Mathew appeared back in open air next to the Hearth Crystal. Mr. Melton saw him and was running over, which for such a large man was more like a fast walk.

“Mathew! Where the hell did you go? You were supposed to pick your class and not spend half a day in the shops!”

Mathew was about to tell him he did select his class, but had to stop and grab his head. “Can you please stop yelling? You are being way too loud!” The entire area around him was abuzz with loud chatter. Mathew could hear conversations from people all around him. From the few guards' low voices, to the first time visitors to the Hearth Crystal. All of them are easily audible to him.

Not to mention the blinding lights that forced him to close his eyes or look at the ground. Everything was over sensitive. Even the clothing he wore now felt rough to his skin. It was almost too much.

“Yelling? I’m talking normally, not making a scene like you. The General was starting to think you died, where the shit have you been? Even Captain Henderson is gone. Are you part of something? I swear, if I find out-”

“Hey, shut up for a second. I’m trying to get used to this. Hold on.” Mathew held up a hand. His attempts at filtering out all the loud noises and blinding lights was barely making progress.

“What do you mean ‘get used to this’? Mathew, what is going on?”

“Mr. Melton, if you talk this close to me again in the next few minutes, I am going to shoot you with my staff.” Mathew squeezed his eyes closed and stood there leaning on his staff for several moments.

Once the noises and lights started to ebb down the pain scale, he slowly opened his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He could taste the air around him. The subtle sweat and dirtiness that hung in the air before was very prevalent now.

“Mr. Melton, let's start over please. First backing up, you said I was gone for half a day?”

“Yes! You and two others who have come to claim their class. Captain Henderson included. We originally thought the two of you ran away to the shops and did something. However, after another person went a couple hours after, we knew it had to be related to the class choice somehow. Your friend Zack and all the other ‘experts’ are going crazy on it, even going as far as to pool funds to buy information from the shops.”

Mathew nodded, still trying to adjust to his new heightened sense. “Going to cut to the chase, Level 10 is a racial upgrade. Heightened senses. Super loud, super bright, super smelly. Give me another moment.” Mathew then got a whiff of Mr. Melton's breath and had to stop himself from puking.

Mr. Melton seemed to nod in understanding. “Sorry, that was something that was assumed, but never confirmed. Come over here, and we can let you rest a moment. You are still standing in front of the crystal.”

Mathew was taken to a side bench and sat down. At this point everything seemed mostly normal. He could tell things were sharper, mainly his vision. It wasn’t that he could see further, it’s like a certain fogginess was lifted. Like someone putting on their glasses for the first time and realizing how horrible their eyesight was.

“Mr. McGonald, I hope you have good news. Major General Payne is quite curious about the process of the class choosing. However, your contract says that whatever you tell me, I can’t tell him. We agreed that breaking it would be in a foul taste. He is going to request a contract with him so he can also know.”

Mathew smirked. “He can learn the process from Captain Henderson and the others that went through. However, I can tell you everything. Including the fact that I have a rare class. Three new spells, a new skill, and a new ability. That stat increases are insane. I went from the 5 you get at a level up plus your profession to now fourteen. Almost triple what I was getting originally. I’ll write everything down later for your private knowledge.”

Mr. Melton opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it and nodded.

“How long after I went in did Henderson?”

“About twenty minutes.”

Mathew nodded, choosing to wait for her before going to see Di at the shop. “Anything important happened since I was gone?”

“Nothing major. The task force Major General Payne will assign you to all reached level 10 and will be selecting their classes soon. Once they return, you can expect to go and resolve the wolf problem before the Dungeon opens.”

“Bah, the General can think whatever he likes. I’ll write up a contract, and either he agrees to it, or I leave.”

“You think you have the power to force his hand like that?” Mr. Melton asked.

“Yes. Yes I do. If he wants my power to create magical legal documents, he will agree to it.”

“You realize we can just have someone else acquire the profession right?”

“No Mr. Melton, I don’t think you can.” Mathew said, smiling to himself.

Mr. Melton watched Mathew curiously, but said nothing more. The two waited for Captain Henderson to appear several minutes later.

She too reacted similarly to Mathew. Once she adjusted, both were taken to a side office to be debriefed. Mathew filled out the documents for Mr. Melton, based on the agreement of the contract. After that, Mathew chose to fill General Payne in on a few topics.

“Firstly, you can expect gods or whatever they are to start recruiting people.”

“And how can you explain that?” He asked Mathew.

“I was recruited, but denied it.” Mathew looked down at his hands in thought. “The offer was too...vague. No lines established, no rules, it was a very open ended offering. However when I went to pick my current class, it changed. A few more details, and the class name went from Cultist to Head Cultist.”

