Frostbound [LitRPG Apocalypse]

Chris

Hudson Bay

I had reached the cap. With the final level, I was now level 100 in both my Class and Profession.

It felt... satisfying.

Instead of rushing to take a peek at what my options were, I instead sat down and took a breath. I watched the Formation get to work and just took everything in.

The waves splashed against the ice, snow fell from the sky, and the cold became increasingly frigid. I even threw a handful of crystals into it to boost its power.

With a small flex of will, the loose snow that had already dusted the area swirled together and formed into a chair to sit in. One that was closer to a bean bag than anything, and was surprisingly comfortable. Leaving the snow unpacked let it contour to my body.

I had gotten good at making them.

I had spent a long while getting here, and it felt nice to finally reach it. Even if it had taken longer than I thought.

Back when I first reached level 100 in my Class, I held off on looking at my options. It was mostly superstition, but now that both were ready, the same didn't apply.

Let's take a gander.

I pulled up my Profession first. It was going to be the lower of the two.

~~

Apprentice Wardsmith(Uncommon)

Journeyman Armorsmith(Rare)

Journeyman Weaponsmith(Rare)

Journeyman Runecrafter(Rare)

Journeyman Runesmith(Rare)

~~

I knew Epic was a pipedream, but a part of me couldn't help but be disappointed. Rare was good. Great even, but it still felt like a letdown. Not many had Rare Professions. Not many had Rare Classes, either, but...

I wanted more.

I peeked at my Class options next, but tempered my expectations going in. Mythical wasn't going to happen. Don't even get your hopes up.

The first option was Epic, and I knew then Mythic wasn't on the list. Well, I knew going in, but still... Rarities only ever spanned one gap. Of the five options, only two successive Rarities would be an option, and if the first of them was Epic, the only other option was Legendary.

Still, I looked on.

~~

Warrior Baron(Epic)

Some of those who rise above and receive a Noble Title lead from the back. Strategists or Commanders, who seek to manipulate the battlefield or inspire from the rear. You, instead, lead from the front. A mixture of both Warrior and Leader. A Warrior Barron has skills of both, with a focus on combining the two.

Requirements: Baron Title, Leader of a growing Faction, Strong Warrior feats, respect from those under your Command.

+24 Strength, +12 Agility, +7 Perception, +18 Fortitude, +15 Endurance, +10 Vitality, +4 Intelligence, +8 Wisdom, +4 Acumen, +10 Free

~~

It was physical heavy, due to its Warrior nature, but other than that, not much going for it stat wise. The skills it hinted at being available also didn't wow me. It was promising that my idea of leading from the Vanguard resulted in something, though.

I hadn't expected that to influence things.

~~

Arctic Bastion (Epic)

You have created a bastion of safety in a sea of danger. An oasis from harm that you seek to impose for as long as you stand. Protect others under your banner and keep them from harm with a multitude of defensive skills. For the few who try to breach the oasis you've created, they will learn that defenses are not all this bastion has.

Requirements: Baron Title, Leader of a Noble Ranked Faction, sought to protect and secure, feats of protection, and willingness to put yourself first into the fire.

+15 Strength, +7 Agility, +5 Perception, +26 Fortitude, +15 Endurance, +15 Vitality, +12 Wisdom, +7 Acumen +10 Free

~~

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The next Epic Class wasn't as interesting. It was a diverging path away from the Classes I had taken previously towards a more defensive and protective one. The option didn't upset me, as if every Class offered was the same line I was already walking, it would make it impossible to branch out.

Heavy defensive stats were featured, and it was obvious that the skills would follow that nature. It was funny that it interpreted my need to kill things fast enough as an act of protection, but it technically wasn't wrong.

~~

Everlasting Cold(Epic)

Your ability to outlast opponents, be it a horde or singular foes, has been proven again and again. Improve not only your body's ability, but also that of your ice, to outlast any who might seek to destroy it. Leave your mark on the world in such a way that even after centuries have passed, it will remain Everlasting.

Requirements: Strong Ice affinity, Tier 2 Law of Ice, Body of Stone, many feats of Endurance, and grasped the Cold as your weapon.

+10 Strength, +5 Agility, +3 Perception, +20 Fortitude, +33 Endurance, +10 Vitality, +5 Intelligence, +10 Wisdom, +5 Acumen +10 Free

~~

This Class instead focused on Endurance rather than strictly defense, but that didn't mean it also didn't lean that way. Of the three Epic Classes offered, the first kept my focus the same and leaned toward Strength, the second leaned defensive and focused on Fortitude, and the third focused on Endurance.

While some would see the line about 'leaving my mark on the world' as a heavy incentive to choose it, I didn't really feel that way. I didn't fight Demons or Orcs so that I could leave a 'mark'. I did it because it endangered myself and my family if I didn't.

I didn't need a legacy. I didn't need to be immortalized. Protecting my family was enough for me. They would be my legacy, and if I ever got around to having kids, those would hopefully carry me on.

After the three Epics came the more interesting ones. The Legendary.

