It was already midday when Niven and Apollyon finished their conversation. With the two suns hanging high overhead, and the sky devoid of any clouds that could serve as cover, the temperature of the desert rose to heights unbearable for most people. Generally, at a time like this, Niven would be indoors. Even if being inside the encampment was barely better than being outside, it was at least something.

However, strangely, despite sitting right out in the open directly under the merciless heat of the twin suns, he did not feel any discomfort. He did not reexperience the same torture he felt when he marched into this hellscape with his company, nor was he blinded by the suns’ rays. His present comfort was a clear indication that he had changed. The Niven of today was not the same as the Niven that first walked into the Divide.

Now, standing here, there were a few decisions to be made. First and foremost, he needed to decide which direction to go. The less time spent in this blasted desert the better. Encountering forces from either side was not beneficial now that he decided to run from the army, to say nothing of the monsters that lay within the sands.

Which half of the continent to go to, though, was the question. It was either back to the Heavenbound Theocracy or try his luck over in the Soul-King Confederacy. Seeing as his current location was just a ways away from his former post, the obvious answer would have been to just go back to his homeland. It was both closer and more familiar. Had he not met Apollyon he would have done just that. That would be dangerous for the current him, however.

As he was now, he would need to avoid the army wherever he went. There was no way of explaining how he was the only one that survived when everyone else, including his captain, died. More importantly, he also had no answer to how he had lost his class. Just the latter alone would be enough to have him sent to the inquisitors, and he did not have enough faith in his will to stomach their questioning without breaking.

Though, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he just wasn’t willing to be sent to die a dog’s death again. He’d already been burned once by their faulty intelligence, and to trust them to not send him straight to a dead end again was folly. Niven wanted to at least die on his own terms.

Even if what he had been met with was a one-in-a-million improbability, it, at the end of the day, had happened to him, and it had been enough to scar him for more than a few lifetimes. Niven was downright traumatized. His company, his comrades, had been so utterly massacred that he could hardly tell them apart, and just the thought of meeting a [Supplicant] again, or worse, a [Soul-King], made him not want to report back. This was even knowing it was unlikely to happen again.

Therefore, in reality, he had no real choice in direction.

As much as he would have liked to return to his previous life of quietly living in the orphanage, making some pocket change as an amateur sewist repairing cheap clothing whilst dreaming of opening his own shop someday, he knew that such a life was impossible now.

After being conscripted into the army and obtaining a deeper understanding of the Theocracy, he knew that even if he tried to lay low he would get caught eventually. The Temple’s authority was simply that ubiquitous, Going back to his orphanage was the most stupid thing he could do right now and was a surefire way to get court-martialed. It might even implicate the friends he grew up with and the caretakers he owed the world to.

He was forced to observe what happened to those that tried to escape. Everyone that was conscripted had to. Such demonstrations were effective, as he wasn’t keen on joining their number. However, not deserting was an even worse alternative.

Going to one of the low-lying villages to evade detection was an option, but that couldn’t be kept up for long. It also meant surrendering his chance to advance smoothly. Where there were still pockets of wilderness, the majority of the hunting spots were regulated and controlled. Outlying villages, though distant from Temple authority, still felt its presence keenly. He may be able to grow in the early stages, but there will come a point where further development became untenable.

Individual power was heavily suppressed in the Heaven-bound Theocracy, and the only way to improve a non-civilian class was through the army. It was an arrangement he felt was good back when he was under their protection as a civilian. Thanks to this degree of control, crime was suppressed and monsters were slain in a timely manner by the city’s guard.

Despite being a city that bordered the Divide, far from the heartland of the Theocracy and lacking the generations of culling the beasts in those parts faced, it was under no threat of attack. The city itself was strictly supervised and patrolled, ensuring that nothing out of place occurred. Even though he lived in an area that could in no way be considered affluent, it was very safe. So long as one kept their head down, and found a divine patron to worship, living there could even be described as a pleasant experience. Everything was fair. Stifling and stagnant, but fair.

However, now, even given the chance to return in an above-board manner, Niven felt that he wouldn’t take it. Now, he wanted to try and tread his own path. Seeing a world so wide, and experiencing the intoxicating feeling that was having agency, he was not content with simply living a sewist’s life anymore. Though a part of him still yearned for that kind of quiet, peaceful life, his ambition had expanded past the modest shop he once envisioned in his dreams. He now had the capital to make something of himself, and grasp the power that once nearly killed him with his own two hands.

