Chapter 222 - Uninvited Guests

Nate stood in an open field in the middle of a forest far from any settlement or any other sapient being. The only exceptions were Kiri and Frick who stood with him. In his hand he held a processed mana gem, mirrored by Kiri next to him. The time had finally come to undergo their second evolution, and they were working under the expectation that the Lesser Divines of Galle would come to them when they did so. As planned, they had left on the third day, and Nate had spent the last three preparing the area with runes. At the same time, Frick had turned the entire area into a mana magnet using Nate’s Mythic Mana Attraction rune. The rune itself actually used Mana and Gravity Sigils at its core, but using his Intent and ability to swap out Subconcepts the Gravity portion focused on the idea of Attraction. It was enough for them to effectively drain the area dry of mana, with more flowing in every second and being captured within the two gigantic mana gems Nate had acquired, both standing taller than he was. As they were in the middle of nowhere, no one should have been impacted by the mana desert Nate was effectively creating, or the potential ensuing battle.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Ready,” Kiri agreed.

As one, they drew the processed mana out of the gems and into their Class Cores. Instantly notifications started flickering in the corner of Nate’s vision. At the same time, it felt like the world around them had gone still, like it was on the cusp of something momentous. The wind stopped, the trees stilled, the blue-green grass froze in place and Nate felt at peace as he looked over his first notification.

Congratulations! You have gained enough mana to undergo Primary Class Evolution.

Options curated based on achievements. Choose carefully.

Walk your Path. Reach your Goal. Become One with Mana.

Continue Class: Conceptual Runic Artist (Divine)
The Conceptual Runic Artist is one who sees the patterns and truths of the universe and having seen them, found them so beautiful that they desired their creations to match. An Artist at heart, with a Runecrafter’s Skills, they create masterpieces that capture the very essence of reality.
Stats/Level: +1 Endurance, +3 Intellect, +3 Creativity, +1 Willpower, +2 Perception, +1 Magic Control, +2 Mana Reserve, +1 Mana Absorption, +7 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Runic Mage (Divine)
The Conceptual Runic Mage has found that projecting runes is quicker than crafting them. Armed with their runes and the ability to modify them at will, they devote themselves to this esoteric path that straddles the gap between Spellforms and Runes, creating their own destiny.
Stats/Level: +1 Intellect, +3 Magic Power, +3 Magic Control, +2 Channelling Speed, +4 Mana Reserve, +1 Mana Absorption, +7 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Runic Architect (Divine)
The Conceptual Runic Architect is one who creates by using the fundamental laws of Reality. Runes are more than weapons, they are existences, and through them the Conceptual Runic Architect forges their own reality.
Stats/Level: +1 Endurance, +4 Intellect, +3 Creativity, +1 Magic Power, 
+1 Channelling Speed, +4 Mana Reserve, +7 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Runic Healer (Divine)
The Conceptual Runic Healer takes an unconventional approach to mending the wounded, healing the sick, and restoring the broken. Treating living organisms like the biological machines they truly are, they use runes to rehabilitate their subjects. Beloved for their results, they seek out the sick and wounded across the multiverse, applying knowledge and power to preventing needless death.
Stats/Level: +1 Endurance, +1 Constitution, +3 Intellect, +3 Creativity, +1 Willpower, +2 Magic Control, +1 Channelling Speed, +2 Mana Reserve, +7 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter (Divine)
The Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter uses runes to create and alter the nature of space. Creating pocket dimensions, stasis chambers and, sometimes, even entire worlds, hidden within the folds of Reality.
Stats/Level: +1 Endurance, +3 Intellect, +2 Creativity, + 1 Perception, +3 Magic Control, +4 Mana Reserve, +7 Free Stats

As expected, all the options were a Divine-tier Class. Nate had known The System wouldn’t allow them to wait now that they had crossed that line, but seeing it was believing it. Reading through the options he could see all his key achievements represented. Conceptual Runic Artist, a continuation of what he was and who he had been, his art at the heart of his Path. Conceptual Runic Mage, arguably the method by which he fought, using runes in lieu of spells as he created effects on the fly by using his decently extensive repertoire of Sigils. Conceptual Runic Architect was focused on his Conceptual Automated Existence Skill, and how he could turn Concepts into semi-autonomous existences with a purpose, at least so long as the substrate they were built on could last. Conceptual Runic Healer touched on his secondary focus these past six months, as he developed his life affinity and healed those he could. Finally, Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter focused on what he had been doing with his Runic Gallery. He had plans for it in the future, but ultimately, it wasn’t the core of his Path. Only one of the five Classes was. They were all him, every single one of them, but in the end, he was an artist. He always had been, and he always would be. Without any misgivings, he made his choice and selected Conceptual Runic Artist.

