Chapter 502: Nine Options

Chapter 502: Nine Options

With the major rock in my class options analyzed, I went back to the more normal offerings.

If five strong black quality classes could be called normal.

I decided to slow roll it a bit. Take it from blue to black.

One thing I quickly noticed was that each of the books talked extensively about my healing accomplishments, and they all overlapped. Some focused a little more on different parts than others, but all of them mentioned all my achievements. I had filtered for Celestial healing classes, and the bulk of my accomplishments was in the field of medicine, so it was no surprise.

The top number, the biggest one, was also one I sort of felt I cheated on.

Healing has touched more than a million lives.

A million was a lot of people, but every time Id walked in a city, [Cosmic Presence] had been active. The Han Empires population was so dense that it only took a little bit of time to qualify, let alone all the traveling Id done and cities Id visited.

Directly saved more than 500,000 people from imminent death.

That one I was crazy proud about. That accomplishment was worth bragging about.

Wrote the Medical Manuscripts.

That, and the tens of thousands of knock-off effects were mentioned throughout my accomplishments.

Healed a dragon. Healed/bonded a phoenix. Healed an angel. Healed

I had a long list of creatures my healing was just barely able to heal, and Id helped with.

Huge battle numbers. My willingness to heal both sides - including, to my surprise, someone whod been actively firing shots at me just minutes before. That was one highlighted hard in [The First Oathbound Healer].

Survived attacks from a Guardian. Survived dragonfire. Survived phoenix flames. Survived the wrath of a God. Survived

I was an [Undying Cockroach] through and through, and my achievements reflected it.

I had achievements from the start. From doing every little bit I could in Aquiliea, to healing the bandits whod captured me, to my desperate run for Kallisto. Perinthus and the plague, Ranger Academy and injuries. My work as a Sentinel, the last stand against the Formorians. The angel, the dwarves, and the dragon. Elves and centaurs, phoenixes and wyverns. Healing when it was illegal, when it put my life at risk. Healing when it was safe and easy. Biomancy, and how I tried to improve lives with it in my own little way.

Wars and plagues. Mass casualty events, all the way down to casually healing scratches on individuals. My offerings listed them all.

It was worth mentioning that many of the skills were upgraded in similar manners. Every class, for example, had [Wheel of Sun and Moon] merging with [Dance with the Heavens], opening up a new skill slot for me to use. Additionally, the restrictions for the healing at range aspect of Wheel vanished entirely. I no longer needed to be under moonlight or sunlight, seeing the stars, caressed by the sky, or anything like that. Simple distance was the only criteria, although the penalty and range were different class to class. All of them boosted the potency of my already-existing healing skills, but to different degrees. Apart from the subtle differences between existing skills, each class had their own range of entirely new skills offered, and arenas of operation.

I remembered the old angel constellation from when I was making [The Dawn Sentinel], and it was clear that even the worst healing skills on offer had basically the entire constellation filled out. Petrification was an excellent example of something I could easily handle now. The only thing missing was medium and strong cursebreaking. Even strong cursebreaking tended to no longer be a healing skill, but a dedicated [Cursebreaker] skill in different elements. Like how Water healing couldnt restore limbs.

Another major aspect was nearly every class had minor biomancy included in it. It wasnt true biomancy, not by any stretch of the imagination, but the ability to fix a number of genetic defects and flaws were included. Things like sickle cell anemia, immune diseases, certain types of diabetes, etc. Changes to the base template that were otherwise not allowed. The type of fixes that were occasionally offered in [Midwife]-type classes.

My study of biomancy helped and informed the upgrade though, permitting me to do everything I knew was possible, healing all sorts of defects.

Suffocation was another one I would no longer need to worry about, although food and water were an eternal requirement.

Each offering was naturally different from the rest, focused on an aspect that the others didnt. They also each had a slightly different offering of additional skills.

With a polite request, I got some paper and a quill to start writing down notes on each class, building a grid to best compare apples to apples when I could. Writing down which classes offered [Celestial Authority] and which ones gave [Mastery], for example, along with technical notes on each upgrade. Given how similar the classes were to each other, the devil very well could be in the details.

[Saintess of the Dawn] In the pantheon of sacred callings, the Saintess stands as a paragon of light and protection, a blazing beacon in the darkest hours. This hallowed class is revered not merely for its profound healing abilities, but its ability to protect, shield, buff, and more! The Saintess is the avatar of the first light that scatters the shadows of despair, bringing hope and renewal to all in need. Her presence is a sanctuary, a shield against malice and corruption. The Saintess embodies the very essence of divinity and benevolence. The powers vested in a Saintess transcend conventional healing. Her touch mends the most grievous of wounds, her prayers shield the weak from harm, and her calling upon the stars purges corruption. She is a wellspring of divine energy, channeling the very gods and goddesses themselves. She is filled with divine wisdom and guidance, able to soothe all those who come to consult with her. The path of a Saintess is one of selflessness and sacrifice. Her journey is filled with trials that test her spirit and resolve, yet her conviction never falters. She is a radiant force, the glowing sunrise that drives away the darkness! +100 Magic Power, +100 Magic Control, +800 Mana, +800 Mana Regeneration per level!

