CHAPTER 151: EVOLUTION OF CLASS

Flain began walking through the darkness. "You are currently in a special kind of dream, and I am merely a product of your mind," he said.

"So I’m sleeping? But this dream feels too realistic," the alternative version said, looking around.

"That’s exactly why I said it’s a special kind of dream. Basically, you’re trapped here forever, because you’re in a coma," Flain said.

"In a coma? I haven’t suffered any injuries recently," the alternative version said.

"But wait — you said you’re a product of my mind, so you have the same knowledge as I do. So how do you know I’m in a coma?" the alternative version asked suspiciously.

"That’s simple. At some point you heard what a coma is like and forgot it, but it’s still in your mind. And the description of a coma matches exactly what you’re feeling," Flain said.

The alternative version seemed less suspicious. "And how do I get out of here?" he asked.

"Let me think for a moment," Flain said, pretending to ponder.

"There is one way, but it’s quite risky," he said after a while.

"Speak," the alternative version ordered.

"If you kill yourself, your brain will get a shock and you might wake up from the coma. But it can also have bad side effects," Flain said.

The alternative version thought. "And what if I don’t do it?" he asked.

"Then you’ll stay here forever or for a random amount of time. It could be 100 days or 100 years, until you die standing," Flain said.

The alternative version smirked. "Fine, I’ll kill myself, but first I’ll kill you," he said.

Flain spread his arms. "Be my guest. By killing me you gain nothing. I am merely a product of your mind, you can easily kill me with a thought."

"Alright then," the alternative version said, turned his katanas toward his own body, and stabbed himself.

He fell to the ground and began bleeding out, seconds from death. Flain, with a cold expression, watched him die. He didn’t need to swing his sword even once to win. That is the power of manipulation.

[The alternative version has died, you won.]

[You have completed the evolution test of your current warrior class.]

[The system has determined two suitable classes based on your decisions.]

[Please choose one of the two evolutions:

1. [Twin-Bladed Guardian]

2. [Direct Cutter]

Flain read both options. From the names alone, he would automatically choose 1, because Flain fights with two swords and the name says "twin-bladed," something for him. But fortunately, there was a description for each.

[Twin-Bladed Guardian]

The Twin-Bladed Guardian is a specialist in maintaining offensive dominance in direct combat — focusing on smooth strike rotation, disrupting the opponent’s rhythm, and instantly exploiting any opening. His presence in battle naturally increases the pace of exchanges; opponents, after prolonged contact, begin to appear slower and their coordination breaks down, opening space for decisive cuts. In full aggression mode, he can break through a stronger defense for a few moments.

Do you want to select this evolution?]

[Yes | No]

When Flain began reading, he immediately knew he had hit the jackpot, and after finishing, a cold smile appeared on his face. This was perfect for him — as if someone was literally describing him. If he chose this class, the people he fought against would be slower, and on top of that, when he set his aggressive fighting style, it would become even stronger than before. Plus, he would probably get a title like with the warrior, which would give him some nice bonus. But there was still one more option.

[Direct Cutter]

The Direct Cutter uses fast, decisive strikes and takes advantage of every conflict to weaken enemies. His attacks leave a short-term disintegrating effect on the opponents’ defensive formations — those who are subjected to his attack lose cohesion, the will to fight, and make more mistakes. In moments when he focuses on a single opponent, he can perform a series of flawlessly precise strikes that are harder for the opponent to block; the effect is neither permanent nor automatic, and requires intentional use of his aggressive style.

[Do you want to select this evolution?]

[Yes | No]

Flain read the second option, which was very similar to the first. If Flain chose this one, practically everyone he fought against would make more mistakes and feel less like fighting, and if he attacked a group, it would become less cohesive. When in a state of aggression, his strikes would be more precise.

These classes were very similar — too much so. Flain organized the facts: each option gave him two advantages.

In the first option, it was greater slowness of enemies and, when in aggression mode, better breaking through defenses. The second option gave quite a big disadvantage to Flain’s enemies, because they would practically not want to fight him, and in this state his attacks would be more precise.

In the first advantage, Flain liked the second option more because, although the first option’s slowing effect was excellent, losing the will to fight was much better. That’s because practically anyone who fought Flain would not go at him with full force, and the idea of losing would not terrify them.

It was so good that he had to ask the system whether his assumptions were correct.

[Tip: Losing the will to fight may not work on every enemy for the Direct Cutter class. It is essentially an artificially induced feeling that some enemies may be able to dispel, and on some it may not work at all.]

Flain looked coldly at the system window — after all, in the class description it said "those who are subjected to his attack lose cohesion, the will to fight, and make more mistakes," not "some who are subjected to his attack lose cohesion, the will to fight, and make more mistakes."

Now it was more balanced with the first advantage of the first ability, but even so, Flain preferred the advantage of the second ability, because simply put, loss of the will to fight was a very strong benefit.

Moreover, Flain doubted that, according to the description of the first class, the speed of his opponents would be reduced all that much...