With Apollyon by his side, he was no longer the helpless [Soldier] he once was. In just a few hours, it had already proven its ability to completely change his life. His present strength was merely a portent. It was not just talking big when it said it was able to make him become someone of note. Even if he didn’t know how it did it, he would learn with time.

Perhaps that was the best part about this new partner. It seemed to hold an infinite repository of knowledge and was very willing to share it. Though the current situation was not conducive to learning, meaning he could only start studying in depth after he got out of there, that it did not jealously guard its knowledge like those artisans back then was a good sign. He did not have to jump through numerous hoops just to earn a basic lesson.

With it around, he was in no danger of walking an erroneous path.

Niven would be lying to himself if he were to say that he wasn’t at least somewhat enchanted by the stories it spun about him. Even if he can’t quite picture himself as the shining savior in those tales, he was very willing to at least try to make a positive change in the world. After all, he grew up to stories of blessed saints who wielded god-given powers and went on journeys across the Theocracy, slaying the foul monsters entrenched in its lands.

Though he wasn’t the chosen of some god, perhaps Apollyon being by his side could be a suitable replacement. Only time could tell about that one.

While he didn’t know much about the Soul-King Confederacy, he knew for certain that there was a lack of centralized authority there. Just that alone was enough for him to choose to go there instead.

The news he had access to painted the place as a chaotic hellscape with murderers and brigands around every corner. It was a lawless place where [Supplicant]s dominated the populous who were in turn dominated by the [Soul-King]s. It was said that they lacked a rule of law, their society was ordered around the whims of the [Soul-King] that held dominion over the area.

Even if the news painted the place to be chaotic and undisciplined, Niven felt that such an environment was more conducive to his development.

Thus, the contrast between the two powers was stark.

That the Heaven-bound Theocracy was so regimented and orderly had been, and still was, a point of pride for him. Having been born there, he still possessed a degree of gratitude towards the place that raised him, but its policies posed a problem for him now. Even if he hadn’t technically run afoul of the Temple yet, his circumstances left him with no choice but to stand, if not on the opposite side, at least beside it. Now, all he could say was that it was a suffocating scenario to deal with.

To return home was to return to the front lines. There was no bargaining or questioning. There was no way out once the order was proclaimed. Like all things in the Theocracy, it was simply absolute and unquestionable. The decrees of the Temple, who acted on behalf of their gods, was to be treated as the direct command of their gods. For people like him, there was no leeway at all, meaning a conscription notice might as well be a death certificate.

Making up his mind to go east, Niven wracked his mind for more details about the structure of the Confederacy, if only to better fit in once he arrived.

Each province could have a single [Soul-King] who ruled their province individually or a few governing collectively. The briefing went that each province was unique to one other, differing in culture, focus, and even standard of living. Some provinces did not have a long history while others had ones that were numbered in the centuries. This was not a result of generational rule passed down from a family line of [Soul-King] to [Soul-King. Fiercely individualistic, most [Soul-King]s did not cultivate heirs and simply amassed personal power and knowledge. They simply lived that long, their lifespan extended by magic.

This also made the gulf between the weak and strong [Soul-King]s rather large. Those that were just recently inaugurated were obviously no match for the ones that were centuries-tested old monsters. Correspondingly, he needed to avoid settling in an area that was governed by the latter.

Many [Soul-King]s were also absent from their territory, being the generals who directly oversaw the war. Consequently, one outcome of the war was that many provinces lacked a [Soul-King] entirely.

Although the power they each hold is far beyond the scope that Niven can fathom, there were still casualties among their number.

He was even able to name a few. Most people in the Theocracy could, in fact.

Felling such titans was an achievement that was loudly broadcasted throughout the Theocracy each time. Every channel would be flooded by this news, which made staying ignorant of such facts nigh impossible. Such an event would happen every few months, resulting in cheers among the people who would not even be impacted by their demise at all.

To the higher-ups in the Theocracy, it was a golden opportunity. How could they not report such a thing? Such momentous events provide a much-needed boost in morale, especially when so many people’s lives were disrupted by the war. As detached from the populous as they were, they were still beholden to them. The gods they acted on behalf of were more concerned about the faith of the commoners, after all.

These periodic events gave off the impression that they were winning and that their sacrifices were worthwhile, if only because losses on their side were pushed to the wayside.

