Lukey took in a sharp breath and then woke up. What in the world did he witness? The second the energy rose to a peak, he found himself transported into the body of an old man. He saw the world through the fisherman’s eyes as he went out to sea and headed straight for the Abyssal Depths.

  How strong must he have been to survive, much less breathe, under all that water pressure? He could take down monsters that devoured ships and even challenge a monster capable of destroying a country.

  The entire experience shocked Lukey to his core, forcing him down to his knees as he tried to process everything he saw. It took a minute, but by the time he gathered himself, he managed to turn and descend back down the steps. He gave a glare to Caldoon and Triton, as they each had knowing smirks that said they were enjoying the display.

  “You guys are cruel…” Lukey said.

  “For what it’s worth, we both went through the same thing, mind you it’s different each time,” Triton calmly said. "Mine showed Hemmingway defeating a Royal Titan Jellyfish that was devouring everything in the ocean.”

  “Mine showed Hemmingway protecting the island against the Abyssal Leviathan,” Caldoon excitedly said, “but enough about us. What happened in your vision?”

  Lukey had about a hundred questions but put them aside to explain to them what he saw. He told them about how Hemmingway went out to sea to challenge himself in the Abyssal Depths. He described the titanic life that existed down there within the volcanic ring. He also explained in detail about the battle between Hemmingway and the unknown multibody organism. Finally, he told them about the final thing he saw, the mouth of the infernal underworld.

  By the end of his story, they both looked taken aback. Lukey thought these two veterans could handle anything he told them, but clearly this wasn’t the case. They were both sitting in chairs, contemplating everything Lukey said. It was a good long while before either of them spoke anything, so Lukey decided to break the silence.

  “So, what was that place all about? The volcanic ring and the giant cave?” Lukey gently asked.

  Caldoon’s eyes were still wide, processing everything Lukey said. Eventually he realized what Lukey asked and replied.

  “I’m sorry, I have no idea,” Caldoon said. “I’d like to think I’ve been everywhere in the Abyssal Ocean. I’ve even reached the Abyssal Depths and gained the associated title. However, not once have I ever found the place you’re describing.”

  Lukey was confused, but Triton spoke up.

  “Let me explain, boy,” Triton said, then cleared his throat to elaborate.

  “We know Abyssal monsters exist because they rise up from the ocean every so often; hence, why it is called the Abyssal Ocean.”

  “What nobody could find out was where the Abyssal monsters come from. Experienced fishermen of the past and even the other guilds have tried but turned up nothing.”

  “Wait, don’t the monsters just come from the Abyss? The Abyssal Depths stretch across the entire ocean; couldn’t the monsters come from anywhere?” Lukey asked.

  “No,” Caldoon said, “because the majority of the Abyssal Depths is nothing but wasteland, utterly incapable of supporting life. There is no light, no food, and it’s cold as shit.”

  “However,” Caldoon continued.

  “The place you saw seemed uniquely suited to supporting life on a titanic scale, even giving birth to horrors like the creature Hemmingway fought. You may have just discovered the place where abyssal life is born. If we could discover that place and send people to defeat the monsters before they become a problem, we could make the entire ocean a lot safer.”

  Lukey was amazed at this information. He never even expected to be assaulted by a vision from Hemmingway himself. Now he had just stumbled upon the birthplace of Abyssal monsters, seemingly at random, no less.

  “You might think you stumbled upon that vision by luck, but that isn’t true,” Triton said.

  “What do you mean?” Lukey asked.

  “The vision you get comes directly from Hemmingway himself and is a sign of what type of fisherman you’ll become. I am a hunter, Caldoon is a protector, as for you…” Triton said.

  “An explorer,” Lukey realized.

  This was the best possible outcome for him. Not only had he gotten his class, but his path would likely take him to become an explorer. He could finally leave the island and see the world beyond this place. No more responsibilities, no more expectations; just him and a sense of discovery.

  Then Caldoon spoke up.

  “Well, don’t leave us in suspense; use [Insight] and look at your status sheet.”

  Lukey scratched his neck in response; he was trying to find a good way to tell them about his situation but didn’t know how.

  “Um, I would, except that I don’t really know how to use it,” Lukey said. "My teacher looked at my attributes and said I didn’t have enough focus.”

  “…and you need a focus of ten or more to learn [Insight], I understand,” Triton said. “Alright, I’ll teach you then.”

  [Insight] was an art that was created by the scholars to analyze the world around them. It could be taught to people with other classes, but they needed the required perception to gather the information they needed, which is known as the focus attribute. Lukey never had enough focus, so he was never taught the art.

  “First,” Triton said, “focus the aether through your eyes, then look inward. Let your mind take in every part of your body. Then, after that’s done, the information will be displayed in your head.”

  Lukey did as the old man said. With the boost that came from getting his class, focusing aether was far easier. He wouldn’t be throwing lightning or hurling rocks with sheer willpower, but it was better than it was before.

