Though the system did not grade classes, Aurora did.
After all, the saying that all classes were equal, though not exactly wrong, was not exactly right either. Aurora grouped classes into five types based on how they worked. General, Rare, Special, Hidden, and Unique.
General were the most common classes, providing only 2 attribute points per level up. Rare classes were a grade above, giving advantages and more attribute points per level unlike general classes that were relatively straightforward. Michael's Necromancer class was of this type.
Special classes were the ones that couldn't be judged purely by attributes and abilities, classes like Chef, Bard, and so on. Their value existed outside conventional combat trics.
Hidden classes were another matter entirely, and likely what Michael was currently experiencing with this list. They could not be normally awakened and required specific conditions to obtain. Michael, who was now considerably more knowledgeable about such things, knew of one of the easier examples.
The Beast Tar class.
Say soone wanted to beco a Dragon Tar. As long as they had enough dragons under their command when they advanced,
combined with certain other conditions, they would gain the Dragon Tar class instead. Like how Michael advanced from Master Necromancer to Lord Necromancer. The Lord would change to Dragon in Beast Tar terms.
It was still fundantally the Beast Tar class, just far more specialized and with greater effects tied to that specialization. Then there were the Unique classes.
Classes said to belong to only one person at any given ti.
Among the list floating before him, Michael was fairly certain not a single entry sat below the Rare type.
"What a list," Michael muttered under his breath, a trace of awe slipping into his voice as he looked over the nas.
It also seed like each class ca with its own description. His gaze settled on the first one.
• Death Knight
The mont his focus locked onto it, the panel shifted. A new window unfolded.
[Class: Death Knight]
[Description]: A class that blends physical prowess with dark arts. A Death Knight stands at the intersection of destruction and control, wielding both body and death as weapons.
[Compatibility]: High
"...A blend of physical and dark arts."
Michael knew this already. After all, whenever it ca to dark arts alongside necromancers, death knights were the most ntioned na. Unlike Necromancer, which leaned heavily toward control and external forces, it was sothing more balanced, more direct and stronger in personal combat.
Then the next lines appeared.
[Effect 1]: Gains 6 attribute points per level.
[Effect 2]: Attribute Distribution per level:
⚫ 2 Strength
• 2 Constitution
1 Agility
• 1 Intelligence
Michael's pupils contracted slightly. "...Six."
That was already above his current class. As expected of a hidden grade class, Michael muttered, though with slight annoyance at a certain teacher from his high school who had insisted all classes were equal.
Where was the equality here.
The Necromancer class only gave four attribute points per level, and the attributes it provided per level up to his stats were 0.1 in Strength and Constitution, 0.3 in Agility and 0.5 in Intelligence. No wonder it was said that Necromancers could only beat Death Knights in terms of contract slots and dark arts, as the latter focused far more on
physical strength.
But then another line appeared.
[Effect 3]: Based on user's existing foundation, gains 20 Contract Slots every Advancent.
Silence.
Michael's expression changed. The faint interest in his eyes disappeared almost instantly.
"...I see."
His gaze lingered on that final line a little longer before slowly
dimming. Just a mont ago, the class had looked perfect. Even compatible with everything he had built so far. For a brief second, he
had genuinely considered it. But now.
Michael exhaled softly. "...What a pity."
His voice was calm, but there was a trace of disappointnt in it. The mont he saw the contract slots, everything else lost its aning. Before that line appeared, it had looked like he would not lose anything. Better attributes, better combat ability, even synergy with dark arts. It was starting to look like a straight upgrade.
But that one detail ruined everything.
Michael leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. "...Twenty per
advancent."
He repeated it quietly, as if confirming it to himself. Then he shook his
head.
"No."
There was no hesitation this ti. Michael would be nothing without his contract slots. Everything he had built, every battle he had won, every advantage he held over others, it all traced back to that single chanic. His undead. That was his path. That was his strength. After his recent advancent, his contract slots had already reached four thousand. Four thousand. Even to him, that number felt overwhelming. Terrifying, even. But at the sa ti, it was perfect. And now this class was asking him to give that up. For what? Twenty per advancent?
Michael let out a quiet breath. "...That's not even worth considering."
