[Salvos] 673. Advancement (Patreon)

673. Advancement

***

[Class Advancement Available]

[Titles Available]

It was finally time. I couldn’t help but grin in excitement as I heard the words reverberate in my mind. I sat alone in my pocket space, surrounded by nothing but the glass walls of my creation that held back the void between the planes.

My eyes fluttered shut, and I focused. It had been a long time since I had undergone a Class advancement. Just like how it had taken a long time for me to reach my most recent Subspecies evolution. It was not easy getting from Level 100 to Level 150.

But now, I had made it, and it was time for me to advance my Class. Sure, I also had a new Title available to me right now. However, I could deal with that later.

First things first—

Requirements for three Class advancements have been met!

“Three, huh?”

I muttered as my voice echoed in [The World Of My Mind]. I placed a hand on my chin, curious.

“I was only given two Subspecies evolution options at first, but then I was given a third one after meeting some requirements…”

I wondered if that could happen again. Although… I was sure that was unlikely. Shaking my head, I turned my attention to my possible Class advancement options, willing them to the fore of my mind.

And my eyes fluttered shut once again as I heard the echoing words.

Class advancement:

[Imperial Dragonguard]

“Interesting… that sounds like the kind of a Class a Kobold would have…”

I rubbed my chin as I heard its name. But for some odd reason, its description didn’t come immediately afterwards like it should have. It was strange, however I didn’t think too much about it.

Instead, my thoughts drifted off to the time I spent in the Plaguelands— to everything I had learn from the Kobolds.

“I do remember Xidra mentioning something like that— how the Dragons went off to fight the corruption. So it makes sense how fighting the corruption would give me this Class…”

I muttered under my breath. And finally, the voice in my head continued, describing the first Class that I was offered.

An [Imperial Dragonguard] is one who has faithfully treaded the path of Dragonkind in repelling the forces of co̷̼̥̹̜͈̩̞̤̬͌́̀̔̌͂̆̉̉̊̊rrup̷̡̧̡̲̦͓̫̗͉̦͉̺̣̟̈̃̅͜͠ţ̷̡̧͎̞̟̣̹̠̜̫̦̰̞̬̖̓͒̕̕͜͝į̵̛̛̭̝̣̹̟̪̙̮̫̯̖̮̦̥̀̔̀̔̾̆́͊̂̎̕̕͘͠͝ͅo̵̦̼͙͈̗̻̤͇̫̰̠̳̿̿̂͋͆̑̀̄͝ͅn. Those who had f-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝ the e-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d -̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝f th-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝ w-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rld -̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̶̡̛̰͈̙̜̫̜̮͈̻͇̼͎͚̟̅͋̀́́̊́́̐̿́̇̉͑̚-̷̧̢̞͚͍͔̪̭̟̠̙͇͖̩̦͍̦̒-̸͓̺̘̞̳̫̞̀͗̀́͆̉͜ ̴̡̥̤̮̥̯̙̗̟̹̭̫͍̝͚̑͒͐̄̒̀̈́́̈́̏̈́̆̒͜͝ͅ-̴̩̬͍̙̐̊̓̄̈́̐̽̕͘̚ ̷̢͚͙͓̮̳̘̘̈́̑̀̒͒̈́̓͐͌͘͜͝-̸̡̛̛̛̗͍̯̫͚̦̳̟̭͉̺̬̋̀̈̒̎̓̃̀̔̕̚͘͝ ̷͇̳͉̦̲̱͚̦̼̞̲͓̯̂̉͗͌͗̌̽̌-̸̧̛̣͉͚͚̹̖͌̾̋́̄͆̎̄̔ ̷̨̺͈̙̗̤̆̾͂̉̈́-̸̡̠͎͑́̽͂͒̑̈́̉̚ ̸̛̻͕͈̰͓͔̝̋̐̈ͅ-̷̡̡͈̝̼͇͎̮͓̫͓͉͖̓̿̊̊̏̓̕ ̶̢̪̹͎̳͎̥̪̥͎͔̱͔̗̘̿͋́̉͋̈̈́͘͘-̴̲̮̤͍̅̀̏̀̓̅͗̇̂͗̃̐̿̕̕͝-̸̧̩̪̳̹̹̥͍̘̺͕̖͆́͆́̒̒̂́̐́̉̍́̆̚̕͠ ̴̛̹̖͔̭̭̫͈̹̰̓̐͊̽́͂̂̄̄̅̌̅̚-̴̧͚̩̻̹͍̲̰̝̯̥̬́ͅ ̴̡̨͓̼̫̹̤̹̟̻͓͚̮̰͙̽̍̍̇̅́̈͌̈́͌̄͛̕͝͝-̷̢̩̦̪̻͚̟͚̱̺̖͔̮́̒̊̒-̶̨̯̖͕̦̩̲͉̖̣̻͍̈͌ͅ-̶̟̠̞͙̣̪̗̜͗͐̋̿̚̚-̴̢̦̥̩̭̬̯͖̤̝̫̭̤̽̔ͅ-̵̨̮͕͕̲̺̲͈͖͔̖̏̓̈́͐̑̒̽͂͛̑̊̚͘̕̚͘̕͜-̵̤̙̈́̇͂̓̽̈́̓͘͘͠ ̴͇̜͍̖̫̰̦̾̿.

