This ends the goblins arc. The class is still up to debate, but the skill isn´t.

Tomorrow chapter will be prologue/interlude short.

Ps: I tried to put everything in the status but mistakes might have been made. Too many numbers

Luke felt a tongue licking his right cheek. He opened his eyes wide, jumping to a standing position. He scanned the area for the evil creature but found only Steve. Or what once was Steve. In its place, there was a chest high black monster grinning maniacally at him. It took a few seconds to connect the dots. In his defence, he did just wake up.

“No way! Steve, is that you?” Luke said almost shouting.

Yes

“You can talk too? Awesome!” Luke had felt the answer in his mind. He guessed that this was an improvement of their previous mental communication. This was probably a consequence of a massive level up after the battle with the horde. Speaking of which, Luke observed the nearby area and didn’t find a single body.

“What happened with the goblins?” Luke

After the big light they vanished. I couldn’t find their smell and I started growing while you were sleeping.

The sphere! Luke was worried until he realized he still had it safely in his hand. He wasn’t certain why he didn’t notice it from the beginning.

‘It might have something to do with what the Goddesses told me. Yes, the relic feels like a part of me now that it became attuned to me.’ Luke thought.

He decided to go home before checking all notifications. He couldn’t know if the area was completely safe even now. Besides, they left several hours ago and have been fighting non-stop. They needed a rest. He took three steps forward when he discovered that something had changed in the valley. It didn’t look bleak anymore. It hadn’t sprouted any trees in the time he was unconscious, but tiny blades of grass could be seen. This filled Luke’s heart with joy. He was saddened by the destruction the goblins had caused to the area, so he felt relieved now that he knew the damage would become undone with enough time.

The journey back was uneventful. The only issue came when he realized he couldn’t carry Steve up the ladder Not because of his strength, his stats might allow it, but due to the wolf’s size. It was easily solved when Steve climbed the wall. It was terrifying. Understandable, when you see such a creature running straight toward the cliff as if he wanted to crack his skull. Then you look as he jump once, twice and thrice and Tadah! his staring at you from the top of a thirty meters cliff. Mind-blowing.

Before going inside he checked both that both wards were working properly and scouted the region surrounded the clearing in search of strange tracks. It always paid to be cautious. Fortunately, he didn’t found anything out of place. The few animal footprints he saw, were from the pack. It appeared it had grown in size. Considering the alliance he had with them, that was reassuring.

He entered the house and repeated his actions. Fighting so much had taken a toll on his nerves, he couldn’t calm himself if he hadn’t accounted for every variable. Or at least the most probable ones. So, after going through every room without uncovering an evil plot or a satanic ritual, he relaxed in front of the TV. He placed the relic next to his leg. He had some kind of physical need to be close to the Mana Seed. Steve followed, although a little awkward on the stairs, and now rested his head in Luke’s lap. He scratched the wolf behind the ears absentmindedly. They both found the position more comfortable than expected. He made a cursory check to see which channels were still airing. To his surprise, most news anchors were back, what’s more most seemed to be live. Seems that after a day or two of pandemonium and mayhem, the various government were able to stabilize the situation. Most programs were going on and on about the need of the populace to concentrate in big settlements.

‘Right, like with so many destitute people in one place the rule of might won’t be imposed.’ Luke snorted while he had this thoughts. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust any organization or governmental structure. It was just that he didn’t believe they were prepared for this kind of scenario.

‘Well, it isn’t like I have to go, so good luck to them but I’m staying’ Luke

After acquiring a basic understanding of the outside world, he decided to read the notifications. First, the easy ones: his level increased to 10 while his Dispel reached Intermediate, probably due to the sphere. Then, the fun began. He had two quest notifications and several others that appeared import.

Quest Completed! Protecting the forest from the goblins

You had eradicated a serious menace to the well-being of the forest. The Ancient Guardian is content with your results and rewards you so.

Rewards:

+3 to all stats

Increased affinity with Nature

Bonus rewards due to increased difficulty:

+2 to all stats

Increased affinity with Nature

Quest Completed! Awaken the forest

You not only helped the forest awaken, you even protected it and its inhabitants from the terror the goblins are for the ecosystem.

Rewards:

The forest in the designated area has been completely awakened. It will continue to grow as long as it isn’t destroyed.

The forest has been bonded to you. You get +10% to all attributes while you are inside. Creatures of the forest won’t attack you unless provoked.

+5 Intelligence

+5 Wisdom

Increased affinity with Nature

Hidden Quest Completed! Thwart the goblins evil plans

The goblins discovered a powerful relic that they would use to expand their territory and grow in power. You stopped their plans in the nick of time while you annihilated them.

