after closing the window, he felt a weird, itchy feeling all over, but it vanished as quickly as it came. Before he could even process it, a bunch of new notifications popped up.
Congratulations! The Mage class has been selected.
All basic classes offer +4 Free stats per level.
Important Note: Classes do not restrict skills, abilities, weapons, or traits.
Mana Bolt has been acquired
Mana Shield has been acquired
Mana Sense has been acquired
Reading all these messages, he couldn't help but think that his earlier comparison of this "system" to video games was spot on. But he also knew that was a dumb way of thinking, and if he didn't get his act together, he could get seriously hurt or even die. Checking out the three skills, all of which seemed pretty basic, wasn't really a surprise but gaining skills was still cool.
He just knew how his new skills worked, like he could feel the knowledge enter him. He stood up from the chair, lifted his right hand toward the far wall, and activated his Mana Bolt. Suddenly, he felt a pull on his energy as it blasted out in a blue ball. He checked where it hit, but the wall was fine—probably made of something super strong. But forget the wall, he had just used magic! He was so excited about using actual magic that he didn't realize how tired he was, like he'd just run a marathon.
He shook himself awake and plopped down onto the chair, forgetting about his sore butt, again. Ouch! He hit the floor on all fours, crying out in pain. After a few minutes, he wiped his eyes and stood back up, closing the notifications. A new window popped up in their place. He looked over at the timer and noted that he'd spent ten minutes just selecting his name and class.
Please Select Three Characteristics
Error.. No Characteristics Found.
Not found? What the heck does that mean? he started screaming in his head. The error message popped up over the first window, saying that his race, humans, had no characteristics. It was weird, and it disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving him confused.
Access to the system library has been granted. Please select three characteristics.
The system finally got its act together and showed him a massive list of characteristics. He was overwhelmed by the thousands of options – it was endless! He would have loved to read them all if he had the time, but he didn't. So, he started scrolling and speed-reading to get the gist of each characteristic.
Strong Arm: +5 STR, One-punch attacks provide a 10% bonus to STR.Pack Mule: +5 STR and +5 END, The user's carrying capacity is doubled.Fish Gills: +5 AGI, +5 PER, The user can swim and breathe underwater.Melodious: +5 CHA, The user can charm sentient beings with their voice.Immovable: +10 STR, Knockback and knockback damage are reduced by 50%.Long Lived: +10 VIT, +10 END, The user's life will be long and prosperous.Omen: +5 PER, +10 LCK, The user brings bad luck to everyone around them; others receive a -10 LCK penalty.
There were so many options, how was he supposed to choose? The window said to only pick three, this was going to take forever.
"You could have at least given me a search bar," he complained at the floating blue square.
And just like that, a search bar popped up at the top of the window.
"Neat, complain and ye shall receive," he quietly quipped.
If this was going to be a survival situation where everyone was trying to kill each other, he wanted to be as hard to kill as possible. It wasn't that he was paranoid or anything, it's just that the system hadn't given any information on what was going on or what would happen next.
He needed to get ready for the worst and hope for the best. "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" or some such saying, the point being that he needed to prepare for the worst and hope for tacos.
"Ugh, when's the last time I ate? I'm starving!" he groaned, his stomach growling in agreement. The stress was getting to him – he felt tired, cold, and absolutely famished. Focusing on what he had to do was getting harder and harder.
Ignoring his grumbling stomach, he found the search bar super easy to use, giving him a list of character traits almost like a Google search. It made finding characteristics to boost his survivability a breeze – and essential since he knew nothing about his situation. The best characteristics would help him outlast any enemy, take a beating, and keep his powers safe from thieves – a classic risk in magical stories.
"Boom! three traits done!" he sighed to himself, leaning back and propping his feet up on the table. The search was a game-changer, helping him sift through a bunch of crappy options. He finally narrowed it down to three that he really liked:
**Eternal** This perk promised a lifespan longer than time itself, a mind-blowing concept that Zach wasn't sure what he'd do with so much time.
**Titan** This perk would give him armored skin, stopping most damage, and the strength and stamina of a giant, but that could just be flavor text.
**Null** This perk would protect his powers, preventing others from copying, duplicating, hindering, stealing, or nullifying them.
And that was it. He glanced at the timer on the wall, still ticking down it read thirty-six minutes before whatever would happen, happened.