I opened my eyes for the second time to Gerold waiting there to offer me a drink. I don't think I have ever slept so well in my life. Which i guess was true since that was the first time I had slept in my new life. I was in a 4 poster bed just as well made as everything else seemed to be in this place. For a poor and sanctioned God, Vero still seemed to live a good life.

"Some water there on the night stand for you Mr. Greyson. I am here to help with any questions you have as well as get you started on your path. I have been instructed to give you everything you require in order to get you out on your first mission."

I swung myself out of bed in a spry motion I hadn't been able to do in years. Still marveling at the nimbleness of my new life. I drank the water in a couple gulps and observed the room I was in. A fire crackled in the fireplace against the wall and the stone reflected it into the room. Strange being in the void of space and still using stone to build and construct with but I was sure I had a lot to learn. It was then I noticed a flashing exclamation point in the top right of my vision demanding my attention.

"..Uh Gerold I have an exclamation point in my vision, I know Vero said it would be like the stories from my world but that is a little on the head isn't it?"

"Those stories had to draw inspiration from somewhere Mr Greyson, If there is nothing else I can get you and you are feeling well we should start going over your prompts. I will endeavor to answer any questions I can for you. I will warn you however much of what I will say you will have to take on faith. Something I think is foreign to you."

"...Was that a joke Gerold?" I asked a little stunned. The devil had always seemed so stoic

The red eyed demon just smiled blandly and gestured to a large stuffed chair by the fire. If you take a seat sir, I will help you go through your prompts. "If you open the first one it should be one notifying you that you have been reincarnated into the Ascension Framework, Which is the name of our system. Our universe is called Ascension colloquially."

Harold moved over to the chair and settled into it excited to open his prompts and get the blaring exclamation point out of his vision.

"Welcome, Calamity. Your soul has been judged and reforged. The Ascension Framework accepts your existence—not as penance, but as purpose." by Verodeal-The God of Calamity.

Race - Calamity Human

Level-0

Cultivation-Initiate

Class- NA

Occupation- Calamity

Reincarnation points available.

6000

1200 earned from prior life

400 earned because of accelerated life start

4400 from Verordeal

Boons available-

Variable

Reading the status I immediately had some questions for Gerold. "A literal pop-up window. Floating in my vision. I had seen a hundred of these in video games. I never thought the next one I saw would hold my soul's worth." "What are these Reincarnation points and what is a Calamity Human?"

The points are why the Lord pressed you to make a decision so soon it cost him a lot of his Divine Power to pull and keep you here and the longer you were here… the less he would have to push into you as he reincarnated you. I'll get to how many points you have but a Calamity Human is a race all Calamity's start as. Humans are genetically compatible with the vast majority of bloodlines and future race advancements can move you towards any bloodline you either develop, earn or steal. The Calamity Human simply takes that farther and makes you more compatible with bloodlines, making virtually no bloodline inaccessible to you. For example I started as a Calamity Human and stole a High Lord Devil Bloodline then advanced it further."

"Ok questions leading to more questions but ill try to stay focused. What can you tell me about these reincarnation points?" I asked hopefully. I had no idea if the amount I had was good or not.

" Those are the most important part of why I am here. Those points will allow you to begin your career as a Calamity as well as choose a class and job. The remainder will be spent on any boons you can buy as a Calamity. This will be a one time purchase and any further boons you earn you will have to do as a Calamity as Mission Rewards."

" So this is a lot like the stories from Earth." I said thoughtfully trying to take that thought as far as I could. Trying to remember what those stories were. I didn't have a ton of time in my previous life to read or play games until my retirement.

"Yes it is, the system and people from this universe have touched and influenced much of your culture even though your world was supposed to be a protected world." Gerold explained patiently.

I opened the next Notification.

Choose a Class

Squire-Common-

Initiate Mage-Common

Rogue-Common

Sabatuer-Common

1001 more

"Gerold, I've got over a thousand classes here. Is there a way to filter them?" "Names straight out of books and movies. Easy to romanticize, but reality hit fast—I wasn't playing a game." The class I choose would be me and not something from a movie or book.

