Adrenaline Junkie [Book 2 Complete]

Chapter 181 - D-Grade Class Selection



Pulling himself out of his short-lived funk, Archie clicked the Evolution Ready button and was greeted with many system prompts.

D-Grade Class Evolution
You have shown a high amount of talent, having slain various creatures, sentient and non-sentient. Your unyielding will to survive, even when facing enemies far above your level, has been permanently etched into your Records. You have shown notable proficiency in multiple forms of melee combat, with Martial Combat as your primary discipline, Spiritualism as your secondary, and One-Handed Ranged Weapons as your tertiary specialization. As a result of all you have accomplished within E-Grade, you are presented with 5 Class Evolutions.

"Yeah, that sounds right," Archie muttered as he looked at the first option that popped out in front of him.

Crimson Berserker:
The Crimson Berserker is the embodiment of a being with both unrestrained brutality and bloodlust. Bathed in the blood of their enemies and driven by instinct, they are a predator on the battlefield. Their fists become engines of carnage, and the more they bleed or brawl, the more devastating they become. Reason is eclipsed by ferocity, and every strike they take and deal strengthens them. Skill Gained: Blood Haze (Common). Stats per level: +20 Str, +15 Vit, +15 End, +8 Will, +6 Agi, +10 Free Points. Free Points. Warning: Some class Skills linked to the Nature-Attuned Pugilist class will likely be removed and or replaced.

Damn, the System really wants me to become some sort of berserker, Archie chuckled to himself. But, unfortunately, I dislike anything that messes with my mental. Even with the 74 stats it's offering per level, which is 24 stats above the minimum E-Grade classes can offer out of 90.

Not to mention that the class description gives no mention of spiritualism or spirits in general, Archie sighed. And according to the General Information Pamphlet about 'Class and Profession Evolutions,' that typically means that the chance of spiritualism and Soul Bond being included in the class is zero percent.

All in all, next, Archie muttered before moving on to the next option.

Mana Gunslinger:
The Mana Gunslinger is a gunslinger who chose to pursue the path of mana-infused firearms, specifically Revolvers, but when ammunition runs out, they do not shy away from using fisticuffs. With steady hands and a keen eye, they control the battlefield from close to medium range combat, eliminating threats before they can close in, and if they do, they are met with fisticuffs. Patient and disciplined, they depend on skill and timing rather than sheer brute force, making every shot count. Skill Gained: One-Handed Ranged Weapon Mastery (Initiate). Stats per level: +18 Per, +14 Dex, +12 Wis, +10 End, +8 Vit, +10 Free Points.

Hmm, Archie thought as he read through the Class description. Would this be the ranger equivalent of the Ironbound Class I got offered way back when I looked through my E-Grade Class Options?

It seemed similar in spirit, a straightforward path, built around the mantra: hit hard, endure harder. Where Ironbound thrived by diving headfirst into chaos and using whatever was on hand to hit hard and endure harder, this Class felt like the ranged mirror. Burn through every bullet, every bolt, every last drop of mana, then when you run out, use your fists to clean up.

Honestly, it doesn't look bad at all, Archie mused. There was no mention of him losing access to his current Class skills, and while it offered slightly fewer stats per level than Crimson Berserker, 72 compared to 74, it was still a solid contender.

The only real drawback? He'd have to tweak his fighting style by quite a bit. The stat spread leaned heavily toward ranged combat, meaning it'd favor shoot first, punch later, a large shift from his usual fighting style.

Normally, he'd use his Mana Revolver to either set up an attack or quickly deliver the final blow.

Now, while Gun Fu sounds like a cool thing to try out, I'll leave this class on the back burner for now, Archie noted before pushing the panel to the right and looking at the third option.

Ashborne Herald:

The Ashborne Herald is not one who walks across a battlefield and fights for a cause; no, they are masters of provocation, manipulation, and calculated devastation, their presence alone sows unrest among armies and nations alike. They are tacticians, demagogues, and arsonists of civilization's order. With words as sharp as blades and strategies that twist honor into ruin, the Ashborne Herald doesn't fight wars, they create them and reap the rewards caused by them. Skill Gained: Spark of Havoc (Common). Stats per level: +20 Per, +18 Int, +14 Will, +12 Vit, +8 End, +12 Free Points.

Warning: Some class Skills linked to the Nature-Attuned Pugilist class will likely be removed and or replaced.

"Oh, wow," Archie muttered out loud, getting a brow raise from Bralmir and curious looks from Volos and Arsenic. "Why would I ever get this Class option?"

"What do you mean?" Bralmir asked while lifting his legs and placing them atop his table.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"I got offered a Class called Ashborne Herald," Archie muttered before taking out his General Information Pamphlet about 'Class and Profession Evolutions' and flipping through its pages to show off its description within it. "Here lemme show you. I remember seeing it in here when I was skimming through it."

"Being called a Herald is no joke," Bralmir stated while running his hand through his beard and pulling out chunks of metal from within it. "Depending on which one offered to you, almost every faction would want you."

"This one sounds like it wants me to cause war and destruction via political warfare and sabotage. I don't know why it would be offered to me, I hate politics," Archie shrugged, handing Bralmir the Ashborne Herald page within the General Information Pamphlet about 'Class and Profession Evolutions'.

Less than a second after Archie handed Bralmir the General Information Pamphlet, he broke out laughing, full-on knee slapping and all.