Mathew decided to share this bit of information openly. It was a very sketchy choice. One that, if Mathew didn’t care about being in control of his own actions, he would have approved of it full heartedly.

The General leaned back into his chair. “That might be bad news, but also good. Having a powerful benefactor has many uses.”

Mathew frowned. “And detriments. If you remember, most cults end with drinking purple kool-aid.”

General Payne leaned back in his chair. “Some yes, but it’s a new era. The way things were is no basis for how we operate today.”

“A society that does not remember their history is doomed to repeat it.” Mathew quoted.

“And a society that does not embrace tomorrow will forever remain yesterday.” Major General Payne replied. “I hope you considered my offer while you were gone as well, Mathew.”

“Well for me it felt like an hour, maybe a bit longer. So I haven't had the pleasure. I do however wish to go and shop, as well as receive my money from you. I believe you owe me 8,000 Universal Currency. 4,000 from the contract, and another 4,000 from a quest you sent out.”

“Yes, that is what was agreed upon.” General Payne made a few gestures and soon Mathew was 8,000 UC richer.

“Thank you sir. Give me a day or three and I will have something for you about your offer as well. While I have you here, I have a few specifications we can discuss now before putting it in writing.”

+ + +

Henderson glanced between Mathew and General Payne. If she wanted, she could cut the tension with a stick of butter. Never before had she seen two men seem like civilized gentlemen having a friendly conversation attempt to out plot each other inside their heads.

Having served in the military for several years, she knew when people with higher authority had ulterior motives in their actions. At this point she could see the way things would play out in most cases. However, with these two, she had no idea.

Her first day meeting Mathew led her to think he was a coward. A man who wished to hide in his office and enjoy the end of the world in luxury. She still thought he wanted that, but it was different somehow. He wanted to earn that luxury. To take it from others, and flaunt it as something he not only earned, but deserved.

Now all Mathew could talk about was getting stronger. Every action was to maximize his gains, but also keep him as safe as possible. All he ever talked about was increasing his stats. Occasionally talking with Zack to ensure his ‘build’ was perfect to maximize his power and survival.

She thought back to when they first fought the wolves. He was ready to leave in a moment, but came back when she yelled at him. “Was that part of his plan? To pretend to leave, only to appear like a changed man?”

Then there was the General. Captain Henderson only met the man once before The System took over her life. That was when he was still only a One Star General. She had no base line for who he was before, but something told her he has not changed. Not really.

He was cold, calculating, and willing to take any advantage to ensure a victory for not only himself, but America. As a leader, one should be willing to make small sacrifices for the greater good. With this man, he was willing to sacrifice it all for the final victory.

She had to be more careful, especially with her class. It was baffling how many new things a single level earned her. The choice was obvious with a single passive ability it earned her.

Squad Leader [Passive]

You know the direction and status of all those under your command up to 10 people. Additionally, you may join ranks with others of the same class, Party Leader, and it’s upgrades, to form a chain of command.

With her class, she would probably be put under special privileges by the commander. He had four others following her build path. They even acquired the same title she thought was unique.

“Well General Payne, I am heading to go talk to Di and make some financial decisions. Anything I can pick up for you or your people while I am there?” Mathew asked.

“Not at all. However, when you return, Mr. Melton will want some video evidence of your new abilities as well as our team of experts. Your friend Zack is equally excited I am sure.”

Mathew nodded and left the room. When the door closed, General Payne looked at Captain Henderson.

“Henderson, I hope you have good news.”

She nodded. “I do, Sir. Rare class. I will have a full report turned in with Mr. Melton by the end of the day.”

He nodded. “You didn’t get any offers from any gods did you?”

Henderson smiled. “No sir. I only received three offers. My current one was the only Rare. With one Uncommon and the third a Common rank. The experience was odd.”

“Odd how?”

“I saw myself as who I could become with each offer. I saw myself leading armies to victory. I saw myself dying. I saw myself hunting monsters, and in one I saw myself crying at the funeral of my own child that I have yet to have. To say the least, some people who return might need some counseling. It makes you second guess your choice and possible future.”

“Hmm, that is interesting. I’ll see it done, I trust your advice. You are the prodigy of the American military. Few other bases have top tiered women and men like yourself. You are doing your brothers and sisters proud.”

“Thank you sir.”

“With that said, Mathew will be off your team. I want you to start heading west and south and investigate that direction for any anomalies. The team Mathew will be assigned to will now focus on the Infernal Wolf situation.”

“Sir, with all due respect-”

“That’s an order, Captain. Take the rest of the day to rest, and inform your team of the changes.”

Captain Henderson took a breath, but held her tongue. “Understood.”

She left the room and walked out. “You might think I don’t know, but you plan to take that Dungeon for yourself. I know it because that’s the same plan Mathew has.” She thought to herself.