"Yes, simply think towards the panel what you want to filter them by and it should give you a selection to choose from." Gerold again said patiently as he sat on his own chair. His legs crossed

Taking his advice the list reordered itself

Choose a Class

Beginner Void Weaver-Legendary

Beginner Chrono Warden-Legendary

Beginner Scriptureblade-Legendary

Beginner Gravetongue Oracle-Legendary

Oathbound Brander-Divine

1001 more...

Looking at the list and insane sounding names I opened the first one.

Beginner Void Weaver

Cost: 5400 RP Description: Bends the fabric between realities to stitch impossible outcomes into the present. Manipulates dimensional threads to trap, relocate, or rewrite events. True masters can "unravel" a moment before it happens—at great cost. Requires a strong understanding of spatial Dao and mental clarity bordering madness.

What the hell was all this,"Gerold, how is this even on the table? I was a soldier-for-hire, not some reality-warping god. These classes don't match anything I lived." Gerold, How can I have access to this? From all the stories these classes are available because of my prior life experience. I never got close to bending reality. And how can this be a class available at the beginning of my new life?"

"Did you ever beat the odds and come out ahead?"

"Yes…"

"Then the system sees that. It translates cunning, willpower, and survival into potential—even if you don't understand how."

"I…I guess yeah but that seems like a stretch to make those conclusions. Would these classes not make me completely overpowered at level 1?" I asked directly.

"In some ways perhaps, there are no weak classes, just weak people." Gerold replied simply. His red eyes seemed to absorb the light from the fire. "For instance that class would allow you to decimate groups of people but leave you defenseless directly after. It's a very mana intensive class and not one I would recommend. You are woefully under prepared for what is coming for you." Gerold's bland voice showed some emotion for the first time. " You will be hunted by champions, mercenaries and empires, everyone will be looking to kill a baby Calamity both for the reward and so you don't return or so they can control you." If you are killed by anyone except by your target, you will not return. You must either kill him or get killed by him in order to grow and gain power, and only then can the Lord gain divine power from his Domain. The stakes are higher than you think Gerold replied", again with his emotion leaking though. His eyes drilled a hole into me and for the first time and his shell cracked a little.

"What other classes are available to you?"

I looked back to my panel, " I have Beginner Chrono Warden, Beginner Void Weaver, Beginner Scriptureblade, Beginner Gravetongue Oracle, Oathbound Brander. All of them are Legendary except the last one is…..Divine..?"

Somehow Gerold pulled up a stunned look while still looking bland, "Show me the panel" Gerold demanded.

Taking his advice from before I willed the panel to be shown to him.

Gerald's face scrunched up as he read the panel. He suddenly got up and left the room with only a "wait here" . His form flickering, he was moving so fast. Just as fast as he left he came back in with a glass in hand. The dark liquid was not spilling a drop as fast as he was moving. He sat back down in his chair, " Harold I am old, I am one of the first generation of Calamities. I have seen untold destruction, death, chaos but I have also seen untold kindness and sacrifice. In all my time, literally 100's of thousands of years. I have only seen 4 people be offered a Divine class….and they all have had short destructive lives but they all caused untold change. Shook up the status quo and one even indirectly brought about the fall of a Pantheon. In your stories I think it was called Ragnarok." Divine classes are powerful beyond belief but also have equally powerful drawbacks. I have not heard of this one but I would caution you on taking it. It is important to pick a class you have an affinity for. Something you truly could enjoy and connect with otherwise it will be impossible for you to reach the upper ranks of power." If these classes do not, think hard about taking them even if it means not taking a legendary class."

Taking a second to think over what the devil said I leaned back into my chair. My heart was beating with the importance of this decision. "I'll read through each option and see what I can then."

Gerold smiled for the first time I'd seen. "Do that and make sure to keep an open mind, you won't feel any connection logically to it but you'll feel it in your soul, in your bones an inexplicable desire or curiosity."

