Luke Everhart
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Chapter 58 - No Change
🕑 Added 2024-11-11 14:26:17 +0000 UTC“... and then, I thought, I have nine more, why not use just a second one?” Tuk said.
Gasps erupted around him.
“Fucking pile, man. You’re insane!” Jaz shouted.
“I thought you were just going really fast,” Nar said. “But now that I think about it, I could feel your blood on my face every time you tossed your rings!”
“Ew!” Lim said, tears streaming down his red cheeks.
“I never allowed this!” Cen said, enraged. “You could’ve lost your fingers.”
Tuk wiggled her fingers at her. The lines etched into his flesh were healing quickly, but were still oozing a clear, grayish liquid.
“Almost did!”
“Tuk!”
She punched him from the side.
“At first! At first!” Tuk said, flinching from the hits. “I got the hand of it really quickly. Got it, the hand of it?”
Jaz, Raf, Lim and Mul howled in laughter. Both Cor and Nar traded a look and shook their heads at each other.
“You could’ve killed yourself,” Cen said, not ready to just let it go. “You almost died the first time you tried it, and you almost killed Nar too!”
“Twice,” Mul said, sniggering.
“That was the same one time!” Tuk said. “It went one way, then it came back.”
“I had to dodge it twice so it counts as two!” Nar shouted.
The other party roared with laughter.
“Crystal! This sounds like a whole other story!” Raf said. “What in the pile did you do?”
Raf had finally managed to muster his courage, or make his decision, and head over to Tuk to ask him how he had done it. How did he use his [Aura] to power his attacks? He wanted to do the same thing with his ax. Putting the danger to his magic aside, Nar had to admit, the thought of the heavy, massive ax, shining bright with destructive light gave him pause. The images of unstoppable destruction that flooded his mind had certainly been the reason why Raf had decided to give [Aura] a shot too.
And, as it turned out, he wasn’t the only one either. Many Climbers came to see Tuk, asking him how he’d gotten his magic. The vast majority had turned away, repulsed, when Tuk told them it was just [Aura], but among those groups of Climbers, there was always at least one that stayed behind. Intrigued and dazzled by the prospect of harnessing their [Aura], they would talk in hushed tones with Tuk and Cen, and they would explain everything to them, as best as they could.
As Nar came to know, it seemed as though everybody shared a high [Aura] attribute. He wasn’t sure whether to feel worried or relieved about that.
However, Tuk’s performance had made a compelling case for making use of it.
So he had taught and taught. No one had actually managed to manifest their [Aura] in their weapons like Tuk did his rings, but together with Cen, Tuk had taught them everything he knew and how he did it and how he had figured it out.
“It was this guy, really…” he said, again and again, grabbing onto Nar.
Whether those Climbers learned it or not, it would be up to them. Nar had no reason to think the [Aura] attack was exclusive to ring tossers. However, he didn’t know what to feel, considering that it had been his suggestion that had unblocked Tuk in the end.
It had certainly saved their lives, that much was undeniable. However, now that that knowledge was spreading to other Climbers and other parties, Nar didn’t know what to make of it.
Tuk laughed at Raf, slapping his knee.
“Okay! That one was insane. I’ll give you that!” Tuk said.
“Why is it always insane?” Cor asked.
“Ugh…” Cen said in reply.
Tuk rubbed his hands, tenderly, but with visible excitement.
“So, we were…”
DING!
-[ Gains from the completion of the quest, Cross the Chasm, have been calculated!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have leveled up!
You have gained:
Strength 14 -> 15
Constitution 17 -> 18
Stamina 20 -> 21
Agility 13 -> 15
Speed 12 -> 15
??? 10 -> 12
??? 16 -> 17
Might 4 -> 5
Instinct 14 -> 15
Reflex 14 -> 16
Hearing 8 -> 9
Sight 8 -> 10
Gains threshold exceeded!
Attribute points will be applied during sleep! ]-
Nar’s mind swam as he took in the numbers.
“Holy Crystal…”
He had no idea who had talked, but damn. What in the pile was that? Not only had he gained three levels at once, the sheer amount of gains was hard to wrap his head around.
Before he had a chance to say anything, the words changed.
-[ You have made it to level 15!
Congratulations!
An extra reward is available for you to choose!
See reward options now?
Yes / No ]-
“Guys! Get together!”
Row’s voice snapped him out of his stunned daze.
More rewards? And I can choose?
Row’s party quickly excused themselves and huddled together in a tight circle.
“Gather up, people,” Kur said, motioning for them to come to him.
One by one, and looking every bit as stunned as Nar, the party converged around Kur.
“From your looks, I think everyone has gotten a bunch of gains plus this nice surprise,” Kur said, smiling around. “I don’t know what it is, but like always, I’m here to talk about it if you guys want to. We have another 6 hours and 27 minutes before we need to go. Like last time, I want to go a couple hours earlier, so that doesn’t leave us much time to rest, but we’ll stop earlier tomorrow. Also, Row has asked us if we would like to join her party, and Climb together.”
