I didn’t rush my decision.

I had at least until the day’s end and the sector’s reset, and I was determined to think matters through before choosing. It was a monumental decision and likely my biggest one yet in the Game.

“Magus. Adept. Void,” I muttered.

All three were fantastic and superior to the master Classes in Erebus’ dungeon, or for that matter, the one Loken had proposed. I snorted in disdain. Truly, both the blood siphon and shadow agent Classes paled in comparison to the guardian tower’s offering.

For what felt like the umpteenth time, my gaze flitted between the chests. Each of them offered a mana-based Class and hence fulfilled the requirements of Wolf, but they did so in dramatically different ways. The stygian magus focused on Magic-based spells, the force adept on Faith-based castings, and the void mage on… defense.

Alright, time to decide.

Letting my gaze linger on the first chest, I reviewed what I had surmised over the last few hours.

The stygian magus would let me wield more powerful magic than even a dozen players combined, I suspected. But its debuffs were concerning.

I’d been to the nether. And I didn’t fancy spending the greater part of my life there. If I was reading the Class restrictions correctly, I would be forced to do just that in ever-increasing durations as I advanced my nether wizardry. So, as much as the thought of the Class’ magic appealed to me, I wouldn’t choose it unless forced to do so.

My eyes drifted to the second chest.

The path of the force adept was more attractive. With it, I could wield the magic of all three Forces. Theoretically, that meant I could duplicate the magicks of Loken, Arinna, and Erebus—all on my lonesome.

It was a Class built for going toe to toe with my foes, and while it was certainly powerful, I worried that it was too similar to the powers my enemies wielded. In a very real sense, it would leave me trying to beat them at their own game.

The new Powers had spent centuries perfecting their own magics, and even if I wielded three Forces, as opposed to their one, I feared my foes would understand my abilities better than I did. I shook my head slowly. I didn’t think I had centuries—or even decades.

I turned toward the last chest.

At first glance, the void mage was the least enticing and seemed to run counter to my own fighting style, which focused on burst attacks. The Class wouldn’t provide the plethora of spells the first two did, and going by its description, it focused on one thing only: countering enemy abilities.

Of the three Classes, it was the least aggressive choice.

Safe almost. And hence unsuitable.

From my—albeit limited—experience, the Game was all about high rewards for high risk. And on its own, the void mage Class would not let me take on further risks. It lacked the… firepower for that.

But I don’t need more firepower, do I?

Arguably, my existing Classes already provided me with all the offensive tools I needed. And if it was not more offense that I needed, then the void mage would make an excellent choice. It should complement my current skills nicely—and admittedly better than the other two Classes on offer—and provide some much-needed defense, too.

Just as importantly, the Class didn’t seem like it would slow me down. I wouldn’t have to lumber around in heavy armor or waste time casting magic shields. I smiled. If anything, becoming a void mage would let me dive more boldly into danger than I already did.

Closing my eyes, I imagined the possibilities. What if I could become…

… a thief who no ward could stop?

… a psionic who could shrug off hostile magic?

… a spy who couldn’t be detected?

… an assassin who kept going no matter how hard he was hit?

Throwing my head back, I laughed. It made for a nice daydream, but I was a far cry from achieving any of it.

Although…

It was not inconceivable that someday it could all become reality. That was the potential inherent in the void mage Class. That was its promise.

