A blast of energy drained from me, but the shadow didn't move. It trembled ever so slightly, then the tugging stopped. I yanked my spear out of its tails and it took off, stumbling over its own feet. It knocked itself toward the water, and two of its feet touched the edges.

They dissolved like the smooth liquid was acid which traveled up its body. Still, it tried to get away from me even off balance, then crashed into the water.

[You have gained experience from combat.]

[You have gained a level.]

[You have reached Level 50 and will not gain any additional levels until you Rank Up.]

[You have an outstanding quest that will be forfeited if you do not complete it before you Rank Up.]

"What the fuck just happened?" My voice echoed around the cavern, but nothing responded. I hadn't really expected a response, so that was good.

Carefully, I stepped closer to the water's edge, but didn't dare touch it. It looked like water, and it didn't smell strange or anything.

I snagged a piece of cloth out of my inventory and tossed the end of it into the water.

Nothing happened.

I pulled it back out, waited a few seconds, then touched the edge with the very tip of my pinky finger. Cold water.

I even picked it up and sniffed it closer.

Still water.

"That's a pretty bad weakness to water and light," I muttered as I shook my head.

More importantly, I leaped over the water and landed on the other side.

[You have completed The Descent. You can exit the dungeon or continue to The Spiral. Rewards have been calculated.]

A treasure chest sat in between me and the archway that led to what I assumed was the exit, while the dark tunnel led deeper underground.

Loot first, then I needed to deal with all the rest of things.

I opened the treasure chest and found something black and shimmery.

[Cloak of Shadows, Soulbound. This cloak will let you completely disappear into the shadows. Light will reduce the effects.]

"Yes, please." While I'd hoped after killing the creature I could eat its heart and get the ability, this was a good second-place treasure. I flung it onto my shoulders over my backpack, and it settled on top of my clothes, making everything go dark.

[You are invisible.]

"Nice!"

That left the other thing that I needed to deal with. I sat down on the ground and opened up my quest.

[Final Quest (Path to Citizenship): Decide on your true name. Any experience gained once level 50 is reached will be banked. This quest must be completed before you Rank Up or it will be forfeited.]

"My true name…"

Did I want to change my name? I liked my name. It was part of me, and I really couldn't imagine being called anything else. The way the system only showed my first name was cool as well. It freed me from some of the baggage from Earth. While my last name linked me to my father and my brothers, that connection would remain no matter what.

"Let's stick with Alex."

[Is your true name Alex?]

"Yes."

[You have completed the Path to Citizenship, and are now a Citizen of the System Universe. You have gained the title: Citizen, additional experience from completing quests, crafting, and battles, +15 to all Stats. All benefits are now available to you. If you break the laws of the System Universe, you may be labeled as an Offender, depending on the severity of the crime.]

Stolen story; please report.

"What are the benefits?" I asked, already thinking the ones it listed were overpowered.

[The big three perks are: You have access to the Quest Board, Portal Access off the current planet you are on to all Open Worlds, and Access to the Mega Cities across the universe, with language translation.]

"What do I need to do if I want to Rank Up?"

[Any Free Stats will be forfeited if you Rank Up at this time.]

"Alright, give me a moment…"

Given the last couple of levels pushing me to level 50, I had 21 free stat points to spend. Quickness and, surprisingly, Fortitude were now my highest stats, followed by Willpower. My profession gave so many stats to those areas it made sense. Charisma was the only stat still under 200, which bothered me, but even all 21 points wouldn't get it over it.

I added the bulk of the 21 free points I had to Flexibility, bringing that up to tie with my second-highest stat, with the few leftover points rounding out a couple of areas. As soon as I closed my stat screen, my body trembled. I knew the increase to Flexibility might knock me around a little, given how large of an increase it was.

An itchy sensation started at my toes and worked its way slowly up my legs. All I wanted to do was scratch, but I resisted, focusing on my breathing. I didn't know how long it took, but eventually, the feeling faded, leaving me hungry.

After eating and washing my hands in the water, I returned to my spot on the floor.

"Alright, let's Rank Up."

I figured the dungeon was the safest place to do this, all things considered. Noseen said for it to be quiet and alone, and I was very alone here.

[Do you want to enter Class Selection?]

The notification made me jerk slightly.

"If that's what Ranking Up is, then yes."

Everything went white, and I found myself in the very same room I had when I entered class selection the first time.

