Everyone was exhausted, and seemed unconcerned about their potential safety that night. The three new party members that Jason stumbled across seemed to trust the God fully. Thankfully, no one decided to murder them in their sleep.
Tossing and turning, Jason found it impossible to believe the environment would be safe so easily. He had just struggled to survive and had more questions than answers regarding the situation.
After getting as much sleep as he could, he woke to see the sun begin to peek over the trees in the forest and propped himself against a large trunk to enjoy the scene. Elaine was asleep a few feet away from him, but he didn't expect anything to happen that morning, so he saw no need to wake her.
[Congratulations!]
The voice returned as the sun crest over the tallest pine, bellowing through the forest rather than the participant's minds, causing all those asleep to stir to their feet in terror.
"Jason, what is it?" Elaine noticed the man still relaxing against his tree chair and lowered her guard.
"Get up! What the hell was that?!" Jack, on the other hand, was on full alert!
"He's back," Jason simply replied, not moving a muscle.
[Rewards for the first trials have been delivered!]
The group looked around, expecting to find a pile of treasure, but found nothing. They weren't sure if the God was building suspense or there was a delay.
[The tutorial land has been integrated with a trial world.]
[Any quests completed will be granted rewards towards your ascension.]
[Please join a God-backed faction. Good Luck!]
"So our reward is more danger," Jason smirked, "Seems fitting."
"Don't talk down about the Gods, they'll punish us, and I'll kick your ass for it," Jack added, showing which camp he belonged in.
[You will now be granted a new class!]
[Focus your mind on the term "Class Change,"]
The voice continued the explanation, but as soon as it told them to focus their mind, everyone thought of that phrase. It was an unfortunate order of events that would prevent the participants from knowing that the classes were chosen specifically for their personal traits…
But the Gods weren't concerned.
Jason was transported back to the familiar white void; projected before him were class descriptions where the shop descriptions once stood. Everything seemed a little too much like a video game.
'This must be similar to a mindscape,' he thought as he continued inspecting the massive white void.
Perhaps understanding the space would help his growth.
After swimming around the space and finding nothing of interest, he gave up. The only peculiar thing happening in this great white abyss was the fact that the projected screens followed him no matter what he did.
'I suppose this could be cool for the adventure… I'll likely gain some super powers or magic like I have always read about.' The thought of flying through the sky on a broomstick entered his mind, 'I wonder what real magic even looks like.'
He continued to analyze his situation and the God's words before moving on to his choices. He didn't know what dangers would await him in the world now that it had been integrated with a real one—whatever that meant.
He just knew he had to find a faction.
How can one complete quests for a faction unless they find said faction. This caused him to frown in disappointment. Usually, factions required towns or villages to be based in, and he knew of neither. Would they really be able to survive the forest with real beasts?
And what happened if an official organization didn't want them?
It seemed like it would be a lot easier for the Gods to assign quests directly to the participants. Why would they suddenly change to make it more complicated?
Jason decided to commit to the classes and inspect them. Upon first sight, he was completely overwhelmed and didn't know where to focus his eyes! The floating windows had a brief description at the top but below them was an intricate skill tree that would make a pro-gamer cry.
Branches sprouted off and paths were formed by the hundreds. Nothing seemed to have a clear pattern, and there was no information on what you were working towards. Every skill except the first one was completely gray.
Composing himself, he took a look at his first option.
[Leader of Humanity]
[You have demonstrated impressive abilities and critical thinking skills that have caused your companions to look up to you.]
The first line caused him to be confused, because he couldn't recall doing anything of the sort.
[This class will enhance those natural abilities.]
[Though it lacks combat abilities, it will allow you to lead humanity to the pinnacle of ascension.]
[Starting trait: Automatically be considered for leadership roles]
[Skill: Charismatic Leader - You gain the ability to enhance your speech with mana. You can convince your underlings to follow you through even the direst of circumstances.]
[Unlock Conditions: Gather 20 followers]
[The Gambler]
[Your tendency to go "all-in" during tense situations has caused the unlocking of this unique class.]
Jason thought this class already seemed more fitting as he glanced at the following lines.
[This class follows no rules and is a gamble.]
[Nobody knows what skills are in it or what will be unlocked.]
Instantly his heart sank; how was he supposed to work a class that didn't have any sort of parameters at all?
[Starting Trait: When your gamble fails, your luck will keep you alive if at all possible.]
[First Skill: Armageddon: Destroy all living creatures, except the caster, in a 10-mile radius.]
[Unlock Conditions: Slay 10,000 sentient beings.]
The starting trait, as well as the first skill, made him reconsider his disgust for the class. He wasn't 100% what qualified as sentient in this world, but if it was possible… He could be the world's strongest mage!
Crossing his fingers and patting his pockets for a cigarette, he hoped his ritual would help his luck as revealed the final choice. Opening his pack and finding his last smoke, he sighed as he placed it between his lips and brought a flame to it.
[Incubus race change]
'Fuck…' It didn't work.
[You appear to be quite proficient with your bat.]
[But, can you switch gears and make love, not war?]
"Yeah, I whacked some things… Come on!" He shouted at the window.
[This class will cause you to merge with the Incubus race and gain their powers.]
"So I'll lead humanity as a non-human? Does that even make sense? Who designed this shit?!" He couldn't help but shout at the upward direction he expected to be the sky.
[You will gain strength through the seduction and enslavement of others.]
[Starting trait: Women will naturally be attracted to you, regardless of their personal tastes]
[First Skill: Essence drain - Absorb the life force of your opponents directly from their soul.
[Unlock condition - Seduce all women in your party.]
'What the shit is this!' Jason thought, confused as to why the Gods would grant him such ridiculous classes at the start.
Even in books he read, people always had a generic class they could choose. Apparently they didn't get that memo here. Pissed off, he stared at his options as time continued to tick by—feeling like an eternity.
Jason eventually gave up and returned to swimming. Perhaps if he waited long enough, the choices would change, and he'd get a procrastinator class.
A gruff voice with deep bass shocked his mind as it suddenly echoed, [You don't have to pick any of the classes…]