{ Class Selection Begins}
The spatial portal twisted open with a faint hum. A silver ripple echoed across the boundary of space before stabilizing, revealing a long chamber bathed in ethereal blue light. Jin-Seok stepped out with Quoros beside him, his boots touching the polished marble floor that shimmered faintly with mana circuits.
Massive stone pillars lined the sides, engraved with runes that pulsed with life. At the center of the chamber stood a circular platform, wide enough to hold dozens of people, yet humming with restrained power. Above, floating orbs of light drifted lazily beneath the arched ceiling, casting soft, rotating shadows.
The room was already bustling.
Dozens of climbers had arrived before them—some chatting, others nervously adjusting their clothes or gear. But as Jin-Seok's gaze swept across the crowd, his brows raised slightly.
> "...Huh."
He immediately spotted familiar faces.
Sera, standing with arms crossed and an ever-sharp gaze.
Chen Wei-Ming, calm and silent in the corner.
Ron Owen, cracking his neck like he was preparing for war.
Thomas Schmidt, looking as if he'd just woken up from a nap.
They were all from his Crystal Guard Trial.
But that wasn't all.
> "Is that… Lucien?"
Sure enough, the snarky hobo was lounging against a wall, somehow still alive, and laughing at something Dante said beside him.
> "Looks like they mixed some zones for Class Selection," Jin-Seok muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Quoros heard him and gave a sideways glance, lips twitching in mild amusement.
> "I take it you recognized a few?"
> "Yeah. So… are people from different trials allowed to enter this together?"
Quoros gave a short nod. "Indeed. Most don't realize it, but this part of the Tower has a wider reach. Many participants get eliminated early—some give up, others fail—but those who manage to pass the first four trials qualify for Class Selection. We combine them here, regardless of what zone they came from."
Jin-Seok frowned. "What about the ones who fail the fifth trial?"
> "Good question," Quoros said, folding his hands behind his back. "The fifth trial exists mostly to showcase power. Some hide their strength. Others join just for fame—especially those from smaller clans or guilds trying to get noticed."
He smirked. "Failing that trial doesn't disqualify you. If you passed the first four, you're still eligible for a class selection."
Quoros gestured ahead.
> "Anyway, we've arrived."
---
{The Selection Platform}
The central platform came alive with light as a name was called.
A young woman stepped forward. Her body tensed as glowing runes surrounded her.
> "Scan complete. Displaying class compatibility..."
Above her head, two glowing orbs materialized: Healer, Mage.
The audience around the platform leaned in, whispering.
She took a breath and reached out. As soon as she touched Mage, a beam of radiant blue light engulfed her body.
> "Class selected: [Ice Mage – C-Rank (Rare)]"
Cheers erupted. The girl stepped off, visibly dazed but stronger somehow. Her eyes shone with subtle power.
---
Another stepped up—a broad-shouldered man.
His scan revealed: Tank, Knight.
> "Class selected: [Knight – B-Rank (Epic)]"
Gasps followed. Epic-tier classes were uncommon this early.
A few minutes later, a thin boy moved with twitchy speed. His scan revealed Rogue, Assassin.
> "Class selected: [Assassin – D-Rank (Common)]"
The crowd didn't react, but the boy didn't look disappointed. He walked away quietly, nodding to himself.
---
{Class Tier Overview – Quoros Explains}
As the latest climber stepped off the glowing platform, Quoros leaned toward Jin-Seok, his voice low but clear.
> "This is the Tower's Class Selection process," he said. "Each climber is scanned—not for what they want, but what they're compatible with. Then they choose."
> Class Awakening Tiers
D-Rank (Common)
C-Rank (Rare)
B-Rank (Epic)
A-Rank (Unique)
S-Rank (Heroic)
???
???
Jin-Seok's eyes narrowed slightly. "And that floating chart… that's the tier system?"
Quoros nodded. "Classes are divided into ranks. Most start at the lower end—Common or Rare. Some manage Epic. A very few… awaken something Unique."
He paused for effect.
> "Anything above that—Heroic or higher—are considered miracles. You don't get those by chance. You earn them… or you awaken them through special circumstances."
Jin-Seok glanced back at the platform, where a girl had just selected her class.
> "So the initial class determines your base stats?"
> "Exactly. It shapes your growth path—stats, affinities, even skills. The higher the tier, the greater the starting advantage."
"Can it evolve?"