It wasn't about whether Death Knight was weak. It wasn't. In fact it was strong, very strong. If his stats were rearranged based on the class he took, they would receive a major upgrade. But none of that
mattered.
"...I'd be crippling myself."
No matter how strong his personal combat ability beca, it would never replace what he already had.
Michael glanced at the panel one last ti. Death Knight. A powerful
class. A tempting one. But not for him.
"...Rejected."
Michael leaned forward slightly as he turned to the next class.
• Elental Mage
The panel shifted again.
[Class: Elental Mage]
[Description]: A pure magic-oriented class that harnesses the
fundantal forces of nature. Excels in long-range combat and large-scale destruction through elental manipulation.
[Compatibility]: High
This one was straightforward. A pure caster. Then the effects
appeared.
[Effect 1]: Gains 5 attribute points per level.
[Effect 2]: Attribute Distribution per level:
⚫ 1 Strength
• 1 Agility
• 1 Constitution
• 2.5 Intelligence
[Effect 3]: Total Intelligence increased by 20%.
Michael's gaze lingered on the last line. "...Twenty percent."
Not a small number. For soone whose intelligence was already absurdly high, a flat percentage increase was ridiculous. But Michael's eyes dimd slightly. "...Still not it."
Powerful, very powerful. But it pushed him further into a single
direction. Pure magic. Pure casting. And it offered nothing for what mattered most. No contract slots. No interaction with his undead.
Michael shook his head slightly. "...Next."
His gaze moved again.
• Magic Knight
The panel shifted.
[Class: Magic Knight]
[Description]: A balanced class combining physical combat and magic.
Focuses on versatility, adaptability, and sustained combat.
performance.
[Compatibility]: High
Michael's expression didn't change much. Then the effects appeared.
[Effect 1]: Gains 4 attribute points per level.
[Effect 2]: Attribute Distribution per level:
• 1 Strength
• 1 Constitution
• 0.5 Agility
0.5 Intelligence
Compared to Death Knight, this was almost exactly half in terms of
natural stat gain. Michael didn't even need to think much.
"...Pass."
It wasn't bad. But it wasn't good enough. His gaze moved on.
• Blood Warlock
The panel shifted.
[Class: Blood Warlock]
[Description]: A class that manipulates blood as both power source
and weapon. Gains strength through sacrifice, life force conversion,
and forbidden rituals. [Compatibility]: High
[Effect 1]: Gains 5 attribute points per level.
[Effect 2]: Can convert vitality into temporary power.
[Effect 3]: Skills scale with blood consumption and sacrifice.
• 2 Strength
3 Constitution
• 2 Agility
• 1 Intelligence
Michael frowned slightly. "...High risk."
Strong, very strong. If the description wasn't exaggerating, he might
actually reach a level where he could match so of his undead like Ghost and Beguine in raw physical strength. If that was the case, one could only imagine just how strong this class truly was. But it looked very unstable. Everything about it scread trade-off. Power in exchange for cost, and not a small one.
"...Not my style either." His gaze shifted.
Shadow Slave
The panel changed again. [Class: Shadow Slave]
[Description]: A class bound to shadows and servitude. Gains power
through contracts, control, and submission to higher shadow forces. Those who walk this path do not rely command shadows. They
beco part of them. [Compatibility]: ???
Michael's gaze paused. "...Slave." Then the effects appeared. [Effect 1]: Gains power through shadow contracts. Note: Shadow Contracts are just like contract slots and shadows are
dark creatures that are either natural or can be risen like Undead. [Effect 2]: Greatly increased control over shadow entities.
[Effect 3]: Up to 30% power of the chosen master depending on personal strength.
Michael read through it slowly.
His fingers tapped lightly against his knee. "...Dangerous."
But not in the sa way as Blood Warlock. The risk here wasn't instability. It was dependency. A path that grew endlessly depending on how far one could climb within that hierarchy. If he chose a
shadow creature on the level of a God, wouldn't that instantly make
him a demigod? And one that could still grow? Michael exhaled slowly. "...Not bad."
This was a real option. Just a very complicated one.
In the end.
"...It's not for ."
A/N: I had to go back and read previous chapters to avoid plot holes,
and also make sure this one reached a good standard without dragging. I hope you enjoy it. The second chapter will be coming soon once I'm done editing.
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