Just because [Soul-King]s possessed unmatched individual power did not mean they did not have suitable measures to match them. A [Divine General] and their divisions could surround and suppress one if given the chance. Furthermore, if the [Soul-King] was particularly powerful, then the Theocracy would demonstrate that the gods that backed their empire were not just for show.

Though loathe to act, these divine patrons will expend some divine power if the situation required it.

In fact, someone was probably supposed to match the [Supplicant] that went far behind their lines. It was why this war had been a stalemate for so long, with neither side being able to obtain a significant advantage.

If you do choose to go over to that side, it would be best for you to avoid the provinces that don’t have a [Soul-King] overseeing it. You aren’t strong enough to fish in muddy waters. The ensuing power vacuum will make the place extremely messy. Wouldn’t want to run into a rouge [Supplicant] again, would you?

You could always go once you’ve established yourself and grown to a suitable height, but right now, entering such a chaotic area is tantamount to suicide.

Good point. You have an idea of what goes on over there? I just assumed you didn’t. I guess I should have asked. Any recommendations for what to do next?

I only have a vague understanding of the general situation. Regarding where to go, I’d say your guess is as good as mine.

As for what to do next I do have one suggestion. Though I’m not sure how palatable it is for you, however. Once you choose a class, it would do you well to live off the land for a bit. Not the land in the Divide, mind you, but in the wilderness once we leave it. Hunting a few monsters will net you a few levels and the much-needed combat experience as I guide you. Your first real battle wasn’t something I’d call particularly useful, though I suppose it did expand your understanding of what higher-level individuals are capable of. Getting that beating from life early is conducive to later development. Can’t be thinking yourself to be invincible.

Out there, I’ll be able to teach you the ropes of living off the land, a necessary skill for you if you do not wish to return to a civilian way of life.

Once you’re done with that, I believe the Soul-King Confederacy has a few guilds you can look into as well. You might not know what those are, coming from a place with such a degree of centralization, but think of it as a community of like-minded people banding together to seek benefits for their group.

If you get to a decent level, you could pass yourself as a sellsword and the like with no issue. Become a mercenary or adventurer. The Confederacy had plenty of those owing to its implied emphasis on individuality.

Niven had no objections to that idea. Pulling himself up, he referenced the suns and started walking east. As he walked, he imagined the future that awaited him. Dreaming of the sights that he would see and the food that he would eat. Perhaps in the future, he’d be able to eat and gorge himself on exotic meats as he pleased. That sure was an exciting thought.

I can’t wait to eat a proper meal. I’m getting hungr- wait. No. I’m not. I feel like I should be eating some rations at this point, but…

Food and water hadn’t even crossed Niven’s mind before this point. He was just too caught up in everything that was going on that even something as integral as eating was pushed to the wayside. Everything was happening so fast that he’d forgotten he hadn’t even had his morning ration yet.

Oh. Right. I stuffed you full to help facilitate the regeneration process. You probably won’t be feeling hungry or thirsty for quite a while.

Enough talking. We should have left a long time ago.

And it would be better to run rather than walk.

You need to develop a sense of urgency. You might not have noticed your luck when I pulled it up. It was a lot to take in then, I understand, but that bit of information is of particular import to your survival.

It usually doesn’t show up on the status and it blends in with the rest, which is probably why you didn’t recognize it as you skimmed past it. Maybe I should have pointed it out earlier.

One of my abilities is to allow you to identify people’s luck, including yours. When I saw yours, to say I was surprised would be an understatement. Luck of -10 is not what one would call normal. It’s well below what people should have. Once we get into a place with some people I’ll show you. It generally averages between 1 and 3. An unlucky few might have it in the negatives, but to have it so far into the negatives that it has two digits?

It’s safe here right now, but the longer you stick around the higher the chance of something nasty heading our way. They will approach us unconsciously, not even realizing us being here, but will zone in on us as we enter their perception.

With a luck like that it’s no wonder you met with a [Supplicant] right as you came here.

Anyways, you have the energy and physical strength to just sprint out of here. It’ll be a long run since you decided to go east, but we should be able to cross the Divide by the end of the day.

We’ll be in the clear once we get out of here.

Even if you can’t dodge the misfortune when it hits, you can at least control how it manifests. Things are much more dangerous out here than over there. If we encounter a Star-Spawn, death would be a blessing for you. This place is far from the comet, so it would normally be extremely unlikely, but that’s where your luck will come in, right?

