Chapter 14: 100% Match
[Congratulations: You have survived for one month]
"Finally! About bloody time!" Azrakar roared, his voice echoing within the hollow tree.
[Second tutorial quest completed]
[Rewards: Skill: Eye of Truth / Physical enhancement pill + 4P in attribute]
"Good…Good…I can get my arm back now and my eye," Azrakar was happy, more than happy. Tired, wounded, body covered in scars, one arm and one eye. He was so close to death, one time on a hunt even his heart stopped beating for a few seconds. Yet Azrakar never gave up. He survived. And more importantly, he became a warrior.
[Congratulations: Third tutorial quest completed]
[Rewards: Exotic Class Ticket]
"YES!" Only after completing the second quest can he get the reward from the third quest that he completed three weeks ago.
[Congratulations Master Azrakar, You've emerged victorious. Your resilience and determination have paid off, despite the trials and tribulations you faced.] Even the emotionless voice of Nexus seemed tinged with a hint of satisfaction. The system, it appeared, was actually happy.
"Thank you, Nexus. I couldn't have done it without your help," Azrakar expressed his gratitude, acknowledging the role that the system played in his survival and growth.
A pause hung in the air, then Nexus responded. [My purpose is to serve, but you're welcome, Master Azrakar.]
Nodding in acknowledgment, Azrakar brought up the rewards interface. "Nexus, which reward should I use first? The pill or the ticket?"
[Use the pill first, Master. Since the Exotic Class ticket provides options based on your overall status, we must first boost it. Utilize the Physical Enhancement pill first, then allocate your saved attribute points.]
"Oh! I see!" Excitement crackled in Azrakar's voice as he understood the strategy. He claimed the reward from the second tutorial. The new skill, the Eye of Truth, could wait. First, he needed to unlock his full potential.
Retrieving a small round red ball from the inventory, Azrakar studied it for a moment.
[Physical Enhancement pill: A magical pill that can enhance every aspect of your physique, bringing you to the peak of your race.
Caution: The Pill is only effective on the first consumption, consuming a second pill would result in a negative effect.]
After reading the description, Azrakar swiftly opened his status screen, checking his attributes.
…
Status
Name: Azrakar
Race: Orc
Class: –
Hunter Rank: F
Level: 31
Experience: 4534/93000
Health: 600/600
Mana: 400/500
Stamina: 400/400
Strength: 23
Agility: 9
Endurance:15
Vitality:20
Intelligence: 25
Attribute points: 64
Skills
[Orcish Fury]
…
Over the past three weeks, his progress had been slow. Leveling up by only six points was a consequence of the limited prey around his hideout: Rot Easters, Dire Wolves, and Horned Rabbits – all offering minimal experience.
As for that Sabretooth, Azrakar didn't dare to hunt it down, especially after a brutal encounter. During a hunt, the Sabretooth ambushed Azrakar as he was luring a few monsters to his trap. The result? Azrakar lost his right eye and his heart stopped for a few seconds.
He was lucky that the Rot Easters and the Sabretooth were hostile to each other, giving him an opportunity to escape.
Taking a deep breath, he swallowed the pill. A warmth spread through his body as the Physical Enhancement Pill took effect. In less than five seconds, the warmth morphed into searing pain.
CRACK!
"AHHHH!" Azrakar howled in agony as his bones splintered and shifted beneath his skin. It felt as though every fiber of his being was being torn apart from within, the sensation overwhelming his senses.
His body began to grow at an astonishing rate, muscles bulging and expanding, bones elongating and reshaping to accommodate his newfound strength. With each passing moment, he could feel his body undergoing a radical transformation.
Through gritted teeth, Azrakar endured the searing pain, his mind consumed by a singular focus: to emerge from this trial stronger than ever before. He welcomed the agony as a necessary step on his journey to becoming the warrior he was destined to be.
CRACK!
Suddenly from the base of his left shoulder where his arm used to be, a skeletal arm burst forth, the bones knitting themselves together in a rapid, almost violent manner. Azrakar watched in awe and horror as his missing limb grew back in front of his eyes.