My head ached as I heard the words blaring in my mind. It was an incomprehensible gibberish that seemed to shriek. My ears rang, even though it was all in my head. I reeled, and my pocket space shook.

“What… is this?”

I asked through gritted teeth. It was the very first time I had experienced something like this during a Class advancement. Even during a Subspecies evolution, I had never felt this way before. My head pounded like someone was hitting me over and over again with a hammer.

I felt like I was pulling teeth. Like nails were scraping across my skin. I tried to focus on the option I was given again— on what kind of boosts being an [Imperial Dragonguard] would give me. But all I heard in response was a deafening static noise that grated at my mind.

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

“I can’t—”

I spoke through my clenched jaw as [The World Of My Mind] rippled, threatening to break apart. Inside one of the rooms in my pocket space, Ultis and Aliq looked up, watching as my clones reeled and grabbed their heads in synchronous pain. The walls around the two Deathsquad Hunters as they exchanged a glance.

And I disengaged from the Class advancement option. I focused my mind on something else— on anything except for the [Imperial Dragonguard] Class. I stumbled to my feet as I rubbed my temples.

“Just what was that?”

I panted out, asking the question to nobody in particular. Of course, there was no response. I stood there, alone in the main room of [The World Of My Mind].

And my eyes flickered as I sat back down.

“I wonder if—”

I focused on my Class advancements again. But this time, I ignored the [Imperial Dragonguard] option that I was given, instead focusing on the next one I had available. Immediately, just like before, the voice answered, telling me of my potential new Class.

Class advancement:

[The Forerunner Of Space And Time]

And once again, there was a pause. My eyes narrowed at that. I had an inkling as to what was going on. But there was only one way to find out for sure.

“Show me what it does.”

