The notifications appeared clearly at the edge of Alex’s mind, their golden text static and waiting. He dismissed them with a thought, letting the information fade from focus. Leaning forward, he allowed gravity to take him, his armored form dropping rapidly. The wind dragged against the segmented plates as the ground drew closer.

  Alex struck the ground hard, the impact splitting the dirt beneath him. Dust rose in a wide circle, briefly obscuring the chaos of the battlefield. Straightening, Alex spotted Osric standing nearby, arms crossed, his expression calm amidst the turmoil, but growing more concerned with each second. Hunters yelled as tendrils from the Bloodslime tore into their ranks. Other harpies slashed through scattered formations, but several dove directly toward Alex’s position. Above, the remaining harpies wheeled sharply, their crimson wings slicing through the air as they split into two groups. Most broke formation, following the flock in diving toward Alex, their talons extended. Others scattered, heading for the Bloodslime and the hunters struggling in its reach.

  “Osric,” Alex said, his voice sharp as he turned to the older man. “Can you handle those?”

  Osric studied Alex for a heartbeat. “Sure,” he finally said, drawing an arrow from the air that was longer than most spears.

  The old hunter extended his other hand, a look of concentration settling on him. Alex watched as blood-red mana surged around him, coiling like smoke. A massive bow materialized in his grip, its limbs as tall as a man, the color deep and rich like freshly spilled wine. The carvings along its surface twisted, resembling claw marks etched by a predator. A crimson cloak settled over Osric’s shoulders, its edges feathered like a bird of prey, and a helm crowned with sharp plumes completed his transformation.

  The first shot screamed.

  Like a streak of crimson tearing through the sky. One harpy twisted hard to the side, its wings cutting a sharp curve through the air, narrowly escaping. Another wasn’t fast enough—the projectile struck its chest, and the creature erupted into a violent spray of blood and fragmented bone, painting the air like a macabre fireworks display.

  Osric loosed another arrow, then another, the mana-infused projectiles surging forth as though the bow itself was drawing from some inexhaustible, volcanic source. Each shot hammered into the diving flock. Those hit disintegrated in bursts of gore, splattering across the battle around them.

  As Osric drew another arrow, Alex turned his attention to the notifications still flashing in his vision, a small part of him wondering why the old man hadn’t started shooting sooner.

  [Select a Sub-Class of your choosing. Sub-Classes are based on your actions and achievements during your induction, and will aid you in spearheading your displayed strengths. Grow strong, and serve your imperial masters well.]

  [Class: Dimensional Swordsman (Rare): The Dimensional Swordsman cuts through physical limitations by bending space to their will, becoming an unparalleled force on the battlefield. Through expert control of spatial rifts and dimensional barriers, the swordsman operates with unparalleled fluidity. Moving and striking from any angle, from any distance, even across realms. At higher levels, the Dimensional Swordsman gains the ability to traverse complex dimensional pathways and enhance their combat capabilities by bending space to their will. This class does not permit unauthorised world-traversal.

  Skills: Dimension Slash, Dimension Step, Spatial Guard]

  [Class: Blooded Immortal Smith (Legendary)

  A smith who uses their own blood and the blood of others to forge powerful living weapons and tools. By sacrificing blood in the crucible of war, the Blooded Immortal Smith crafts unique living creations imbued with the essence of those who have fallen. These weapons and armaments evolve and strengthen as their master’s influence grows. At higher levels, the Blooded Immortal Smith gains the ability to embed the memories and abilities of slain enemies into their blood-forged arsenal, enhancing their versatility and power.

  Skills: Blood Forge, Sacrificial Hammer, Bladed Anvil]

  [Class: Fleshwright (Rare)

  A craftsman who reshapes their own body into the ultimate instrument of war. By manipulating blood, flesh, and sinew, the Fleshwright adapts and evolves their form, achieving unparalleled precision in both defense and offense. At higher levels, the Fleshwright’s control over their physical structure allows for even more profound transformations and the integration of additional abilities.

  Skills: Flesh Molding, Adaptation, Mana Graft,]

  Class: Forge of Transcendence (Mythic)

  This class creates permanent humanoid constructs from forged blades, crafting semi-autonomous humanoid entities from with diverse abilities. With higher levels, the user can craft complex, sentient weapons and armor, and even develop sword-based life forms—Ego weapons that act independently, further amplifying their limitless potential. Once an Ego weapon is formed at higher levels, each forged blade-construct gains experience, evolves, and can be altered into new forms and functions.