Decision made, I rose to my feet.

~~~

Your choice is acknowledged.

The fate’s key has been destroyed.

The moment I willed my choice to the Adjudicator, the first two chests faded from sight. I didn’t spare them a glance, though, as I reached into the remaining one and grasped the least important object first—the lesser attribute gem.

Closing my eyes, I activated the item.

You have gained 3 attribute points, increasing your total available points to 5.

Next, I picked up the ability tomb and read it from end to end.

You have upgraded your shadow blink ability to medium shadow blink. This mind spell allows you to teleport to any living entity within 20 yards, taking your shadows with you. You have 47 of 71 Mind ability slots remaining.

Finally, I retrieved the Class stone and activated it.

A Game window opened in my mind.

You have one remaining Class slot. Do you wish to acquire the void mage Class?

I willed my assent to the Adjudicator, and a moment later, the gold marble turned warm in my hand before melting into my skin. More words appeared in my mind.

You have acquired the void mage Class!

This Class focuses on nullifying hostile attacks and increasing your resistance through the use of mana. It permanently and irrevocably transforms your mana pool into a passive protective layer that does not require focus to maintain. As a result, you will be unable to cast any mana-based spells in future.

Note, the specific type of damage absorbed and the added resistances you gain are dependent on the Class skills you acquire.

You have gained the base trait: void touched. This trait increases your Magic by +6 ranks.

You have gained the base trait: spell illiterate. This trait prevents you from casting any Faith and Magic spells.

You have gained the Class ability: basic void armor.

Basic void armor is an ability that infuses your body with mana, strengthening and protecting vital points. It works in conjunction with your Class skills. As they improve, so too does the performance of your void armor.

This ability consumes mana only when absorbing or repelling damage and can be upgraded with Class points. It does not require activation and does not occupy any attribute slots.

You have gained one basic skill: channeling, and two master skills: elemental absorption and null force.

Channeling is a discipline that allows a player to replenish his store of mana from the surroundings.

Elemental absorption is the art of using your void armor to ward off hostile air, earth, fire, and water-based attacks. It is more than a simple resistance skill, though. Working in tandem with your void armor, it allows you to repel an elemental attack or, failing that, absorb a portion of its damage.

Null force is akin to elemental absorption but instead attunes your void armor to light magic, dark magic, and shadow magic, allowing you to repel—or absorb—their harmful effects.

You have 3 of 6 void mage Class skill slots remaining.

Your skill in channeling has reached rank 1, increasing your mana recovery rate.

Your skill in elemental absorption has reached rank 1, increasing your chance to resist harmful elemental effects by 2.5% and decreasing the damage you suffer from them by 5%. Note the benefits provided by this skill are only active so long as you have mana remaining.

Your skill in null force has reached rank 1, increasing your chance to resist harmful Force effects by 2.5% and decreasing the damage you suffer from them by 5%.

“Ah,” I exhaled, swaying slightly in the wake of the Game’s modifications to my body and mind. This time, they felt more intricate than the incremental changes I’d undergone previously.

Closing my eyes, I tasted the new knowledge filling my consciousness. The null force and elemental absorption skills were more complex than any other I’d acquired before, and I instinctively knew training them would be harder.

The pool of mana inside me felt different, too. No longer did it sit idle at my center, waiting to be used. Now, it flowed through my body, filling my organs, running through my veins, feeding my muscles, and sheathing bone.

My scrutiny prompted another Game message.

Void armor operational. Current charge: 100%.

Active buffs: +5% damage reduction and +2.5% resistance to air, earth, fire, water, shadow, light, and dark magic.

I grinned in delight. Before acquiring the void mage Class, I could only guess at the benefits it would yield, and I was only too thrilled to discover that it was everything I hoped for—and more.

The nature of the elemental absorption skill came as no surprise—its name had been mostly self-explanatory. But the null force skill… its workings, I found particularly pleasing.

In one fell swoop, I’d gained a counter to my foes’ most potent weapons: their force magic. Sure, that would only hold true as long as I had mana to keep my void armor charged. And resistance and damage reduction were far from immunity. But both factors were manageable.

Which reminds me…

For my new Class to be effective, it was vital that I increased the size of my mana pool. While I didn’t have any spells to cast, every hostile ability I repelled or resisted would drain my mana. So, without further ado, I invested my available attribute points.

Your Magic has increased to rank 21.

Immediately, I felt the magic flowing in my veins surge in volume, leaving me feeling stronger, more able. Less vulnerable.

I smiled, certain now that my choice of Class choice had been the right one.