The Prophet, with its Convert Follower skill and reliance on deity worship, felt too gimmicky. The transactional approach was too dependent on a capricious god. If dealing with Ashralok was any sign, that would be incredibly annoying at best and disastrous at worst. It wasn’t worth it, no matter what kind of power he got in exchange.
The Lexicant, Valdrik’s path, held undeniable, reality-bending power. But the Font of Creation skill was useless without cants, and there was no way he was going to sit down and study for months upon months to gain basic proficiency. It was potent, yes, but not his potency.
The Aura Weaver, as he had just concluded, was too invasive and manipulative of others’ emotions for his taste. An argument could be made that the Aura Weaver, combined with his high Charisma, might be one of the most overpowered combinations possible. But if this System showed anything, it was pretty good at keeping exploits to a minimum. It would certainly be a powerful class, but not an outright ticket to mind control. Not that he would want that anyway.
The Wild Lord’s Chaotic Stance was undeniably a siren’s call. That raw +27 to Power would turn his Sapphire Gambit into a world-shattering blow, and it would only grow more powerful as his Charisma increased. Objectively, it was a massive damage increase.
But such raw power came with a price, and that price was the forced Chaos Affinity. It would also trade his Advantage Aspect for Rage, which felt like trading a cane for a club. This power came at too high a cost to his identity. While Rage would work for all his skills already adopted, the trajectory going forward would look much different.
The Entrepreneur class offered immense potential for wealth and influence. But it also signaled a departure from the adventuring path, at least for the foreseeable future. If he chose this one, he was choosing it for who he aspired to be, not for what he needed now. This might be a risk he could manage, as long as he kept out of the Nether Realm. The question was, could he survive long enough to put the class to use?
There was also the slight concern that if he didn’t choose it, it could be something of a wasted opportunity, a slight despoiling of the “purity” of his Charisma build. He’d put every point into Charisma, and given his own abilities, that could be leveraged to the max with a pure Charisma Prismatic Advanced Class.
That left five more considerations: Gilded Guardian, Exemplar, Erudite, Noble Wayfarer, and Special Agent.
He considered the Gilded Guardian first. Its Imperative Challenge was a tank’s dream, especially with his high Charisma. He could become an unbreakable shield for any party, and the description mentioned “magically drawing” attacks, which meant he would probably get access to some cool spells. On paper, it seemed like the strongest one for his current setup. If he planned to continue doing what he was doing now, throwing himself and his party into dangerous situations, this or the Noble Wayfarer would be the way to go.
The Exemplar, with its Rise to the Occasion, offered good, solid buffs for himself and a party, a balanced increase to Power and Charisma. It was a strong, reliable choice, and even broke through negative status effects. But the boost itself felt modest compared to the more specialized options, and the athletic theme, while interesting, didn’t quite ignite his imagination. He wasn’t about to trade his cane for a discus.
Three remained.
The Erudite appealed to his intellect. Erudite’s Eureka promised a minute of perfect clarity, the ability to dissect any problem, any foe, revealing all their secrets. He imagined facing down an unknown enemy, and with a flash of insight, knowing its every weakness, its every trick, even some of its top abilities to watch out for. But knowing the weakness was not the same as successfully exploiting it.
The Noble Wayfarer spoke to his adventurous spirit. Noble Stand would make him an even more formidable duelist, stacking Charisma with every graceful dodge, turning his existing defensive strengths into an engine for his primary attribute. It was an elegant amplification of who he already was. Along with Gilded Guardian, it was a good option if he wanted to lean more into the tank aspect of his build. That said, Gilded Guardian probably edged out Noble Wayfarer, if only because it was a Prismatic Class.
And then there was the Special Agent. The name itself described a master of espionage moving through society like a charming phantom, a veritable James Bond. It resonated with the Gentleman who always had a plan and always kept an ace up his sleeve. The For Your Eyes Only skill, initially seeming subtle, now loomed large in his mind. The one-time Platinum boost was a significant, immediate upgrade to any piece of his gear. And the idea that he might be able to craft or use some cool gadgets just upped the appeal.
But the true power was the absolute, unfailing concealment. This skill was a direct counter to any sort of scrying ability, even high-level ones like Ashralok’s.
It was control. It was secrecy. It was about protecting his agency in a world where information was a weapon and secrets were shields.
But there was one main drawback: Special Agent wasn’t one of the Prismatic Classes. He knew it shouldn’t matter if it was the right fit, but he might miss out on anything special and wouldn’t be taking full advantage of his Prismatic Core otherwise. It was still a strong choice, though.