~~

Warden of the North(Legendary)

You have defended and protected. Led and inspired. Punished and enforced. The value of a true leader is in those who have led from the Vanguard in every battle. The first to bleed and the last to retreat. When people look to you for courage, you must stand tall even in the worst of times and have the strength for those who do not. A Leader and Warrior in equal measure, with skills for both.

Requirements: Strong Ice affinity, a Noble Title, Leader of a growing Faction, hold Values of Tyr.

+32 Strength, +10 Agility, +4 Perception, +25 Fortitude, +25 Endurance, +15 Vitality, +17 Free

~~

~~

Son of Frost(Legendary)

Your body contains a hint, albeit infinitesimally faint, of the Primordial Frost reminiscent of that which was present before the Universe was born. Harness that essence and lean into it, turning your already impressive connection with the Cold even more so. The further you go, the more your body, spirit, and soul will thrive in environments like it.

Requirements: Extremely Strong Ice affinity, Tier 2 Law of Ice, a faint hint of the Essence of Primordial Frost.

+24 Strength, +12 Agility, +10 Perception, +24 Fortitude, +10 Endurance, +8 Vitality, +6 Intelligence, +11 Wisdom, +6 Acumen +15 Free

~~

The Classes were much more motivating than the Professions. Even though neither offered an increase in rarity, the stat point difference alone was quite substantial. Throughout all of E-rank, I achieved 3,200 stat points from my Legendary Class Hammer of the Jotnar. I only received 2,400 from my Rare Profession Runesmith. An 800-point difference.

The gap would be worse in D-rank. Over the 100 levels, the distance would grow to 12,800 points from my Class, and 9,600 from my Profession. A much larger 3,200-point difference.

Focusing back on the Classes themselves, though, there was already one I favored over the other. I knew going into the evolution that my putting off of Leadership abilities another time was not the best decision.

Only one of the two offered what I was after.

Son of Frost sounded great. If the path I was already on was what I intended to continue down, it wouldn't have even been a choice. It didn't sound like Son of Frost offered weapon or armor skills, but my previous two Classes were enough to fill out those already.

The stat distribution was another positive. It focused on Strength and Fortitude, which I was already doing. A bit more evenly than I had been, but that was fine.

It was great, an option I would choose any other time, just not this time.

I will have another chance to pick something along the same line at C-rank. If not then, than at B-rank.

Pure Warrior Classes had gotten me to where I was, but now it was time to branch out. I had seen what Leadership abilities could do during the test. The Admiral, specifically, could do some pretty outlandish things for his men, but he wasn't the only one.

Other Faction Heads and Leaders had Skills I had ignored, and it had shown me what I was missing. While I still believed dedicated Champions would be the way of the future rather than mass armies, what if those Champions got a boost?

Making the ones who stand out even more powerful?

If the end goal was godhood, I had plenty of evolutions to refocus on Warrior. Four, to be exact.

Warden of the North was the one I would choose.

After giving all of my options a once-over, I closed the window and focused back on my surroundings. After rushing, studying, and taking in everything I could, it felt good to relax. It felt like I had been pounding away at the forge for a decade.

Legendary and Rare will get me the same stat points as Austin.

It was not a comment meant to put Austin down, but one that made me realize that while I had a great Class, my lacking Profession made it so others who focused on both, while not reaching the same heights, could match me.

Not in Skills, as the ones from a Legendary Class were objectively better, but in stats.

In straight stat points, someone with Epic in both was a match for someone with a Legendary/Rare mix.

Common Classes were the baseline. For D-rank, they gave 64 stat points per level. Uncommon was a 25% boost to 80, a 50% boost to 96 at Rare, a 75% to 112 at Epic, and a pure doubling at Legendary to 128.

If the balance was even more skewed, like someone with a Legendary Class but Common Profession, they would be equal -in stats alone- to someone with both Rare.

Can I push it to Epic?

The thought was one I'd had before, but I always put it off to focus on things at hand rather than wasting time on the future. Now that I was here, I couldn't put it off again.

1,600 stat points. Over 100 levels, Rare is 1,600 stat points fewer.

Now, it wouldn't be all in one stat and spread out over a bunch, but even if it were spread evenly over all nine, that was still nearly a 200-point difference. 200 points wasn't insurmountable. Body level, Law, Spirit Anchor, Skills. They would all bridge that gap. Some more easily than others, but all of them would do it.

200 base stat points, I added. With [Battle Fury], [Weight of the Arctic], and [Glacial Presence], that 200 points would turn into much more. Something like 350, depending on how cold it was. That wasn't even considering my two passives, as those were only tacked on when Strength or Endurance increased and my Profession didn't give a lot of those points. I didn't see that changing much after the evolution.

Is it worth it, though? The time I take to do it could be used to level further. Just 13 Class levels would net me that many. Can I push my Profession enough that it would be faster than leveling 13 times?

I didn't know. I didn't like the indecisiveness I felt. Not one bit.

I ran my mind in circles trying to weigh my options. To wait or not to wait. I sat in the snow and thought about it so long it felt like my head was steaming.

I was no closer to a decision than I was when I began.