The ways your luck can screw you will be a lot milder once we get out of this deathtrap of a desert. I know a path that’ll bypass their front and slip right into their territory. It’s just between the [Domain] blockades of a few [Soul-King]s. They shouldn’t notice you pass. Even if they do they won’t move to erase you personally. You’ll need to get there before dark, however.

The thought of meeting a fate worse than death gave wind to his steps. He didn’t know much about the comet, but he had heard the rumors. The gruesome tales told to him by his peers had made him squeamish then and still squeamish now. If they were to be believed, he was not willing to meet something that was even remotely related to it. His brisk walk quickly turned into a mad sprint. Never before had Niven run so fast and with so much effort, a large part of that was thanks to his strengthened body.

He felt reborn, each step forcing a little bit more of himself. As he ran, he began to reframe the limits of his body, as each step brought with it another tidbit, allowing him to familiarize it, making each step lighter than the last. Fatigue was also remarkably absent. With the fire in his chest, he felt that he could go on forever.

It was with this attitude that he blazed his way through the bleak desert. Occasionally, Apollyon would interject, telling him to change directions a few times. He wasn’t sure why, but he heeded the warnings.

As hours passed and he became more accustomed to himself as he ran, his eyes started to glaze over. The monochrome and unchanging sands coupled with the complete lack of encounters with anything even vaguely alive caused his sense of caution to drop. Even knowing he was in a dangerous situation did not help keep his attention from slipping.

He still retained the lack of alertness fostered throughout a safe and comfortable life as a civilian. Only a few months of training was not enough to beat this habit out of him.

Feeling bored, he went over the System logs. Niven felt that it was a good idea. He was chided earlier about not recognizing his luck stat, so it would likely do him well to understand the other changes. Furthermore, he was still looking forward, just applying a bit of attention elsewhere as well. There was a lot to catch up on, after all.

As he opened the logs, he was hit with a wall of information. Accustomed to such a barrage after conversing with Apollyon a few times, Niven was able to skim through it and summarize the results quickly.

The more he read on, the more aware he became of his partner’s abilities.

There were a lot of incomprehensible things in between the notes he could understand, so he zoned them out. After a while, maybe thanks to the System, or maybe thanks to Apollyon, that mess disappeared, showing only the important changes.

History:

You have become [Soul-Bound] with Apollyon.

Legendary Artifact equip bonus:

Permanent Stat Gains:

Strength: +5

Constitution: +5

Dexterity: +5

Intelligence: +5

Wisdom: +5

[Apollyon] applies [Perceive Luck]. Hidden stat [Luck] revealed.

[Apollyon] uses [Soul Mastery].

Permanent stat gains:

Constitution +5

Condition [Soul Bloat] gained

Condition [Bleeding], [Lost Limbs], [Organ Failure] removed.

Class [Common][Soldier] removed.

Class [Unique][Classless] gained

Race [Human] augmented

General Skill [Identify] augmented

General Skill [F][Soul-Gorger] gained

Race [Human] augmented

Apollyon uses [EX][Transcendent Camouflage].

Condition [Soul-Bloat] and [Soul-Bound] hidden.

General Skill [F][Soul-Gorger] hidden.

Race [Human**] hidden. Show Race [Human]

Just as Niven was about to ask what that strange [F][Soul-Gorger]and Race [Human**] was about, Apollyon spoke out first.

Stop spacing out. You need to focus. I’ll slowly explain everything once we make it out. Remember how I said this place is dangerous?

As if on cue, the ground started to rumble. He felt the sand under his feet start to loosen as if pushed aside by something lurking within its depths. Niven looked behind him. He could see that bit by bit, a small mound of sand was approaching him, overturning the earth as it passed. The size of the mound increased as it approached, signifying the ascent of a tunneling horror. It closed the cap with astonishing speed, having been just beyond the horizon mere seconds ago.

Looks like your luck is finally starting to kick in. Good news. I took a look at it. It doesn’t seem too strong. Don’t try to beat it, though. Just dissuade it from eating you.

…

Wait for it…

Roll!

Heeding his partner’s directions, Niven dived out of the way. It was perfectly timed, closely evading an eruption of sand and stone. He stopped a little shy of a few meters away, before continuing to leap forward, trying to gain some distance from his assailant. As he settled at a comfortable length away, he trained his eyes on the enemy.

