“If there are no more questions at this time, shall we continue?” At Joe’s nod, Master Keeroq continued. “Based upon your Titles, Skills and Abilities, I have taken the liberty of reducing the amount of offered Classes to those that are best suited for you. The choice, of course, is up to you and should you wish to peruse Classes other than those listed, that is certainly within your prerogative.”

  Joe saw that the massive list of Classes had been significantly reduced, but there were still a lot to look through. He raised his hand again.

  “Young Sir, there is no need to raise your hand, simply ask your question.” He gave Joe an appreciative nod, “Although, your civility is appreciated.”

  Oh, so now I get to be civil? Where was that when I was facing the elves? Joe questioned the System in his mind, but as always, there was no response, so he posed his question to Master Keeroq. “Is there a time limit? Also, way back at the beginning, it said that Bixby could also get a Class?” he asked indicating the large dog that was now laying on the floor. “How does that work?”

  Master Keeroq perked up at the questions. “Ah, those are excellent questions.” He placed his hands behind his back and continued, “Firstly, there is no time limit for you here. If this was during the Tutorial, there would technically still be no time limit, however, the quicker one attains a Class during the tutorial, the quicker one can level.” He paced back and forth as he spoke, hands still clamped together behind his back like a professor giving a lecture. “As for your Companion, being Soulbound brings a unique opportunity to you both. I must admit that it has been quite some time since I was able to assist with a Soulbound.” He stopped pacing and looked at Joe and Bixby, “This is exciting for me.” He smiled a genuine smile. “Once you have your Class established, then your companion may choose a Class of his own as his choices will be determined by what Class you choose.”

  Joe turned his attention back to the screen. The list of Classes was pretty long, and there were a lot that seemed generic, like Fighter, Ranger and Berserker. “Can we remove the generic Classes? I mean, like the ones that are basic? I don’t think I want to be a regular Fighter or Ranger.”

  Master Keeroq nodded and gestured and the list dropped significantly. It then rearranged itself. “I have placed the most interesting ones at the top of the list.”

  “Oh, that’s much better.” Joe leaned forward in his seat although he did not need to as his eyesight was perfect. The revised list contained Classes like Arcane Soldier, Frontiersman and Blood Hunter. He began methodically going down the list. A few stood out that he wanted to explore. “Can I see what some of these Classes entail?”

  “Certainly, the interface works for you as well as I. Simply reach out with your Mana and interface with it as you do with your personal scrolls.”

  Joe focused and found that it was easy to send a small amount of Mana to the screen and afterwards, he could manipulate it much like his own. It felt a bit different, but he chalked it up to being a different kind of connection. Once he had the hang of moving through the list, he focused on one that he recognized, Umbral Scout. It was the same Class that Mirabella had.

  While the Class had its merits, Joe was determined to find a Class that no one else around him had. He did not want to double up on a Class that was already in the Party and so far, he was a melee fighter with very limited ranged ability which he was fine with. On a lark, he looked for Elemental Defender, his sister’s Class. He found it fairly quickly and took a look at its description.

  Well Holy shit! That sounds just like Holly. Always protecting those around her. Joe whistled in appreciation. Before the integration, Holly was defense attorney and was always involved in some social justice cause or another. That she chose that specific Class did not surprise Joe in the slightest.

  Getting back on track, he perused Frontiersman for a while, but it focused too heavily on ranged combat. Joe wanted to find something that suited his fighting style with the dual wielding and hit and run style tactics. So, he methodically went through dismissing anything that did not fit his criteria. It took a while as he read through a lot of descriptions to be absolutely sure he did not miss a hidden gem of a Class. Bixby actually fell asleep on the floor next to him, but Master Keeroq stayed firmly engaged watching the screen raptly as Joe went through the list and answering questions about the process.

  Hours passed before he finally settled on deciding between only a few Classes. He had read a huge amount of Class descriptions and eventually removed everything from the list except for, Shadow Blade, Monster Slayer and Umbral Stalker. The decision was tough as each Class had its merits.

  Joe noticed that at the Advanced rank, Shadow Blades may upgrade their Class to something called Grim Reaper. That sounds bad ass, but I’m not sure I want to be an assassin. He studied the next Class on his list.

  Joe was partial to this one since it was already what he had mostly been doing. It also caught his eye that he could later specialize in something specific like Goblin Hunter or Dragon Slayer of which had an advantage for both already. However, it was the last Class that had piqued his interest the most.