I spoke as I focused on it. And—

[The Forerunner Of Space And Time] is a unique Class that has been left unfilled since Tera-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝… while th-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝re ar-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝ th-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝s-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝ w-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝ had… -̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̶̡̛̰͈̙̜̫̜̮͈̻͇̼͎͚̟̅͋̀́́̊́́̐̿́̇̉͑̚-̷̧̢̞͚͍͔̪̭̟̠̙͇͖̩̦͍̦̒-̸͓̺̘̞̳̫̞̀͗̀́͆̉͜ ̴̡̥̤̮̥̯̙̗̟̹̭̫͍̝͚̑͒͐̄̒̀̈́́̈́̏̈́̆̒͜͝ͅ-̴̩̬͍̙̐̊̓̄̈́̐̽̕͘̚ ̷̢͚͙͓̮̳̘̘̈́̑̀̒͒̈́̓͐͌͘͜͝-̸̡̛̛̛̗͍̯̫͚̦̳̟̭͉̺̬̋̀̈̒̎̓̃̀̔̕̚͘͝ ̷͇̳͉̦̲̱͚̦̼̞̲͓̯̂̉͗͌͗̌̽̌-̸̧̛̣͉͚͚̹̖͌̾̋́̄͆̎̄̔ ̷̨̺͈̙̗̤̆̾͂̉̈́-̸̡̠͎͑́̽͂͒̑̈́̉̚ ̸̛̻͕͈̰͓͔̝̋̐̈ͅ-̷̡̡͈̝̼͇͎̮͓̫͓͉͖̓̿̊̊̏̓̕ ̶̢̪̹͎̳͎̥̪̥͎͔̱͔̗̘̿͋́̉͋̈̈́͘͘-̴̲̮̤͍̅̀̏̀̓̅͗̇̂͗̃̐̿̕̕͝-̸̧̩̪̳̹̹̥͍̘̺͕̖͆́͆́̒̒̂́̐́̉̍́̆̚̕͠ ̴̛̹̖͔̭̭̫͈̹̰̓̐͊̽́͂̂̄̄̅̌̅̚-̴̧͚̩̻̹͍̲̰̝̯̥̬́ͅ ̴̡̨͓̼̫̹̤̹̟̻͓͚̮̰͙̽̍̍̇̅́̈͌̈́͌̄͛̕͝͝-̷̢̩̦̪̻͚̟͚̱̺̖͔̮́̒̊̒-̶̨̯̖͕̦̩̲͉̖̣̻͍̈͌ͅ-̶̟̠̞͙̣̪̗̜͗͐̋̿̚̚-̴̢̦̥̩̭̬̯͖̤̝̫̭̤̽̔ͅ-̵̨̮͕͕̲̺̲͈͖͔̖̏̓̈́͐̑̒̽͂͛̑̊̚͘̕̚͘̕͜-̵̤̙̈́̇͂̓̽̈́̓͘͘͠ ̴͇̜͍̖̫̰̦̾̿.-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝-̸̧̩̪̳̹̹̥͍̘̺͕̖͆́͆́̒̒̂́̐́̉̍́̆̚̕͠ ̴̛̹̖͔̭̭̫͈̹̰̓̐͊̽́͂̂̄̄̅̌̅̚-̴̧͚̩̻̹͍̲̰̝̯̥̬́ͅ ̴̡̨͓̼̫̹̤̹̟̻͓͚̮̰͙̽̍̍̇̅́̈͌̈́͌̄͛̕͝͝-̷̢̩̦̪̻͚̟͚̱̺̖͔̮́̒̊̒-̶̨̯̖͕̦̩̲͉̖̣̻͍̈͌ͅ-̶̟̠̞͙̣̪̗̜͗͐̋̿̚̚-̴̢̦̥̩̭̬̯͖̤̝̫̭̤̽̔ͅ

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

-̶͈̰̝̥̜̹̐̔̐̊͒͌̐̃͐̓͠-̷̢̪͕̲͓̦̱̘̬̹̥̙͕̬͋̒-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝

…

And once again, I recoiled, screaming in pain. But this time, I was prepared for it, so I managed to snap out of my stupor quicker. I knelt there, heaving out in exhaustion as I tried to calm myself.

“I… see.”

Something was wrong with my Class advancement options. I couldn’t comprehend them because they had been corrupted. Or so I thought.

I didn’t know for certain what had happened. But what I knew for sure was that if I even thought about accepting them, I was thrust into immense pain. My pocket space felt like cracking under the pressure of whatever this strange sensation was supposed to be.

And I knew I couldn’t accept either of these Classes so far without any repercussions.

Pursing my lips, I looked down into the fold between the planes. All the objects that were floating in status between the Mortal Realm and the Netherworld— from the random trinkets like coins and jewelry to more complex items like bits of statues or even entire buildings— if [The World Of My Mind] collapsed, I would be thrown out there as well.

