“Eating with a human mouth is weird.” I comment as I sink my teeth into another skewer.

  “Then just go back to being a dragon.” Snowstorm comments, dipping his skewer into a salty smelling that I immediately snatch up to try.

  “I’m just getting used to my new form. Its better I get used to it if I’m gonna fight like this.” I point out, stretching my wings a bit. I'm currently in my demiform, as I call it. Being able to change your physical form is a new experience for me, but luckily the skill implants knowledge and instincts on how to use it into me when I do so. It's quite helpful. I'm able to change some small things like my bone structure or eye color if I want, though I prefer my given form. Plus, I still don't really feel human.

  “Actually, where is Evelyn?” I ask as I finish my third skewer and burn it to ash. I've gotten a handle on all 4 basic elements, and I feel that if I make the push, I can get the skill, but I'm not aiming for that. I'm aiming for the quad-affinity skill. Basically all 4 of the base elements smashed together. Reminds me of a skill a certain ant in a dungeon has.

  “Your human friend is currently training in the arena.” Aftermath comments, turning to look down at us. He is currently in his skeletal form.

  “Oh, you're letting her level there too?” I ask curiously.

  “All high ranking members of the church can use it, and she was granted honorary membership in the same way you were. She can use facilities and take basic classes offered.” I nod at that.

  “Thanks.” I say with a smile. I'm glad that she is getting a chance to level. “What’s her level?” I ask curiously.

  “38, though all her stats are maxed due to you and Snowstorm dumping all your points on her. She has gotten very good at daggers and has a strong dark affinity.”

  “Nice. Dark is the best affinity after all.” I say with a grin.

  “No, it's totally not.” Snowstorm says. “Your time affinity is far better.”

  “Well, dark is easier to use.” I counter. “And its cool, so there.”

  “Stop being children.” Aftermath rolls his eyes.

  “We are children.” I point out.

  “Ignoring that, are you ready to make your selection?” Aftermath asks. After thinking for a sec I nod.

  “What did you pick?” I ask Snowstorm.

  “Gauntlets.” He says. I blink at him for a moment.

  “How would gauntlets work when your arms are wings?” Indeed, Snowstorms demiform is half wyvern, not half dragon. That means his arms are the wings, not his back.

  “Surprisingly well.” He says with a nod.

  “Show me!” I poke at his wing with a claw and grin.

  “You'll have to wait and see.” He responds with a grin of his own. I can only sigh in defeat.

  “Fine. I'm gonna make my class selection.” I stand up, then Aftermath waves a claw and I'm gone.

  <{(0)}>

  I sit in the center of the same platform as before. In front of me sit 4 options. To my confusion, only 2 of them use a spear.

  {4 options available: dark Spearman(Rare), Multi-spear warrior(Rare), Javelin master(Rare), Eternal darkness(Epic)}

  Looking at the 4 options I notice that the theme is more leaning towards my affinities then my skills in general this time. Well, might as well jump in.

  {Dark spearman(Rare): To embrace the darkness around you and make it your weapon, forming spears of darkness to impale your enemies. Evolves skill:Impale(Uncommon) to Dark impale(Rare). Grants skill: Shadow warp foundation(Uncommon). Grants soul weapon: dark spear.}

  {Notice:User already has one of the skills this class provides.}

  Okay, this class looks damn good at first glance. It fits with my fighting style overall(not that I can call what I do a fighting style). However, what deters me is that I already have a skill it's offering. It shows no signs of wanting to compensate me for it either. I think I will shelve this one and look at the others for now.

  {Multi-spear warrior(Rare): A master spearman should never run out of spears. To hold a spear is to hold a weapon to kill, so why not hold more? Evolves skill: Impale(Uncommon) to Tri-impale(Rare). Grants skill: Split spear(Uncommon). Grants soul weapon: Infinite spear}

  This one feels better to me, but also lesser at the same time. I feel like this is more meant for throwing my spear, but I don't aim to throw my spear, I want to stab with it. It's a mid range weapon for me, not long range. Next.

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  {Javelin master(rare):To stray from the path of the spear to hold a weapon truly capable of piercing your foes through. To master the javelin and become a monarch of mid-range combat. Evolves skill: Impale(Uncommon) to (Piercing strike) Rare. Grants skill:Element javelin(Uncommon). Grants soul weapon:Arcane javelin}

  Who knew I would see this and instantly fall deeply in love with javelins? My original intention with the spear would be filled perfectly by this javelin skill. It gives me all the mid-range mastery that I want. Plus, javelins are cool, right? Might as well check the option. It's gotta be far better than this if I want to pick it.

  {Eternal darkness(Epic): Consume the world in darkness, and let all who face the prongs of your trident be pierced through. Go forth through time… and shatter it. Evolves skill:Impale(Uncommon) to eternal pierce(Rare). Grants skill:Second chance(Rare). Grants soul weapon:Eternal darkness}

  What… the… fu-

  <{(0)}>

  Should I pick it? This class is so incredibly better than the others, and I wouldn’t be opposed at all to it, but… should I pick it? The only real options to me are the javelin or the trident. And I think the trident wins. This class incorporates my time and dark elements, and none of the other classes do it. I'm not sacrificing mid ranged combat either. It's the best choice.

  {Class:Eternal darkness selected.}

  For a moment nothing happens. Then I hold my hand forward. Dark mana, time mana and illusion mana all pour out into my human hand. Slowly, I feel something deeper within my soul responding. Slowly a long, black shaft forms in my hand. A deep, impossible black that defies all light. At the tip of the shaft a single, wicked prong. Then 2 other prongs appear on the side, floating, not truly attached. I hold the trident in my hand and jab forward with it. When I do, the floating prongs shoot forward just a bit, not leaving the trident, but moving forward to increase striking power. Looking down at my new eternal weapon… I can't help but grin.