Surprised, Nar pushed away the window, without replying, and focused on Kur.
“No way…” Tuk said.
“Yeah, she did. To be fair, we did work really well together,” Kur said, with a slight shrug. “Anyways, I need to give her an answer tomorrow, so have a think about that too, alright? Okay, go on. Make your choices, and then try and get some sleep too, if you can.”
They muttered their replies and spread out a bit, though not too far from each other.
Nar, somewhat still confused, as he hadn’t looked up the rewards yet, sat by the edge of the stairs, and pulled up the window from his notifications.
-[ You have made it to level 15!
Congratulations!
An extra reward is available for you to choose!
See reward options now?
Yes / No ]-
Yes!
The words flickered and the text in it changed.
-[Your reward is a class upgrade!
Warning: A class change means you will start from level 1 again, but you will not lose any of your attributes. Levels correlate only to progression within a class.
Choose from the following options:
Basic Warrior (Longsword)
You’ve had a tough start, but through your failures and successes, you have persisted and improved. You feel like the longsword was made for you. A flexible weapon that allows for both one-handed or two-handed combat, paired with your movement stats and senses, you could become a veritable master of this weapon, a true sight to behold.
Follow this path deeper and see where mastery of the longsword might one day take you.
(DPS Role)
Basic Warrior (Two-Handed)
You’ve had a tough start, but through your failures and successes, you have persisted and improved. You feel like the longsword was made for you, but at the same time, you can’t help but notice that it falls short on occasion. The life of a melee DPS is within you, and you could fulfill your true potential with a proper, two-handed heavy weapon. Imagine yourself with a swift and long reaching spear. Or with a mighty and devastating two-handed sword, or a heavy and crushing two-handed hammer or ax.
Follow this path deeper into the mastery of a two-handed melee weapon. You will be granted a new weapon at the earliest possible opportunity, and you’ll be able to pick from a range of two-handed weapons.
(DPS Role)
Warning: You must hand in your weapon in exchange for a new one.
No Change
Continue as you are.
(???)
Which do you choose?
Longsword / Two-Handed / No Change ]-
“Are you fucking with me?” Nar shouted. “What the fuck is this?”
DPS. DPS. And nothing. No reward.
Is this what the System thought he was worth? A chance of fixing his mistake? To re-role into a DPS? Into a proper class?
What in the pile is this ??? nonsense?
His hybrid tank/DPS role wasn’t even acknowledged.
All his effort, all his pain. All the gains, and even his new outlook on his path, and the System basically told him to clean up his act, and role into something proper.
Nar tightened his fists.
His breath and pulse quickened.
The words faded in and out of his sight.
This…
“Nar?”
A hand lay on his shoulder, gently.
He flinched and looked back.
“Are you ok?” Kur asked, with a grimace.
Nar could only stare at him. He had forgotten how to make words.
“I guess not,” Kur said, and took a seat next to him. “Take your time. We can talk. Just know that, whatever it is, you can talk to me, and we can think of a way through it.”
Nar, shaking, managed to give him a curt nod, and looked away.
His hands clenched and unclenched. His nostrils flared and his eyes widened.
Through it all, Kur waited quietly, probably contemplating his own choice. Like he had told Row, he believed in his party. He hoped that everyone picked what worked best for them, and then together, they would figure out a way to make it work as a party. Just like they had been so far.
And we’ve been doing quite well, if I may say so, Kur thought.
So no, he was not worried for Nar. Saddened, yes. Disappointed that the System seemed to have let Nar down. But he wasn’t worried. Nar would find his path. He did not doubt his strength or determination.
A while later, he heard Nar sigh and looked at him. He looked resigned, though not defeated.
“Did yours go well?” he asked.
“I just made my choice,” Kur said. “Next time I wake up, I will be a [Boon Leader 1] and gain a new skill, [Enhancing Boon]. It will let me enhance the party’s skills by 5%. It only lasts 10 seconds, but it has a cool down of only five minutes. It’s gonna be awesome! I’m going to be using it non-stop, just you wait for it!”
Nar stared at him, taken aback by the sudden excitement. Despite his own feelings, he couldn’t help but feel some of Kur’s excitement. “That-That sounds really amazing! But… What were your other options, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Ah, not at all! And I only had one other option. It was the [Enhanced Senses Leader 1], quite the mouthful. As can you probably tell, it would have given me a big boost and focus on sense attributes. It even mentioned some mysterious new attribute! How cool is that?”
Nar gasped.
“Why didn’t you pick that one? It could’ve been [Instinct]!”
Kur chuckled. “It would’ve been awesome, right?”
“It would!”