  Skills: Sword Clone, Soul Steal (Minor), Soul Construct (Minor), Overmind, Convergence,]

  [Class: Boundless Blood Ascendant (Unique)

  A warrior who transcends natural limitations by augmenting their body with foreign materials and magic. By integrating foreign or unknown materials and magic into their body, this class transcends biological limits, achieving impossible growth and evolution and gaining. At higher levels, the Physiological Ascendant gains unique passive abilities as they refine their augmented physiology and their body can undergo radical transformations, allowing them to unlock new abilities and adapt to extreme challenges.

  Skills: Devour, Synthesis, Magic Fusion, Adaptive Body (Intermediate)]

  Class: Avatar of the Eternal Cycle (Legendary)

  A class that allows the user to become possessed by powerful souls from the wheel of samsara. These souls, temporarily drawn from the cycle of reincarnation, also temporarily grant the user significant stat boosts and abilities, channeling the full scope of the summoned souls capabilities. Possession is limited by time and the strain it places on the user’s body due to stat differences. The possessing souls have limited autonomy but can rebel if significantly higher level. At higher levels, this class allows possession by vastly more powerful souls—often those stronger than the user—each capable of extraordinary feats recognized by the system. These possessions unlock unique temporary abilities, and the user may retain certain skills or boosts even after the possession ends. The most advanced practitioners can channel multiple high-level souls in sequence, gaining temporary access to their accumulated knowledge and their mastery of legendary techniques. Over time, the bond with these souls deepens, reducing the risks of possession while granting the user unparalleled strategic advantages. System Warning: Risk of Permanent possession, Risk of loss of user autonomy, where the user’s will is overridden by over-levelled soul.

  Skills: Soul Summon, Vital Sacrifice, Heavenly Shift]

  [Class: Divine Architect (Unique)

  A class focused on energy designation ‘Qi’. The Divine Architect is capable of deconstructing learned Qi techniques, as well as deconstructing and restructuring the internal mechanics of Qi flow within the body. This process alters the fundamental pathways through which Qi moves, refining their structure to enable new methods of energy manipulation and adaptability. At higher levels, the Divine Architect gains the ability to refine these pathways further, achieving feats previously thought impossible, eliminating the risk of Qi deviation. Warning: Due to Energy conflicts, user caution is advised.

  Skills: Qi Reshaping, Pathway Reconstruction, Internal Energy Refinement, Adaptive Flow Engineering]

  Alex studied the glowing display before him. Rows of shifting text outlined several classes, each one leading toward a unique kind of power and progress. A single choice here would shape encounters on worlds that dwarfed this battlefield. He understood the gravity of that truth. He pictured enemies far stronger than anything in the immediate vicinity, beings whose abilities reached overwhelming extremes. This selection could grant the leverage needed to stand among them. He scanned the list with sharp focus, determined to identify the most viable option for a swordsman who sought a transcendent level of skill.

  Some of these classes… broken… they’ve been twisted by my experiences. The thought was somewhat sobering, but that suited him just fine. I want a real boost that takes me past basic skills and level differences. That single thought pulsed in his mind with quiet insistence. He settled into a state of focus that allowed time to slow to a crawl— an infinite moment where he concentrated on every class in detail, fully aware that whichever path he chose would mark the beginning of a radical transformation.

  A stillness fell and turned the battle into a world of statues.

  Alex paused first on Dimensional Swordsman, The class altered space through slashes and steps. It permitted movement unhindered by common existence. Portals could open, angles of attack could shift, and positions could change instantly. A swordsman could bend reality to ensure that distance vanished. He examined the class’s potentially high-ranked skills and the possibilities their names suggested, like the ability to extend a strike through overlapping dimensions or create safe zones where only his blade existed. Impenetrable defence and unavoidable offence. A swordsman with that power could end fights before they began. I see the appeal: no barrier remains intact, and no distance remains safe. I would be impossible to avoid. He weighed the prospect of endless fluidity in combat, measuring how that would integrate with his current style. He enjoyed direct engagement, but this approach hinted at elusive dominance. It could be a defining edge against colossal foes that shielded themselves behind layers of defenses. Could bending space help me tear through the toughest cultivators in distant worlds? In C,B, or a ranked worlds? He envisioned crossing a battlefield in a blink, cutting a foe’s side while completely ignoring a Qi-infused slash. The concept felt liberating. He had met enemies who relied on overwhelming offensive and speed, and this class would remove that advantage. But what about spatial mages? Spatial cultivators? Dimensional techniques? The thought caused him to pause; against the likes of them, the benefits would vanish entirely.

