Tier 3+ - Accidental Champion (Book 2) - Chapter 46 - Advancement Complete

Xavier opened his eyes in a flash.

He was lying on the cold, hard stone of the alleyway he’d ran to. He felt no pain anymore. It looked as though his body hadn’t been attacked while he’d been unconscious.

His body, mind, and soul was whole again.

The impurities the System had detected, everything that he’d assimilated into his body to gain more power, more attributes. The things that had been changing him… How had it all affected his advancement?

There isn’t time to think on that. The Lord of the Endless Horde will be here soon.

He tried to open the timer that would tell him when the Lord of the Endless Horde would arrive, but he wasn’t able to—because the Lord of the Endless Horde was already here.

“You have caused me an awful lot of trouble, Xavier Collins.” The voice was deep. Powerful. And… bored?

Xavier forced himself to his feet in less than a second. Soultaker was still gripped tightly in his hand. The staff-scythe felt… weak in his grasp. The weapon hadn’t been fit for him for a long time.

Notifications were launching into his field of view, trying to gain his attention. He wished to look at them—wanted to know what the transformaton had caused.

I still have to upgrade my class.

There might be other things he needed to do. Had his skills or spells changed? Had he gained more attributes? He felt… different. More aware. Of the energies around him. The Celestial Energy, for instance, stood out like it never had before. Starkly contrasted against the background of the tall buildings that bracketed the alleyway.

And his body was definitely more powerful. His magic. His core. His soul. God, he wanted to know what had changed!

But the man who stood at the mouth of the alleyway took up all of Xavier’s attention. Xavier wasn’t sure who he’d imagined, when he’d thought of the Lord of the Endless Horde. Perhaps a man in dark black full plate armour. Or some demon lord with horns sharper than any sword. Maybe an ancient elf whose soul had grown dark as time ravaged their will.

What he saw was nothing like that.

The Lord of the Endless Horde wore something akin to martial arts robes. The robes were white and thick, almost like he was walking out of a Karate dojo or Taekwondo dojang. He had dark hair, tied into some sort of warrior’s braid that hang down his back absurdly long. At his waist, a jade scabbard held what looked to be a rather slender sword. He didn’t have a shield.

Why is he just standing there?

The man must have arrived while he was in the middle of his transformation, yet he hadn’t attacked. He was just looking at Xavier with clear contempt, like an arrogant nobleman glancing at a beggar in the street.

Xavier felt no power radiating from the man, but he didn’t need to feel the power to know it was there.

His mind worked at a mile a minute. Every split second counted. Xavier had thought the man would attack him the instant he arrived. Honestly, he’d not expected to wake up after the transformation—he’d thought this truly had been a suicide mission.

But he was still alive, and the degeneration countdown that had plagued him since he’d integrated the E Grade material into himself had finally disappeared.

Could I buy some more time? Enough to choose my class?

The Lord of the Endless Horde rested a hand on the pommel of his slender sword. The pommel was a large emerald, the green of it matching the jade of his scabbard. It did not glow.

Xavier shifted where he stood, readying himself.

I should move. Now.

He already knew the chances of him defeating a D Grade Denizen were incredibly low. If he allowed that D Grade to make the first move? They would be zero.

But maybe if I get him talking…

“Why did you not kill me while I lay defenceless on the ground?” Xavier asked. He split his consciousness and checked his soulkeeping threshold, found it to be full—the number of souls he kept hadn’t changed.

The Lord of the Endless Horde raised his chin. “My mother raised me never to attack an unarmed, defenceless enemy.” He made a tsknoise with his tongue. “Of course you are still defenceless. There isn’t much I can do about that.” He tilted his head to the side, took a step forward. “You are a curiosity, Xavier Collins.”

There he goes, using my name again. He must have a very advanced Identify skill.

Xavier didn’t even bother trying to scan the man, or using his own Identify skill. He knew there was no chance of it working. “Strange sense of honour you have, sending your army to attack a Queendom that has done you no harm.”

Keep him talking. For as long as possible.

As swiftly as he could, Xavier read through the different notifications that vied for his attention, knowing this fight could began at any moment.

Congratulations, XAVIER COLLINS. By advancing to E Grade, you have taken the next step of your journey on the path.

You have received +100 to all stats!

Your body, mind, and soul have been transformed and will now work more efficiently. Your skin has been hardened, your strength improved. Your mind has been enhanced, your thoughts cleared. Your soul has been tempered, your spirit emboldened.

Your cores have become more robust. Your awareness of them increased.

The transformation to E Grade has changed you at the very foundation of your being. Each step forward on the path of advancement not only increases your power and lifespan, but increases your potential within the Greater Universe.

One cannot walk backward on the path.

Title Unlocked!

E Grade: This is a common title that everyone receives when they advance to E Grade.

You have received +50 to all stats!

Title unlocked!

E Grade Progenitor: You are the first person from your world to advance to E Grade.

You have received +100 to all stats!

Title unlocked!

E Grade Speedrun (Unmatched): You have reached E Grade faster than anyone in the Greater Universe, displaying a potential that has never been seen before.

