I will admit that after considering my three options for a good long while I was still unsure. I didn’t feel like a hero, or a champion. I mean I can’t say I haven’t dreamed of being a hero of justice or something similar when I was younger. But back then, it was just a childish dream. Here, well here it might just be something attainable.

Yet, every time I was about to choose ‘hero’, Amoria’s sad expression flashed before my eyes. “Why does that bother me so much?” I felt almost sick as I recalled that deep regret in the Goddess’s eyes. I couldn’t imagine what would cause such an expression, but it did give me pause.

“What should I do?...” I felt lost. The problem was that I had started to feel reluctant about selecting ‘Path Forger’, even though I’m pretty damn sure that I would have selected that class before the Goddess’s ‘intervention’. I agonized over the decision for what felt like a good hour. But having my mind separated from my body as it was here, I can’t say I knew for sure.

In the end, I selected Path Forger. I did feel a bit manipulated but it wasn’t ‘Path Forger’ didn’t intrigue me. When I had confirmed the selection, I felt myself pull out of the golden liquid which unwillingly let go of my face as if it had a mind of its own.

As soon as my face was completly free from the surprisingly thick liquid, I promptly fell on my arse and let out a soundless scream as I grabbed my agonizing head in my hands. It felt like someone was pouring liquid metal inside my skull and all of my senses were overwhelmed with the searing pain.

“Victor!” Liz shouted and I grabbed my ears in pain as my headache began rapidly fading.

“Please don’t scream in my ears…” I said pitifully as I opened my eyes and was assaulted by an unexpected sense of vertigo.

“I didn’t scream…” Liz shouted and I flinched and closed my eyes and groaned. When I opened my eyes to glare at her I almost gagged. Everything looked wrong. “Hey!” Liz erupted indignantly as my face paled when I looked at her.

“Please… please don’t shout…” I whined as I kept pressing my hands to my ears. She was so loud, like someone had turned up the volume to 10. I tried to look around and I winced. I felt like someone had messed with the Field of View on my monitor. Yet everything was just as clea. No, if anything, everything was even sharper now. I gently touched my face and felt tears running down my eyes, no. Not tears, it was blood.

“Are you all right?” Liz asked, she was still loud but it didn’t feel like her voice would burst my eardrums anymore.

“…I-I don’t know… I think so?” I looked at my bloody hands and felt the wetness around my ears, eyes and even my nose. As I started to get more used to whatever had happened to me I started to taste iron in my mouth and a large blob of thick blood landed on the ground when I spat.

“Don’t do that!” Liz reprimanded me angrily. I winced at her once again loud voice.

“Please, don’t shout… I’m sorry but no one told me anything like this would happen…” I spoke softly and rubbed my ears with the sleeves of my shirt.

“Normally it doesn’t.” Liz said as she looked at me with concern. When I flinched at her words she started whispering. “But things like this do happen.” She suddenly and without warning grabbed my head and looked me over from an uncomfortably close range. “What class did you select?” She asked in a whisper.

Before I answered, I decided to open my status.

Name: Victor Lynth, lvl 16 Human(Splinter).

Essence: 53/1600

Class: Path Forger, Path of Will.

Title: Troll slayer.

HP: 180/180

E: 185/185

MP: 560/560*

Will: 1440/1440*

Attributes: Str: 14, Agi: 17, Dex: 21, Vit: 19, End: 19, Int: 28*, Wis: 23*, Cha: 11.

Skills:

Special: Interface, Skill point system, True familiar (Simon), Sixthsense, Telekinesis, Temple of the Mind,

Passive: Swords 3, Mana perception 2, Dissection 2, Mind palace 1, Bond 1

Active: Soul weapon 8, Storage 3, Dimensional magic 3, Surpass Limits 2

Resistances: Mental nullification 5, Pain mitigation 5, Magic resistance 3, Charm resistance 1, Curse resistance 1

Boons: Esper

Skill points: 64*

***

Path Forger:

You have discovered a new path in life, your class has no limitations and it will aid you in discovering new skills and powers.

Large bonus to discovery chance and progression rate of new or rediscovered skills.

Medium bonus to ‘Intelligence’ and ‘Wisdom’ (+5)

Path of Will:

Weapons, magic and word are fine and well, but you seek to bend the world with the strength of your will alone.

‘Will’ Increased by 100%

Acquisition or evolution of the ‘Mind’ skill

Interface:

Comprehensive and configurable user interface for managing and monitoring the user and the world around them. Information provided increases with the user's understanding and connection with the fundamentals of the world.

Skill point system:

Rewards skill points on level up and initial transfer that can be used to improve and acquire known skills. This skill allows the user to circumvent the normal requirements imposed when evolving skills. Rewards 5 ‘skill points’ per level.

True familiar:

Familiar bound to the very soul of the user. Growths with and can be summoned / dismissed by the user at will. Unlike normal familiars a ‘true familiar’ can not only obtain intelligence but free will and independent though.

Sixthsense:

Gives the user an extra sense. The sense will vary from case to case. (Victor can perceive emotion. As of yet he can only sense others' overall impression of himself.)

Telekinesis:

Influence physical objects with the power of your mind alone.

Temple of the Mind:

Your body is the temple of your mind. The strength of your body empowers your mind and through the strength of your will you can temporarily overcome the physical limitations of your body.

‘Mana’ and ‘Will’ increased by 100%

Mind over matter: ‘Will’ can be used to overcome physical limitations.

Keen senses: You sense are sharped to reflect the strength of your mind

Swords 3:

The most basic understanding of swordsmanship.

Mana perception 2:

Can perceive mana and the normally invisible constructs made with it.

Dissection 2:

Cutting things apart both in and out of combat becomes easier and less messy.

Mind palace 1:

Refuge of the mind where memories and knowledge can be stored permanently. The mind is shielded from all outer assaults when inside.

Bond 1:

Allows skill sharing with a bonded party. (Bond: Simon. Skill: Weak Regeneration.)

Soul weapon 8:

Weapon forged with a fraction of the soul of the user, capable of evolution and strengthening the user. Highly evolved form of the ‘Bound weapon’ skill.

Magical infusion: None

Storage 3:

Secure extra dimensional storage. Size and skill level grows as more mana is used for dimensional expansion.

Dimensional magic 3:

The advanced school of magic that allows the wielder to interact with the fabric of space. Makes spells from this school easier to use and increases their potency.

Surpass Limits 2:

The body of the user can be pushed far beyond its normal limits for a short time without breaking.

Name: Simon

Race: Snake familiar

Essence: 5621

HP: 160/160

E: 120/120

Str: 12, Dex: 16, Agi: 13, Vit: 16*, End: 12, Int: 9, Wis: 10, Cha: 4*

Skills:

Special: Flame breath, Devoured

Passive: Dark vision, Regeneration, Bond, Tremor sense

Active: Corrosive bite, Stealth

Flame breath:

Can breathe fire without the use of magic.

Devoured:

Skills of the fallen have a slight chance of being subsumed by the user. The fresher and more potent the flesh is, the greater the chance is.

Dark vision:

The ability to see even in the complete absence of light.

Regeneration:

Greatly increases the rate at which the user’s body recovers from damage.

Bond:

Allows skill sharing with a bonded party. (Bond: Victor Lynth. Skill: Weak Regeneration.)

Tremor sense:

The ability to sense vibrations in the ground and air around the user.

Corrosive bite:

Applies the corrosion debuff when biting.

Stealth:

Move silently and covertly, making it significantly harder to detect the user.