  This one had an advanced class called Umbral Slayer which sounded right up Joe’s alley. He read and reread the descriptions and even dove into the Spells and Abilities lists but was unsure of what to choose. Finally, he stretched, stood and nudged Bixby with his foot. “Hey, sleepyhead, I need your advice.” Bixby rose and shook himself and gave Joe an inquisitive look. “I think it’s between Monster Hunter and Umbral Stalker. What do you think?” Bixby studied the screen for a while and finally gave a bark.

  Master Keeroq clapped his hands in delight, “An excellent choice.”

  “Wait. You understood him?” Joe looked on astonished.

  Master Keeroq’s expression changed to one of affront, “Of course. I would be a poor Class Master if I could not communicate with my clients.”

  “Sorry if I offended you. I was just surprised that anyone but me could understand him.”

  “Oh, I think that you will find a good many beings across the dimensions that can speak many beast languages. But, back to the matter at hand. Is Umbral Stalker your choice?” He went back to having his hands steepled and he looked extremely pleased.

  Joe looked down at Bixby who simply cocked his head, and then back to Master Keeroq, “Um, yeah. Yes.” Joe felt an excitement building in himself. The System is here to stay, might as well get what I can out of it. “So, what do I do?”

  Master Keeroq approached Joe and placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder. “Because you are Soulbound to your companion, you will need to include him in your leveling. I suggest that you sit and become comfortable.”

  Joe sat down and settled into the chair.

  “Bixby, please settle here.” Master Keeroq indicated for Bixby to sit next to Joe. “Excellent. Now, young master, please place your hand upon Bixby and get comfortable.”

  Joe let his hand rest on the ruff of Bixby’s neck. He was momentarily reminded that Bixby was much larger than before the integration.

  Once the two were settled, Master Keeroq continued. “First, you will focus on the Class displayed on the screen.” Joe felt the tension in his body lessen and the screen now simply showed the Class name, Umbral Stalker. “Once you have found your focus, gather your Mana and imagine it as a tight ball of energy in your chest.”

  Joe closed his eyes and focused on the Class name and then began to imagine a powerful ball of energy centered over his heart. Mental distractions began almost immediately, and it took him some time to find his center. It was the feel of Bixby’s fur under Joe’s hand that enabled him to relax and feel the energy build.

  “Excellent.” Master Keeroq’s voice took on a soothing melodic tone. “Now, allow the ball of Mana to spread throughout your body, you will feel a shift or pull on the energy. That is your Mana connecting to your collected Experience.”

  Joe let out a slow breath and felt his Mana flow into his limbs and up his torso into his neck and face. He felt vaguely dizzy, but it passed as soon as he felt another energy. It began as the tingle in the back of his head that he felt after killing a monster, but it quickly moved to encapsulate his body, like a second skin.

  “Good. Good. You are doing well.” Master Keeroq continued to guide Joe with his voice and the steady pressure of the Master’s hand on Joe’s shoulder was a comfort. Now allow the Mana and the Experience to fuse while you push both energies towards the image in your mind of the Class you wish to obtain.

  Joe opened his eyes to focus on the text written on the large screen before him. He let the energy cycling through his frame leak out towards the text.

  He pushed when he felt a connection and then the energy shifted once more and it seemed to pour from his chest, mingle in a funnel and reverse itself into him.

  The screen glitched out and a new message appeared.

  Joe sat dazed, staring at the screen. He looked to Master Keeroq whose expression was one of shock. Joe then exchanged a glance with Bixby. After struggling for his voice, he finally belted out, “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!” Even Bixby let out an uncharacteristic bark at the screen.

  Master Keeroq stammered, quite obviously thrown, “I…I… I do not know.” He walked up to the large wall scroll and reverentially ran his hand along the text. In a quiet voice he said, “Impossible.”

  A notice unfurled in front of Joe.

  “I fucking knew it!” Joe seethed. His hands balled into fists as he stood and kicked the desk which flew across the room and smashed into one of the stained-glass windows. The desk shattered but the window remained untouched. A moment later the desk reappeared next to Joe. The sudden appearance of the desk snapped Joe out of his upset long enough for him to take a deep calming breath.

  “Young sir, I understand that you are upset, however please restrain yourself from further violence or I will have to eject you from my Class Room.”