Without any protection, I didn’t think I would survive the pressure from being crushed between the planes. So it was too risky for me to experiment and accept either [The Forerunner Of Space And Time] or [Imperial Dragonguard] as a Class. That was not to mention the fact that I didn’t know what was going to happen if I accepted them, considering I didn’t even know their full descriptions, or what Stats they offered me.

“...but I still have one more Class advancement option left.”

I whispered as I looked back down at myself. My first two Class advancement options sounded like they could be good, but they weren’t a consideration for now.

“Perhaps I spent too much time… um, acclimating to the corruption.”

I sighed, considering my Status. I had multiple Skills that wielded the corruption as a power. Even to defeat Hartia, I trapped him in a box, surrounded by a blanket of corruption. And considering that the corruption was literally what was responsible for bringing about the end of the world, it did make sense that there were some drawbacks to abusing its powers.

“Well, it’s too late to stop now, right? Anyway, let’s see what my third Class advancement option could be.”

And I focused once again, preparing to be struck by a wave of pain once more. But this time, when I heard the Class, there was no hesitation in the words that were said, even if it came out disjointed.

Class advancement:

[C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝]

A [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝] is a hitherto Class that has never existed before in the history of the Nexeus. Having not only survived the end of the world, a [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝] has also learned how to harness its power, even with the unwilling side effects of proliferating its destruction of creation. And while a [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝] can find great power, they will never be able to return back from this path they have paved…

+60 [Vitality]

+60 [Strength]

+60 [Endurance]

+60 [Wisdom]

+60 [Agility]

Bonus: All corrupted entities will ignore your presence unless provoked.

“Huh.”

I listened to the Class as its description was read out to me in its entirety. There was no screeching noise in my head, and there was no immeasurable pain. And hearing what it had to offer me, I considered it for a moment.

“On one hand, it sounds interesting. And it gives me 60 to all my Stats. Even my [Angelic Devil Princess] evolution didn’t offer that much. But on the other hand, it’s like I’m being told to pick this Class, and I don’t like that…”

Then there were also the consequences of picking this Class to consider. It was like I was going down the exact opposite route I had started. From someone who was trying to protect the world against the corruption, to someone who was now part of the corruption.

Except… I never really cared about stopping the corruption in the first place. And that was why I had found it so difficult to make a choice for my Class when I first reached Level 100, taking my sweet time to eventually choose [Draconic Apprentice].

“I mean, I could wait now too. Maybe speak with my dad about this Class, because I’m sure he has opinions.”

I muttered to myself, before pausing.

“But considering that he’s fighting the end of the world, I doubt I’ll see him any time again soon.”

However, beyond that, I didn’t find myself feeling too apprehensive about choosing this Class. I liked it. It was a Class that had never existed before— meaning, it was a Class I had created. And I kind of liked that idea.

It wasn’t even just like having a unique Class or Subspecies. It was becoming the first of a kind. While I would have liked for the [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝] to be unique too, nothing about its decsription seemed to indicate that to be the case.

“Well, I don’t feel like waiting for my dad to come back to ask him questions, and that Stat boost would be really useful right now, especially against Regnorex and his goons. So…”

I tilted my head back as I shrugged.

“What’s the worst that could happen, right?”

And with that said, I focused on [C-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝rr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝pt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝d Appr-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝nt-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝c-̴̨̯͍̜̘̼̣̯͚̘̹̪̘͙͌̾͆̚͝]. While I was certainly curious about what [The Forerunner Of Space And Time] or [Imperial Dragonguard] would have offered me, I wasn’t going to get myself killed to find out. It wasn’t worth it, and it certainly wasn’t going to be as good as an option. So I accepted my only option, before hearing the words reverberate in my mind as my pocket space rippled once again.

Advancement Complete—

Author's Notes:

There were some minor errors in the last chapter which I quickly fixed. 

What thonk? Thanks for reading.

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