The ground where he was just caved in. Over the time he spent getting out of the way, the dust already had settled, revealing a large winding monstrosity only slightly reminiscent of a worm he would see on rainy days. The full extent of the creature was not revealed, with only its head and a part of its body exposed. Its posture gave no indication of its next move, as it seemed just as likely for it to return to the ground as it was for it to lunge forward.

It was sleek and streamlined, with segmented brown-black scales like sandstone and a gaping mouth fitted with rows upon rows of rocky, blunt teeth. As far as Niven could tell, it had no eyes, but he could feel its hungry gaze upon him.

It was utterly silent, with no low growls or bestial roars. As the environment settled, the scene fell still. An unnerving silence and stillness pervaded the confrontation.

Unsure of what to do, Niven threw an [Identify] its way.

[? - Level 22]

[*Some kind of sandworm. It’s lacking in mana, so it should only use physical attacks.]

[**Physical Parameters: It's basically a 10-meter-long tube of muscle. Acid sacks undeveloped. Just watch for its head and tail. ]

[Stat estimates:

Strength: ~25

Constitution: ~150

Dexterity: ~10

Intelligence and Wisdom: Does not matter in this encounter. Not like it has much, either. All brawn and no brain. ]

[***Notes: It seems to be an ambush predator.

Lost its element of surprise.

Easy encounter.

It won’t be very maneuverable outside of the sand.

I’ll tell you where it surfaces if it burrows, too.

I sense a hint of dragon’s blood in that creature. Those lecherous things. They’ll mate with anything that moves. Collect some for sampling? Not necessary, however.

Anyways, it should be a juvenile. There are far bigger things in the desert.

As such, it should prey on weak isolated individuals. Individuals like yourself.]

[**Weaknesses: Nothing you are capable of capitalizing off of.

Just tire the thing out. It will come to realize that the energy it expends trying to eat you is more than the amount it gets once it actually secures the kill.

With the amount of energy you have, a battle of attrition is in your favor. You won’t get tired for a week.

If you dodge it a few times it’ll realize you’re more trouble than you’re worth. Beasts like this are opportunistic. Heed my warnings and you’ll get out of this just fine.]

Expecting a simple failure, Niven was unprepared for the mass of information he had received. However, he was unfazed by it, merely surprised. Though startled, his posture gave away no sign of weakness. The time he spent with Apollyon had made him accustomed to quick bursts of information.

You can do that?

Didn’t you just read the changes? It’s right there in the System notes. I assumed that you even bothered to try and [Identify] it because I’m buffing it. I’ve adjusted it to refer to my databanks for additional information. This way you shouldn’t ever go into any situation blind. My databanks are extremely comprehensive. Rather than questioning me at a moment when your life is at risk, you should first thank me for providing you with so much information. You’d have gotten nothing but the level without me. Then, you should pay attention to the foe before you. As flattered as I am that you have this much confidence in me, it would do you no good to be swallowed by the creatures.

Now, remember.

Bait it to charge at you. If it’s stupid enough to jump out you’ll have a chance to kill it, but don’t. My blade is sharp enough to cut through its scales like they don’t even exist. Do not take the initiative.

If you take in more exp at this point the System will derive something weird from [Classless].

Forcing a rank up with [Classless] as your foundation shouldn’t be possible, but that will only make the System take it up as a challenge. Nothing is impossible for it, but when it does achieve the impossible the outcome is usually both strange and distorted. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.

Niven trained his eyes on the creature, thinking back on his training. He was warned about the monsters that called this desert home, but this was the first time he encountered one. With his captain heading the group, things like this avoided them. Surviving this encounter will be a good test of strength. It was also fortunate that he did not have to kill it.

Can’t you turn back into that slime? The one that killed the [Supplicant]?

That’s the last resort. I'll expend a lot more than killing this thing is worth, and the kill will also be registered as yours. Going above and beyond like this will forcefully initiate the Rank-Up process. I created [Classless] as a ladder to save you some effort, and I’d rather it not turn into a massive pit we have to try and climb out of for the foreseeable future.

This is a mostly harmless encounter. There’s no reason to blow up the scale of the problem. You need to learn how to fend for yourself.

I can’t just solve every one of your problems.