Nodding to myself I opened the second class choice

Beginner Chrono Warden

Cost: 5800 RP Description: A guardian of causality, the Chrono Warden is anchored across multiple points in time. Can rewind small decisions, accelerate allies, or trap enemies in temporal stasis. The further you manipulate, the greater the backlash. Best suited for those who can bear the burden of what should have been

Beginner Scriptureblade

Cost: 5600 RP Description: A warrior-scholar whose blade is etched with evolving scripture—each line written through battle, sacrifice, and insight. Their attacks carry doctrinal weight, rewriting laws of engagement and disrupting enemy cultivation paths. Wields both literal and philosophical force. Ideal for cultivators who see the sword as both pen and judgment.

Beginner Gravetongue Oracle

Cost: 5700 RP Description: Speaks to the dead and listens to forgotten truths. Gains insight, power, and techniques from those who have fallen, including lost Daos, ancient arts, and sealed bloodlines. But every whisper carries risk—sanity is not always a renewable resource. Recommended only for those with mental fortitude and spiritual empathy.

Initiate Oathbound Brander

Cost: 5900 RP Description: Forms soul-deep contracts with creatures who willingly accept the brand. Cannot cause direct harm and suffers reduced vitality, but each bound ally evolves into their ideal form, guided by Dao resonance. Acts as a curator of legends, sacrificing personal might to cultivate a pantheon of monsters.

That…..was a lot. These classes seemed overpowered in the extreme. Being able to re-write reality with a sword or revive lost Daos and bloodlines from the dead. How could anyone not end up powerful with these? The last one especially didn't give a lot of information and not being able to cause harm and reduced vitality was a harsh penalty and it doesn't tell a lot about the benefits. I showed the panels to Gerold and watched his eyebrows raise each time he read a panel. I could only tell the devil was stressed by the way he was tapping his leg on the ground. Finally he was done and he looked at me with his expressionless face once again.

"These are all good options but will be Dao and mana intensive. The Divine class offers almost no information but there are keywords there the system will not use lightly. Using the word pantheon indicates the creatures you brand will end up especially powerful. Handing anyone the perfect class and dao to compliment it is almost a guarantee to the highest levels of power if they work on it. I have heard of the gravetongue line of classes before but the one I knew was only Rare and could not steal techniques and bloodlines. That one is especially powerful, you could tailor your build exactly the way you want."

"You keep talking about Dao but I don't see it on my status. How does my Dao affect me?"

Gerold chuckled, the sound dry but not mocking. "That question is more important than you know."

He leaned back, the firelight catching in his red eyes.

"The Dao is everywhere and everything—especially within this system. You'll feel its absence like a missing limb the moment you step beyond this universe. It's part of why our elites are so powerful."

He let the words hang a moment before continuing, slower now.

"The Dao is a personal path—a manifestation of your ideals, instincts, and the truth you carve out through pain, persistence, and revelation. It isn't something you're taught. It's something you become. To follow a Dao is to align with a deeper principle—and through it, to reshape the world around you."

Gerold gestured toward the fire. "That's why affinity matters. You could try walking the Dao of flame, but if you don't feel the fire—don't love it, hate it, know it—you'll never master it. It will always be foreign. Hollow."

He shifted forward, tone growing weightier.

"In this system, everything has a Dao—man, beast, even things that shouldn't think at all. Some Daos are sharp and straightforward. Others are winding, layered, and strange. The stronger the will behind it, the clearer the path becomes. And the further you walk it, the more reality starts to bend around you."

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You opened your mouth to speak, but Gerold continued, anticipating the question.

"The way your Dao interacts with your class is... complex. Some walk a Dao opposite their class to shore up weaknesses. Others choose one that reinforces their strengths. There's no perfect formula. No ultimate Dao."

He tapped his temple.

"It's not about what you pick. It's about how you walk it. Think back to your old life—what was more dangerous: the weapon, or the person holding it? The Dao is like that. The power means nothing without someone to wield it."

Letting his words wash over me, I tried to reconcile what he said with the stories from my own world. A few questions surfaced as I sifted through it all.

"How powerful is the Dao compared to our class?" I asked.

Gerold's eyes gleamed. "Another intelligent question with a complicated answer."

