Someone Else’s Beginning

…

A few minutes earlier, when the participants first became aware of their surroundings, Han wasn’t the only one who reacted in an odd way. Unlike Han, who had collapsed but also just manged to compose himself, another man looked around with amazement and barely restrained glee.

Unlike Han, who’s looks seemed designed to draw the eye, this man was broader, with a face that slipped from memory as soon as you looked away—someone perhaps destined for the background, never the spotlight.

However, even before the system explained how to check statuses, he had already summoned his status page, as if he knew exactly how.

Name: Joseph

Class: Classless

Title: None

Level: 1

Vitality: 5
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 2
Agility: 1
Magic: 3

Available Stat Points: 0

Active Skills: None

Passive Skills: None

‘Is… is this actually real? This isn’t another dream, is it?' He pinched himself, it just felt like the right thing to do in this situation, making him smile despite the discomfort!

'Well, I haven’t woken up in bed, so either this is real, or pinching doesn’t mean anything. Maybe I should find a spinning top to check if it keeps spinning? But eh, who cares? If it’s a dream, might as well enjoy it. If it’s real, same difference.'

Excitement buzzed through him with dilated pupils, adrenaline making him restless as he felt perpetually high, almost like he was drugged. The world had a rose tint in his eyes and his brain processed everything on fast mode.

As the other screen of text popped up, he smirked and put his hand to his chin to think.

'Hmm, a five-minute timer before some sort of trial starts, huh? Pretty generic… I’d better decide on a class very soon then. Magic could be fun, its usually decently strong in these situations, and I do have some points in it… however I don’t know if 3 is good or bad—it might be useless or amazing depending on the system.

Its also an unknown how the magic system even works. It could be spell based, magic circles, skills, inherent talent or affinities, hell even ritual based. On second thought, seems best to avoid magic for the moment.’

He mentally crossed off a few of the other choices with ease.

'Shieldsman and Heavy Warrior are out—too annoying and sound pretty boring even if a shield sounds useful. Rogue’s likely impossible with only 1 Agility.

That leaves Warrior or Archer. Normally I’d toss Archer in with Rogue, but archery isn’t too hard. At least it wasn’t back in school. I might stand a chance there, and who knows, maybe there’s some aim assist.'

Frowning, Joseph felt he was stuck between the only two reasonable options in his mind, unconsciously itching his head in frustration.

'Warrior’s the safe option, but it’s so goddamn bland. A sword is cool and all, but it’s not special if a lot of people pick it. It’s weird there’s no Spearman class—that’s usually the other basic choice, especially considering the use cases and learning curve.

Just picking up a sword and using it effectively compared to a spear is… assumedly much harder. The gamer in me rebels against going Warrior but...’

Shifting position, Joseph scratched his forehead. He was deeply annoyed about the options given. ‘Ugh! Forget it. Archer it is, if it’s bad I’ll just find a sword later on. Hopefully I can use my minimal experience from school, maybe aim for a stationary cannon style or some kind of Magic Bowman.

Depends on how the system works. If levels only give those three fixed stats, then the only other growth paths are training, items, or equipment.'

His eyes flicked to the timer as theories and possibilities sprung up.

'Three minutes left, huh…’ Looking around not many really stood out to him on an initial pass. With a wide mix of different ethnicities, ages and genders he didn’t feel all that inclined just going up to any of them naturally.

Additionally, with many of them panicking, frozen or already forming some sort of clique, he was even more disinterested in any of them. ‘Better to go solo, I think. Safer than trusting strangers not to shove me forward as bait.'

He studied the enclosed room. At one end, a large door, appearing metallic at first glance but revealing dense stone on a second look over. At the other end loomed a ginormous wooden gate reinforced with thick iron bands, looking like it was pulled straight out of a medieval fortress.

The stone walls around the room were cracked and weathered, the whole place resembling a half-finished dungeon. Scaffolding lined the upper walls. Rusted rivets jutted from the stone, ropes dangled loose, and wooden planks formed a narrow walkway just below the very high ceiling.

Hearing the words of the other people, his thoughts got distracted as he listened in.

'An automatic translation system? How generous... I wonder what its limits are'

[Warning! 1 minute left until trial starts!]

The announcement made the room stir. Some who had hesitated quickly chose a class. Others froze entirely, frantically trying to get answers from someone, anyone.

Meanwhile Joseph still hadn’t confirmed the class himself, still slightly hesitant because of a single burning question… what if he didn’t choose?

'I should pick Archer—it’s safe, practical. But classless… in many stories, that’s where the real power lies. The unorthodox, nonsensical and most risky option that no sane person would pick, yet a higher risk usually means a higher reward

Each class gives three set stats per level, and the status screen seems to indicate possibly free stat points as well. So what if I stay classless? Do I get nothing? Or do I choose my own 3 stat increases? That’s the real gamble… and I’m a sucker for the occasional gamble.

Weapons don’t matter—I can get any I need from other people or find some. Progression however does.’

[Warning! 30 seconds left until trial starts!]

'…Forget it. Even if it’s stupid, I’d regret not even trying. Real or dream, it’s better to gamble now. Hah. That sounds pathetic.'

Turning away from the class screen, he fast walked toward the wooden gate. Two men were already there—one tall and handsome with a sword, the other more muscular with a shield and short sword.

Ignoring them, he began climbing using the large metal supports as solid footing. Despite his large size, he climbed up without many issues.

The muscular man noticed him but hesitated to say anything to the other. The swordsman—Han Ha-Sun—remained lost in his mind.

Halfway up the twenty-meter tall gate, the timer turned red and vanished. The heavy stone door at the far end cracked open with a low sucking sound as the air rushed in.

Not looking back, he focused entirely on safely reaching the scaffolding.

For a short while, nothing happened. Then flashes of green darted from the darkness. Small creatures burst out wielding crude stone knives, stabbing into the nearest unfortunate souls before anyone could react. Screams filled the chamber as a few collapsed, with the creatures temporarily sluggish and recoiling from the light and smell.

At last, the wooden gate began to open, air flooded in and seemed to stir up the savage creatures into a frenzy. They lunged forward as the people broke into a desperate dash for the exit.

Han Ha-Sun and his companion were the first to slip through, the latter glancing back in shock as people fell to the ground, powerless and desperate as the pool of crimson grew.