NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Class change
I'm The Lowly Villain In The Game | Chapter 10
「Class change」
4th floor of the labyrinth of Vanitas.
"KWEEKK!"
Pivoting my feet, I direct a sequence of slashes at a goblin soldier. The poor green creature was left with no choice but to defend my relentless pursuit. Unfortunately, there was no way it could defend against my attacks.
"GRRRKKK!"
In a last desperate attempt, the soldier raised his sword and strikes at me with a guttural shriek. I avoid it by sidestepping. The sword hit the air, touching the ground as a disappointing thud resonated in the quiet corridor. I take my sword and drive it to the goblin's neck, decapitating it.
SPURT—
A fountain of blood spewed as the goblin motionlessly fell to the ground. Soon, it turned into a magic stone.
I took the magic stone and threw it into my backpack. My bag was almost full. I might throw away the 3rd-floor magic stones to make up space.
Nothing changed.
There were no differences between the 3rd and 4th floors. It was the same goblin soldier but one level higher. The interior was also the same. No changes in that. I just had to repeat what I did for the past 2 hours.
I forgot how grindy this was. Well, I had a reason to get stronger. But still, this is getting repetitive. I should get my class so I could get some leeway.
SWOOSH—
A cloud of black smoke began converging in front of me. I heave a sigh and drew my sword, taking a stance. When the goblin emerged, I told it my worries.
"I hope you can entertain me for a while, or else this is going to get boring rather quickly."
[Level increased!]
"Phew…"
I wipe the sweat on my face with my hands. I was starting to get used to this. Level 5 in two days was an impressive pace, even in the game. However, past the 5th floor, monsters would start using skills, increasing the difficulty even further.
There was a limit to how much I could do as a solo. Vanitas Online didn't encourage it since the difficulty was impossible. Parties and companions are needed, especially on the deeper floors of the labyrinth.
But who could I ask? Classmates are a no go obviously, they hate my guts as much as I hate theirs. Amy is an option but I would prefer someone else. I don't want to risk my sister's life. Parents are… They'll be hard to convince and they also work.
I couldn't exactly trust my life to another stranger too. This wasn't like in the game where I could make random parties out of the same interest. Player killing still exists, whether in the game or reality.
I wasn't in much of a hurry to find a partner or party. For now, my limit should be around the 20th floor in terms of going solo. The main reason for that floor is because status effects are much more likely to screw you over. Things such as 「Decay」, 「Fear」, and 「Withered」are a few to speak.
It's going to take a while before I reach level 20. I should focus more on the current objectives. Such as…
JINGLE—
"Welcome… Oh, it's Lukas." (Dad)
"Hey, dad."
"What do you need? Wait, I have some customers to ring up." (Dad)
"Go ahead, I'm just looking around."
I surveyed the interior of the Gasper retail store. Each aisle was numbered and sorted. Potions would be in the potion aisle, weapons in the weapon aisle, etcetera.
Further back in the store, a section where old armor and weapons were held. They had various sales prices attached to them. A bargain sale I believe. My dad must have wanted them gone since they were taking up space in the storage room.
Near the entrance, my father was ringing some customers for potions. He acted professionally, with detailed mannerism and composure. Work does do that to you. I stay out of his sight, in hopes that if he does see me, I might interrupt his work ethic.
The store is on the smaller side. It was enough for 20 or so customers to be inside without troubling them about space. The frequency of customers, on the other hand, is on the mediocre side. The amount of customers is enough to feed ourselves every month without inconvenience.
Also, the fact my father bought his house in Vanitas before the rise in fame contributed to our carefree lifestyle. The value should be tens of times greater than the initial price my father paid.
Despite all that, he still had time to spend watching his kids grow up. A mellow feeling crept into my heart, leaving me raw. I always thought that parents leaving their kids alone for days on end was normal. I knew it wasn't, but seeing it in person made me sentimental. My father wasn't like them. Unlike them, he cares. So do my mother and Amy.
A sigh of mixed emotions left my lips. The emotions varied. Appreciation for my current family, resentment for my previous one, and conviction to protect them.
I still wasn't used to a loving family. I hid my feelings through banter and slight politeness. This wasn't something I could accept and move on with. This was a process. A process to slowly change my mindset on what a family is.
Compared to the fear of rejection I felt in my previous life. I was more than willing to accept what those words mean in this life.
"Lukas, I'm done." (Dad)
"Can you show me the way to the class change crystal?"
"Class change crystal? Alright..?"
My father looks perplexed. Nonetheless, he leads the way. I follow right behind him. I didn't have it in me to lie to him, so I shut up. It's not like I'm actively hiding my strength from them. To others; however, it's best to stay low-key.
Just like the name suggests, a class change crystal is a crystal ball that allows you to change your class. It was pretty expensive. That's why my father has a specific room designed for it.