He folded his arms. "On the surface, they seem equal. But the Dao is vastly more intricate. A class gains strength through effort—kill, build, accomplish—and the system rewards you. The Dao? It only yields power through moments of clarity: enlightenment, reflection, discovery. It is not given. It is earned. Alone."

He paused, letting that sink in.

"The most powerful walk both paths at once—raising their class and Dao together. But some charge ahead with class power, only later chasing their Dao. There's no fixed order. But mark this: gaining power in the Dao is like stealing it from the universe itself. It is dangerous. Lonely. But those who succeed are feared even by gods."

I nodded slowly. "So classes are a quicker path, but those who master both gain more power… more freedom. Are all systems like this?"

Gerold scoffed. "Hardly. Most are far simpler. Just cultivation. Just class. One or the other. The Devil I stole this bloodline from? His power came from contracts. He could reshape the world with ink and intent."

"Alright," I said, shifting gears. "What about the boons I can earn from Vero? What do they actually do?"

Gerold's expression stiffened at my casual use of the god's name, but he answered anyway.

"Let's choose your class first," he rasped. "Then we'll talk boons. Just know—they're coveted. The rarest currency in existence."

"You're right," I muttered, chuckling. "It's hard to stay focused with all this thrown at me."

I scrolled through the class prompts again, dismissing Void Reaver and Chrono Warden without much thought. They didn't speak to me. Gravetongue Oracle caught my attention—travel, mystery, secrets of the dead. That path would bring its own kind of freedom. Scriptureblade appealed too: elegant, disciplined, introspective. A warrior of ideas and solitude.

But my eyes kept returning to Oathbound Brander.

I thought back to my last life. If you could call it successful, it was because of the people around me. I wasn't the strongest, or the smartest. But I built teams. And teams win wars.

A single monster can change the tide of a battle. But a team of monsters? That can change the fate of a world or worlds.

That idea thrilled me more than anything else on the list. The downsides were brutal—reduced HP, no direct combat ability, and a role that required judgment… and sometimes execution. I'd be hunted. I'd be vulnerable.

But then Vero's words echoed in my head:

"The hardest paths make the hardest people."

I made my decision, impulsively. I didn't scroll further to the common classes. I didn't ask Gerold. I just… chose.

Status Updated

Race: Calamity Human

Level: 0 Cultivation: Initiate Class: Oathbound Brander Occupation: Calamity

Brands Available: 2 Reincarnation Points: 100

I must have zoned out waiting because I heard Gerold's voice again.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I… I don't know. I just thought I'd feel something when I picked." I said a little bewildered. I noticed the notification glowing in the corner of my eye again and opened it as fast as I could.

You have learned skills:

Brand

Oathsense

Tactical Recall

As soon as I saw the skills I immediately opened their descriptions in excitement.

Brand

Type: Active Tier: Initiate Cost: Variable Cooldown: None

Description: Carve your will into another being, establishing your Brand between you and the target. The target must be willing, and the act requires sustained contact and intent.

Brand is permanent unless severed by you or shattered through catastrophic spiritual trauma.

Branded creatures begin evolving toward their ideal form Brand syncs with the creature's Dao over time guiding creature towards opportunity

Limitations:

Total number of Brands limited by class tier

Cannot brand enemies or unwilling subjects.

Oathsense

Type: Passive Tier: Initiate Range: Variable

Description: Develop a sixth sense linked to all creatures you've Branded. You can feel their emotional state, general condition, and directional pull at all times. .

Recall

Type: Active Tier: Initiate Cost: Variable

Description: Call a Branded creature back to your side instantly, regardless of distance, line of sight, or terrain.

I Finished reading, I closed the windows with a flick of thought—and my stomach sank. Was this a mistake?

This class was a pure controller—no defenses, no attacks, and my HP had been gutted by 90%. Worse, I couldn't even harm anyone directly. I was a battlefield strategist who wasn't allowed to swing a sword.

I sighed. "Status screen."