The world remained frozen, nothing changing within him yet, as though Reality was taking a breath before the deluge to come. The second notification flickered in front of him.

Congratulations! You have gained enough mana to undergo Secondary Class Evolution.

Options curated based on achievements. Choose carefully.

Walk your Path. Reach your Goal. Become One with Mana.

Continue Class: Conceptual Realmwalker (Mythic)
The Conceptual Realmwalker is one with an affinity for Space Magic that has set foot in multiple universes. Their search is endless as they seek to tread upon worlds never seen. A Path of exploration lies before them, their magic the key.
Stats/Level: +4 Magic Control, +2 Channelling Speed, +3 Mana Reserve, +2 Magic Power,
+1 Mana Absorption, +6 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Runic Mage (Mythic)
The Conceptual Runic Mage has found that projecting runes is quicker than crafting them. Armed with their runes and the ability to modify them at will, they devote themselves to this esoteric path that straddles the gap between Spellforms and Runes, creating their own destiny.
Stats/Level: +1 Intellect, +2 Magic Power, +3 Magic Control, +2 Channelling Speed, +3 Mana Reserve, +1 Mana Absorption, +6 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter (Mythic)
The Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter using runes to create and alter the nature of space. Creating pocket dimensions, stasis chambers and, sometimes, even entire worlds, hidden within the folds of Reality.
Stats/Level: +1 Endurance, +3 Intellect, +2 Creativity, +3 Magic Control, +3 Mana Reserve, +6 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Life Artist (Mythic)
The Conceptual Life Artist is one with a high affinity for Life Magic who utilises it to alter existing forms of life. Be that through the merging of life and enchantments or runes, or by altering the fundamental building blocks of life, the Conceptual Life Artist pushes the boundaries of what is possible, creating new life.
Stats/Level: +1 Endurance, +1 Constitution, +2 Intellect, +2 Creativity, +1 Willpower, +2 Magic Control, +1 Channelling Speed, +2 Mana Reserve, +6 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Gravitational Mage (Mythic)
The Conceptual Gravitational Mage takes the fundamental law of Gravity in their hands and shapes it to their will. Movement, cessation, crushing force or floating free, the Conceptual Gravitational Mage controls it all and does so with a simple finesse.
Stats/Level: +3 Magic Power, +4 Magic Control, +1 Channelling Speed, , +3 Mana Reserve, +1 Mana Absorption, +6 Free Stats

In many ways, Nate found his Secondary Class options more interesting than those of his Primary. He had never really had a doubt about what he wanted from his Primary Class. Of course, there were some of the same options, but a tier below. That was to be expected given his achievements and the things he had been doing since his last evolution. Conceptual Realmwalker was what he had been. But, even though he was about to stride across the multiverse again, it wasn’t where his heart lay. Conceptual Runic Mage was sure to help him in battle, but he didn’t love battle. He didn’t seek it out. Though, he acknowledged, it tended to find him with unerring accuracy. Still, it wasn’t what he got up in the morning for, and this was his Path to walk. Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter, on the other hand, was a serious contender. He had plans for his Runic Gallery and more. The idea of creating his own little worlds that he could carry with him wherever he went was intoxicating. Moving on, Conceptual Life Artist was also a serious contender. He had plans for his life affinity, and getting the Skills for it at a tier higher would accelerate them. Finally, Conceptual Gravitational Mage was a call out to his extensive use of the Gravity Sigil. He had to admit the Sigil itself was a favourite of his, but he had no need to take it as a Class. The question then, was between Conceptual Spatial Runecrafter and Conceptual Life Artist. He could feel the pressure to answer all around him, as though Reality couldn’t remain in this frozen state forever. In the end, accelerating his plans for his life affinity trumped the ability to create larger spatially expanded spaces sooner. With a thought, he chose Conceptual Life Artist. 

With his decision made, the last notification before his Skills appeared before his eyes.

Congratulations! You have gained enough mana to receive a Tertiary Class.

Options curated based on achievements. Choose carefully.

Walk your Path. Reach your Goal. Become One with Mana.