And there was another consideration, too, which only occurred to Justin now. Certain classes, like Ranger, had a way of detecting others’ classes. So what would happen if someone detected his unique Prismatic Class and didn’t recognize it as anything standard? Would they know a Prismatic Core is what got him there?
Anyone educated in the matter would know it wasn’t possible. Justin supposed he could lie about that, write it off as a “Quirk of Creation,” or invent some previously unknown mechanic. Whatever he came up with would probably be perceived as more likely than a low-level person gaining access to a Prismatic Core.
But it stood to reason that someone, somewhere, might suspect the truth, and his secret would get out. So he needed to weigh that risk against the possible benefits of having a unique class.
Justin closed his eyes, visualizing himself in each role. The Erudite, calm and analytical. The Noble Wayfarer, an indomitable figure, weathering any storm with style. The Special Agent, his true intentions and capabilities a perfectly guarded secret, his charm a flawless mask. The Gilded Guardian, amplifying his already strong defensive abilities with defensive magic. The Entrepreneur, wheeling and dealing, forging a new mercantile path.
When he opened his eyes, his fingers brushed against the green Rogue core. He shook his head, then reached for the Warden core. This one would be more immediately useful.
But just as he was about to absorb it, he stopped. The words of the Voice came back to him: Listen closely to what resonates with your spirit.
His eyes returned to the Merchant core. His initial thought had been that it meant abandoning the thrill of adventure for ledgers and storefronts: “Hanging up his adventuring hat,” as he thought of it.
But then, a memory surfaced, a jest made to Kargan in the Everwood what seemed like ages ago. An idea about them all starting their own business when the chaos was over.
What kind of business? He couldn’t say. Maybe a proper Vault-running guild. And Entrepreneur was one of the three Prismatic Classes and would be completely unique to him. If he was serious about settling down someday, it would give him a huge advantage compared to anyone else.
It wasn’t like he’d lose all his combat abilities. He was already quite strong there, thanks to a unique combination of skills, boons, and equipment.
And of course, he wouldn’t have to start a Vault-running guild. It could be any business, really. And any successful business was a form of strength that could be leveraged in any direction he chose.
He packed up the Rogue and Warden cores and picked up the Merchant Core, warm and seeming to promise riches. It did feel right. What if the business idea wasn’t a joke? What if “Entrepreneur” wasn’t about stopping his adventures, but about scaling them?
Suddenly, the “Angel’s Pitch” skill took on a new dimension. It wasn’t only for securing finance for a small shop. It was for pitching services to wealthy patrons, noble houses, or even kingdoms. It was for negotiating exclusive rights, securing rare resources, and forging alliances with other powerful groups.
His Charisma, already his greatest asset, would be the engine driving not just his personal success, but the success of an entire enterprise.
He looked at the other top contenders through this new lens. A Special Agent was a master of secrets, which was certainly invaluable. An Erudite could provide unmatched intelligence. A Noble Wayfarer could lead a small team through anything, which was basically what Justin was doing now.
But there was always the nagging question of what he was to do when all this was over, assuming he survived the journey. It stood to reason that if he picked something more combat-oriented, one day, his luck would run out and he’d die in a Vault run. And dying would mean losing his Prismatic Core, which might be picked up by someone with far fewer scruples than him.
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Even if Gilded Guardian was more immediately useful now, he had to balance this with future concerns. A future that didn’t involve constantly risking his neck and being on the edge of survival.
He needed a way to take control. Money was one of the best ways to do that.
And what was more, having access to Solanis gave him a rare opportunity to exploit resources not available on Eyrth. And vice versa.
A business or guild could offer security and purpose not just to him, but to Eldrin, Lila, and any others he might gather. Of course, they would get the choice to do what they wanted. But it was a direction, assuming he could completely escape the Baron’s influence. And more than that, running a profitable business could function as a sort of societal shield against Valdrik. He might be nobility, but money was power.
And there was another point. His Gentleman’s Agreement skill was uniquely tailored for this class. He could make business deals with perfect confidence, knowing the terms would be followed.
Justin closed his eyes, visualizing it. Not a dusty shop, but a bustling headquarters. Maps of unexplored territories, contracts for dangerous expeditions, and a team of skilled adventurers looking to him for leadership.
His “adventuring hat” wouldn’t be hung up. It would instead become a crown.
When he opened his eyes, the path, while unexpected, felt right. It was ambitious. It was a challenge.
It was a new, exciting direction to grow into.
“All right, Atlas,” Justin said. “Time for ‘Justinian Enterprises’ to officially go into business.”
