The Empires Rise

There was a flash of light. Suddenly, I was stuck in a completely white room. With nothing other than a table right in front of me. Then a notification comes into my vision with a “Ding” noise, and it states the following:

- Welcome to the Prime Universe Network, or as will be stated, "PUN" for short. You have entered a safe space and have one hour to pick a class and a profession that’s provided. Upon selecting a class and profession, further instructions will appear. -

After a few seconds, the screen vanishes on its own. Another flash of light blinds me for a second. When my vision returns to me, I look back at the table and find three different sets of armor lying there. I go up to one of them, a robe with mystical symbols scrawled all along the edges. The pattern appears to move on its own. Upon the initial contact, I received another message from the system.

- Analyze level 1 has been acquired.

Upon focusing on an object for 3 seconds, you will see a basic description of the item. -

Upon receiving that skill, I focus on the robes again. I found out that they are “Mages Robes.” The description reads that upon selecting them, I will become a mage. I am curious what that means, but no further information is provided. I then repeat that same procedure with the leather armor as well as the iron armor receiving the following:

- Hunters Leather Cuirass: Upon selecting, you will receive the Hunter Class. -

- Warriors Iron Armor: Upon selecting, you will receive the Warrior class. -

Throughout my life, I have read many novels and have concluded that I have either died or have been pulled into a system where the world is out to kill me without the slightest bit of help from others of my kind.

As I am mulling this over, I was curious whether saying “Status” in my mind would do anything. To my surprise or lack thereof, my status screen appears before me.

Name: Drake Taldrit

Race: Human (F)

Gender: Male

Planet of Origin: Culhara

Class: None

Class Level: 0

Profession: None

Profession Level: 0

Attributes:

Strength: 1

Dexterity: 1

Constitution: 1

Intelligence: 1

Wisdom: 1

Charisma: 1

Skills:

Analyze Lvl 1

Seeing that my stats are so low in comparison to what I have read in the past, I decided to see if there is any information on the stats that I would want to know so that I can have a good idea as to what sort of class would best suit myself in the long run.

Strength - Increases the damage done by physical melee attacks by 1 for every 5 points.

Dexterity - Increases the damage done by physical ranged attacks by 1 for every 5 points.

Constitution - Adds 5 points of health per allocated point.

Intelligence - Increases the damage done by magical attacks by 1 for every 5 points.

Wisdom - Adds 5 points of mana per allocated point.

Charisma - Increases the chance of negotiating with someone.

Note: The stats are not equal from race to race, so 1 point in strength to a human is different from 1 point for an Orc.

Finding that I am average among humans is quite disheartening. When you consider all the work I have done throughout my life. Though, it was cut short at the age of 25.

With my mind swirling with thoughts about the future outcomes and trying to figure out what would be best for me. I look up to see the clock slowly ticking down, to see I have 40 minutes to choose one of the three options in front of me.

Though it is a lot of time. With so many pros and cons to consider. And since I don’t know what I will get upon selecting a class. I feel a tug coming from my heart, pulling me towards the mage’s robes.

Following the feeling, I decided to grab the mage robes. When the prompt comes up. Asking if I wanted to become a mage, I selected “Yes." To which the other two sets of armor and the table disappear. Once they have disappeared, I feel a rush of information flooding my mind about how to cast a skill called Arcane Shot.

- Arcane Shot Level 1 - Deals anywhere from 1 - 8 points of damage on a target within 30 meters from your location. -

I looked at the clock, finding I still had 30 minutes left. Suddenly, another notification appears.

“Now that you have selected a class, please select a profession you want to progress in.”

With that, the notification vanishes. Another table appears, with 12 different sets of items. I started to go down the list of item sets to see what professions were available to choose.

Blacksmith

Mason

Foreman

Doctor

Leatherworker

Woodworker

Alchemist

Chef

Enchanter

Tailor

Formation Master

Scribe

With only my limited knowledge of the different subjects provided, in some cases none, I started narrowing them down.

