Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]

Already, I'm feeling good about the options provided for me. None of the three have been actively bad, even if none of them are so perfect that I can take them sight unseen. But there are things I like about all of the choices. Even if I'm currently a bit more disinclined toward the [Ethertechnician] class— for no reason other than that I feel compelled to spend more of my time in the front lines, on the battlefield— it's not a bad choice. If that were the only option, I'd take it and I wouldn't feel the least bit bad about it.

Thankfully, though, those aren't the only three classes available for me. Not even the only three martial classes. And the next one looks pretty neat, featuring a version of me fighting on the frontlines, spear in hand, ready to strike or defend at a moment's notice.

[Class: [Angelic Halberdier]]

[The [Angelic Halberdier] stands as a paragon, even among angelkind. The first to charge into battle, the [Angelic Halberdier] is a master of both close-quarters and long-range combat. While most classes and individuals choose to specialize toward either the physical or magical side of the spectrum, you are the rare person who has elected to choose both, even knowing that your overall combat effectiveness may have been diminished in the process.]

[[Strength] +2, [Speed] +2, [Vitality] +2, [Mind] +2, Maximum [Health] +222, Maximum [Ether] +222 when choosing this class. [Strength] +1, [Speed] +1, [Vitality] +1, [Mind] +1, 2 Free Stat Points per level.]

Phina and I both roll our eyes at the part about diminished combat effectiveness. Our combat effectiveness has been plenty high, thank you very much, System. Flexibility can substitute for specialization to quite the extent. That's pretty much the whole idea of [Glyphcasting]— taking a penalty in spell efficiency to be able to cast a wide variety of spells, not just the small handful that the System grants. Not to mention that some enemies have various elemental resistances or— like the [It That Lurches in the Eclipse]— the ability to shift between being physically and magically resistant.

In short, we are of the same opinion: A jack-of-all-trades, master of none, is oftentimes better than a master of one. After getting that out of our system— not really, since it's all in our mind— we continue looking through the description.

True to its name, this class focuses most heavily on my newfound weapon of choice. In addition to Skills and bonuses revolving around polearm combat, I also— for the first time— get a couple of spells of my own, excluding my [Glyphcasting]. These spells aren't particularly powerful— just a modest boost to my combat parameters, and the ability to conjure and launch conjured duplicates of any currently-equipped polearm. But it does mean that I'll finally have a self-buff, which is particularly powerful because of how well they tend to stack with one another.

Where it falters is that it doesn't really do much for my [Angelic Form] or cybernetics. I don't lose the Skill, thankfully. But it does represent a qualitative shift away from the [Mechanical] side of the [Mechanical Angel]. A similar thing is true of my crafting; I'll be able to do so, but I won't get more assistance with it. At the same time, at least with regard to the crafting, I can always have my [Glyphcasting] focused class spec more into that.

Right now, I think that [Valkyrion] and [Angelic Halberdier] are leading the pack, but not by an insurmountable margin.

"Do we have anything else?" I ask Phina, mostly to verbalize my own spinning mind before moving on.

"Well, of course we have more. We're kind of a big hecking deal, or have you forgotten? We might be the first person in the whole state to reach Level 64. And in just five months, too! Like, let's give ourselves some credit, Sera!"

"You think the System is going to stop being an asshole long enough to give us some credit?"

"Actually, wait, there is a class for us along those lines, though, uh… It doesn't seem like the sort of thing we'd be interested in. At least, I'm not interested, and since this is all in our head, that means you aren't, either."

"Welp, let's take a look."

[Class: [Lesser Archon]]

Already the name of the class has me feeling less than copacetic about the selection. The hologram, one of me sitting in a fancy chair surrounded by numerous sycophants, advisors, and ministers, only makes matters worse. However, the System did offer the class to me, so I feel I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't at least take a look at the option.

[By putting your mind, body, and soul through constant trial, you have grown strong. Your life experiences have filled you with great resolve about the state of political affairs around you. Proximity to the levers of power has tempted you. Now is the time for you to seize control and bring your ideal world into reality.]

Oh, it's tempting. It is so damn tempting that it hurts. And it gives good stat gains as well.

[[Strength] +4, [Speed] +0, [Vitality] +3, [Mind] +3, Maximum [Health] +100, Maximum [Ether] +300 when choosing this class. [Strength] +1, [Vitality] +1, [Mind] +2, 3 Free Stat Points per level.]

This class, more than any other— even [Valkyrion]— leans into the strategy and governance aspect. This is the class I'd choose if I wanted to be more like Nicholas. To lead people, both on the field of battle, and in the halls of government. It comes with a fairly weak [Sense Motive] Skill, along with a couple of party-wide buffs. [Hearken], notably, will end up changing to something closer to Nicholas' [Strategist's Gambit], only able to affect all of my subordinates within a quite generous range.