Justin absorbed the core and was surrounded by a vibrant, golden light that bathed the volcanic chamber in a warm glow. Atlas chirped in curiosity as the energy swirled around his master.
[You have found a Merchant Core! Combine it with your Socialite Prismatic Core to gain the following prismatic Advanced Class: Entrepreneur.]
Justin focused his intent, his pulse racing with anticipation. This was it. The moment that would define his path forward.
[Would you like to adopt the Entrepreneur Prismatic Advanced Class?]
Justin waited a breath before confirming, “Yes.”
[Congratulations! You have adopted the Entrepreneur Advanced Prismatic Class. The Gentleman becomes the visionary. Your natural charisma and social acumen have merged with a budding commercial brilliance, creating a force that can shape markets and inspire followers. The following skills have been upgraded:
Poison Barb: 50% increased chance to stun enemies lower level than you.
Dazzling Display: Combining with one of your Entrepreneur skills increases the efficacy of both by 10%.
Dandy’s Swagger: This skill’s power scales with the quality of your gear.
Gentleman’s Sidestep: When using this skill, you now increase your evasion by 10% for 15 seconds.
Gentleman’s Agreement: You may now renegotiate any active contract once per day without reinvoking this skill.
A Proper Sendoff: Damage multiplier is now tripled.
The Upper Hand: This skill now grants four charges of Advantage upon activation.
[You have gained a new Advanced Class Skill: Angel’s Pitch.]
Angel’s Pitch (Advanced Class Skill): When pitching to a prospective patron or investor, intuitively recognize the angles to hit to better ensure success. The overall persuasiveness of your pitch scales with your Charisma. Cooldown: 24 hours.
[Your Advantage now automatically triggers anytime you use one of your Entrepreneur skills, as well as in combat situations. Advantage can be used on any of your learned skills, the number of Advantage charges scaling with the skill’s rarity. Your Class Skill costs two Advantage charges.]
Justin nodded, impressed by how thoroughly the System had adapted to his existing abilities. Because he was getting a socially focused advanced class, there needed to be a way for him to use the Advantage mechanic outside of battle. The System seemed to detect such a situation anytime he chose to use an Entrepreneur skill.
[Good luck, Brave Adventurer. As a Level 20 Entrepreneur, you have now unlocked your Class Boon: Prudent Foresight.]
Justin blinked. Gaining a Class Boon was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
Prudent Foresight: When you are about to commit to a business decision that carries an exceptionally high, unforeseen risk of catastrophic failure, you receive an alert prompting you to reconsider or investigate further. This can trigger once per day.
Justin couldn’t help but smile at this. It was like having a built-in risk assessment system. How many tech startups had failed because their founders were blind to obvious risks? This boon wouldn’t solve everything, and its power was limited by the once-per-day restriction, but it would at least prevent him from walking into disasters he couldn’t anticipate.
Prudent Foresight would make any future business ventures significantly more secure.
“Not bad,” he murmured, feeling the changes settle into his being. “Not bad at all.”
[Congratulations, Brave Adventurer! Your journey has been elevated to new heights as an Entrepreneur. Now go forth and transform opportunities into empires, negotiations into triumphs, and connections into legends. The market of adventure awaits your signature.]
At last, the Voice departed, and Justin blinked. Well, that hadn’t gone the way he expected, but he couldn’t have felt happier about it.
He still felt like the same person, but his feet felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted.
He’d spent at least an hour deliberating all this, and Ashralok had been firmly out of the Nether Realm for hours by now. He was a little afraid of what he might find down there.
“All right, Atlas. Time to see the damage.”
He returned Atlas to his ring in a flash of absorbing light. They had waited so long that the construct had gone through two environmental shields, and he wasn’t allowed in the Karedos anyway.
Justin made his way along the trail and back toward the tunnel, where the Karedos flames were still thick. This time, he walked through without impediment, finding himself back in the columns filled with eternal amber flames.
Once out of range of the heat, he swapped Affinities for Elea’s Whisper, reaching out for Lila. As long as she was within one mile, he would be able to reach her. It had been at least two days since he had disappeared, so there was no telling what was going on.
Lila, he projected, his thoughts formed carefully. Lila, are you there? It’s Justin.
Nothing. The silence stretched uncomfortably.
Lila, I’m back at the baths. Where are you? He switched to Eldrin. Eldrin, are you there?
He pushed more urgency into the mental connection. Still nothing.
Had they given up on him? Been forced to move on because of Ashralok causing trouble? Or worse: had something happened to them?