“It would, but for how long? Our party already has Jul, and I doubt my senses would ever match hers. They might help me here and there, making a decision faster, or be aware of danger better, like you and her. But it would always be subpar to what you guys can already do. Plus, I really do believe that I can earn those attributes on my own,” Kur said, smiling. “However, the main reason I didn’t choose it was the way the class was described. It’s just not for me. It’s not what I want. I want to be a leader, I want to support my party with direction and strategy, and these boons make me even better at that. If I can make all of you stronger and harder to kill, then that makes me happy. That is the path for me. And as a bonus, it's something that only I can do in the party and that will really help us out!”
Kur squeezed Nar’s shoulder.
“Don’t think I’m sacrificing myself. This is what I want. The other class is just a momentary distraction. Something that looks like easy picking in the pile, but that will make the whole thing fall down on you if you pull at it. I couldn’t be happier, and I can’t wait to get more boons. It’s strength, but in a different way. Both DPS and tanking, and at the same time, neither. It’s perfect.”
Nar hunched down, deflated and still not fully convinced of his words. “If you say so…”
“I do. Now, your turn. Tell me what you got.”
Nar swallowed hard, and hesitated. But Kur had just told him everything about his options and choice. And Nar had learned his lesson not to keep everything to himself, nor to try and resolve everything without seeking help or others’ opinions. So, he told the party leader the three options that the System had offered him.
“So?” Kur asked, after listening to him. “What’s the problem?”
“What’s the problem?”
Nar closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew enough of Kur to know that he wasn’t being obtuse or messing with him.
“The problem is that I expected some sort of confirmation that I’m not doing so bad with my choices. The System didn’t even offer me a tank role! Just two DPS ones!”
“Aren’t there three choices?” Kur said, smiling at him.
“What?”
“No change, you said. Your third choice. To continue as you are.”
“But that's just…”
“Continue as you are,” Kur said again, slower. “No change.”
“I don’t…”
Wait.
“It has been a tough start for you, Nar. Nobody can deny it. And it's only recently that you’ve actually formed a sort of plan, and started seeing results. Some results. You still have a long way ahead of you. It’s going to take far more than just stopping a few bolts to build the path you want.”
“A few?” Nar asked, still befuddled.
Kur smiled. “You know what I mean. The way I see it, the System is just taking pity on you. Giving you a way out, if you want it. You’ve tried being a tank. Wait, scrap that! You are a tank, Nar. Not one like Gad or Tun, but you are a tank nonetheless. So think about it, why would the System offer you another tank role, if you’re already one? And I don't think you want to be a leader, which is a support role, or a caster, or a ranged DPS. You like melee and you are lacking in DPS. So, it’s offering you something you haven’t had yet, but clearly want. It’s just checking to see if you’ve changed your mind, or if you regret your initial decision. Because, let’s be honest here, it really was a bit of a dumb decision that ended up lucking out for you.”
Nar deflated. “If you put it like that…”
“It is the only way to put it.”
Nar rolled his eyes, but it was an empty gesture. They both knew Kur was right, even if Kur didn't know the reason why Nar had decided to go hybrid.
“Honestly, I’m actually surprised that the System is giving you a way out,” Kur said. “I thought it was just an asshole…”
No change. Continue as you are, Nar thought.
Kur stood up.
“If you decide to switch into DPS, I won’t stop you. We’ve gotten used to having you as a hybrid, but we’ll adapt. If you don’t, then, just continue as you are. See the path you chose to the end, whatever and wherever it might lead you to. Now, let me check on the others who might actually need my help with a real decision.”
“Asshole,” Nar muttered, hiding a smile.
Despite Kur’s mocking, he had actually been very helpful.
Nar had been so focused on the reward, on the prospect of getting something that might help him further, or show him that he was on the right path, that he had forgotten the obvious. He had a choice of continuing as he was. The System either didn’t care or It thought that maybe he wasn’t screwing up too badly. Either way, it didn’t matter.
No choice.
A way out? A test? It didn’t matter.
His choice had been made months before the Climb, and he had made it before the Almighty Crystal Itself. He wasn't going to simply abandon it. Especially not now that he was seeing some results.
It was annoying how right Kur was. How did he keep missing these things?
Easier to see in, than out…
None of the others had stopped him, or tried to change his mind or point out issues in his logic. Gad had practically guided him to his new approach to tanking. Crystal, she basically held his hand and took him where she wanted to. Kur was playing the snotty, I’m intelligent and you are not, manager brat nonsense, but he was right in every word he said. The two of them would have told him, screamed it at him, if he was making a mistake. And they hadn’t. They just weren’t the kind of people that would let Nar stumble his way down the wrong path. They just weren’t.
Perhaps, by dumb luck, by hard work, by bleeding and putting his life on the line again and again, he really had stumbled onto the path he had wanted to. Needed to.
Or at least, so it appeared.
Only thing he could do now was to keep going, and see where the path took him.
He could think about it again once he got out, and got his magic. Whatever it might be. But for now…
No change, he replied to the prompt.
For now, he would see where the path led.
