The four options weren’t bad.

  Primeval Dragon Shaman sounded cool, but I didn’t want to sing songs and bring rain. I was not a shaman-type fighter. Draconis Stormborn was similar to that, handling draconic elements, but it was different in the sense that it wasn’t spellcasting but rather something more direct. Something like a cloak of lightning from different anime and games that I’d seen. At least, it seemed that way.

  Wyrmsoul Raider was also quite an interesting path but relied on borrowed powers. Also, it’d turn me into a dragon-killer specialty, especially as I’d have to run around searching for dragons if I wanted to earn more powers in that Class. Too limited for my test.

  Dragon Aspect Champion was one of my more liked choices. It seemed to allow me a partial dragon transformation… That was overpowered. Although it meant I’d be weak against special dragon-type attacks and artifacts. That could be a drawback.

  My gaze moved on to Stormborn.

  It was either that or Dragon Aspect Champion.

  The idea of wielding elemental fury, of summoning storms in my fists and blasting through foes with fire and lightning, set my blood on fire. It wasn’t as cool as dragon transformation, but it didn’t have the weakness of dragon-type. It’d also expand my fighting style from melee only to energy type too.

  I scrolled through the rest a few more times, thinking deeply.

  …Is there no customer service line for this System?

  With a deep breath, I reached out and touched the screen, my finger hovering over the one Class. A thrill spread through my veins as I pressed it, and a surge of energy exploded outwards, filling the hut with a crackling aura.

  The air around me seemed to hum, and for a moment, it felt like the very walls were vibrating with raw power. A pulse of energy rippled through me as the decision solidified.

  [Congratulations! Your path is now set.]

  [You have chosen the Draconis Stormborn class.]

  [Class: Draconis Stormborn - Level 1 has been acquired.]

  The notifications blinked in front of me, imprinting a new layer of power that surged through my body, rippling through my mana channels and settling into my muscles and bones. The transformation was instant; I could feel the elemental fury coursing within me, ready to be unleashed.

  [Your hidden, untamperable stats have increased. Vitality, Strength, Intelligence, Dexterity, and Endurance have all increased.]

  Draconis Stormborn Class Bonuses:

  Elemental Affinity (Fire, Lightning, Ice) +50%

  Physical and Elemental Attack Power +30%

  Resistance to Fire, Lightning, and Ice +25%

  Shock Immunity: You are immune to paralyzing and shock effects. Your own elemental energy will short-circuit any attempts to control you with such attacks.

  Conduit’s Presence: Elemental creatures within a 30-meter radius may recognize you as a conduit of the storm, reacting with either respect or fear based on their nature.

  [You’ve acquired 4 starting Class Skills. These skills will grow in power as you level up your Draconis Stormborn class, and you’ll also gain new ones with each level.]

  Passive: [Elemental Fury]:

  Your attacks become infused with elemental energy based on your current environment or mood (fire, lightning, or ice; you can actively choose them after mastering the Class). This infusion enhances your strikes and adds bonus elemental damage while granting partial immunity to that element.

  Category: Elemental Infusion

  Active: [Tempest Strike]:

  Unleash a devastating melee strike infused with elemental energy. This attack combines both physical and elemental damage, chaining wind and fire to multiple nearby foes. Damage output scales based on proximity and number of targets.

  Category: Elemental Melee

  Passive: [Dragon’s Eye]:

  Your perception sharpens, allowing you to see through natural and magical obstructions. You are more prone to detect hidden enemies and perceive invisible threats, giving you an advantage against ambushes and allowing for tactical awareness in chaotic battles.

  Category: Enhanced Perception

  Active: [Storm Call]:

  Summon a localized storm around you, dealing sustained elemental damage over time in an aura that crackles around you. The storm can be attuned to fire, lightning, or ice based on your current environment or mood (and you can actively choose the affinity after mastering the Class), applying status effects such as burning, shocking, or slowing enemies caught within its reach.

  Category: Area of Effect

  I could feel it, raw power seething at the tips of my fingers, the pulse of fire, the crackle of lightning, the chill of ice—all of it thrumming within me, waiting to be called forth. My body hummed with new energy, muscles tense and ready. Somehow, I was growing even larger. I was no longer just a barbarian. I felt like a force of elemental might.

  Shit. Class Advancement feels better than sex. Each of these abilities pulsed within me, waiting to be unleashed. It felt so good. It hadn’t even been a week since I came to this world, it got me curious about what more it had to offer. The storm within me had only just begun to stir.

  I grinned, feeling a new strength settling in, like my body was adjusting to something it had craved all along. A laugh bubbled up from my chest as I collapsed onto the bed, the furs cool against my skin.