  He next considered Blooded Immortal Smith, a class centred on forging weapons through the raw lifeblood often spilled in battle. By tapping into blood, both his own and that of defeated enemies or allies, he could craft living blades. The living blades absorbed the power of blood, accumulating layers of strength through continuous conflict. A forged blade that retains pieces of those it has killed… this class is based on not just Eclipse, but the beast core too, isn’t it? It was obvious but enlightening. The system had registered his feats in cultivation alongside his magical feats, permanently altering his prospects in the process. Alex considered the class. He pictured a workshop lit by magical flames, an anvil streaked with the residue of countless encounters. Hammers rang out while blood infused metal merged lifefluids with steel. A sword from that forge would hold real potential, its design creating formidable possibilities. He wanted to remain on the front lines, though. Will time at the anvil consume my focus? He was a swordsman, not a smith, but he saw the value in creating the tool he would stake his life on. He found the concept compelling because it allowed him to shape weapons specifically attuned to his style. Not the make shift pieces each world forced him to wield. If I invest enough effort, I could wield a specialised katana tailored to carve through anything. He recognized the synergy between forging and fighting: a smith who improved weapons after each campaign might surpass limitations that ordinary swordsmen faced. But don’t I already have a sword I’ll never lose? A permanent soul-bound weapon? And Blood arts? Jin used his Bloodbeast core to Make an axe out of blood. I already have techniques that do something similar… and if I have blood arts, and a spirit beast core of my own then I can probably do the same with just the beast core alone.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He already had multiple ways to create weapons— though definitely impressive, the class would not take him where he needed to go.

  The Fleshwright class drew him in with its image of ceaseless bodily transformation. Flesh and bone would shift, producing fresh forms suited to each skirmish. Blood would strengthen, increasing the power of his core and techniques. His arms could become piercing lances. Legs could anchor into an unshakable stance. Wounds could vanish at a pace that defied common understanding. Will this push me to adapt fast enough for every situation I’ll face? Would it be affected by my advanced knowledge from Earth? Or what about Mei’s knowledge? She was from a hyper-advanced civilisation, her insights could push his class into incredible territories. He recognized that mastery of body manipulation could grant him advantages beyond simple shape-changing. This class featured skills like Adaptation and Mana Graft, which could allow deeper integration of external powers into his own body. He considered how that would enhance swordsmanship if his limbs adapted to new angles or generated hidden edges. I can become the weapon, forging my entire being into methods of attack or defense. That idea carried an undercurrent of fascination. He pictured an armored figure who sprouted extra blades to intercept multiple foes. Yet, discipline remained crucial; pure transformation lacked direction without technique. His mind focused on synergy between advanced bodily control and precise sword arts. He didn’t want to become a monster, but…

  It was tempting.

  His thoughts then turned to Forge of Transcendence, which crafted living constructs from forged blades. Not quite clones, but something unique and individual. He glanced at Eclipses form, frozen in time as it clawed and slashed at the giant bloodslime. This skill would let him create an army of humanoid swords, each able to eventually become sword-egos. Initially, at low to mid levels, he would simply be limited to creating constructs. These constructs would operate semi-independently, growing with each encounter until he had the skills and levels to create something… More. He pictured a legion of sword-beings shaped by his skill— each with their own ego. The class was essentially priceless, a class that would eventually allow him to create something so rare he had only ever seen or heard of two of them. An army made from the class could turn large-scale battles my way, easily. If each entity carried a fraction of his approach to fighting, he could multiply his reach. But that’s not guaranteed. There’s no telling what abilities the weapons will have, especially in the beginning. What if I create a squad of specialized units—some excelling in direct confrontation, others in infiltration? Or what if they’re all weak at lower levels? But then again, the class is Mythic, any sword constructs created will probably be pretty powerful. And the class description said they’re permanent— I wouldn’t have to use my clone skill or mana pool to sustain them the way I do with Eclipse. Alex anticipated a future in which entire armies— perhaps sects, fell under coordinated assaults from these autonomous constructs. High-level aspects of the class included forging Ego weapons that gained awareness, forging entire sets of armor that fought as a cohesive group, and merging them for a final blow. That kind of synergy expanded his influence beyond personal swordsmanship, though it required management skills to guide an entire legion effectively. He would be deemed a priceless asset by any person or group he met, even among the Imperials. The notion of forging multiple allies appealed to a strategic mindset. But it didn’t appeal to the warrior in him. Alex was a warrior before he was anything else. A swordsman. Any choice he made would have to empower his sword, his skills, his martial arts, and the techniques he had acquired in both lives.

  The skill was valuable, but it was not the path Alex had chosen for himself, to choose it would be to discard himself. And to stray from it would be no different than straying from his life. He would not— could not choose the class. And plus, I have eclipse and a soul that holds a hell of a lot of blades— that’s more than enough weapons for the path i’ve chosen…

  With the battle frozen around him and all present moving at a slow crawl, Alex moved on to the next class.