  His eyes filled with ethereal energy, and Lukey focused inward. His gaze took in every fiber of his body, from his muscles to his bones and even his brain. His eyes took in everything and then looked at the structure. Eventually, Lukey started making calculations in his head without realizing it, and his status screen was created.

  [ATTRIBUTE ALLOCATIONS NOT SET]

  There it was: his status screen and class. Classless people never really bothered to learn the art, because it was practically useless to them. [Insight] was infinitely more useful to people with classes, as it was a way to track and confirm their progress. Classless people didn’t need them, as they weren’t as capable of rapid growth without a class.

  Lukey also knew about the attribute allocations. Apparently, every class has exactly three things they specialize in, and when you get your class, you can choose what order to specialize your points.

  Every level in your class gives you one point for every attribute and an extra one, two, and three points in the attributes you specialize in. The highest priority gets three points; the lowest gets one. You can switch it later, but everyone says it’s better to specialize, as you don’t get the points back if you change your mind.

  If I remember right, botanists specialize in luck, focus, and dexterity.

  Since Lukey was unaware of what fishermen specialize in, he decided to ask Triton.

  “Specialization? I think I remember it being strength, agility, and luck,” the wizened old man said.

  Lukey scrunched his face in confusion.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Strength and agility I get, but why luck?” Lukey asked.

  “Fishermen are opportunistic hunters. We set traps and wait in silence for an opportunity to present itself, then we strike. Luck is a major factor in that,” Triton said.

  Lukey listened to Triton carefully, then thought about where he wanted to allocate his attribute points. He considered those options, then went with what he wanted out of his class. He wanted to become a fisherman that looks for opportunity and fortune, rather than some meathead fighter. It is because of this that he prioritized luck, agility, and strength, in that order.

  The status screen finalized his choices and allocated the points from his first level. Now he could see his attributes in all their glory.

  It was as wonderful as he always imagined it would be. Everything in the status listed something that was his and his alone. This is the status that would change and grow with him as he advanced his class! However, there was something here that confused him.

  “My rating is so high!” Lukey exclaimed.

  He never thought he was special in any regard, yet his rating was already over a hundred at level one. From what he understood, the average person had a rating of around eighty before gaining their class. His class gave him fourteen points per level, so he originally had a rating of one hundred and twenty!

  As Lukey grinned deliriously, basking in his superiority, Caldoon looked at Triton.

  “Think we should tell him?” he said.

  “Tell me what?” Lukey asked, killing his good mood.

  “Kid, there’s a reason your rating is so high; check your titles,” Caldoon said.

  Lukey was confused but followed his instructions.

  Lukey knew about titles, of course; his mother had one after all. What he didn’t realize is how titles could vary so much. The botanists he met always had an (Advanced Botanist) or (Expert Botanist) title equipped, with his mother being the only exception. Titles were given for exceptional feats and only rewarded to those who put in the work. Against expectations, however, he had four of them.

  After a quick search, he could see what made his rating so high. It was the (Classless Prodigy) title that he obtained at some point. It granted a sizable five attribute points in every attribute, putting anyone who got this title ahead of their competition early on. Lukey tried to think of when he gained it but turned up blank.

  “Did you think we made you fight the trollfish for fun? Our ancestors set up the trials not only to filter out poor candidates but also to give people (Classless Prodigy) specifically. It is a huge boon, especially when you’re just starting your class,” Triton said.

  Lukey just nodded his head as he continued to read. That fight was miserable, but it made sense to put people through it if it gave them something this good. (Beginner Fisherman) also made sense, as he obtained the Fisherman class to get it. The last title he understood was "Tyrant Challenger"; after all, challenging a tyrant is how he ended up meeting Triton and becoming a fisherman.

  It was the last title that made no sense. In fact, it sounded downright ominous.

  “What’s this title, (Infernal Diver)?” Lukey asked. “And what’s an ‘Aethereal Brand’?” Lukey questioned.

  Caldoon and Triton looked at Lukey and began musing to themselves as they pondered the title.

  “It says it has something to do with discovering the Infernal Depths,” Lukey said.

  “You witnessed it, and it branded you… Are there any changes to your body?” Triton asked.

  A quick check confirmed that there were no visible changes on his body, nor did he feel any different. Either this ethereal mark did nothing, which was unlikely, or they wouldn’t know the effects until they were activated.

  “It could be dangerous. I suggest you keep it to yourself unless you have no choice. There are titles that can be obtained by killing others, and there are many people that are willing to take the risk.” Triton explained.

  Lukey stood wide-eyed and gulped, then he turned back to his titles and chose which one he wanted to display.

  Lukey contemplated putting (Classless Prodigy) as his title, but he felt that diminished the value of his class. He was proud of being a fisherman and wanted to show it off. Therefore, he went with Beginner Fisherman.