Name: Harold

Race: Calamity Human

Level: 0

Class: Oathbound Brander (Tier 1)

Cultivation Rank: Initiate

Occupation: Calamity

Reincarnation Points Available: 100

HP: 14 (140- reduced due to Class)

Mana: 160

Intelligence: 8

Willpower: 10

Charisma: 6

Fortitude:10

Strength: 8

Agility: 6

Perception: 9

Dao Affinity: Soul

Brands Active: 0 / 2

Gerold let me sit in silence, brooding over my decision for the second time. The weight of it still lingered.

Sure, the companions I gained would be strong—stronger than most at their tier if given the chance to grow. But getting them there? That was on me.

"I'm not sure if I made a mistake, Gerold. How is this whole Calamity thing going to work?"

He looked confused for a second, as if parsing the question, then nodded and let it go.

"Every class has power, Harold—yours more than most, if you give it time. Since Vero's letting you choose who to bring Calamity to, you'll likely have limited access to his domain. You'll be able to see potential upcoming Calamities… then get sent to a staging area to prepare."

"Staging area?"

"A kind of still moment in time," he explained. "Time and actions are fluid—who can say exactly when someone breaks through to the next tier? So you'll be moved to a pocket of time, separate from theirs, and wait there until the moment comes. Then you'll descend like lightning. That is the first sign a Calamity has arrived."

"And they'll know?"

"The target always gets a warning. But remember—bringing Calamity doesn't have to mean killing them. Maybe a noble finishes building a grand fortress—you could decide to raze it. Or maybe an empire completes some great work—you could march an army on them instead."

"And what do I do with the empire?"

"That's your choice. Enslave them. Imprison them. Bury their history. Or don't. The resources are yours to wield however you want."

I was quiet again, absorbing all of it.

"Do many Calamities lead armies?" I asked.

Gerold chuckled.

"The vast majority. A couple of our more stealth types don't, those lead some type of assassin organization. You can't be everywhere at once, and we're meant to be larger than life. Armies help with that. People flock to Calamities—some to join, some to stop, some to claim. The rewards are powerful, after all."

"Recruiting's been slow the last… oh, three hundred thousand years. People forgot about us. But once your name is announced, there'll be a rush—followers, enemies, opportunists."

His expression darkened slightly.

"But remember this: to return to the staging area, you must either kill your target or be killed by them. If you die to something else—some beast, trap, or side threat—then you're gone. Your life ends there."

Despite myself, I was starting to grin.

"This is… complicated."

"And complicated is full of opportunity," I murmured, eyes narrowing.

Gerold's eyes seemed to glow for a second and a hungry expression crossed his face for a second, just don't forget Harold….Calamities can happen to anyone.

As soon as it happened it was gone, Now let us spend the rest of those points you have left. You said you had a 100? It's not a lot but you have some good options to choose from.

A panel pulled up in front of me with tabs for different types of items, abilities, feats, boons, people, everything I could imagine.

If I could make a suggestion Harold, where you will be going you will need a base of operations. Somewhere you can make a home while not out on Calamity. If you buy a recruiting portal you will have access to the wider recruiting network across the universe, the higher level ones even cross universes but the portal will let you select people that meet your criteria and hire them from the portal for the cost of silver and gold.

Wait ... .what Gerold I wont be staying here?"

Gerold blinked, then laughed.

….No….Harold this is the Lord's Domain you can not stay here. This is a safe place for the Lord. Not a refuge for you. You will have to build that yourself.

I thought you said I would be hunted though?

You will be, that's why you will need to build a refuge of your own. Build a massive fortress in a mountain or hide deep underground. It is up to you. People will only get a reward for killing you when you are on Calamity.

He paused to let that settle.

"The rest of the time, they will hunt you to control you."

"Now, back to the items," Gerold said, hands clasped behind his back. "I'd recommend starting with a recruitment portal. You can only afford the basic edition, but don't be misled—it's only 'basic' because of the range. It'll still cover the entire sector you're assigned to."

He gestured to the interface again.

"To round out your kit: a stocked survival pack with rations. You won't need weapons, and you can't afford armor. The remaining points…" he gave a slight shrug, "…are best spent on silver. Never hurts to have coin."

I scrolled through the list, the recommended items already highlighted. Rows of grayed-out gear, abilities, and artifacts stretched far past what I could afford.