This is an unmatched title.

The System is watching.

You have received +25% to all stats.

Congratulations, XAVIER COLLINS, a class upgrade is now available to you.

You have 24 hours to make your choice. You will not gain any Mastery Points until you have upgraded your class.

Would you like to see your options?

Xavier could barely contain the excitement he felt at all the power he’d just received. He’d just gained far more power than he’d imagined he would. God, no wonder he felt so different—he’d broken through several more thresholds.

And the way the System had broken him down and put him back together… It affected him in more ways than simple attributes boosts. Ways he couldn’t begin to understand.

Then there was the final title he’d received. E Grade Speedrun (Unmatched). Had he truly reached E Grade faster than any of the trillions and trillions of people that had come before him? How could that even be possible? Other Denizens would have advantages he didn’t have access to—powerful ancestors with close to limitless resources. Wouldn’t they powerlevel their kin, and get them to this stage, if they knew such a title was possible?

He had gotten there in under two months. Was that truly such an accomplishment?

The second last line in the title was what hit him the hardest.

The System is watching.

It sent a shudder up his spine.

Xavier had read all of this in almost an instant, his thoughts moving more swiftly than ever, contained in the second part of his split consciousness.

Split Mind… Usually using that skill hurts me, requiring a certain amount of strain. This time, I was able to activate it without any trouble whatsoever.

Was that because of his attributes, or because he was E Grade now?

The Lord of the Endless Horde took another step forward. “You speak of things you do not understand, Champion of the Void. Honour is… individual. We each have to choose what it means to us. To live by a code.” He raised a hand, pointed at Xavier. “You have made my Horde look weak. That, I simply cannot abide.” He looked at the sky, breathed deeply through his nose. “Fortunately for me, you are a fool. A curiosity, yes, but a foolish one. You are very ambitious, attacking my home world. Usually, one such as I would not be allowed to attack one as weak as you. Not in this sector. Not unprovoked.”

Xavier contemplated the last notification. He had a day to choose his next class, and he wouldn’t receive any Mastery Points if he killed this man before doing that.

What a waste.

He looked at his status information.

XAVIER COLLINS

Age: 21

Race: Human

Grade: E

Moral Faction: World Defender (Planet Earth)

Class: Soul Reaper (Epic) – Class Upgrade Available

Level 100

Strength: 1,379 (2,206)

Speed: 1,272 (2,480)

Toughness: 1,297 (2,075)

Intelligence: 1,263 (2,728)

Willpower: 1,623 (3,181)

Spirit: 2,083 (4,687)

Mastery Points (E Grade) until next level: 0/100

Available Spirit Energy (E Grade): 46,970/46,970

Available Willpower Energy (E Grade): 10,000/10,000

Available Skill Points: 0

Free stat points remaining: 20

Titles:

Bloodied Hands, Born on a Battlefield, Settlement Defender, Quester, First Defender of Planet Earth, Survivor, All 100, First All 100, 1,000 Stats, First to 1,000 Stats, Greater Butcher, Fourth Floor Climber, Solo Tower Climber 4, 1st Fourth Floor Climber, Fourth Floor Ranked 1 – RECORD HOLDER (Completion Time – 4 sec), Ahead of the Pack, Goliath Killer, All 1,000, First All 1,000, Level 100, First to level 100, E Grade, E Grade Progenitor, E Grade Speedrun (Unmatched)

Spells List:

Spiritual Trifecta – Rank 50

Heavy Telekinesis – Rank 50

Spirit Break (All) – Rank 50

Spirit Infusion – Rank 50

Soul Harvest – Rank 50

Soul Strike (Ranged) – Rank 50

Soul Block – Rank 50

Soul Harden – Rank 50

Willpower Infusion – Rank 50

Skills List:

Physical Resistance – Rank 50

Magical Potency – Rank 50

Magical Resistance – Rank 50

Physical Damage – Rank 50

Assimilate Properties – Rank 17

Scythe-Staff Mastery – Rank 50

Meditation – Rank 50

Aura-Control – Rank 50

Core Strength – Rank 50

Cultivate Energy – Rank 50

Identify – Rank 23

Split Mind – Rank 13

Minor Spirit Coins: 394,249

Lesser Spirit Coins: 8

Xavier noticed several differences. The first difference was the asterisk by his race. That… that was definitely new. Had the items he’d assimilated somehow changed his race? It did say the impurities might affect his transformation.

I wonder if that will have any negative effects.

His Mastery Points, Spirit Energy, Willpower Energy, and spirit coins had all been altered. He’d been slightly baffled when he’d seen only “100” Mastery Points needed for him to gain his next level, until he’d noticed the “E Grade” descriptor.

The numbers for his Spirit Energy and Willpower Energy were still quite high, but they’d definitely been altered as well.

And God, his attributes! They were absolutely insane. He just hoped they were insane enough.

The Lord of the Endless Horde had taken a third step forward. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of his slender sword. Xavier knew there was no more stalling anymore. No chance of him upgrading his class before this showdown began.

Time to fight a D Grade Denizen.