Quoros smirked. "Of course. With the right relics, effort, and progression, even a Common class can grow into something remarkable. But…" He gestured toward the platform, where a silver-haired boy stepped up and reached for a glowing orb.
> "Some people start the climb from halfway up the mountain."
A second later, the beam of light flared bright.
> "Class selected: [Beastcaller – A-Rank (Unique Class) ]"
A ripple of gasps spread through the room.
Jin-Seok raised an eyebrow.
> "...So that's what a Unique looks like."
Quoros folded his arms. "And if someone ever awakens a Heroic or higher here? Trust me—the entire Tower hears about it."
Another girl, face half-covered in a mask, glowed brightly as the class emerged:
> "Class selected: [Healer – B-Rank (Epic)]"
---
Most climbers, however, walked away with Rare or Common classes. But no one complained. Everyone knew the truth:
> Even Common classes could evolve with time, effort, and the right relics.
But those who started higher… started stronger.
Stats, traits, affinities and skills—all were shaped by the class tier.
---
Jin-Seok stood watching it all, arms crossed and unreadable.
He wasn't nervous. He was curious.
> "So that's how it works…"
As Quoros finished explaining the process, more climbers stepped onto the platform. Familiar faces emerged one by one—each drawing Jin-Seok's attention.
Sera stepped forward first. Composed, graceful.
A pulse of golden light greeted her as the Tower scanned her essence.
> "Class selected: [Rune mage – Epic Class]"
She nodded slightly, as if expecting nothing less.
Chen Wei-Ming followed, his hands calmly folded behind his back.
> "Class selected: [Iron Monk – Epic Class]"
The orb pulsed with a firm, grounded energy. Fitting.
Ron Owen and Thomas Schmidt stepped up one after the other.
> "Class selected: [Shadow Archer – Rare Class]"
"Class selected: [Stonebreaker – Rare Class]"
Then came a familiar stomp. Heavy. Confident.
Dante Dragunov.
"Let's gooo!" he grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Gimme something punchy."
As his hand touched the orb, red-orange flames erupted in a vortex, swirling high above the platform.
> "Class selected: [Titan-Forged Warrior – Heroic Class]"
Gasps filled the room. Even among Golden Generation elites, a Heroic-tier was rare.
"Of course," Jin-Seok muttered. "It suits him."
Dante flexed dramatically, soaking in the attention. "Guess I'm hot stuff now."
But the mood shifted when the next climber approached.
{Lucien Arkwright – A Heroic Unknown}
Next up was Lucien Arkwright.
He ambled forward with his usual lazy gait, coat dragging, hair tousled like he'd just woken from a nap.
"Alright, alright, let's see what the great Tower thinks of me," he mumbled, drawing mild chuckles from the crowd.
When he touched the orb, the entire room held its breath.
A ripple of black mist spread across the platform. The runes flickered in strange patterns—then snapped into a sharp violet hue, outlined in silver.
> "Class Selected: [Phantom Duelist – Heroic Class]"
Gasps came—not from awe, but confusion.
> "Phantom Duelist? Never heard of that."
"Is that even real?"
"A heroic class... that nobody knows?
"Heroic my ass. That sounds like a Tower glitch."
"Maybe it's one of those flashy trash classes."
The murmurs grew louder. Some scoffed. Others rolled their eyes.
Lucien looked up at the glowing words above him.
At first, he smirked—trying to play it off. "Heh... guess I'm special."
But then he saw the reactions.
No cheers. No praise. Only furrowed brows and mocking grins.
A few climbers from noble families outright laughed. One even whispered, "Looks like the Arkwright heir pulled a blank."
The color drained slightly from Lucien's face. His usual aloofness cracked for just a moment.
He turned away quickly, shoulders tense.
> "Tch. Whatever," he muttered, walking off—head down, steps slower than before.
One of the administrators leaned forward, frowning.
Even Quoros blinked. "...That's the first time
the Tower has ever assigned that class."
Jin seok glanced at Quoros, who nodded toward the platform.
> "You're up soon."
Jin-Seok narrowed his eyes.
Jin-Seok frowned, watching him go.
Then—
> "...Interesting," a calm, ancient voice echoed within his mind.
Jin-Seok blinked. Aris?
He responded in thought.
> "Do you know something about that class?"
Silence.
Aris did not reply.
Just silence.
And that said more than words ever could.
> Phantom Duelist... heroic, and unknown.
_______________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}