The skeletal arm swiftly transformed, bones knitting together and flesh enveloping the newly formed limb. In a matter of seconds, what had once been bare bone became a fully formed orcish arm, covered in green skin and pulsing with newfound vitality.
And that wasn't all. His missing right eye was…Well?... not missing anymore, a new one formed out of nowhere inside its socket. Where once there had been only darkness and emptiness, now there gleamed a new eye, vibrant and alive, matching the intensity of his remaining one. It blinked, adjusting to the light filtering through the cracks of the hollow tree, and Azrakar could scarcely believe what he was seeing.
With both his arm and eye restored, a wave of gratitude washed over Azrakar. As the pain subsided, he stood tall in his new form.
"I feel..." he spoke, his voice deeper and thicker than before. He flexed his regenerated arm, feeling the power coursing through it. "...powerful."
Azrakar, the small, weak outside of an orc, was no more. Now, Azrakar stood proudly at an impressive 2.2 meters tall. The muscles of a fully grown orc adorned his frame as he flexed and tested his newfound strength.
The scars that once marred his body now seemed like badges of honor. He had specifically requested Nexus a few days ago to interfere with the pill's transformation to preserve his scars, especially the X-shaped one on his left chest. After all, for a warrior, scars were a source of pride.
His skin remained the same light green, and his dark, bristly hair was now longer and smoother.
"HAHAHA~...Excellent, I liked it" Only when Azrakar's smile widened, did he note that his tusk-like teeth were now more prominent and sharper, adding to his intimidating appearance.
"Oh! I can probably rip someone's throat out with these, HAHAHA!" With a deep, satisfied laugh, Azrakar opened his status window.
…
Status
Name: Azrakar
Race: Orc
Class: –
Hunter Rank: F
Level: 31
Experience: 4534/93000
Health: 600/600
Mana:400/500
Stamina: 400/400
Strength: 23 +20
Agility: 9 +20
Endurance: 15 +20
Vitality: 20 +20
Intelligence: 25 +20
Attribute points: 64
Skills
[Orcish Fury]
…
"WHAT!... This is AWESOME!" he roared with joy, seeing all of his attributes boosted by a whopping 20 points each.
Azrakar's transformation was nothing short of miraculous. He was taller, stronger, and more confident than ever before. The Physical Enhancement Pill had not only restored his missing limbs but had also enhanced his physical attributes beyond his wildest dreams.
"Nexus, I feel amazing!" Azrakar exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "My strength, agility, endurance, and vitality have all skyrocketed. I can't wait to see what Class I'll get!"
[Master Azrakar, you have now reached the peak of a standard Orc's potential. With continued dedication and training, you will grow even stronger.]
"Nice, I can't wait—standard orc?" Azrakar furrowed his brow, confused by the term. "Are there other orc races?"
Nexus paused for a moment before responding, [Indeed, Master Azrakar. While you have achieved the peak of strength and capability for a standard orc, there are variations within the orc race that possess unique traits and abilities. These variations often result from environmental factors, magical influence, or ancestral lineage.]
Azrakar's interest was piqued at the mention of these variations. He had never known there were orcs different from him.
"Are there specific examples of these variations?" He inquired, eager to learn more about the different types of orcs.
[Certainly, Master Azrakar. There are many, such as High Orcs, Blood Orcs, Frost Orcs, and countless others. From your memories, your clan chief, Korgath, possessed the characteristics of a Mountain Orc, or at least had a higher chance of evolving into one.]
"Clan Chief Korgath, a Mountain Orc?" Azrakar repeated, suddenly realizing why Korgath could transform his entire body into stone, unlike the other Stonehand orcs.
Pushing that thought aside for later, he decided to allocate his attribute points. With 64 points at his disposal, Azrakar had a golden opportunity to further enhance his strength and improve his chances of acquiring a superior class.
…
Status
Name: Azrakar
Race: Orc
Class: –
Hunter Rank: F
Level: 31
Experience: 4534/93000
Health: 600/600
Mana:400/500
Stamina: 400/400
Strength: 65
Agility: 37
Endurance: 43
Vitality: 48
Intelligence: 55
Attribute points: 00
Skills
[Orcish Fury]
…
"Alright, it's time," he declared with newfound resolve. With the attribute points distributed, he instructed Nexus to activate the Exotic Class Ticket.
