CHAPTER 62: LEVEL 25: CLASS

Astrael’s blade carved through the beast’s scaled neck in one final, decisive strike. The reptilian beast collapsed in a heap, its blood steaming faintly against the earth.

Astrael breathed heavily as he flicked crimson droplets off his blade before sliding it back into the sheath.

Clawdia padded over, her paws stained with streaks of gore, tail high in satisfaction. She gave the corpse one disdainful swat before returning to Astrael’s side.

Then, the familiar sound rang in his head—

[Ding!]

[You have acquired the soul energy of Level 24 Forest Scaled Ravage]

[+21,600 EXP]

[Congratulations to the host for reaching level 25.]

[You get 2 status points to distribute freely]

[Ding!]

[You have reached Level 25.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have reached the current limit of your growth.]

[You cannot advance in level until obtaining your first Class and evolving. All gathered soul energy during the class transition will be stored and calculated once the initial class has been properly attained.]

[The Class Change Trial has commenced. The host’s performance throughout this period will determine the available list of Class options. The allotted duration for this trial is one month.]

[29 (days) : 23 (hours) : 59 (minutes) : 59 (seconds) ]

The world seemed to pause around him. In front of Astrael’s retina, many messages could be seen. Astrael stood frozen, the words ringing in his skull with a weight unlike the usual cold system prompts.

The words burned in his vision, each one laced with authority that allowed no refusal. A faint outline shimmered before him—an ethereal frame, like a book carved from crimson light, waiting to be opened.

Clawdia tilted her head at him, meowing softly, clearly puzzled why her new master had suddenly stopped moving.

"...Class?" His voice was low, confused. He blinked rapidly as though he’d misheard, but the glowing words didn’t fade.

"Limit of growth... trial... one month...?" He exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face. "What the hell does that even mean? I have never heard of such a rule in the world. A Class? Is that... like those RPG games?"

Clawdia tilted her head at him, meowing softly as if mocking his bewilderment.

"Don’t give me that look," Astrael muttered, crouching down to wipe his blade clean on the Ravage’s scales. His thoughts, however, were a storm. If I can’t level further, then every fight from now on... every risk I take... won’t give me anything. Unless I clear this trial.

He exhaled through his nose, steadying himself. "Class Change Trial, huh?"

Astrael opens his status screen and sees a glaring timer at the bottom.

[Class Change Trial Active]

[Time Remaining: 29d : 23h : 56m : 21s]

That countdown... glaring at him with every second.

His thumb brushed over the edge of his sword hilt as if weighing it in his palm. One month... to prove myself.

Astrael exhaled through his nose and turned. Clawdia padded closer, brushing against his side with a low purr, her claws clicking softly on the forest floor. She didn’t understand the system or its words, but her silver eyes were sharp, fixed on him as if reminding him she was still there.

"...Yeah. You’re right." He scratched behind her ear briefly before straightening, his expression hardening again. "We move forward. No wasting time."

The forest stretched endlessly ahead, ancient trees blotting out the sky. Step by step, Astrael and Clawdia pressed deeper into Elderwood, the underbrush crunching beneath their feet.

-------

The forest had grown darker, the thick canopy overhead allowing only shards of sunlight to pierce through. Astrael crouched low behind the roots of a massive tree, his breath steady as he surveyed the clearing ahead. A hulking beast, its hide scaled like stone and tusks curving upward like daggers, snorted and pawed at the earth.

Astrael’s eyes flickered,while Clawdia pressed against his leg, her silver coat blending well with the shadows. Her tail flicked once, sharp and deliberate, like a signal.

Astrael smirked. "I know, girl. We take it from the side. I will take it from the side while you draw their attention."

"Understood?" Astrael asked while looking at her.

Clawdia gave a soft growl, eyes gleaming, and walked silently away to circle the beast.

The Tuskhorn lifted its head suddenly—Clawdia had revealed herself, dashing out with a sharp yowl. The beast, seeing another beast, got enraged and roared while charging after her, its bulk shaking the ground with each pounding step.

"Now!" Astrael hissed, darting from cover like a shadow. His sword flashed, striking cleanly into the joint of its foreleg.

ROARRRR!