Where was that attitude you had when you were at death’s door? Despite your end being a foregone conclusion, you stubbornly held on until the last minute. You held on even knowing help was not coming. You held on until I was able to reach out to you.

Channel that spirit, that passion. Was that simply a fluke?

A hero is not defined by his morals or deeds. It is defined by their ability to achieve the impossible, overcoming insurmountable odds, and challenging foes far beyond their level. You have it in you to become one of those living legends and you would balk at a mere worm?

Test your mettle here. Failure is not an option. Focus. Improve. Resist.

The dialogue didn’t even last a second, though Niven wished that it took longer. He could have used more motivation.

At present, he was in a standoff with the beast, with neither side willing to make the first move. It was rather nerve-wracking, but he trusted Apollyon enough to heed its warning.

He felt that if he were alone in this situation, his tension would have gotten the better of him and made him do something stupid. It was a toss-up between either charging at the creature or turning tail and running. Both were equally bad scenarios.

As Niven waited, the sandworm seemed to be deciding whether he was worth it. Now that it failed its ambush, it knew that its chances of bagging this prey had fallen dramatically. After what felt like minutes, it seemed to have made its mind. Likely due to the sheer difference in their respective strengths, it reburrowed and charged at Niven again.

It was fast. Faster than any being that size ought to be. However, it was far slower than when it was still in the sand. Slow enough for Niven to track with his own eyes, and slow enough for him to not need Apollyon’s reminder. As it barreled through the air, Niven ducked to the left while swiping with his blade.

In a mere fraction of a second, Niven dodged the oncoming attack and gave the beast a glancing blow. The edge of the blade found purchase in the worm’s skin, meeting no resistance. It left a shallow scar, not even biting the monster’s flesh. He had dodged too far, an elementary mistake. Despite training with a sword like this for months, he still hadn’t quite gotten a grasp on its reach and limits. He had turned his gaze away from the worm as he dodged, making him unaware that he had succeeded in his slice.

However, that little cut was enough for the worm to know that its hide was not enough for this opponent. This morsel had the ability to injure it, raising the stakes. However, it was not enough for it to give up just yet.

Perhaps because the cut was not deep enough, thinking it still had an easy mark, the worm turned and poised itself for another strike.

By the time the monster had turned around, Niven had already picked himself up and prepared himself, taking up a defensive stance once again. This time, he was determined to leave a piece of the worm behind, forcing them to lose a pound of flesh for trying to make him its meal.

This time, the beast did not lunge through the air toward him. Like its initial ambush, it tunneled forward, closing the distance and erupting out beneath him.

Waiting until the last second, Niven swiped down before getting out of the way. He was nicked by a few rocks that were thrown into the air but otherwise emerged unscathed. His gambit had worked. A portion of the worm’s lower jaw was removed. It sat to the side, a bloody lump

Finally feeling that this was not worth it, the worm quickly retreated into its original tunnel.

True to Apollyon’s predictions, the sandworm left after only a little scuffle. After landing that slice, Niven felt like he was able to kill the beast, but he had no way of reaching it now that it had tunneled far into the ground. There was no reason to, either, so he just stared at it as it retreated back into the depths.

Sitting for a few seconds to stabilize his breath, he walked toward his prize. He didn’t know what to do with it at first, but as he approached, his sword shot out a red light, enveloping the lump of flesh before causing it to vanish altogether, blood and all.

The rest of the journey was fortunately without incident. He was able to pass through the blockade easily and did not encounter any patrols. Everyone that could notice his passage was given a wide berth and he crossed into the territory of the Soul King Confederacy without much fanfare.

His surroundings gradually changed, bringing forth strange, new vegetation. The grasses and trees were familiar, yet also distinctly different from those found at home. With a landform like the Divide, speciation was inevitable. As his pace slowed, he began to look at the plants and animals native to this half of Azur.

Finally safe, and surrounded by lush greenery all around, it was the perfect time to take up a class.

Niven still remembered the process of becoming a [Soldier]. He swore an oath in front of his captain, and that was that. The System then told him that he had met all the requirements for the class and asked if he wished to take it up. It had said at the time that the process was irreversible, but he didn’t really have much choice in the matter. From then on he received bonuses for serving under him and trained with his squadmates to better apply their [E][Phalanx].

