Chapter 1: SSS-Level Talent, Beast Affinity
Class 3, Year 1.
"The job change ceremony is about to begin, marking the day of crossing the single-plank bridge among a myriad of troops!"
"I hope to change jobs into a Holy Mage, becoming a turret and slaughtering beasts in swathes to uphold the honor of our school."
"Are you crazy? Being a mage isn't enough, you want to be a Holy Mage?!"
"That's a hidden job for the first transfer. The probability of triggering a hidden job in the common job change ceremony is less than one in a billion. Do you think you're the chosen one?"
In the classroom.
The students were nervous, anxious, and expectant, discussing fervently.
The triennial job change ceremony was about to begin, impacting the destiny of every senior student present. No one dared to take it lightly.
In the third row from the back by the window, Qin Fan slowly exhaled a breath, gazing outside with mixed emotions.
As a transmigrator, Qin Fan had been in this parallel world for seven years.
In those seven years.
He gradually integrated into this unfamiliar world, understood its language, and learned about its cultural background.
A hundred years ago, this world underwent a mutation.
The cross-era "Divine Realm" game overlapped with the real world. After the fusion, Earth's area expanded by billions of times, with dungeons and instances descending, monsters running rampant, and catastrophes spreading globally.
In this context, job changers emerged.
To resist the magical disasters, everyone at the age of 18 who reached level 10 had to participate in the job change ceremony to choose their first job.
Some would soar to the skies with combat jobs.
Others would take on life jobs and become "cooks."
Obviously, first jobs were divided into varying degrees of quality.
At the top of the pyramid were the combat jobs.
Mages, Archers, Warriors...
Enhancement jobs like Enchanters, Blacksmiths, Alchemists...
And the most common and numerous life jobs that many job changers lamented over. Cooks, Miners, Herbalists...
But.
Even among cooks, there were vast differences.
The "Cook" in a life job was worlds apart from a "chef" in the ordinary world in terms of status, position, and abilities. The former could make meals that quickly increased attribute points for job changers. Long-term consumption could maximize and even permanently enhance these gains. The latter merely satisfied hunger.
In other words, as long as you succeeded in the job change, even the most ordinary life job would make you a part of the job changer industry, elevating you above ordinary life.
On the podium, the teacher continued to speak passionately.
Before the job change ceremony, they introduced the thousands of first jobs in detail, explaining their characteristics and development paths.
"Without a doubt, the first sequence combat jobs in the three main categories are the dream and highly sought-after positions for every job changer."
"Even so, does it mean enhancement and life jobs under combat jobs have no prospects or limited development?"
"No, that's not the case."
Take Enchanters as an example.
The downside of being an Enchanter is that, in the early stages, upgrading and developing require massive resources to accumulate experience and learn about enchanting materials. It's hard to get through this phase unless you're a rich second-generation heir with family support.
However, once an Enchanter becomes experienced, their rarity will make them shine brilliantly.
Even the simplest weapon enchanting task would yield astronomical rewards in the eyes of ordinary people.
"Remember, no first job can be equated to trash. This is my advice to all of you!"
"Of course, due to different talent characteristics, the final choice of the first job direction is still up to you."
After the homeroom teacher's speech.
Below.
The word "talent" caused another wave of discussion.
After the global mutation, everyone awakened their talent at birth. Talents were graded from "F" to "S."
Different talent levels and characteristics significantly impacted the first job change.
The homeroom teacher had repeated this many times, but Qin Fan listened intently.
He had awakened the E+ level talent [Cooking Mastery], a very niche talent.
But Qin Fan didn't want to become a cook; he still hoped to be a combat professional.
The reason was that among the thousands of first jobs, only combat jobs had the highest earning potential.
After the fusion of the Divine Realm game with the real world.
The Longguo Country implemented related policies where, before the first job change, the state provided all resources for free. After the first job change, this free support ceased. To level up and obtain equipment and weapons afterward, you had to rely on yourself.
Not everyone was a rich second-generation heir with a powerful family background.
After the first job change, there were second and third changes...
As a commoner, Qin Fan had to face a real and cruel issue.
How to support himself?
The reason combat jobs became popular was that even the money-burning early stages of combat jobs like Mechanics and Summoners could enter dungeons with contracted beasts and farm materials to earn money.
But...
In past job change ceremonies, very few with E-level talents awakened combat jobs.
Despite Qin Fan's excellent performance in class, his low talent level remained a weakness.
Smack.
Someone patted his shoulder, and a chubby face leaned in.
"I'm doomed, D- talent [Stone Skin], I'll probably get an enhancement job in this ceremony."
"Qin Fan, you have an E+ talent, right?"
"You're worse off than me. Have you decided on your first job?"
The chubby guy was Fang Dahai, Qin Fan's classmate, straightforward and candid.
"Not yet, let's see how it goes."
Qin Fan didn't want to say much.
Fang Dahai: "..."
What the hell, let's see how it goes.
In previous job change ceremonies, the talent level of individuals corresponded to certain first jobs.
For example, with his D- talent, the ideal scenario was an enhancement job, with some chance of a life job.
Qin Fan's talent was even lower.
What?
An E+ talent, and you still want a combat job!
Do you think you're Lady Luck's favorite?
Finding no common ground, Fang Dahai turned to chat with the girl next to him.
Meanwhile.
Ding.
"The job change ceremony is about to begin, system activation in progress..."
System binding successful.
"A newbie gift pack has been issued, do you want to receive it?"
Ding.
"The newbie gift pack contains SSS-level talent, Beast Affinity."
A system prompt suddenly rang in Qin Fan's mind.