A screeching bellow echoed as the Tuskhorn stumbled, its momentum broken. Clawdia lunged forward, as her claws raking across its flank, leaving deep lines of blood.

The beast twisted and steadied itself with a furious growl, but Astrael was already moving, ducking low and slashing again at its other leg. Blood sprayed against his cheek.

The Tuskhorn tried to impale him with a desperate thrust, but Astrael rolled aside, feeling the rush of air as the tusks missed his ribs by inches. He came up fast, blade raised, and brought it down across the beast’s neck in a brutal arc.

The clearing fell silent except for the beast’s shuddering breaths before it collapsed with a heavy thud.

Astrael wiped the blood from his sword, his gaze landing on the corpse of the beast he’d just felled—a thick-skinned brute with jagged tusks and scales across its hide.

The system’s cold voice echoed again in his head:

[Ding!]

[You have acquired the soul energy of Forest Tuskhorn (Lv. 22)]

[Ding! The Divine Talent Plunder has activated.]

[You have acquired:]

[Iron Hide (E)]

[Charge (E)]

"So... these things are called Tuskhorns, huh?" Astrael muttered, a faint smirk crossing his lips.

He clenched his fist, focusing on the newly gained skill. In the next instant, his skin rippled, hardening into a dark, scaled armor that shimmered faintly with a metallic sheen. Tiny protrusions formed across his arms, resembling hardened spikes.

Astrael flexed his hands, feeling the resistance in his movements. "...Ugh. Wonderful. Now I look like some half-baked lizard freak." He deactivated the ability, his skin returning to normal. "Useful, though. I’ll take practical over pretty."

Nearby, Clawdia was already crouched over the corpse, her fangs tearing into the beast’s flesh. She ripped out chunks with disturbing eagerness, tail flicking back and forth like she was savoring the victory. Yet she never touched the monster’s core—leaving it neatly untouched for Astrael, almost as if she knew its value.

"Good girl," Astrael said, stooping to extract the glowing essence stone from the beast’s skull. Warm energy pulsed in his hand, and for a moment he let himself enjoy it before slipping it into his pouch.

His gaze hardened. I’m stronger now. I can feel it. Faster. Tougher. But... He exhaled slowly, a shadow passing his face. That wolf nearly killed me. That serpent nearly ended me. No matter how strong I get, one mistake could put me in the ground.

Clawdia let out a soft growl, as if reading his mood, before crunching down another strip of flesh.

"You’re smarter than you look, you know," Astrael muttered, almost amused. "Guess you know better than me which prey we should take. You’ve got instincts. I’ve got a blade. We’ll make it work."

The system flickered in his mind, reminding him of his current state

But even as he felt his strength growing, Astrael couldn’t let himself fall into the arrogance of power. The blood-soaked forest reminded him constantly—there were creatures here he wasn’t ready to face. If Clawdia, with her sharp instincts, kept her distance from some shadows in the trees... then Astrael wasn’t about to test fate.

He glanced at the two cores glowing faintly in his hand. He swallowed one, the raw energy flooding into his body like molten fire. The second, he tucked away carefully.

"Insurance," he murmured. "No telling when I’ll need it."

Clawdia padded closer, licking her fangs clean, her silver eyes glinting in the gloom.

Astrael gave her a sidelong look, lips quirking in a dry smile. "What? Don’t look at me like that. I’m not planning on dying yet. Not when I’ve got you to babysit."

The feline flicked her tail against his arm in what almost felt like a scoff.

Together, man and beast moved on, the scent of blood trailing faintly behind them as deeper shadows stirred in the forest.

---

As the sun set and the forest darkened, Astrael halted on the path when Clawdia’s ears twitched. And her sharp eyes lingered northward, tail swishing slowly.

"What is it?" Astrael asked, frowning.

The feline let out a low rumble, the kind of sound that wasn’t a warning of immediate danger but something heavier, anticipation.

Astrael tightened his grip on his sword. "...Alright. Lead the way."

Clawdia darted forward, silent as the shadows, and Astrael followed carefully behind. The forest thinned gradually, opening into a broad valley carved with scattered boulders and winding streams that shimmered under beams of sunlight. The sound of water running over stone filled the air, masking their movements.

But then Astrael stopped dead in his tracks,

His breath caught. "...That’s..."

He didn’t finish the thought.