Chapter 2 The Epic Class

Alex was calmly walking in the city. He could have run but decided otherwise. His first reason was that he was in no hurry. The second was is low level stamina, which was depleting fast enough by walking. With just those reasons, he would have probably run just for the sake of training, but he had a third reason: Soul’s Skills. He was sure that should he run, he would gain a “Running Mastery” skill, and he was not interested to have such a skill take the place of one of the Soul’s Skills.

So he was walking in the city when he caught a glimpse of a falling object aiming for his skull. With his right hand, he deflected the flower pot and caught it in his hand without breaking it. Because of his low stats, he had trouble managing this move and he even lost some HP. But his years old training paid off.

You have lost 26HP

Achievement : Catching the falling pot

DEX +1

New Soul’s Skill: Seikuken

- Show Information “Seikuken”, asked Alex with a sigh.

Seikuken (Passive)

Novice lvl 1 12%

You are aware of every movement 5cm around your body.

When deflecting an attack, you can send 11% of its power in the direction of your choice

Sure the skill was good. Alex already understood how strong he would become when this skill would evolve, but he had one slot for soul’s skill taken. Only two more to help him. He decided to be extra careful to not do anything out of ordinary. But having spent his youth training number of martial arts, fighting, and then in jail, he could easily recognize the fact that he had no idea of what was out of the ordinary.

He just continued to walk, taking care of not doing anything other than walking. Letting people bumping into himself was really unnerving. He had to go against all of his carefully trained reflexes, but he couldn’t afford to do any action the system would recognize as abnormal. So, the travel to the library took him thrice the time it could have taken him if he was walking normally, and nearly thirty times the time it would have taken him in reality.

But despite the obstacles fate threw upon his way, he finally succeeded in reaching the library. It was a big mansion, with two statues of opened books in the entry. He stepped in and was taken aback by the sheer number of bookcase.

A small man with round glasses and a purple robe came to him and asked:

- Welcome traveler in the Great Library of Gallica. You will be able to find book on every subject that might interest you in here! If you want, I can guide you towards books concerning a particular subject!

- Do you have books explaining quantum physics?

- … I… I’m afraid such a subject does not exist…

- Sure it exists! But not here, teased him Alex. Perhaps you have some books explaining the reign of Dagobert of the Merovingian Dynasty?

- Who?

- …

- …

- Sorry… In fact I just wanted books explaining classes and soul’s skills, but you just had to say you had books about any subject so…

- Ah… It was a joke! Fine… Fine… I thought we were missing books about important subjects! Just choose a table and I’ll bring you the concerned volumes, told the man with obvious relief.

Alex did as he was told and found a quiet corner to sit. Soon after the little man came back with tens of books. Considering the weight of one such volume he had to have quite a bit of strength.

- Here! This one explains all about the acquisition of Soul’s Skills. You’ll find some examples but there’s too much Soul’s Skills existing for them to be all registered! Even here! The next explains the art classes. This one the craft classes. Here are the Magic classes, and this one is about the fighting classes. Another about adventuring classes. And this about dark ones! And finally the greatest: this one here, he said showing the last book, explains about the rank of classes! Quite useful for new adventurers!

- Thank you very much!

- Don’t hesitate to ask for me if you need help! I’m called Etourdix!

- … I’m Alex

***

During hours, Alex just read those books. Tales could be recounted about his glorious fights against flies, dust or headaches, but it had been decided by a higher instance to just give a summary of his discovery.

Soul’s Skills had rank. Some situation could happen at not so random occurrence during your first days, and you reaction would help you gain a stronger or weaker skill. For instance, when falling in the first day, Alex could have unlocked the skills “Tripping”, “Falling” or “Rolling Mastery”. But his quick action allowed him to obtain the strongest one “Ukemi Mastery”. In the same way, from the falling pot, lots of adventurers were recorded to have attained the following skills: “Fainting”; “Blunt resistance”; “Obliviousness”; “Awareness” or “Counterstrike”.

But there were nothing about someone catching the pot intact, or about the Seikuken.

Following this discovery, Alex decided to continue reading until he couldn’t stand anymore in the hope of unlocking a high-tier skill, should he unlock one.

After this first book, he had managed to create a new attributes, his first one: “Reading (REA)” that should help him reading and discovering clues faster. It was soon followed by the “Focus (FOC)” stat that will improve the success rate or skill or spells. But Alex just disregarded them, and the following messages about gain of REA, FOC, INT or WIS, and continued reading.