The ticket was a digital object not physical, so Azrakar didn't have to use it like the previous skill ticket. It was all up to Nexus to redeem it.
[Exotic Class Ticket was consumed]
[Please select your Exotic Class]
Immediately a massive sized holographic window materialized before his eyes. Azrakar was startled for a moment seeing the massive amount of options he had. There were hundreds of classes each unique in their own.
There was the "Wildwood Archer," a captivating blend of Druid, Ranger, and Healer; or the "Rune Knight," a powerful combination of Warrior, Guardian, and Mage.
"Hmm... Nexus, what do these numbers next to the classes represent?" Azrakar inquired, his gaze flickering across the vast array of choices. Each class had a percentage value displayed beside it, ranging from low numbers like 10% to impressive figures like 70% or 80%.
Nexus responded promptly to Azrakar's inquiry. [The percentage next to each class represents the compatibility rating between you and that particular class. The higher the percentage, the greater the compatibility. It indicates how well your current attributes, skills, and overall status align with the requirements and abilities of the class.]
"Oh, I see…" Azrakar nodded, understanding the significance of the percentage. "So I need to choose one with the highest number right?"
[Technically yes, Master Azrakar. However, it's important to remember that regardless of the class you choose, you can still acquire skills from other classes.]
Azrakar tilted his head, not following. "What do you mean?"
[For example, let's say you choose Warrior as your class. You can level up and unlock skills from the Warrior skill tree. However, to upgrade those skills or purchase new ones, you'll need to use the shop. That's where your class selection comes into play.]
[The shop tailors its prices based on your class. A Warrior can buy the basic 'Cleave' skill at a much cheaper price compared to a Warrior trying to purchase a basic healing spell from the Healer's class tree. The price difference could be anywhere from 10 to 100 times higher.]
Azrakar nodded in understanding, realizing the implications of Nexus's explanation. "So, essentially, the class I choose determines the cost of acquiring skills from other classes. If I stick to skills within my chosen class, they'll be more affordable. But if I want to branch out and acquire skills from other classes, especially ones that don't align with my chosen class, it'll be much more expensive. Is that correct?"
[Exactly, Master Azrakar. You've grasped the concept perfectly.]
With this newfound knowledge, Azrakar refocused on the holographic window teeming with exotic classes and their compatibility ratings. He meticulously scanned each option, carefully weighing his choices.
After a moment, he requested that Nexus filter the list to display only the classes with higher compatibility ratings. Immediately, one class caught his yellow eyes – it was the only class with a perfect 100% compatibility.
[Exotic Class: Dread Lord (Necromancer, Berserker, Leader) Compatibility: 100%]
Azrakar's eyes widened with astonishment as he beheld the class, The name alone sent shivers down his spine, filling him with a mixture of awe and anticipation.
"Dread Lord..." he murmured, the words rolling off his tongue with a sense of power and foreboding. The combination of Necromancer, Berserker, and Leader intrigued him deeply, especially Berserker, a term that resonated with the orc warriors of his father's tribe.
"Nexus, this is it," Azrakar declared, his voice tinged with excitement. "The Dread Lord class. That's what I choose."
[Congratulations; Class selection confirmed. Dread Lord]
[Dread Lord: Willing or by Submission, the Dead Shall Bow.]
"Hehehe~...I like the sound of that" A low chuckle rumbled in Azrakar's chest as he read the class description, short yet menacing.
[You have unlocked the following skill trees: Necromancer, Berserker, and Leader]
[New skills unlocked]
[Necromancer skills: Rise Lv1, Summon Skeleton Lv1]
[Berserker skills: Rage Lv1, Orcish Fury (upgraded to Berserker's Fury Lv1)]
[Leader skills: Warcry Lv1, Banner of War Lv1]
"Wow, so many skills..." Azrakar marveled, his heart pounding with excitement.
Azrakar's heart raced with excitement as he gazed at his new skills. The combination was perfect. He has the strength to fight on his own, he can summon the dead to fight with him and he can boost his and his allies' strength.
With a bloodthirsty grin, Azrakar's thought drifted to the stronger beast in this area.
"It's time for the hunter to become the hunted"