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Tomorrow, I'll test this power. I’d unleash it and see just how much I could handle. But for now, I closed my eyes, letting the power settle into my bones, a grin lingering on my face as sleep took me.

  ****

  The air was thick with excitement and the scent of salt, a mixture that didn’t feel intoxicating to me anymore. I had grown used to the island. But it was time to go.

  It had taken a while to prepare, but finally, we were ready. Two massive ships, their hulls carved from the trees of the island and reinforced with the hide of beasts we’d slain, bobbed in the sea behind the chieftain.

  Each one could hold more than two dozen men with ease, and soon, they were going to be filled with the barbarians standing tall and eager at the shore.

  A month ago, the thought of leaving this island was lingering in my head all the time, but now I felt a little sad as I was about to leave. Not enough for it to stop me from leaving; rather, it felt like leaving a good vacation.

  Still, I was definitely less annoyed by the barbarians. This place had molded me into a barbarian and a warrior, too, and now it was time to see what the world outside had to offer.

  The Valtherians’ problem-solving flowchart was impressively simple. 1) Can you hit it? Yes: Hit it harder. No: Find something you can hit. Just that.

  The chieftain, Yrsa Valteria, stood like a mountain on the shore, her presence somehow mightier than the ships behind her. She surveyed the gathered warriors with fierce pride, her gaze one of steel and lava. Her voice boomed over the wind and the waves, reaching every ear, carrying a weight that made people stiffen up.

  “One ship will go northwest, and the other will go northeast,” she announced, her voice cutting through the anticipation. The right ship, my ship, would go northeast. “Because I don’t want you all traveling together. The Valtherians don’t need to hunt in big packs!”

  The young barbarians let out a roar of approval, fists raised to the sky. I felt the energy surging through the crowd, like an electric charge that mirrored my own. I was far more excited to leave than them. But they were excited by her words. As Valtherians, they thrived in the thrill of the hunt, the call of the unknown. They didn’t need the feeling of safety that came from a large group.

  “Once you land,” Yrsa continued, “you’ll split up into smaller groups. I don’t want the world to think that we Valtherians can’t fend for themselves! So keep your groups small—too many in one group, and you’ll waste your kills on each other!” Her gaze swept over us, piercing and fierce. “But never go alone. A lone Valtherian is strong, but there’s no honor in death for the sake of pride. It’s still a foreign land.”

  Another roar rose from the crowd. The barbarians agreed to all of her words. They- we… were ready to face whatever waited beyond the shores of our island.

  “Chief, chief!” A barbarian raised his hand, and Yrsa nodded at him. “Chief! When are we return home?” he shouted, his voice cutting through the cheers.

  The chieftain’s lips curled into a grin. “When you’ve made a name for yourself, of course,” she declared. “Only when you’ve done that! Understood?!”

  Silence fell over the crowd. It was a command that felt like a challenge. They couldn’t come back until we had carved our names into the world. No more island. No more home. Not until they returned victorious, carrying the weight of our conquests.

  The roar that followed was quieter, tinged with a realization of the task that lay ahead.

  “Now, get on the ships!” Yrsa shouted, her voice snapping everyone back to attention. The barbarians surged forward, a tide of muscle rushing toward the ships. Ragna and I headed for the ship on the right, our steps in sync as we moved toward our new future.

  But then a voice rang out, sharp and unmistakable. “Wait!”

  I stopped and turned, recognizing the tone even before I saw him. Draegan. He stood in front of the chieftain, his gaze fixed on her, but from the corner of his eyes, he was very aware of where Ragna and I were standing.

  “I want Ragna on my ship, Chief.” His words cut through the noise. He looked from the chieftain to me, his eyes narrowing as if daring me to challenge him. He then looked at his sister to my side, who stiffened.

  “What’s he up to now…” Ragna mumbled.

  “No idea,” I didn’t know either. What the hell was wrong with him?

  I caught the bitterness in Draegan’s eyes as he stared at us. He was going as far as to challenge Yrsa’s command in public—why? Was he trying to tear Ragna away from me, to break whatever bond we’d formed for some reason? Was he scared she’d surpass him if she continued hanging out with me? Whatever it was, it felt personal.

  Yrsa’s glare was immediate. “No, you don’t,” she growled. “I feel very annoyed that you interrupted the flow for this nonsense! Ragna is as safe as ever with Thorvyn as she’d be with you.” Her voice dropped, and the venom in her tone was palpable. “Stop acting up and get on your ship, son.”