"What?" Archie asked him after Bralmir continued to laugh for a full minute and a half. But instead of getting Bralmir to stop, he'd unintentionally caused him to break into even more boisterous laughter.

Archie let out a sigh as Bralmir continued to laugh. Turning to face Volos and Arsenic, they looked to be just as confused as him.

'You. In. Ashen Circle?' Volos asked him, using his feet to sign.

"No, I'm not in an Ashen elemental gang that goes around and colonizes planets to make them into super volcanoes because an ancient cloud of ash told them to," Archie answered with an eye roll.

'You. In. Moon-Touched Kin?' Arsenic asked him, using his antennae to sign.

"Do I look like a Dark Elf?" Archie retorted. "You know they kill anyone who isn't a Dark Elf, so how would I be affiliated with them?"

Volos shrugged before both he and his brother went back to devouring meat and cheese slices.

"Ah… Ah, I needed that. Thank you," Bralmir said as his laughter came to a halt. "But you seriously don't know why you're being offered this Class?"

"I don't," Archie answered, trying to go through his own memories on how he could have gotten this Class as an option for him.

"So, you don't remember causing a war?" Bralmir smirked, bringing his own mug to his lips.

"What war?" Archie asked, genuinely becoming confused. "Do you mean the one in the Group Tutorial? Where it was Oliver's Camp vs William's? because if that's the case, I'm pretty sure I just ended it, not started it."

"No, no, no," Bralmir replied slowly. "Ah, this is so good. You probably don't remember because of all that happened to you at the time. But, here let me give you a hint: Wall."

Wall?... Archie thought, looking lost in thought as he rummaged through his own memories once more. If he was being honest, his memory post-being-cursed was extremely hazy, especially towards the end.

Suddenly, the memory of an ear-piercing shriek, a cave-in, and a blue-skinned girl pulling roots out of his eyes surfaced. "Ah!... Oh…"

"Oh, indeed," Bralmir chuckled. "You weren't even three months into your integration when you caused an all-out war between two D-Grade kingdoms… Oh, how the young grow so fast."

"Well, it was the only thing I could think of at the time," Archie said, trying to defend himself. "But anyways, I don't think this Class would suit me well, even if it is offering me 84 stats per level. It's way too political and a bit too Supervillain megalomaniac for me."

"Well, I don't know. Sounds like a perfect fit for someone who caused a war," Bralmir shot at him.

"Har har har," Archie eye rolled as he dismissed the third option and went to see the fourth option offered to him.

Blazing Fighter:
The Blazing Fighter channels their relentless rage with the fury of flame through their own body, turning fists into weapons of destruction. They are deadly at close range and fueled by burning resolve, their explosive strikes can scorch armor and bone alike. Their flames ignite with each strike they send, and once ignited, the flames are easily spread to anyone or anything nearby them. The Blazing Fighter thrives on the heat of combat, growing stronger as the fight intensifies, turning the battlefield into a sea of flames. Stats per level: +20 Str, +18 End, +15 Vit, +6 Agi, +4 Wis, +10 Free Points.

WARNING: Some skills pertaining to the Nature-Attuned Pugilist will be lost & Your Affinity will be changed from Greater Nature Affinity (Epic) to Flame Affinity (Uncommon).

Okay, this one makes immediate sense, considering almost every core I used for Soul Bond was a Fire Affinity one, Archie noted. But there is no mention of spirits and spiritualism in the Class description. And there is also the huge red flag of my Affinity being changed from Nature to Fire, a really shitty Fire one.

While 77 stats per level sounds great, losing my sick ass Nature Affinity and probably by Spirit Bond ruins it all, Archie thought, dismissing the option. Hopefully, this next option is at least a bit better than Mana Gunslinger, the last one is

Spirit Brawler of Nature:
A Spirit Brawler of Nature is a warrior who combines their raw martial prowess with both their deep connection to both the spirits and prodigious Nature Affinity. As such, their bodies, already hardened by countless battles, are further empowered by the spirits they have chosen to temporarily bond with. Depending on the spirit or spirits they have bonded with, they are able to fight with brutal force, natural grace, or a shifting blend of both. By weaving their spiritual connection and Nature Affinity directly into their brawling style, they gain the ability to strike reactively, control the battlefield, and defend with instinctive adaptability. Stats per level: +20 Str, +15 Vit, +15 End, +10 Agi, +5 Int, +5 Will +10 Free Points.

Archie let out a sigh of relief, mentally thanking the System for not letting him down. 80 stats per level, spiritualism still intact, and fighting style unchanged. While it was unfortunate that there was no mention of his revolver, it made sense as he'd only used it a handful of times.

It was something he planned on rectifying as he progressed through D-Grade.

Selecting the Spirit Brawler of Nature option, instead of being greeted with the notification of him reaching Level 100 in his new Class, he was greeted with another panel.

D-Grade Class Selection:
You have selected Spirit Brawler of Nature as your D-Grade Class. To unlock this class, you must complete the trials presented to you and fulfill all the given requirements. Only when these are fully completed will your D-Grade Class Trials be marked as complete, and you will be granted Spirit Brawler of Nature as your D-Grade Class.

Do you wish to begin your trial?

"Yes," Archie muttered, and the last thing he saw before blanking out was:

Good Luck!


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