Iskar decided to inspect the new ability. He opened the notification and checked its description.
[Spectral Chain]
Just from the name, he knew where it came from. It seemed the 1% chance to absorb an ability from the Absorb skill had finally worked.
[Spectral Chains]
[Unleash hooked chains that can pull a soul from its physical vessel and trap it.]
He focused on the ability in his mind.
"[Spectral Chains]."
Instantly, two chains of dark purple energy materialized in the air before him, coiling like serpents. They were thicker and darker than the phantoms' blue chains. He willed them to extend, and they lengthened, hooks glinting with a malevolent light.
But he noticed something else, his energy was dropping rapidly. He dismissed the chains.
Energy: 150/360
"Half my energy?" he muttered. He had only summoned them for a few seconds. That cost more than half his total energy reserve.
Though he saw the number begin to tick up slowly, moving to 151. 'Is this my Limbo body's passive energy absorption at work?' It was a small comfort.
Still, he grinned. At least he now had a ranged, magical attack. It gave him some variety in combat.
Finally, he turned his attention to the Class prompt. He selected it, and a long message appeared.
[A Class is a foundational path granted by the Core of Oronth. It defines your specialization and grants structured growth. On this world, children receive their Class at the age of 9, allowing them to develop their abilities in a focused manner. A Class is determined by an individual's innate powers, bloodline, physique, personality, and deepest desires. This alignment ensures the Class is a true reflection of the individual. The primary importance of a Class is that it unlocks the inherent ability to shape and utilize Magical Energy directly, beyond the use of simple skills. This is why the awakening occurs early, to maximize growth potential.]
Iskar read the entire message and raised an eyebrow. "Age of nine... So I should have had one already." He sighed, the anomaly of his situation becoming clearer.
But his smile returned. It seemed he wouldn't have to choose; the system would assign a Class based on his nature.
While part of him worried about getting something useless, he pushed the thought aside. At this point, any Class was better than none. He was ready to see what path the system had deemed his own.
Iskar clicked on the prompt.
[Are you sure you want to awaken a Class?]
[Y/N]
He selected 'Yes' without hesitation. Instantly, his vision went dark.
Suddenly, Iskar found himself standing in a vast desert. A harsh wind whipped sand against him, stinging even through his bandages. The sky was a swirling, oppressive gray.
In the distance, he saw a single figure.
He began moving toward it. The figure mirrored him, walking closer. Iskar increased his pace to a jog. The figure did the same.
A sense of urgency gripped him, and he broke into a full sprint. The figure sprinted toward him as well. The desert scenery blurred at the edges as he ran faster than should have been possible.
Suddenly, he collided with an invisible barrier. The impact sent him stumbling backward, and he landed hard on the sand, his head spinning as he stared up at the turbulent sky.
The figure was now standing over him. A voice spoke, layered and echoing, but most of the words were lost, swallowed by the howling wind. Only a few fragments reached him clearly, "...The Limbo is Dying... The Fateless ones have been chosen..."
Then, everything went dark again.
He sat up with a jolt, back in the silent temple. The cold stone was solid beneath him.
'What was that?' he thought, his mind racing. 'That figure... it looked like the Unnamed Speaker from the Limbo. And what are the Fateless? How can a Limbo be dying? Isn't it a place between worlds? Can a universe die?'
He cleared his head, rubbing his bandaged temples.
A new set of notifications appeared, pulling him from his thoughts.
[You have Awakened A Class]
[+5 Physical Power]
[+5 Magical Power]
[+5 Spirit]
He could feel the change immediately. The raw energy within his body was now a tangible presence, like a new limb he had always possessed but was only now aware of.
Before, activating [Absorb] had been an instinct, a reflex. Now, he could consciously feel the magical energy swirling through his body, pooling in his bones and sinews. It was a resource he could grasp and command.
He could control it, direct it, and move it around his body with a thought. Excited to see the changes, he quickly opened his status.
═══════════════════
Name: Iskar Sirius
Age: 1[Body] 10,000[Soul]
Race: Primordial Undead [Mummy]
Level: 10 (0%)
Overall Tier: 1 [F] (Lower Realm)
═══════════════════
Physical Power: 41 > 46[F]
Magical Power: 41 > 46[F]
Spirit: 36 > 41
Energy: 360 > 410
Unallocated points: 0
═══════════════════
CLASS: Eternal Dune Lord(Warrior-Mage)
'Eternal Dune Lord.' He nodded. The name sounded strong. Anything with 'Lord' had to be powerful, and adding 'Eternal' made it even more imposing. It gave him a sense of legitimacy, a title that matched his newfound strength.