  Boundless Blood Ascendant, a class that integrated foreign materials and magic into the user’s body for limitless enhancement. It’s based off my abyssal body and other bodily augmentation skills. He was sure of it, through Omega, his body was no longer mere flesh, blood, or even mana. And judging by the Abyssal Body passive, he doubted whether he was still entirely human. This class sought to expand on that by tenfold. Alex imagined it. Flesh and sinew would expand, swirling with energies drawn from rare sources and environments, perhaps even absorb the mana from attacks, negating them. Skills like Devour or Adaptive Body allowed him to consume and fuse with unusual energies, surging through combat with fresh abilities. Would I become unstoppable if my physiology advanced after every conquest? He pictured absorbing the strength of colossal beings, channeling that energy through swordsmanship. This path exuded promise in a direct, evolutionary sense. He considered how that evolution might accelerate his growth. If I incorporate the energy and materials of powerful creatures, or artifacts, I might breeze through obstacles that ordinary training could never overcome. He imagined shaping his bones into living blades, forging his muscles from the aura of ancient beasts. Absorbing powerful treasures and artifacts to merge with the energies and enchantments they held within them. At higher levels, the body turned into a vessel that assimilated advanced magic. But… I can kind of already do that through Omega and InfiniteBody, he quickly realised. The Omega skill could already absorb and incorporate practically anything— even things it did not understand, like the flesh of beings from strange and unknown realms. InfiniteBody on the other hand, could absorb a fraction of the energies he encountered, whether it was from touch or enemy attacks. Alex felt it drop within him, swirling around his Sabrina— a collection of energies of all kinds, just waiting for him to tap into them. The class felt redundant. He saw the risk of drifting from refined technique, too. A body that changed too often demanded careful discipline. And above all else, Alex was a warrior first and foremost, and anything that would risk his development and mastery of techniques was simply unacceptable.

  He moved on somewhat conflicted but ultimately dismissing it as an option.

  His eyes then drifted to Avatar of the Eternal Cycle, which invited temporary possession by powerful souls from reincarnation. Each summoned spirit would wield extraordinary abilities, granting him capabilities that otherwise demanded centuries of training and levelling. Skills he had no way of gaining or even knowing. This is raw power on demand. Will that become a crutch, something that holds me back instead of relying on my own skill? He recalled myths of warriors who overcame entire armies by channeling their ancestors—except I’m not related to none of them, and the powerful ones might want to take over permanently. The system described expansions at higher levels that allowed possession by even more potent souls. High level individuals on the way to rebirth. Some would possessed tremendous mastery in swordsmanship, some carried monstrous magical might, others would specialise in other equally impressive fields. He considered how that synergy might overshadow standard progression. Perhaps even hinder it. Borrowing a master’s art for a key moment would change the path of battle. The risk lay in losing control if the soul outclassed him. Maintaining a firm hold on his identity mattered, but the payoff involved near-infinite variety in techniques. But ultimately, it wouldn’t be him; it would be someone else. Someone whose skills and classes were limited by an older system.

  That class was an easier dismissal.

  Alex moved to the final option: Divine Architect, a class that had clearly been affected by his system upgrade and now appeared tailored around Qi manipulation. A class for cultivation. This class specialized in refining pathways within the body, restructuring the flow of energy for greater efficiency. By deconstructing learned techniques, the user could potentially gain true understanding; perhaps even alter them without any of the dangers associated with improper technique handling. There would be no risk of Qi deviation, no risk of becoming a cripple, or death from twisted pathways. It could set him ahead by leaps and bounds. The prospect enticed him. Instead of brutally shaping the battlefield or forging weapons, Divine Architect elevated internal power. It allowed him to do the impossible— alter them without permanent injury. He pictured circuits of energy that circulated more effectively than standard methods, granting powerful bursts of strength or speed. At higher levels, the user altered and changed their internals to the apex, unlocking feats ‘once considered impossible’. Alex thought of how both his and Eclipses mana pathways and enchantments completely avoided his Dantian as though by design. What if I could alter my Qi pathways and meridians so they don’t interact with or cross my mana flow at all? What if the two energies never touch? It was dangerous, and a longshor only possible at higher levels, but if Alex achieved it?

  He would be able to wield his skills and techniques simultaneously— master both mana and Qi. Perhaps even create cultivation-breaking techniques like the Void-Web at will?

