The three System messages disappeared. Rylan watched the System windows unfold in front of him, his heart filled with anticipation. The long list took shape in front of him. He then started reading.

…There are even more options?

Rylan furrowed his brow in confusion as he took in the number of Classes he was being offered. Ordinarily, the first Class Evolution would present the highest number of possible Classes, since it served as the foundation for the next ones, which would only offer Classes related to the one that was picked in the first Evolution. However, that rule had just been broken.

Excitement bubbled within Rylan's heart. It made sense, now that he thought about it. Not only had he awakened Aura, he had also acquired an Aspect that could fuse both mana and Aura into something entirely new. He had set foot on a path that was different from any he'd tread in his past life. Even though he didn't have a Profession and had an unremarkable Trait, it seemed that the System acknowledged that.

Rylan brought up the information of the very first Class on the list.

[Class

Magic Swordsman: You have realized the existence of a path that is different from any you have known. Guided by both swordsmanship and magic, you have decided to find a way to merge both arts into one. Your training will never fail you.

Stats: +9 all ordinary stats.

Per Level: +7 all ordinary stats. +9 Free Points.

* Increases the effectiveness of the Magic Swordsmanship Hybrid Skill by 10%.]

Rylan shook his head once he finished reading the information, disappointed.

It has higher stat bonuses than The Dreamer, but that's a matter of course. It doesn't take into account Dreams of Transcendence or anything like that.

Its greatest difference from a perfectly ordinary second Class, apart from the stat bonuses, was the fact that it boosted Magic Swordsmanship, but that was all. However, there was another change. Rylan narrowed his eyes at the Class description.

'Ordinary' stats.

Simply put, it meant all stats except for Aura, which counted as a "special" stat. Unlike the others, the Aura stat usually required both training and a steep investment of Free Points to grow. From the start, he'd never expected the first Class he looked at to be one that raised his Aura like his other stats. That didn't mean such Classes didn't exist, however.

I'll probably find one.

Nodding to himself, Rylan moved on. After reading a few more Class descriptions, he found one that was familiar.

[Class

Aura Swordsman: You have discovered the power of yore. Guided by your memories and your newfound Aura, your combat abilities will soar. May your Aspect shine brighter than ever.

Stats: +12 Strength, +14 Agility, +12 Endurance, +15 Body, +5 Aura.

Per Level: +8 Strength, +10 Agility, +8 Endurance, +12 Body, +3 Aura.

* Increases the effectiveness of all Sword Arts by 15%.

* Increases the effectiveness of Aura by 5%.]

Rylan smiled. To him, it had been almost two decades since he'd seen a Class related to Aura. The sensation that he was treading familiar ground was, in a way, comforting. At the same time, it was something he needed to avoid. He was blazing a new path.

With an attentive gaze, Rylan weighed the Class against Magic Swordsman.

On paper, the stat bonuses are smaller, but it increases Aura passively.

That was the Class' greatest strength and the only reason he would consider picking it. However, he was very confident that there would be better Classes to pick. With this in mind, Rylan dismissed its information and kept reading. After a while, he found a Class that piqued his interest. He willed its information to appear in front of him.

[Class

Lucid Spellblade: Even though you never stopped dreaming, you have decided it is time to awaken to your true potential. You have replaced your dreams with power and drive. Fully awake, your spells and swordsmanship will shine brighter than ever.

Stats: +12 all ordinary stats, +8 Aura.

Per Level: +10 all stats, +12 Free Points.

* Improves the effectiveness of the Magic Swordsmanship Hybrid Skill by 12%.

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* All your stats will increase by 12% when using both magic and swordsmanship.

* Increases the learning speed of new spells by 22%. Increases the effectiveness of all spells by 14%. Increases the learning speed of new sword styles by 22%. Increases the effectiveness of all Sword Arts by 14%.

* Changes 'Dreams of Transcendence' into 'Clear Realization.']

Rylan nodded to himself.

Very good.

Aside from the higher stat bonuses, it also improved the effectiveness of Magic Swordsmanship and boosted the unique abilities of The Dreamer Class. It was a Class that acknowledged the path he'd taken until now. Most importantly, Aura was included in the "Per Level" bonuses. However, there was a problem – it changed Dreams of Transcendence. Rylan opened the description of the new Skill.

[Passive Skill

Clear Realization: Your dream of reaching Transcendence has turned into the realization that you will achieve it. No matter what obstacles you have to face, the knowledge and experience you have accumulated in both lives will allow you to triumph. There is no enemy you cannot defeat. That realization has dawned upon you.

* Effects: increases all kinds of learning speed by 10%. Increases your ability to integrate swordsmanship and spellcasting. Considerably increases the speed of your progress toward Transcendence. Increases the effectiveness of your Aura stat by 10%. Increases the effectiveness of all training by 10%.]

