Emma, of course, couldn’t resist teasing me. “Aww, look at him, all tuckered out!” she said in an exaggerated Southern Earth accent as the neighbors passed by. I didn’t even have the energy to glare at her. I just let sleep take me.
What greeted me in my dreams, however, was far from restful. Images of my past life flooded my mind—scenes I didn’t want to remember. I thrashed in my sleep, trying to escape memories I’d spent years burying.
Growing up, I’d had high aspirations. Despite having ADHD, I’d achieved a level of education that others thought impossible for me. What others called a disability, I’d turned into a strength. The mental exercises I’d used to manage my condition had made me analytical and creative in ways most people weren’t. But what had destroyed me in my past life wasn’t my mind—it was my ideals.
I had genuinely believed all people were inherently good. That everyone was worth saving. Now? After what I’ve seen, after what I’ve done to that slaver, I don’t believe that anymore.
In the dream, I relived the tragedy that broke me. Back then, I’d started the Green Homes charity—a project I was passionate about. I’d hired a secretary who was not only overqualified but truly cared about the people we were helping. She was brilliant, compassionate, and, tragically, blind.
One day, a monster crossed her path. A man who killed her seeing-eye dog and violated her in the most despicable way. She didn’t press charges. The police, instead of helping, had humiliated her. That bastard walked free, grinning at me as if he’d won. I tried everything to see him punished—spent money, pulled strings—but nothing stuck.
She couldn’t take it. My secretary, my friend, took her own life. And while I hated the man who’d hurt her, I blamed myself more. I’d failed her.
It was in that moment that my belief in the goodness of humanity shattered. I realized some people were beyond redemption. “Rotten apples must be removed,” I decided. And yet, saving Trevor reminded me there was still innocence worth protecting. There were still lives worth bettering. That’s what kept me going. That’s why I fought.
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I woke with a start, drenched in sweat, my heart pounding in my chest. Across the tent, Emma thrashed in her sleep, clearly caught in her own dream. Something was off. I checked my status, and several prompts greeted me.
Prompts Received:
All requirements met for secret class: [True Elemental]. You have automatically obtained this class.
Level 100 exceeded. 100 selection points available. Please choose a class from the following options:
- Soul Mage
- Mage
- Sorcerer
- Wizard
- Duelist
- Barbarian Axeman
- Blacksmith
- Augmenter
- Magus of Calamity
I stared at the screen, my exhaustion evaporating. The dreams must have been part of some test tied to class generation. Whatever it was, I’d come out on top. The [True Elemental] class was mine, boosting the efficiency and power of all elemental magic by 20%. A freebie, and one that cost me nothing. Now came the hard part—choosing another class.
I skimmed through the options:
- Mage, Soul Mage, Sorcerer, and Wizard: These all increased spell power but weren’t worth it since I already had [True Elemental].
- Duelist: Tempting for my axes, but I was more interested in augmenting them with magic.
- Barbarian Axeman: More power strikes? Pass.
- Blacksmith: I didn’t need it with Grillo around.
Then, there were two standouts: Augmenter and Magus of Calamity.
Augmenter was a crafter’s dream. It boosted crafting, enchanting, and material enhancements by 50%, making it perfect for blacksmithing and rune engraving. With it, I could saturate materials with mana more easily—an invaluable skill for creating powerful items.
Magus of Calamity, on the other hand, was a game-changer for combat. It enhanced all destructive magic by 50%, pierced through enemy resistances, and even boosted the power of runes. It promised unparalleled devastation, which I knew would be crucial in the battles to come.
I agonized over the decision but ultimately chose Magus of Calamity. I needed the combat advantage now, and I could always pick Augmenter at level 300. It wouldn’t be long before I got there anyway.
As the prompts disappeared, I heard Emma stirring. She sat up, rubbing her eyes. I couldn’t wait to find out what class she’d chosen. Something told me her secret class was just as game-changing as mine.