  <{(0)}>

  “What is this room?” I ask the resident god, walking around the large dome with curiosity. On each side of the dome is a large cube, big enough for me in my dragon form to enter. And in my dragon form I am. I spent a full hour practicing jabbing with my blade.

  “You both will be fighting each other within a simulation.” Aftermath explains.

  “I've heard of these.” Snowstorm said, also in his wyvern form, walking up to one of the cubes and finding an entrance in the back. “2 people connect to the simulation. It lets you practice your skills against a live opponent, and fight to the death without actually dying. I somewhat expected you to have one of these.” He nods in respect to Aftermath.

  “After this fight, you will be sent on your way to save that guardian of yours. this is a test run. Prepare yourselves.” Aftermath shifts into his human persona and sits in a lawn chair formed of pure mana, looking up at the floating screen in the middle of the room. Taking that as my queue to leave, I turn and enter the cube. Inside is a dragon-shaped helmet that seems like it changes depending on the size of the individual. before I put it on I make 1 more change.

  {Would you like to spend 37,000 essence to increase Strength to 150, speed to 150, durability to 150, intelligence to 150, and stamina to 172.5?}

  Now I'm ready. Time to fight my brother to the death, no biggie.

  <{(0)}>

  As I appear in the forest I realize I made a grave mistake. I forgot to increase my stats to max. If Abhor maxed all his stats out, then I would be screwed. But he's not smart enough to remember that, right? I can only hope. My stats are not strong enough to fight him…

  Name:Snowstorm

  Level:50/150

  Age:16

  Titles:Frostbreaker, knowledgeer, study master, Tier 2 evolution, Humanify FREEZE

  Strength:70

  Durability:70

  Speed:30

  Stamina:50

  Intelligence:103.5

  Essence:50,009

  Class:Frostbane boxer(Epic)

  Soul weapon:Frostbane gauntlets

  Species:Frostwing demi-wyvern

  Skills: Heat vision(low)Uncommon, Greater enhanced intelligence(medium)Rare, Enhanced knowledge intake(medium)Uncommon, cold resistance(high)Rare, photographic memory(Medium)Rare, swimming(low)Common, split thought(Low)Rare, body temperature reduction(Medium)Uncommon, ice mana manipulation(medium)Rare

  Techniques:Swimming(D), Mana manipulation(C), Mind mana manipulation(D), Ice mana manipulation(C), Mana claws(C), Ice spear(C), Iceout(D), Icicle hail(D), Mind bridge(D), Ice mana barrier(C)

  Mutations: Knowledge intake stomach(B)

  I just have to hope this is eno-

  Shink!

  Splash!

  Looking down, the last thing I see is a deep black trident in my chest, dark energy invading my body and warping it, before everything goes black.

  <{(0)}>

  That was rather easy. I think adding those stats in was overkill. At least, the screaming wyvern seems to think so.

  “Dude, calm down.” I say. “It's not my fault I'm smarter.” I grin.

  “You are the dumbest sack of bricks I have ever met! You are not-"

  “Wow, to be dumber then a sack of bricks. That's a new low.” I chuckle, a shit-eating grin plastered on my face. I stretch my arms. “I'm getting more used to my human form. We both used our demis for the fight, though I never got to see your weapon.”

  “Because you spawn killed me!” He frowns.

  “An impressive display.” Aftermath nods approvingly to me. “You located him before he could get his bearings and striked swiftly.”

  “That damned trident is so-"

  “Cool?” I offer. “Badass? Totally amazing?”

  “Infuriating.” Snowstorm finishes, then sighs. “But also badass.”

  “Yes!” I shout in victory. Praise the superiority of the fighty pitchfork! “Show me your gauntlets, I didn’t get to see them.”

  Snowstorm nods and shifts to his demiform. In this form, his wings replace his arms, but the ends of the wings have claw-like shapes that resemble and act as hands. His gauntlets form there, deep blue gauntlets forming on them. To my surprise, the gauntlets also provide metal plating for the whole wings, making him look like he is rolling in armor.

  “That is also badass.” I nod approvingly. He chuckles.

  “Take out your weapon, I didn’t get to see it too well.”

  I reach into myself until I feel that same thing within my soul. I grasp onto it and pull it out to my hand, where my trident forms.

  “Cool, right?” I grin. Snowstorm looks intrigued by the floating prongs.

  “So the prongs stab forward and inject your time, illusion, and dark mana to harm and rapidly age them. The dark mana attacks them from the inside while the illusion mana confuses and disorients them. This is a frankly terrifying combination.”

  “If I had flesh, I would not want to experience that.” Aftermath agrees, waltzing over in his human form.

  “Don't you have something to work against that?” I ask, confused.

  “Yes, though an attack like that at my level would be devastating, since my soul shape, the green ectoplasm you see, is laid nearly bare, allowing internal attacks but nullifying external ones. Though I doubt it could kill me. My durability it too high.”

  “You juggernaut.” I chuckle. “So what, you're invincible?”

  “Nearly, yes.”

  “Do you ever get tired?” I ask curiously.

  “Yes, very quickly usually. I doubt you will ever get tired when you reach my level, though. That stamina stat is terrifying. If you get skills that run on pure stamina, get them.” He pauses for a second then grins. “Before you both go save your not-dad-but-actually-your-dad, its time to purchase your mutations and skills.”