I had to admit, it was a little more off-base and interesting than some of my other healing classes. It was strongly healing-centric, but not only did it have fantastical healing, but my barriers and shields were promised to be greatly empowered, and Id have access to a wide variety of buffs that I could bestow on people. What was nice was not only was I offered strong single-stat buffs, but also amazing omni-improvements that helped with everything. [Untarnished Icon], [Lady of Life], [Bastion of Hope], [Hand of Ciriel], [Answer the Whispered Prayers], [Sworn Ally], [Unblemished Apex], [Avatar of Rebirth], [Faith in her Protector]... the skills just went on and on and on!

If that was all, itd be amazing.

It wasnt. The class also made it clear that it would be much easier for me to request miracles from the gods and goddesses. I knew there were quite a few divine entities interested in me, and I could possibly request help from several of them, not just one.

The class ran screaming headfirst into the 8 skill slot problem. Dozens and dozens of powerful skills, but only room for 8. If I took [Invoke Miracle] I might not have room for [Sunrise]. I didnt want to give up [The Stars Never Fade] for [Fated Intervention] or [Your Destiny is Life], but I only had so many slots, and unlimited options on my skills.

It was a good problem to have. Sort of like Oh no I have 40 thoroughbred unicorns but my stables can only hold 8 of them, what ever shall I do!?

If [Saintess of the Dawn] appealed to me, Id need to dig hard and deep to figure out my exact build. Unlike [The Dawn Sentinel], where Id massacred a huge amount of potential to make it work exactly the way I wanted to, with [Saintess of the Dawn] Id be able to keep tinkering with the skills until I had the exact configuration I wanted.

It was clearly a religious class, all of which were hamstrung at only blue quality. Generally far higher than anyone could hope to achieve, but I wasnt exactly normal.

Activity wise, it was a wild departure from [The Dawn Sentinel] in many ways. The core healing aspects remained, but it would reward me far more for staying in a temple, handing out blessings, buffs, and healing, than it would for attending meetings and marching on the road.

I mightve screwed up a little. Right now, that was super tempting. Id just spent three and a half years in a warzone, witnessing the worst humanity had to offer. A class that went nope, sorry, wed like you doing the cleanup but not watching your brothers and sisters in arms die horribly next to you was super appealing.

Heck, it looked like I could still function as the Sixths War Sentinel. My healing range would increase massively. I just wouldnt be getting as much experience for it.

Right. One class down. [Saintess of the Dawn] was a strong option, and the biggest mark against it was the quality. Blue was good.

It wasnt black.

[Crows Acquaintance, Doves Nemesis] was up next.

[Crows Acquaintance, Doves Nemesis] The loom turns, and the threads of fate are spun out in ten thousand glorious colors. Black Crow//White Dove are the cutters, the snippers of the threads of destiny, cruelly pruning the tapestry of life. Crows Acquaintance, Doves Nemesis is one who would grab the shears of death and wrench them again, allowing the threads to continue spinning and weaving out in beautiful harmony. It is a class for one who has seen the divine manifestation of both Crow and Dove, who has defied them to their face. They refuse the finality, the end, the great death and the cycle of samsara. They help the defiant throw off Black Crow, and challenge the peace White Dove offers to all souls. The Nemesis is more complex than a mere battle against death. It is steeped in the moral quandaries of eternal life, carefully navigating the ethics behind Immortality. How much is too much? Will preserving too many lives here and now simply cause further, more violent bloodshed in the future? By preserving the parents, are you robbing the children of their future, one in which no elders make way for the younger generation? Conflict is at the heart of the Nemesis, from conflicts of the body, to conflicts of the mind and soul. +1313 Free Stats per level.

The title was interesting, and a dive into the story of what my life would be like with the class was revealing.

In short, it was the Immortality class. With [The Dawn Sentinel], Id taken the bare minimum on the Ouroboros of Immortality, and this class maximized it. Thered be no cooldown on the skill. No limitations on the types of creatures I could make Immortal. It would be permanent Immortality, and Id gain much finer control over ages.

Interestingly, I could also make someone older. I could be 8 years old one minute, and 98 the next, then bounce back to 18.

My funds would be unlimited. I could spend a day charging thousands of Immortality gems, and while flooding the market that way would cause the price to crash, there was still a lot of money to be made doing it.

The direct healing abilities naturally upgraded and improved, but the shields and barriers stayed the same, as did [Sunrise]. It was a fascinating option, but I didnt quite feel like it was right for me. I was fine with my current pace of being able to hand out Immortality, although stretching the skill a bit and making it permanent was very appealing.

Not critical though, not in the way Id needed the skill before.

If my life had been even a fraction less strange, I would still be level 500 and change, bouncing around in Remus. I felt a pang of loss at the sentiment, all the people Id known who were gone, but boxed the emotion up. Put it in a pile with the rest.