"All of this would've been available if I'd started with a cheaper class…" I muttered.

Gerold regarded me for a moment before replying, "True. But then you'd have personal power to match. A Divine class with Divine potential… or a common class with common limits."

I grimaced. "You're right again."

I confirmed the selections. The panel vanished with a chime—and in its place, a large pack appeared beside me in a crackle of lightning.

Gerold raised an eyebrow and smirked. "A little flourish from the Lord. Theatrics are a weakness of his."

Vero choose that moment to stride in, Now that you are ready I need to send you out. I hate to rush you but the front is chaotic now and I am needed out there. You have three choices to go to. A star chart appeared in front of me with 3 planets highlighted with a small description.

❄️ 1. Kartharix – The Silent Peaks

Status: Sub-zero, high-altitude, unstable mana zones Dominant Species: Frostblooded humans, Icebound giants, snow spirits, frost wolves Strongest Known Creature: Yrrm'Veth, the Sleeper Below, a hibernating tier 7 wyrm coiled beneath Mount Sol'Sarr, said to be as old as the stars. If awakened, it would change the fate of the entire sector. Notes: Kartharix is a world of white silence, jagged peaks, and buried secrets. The landscape is broken by miles-long glaciers, deep-cut valleys, and mountain temples frozen in time. Dao resonance here is subtle but intense—echoing in stillness, survival, and forgotten oaths. A perfect place to hide and build—if you can withstand the elements and the ancient things beneath the ground. Expect resistance from hermit-magi, frostbound spirits, and desperate tribes.

🌲 2. Verdant Glade – The Songwood

Status: Mana-rich, semi-isolated Dominant Species: Beastfolk tribes and awakened flora Strongest Known Creature: Tier 7 Thalmaru the Bloom-Eater, an immortal predator of titanic size that feeds on divine plant essences—sealed in a thorn-coffin beneath the oldest tree. Notes: Verdant Glade breathes with old, watching power. Vines speak, rivers remember, and trees migrate overnight. Dao pathways here center around harmony, metamorphosis, and blood-soaked growth. Tamed creatures could thrive here—but they'll also be hunted. Expect resistance from druids, tree-souled knights, and beasts that remember their former lifetimes.

🏰 3. Cindralis – The Empire on the Brink

Status: High-population, arcane-industrial fusion Dominant Species: Humans. Strongest Known Creature: The Eclipsed Seraph, tier 8 a fallen Valkyrie of the God Odin bound to the throne who guards the ritual sanctum. Her wings burn with forgotten divine flame, and her mind fractures with every prayer offered in the empire's name. Notes: Cindralis is a powder keg. Golems enforce peace. The nobility scheme. The lowborn stir in secret. You can bring ruin through revolution, corruption, or overwhelming siege. Expect resistance from knight-orders, cursed relic wielders, and spies who don't know they're spies.

None of these places looked welcoming. Hunted by angry snow spirits. Hunted by beastfolk. Hunted by knight orders. Everywhere, the word "hunted" clung to me like a curse.

I narrowed my eyes. Where has the most potential to remain hidden? To grow in strength, to tame my creatures and shape my power without constant interference?

Cindralis was out. Too loud. Too many eyes. Too organized. Verdant Glade... vibrant, yes, but everything there was alive and watching. Only Kartharix remained. Cold, quiet, and cruel—but disorganized. No empire. No council. Just wilderness, whispers, and ruin.

I dropped to my knees and rummaged through the large pack Gerold had theatrically summoned. Rations. Firestarter kit. A survival compass. Then, at the bottom—a thick sleeping bag and a heavy, fur-lined jacket wrapped in waxed cloth.

I paused, fingers lingering on the coat. A warmth—not from the jacket, but from something else—rose in my chest.

Looking up, I saw Gerold behind Vero. He gave me a subtle wink and a slow, approving nod.

My decision made, I stood tall.

"I choose Kartharix."

Lightning surged. My body dissolved in white-hot arcs—and the world vanished around me.

Vero's voice followed me like a dying echo:

"Good luck on your journey, Harold. The hardest paths make the hardest people."

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