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And therein lies the problem. It works on subordinates, encouraging me to assume leadership roles and climb the ranks of personal and political power. Most notably, Chloe— who is an equal partner, not a subordinate— wouldn't be affected by the boosting abilities I would have. And that, more than anything, is a death sentence for this class, even after taking into consideration that no, I don't want to be a ruler. I don't want to be involved in politics, and I certainly don't trust myself with the sort of authority that I'd be seizing by force.

"Yeah, I think we more or less already turned this one down when we declined the role of Lady Protector," Phina says.

I nod in agreement. To the bottom of the heap it goes, just barely remaining on the heap at all.

"So, uh, one more choice? We got six last time. Well, six, and then that weird anomalous one that we might end up taking this time around."

"Hrmm…" Phina furrows her brows. "That's a bit surprising, actually. I would have thought we'd get at least one more choice."

Just as we finish our thoughts, another option does present itself. And immediately, I am intrigued. Mostly by why we didn't get to see this option first, seeing as though this class seems to be the most direct upgrade to my current path. It looks so similar to who I am now, only a little stronger, a little wiser, a little more muscular and toned and confident and resolved.

[Class: [Mechanical Guardian Angel]]

[You have embraced your role as the [Mechanical Angel]. Through great trials and tribulations, you have grown strong. When monsters and other threats have arisen and threatened the people and things that you love, you have stood up and fought back. When people have cried out for support in their darkest hour, you have done what you could to stand tall against the inexorable tide. Through it all, you have endeavored to protect others. And nowhere is this protection stronger than in the bond you share with the one you care about most.]

[[Strength] +1, [Speed] +0, [Vitality] +6, [Mind] +2, Maximum [Health] +750, Maximum [Ether] +100 when choosing this class. [Vitality] +3, 3 Free Stat Points per level.]

Reading through the remainder of the description and the Skill changes that will result, this is probably the straightforward upgrade path from [Mechanical Angel]. It is the most defensively focused of the six, forcing me to push an entire half of my level gains in the stat each time. While I will never turn down the additional [Health], I am worried about the lack of flexibility I'm being offered. Especially considering Chloe has an even more defensive and supporting class and I find myself needing to be the primary offensive fighter in my parties.

The one thing this class notably does apart from the others is supercharge [Angelic Bond]. The penalty becomes a prohibitive six levels, although I notice buried down in the fine print is a clause that it can't cause someone to fall below the minimum level consistent with their current ascension cycle, which in this case would be 64.

In exchange, however, the multiplier on most spells moves from double to two and a half times. Not, sadly, for any enhancement spell which scales with caster level, including Chloe's [Saintess's Blessing]. It does work on healing, shielding, and armor spells, meaning [Saintess's Cloister] would be able to shield me from nearly sixteen thousand damage before expiring. It sounds like so much, especially thinking back to the days of having only a few hundred [Health]. But with the challenges ahead, no amount of protection will be enough for me to feel truly at ease.

If it were as flexible as [Mechanical Angel], I think it'd easily be the best option. As it stands, though, it's merely a solid selection among other good and not-so-good options.

"So, Phina, what are we thinking?"

"Of the options, I think we're definitely not taking [Lesser Archon]. Yes, the greater stat gains are tempting as all hell, but that's just not who we are or want to become. Other than that, I think we'll be happy with any of the other options."

"I agree."

"Well, of course you agree! Have you forgotten that you're me already?"

I give Phina the single-fingered salute. She, in return, grins and returns the gesture.

"So, uh, I think our two best options are either [Angelic Halberdier] or [Mechanical Guardian Angel]," I say. "[Mechanical Guardian Angel] is closer to what I want to be as a person, but [Angelic Halberdier] is a little closer to the function I need to have as a combatant."

"It's a little ironic, isn't it?" Phina chuckles. "[Mechanical Guardian Angel] is the class that plays up our connection to Chloe the most and supercharges our connection with her. And yet, despite that, and despite that being our top priority, we're thinking of going in a different direction in order to better protect her."

"Come to think of it, I do kinda like [Valkyrion] as well. It might not synergize with our desire to go exploring dungeons, but–"

"If we'd had the Skill that class is offering us, the ability to protect others in their time of need, maybe we wouldn't have had to resort to using [Black Hole]." Phina looks at me with a compassionate gaze. Weird, being comforted by my own mental construct. But it does help.

"Or at the very least, we could have better controlled it. Better aimed it away from the people affected by it. If we had, then at least some of those eight lives might not've been lost."

Phina lowers her head. "You know as well as I do that we can't turn back the clock. We can't change the past. But we can learn from it. We can accept our failures. We can move forward with the knowledge and power and experience we've gained, and try to do better the next time around."

"So, are we good with taking [Valkyrion], then?" I ask.

"Yeah, but I don't think we need to take it right away. At least, not before seeing what our options are as far as our [Glyphcasting] is concerned."

"Oh goodness! That means we get a dedicated mage class, which means no more shitty [Mind] x10 Regeneration rate!"

Phina slaps me. "You ruined it! You just jinxed us, you know!"

I sigh. The sad thing is, we both know she's right.