There was a notification blinking in front of me.

[Class System Unlocked]

I focused on it, and the moment I did, the interface expanded, the previous windows shifting aside as a new panel unfolded in front of me.

[Class System Initialized]

[Foundational Paths Available]

[Note: Direct class selection is restricted]

[Classes will become available upon reaching Level 25 based on path progression and performance]

A new set of options appeared beneath it, four distinct paths laid out clearly, each carrying a brief description.

—---------------------------------

[Destroyer Path]

A path centered on overwhelming offense, relentless pressure, and decisive combat. Those who walk this path focus on ending battles quickly through superior force, aggression, and execution.

Future Evolution Examples:

→ Berserker

→ Reaper

→ Warbringer

—---------------------------------

[Guardian Path]

A path built on resilience, protection, and sustained combat. Guardians endure, defend, and support, capable of withstanding heavy damage while maintaining control of the battlefield and aiding allies.

Future Evolution Examples:

→ Paladin

→ Sentinel

→ Lifewarden

—---------------------------------

[Arcanist Path]

A path focused on control, manipulation, and refined power usage. Arcanists rely on precision, efficiency, and mastery over energy or essence to shape the flow of battle from a distance or through calculated actions.

Future Evolution Examples:

→ Elementalist

→ Spellblade

→ Reality Weaver

—---------------------------------

[Shade Path]

A path of stealth, speed, and lethal precision. Shades excel in positioning, timing, and eliminating targets before they can react, favoring efficiency and minimal exposure over direct confrontation.

Future Evolution Examples:

→ Assassin

→ Nightblade

→ Phantom

—---------------------------------

I read through each of the options and it was easy to understand each of them were a different path altogether. Also, it wasn’t about picking a class immediately. This was about choosing a direction.

A foundation.

Whatever I picked now would shape everything that came later, and by the time I reached level 25, the system would decide what I could become based on how well I had walked that path.

Considering the situation I was in and the fact that I needed to move fast and eliminate anything that stood in my way, the decision had already been made in my mind. A drawn-out approach wouldn’t work here, not when everything in this world seemed to be aligned against me, and if survival depended on momentum, then I needed a path that allowed me to push forward without hesitation.

Destroyer.

That was the only option that made sense.

The system had also mentioned unlocking a talent later, and whatever I ended up getting, I would make sure it aligned with that same approach—offense, pressure, and finishing fights before they dragged on long enough to become a problem.

For a brief moment, I thought about the others. Knight would naturally gravitate toward something like Shade, given how he fought, while Lyrate would likely choose Guardian, not because she lacked aggression, but because she knew what I and Knight would select.

There was, technically, the possibility of not unlocking any talent at all, but that felt like a dead path. The chances of that happening were almost nonexistent, and even if it did, it wasn’t something worth considering right now.

So I didn’t. Without wasting another second, I made my choice.

Destroyer.

[Destroyer Path Selected]

[Level Up Stat Bonus:

Strength +3

Vitality +2

Dexterity +2

Intelligence +1

Endurance +1 ]

The moment the selection locked in, another set of notifications followed immediately.

[Skill Acquired]

[Sword Mastery I (Active)]

[Combat Mastery I (Active)]

A rush of information flowed into my mind the instant the skills were granted like something being placed exactly where it needed to be. It wasn’t raw knowledge being explained, it was familiarity. The way to hold the blade, the angle of a strike, the timing between movement and attack.

For me, it wasn’t entirely new. I had already fought, already trained, already understood the basics.

But I could see what the system was doing.

I opened my status again to have a look.

[Status]

—-----------------------------------

Name: Ryan Heavens

Level: 2

Class: Unassigned(Destroyer)

Talent: Locked

Designation: Defier

Combat Points (CP): 0

Influence Points (IP): 0

Stats:

Vitality: 10

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 9

Intelligence: 9

Endurance: 9

—-----------------------------------

I observed that my stats had increased slightly based on the bonus provided. There was a new designation label with Defier in red assigned to it and the CP points were back to 0.

I stepped away from the tree line, the rough bark brushing against my back for a brief moment before I pushed off and moved toward the dirt road, the sword still held firmly in my hand.

As I reached the center of the road, I bent slightly, picked up the sheath I had dropped earlier, and slid the blade back into it with a smooth motion before holding it in my left hand.

For a moment, I paused.

There were no signs, no directions, nothing to guide me.

So I simply chose one.

Turning slightly, I began walking down the road, my attention spread across everything around me. I missed my perception which used to cover everything around me. But this was exciting as well starting from scratch and following a new system.

The only thing was I had to do a speedrun to finish the objective.

The forest stretched on both sides, dense and quiet, the kind of quiet that didn’t belong in a place where conflict had just erupted. Every step forward felt like moving deeper into something unknown, and without the system guiding me beyond vague objectives, I had nothing to rely on but instinct.

I hadn’t walked far when the silence broke. A distant roar echoed through the trees. Then another and soon multiple roars shattered the silence of the forest.

Shouts followed, sharp, aggressive, mixed with the sounds of animals that didn’t quite sound like animals anymore. The noise grew louder with each passing second, spreading through the forest like a ripple.

"So it has started." I muttered thinking about the mutation that was mentioned in the messages by the system.

I slowed slightly, shifting my grip on the sheath before sliding the sword out again, letting the steel catch the light as I brought it into my right hand. I stepped back toward the center of the road, choosing the open space instead of the cover of the trees.

Then the ground trembled.

Branches snapped.

Something large forced its way through the forest, and the next moment, it burst out onto the road.

A bear.

Or at least something that had once been one.

Its brown fur was darker in patches, muscles bulging unnaturally beneath it, and like the horses before, two curved horns had grown from its head, framing its face in a way that made it look more like a mad titan. Its eyes glowed red, locked directly onto me as it let out a deep, guttural roar that carried across the road.

[Monster Bear – Level 1]

It didn’t hesitate. The moment it saw me, it charged.

I didn’t move from my position and turned to face its direction. It was level 1 and I had one level above him. So I assumed at least in one or two stats I was better than the bear. The moment it reached me my sword came up in a swift arc, meeting its momentum head-on as I twisted slightly to the side, letting its charge pass just enough while the blade cut across its shoulder.

The strike landed clean, but the resistance was immediate, the thickness of its hide slowing the blade just enough to remind me this wouldn’t end in one hit.

The bear roared, turning sharply, its claws tearing into the dirt as it swung toward me.

I moved again, stepping out of range, then back in, keeping close enough to control the distance without letting it fully use its size. The next strike came lower, cutting along its side, drawing blood.

It lunged.

I shifted, letting the attack pass, then struck again.