But he noticed something. Despite his Physical and Magical Power reaching 46, he was still F-rank and Tier 1. 'Maybe the threshold is 50,' he thought. It was an even number, and it made sense. He hoped breaking through would elevate him to the next tier.
Curious about his Class, he clicked on it.
[Eternal Dune Lord]
[A Undead of the scorching dark sandy deathlands, forged from sand, tempered by fire, commanding darkness, and embracing death itself. This is a Battle Mage variation class.]
The description was vague but intriguing. It sounded... good? He wasn't entirely sure what it entailed, but when he scrolled further, he saw a list of abilities. His smile widened. This was more like it.
The first ability caught his attention.
[Eternal Healing]
Your body is made of sand and linen, healing instantly as it is hurt. Heavy wounds heal slower.
This was a fantastic ability. None of his recent fights had caused serious physical injuries, but he knew there would be tougher challenges ahead, both inside the temple and outside. Eternal Healing would keep him in the fight.
Next, he saw four categories: [Sand Magic], [Shadow Magic], [Fire Magic], and [Death Magic]. At first, he thought it was just a broad grouping, but when he clicked on Sand Magic, he saw specific abilities listed.
[Sand Magic]
Your affinity with the Earth's soil is high and mighty. You can command sand to perform mystical feats. Sand Magic, Fire Magic, and other elemental magics refer to techniques or spells under their respective elements, as well as abilities related to them.
Under Sand Magic, he saw three abilities:
[Sand Travel]
Burrow into the sand and travel at 10 times your full sprinting speed. Can sense sounds and vibrations underground. Cost: 10 Magical Energy per second.
This was a great ability for mobility. He could move quickly and stealthily under the sand, though the energy cost was steep.
[Sand Constructs]
Harden sand to form any tool or weapon you desire. Energy cost depends on the size and complexity of the object.
He loved this one. If he lacked a weapon or tool, he could create it on the spot. It added versatility to his combat style.
[Sand Storm]
Command a sandstorm, ranging from sand tornados to sand fog that blinds enemies. Initial energy cost depends on the size and duration of the storm.
This was a powerful area-control ability. While the energy cost would vary, it gave him a way to manipulate the battlefield to his advantage.
He was impressed with what he saw so far. These sand-based abilities alone were incredibly versatile, and he still had three more categories to explore, Darkness, Fire, and Death Magic. The thought of what else awaited him filled him with excitement.
He was progressing rapidly, and it felt good. The Eternal Dune Lord Class wasn't just impressive in name, it was shaping up to be a formidable force in practice. Now, he just needed to test these abilities in real combat.
Wanting to move on, he pressed the [Fire Magic] tab.
The first ability listed was straightforward.
[Fireball]
Form a ball of fire and launch it at a target. Larger fireballs consume more energy.
This was another useful skill. It gave him a reliable ranged attack that he could scale to the threat.
[Fire Attacks]
Coat your physical attacks with fire to increase their damage. Energy cost depends on the size of the object or body part being imbued.
[Fire Immunity]
You are immune to damage from your own fire and from mundane fire. Magical fire from other sources can still harm you, though with reduced effectiveness.
He nodded. It made sense. The immunity protected him from his own spells and normal flames, which was essential. He could easily imagine trying to punch an enemy with a flaming fist only to burn his own arm off. This was a practical safeguard.
The Fire abilities were not as numerous as the Sand ones, but they were solid. Combined with the Sand Magic, it was starting to make sense why the class was named Eternal Dune Lord. The combination of earth and fire was potent.
He now moved to the last two categories, starting with [Darkness Magic].
The name itself felt ominous, as did the upcoming [Death Magic]. They were clearly on the darker side of the power spectrum.
Personally, he did not care. Power was power. As long as he had it, he would use it freely. Limiting himself based on some vague concept of morality would be a foolish weakness.
He clicked on Darkness Magic. The description appeared.
[Darkness Magic]
You have an affinity for the absence of light and the shadows it creates. You can command darkness to perform mystical feats.
Underneath, he saw the specific abilities.