Offered Class: Conceptual Spatial Artist (Legendary)
The Conceptual Spatial Artist is one with an affinity for Space Magic and uses it to alter space in unique and interesting ways. A step on the path to creating worlds, this Class sets the user up to mold space to their whims.
Stats/Level: +1 Magic Power, +4 Magic Control, +2 Channelling Speed, +2 Mana Reserve,
+1 Mana Absorption, +5 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Runic Mage (Legendary)
The Conceptual Runic Mage has found that projecting runes is quicker than crafting them. Armed with their runes and the ability to modify them at will, they devote themselves to this esoteric path that straddles the gap between Spellforms and Runes, creating their own destiny.
Stats/Level: +1 Intellect, +2 Magic Power, +2 Magic Control, +2 Channelling Speed, +2 Mana Reserve, +1 Mana Absorption, +5 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Runic Healer (Legendary)
The Conceptual Runic Healer takes an unconventional approach to mending the wounded, healing the sick, and restoring the broken. Treating living organisms like the biological machines they truly are, they use runes to rehabilitate their subjects. Beloved for their results, they seek out the sick and wounded across the multiverse, applying knowledge and power to preventing needless death.
Stats/Level: +1 Constitution, +2 Intellect, +2 Creativity, +2 Magic Control, +1 Channelling Speed, +2 Mana Reserve, +5 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Realmwalker (Legendary)
The Conceptual Realmwalker is one with an affinity for Space Magic that has set foot in multiple universes. Their search is endless as they seek to tread upon worlds never seen. A Path of exploration lies before them, their magic the key.
Stats/Level: +4 Magic Control, +2 Channelling Speed, +2 Mana Reserve, +1 Magic Power,
+1 Mana Absorption, +5 Free Stats

Offered Class: Conceptual Gravitational Mage (Legendary)
The Conceptual Gravitational Mage takes the fundamental law of Gravity in their hands and shapes it to their will. Movement, cessation, crushing force or floating free, the Conceptual Gravitational Mage controls it all and does so with a simple finesse.
Stats/Level: +2 Magic Power, +3 Magic Control, +1 Channelling Speed, , +3 Mana Reserve, +1 Mana Absorption, +5 Free Stats

Which Class would you like to select as your Tertiary Class?

Reading through his options, his Tertiary Class options were more of the same. However, that made his final choice an easy one. His affinity for space magic was not going to languish, forgotten and, with a thought, he selected Conceptual Spatial Artist.

As the final selection finished, he felt Reality answer as his Class Core shifted inside of him. Divine Energy flowed into him and everything grew brighter, colours grew more vivid, and the feeling of the unmoving air against his skin felt like a soft caress. The Divine Energy flowed into his body and then into his Class Core, where he felt it settle, ready to be called upon by his Intent. The world around him calmed, even as new notifications blinked in the corner of his vision. He had become a Lesser Divine and he knew, without a doubt, that if he demanded it, Reality would shift to accommodate his desires. It was intoxicating and beautiful. 

Next to him, Kiri mirrored his smile.

Then they arrived.

A rip in space appeared in the field, and out of it walked three individuals. Two men and one woman. The first man was barrel-chested and bald, with tattoos on his pate, a ring through his nose and a gigantic red beard. On his back was an axe with the haft almost as tall as he was. Nate’s Conceptual Sight of the Runic Artist told him that the axe, along with the dark red, metallic armour the man wore, were both Divine Artifacts.

Next came a tall, thin man, with trimmed white hair, and red eyes marking him as an albino. He wore a simple pale blue robe and looked a little like a snake ready to strike. Nate detected that three of the eight rings the man wore were also Divine Artifacts. The last was a woman bedecked in gold and green, looking like an Empress out of an Egyptian myth. Her face was decorated in golden streaks and she gazed upon them with perfect emerald eyes, framed by black hair that fanned out around her, held up by a golden crown upon her head. Of the three, she had the least Divine Artifacts, as Nate could only detect the crown upon her head. Behind the Empress stalked a bird that resembled a cross between a peacock and a raptor. All four, including the beast companion, were veiled as they looked over Nate and Kiri with predatory eyes.

It was the bearded man who spoke, eyes alighting on the only obvious ‘jewelry’ Nate and Kiri wore.

“Adventurer’s Guild?” asked the axe-wielder, eyes on their Platinum badges, gifts from Aisling after the Battle of the Mythics.

“We are,” Nate answered.

Nate couldn’t sense the changes around any of the individuals, their veils strong enough to prevent his own mana from getting close enough to their bodies to detect any subtle changes. The same was not true of his eyes as he saw the Empress and the Snake tense. A moment later, the Axeman was moving, his aura burning red with a sense of blood and violence as he attacked the Empress and the Snake.

The rift opened again behind the Empress and the Snake as they fled, the booming laughter of the Axeman echoed through the empty forest, before he turned his red eyes upon Nate and Kiri.

“Finally, my favourite child bears fruit.”