  He recognized that a swordsman who perfectly managed Qi might stand against fearsome opponents. Mastering Pathway Reconstruction or Adaptive Flow Engineering offered creative solutions in duels and massive conflicts alike. This class could fuse discipline with innovation, forging a synergy between swordsmanship and Qi that shatters ordinary limits. The Divine Architect class was very close to what he needed, but at the lower levels it posed a danger that could end him before he could even face his foes. Without the ability to navigate both energies, using the class without depleting his mana would simply erase him from existence as the two violently incompatible energies clashed.

  He examined each possibility with care, mind turning over the benefits and drawbacks of each direction. A swordsman who bent space, a smith who shaped living blades, a warrior who reshaped his own body, a creator of blade-constructs, an ascendant who consumed foreign power, a vessel for legendary souls, and an architect of Qi pathways. The breadth of these choices underscored the significance of his decision.I can’t settle for half measures. The stakes are too high. He noted that the foes he had encountered so far were tiny obstacles compared to the monstrous powers lurking in distant worlds. This battlefield’s tension appeared trivial when compared to the danger that waited beyond. But hubris always killed the greatest of men, and Alex was a lion; lions hunted rabbits with all of their strength. He centered his thoughts on the idea that this decision would spark a lifetime of evolution. Some paths involved forging external tools, some focused on the body, while others revolved around synergy with external souls or energy forms. Some paths tread on new ground, Unique amongst all others.

  I can carve through spatial barriers as a Dimensional Swordsman, he mused quietly, or I can build living weapons that reflect my growth as a Blooded Immortal Smith. He weighed each approach and the synergy it might have with his personal style. “If I choose dimensional mastery, mastering space means swinging my sword from angles people wouldn’t even be able to understand… unless they’re dimensional masters too,” he reflected internally, imagining a blade slicing through overlapping layers of reality.

  “If I forge living blades as an Immortal Smith, it wouldn’t do anything I can’t do already,” he continued, picturing a workshop brimming with bloodcrafted weapons. Another concept filled his thoughts. “Fleshwright turns my body into a shape-shifting fortress that covers every weak point.” That single statement gave him a vision of a soldier who no longer needed external armor, a champion whose flesh morphed to meet every challenge. But if he found the right materials and enough of it, couldn’t he already do the same with Omega?

  “Forge of Transcendence...” He could practically hear the ringing of steel bodies marching under his command. Meanwhile, he pictured Boundless Blood Ascendant as the living embodiment of evolution. “I could integrate rare powers, harness them, and surge past adversaries who rely on static abilities and techniques.” He pictured scaling an impossible fortress, every step fuelled by foreign magic that his body consumed.

  He considered the potential of hosting souls from the wheel of reincarnation. “Avatar of the Eternal Cycle is a crutch, an overpowered and potentially game changing class, but still a crutch...” He imagined standing before a colossal foe, channeling the spirit of a grand sword saint, delivering a final strike that toppled ancient fortifications, then he imagined the channelled sword saint refusing to leave his body, fighting him for dominance. Too risky. Finally, he turned to the Divine Architect. “Restructuring Qi might refine my sword art beyond ordinary methods, as if forging an unstoppable flow of energy,” he thought, seeing himself gliding through an opponent’s defenses with perfect synergy between mind, body, and Qi.

  He lingered on the memory of earliest battles. Those encounters had nearly cost him everything, yet they paled when compared to the threats he knew lay ahead. He envisioned a monstrous entity that laughed at conventional techniques. He saw a dimension that twisted logic, guarded by beings that devoured minds and bodies. He glimpsed armies commanded by men who warped entire continents. Each possibility demanded a class capable of bridging the gap between mortal skill and immortal might.

  [Select a Sub-Class of your choosing.]

  The notification flashed, as though the system had grown impatient. But Alex paused nonetheless, acknowledging that this was no simple matter of short-term strength. I must push my swordsmanship and have it rise to a point where I can take on overwhelming power head-on and win. Thinking it through kept him sharp. He wasn’t going to waste time on distractions; because the only factor worth his focus was the road to absolute mastery of the blade. My choice must outlast any single fight. He pictured the upper tiers of power, where a swordsman might cross entire realms with a single step or unravel reality with a blade that carried cosmic force.

  That was were he wanted to be.

  His destiny lay among the giants in the worlds beyond, and among the giants within this one. Gods. Demigods. Immortals. The Houses. Even the Crown. With this choice, he would take one step closer towards standing above them all. An unshakable sense of resolve flowed through him. He placed his focus on the class that best aligned with his vision.

  He took a final breath and selected a future.

  “I Choose Divine Architect.”

  Mana surged, and Alex felt his soul burn like gold in fire.

  The is up and running. So if you like, you can read ahead there!