  [Lukey (Beginner Fisherman) Lv. 1]

  Lukey now felt like he could return home with pride. All that was left was to confirm that everything was settled with the two men before he left. It was that they had already been out until dark, and he wanted to return home and rest his wounds.

  “It’s fine; I can see that you’re tired and wish to go home. Come with me and I will show you the secret exit.” Triton said.

  Before following Triton, Lukey turned to Caldoon.

  “Thank you for the feast; I appreciate all the hospitality you’ve shown me. I promise I won't disappoint you tomorrow,” Lukey respectfully said.

  “I don’t expect that you will,” Caldoon said, then remembered something. “Ah, almost forgot. Remember to show that title to people when you get the chance and keep how you got the class a secret. I want people to get interested in your class, so make sure you don’t embarrass us, alright?”

  “I promise I won’t. Thank you again for everything!” Lukey said, then turned and followed Triton out of the hideaway.

  ...

  Currently, Lukey was on the path to his village with Triton escorting him.

  The secret entrance to the grove was extremely well hidden. It was below a waterfall in an underwater tunnel. Without being an extremely good swimmer or knowing where it was in advance, it would be extremely difficult to find it.

  Lukey and Triton reached Lukeys village as the moon reached its zenith. Everyone in the village had already gone to sleep, and they had to be quiet to avoid waking anyone up.

  “Alright,” Triton said. “I think you can go the rest of the way yourself. This has been a long day, and I plan on sleeping in tomorrow.”

  “I plan to as well, and thanks for taking the time to escort me back to my village,” Lukey said.

  “Anything for a young disciple,” Triton shrugged. “Speaking of which, Emperor Caldoon says to meet him in Tranquil Waters for further instructions.”

  “Tranquil Waters?” Lukey questioned.

  “The name of the new town he is establishing; apparently he wants you to be more involved in its development from now on,” Triton said.

  Lukey wondered how exactly the emperor wanted him to contribute, but he was tired and couldn’t bother thinking anymore. If it had to do with the island, Lukey would do his best to contribute, especially after he was granted a class that was honored as a tradition among his people. He waved at Triton as they parted, then moved towards the village.

  It didn’t take long for Lukey to reach his house. He planned on going straight to bed after the events of today, but as he started to open the door, a figure shot at him. It came so quickly, he barely had time to use [Insight] before it grabbed hold of him.

  [Leah (Princess of Venus) Lv. 204]

  “LUKEY!” his mother screamed.

  She practically pounced on him after he entered and wrapped herself around his neck. Lukey hadn’t expected her to be awake. She was usually asleep after coming home from work in town. At this point, all Lukey wanted to do was fall into bed; however, she continued to berate him.

  “What happened to your hand? And your leg! Why did you take so long to come home? I thought you were dead! And, and…”

  “Mother, please, I’m okay. And tired, very tired. Can we please deal with this in the morning?" Lukey asked.

  His mother gave him a furious look that still held a hint of worry. Eventually, however, she relented.

  “Alright … Fine, just answer me one thing,” Leah pleaded, “Did you get it? A class?”

  Lukey looked at her and gave a devilish smile, then said, “Check my title.”

  His mother focused on him, then her eyes widened in shock.

  “A fisherman? You almost died to become a fisherman? ARE YOU MAD!?” Leah shrieked.

  “Shhhh! Not so loud!” Lukey whispered, “Do you want to wake everyone in the village?”

  They were still near the doorway and could still be heard by anyone still awake and even some who weren’t. Leah managed to calm down after hearing that and led him towards a nearby chair, but not before shutting the door and making sure it was closed. She began searching in some nearby boxes for medical supplies and began treating Lukey’s wounds.

  “After you didn’t return home, I stayed up all night waiting for you. Do you have any idea how worried I was? Now you come home with your hand destroyed and leg bleeding, wrapped in bloody bandages that came from your torn-up, wet clothes.”

  “There is an explanation, though I can’t tell you much since the emperor had me swear to secrecy,” Lukey replied.

  Leah looked up at him with surprise. “The emperor!?” She spoke. “What does that wild maniac want with you?”

  “Sworn to secrecy, remember?” Lukey sighed, “Though what I can tell you is it involved a title. Have you ever heard of (Classless Prodigy)?”

  Leah’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, but she replied to his question.

  “Yes, I have. Thousand Acre conducts a special trial before you become a botanist. It involves discovering and cultivating any breed of plant on your own. It is difficult to do without the class, but I and a few other people were able to manage and obtain the title.”

  “But what was your trial?" She asked. “Did the emperor have you fight some giant fish before he gave you the class?”

  Lukey sheepishly looked to the side, then tried to steer the conversation in a different direction.

  “Listen, Mom. I’m tired, so if you don’t mind, I need to sleep and get ready for tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow? What could you possibly be doing tomorrow?" she asked.

  “Starting tomorrow I’ll be joining you in town…” He sleepily said that, then fell into his bed.