Rewards:

Skill: Stealth

+5 Wisdom

+5 Agility

You have reached level 10 and in doing so you are now able to choose a class. Choose wisely as the decision is permanent.

A long list appeared in front of Luke with most of the usual rpg classes like Warrior, Archer, Hunter, Assassin, Swordmaster, Mage, Druid and more. He wasn’t thrilled by them though the benefits in skills and attributes he saw some of them give were impressive. He decided to look through all notifications before deciding a class or where to spend the unassigned stats points. He had 20 and they would be useful if he needed to enhance a characteristic to better become his class.

However, his decision immediately paid off.

Due to special circumstances you are allowed to change your race to Ngen, subrace Mawida. Choose wisely as the transformation is permanent.

Beware

Some races and subraces have extreme environmental needs or are severely restricted in some way.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t see the modifications he would suffer if he changed to that race. Luke was torn by the selection. He wanted to remain human, because it was the comfort choice. He wouldn’t gain anything, but he wouldn’t lose either. Changing was a jump to the void. It could go well, but probably won’t. Luke had a sudden moment of enlightenment while looking at Steve.

‘I should pick the one that I would regret the least. I feel in my bones that if I let this go, eventually I would become average.’ Luke thinking wasn’t wrong. He was ahead of the curve now, but he couldn’t know if it will remain that way in the future. If he wanted to stay ahead (and safe) he had to grab every opportunity that presented itself. Luke knew that he shouldn’t take unnecessary risk for little gain, but he had too little information to make an educated guess. So he believed that his intelligence and wisdom weren't part of this decision. He would have to trust his gut feeling and it was telling him to jump. So he jumped.

You have changed your race to Ngen

Modifications:

+1 Agility per level

+3 Intelligence per level

+1 Wisdom per level

-10 Strength

-5 Vitality

Nature Affinity grows faster

+10% to all stats while fighting in your territory

-10% to all stats while fighting outside your territory

Ngen are spirits that materialized in the material world. They conserve the ability to dematerialize their body. Ngen means owner, so they always set a deep connection with the area they reside in. Racial Skills:

Change Form: Wisdom determine how fast you can alternate.

Spirit Form: You become immune to physical damage but receive double damage from magical attacks. You can only perform magical attacks. Things that cannot touch you, cannot be touched by you.

Material Form: You became able to interact with your surroundings. You never will be completely materialized. You receive reduced physical damage (10%).

Expand Conscience: You can scout any place recognized as yours with your mind. If you are not the owner, you can scout your surroundings up to your Intelligence attribute. You have changed your Subrace to Mawida: Ngen-Mawida are spirits of the forest. They do not only own the forest, but also are its caretaker.

Reduced aggression from the forest inhabitants.

+10% to all Stats while fighting in your forest.

-10% to all stats while fighting outside your forest.

Due to your new Race and Subrace a new class has become available. Evergreen Walker You travel from tree to tree and from forest from forest while attuning yourself with nature. Although not physically strong, the Evergreen Walker more than balance its out with it sneakiness and cunning.

Modification:

-10 Strength

+1 Agility per level

+2 Intelligence per level

+1 Wisdom per level.

Class Skill: Treewalk: you can teleport to any tree you are connected up to five times your Intelligence. Your Agility determines how fast you can do consecutives jumps. Wisdom determines the Mana spent for each jump.

‘Awesome!’ He couldn’t say yes faster! Luke immediately realized how great the change was. Yes, he traded some of his Strength and Vitality, but Mind over Body would eventually recover those points. The added Intelligence would guarantee that. And those abilities. They would be irreplaceable while fighting and escaping. He didn’t know if he would be the strongest person in the world, but he WOULD be the hardest to chase and kill. The expand conscience practically made him a natural scout or spy. In addition, if the battle happened in the forest there was no way he could lose easily.

Suddenly, he felt some pain as the System changed his body down to every cell. When it ended he didn't feel different so he searched for a mirror to look at himself. The changes in his appearance were noticeable but not in a bad way: his hair and eyes turned a pleasant dark green. The rest was mostly the same though if you watched closely his figure blurred from time to time.

DING

Change completed! New Quest! Defend your Lands!

Your hold on this forest have been recognized by the gods. Other beings may challenge you for that.

This quest will remain active until you die or lose ownership of the land. A challenge has no defined rules, it can be a one-on-one duel or an enemy force invasion. Rewards will be given with every successfully defense proportionally to the danger faced.

‘I’m so fucked!’ Luke thought