  As Yrsa spoke, I caught glimpses from the others—eyes filled with newfound respect or lingering surprise at how quickly my reputation had changed. Just weeks ago, I was barely more than an outcast; now, they treated me like a true warrior, someone they’d willingly follow into battle. Draegan was aware of that, too.

  Draegan’s jaw clenched, his shoulders bunching like he was about to argue. But he knew better than to go against the chieftain’s orders, even if she was his mother. He nodded sharply, turning on his heel and striding over to the ship on the left.

  His gaze lingered on me as he passed, his eyes flashing with something like resentment. I watched him go, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction as I smirked. Then Ragna and I continued toward the right ship.

  I passed by the chieftain, who grabbed my shoulder. “....” She didn’t say anything. She just looked at me and nodded. I nodded back. Yrsa hesitated before reaching out a hand, placing it on Ragna’s head and ruffling her hair. She smiled. “Go.”

  Ragna smiled widely at that. I also smiled as I walked beside her. “Wait,” Yrsa grabbed my shoulder, firm yet intense. Ragna didn’t notice as she continued walking ahead, and I turned toward Yrsa. Our eyes slowly met.

  The memory of that drunken kiss lingered awkwardly in my mind, making the exchange feel heavier than it needed to be. I swallowed my embarrassment and spoke. “Yes, chief?”

  “Remember what we talked about, boy,” she said, smiling, ruffling my hair. “Stick together with her and make her stronger. No, grow stronger together. Understood?”

  “Yes,” I nodded firmly. It helped my awkwardness that she was so professional right now. She patted me gently, and I took my leave.

  I joined Ragna fast, and we made our way to the ship on the right. A bunch of other barbarians followed behind us. We boarded with almost two dozen people on this ship. We stared at the island as the sails were loosened.

  The air blasted with a chorus of horns from the shore. The remaining barbarians on the islands lined the beach, their cheers and shouts carrying over the water. “Pilgrimage! Pilgrimage! Pilgrimage! Pilgrimage!”

  We pushed off from the shore, the island slowly slipping away as the oarsmen rowed us into the open sea. I found myself unable to turn back, watching the island grow smaller, its rugged coastline fading into the distance.

  The sun was beginning to climb higher, casting a golden glow over the island. I could see the faint outline of the mountains, the dense forests that had been my battlegrounds, the peaks that had witnessed my rise. The volcanos that named the island. Regardless of how little time I’d spent here, this place had become home to me in ways I hadn’t expected.

  Now, I was leaving it behind.

  I turned around. The sea stretched before us, vast and endless, a mirror reflecting the sky. It reminded me of how small I was, yet it called to me. The unknown lands and challenges waiting beyond.

  “It’s beautiful,” Ragna said from beside me. I agreed. I grinned, feeling the wind whip against my face as the ship pressed forward.

  “Goodbye, Volcanic Islands…” I muttered under my breath, turning to give the land one last look. I might return someday, but only after I’d found my mother and received answers.

  Only when I had conquered whatever lay beyond.

  Because by now, I had more goals than just finding my mother. I was growing addicted to strength, and I didn’t know when to stop.

  10 Chapters done, and we're also finally Top 10 in Rising Stars. This makes it 37k words! Damn, 17k words more than the original draft. I really hope you liked it, and I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the story so far. We also have enough content for some Reviews I’d say!

  More importantly! In case you haven't read my other story, Martial Arts vs Magic, or caught on to where this stands relating to the timeline to that, this is held in the future – give or take three hundred years ahead. Non-readers fear not, the plot is not nearly connected enough for this to be called a sequel or something.

  This is a standalone that happens to share the world with some fun easter eggs for old readers. No knowledge of the other story needed to read this.

  Now it's time for Shameless Patreon Plug!

  I’ve been writing Martial Arts vs Magic for more than a year now, and about two months into that, I started writing and posting Barbarian Awakening on Patreon. Over the last year, I’ve undergone numerous rewrites and edits until you see this here.

  Barbarian Awakening was supposed to come Live this January, 2025. Ultimately, after much delay due to the events of my ever-dramatic life, it’s September already.

  I have, by now, saved up to 30 chapters on Patreon. Meaning 20 chapters ahead from here. I plan to keep Patreon 10 chapters ahead of RoyalRoad, as anything more than that might make me feel disconnected from the comments. That’s why there’s been a lack of updates on Patreon lately. But it will continue!

  Which also means this is the best time to join Patreon for any of you, since you’re getting 20 chapters ahead! Up to Chapter 30.

  Come, continue Thorvyn’s journey in Patreon, as he explores the wider world outside!

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