Dad leads me to a door with authorized access written on it. He swipes his card to a terminal at the side and the door opened. A loud, raucous sound reverberated in the store. Heavy metal heard clanking as the door split apart.
I could see how sturdy and tough the door was from the sound. It was unpleasant to hear, but a needed feature to ensure the safety of the crystal. It was that expensive. Probably the most expensive thing in this whole store.
"You can check it however you want, but don't move it. Although it's durable, it's not indestructible. Oh, there's another customer. Lukas, after you're done, click the button to the side of the terminal to close the door now. I'll go now."
My dad warned as he leaves. Despite how expensive he described the crystal to be, he still trusts me enough to not break it. Taking his warning to heart, I steadily approach the crystal.
The crystal ball was transparent in color, lacking in life and passion. It looked ordinary. However, the closer I got to it, the more the crystal would resonate with my MP, glowing a subtle white hue.
Placing my hand on top of the crystal, I close my eyes. I breathe in, willing my MP to the crystal. This normally would be impossible, but the crystal ball was eagerly yearning for my MP, I just needed to give it my consent. Consent is important after all.
A portion of my MP went to the crystal ball, draining me. An intangible, almost unreal feeling ran across my body. I felt like I was being stripped of something.
Images began to juggle in my head before forming into a series of texts and letters. I subconsciously let out a smile at the familiar, nostalgic sight.
« Class » 「-」
« Available Classes »
「BEGINNER CLASSES」
《Fighter》
《Caster》
《Ranger》
《Priest》
《Bandit》
Yup, just like in the game. Focusing my mind, I reach out to the class I wanted. Soon, the crystal grew in color, intensifying to a vibrant white hue. Even with my eyes closed, I could still see the intense light it gave off.
Then, the crystal ball dwindled, seemingly losing its strength, appearing as unremarkable as ever. I heave a sigh as I open my status window.
« Name » Lukas Gasper
« Level » 5
« Class »「Bandit」
« Class Level » 1
HP : 30/32
MP : 17/21
STR : 7
AGI : 10
STM : 9
VIT : 9
INT : 11
« ACTIVE SKILLS »
「-」
「-」
« PASSIVE SKILLS »
「-」
「-」
Class level. It was the central point of all classes. Have a high-class level and you unlock skills and benefits from that class. Class level 10 was the highest for any beginner classes.
As a starter class, beginner classes only require you to reach level 5. However, higher classes need specific requirements to unlock them. Some need a certain number of stats. Others require you to reach a certain class level of another class. It could also be a mix between the two.
Anyways, classes had their ranks. The order was:
« BEGINNER CLASS »
« INTERMEDIATE CLASS »
« ADVANCED CLASS »
« EXPERT CLASS »
Well, it'll take a while before I get to expert.
Intermediate could be unlocked at level 15, advanced at level 30, and expert classes at level 50.
I know it may sound low considering the max level was three times higher than the requirement of expert class, but there was a reason for that.
At the early stages and launch of Vanitas Online, level 50 was the highest. The class rank system was fully implemented by then. But as more attention and updates came, the developers didn't have enough time to change the entire class rank system.
That didn't mean the class ranking was broken. No, they just revamped it. They kept the level requirement the same. But, they added other requirements to obtain the higher-ranked classes.
The requirements may vary. Some expert classes' requirements are so severe that you would reach level 120 and still not have the clearance to obtain the class.
Also, classes were crucial in manipulating your stats. At first, every time you level up, you would get an increase in all stats by one value and an extra point randomly distributed.
However, depending on the class you choose, you could manipulate which stat the extra point would distribute to. As I picked the 《Bandit》class, the preferred stat would be AGI.
To increase your class level, you have to either hunt monsters whilst having the class. Increasing your class level is a lot faster than your regular level, especially at the lower levels.
By the way, your class level will be saved if you changed to another class. You wouldn't want all your hard work to go down the drain.
Anyways, I've done everything I could. I bid farewell to my father and left the store. Don't worry, I made sure to close the door to the class change crystal. I was pretty excited about my new class but it quelled down when I saw the night sky.
I went back home and had dinner. Dad was attending the store so after dinner was finished, mom went out to bring dad his portion. Since it was a 5-minute walk, my mother would often deliver dad dinner whenever he was working. It was a sweet gesture.
I was tasked with cleaning the dishes. Amy, however, was relieved of her duties and started watching TV in the living room. The sound of water running, sponge rubbing, and the television resounded. It was comfortable. After I was done with the dishes, I dry them out with a towel and placed them in the appropriate drawers.
Finally, after making sure everything was done, I sat down on the couch in our living room. To my left, Amy was curled up, hugging her knees as she focused on the TV.