Rylan nodded to himself again. It was a good Skill, especially because it kept most of Dreams of Transcendence's abilities and perks. Instead of speeding up his progress toward Aura, it affected the stat's effectiveness directly. From the moment he accepted the Class, he would immediately become more powerful because of it. Nevertheless, it reduced his learning speed and the effectiveness of all training compared to Dreams of Transcendence. Rylan rubbed his chin.

It's a good Class, but it doesn't acknowledge Aether's existence.

That was the single thing he was looking for. There would be no harm in going through all the remaining Classes and returning to this one if there weren't any better ones.

There's no harm in dreaming for a while longer.

He wasn't willing to compromise on the speed of his progress if there were any better options. Rylan moved on. He went through each Class, slowly reading their information to make sure he didn't miss anything. Some Classes were outright discarded, as they were at the same level as the Magic Swordsman Class or like the Aura Swordsman Class, while others were comparable to Lucid Spellblade and kept in mind. The number of possible options slowly increased, but Rylan kept reading.

After an unknown amount of time, as he was reading the information about the second-to-last Class, a wide smile appeared on Rylan's face.

"There you are," he whispered to himself.

The Class window expanded in front of him.

[Class

Aetheric Dreamblade: The threads of fate that unite both of your lives have merged to become something entirely new, harmonic in nature. For the first time, you discovered the existence of a power that transcends anything you ever knew. As both Roland Steelsong and Rylan Flameheart, your dreams have never been closer to becoming reality, far away as they may still be. The heavens acknowledge your potential. May your dreams never waver.

Stats: +14 all stats.

Per Level: +12 all stats, +11 Free Points.

* Increases the learning speed of new spells by 30%. Increases the effectiveness of all spells by 18%. Increases the learning speed of new sword styles by 30%. Increases the effectiveness of all Sword Arts by 18%.

* All of your stats will increase by 15% when using Magic Swordsmanship. All of your stats will increase by an additional 25% when wielding Aether.

* Increases the growth of your Aura stat by 15%.

* Utilizing spells and Sword Arts in quick succession will increase their power, up to a maximum of 10%.

* Changes 'Dreams of Transcendence' into 'Harmonic Reverie.']

Keeping his smile, Rylan opened the new Skill's information.

[Passive Skill

Harmonic Reverie: You have never stopped growing since your rebirth. The sizzling embers of yore have already ignited, and dawn has already broken. Your dreams have helped you reach a state of harmony with the world, awakening a power that was previously unknown. Transcendence will come, one day. May you keep growing, uninhibited.

Effects: increases all kinds of learning speed by 20%. Increases the effectiveness of Magic Swordsmanship. Considerably increases the speed of your progress toward Transcendence. Increases the effectiveness of your Aura stat by 15%. Increases the effectiveness of all training by 18%. Increases the duration and effectiveness of Aether by 10%. Strengthens Harmony of Twin Lives.]

Rylan nodded to himself. Aetheric Dreamblade was, by far, the strongest Class he'd been offered. The high stat bonuses were good, and they also included Aura, but the real benefit was the fact that it built upon The Dreamer's perks with no drawbacks. It kept all of its strengths and even added new features. Harmonic Reverie was an empowered version of Dreams of Transcendence, which was already a phenomenal Skill.

That settles it. This is the one Class that can make me as powerful as I can be.

The last Class paled in comparison.

"System. I choose the Aetheric Dreamblade Class," he said out loud, satisfied.

The atmosphere around him coalesced into ethereal blue light that wrapped itself around him, then flowed into his body. His blood, muscles, and bones shifted and moved, adapting to the newfound strength the System was granting them. His organs rippled, becoming tougher in real time as his blood flowed faster. His heart kept beating, while his senses grew sharper in real time. Finally, after a few seconds, the transformation was over. Rylan clenched his fist a few times, gauging his strength. Two System windows floated in front of him.

[Human (E) has become Human (D).]

[You will now receive five Free Points per Level because of your Race.]

Rylan took a deep breath and threw his legs to the side of the bed, then stood up, stretching his body. He didn't need to look at himself in the mirror to know that his figure had become even better. Of course, that was the least of his worries.

Now, I'm a bit closer to being able to protect everyone against the Empire.

He sighed. The Empire had remained quiet until now, but there was no way to anticipate what would happen once it decided to act. Even if the loss of three Sixth Circle Mages wasn't too great a blow to the nation, that didn't mean it would simply ignore the one who had killed them. Even now, Rylan had no idea how much they knew about him.

"Let's assume the worst and guess that they know everything already," he muttered to himself.

With another sigh, he looked through the window. The sky was blue and clear, unlike his mind. The sun shone warmly upon Caer Rhelon. He stared at the view for a while.

Tomorrow, the training would begin in earnest. Both for the others and for himself. He needed to keep getting stronger.

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