The philosophy hinted at was interesting, but more interesting if I was taking the class, versus having the Immortality skill with a cooldown and restrictions. It might be worth having some long discussions with Night about the nature of being able to endlessly produce Immortals, and the ethics involved. Hed naturally done a ton of thinking on the topic.

I was classing up here.

[Medic of the Dread Sixth Legion] - You are the lifeline of the Sixth Legion, the glowing savior that negates death and brings life. Youve healed

Take this class, and may your brothers and sisters in arms never fall! +888 Strength, +888 Dexterity, +888 Speed, +888 Vitality, +888 Magic Power, +888 Magic Control, +888 Mana, +888 Mana Regeneration per level!

Uhhh no. I had a few regrets even going through the class. It was basically a hyper specialized [Medic] class, but Id lose so much, namely in what I got experience for. A simple upgrade of [The Dawn Sentinel] would have everything [Medic of the Dread Sixth Legion] had, without the drastic narrowing in scope.

It was one of the only classes without the minor biomancy, which made sense. By the time someone joined a Legion, they were already fit and healthy.

The only interesting part was a side-path that was available. [Repair] was a class skill, the basic one simply helping me repair armor and gear a little better. As I gained experience - both with the skill, and physically repairing thousands of armor sets in all the different ways they could break - the skill could slowly evolve into letting me repair things magically, into a ranged repair, into a massive area of effect repair skill. Of course, Id run into the only 8 skill slots problem again, and itd take decades of semi-normal operations to level the skill that far, but it did exist.

It was academically interesting as a fun skill, but didnt appeal to me as something I wanted to have.

To the bottom of the pile! The stat distribution was nice. One level and Id have strength again!

[The Last Sentinel of Remus] You were crowned in glory and laurel wreaths, the first woman Sentinel of Remus. Now, in this day and age, you are the last one who can claim the title Sentinel of Remus.

My heart practically stopped at the line, and I skipped the rest of the introduction, speed reading through the book at top speed. I relaxed with a sigh.

Night was still alive. He hadnt died, although I strongly suspected I wouldve been told before I even landed that something had happened.

No, from the tone and the sense I got, Night had simply been around too long. He had done too much, been in too many places, held the title of Sentinel in too many countries and iterations of Exterreri. He just didnt qualify as a Reman Sentinel anymore, he was far, far more than that.

I suspected as time went on, as my identity was married to Exterreri, that the option would fade away to dust. That one class up, I wouldnt get the option to become [The Last Sentinel of Remus].

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

It wasnt thrilling me. It was more about being the final Sentinel of Remus, carrying that torch, rather than being a Sentinel. It was a legacy class, a historic class, not a modern day Sentinel class. Oh, sure, it still had healing at its core but fundamentally, it probably shouldve been filtered out if I was a little more careful with my words.

Four classes, and I was fairly confident I wasnt taking three of them. [Saintess of the Dawn] was still on the list.

Onto the good stuff! Onto the goodies! Onto the black classes!

I started with the one that was my name. Because I could.

[The Elaine] - The Healer. The Elaine. +100 Strength, +100 Dexterity, +400 Speed, +400 Vitality, +500 Magic Power, +500 Magic Control, +6666 Mana, +6666 Mana Regeneration per level.

I was nodding along on the offered stats until I got to the mana and regeneration portion, where I felt like doing a double take.

HOW MUCH mana and regeneration!? By all the goddesses that sent me invitation letters

I knew my current issues were primarily around mana and regeneration these days. [Oath] was boosting my magic power and control to absurd levels, to the point where I couldnt keep up with my mana. I needed more mana, and the class delivered.

The class description was great! I loved the short nature of it, the weight and impact it offered. It sadly told me very little about the details of the class, and for that I needed to go digging.

I delved deep into the class, feeling an innate affinity for anything named after me. I wasnt just a healer, Id be the healer.

The class was fame-focused. It didnt have me resting on my laurels, but doing things that spread the knowledge of medicine and the Medical Manuscripts were strongly rewarded. Also, to a certain extent, being myself. Could I level simply from eating mangos? What a life!

Mastery

Mastery

Spirit

Mastery

Healing Efficiency boost

Medium

Medium

None - Skill broadens

Low

High

Medium

Range Size (New Healing Skill)

Huge

Large

"Small"

Medium

Large

Small

Healing efficiency at range

Poor

Medium

Poor

Medium

Good

Medium

New Cosmic Pres Range

Huge

Huge

Small

Medium

Large

Medium

New Cosmic Pres effectiveness

Medium

Medium

Low

Medium

High

Medium

Sunrise changes

Excellent.

Active aura

Changes to self-only

No change

Active aura

No change

Shields (Mantle Upgrade)

Dramatic

Medium

Poor

Medium

Poor

Poor

Immortality

Small CD Reduction

Modest CD

All creatures

No change

Modest CD

No change

Buffs

Extensive buffs offered

Medium buffs

No buffs

Minor buffs

Large buffs

Minor buffs

Leveling speed ranked

6

1

5

3

2

4