It was a simple matter, so he wasn’t sure why he needed to wait so long. Apollyon had been adamant about him taking his time on the matter. He felt that if he had taken up a class before meeting that worm he’d have been able to dispatch it easily. Now, had it have even approached had he done so was the question. He had experienced the feeling of the System opening his path before, and was looking forward to having that feeling once again.

That was only quick because the [Soldier] class is special. The only defining feature about it is that it ties your path to that of your leader. Their paths are also directly tied to their superiors, making this a pyramid that reaches to the top. Your power is, therefore, not derived from yourself. I wanted to leave a lot of time since this choice will define your future. I did say I opened a lot of doors for you. Now, let me show you what I meant by that. Focus. Do not let the information overwhelm you.

Niven began to have a bad premonition. As he braced for what was to come, he noticed a few updates in the System logs. Apollyon had started working.

Initializing [Unique][Classless] skill [Potential]

Retrieving classes from [Unique] skill [Soul Archive].

Class conditions bypassed.

Showing all relevant classes for [Human**][Niven].

Reveal blocked by [Soul-Bound] [Apollyon].

Showing all relevant classes* for [Human**][Niven].

I slowed it down for you and filtered out non-combat classes. Should make it more bearable. Also deleted some of the stranger entries. A few made it through, though. I don't have full access to your panel, after all.

However, I trust you have the insight to avoid them. Just pick anything that’s [Common] or [Rare] for your foundational class and you'll be fine. Anything more and your future loadout will become distorted. I would recommend a [Common] class. They have the most branches for the future. The System doesn’t incentivize this and gives more stat points the more ‘unique’ a class is, but don’t fall for it.

[SR][Abomination]

…

[R][Aeromancer]

[C][Archer]

[C][Archivist]

[C][Artificer]

…

[C][Assassin]

[C][Berserker]

[C][Brigand]

[C][Cleric]

[R][Cultist]

[SR][Curse-Mage]

[C][Deserter]

…

[SR][Doomsayer]

[C][Druid]

[R][Duelist]

[R][Engineer]

[SR][Eromancer]

[R][Fencer]

[R][Flagellant]

[SR][Glutton]

[C][Gunner]

[C][Healer]

…

[SR][Herald-Of-Ill-Fortune]

[C][Herbalist]

[C][Hunter]

[R][Kineticist]

[C][Lancer]

[R][Mage]

…

[R][Mechanist]

[R][Necromancer]

[SR][Nightspawn]

[C][Priest]

[SR][Psionicst]

…

[C][Ranger]

[R][Researcher]

[C][Rogue]

[R][Scientist]

[C][Shaman]

[C][Sorcerer]

…

[U][Starchild]

[R][Summoner]

[R][Tamer]

[R][Templar]

…

[SR][Trickster]

[C][Warrior]

[C][Wizard]

Though Niven braced himself, he only saw a massive list speed past his eyes. He caught just a few names before they were replaced by other classes. As it passed, Niven had the thought that he was gazing upon the sum of all paths in existence. He would never have imagined there to be so many things he could choose from. That he was overwhelmed would be an understatement.

Eventually, they stopped scrolling and settled on a seemingly infinite number of options. As it was, he was now able to freely reference all of them. If he focused on one, the System would give him a brief overview of what they were, similar to the explanation he was given about the [Soldier] class a few months ago. Slowly, carefully, he tried to read through them. After a few hours, and realizing that he had hardly made a dent in the whole, he tried to expand his cognition and try to parse multiple at once. This form of multitasking was something he developed after his conversations with Apollyon.

The only reward for that attempt was a splitting headache, dissuading him from further attempts. It appeared that even though they were both blasting him with words, the way the System conveyed information through those words was denser.

As he sat in the forest in a daze, unbothered by the occasional curious rabbit and the like, the set suns eventually rose from the sky before him. He had spent an entire night in a trance, thinking of what to choose. One by one, he reviewed his choices. During this period, Niven felt his mind become clearer and stronger than it had ever been. Strangely, despite the sheer number of classes, he did not forget any of them as he went, retaining them in his mind with perfect clarity.

True to its word, Apollyon did not try to influence his decision. It had opened the doors, and now it was up to him to choose which one to walk through.

It had stayed silent the entire time, but it was not idle. At some point, the sword had escaped his grasp and disappeared, though Niven was too caught up with his thoughts to notice. That he had been undisturbed the entire time was likely thanks to it keeping a careful watch.

As the suns began to reach their zenith once more, Niven finally made his decision.