"Welcome to Class Selection, Alex," whispered a familiar, soft voice. "You have earned a variety of skill categories, stats, titles, and achievements that all affect what classes you are offered. Each box in the air represents a class that you may choose. This class will build on the foundation you have already created. Take the time you need to make the correct choice, but remember while you are here, your body is still in the physical world, and time is passing normally."

Three golden boxes floated in the air, each sparkling in their own way.

I selected the first box.

[Voracious Devourer: Your hunger grows, and the benefits received from devouring beings grows in kind. New Skill - Ferocious Hunger: Your hunger increases after a kill and you need to consume more than the heart to be satisfied, but all gains from devouring will double, +1 Mon. Relentless Pursuit: Once you have a target in sight, you will track it for as long as needed. Stats: +5 to STR, QUICK, FLEX, TOUGH, +5 Free.]

An image popped up of me looking the same as now, though my smile looked sharper, my eyes more wild. This had to be the direct upgrade to Devourer.

I didn't know how I felt about it. The benefits I'd received from eating hearts were key to my current growth, but nothing was getting added to any of my mental stats, meaning I'd need to keep leveling my class as much as possible for the stat points to remain semi-balanced at all.

I moved on to the next one. I wanted to check them all out before deciding.

[Prowling Devourer: You are a being of stealth and hunger, who stalks its prey with patience. Skills absorbed by class: Steathly Camouflage and Free Spirit. New Skill: Relentless Pursuit - II: Once you have a target, prey or predator, in sight, you will track it for as long as needed. Increased ability to track any being, increased damage to any stealth attack. Stats: +5 to QUICK, FLEX, INT, +10 Free.]

And the next.

[Savage Devourer: You are a whirlwind of teeth and claws. Double all damage from natural weapons. Increased likelihood to gain skills related to natural weapons. Skills absorbed to create NewSkill - Savage Weapons: Venomous Chomp, and Tensile Claw Strike. New Skills: Relentless Pursuit: Once you have a target in sight, you will track it for as long as needed. Savage Venomous Weapons: Damage caused by your claws or teeh doubles; both are coated in a Venomous substance. Each strike can hit a target minimally outside of your reach. +2 Mon. Stats: +7 to STR, QUICK, FLEX, TOUGH, +1 Free.]

Just as I closed the third box, another shimmered into view. The outline wasn't gold, and I wouldn't have noticed it if it wasn't for the sparkles.

[Requirement: Consumption of Devourer Tooth. Dreadful Devourer: You aren't just a devourer, you manifest fear. Prey will tremble as you hunt. Skills absorbed by class: Fearful Aura. New Skills: Relentless Pursuit: Once you have a target in sight, you will track it for as long as needed. Stats: +10 to QUICK, FLEX, FORT +5 Free.]

"Woah, 35 stat points…" Though, with how the living shadow had acted when I used the Fearful Aura, it made sense. Still, I hadn't had a chance to explore the skill or really test it out enough to create a whole class surrounding it. The fact that I needed to consume the devourer tooth to even get it added another layer. The tooth was my backup weapon, but I had to assume it was needed to make that big of a jump in stats.

A second one popped up just like the last, and I had to check it out.

[Requirement: Consumption of Cloak of Shadows. Shadow Devourer: You are a being of stealth and hunger, who stalks its prey with patience. Skills absorbed by class: Stealthy Camouflage and Free Spirit. New Skill: Relentless Pursuit - II: Once you have a target, prey or predator, in sight, you will track it for as long as needed. Increased ability to track any being, increased damage to any stealth attack. Shadow Walking: While in the shadows you disappear completely. Light reduces this effect. Stats: +5 to QUICK, FLEX, INT, +15 Free.]

I let out a deep breath, to steady my thoughts. Both these options were way more powerful, and led down different paths, but they required me to consume equipment, useful equipment. Yet, the innate bonuses that couldn't be taken away from me were a giant positive. The greedy part of me wondered what'd happen if I consumed both the Devourer Tooth and the Cloak of Shadows.

Go big or go home, right?

Another window rippled into view as the thought crossed my mind.

[Do you want to consume the Devourer Tooth and the Cloak of Shadows to create a custom class?]

"Can I see what I'm in for?"

[Do you want to consume the Devourer Tooth and the Cloak of Shadows to create a custom class?]

This reminded me of the first time. I hadn't had the option of seeing what the devouring class even did before I'd chosen it. Instead, I'd gone for it since it was legendary, and look at how far I'd come.

"Yes, yes I do."

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