Herald of death

'It should be here,' Ethan thinks, pushing the door of a room filled with tatami mats. A mirror makes up one of the walls, reflecting Ethan's new appearance. Countless weapons of different origins and ages hang on the walls, all in pristine condition.

Russ rolls over the mats, scratching his back on them. "Here, down," Ethan orders, pointing at a spot near the door. He approaches the mirror, turning his head as he scans his more pronounced jaw line.

"I'll need to go see a hairdresser; this long mane is disturbing. … I was already a tall man," Ethan says, removing his shirt to reveal his sculpted body. "I've probably gained a good ten centimeters, making me a hundred and ninety-five. I didn't gain much muscle, but their definition definitely improved. I hope it won't make me less enduring; this low of a body fat percentage isn't any good."

He closes his eyes, sensing the Ether that flows through him. The threads cross his skin with better conductivity than before, gathering into his heart in greater quantity.

'Perhaps I could try to cast Silence again,' Ethan thinks. He models the complex white runes of the spell in his mind, focusing on each intricate detail. His heart pounds with the intensity of the magic flowing into his mind and then into his hand.

Ethan opens his eyes, now glowing with the power of the spell. He raises his hand, releasing a wave of Ether with a snap of his fingers. It spreads out in a perfect sphere like a wave, undulating the surrounding threads. The room's Ether turns still, leaving Ethan's body unable to absorb it.

The spell nearly emptied Ethan's Ether reserve but doesn't consume anymore once cast. 'The first time I tried it, I felt that it would have used three to four times as much Ether as I could hold,' he thinks.

The threads of Ether resume their movements, refueling Ethan's heart. 'The duration leaves to be desired,' he notes. 'Perhaps it will last longer the more proficient I become with it.'

He moves to one of the walls, grabbing a halberd from a display. "Class change," Ethan says, summoning the array of cards. To his surprise, spectral cards, less opaque than the rest, float among the classes he unlocked.

They bear illustrations and names, and when stared at, they reveal the conditions to unlock them. 'I'm not using Prescience; it must be an effect of Oracle," Ethan guesses. "It seems I always fulfill at least one of the requirements; it must not be listing every class."

He looks at a silver-edged card called the Slayer. 'Reach level ten with at least ten melee weapons. Obtain the Kin Slayer title. Obtain at least five Hunter titles,' he reads. "Let's try this one, just to see if it's real.

He steps to the center of the dojo, taking the stance that naturally comes to him. In his mind, he conjures an image of Viktor Blackwood. The man had been a formidable adversary, with the ability to counter Ethan's moves. Ethan focuses on the memory, bringing the figure to life.

The room around him fades away, replaced by Opal's underground arena. His opponent stands in front of him, his stance poised and ready. Ethan's halberd slices through the air with a sharp whoosh. Viktor mirrors his movements, their blades clashing in a flurry of strikes. The imagined sound of metal-on-metal echoes through the dojo.

"Adding the Melee Weapon (Halberd) skill. Based on your previous experience a level of 13 has been applied," the voice announces.

Ethan stops his blade mid-slash, dispelling the opponent he summoned in his mind. Russ stares at him with an annoyed look, as he always does when Ethan shadow fights.

Ethan reiterates the process with a new weapon each time. Each weapon he picks up feels unique; its weight and balance call for a different style. The voice continues to announce his new skills. He tests a glaive, a short sword, a great sword, and a katana.

The Slayer's card fades in, its illustration identical to its spectral copy. Curious, Ethan taps on it.

Slayer

Slayers are relentless melee combatants known for their ability to escalate their lethality as the battle rages on.

Every two levels in the Slayer class will grant you a Strength and a Dexterity point.

Lv.0: Sharpening

Lv.5: Critical strike

Lv.10: Slayer's mark

Lv.15: Fury

Lv.20: Edge of oblivion

"So, it was real," Ethan says to Russ. "But this class shares the Fury ability with the Warbeast. Too bad I can't get a description of the abilities," he says, pointlessly tapping on Fury.

He searches the spectral cards for other classes he could unlock. 'There's a sniper class for which I need the concealment skill at ten. Shouldn't I have unlocked it for wearing camo when rescuing Specter nine?' he thinks. 'Perhaps I need to actively hide from something.'

'The only other silver class is Arsenal. I need to reach level ten with at least ten melee weapons, ten ranged weapons, three armors, and three shields,' he reads. 'Was my coat not counting as armor because it's as light as clothes?'

He walks over to a piece of armor, a breastplate that hangs against a wall. He removes it from its display and dons it. He moves around to see if the skill triggers, but the voice remains silent. "Russ, missile!" Ethan orders.

Russ jumps to his feet, looking around for his target. Ethan taps on the breastplate, and Russ runs at him. He leaps, landing his four paws on Ethan's chest and sending him to the ground. Rolling to his feet, Ethan says, "You've gotten heavier."

"Adding the Armor (Medium) skill. Based on your previous experience a level of 3 has been applied," the voice announces.

Ethan sighs. "Missile," he orders, bracing himself to absorb the impact. Russ kicks him to the ground several times, raising the skill's level.

They continue with a gambeson to unlock the light variant of the skill. Using a buckler, targe, and then a kite shield, Ethan engages in shadow fights with Viktor, learning the remaining skills.

The Vanguard appears in addition to the Arsenal. Ethan taps on the new silver card.

Arsenal

Arsenals are highly adaptable warriors, skilled at thriving across diverse combat scenarios. These combatants are akin to walking armories, dedicated to mastering every facet of the art of warfare.

The Arsenal's level is capped by his highest weapon, armor, or shield skill on a five-to-one ratio.

Every two levels in the Arsenal class will grant you a characteristic point.

Lv.0: Inventory

Lv.5: Rapid martial growth

Lv.10: Martial echo

Lv.15: Shared martial skill ascension

Lv.20: Weapon aura

'If Rapid martial growth is anything like Sylas's talent, it could let me catch up with a lifetime of training,' Ethan thinks. He ponders for a long time, comparing each of his unlocked classes. "I choose –"

Ethan is interrupted by his phone vibrating in his pocket, and he picks up the call. "Welcome back, Reaper five," Tombstone says. "I have a new mission for you."