I took out my phone and scrolled through some information I wanted to find. I've been using my knowledge of the world paired with my game knowledge to make up most of the information I wanted to know. However, I was still a child. I didn't understand political conflicts and the deep-rooted actions of the authorities and higher-ups.
Most of the knowledge I knew of the game was obsolete. This world wasn't anything like the game. It was real. World problems, national conflicts, and public perception were all but a few to speak of these issues.
Another interesting fact I came to know was the world setting. In the story mode, you only had access to the city of Vanitas. No matter what route or character you take, it'll be done in the city.
However, in the MMORPG, the amount of content expands exponentially. The city of Vanitas still exists in the MMORPG, but it was the starting area for most new players and a lobby for veterans. In the game, you could visit the various countries, dungeons, and NPCs across the world.
Vanitas Online's MMORPG was an entirely new world in itself.
Now, it seems that the world of the story mode and MMORPG are mixed.
I can confirm since all the countries in the MMORPG are the same. Also, most well-known dungeons are the same and the world map is similar to the mini-map in the game.
I didn't need to confirm the story mode's authenticity since I saw Andrew, Rose, Stella, and Troy with my own eyes.
I deeply exhale, trying to calm down my raging emotions. I was excited. Hell, excitement would be undermining my current emotions.
I was ecstatic.
I still remember the vibrant, colorful scenery in Avium, the country of elves. The rugged, peculiar yet mystique cavern in the underground stronghold Bullen, home of the dwarves. And the festive, cheerful atmosphere in Elzistria, the human kingdom.
Those sights made me fall in love with Vanitas Online. The adventures that led me to those scenes were what made the game feel so great, so rewarding. To see those images, in reality, made me tremble in joy.
Unbeknownst to me, my trembling didn't go unnoticed as my sister looked at me like I was a foreign object. Then, sighing, she turned back her attention to the TV, ignoring her crackhead of a brother.
My trembling stopped as I took a large, relaxed breath. I almost lost myself there. I want to go to those places, but I need to be strong enough to defend myself. Besides, I doubt I could go on a vacation while I'm enrolled in Vanitas High.
I'll have to postpone my plans in traveling the world, as disappointing as it sounds…
Anyways, it's not like the world is as peaceful as I make it out to be. For one, murder is common inside a dungeon, primarily with a random party. Also, terrorist organizations are a thing and they're pretty open with their actions. One of the most notorious ones, an organization called Solus, is one of the villains in the story mode.
Noble conflicts are also the norm, and so is discrimination. The world isn't peaceful. I knew this. Who knows what trouble might come my way. I'm not the protagonist. I couldn't rely on plot armor to save me. All I had was myself, my family, and my knowledge. That was it.
I shut my phone and close my eyes. The events of the story mode should still be in motion, meaning that I knew the future. It was a good advantage to have.
The problem is, the events were… catastrophic to say the least. Most of them wouldn't affect me if I minded my own business.
However, there were a few events that shook the entire academy and even the city. I had to be mindful of those. I'll even interfere if it escalates to the point of no return.
To be honest, I could care less about the duel event against class 1-5. Lose or not, it wouldn't affect me. However, the class competition in two months was an issue. I won't exactly play a heavy role, but I have to team up with my classmates. They might pester me and even harass me then. Ugh…
I open my eyes and look to my left. Amy sat there, still curled up. A focused expression seen on her face. Turning my head, my eyes landed on the TV. The display of two people fighting in what appears to be a coliseum. I guess modern entertainment leans towards these violent duels.
Their moves were flashy and obtuse. They were just trying to show off their skills and level, with no real strategy involved. It looked… primitive.
At the highest level of PVP, feints, combos, and control were all important. Fights could end in seconds because of a single miscalculation. Most, if not, all fights relied on your technique and prowess more than your skills and levels.
But, the fight shown on TV was unlike that. It was merely a show for entertainment, to show the strengths of the people participating in it. A way to flaunt the talents of the world.
They seemed high level too. Around level 30 from the skills, they were using. Whether this was a show or not, it looked unappealing to me. Well, maybe it's just me. My sister looked rather enthusiastic, eyes sparkling the flashier each attack gets. I could see the joy in seeing explosions. I was, after all, a boy. Explosions were cool.
Technique and experience could come a long way. Relying purely on your skills and stats can only get you so far. And, trust me, it isn't going to be that far. The skill gap becomes more apparent the higher the levels rose, especially at the max level where most of the skills in the game are unlocked.
My interest left when one of the contestants fired a powerful skill at the other contestant, knocking him out of the ring and earning the win. I stood up and told Amy to turn off the TV when she was done, warning her to not stay up late.
Getting to my room, my body crashed onto my bed. The soft mattress extirpated all of my stiffness and tension. Groans of gratification left my mouth but were quickly muffled by my pillow. My mind drifted, barely holding to consciousness. In the end, my sleepiness won.