He advanced up the steps into the main temple. The further he moved, the closer he would be to being in range. All he could say was that they were not in the temple or the compound they had stayed in earlier. Elea’s Whisper was definitely in range of both.
So, they had left, likely giving him up for dead. They wouldn’t have left immediately. They would have given him at least two days.
He wandered the large temple. Nothing looked out of place, and judging by the low number of Fyrspawn adherents, with a few bowing before the main statue of Ashralok, it was likely late in the evening. Justin found the resemblance to the goddess uncanny, with her ruby eyes seeming to glint and follow him mischievously.
He was surprised when someone spoke from behind him in the crackling tongue of the Fyrspawn language. “Justin? Is that you?”
Justin turned to find the same Fyrspawn acolyte who had tended to them in the compound: Zashkra, if he remembered correctly. Her flames brightened in surprise.
“Yes, I’m back,” he said, already clumsy with the language after two days without practice. “I’m looking for my friends. Have you seen them?”
She fumbled for a moment. “Your friends? They believed you were dead. They left.”
“No, that can’t be right. I wasn’t gone for more than a couple of days.”
“No, it has been much longer,” Zashkra said, watching him strangely.
Justin frowned. “Well, how many days has it been? Three? Four?”
“I don’t know exactly,” she admitted. “Sixty at least? The Ranger wanted to leave after three days. The other one, Lila… she insisted that they stay for a full week. Afterwards, they left.”
Justin was reeling. Sixty days? How was it even possible? Unless time moved far more slowly in the Nether Realm… it wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility. They were different realities, after all.
“And Emberlyn? Is she here?”
“The Fire Sorceress? No. She has not returned. Maybe she is in Charr? That is her home, right?”
Justin nodded numbly. He had to find Emberlyn, the only person who possibly knew something. But he could already guess what had happened. Eldrin and Lila made the hard but sensible decision to pack up and go, perhaps with Emberlyn escorting them as far as the World Gate so they could at least get back to Eyrth.
But then they would be in grave danger, with no Sapphire Star to help them get out of the Aurora Caverns. And they’d have to hoof it over land the hard way in the dead of winter.
It had been two months. Assuming that was what happened, where had they gone?
Justin already knew the answer. They had to have gone to Mont Elea to warn the Templars about Valdrik. They might even be there now, assuming they were still alive. Two months was certainly enough time to get there, if just barely.
“Damn,” he said. “I’ve got to get moving.”
As he walked toward the open doors, her fiery fingers brushed his coat.
“Wait! Ashralok has returned! Does that have anything to do with you?”
Justin decided to play dumb. “She’s returned? Really? Since when?”
“It’s been about two weeks,” Zashkra said.
Justin nodded. Okay, so she had suffered from the time effect, too. And given that two weeks had passed, that accounted for the difference between when each of them emerged from the Nether Realm.
Which meant Ashralok knew about the time effect. And if she was interested in Justin, she probably had someone watching the temple so that she would know as soon as he was out. Or worse, she could sense him directly from the interaction of the Karedos with the Sapphire Star.
Justin wasn’t sure if she was still interested in dealing with him. She still couldn’t harm him directly or steal the Star. But he was wary of any loophole in the Agreement. It would be best to make a clean escape without having to interact with her at all.
As for Eldrin and Lila? The time effect may have been a blessing in disguise. Assuming they were gone, Ashralok would not have had enough time to pursue them.
“Where is Ashralok now?” Justin asked. “Do you know?”
“She has already assumed control in Pyrelith,” Zashkra said. “The Fire Lord didn’t like that, but what could he do about it? Technically, he’s a Steward for the Goddess until her return.”
“It must be chaos in Pyrelith.”
“It was just days ago,” Zashkra said. “But the festivities are dying down a bit, and things are going back to business.”
Justin nodded. “Thank you, Zashkra. I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone what happened here today.”
He slipped her a gold crown, her eyes widening at the display of wealth. “I cannot accept such a—”
“For your discretion,” Justin said firmly. “I was never here.”
“Oh. Okay. Yes, I won’t breathe a word.”
Justin wasn’t sure about that, but it was better than nothing.
Without another word, he left the temple, mind spinning. The last thing he wanted was a run-in with Ashralok, and he was paranoid that someone had already detected his entrance and was reporting to her. He’d rather do without that drama.
For now, the objective was to get through Pyrelith undetected and back to Charr to find Emberlyn. He was only guessing that Eldrin and Lila had gone back to Eyrth, after all. Eldrin had already mentioned wanting to explore Solanis more, so it was possible they were still on this planet.
He had to figure out the truth once and for all.