“I don’t know much about becoming a formation master, and I don’t know if there will be much information available to me once I get out of whatever or wherever this room is.

Tailor sounds like it would be beneficial to be a mage. But to what extent, I don’t know. I will put that one on the holding list.

Blacksmith and Mason sounds like something that would help with either building. Or for making heavier arms and armor.

Foreman is on the same lines as a mason, so there isn’t much that I would look forward to in this profession.

I wasn’t that much of a chef when it came to when I was on Culhara, so I don’t think that will change now.

Being a scribe sounds fun, but knowing it will take some time to relearn how to write more legibly seems like something that wouldn’t work well for me.

Enchanter sounds fun since I am a mage. Maybe I can do something with arms, armor, or everyday items.

Leatherworker isn’t that appealing to me.

Then there is alchemy. It sounds like a lot of fun based on all the books I have read. And the thought that I could increase my levels by taking pills or even elixirs appeals to me.

Again, like the formation master, I don’t know how much knowledge I will receive and if it is viable.”

As I am considering all of these things. With a tug pulling me in a particular direction. Finding that I am following the pull from my chest, I see I am headed towards the enchanting equipment.

As I look down more closely at the equipment. I see some grinding tools, a small metal pen that appears hollow all the way through with a very sharp tip, a set of fine chisels, some needles, and a small leather-bound book. I reach over and grab the leather-bound book. A prompt asks if I want to pick "Enchanting" as my profession.

After weighing the pros and cons of each of the professions.

I gaze towards the clock. I notice it has taken me till the last 10 seconds to pick. With a slightly panicked thought, I agree and feel a small burst of knowledge about how to grind out herbs and different ores to use them in the tools.

After picking the class and profession, another notification appears before me.

“As you have picked both a class and profession, we will now give you some time to adjust to the sudden insights that might have occurred before moving on to the next step. And if there are any questions at this time. Please speak them aloud. We will answer to the best of our ability. Though, your time is still limited. Due to you finishing in the last 10 seconds. We are giving you two minutes to ask your questions. Be sure to choose wisely, as this time is precious.”

I looked up and said aloud, “What is this place? What is the goal?”:

“This is the integration room for those selected through the multiverse. The goal is something that you will have to work on.”

“Why me? What was the trigger that pulled me into the integration?”

“Why not you? There is nothing in particular that is needed to be integrated. You could say it was quite a literal roll of the dice to bring you here. And as for the “Trigger,” as you have said, that is something that you will have to find on your own.”

“Is there any specific reason I had to pick the classes and professions within the time limit?”

“There was no specific reason. If you did, you would have time to ask questions to further your knowledge or to bring your mind into an equilibrium so that when you are released into the world.”

“What would have happened if I had not picked either in the allotted time?”

“Easy, you would have been sent either way.”

“Sent without a class or profession?”

“You do not have high enough rights to this information.”

Looking at the clock, I still have a minute left before I am brought out of the room.

“What is the purpose of having a class and profession?”

“To grow stronger.”

“What should I expect upon arriving in this new world that you have brought me to?”

“You do not have high enough rights to this information.”

“What sort of position will I be in once I arrive?”

“You do not have high enough rights to this information.”

There are now only 20 seconds left on the clock.

“Is there any information you can tell me about the class and profession I have chosen?”

“Yes.”

15 seconds remaining

“What information can you give me?”

“Whatever information you ask about.”

10 seconds remaining

“What can the mage class do?”

“Many things. As there are many paths that anyone can walk down. The mage is the most diverse in the ability to answer solutions that pure physical force cannot overcome. You will cast spells at lower levels and evolve the class into something new once you reach a high enough level.”

5 seconds remaining

“Will anyone be there with me when I first arrive? Or will I be completely alone?”

“There will be someone there, yes.”

And with that final answer, I feel myself being pulled away. My vision goes black as I think about the answers, and the memories of how I came to this place flood me.