After four more books, he received a message about the hungry state that will consume stamina. He just read through another book, gaining the Willpower (WIL) and Asceticism (ASC) stats. The former could help him endure curses and minuses when the former would augment the time needed to go to the hunger state and the stamina loss when in this state.

When his health began to be affected, Alex finally took a break and took out of his inventory a piece of bread and a flask of water. He ate quickly and used the active effect of his “Inner Control” skill to recover his stamina faster. And he came back to reading once more. It took him a whole 63 hours with barely any break to finish all of the books. Then he took a well merited nap. His stats were now:

Primary Attributes

Strength (STR) 5 Agility (AGI) 5 Dexterity (DEX) 6

Vitality (VIT) 5 Intellect (INT) 11 Wisdom (WIS) 11

Secondary Attributes

Reading (REA) 12 Focus (FOC) 11 Willpower (WIL) 7

Asceticism (ASC) 6

His Seikuken had passively gain 12 more percent towards the next level, and his Inner Control Skill was now:

Inner Control (Passive&Active)

Novice lvl 3 64%

(Passive)

You have gained perfect control over your body. All of you stats increase by 8%.

Your skill and class growth increase by 3%. Your stamina, life and mana regeneration increase by 8%.

(Active)

By meditating you can gain a temporary buff:

All stats +24%

Mana, Life and Stamina regeneration +24%

Meditation time: 5min

Duration: 3min

What he learned during his long read about classes were as follow:

There are 4 class levels. The base classes are easily obtained, just by going to the related guild in any city. Harder to obtain are the special classes. They are usually derived from normal classes with some special bonuses and skills. You need a special quest, or to be in a special place to be able to obtain one. The third level concerns the unique classes. Such a class can only be learned by one person at a time. They usually need a high level quest to obtain. And the last are the epic classes. No one is known to have attained such a class. The requirements for those are usually insane.

***

After some hours of resting, Alex woke up once more. He stood up quickly when he saw the window standing above him:

New Soul’s Skill: Seeker of Truth (Active)

Novice lvl 1 67%

By examining objects and seeking bits of information, you have learned to discern if NPCs or books detain hidden information. By focusing on a particular subject, you can filter the information. You’ll see a glowing aura in such a case. With each level, you can see the glow with less focus.

You can also gain bonus of fame when discovering new facts, information or even discern hidden motives.

No cost.

At first the whole library was glowing of a blue aura, but Alex focused his mind on the idea of hidden classes, and the glow receded. But there were still too much brilliance. So he concentrated on the thought of gaining an epic class. And he saw a faint glow coming his way. It wasn’t a book. A person was glowing. Deactivating the skill, he looked right before him and saw Etourdix coming his way.

- Have you found what you were looking for my friend? It’s already been 3 days since you coming here!

- I haven’t found it yet. But I have a good clue in hand!

- Oh! Can I help you?

- Sure you can! For what I know, nobody else can. I am searching about information concerning an epic class!

- Oh! I’m sorry, but I have to tell you we have no book here that can help you obtain one! Others have come and none have found his desire.

- I didn’t ask for a book, but for information! Information I know you have!

- Wha… What? How?

- You are a really bad liar!

- How?

- First, you were all flustered three days ago when I ask for a book you did not have. But now you just answered calmly.

Your deduction help you evolve your skill:

Seeker of Truth lvl2 03%

- And I also have a skill called seeker of truth that tell me you have that information, continued Alex dismissing the pop-up window.

- Ah… Fine! Come with me!

Without waiting or confirmation, Etourdix turned around and began to walk away. Alex quickly followed in his steps. Etourdix arrived before a metal door and searched a minute in sleeves for the key, and took out a big heavy key and opened the door. No shelves or decorations in this room. Just a pedestal with a book on. Alex took a step in but was stopped by the hand of the librarian.

- You can’t! Not yet! You have to prove yourself to me before!

- What do I have to do?

- You have to succeed in the Novice tests of the Hall of Power, Courage and Knowledge while still being level 1!

New Quest: Proof of Ability ©

Requirements:

Level 1

Skill Seeker of Truth

Friendly with Etourdix the librarian

Prove yourself by the 3 Novice tests:

Courage in the Training Hall

Power at the Blacksmith

Knowledge in the Library

Stay level 1 until the end of the quest

Reward:

Book “the way of Tao”

Fame +100

Do you accept the quest?

Yes/No

- I accept! I shall prove my ability! What shall I do?