Project Seraphina [LitRPG, Magitech, GL]
2.54 Classing Up II

I’ve already got three potential options for a new class, and there’s still at least three options remaining. I’m starting to see why Lindsey was so coy about wishing me good luck earlier this morning. Not because I’d face such a grand trial or have to fight a boss within the center of my mind, but because there are so many options, and they all have so many different factors to consider. I could make an amazing choice that sets me up for the next 32 or 64 or 96 levels. Or I could choose a shitty choice that I hate, and end up getting stuck and stifling any chance of continued growth as a fighter.

Grr! It’s a lot more pressure than I had originally realized when I saw the opportunity for a class-up.

But I should give the other options a good analysis before I make up my mind. The next class is a picture of me in a suit of shining metal full plate, bearing a sword that shines with a holy light. I’m nonplussed at this depiction. Why am I being offered a paladin class, when I rejected it and continue to do so so forcefully? It’s not until I look closer and see the pair of wings on the shield that I realize this isn’t a Paladin class.

[Class: Valkyrie]

[The [Valkyrie] embodies the ancient mythological tradition of the warrior woman fighting for truth, justice, and honor. Unlike a [Divine Paladin], the [Valkyrie] is not bound to a specific creed or beholden to a deific patron. While many [Valkyries] swear oaths to defend the meek and innocent, others set out to smite the wicked wherever they may dwell. Take this sword and this class, and carry out your mission to be the shining beacon of light in the sea of darkness.]

Now that I think about it a bit more, the class offering makes sense. I’ve wielded a holy blade before, and my [Wings of Icarus] allow me to manifest like an angel, descending from the heavens against those who would harm innocents. Hell, I did exactly that earlier today. The fact that I’ve met Alana probably also influences this class offering.

[[Strength] +6, [Speed] +0, [Vitality] +4, [Mind] -1, Maximum [Health] +700, Maximum [Ether] -100 when choosing this class. [Strength] +1, [Vitality] +2, 5 Free Stat Points per level.]

In terms of Skills, losing [Tinkerer] is going to be a big setback, and the loss of [Mass Production] a much smaller one. On the other hand, [Flash of Insight] gets upgraded in a big way, becoming a weaker version of Chloe’s [Angelic Sanctuary], though only affecting myself. It also allows me to imbue all of my weapons with holy light, dealing Light-type damage to targets. I haven’t come across many foes with specific elemental weaknesses or resistances beyond the oozes, but I suspect we’ll face more of those as we progress through our journey.

I’ll be able to keep [Glyphcasting] and [Basic Glyph Manifestation] as general Skills, but I don’t really get much magic in the class itself. [Ether] regeneration stays at [Mind] x10, another downside to the class. Strangely, [Mechanist’s Eye] does become a class Skill, albeit renamed to [Valkyrie’s Eye]. It seems to be basically the same Skill for all intents and purposes.

I do get a couple of defensive bulwark Skills, along with a pretty powerful Skill that supercharges all of my stats when I’m fighting in the defense of another. Against the Saurian, the Oozes, the Cultists, and so forth, that Skill could have made the fights way easier. But I also want to go exploring dungeons, and I’ll need to more than ever thanks to a lack of good gear. It’s a fine class overall, and I can see why I’m being offered it. But it’s not really speaking to the heart of who I am.

This is in sharp contrast to the next version of myself. On the surface, I look similar to how I did as a [Valkyrie], but instead of shiny full-plate armor, I’m coated in all sorts of gadgets. Gadgets and cybernetics. I rub my left arm, which is still metal in this weird mental realm.

[Class: Mechanical Angel]

Already my interest is fully piqued.

[The [Mechanical Angel] is a seamless blend of scientific advancement with the desire to protect. Neither fully content in the laboratory or on the battlefield, the [Mechanical Angel] chooses both, enhancing her body and gear alike before showcasing her advancements in combat, to the detriment of those on the opposing side. Take this class, and embody the being you were always meant to be.]

Well, damn. Talk about a class that speaks to the heart of who I am. This was how the original Seraphina was conceptualized, as mechanical insights and cybernetics fused into an organic base. And my own cybernetic, sculpted and fitted with help from dozens of professors and graduate students, feels every bit a part of me as the rest of my body. If not for the need to take it off in the bath and make sure the attachment components stay clean and lubricated, I don’t think I’d ever do so. Well, maybe if Chloe asked me to, but even then, I’d hesitate.

Even without seeing the stats and Skill modifications, this class is a front-runner among the potential options. But I have no interest in playing the fool by choosing a class without a full analysis of all the options independent of aesthetics, this one included.

[[Strength] +2, [Speed] +2, [Vitality] +2, [Mind] +2, Maximum [Health] +100, Maximum [Ether] +100 when choosing this class. [Strength] +1, [Speed] +1, [Vitality] +1, [Mind] +1, 4 Free Stat Points per level.]

The class seems to maintain the multi-attribute focus my current class has, giving me forced stat points in [Strength] and [Speed], as though to chastise me for my [Mind]-focused build to this point. I don’t like the lack of flexibility in how I assign stat points, but that’s not a complete deal breaker. Stat points don’t seem to scale linearly, so it might actually be a small boon to being a bit more balanced than I currently am. In terms of [Ether] regeneration, it’s still [Mind] x10, which is the first major blemish against the class.

As far as Skills are concerned, I’m not going to get any earth-shattering changes. The biggest boon of the class is that [Mechanist’s Eye] and [Tinkerer] actually merge into a class Skill called [Angelic Insight]. Not only do I get the benefits of both in a single slot, but the Skill promises even stronger evolutions in the future. I also get more or less the same, weaker form of Chloe’s [Angelic Blessing] that [Valkyrie] provides, although I don’t get any other magical benefits from my class. I do lose [Mass Production], I suppose because the class is about engineering myself, rather than engineering gear for distribution. More artisan and master crafter rather than technician and titan of industrial production.

Now onto the sixth and final option, a version of myself decked out in a soldier’s uniform. I’m pretty confident I’m not going to like this choice, but I owe it to myself to do a full analysis all the same. Even if I’m pretty sure I’m just going to dismiss the choice out of hand.

[Class: Ranger-Technician]

[The [Ranger-Technician] is a martial-focused class, specializing in the use of technology and reconnaissance to turn the tide of battle. The [Ranger Technician] already has unparalleled Skills and training in the fields of espionage, intelligence gathering, and information processing. With the benefit of her inventions to increase her strengths further, she seeks to supercharge her allies’ prospects in combat. Know one’s enemy and oneself, and march into a hundred battles without fear. And with this class, you will always do so.]

Huh. I had expected this to be some shitty class that has me bowing to every general and politician, but I can’t just write it off without further analysis. It’s pretty clear why I’ve been offered this class. I’ve been working with Lindsey quite a bit over the previous few months, and I’ve developed respect for her as a person, if not for her superiors and the way she obeys their orders. I personally have been involved in the military to an extent, even though it sickens me to admit as much. I’ve already done some work in this field with my current [Mechanist] class, and I did promise that I’d turn over at least some Ethertech principles to them in exchange for their hospitality.

I still should be paid in real money for the work I’ve done. I guess heroism doesn’t pay here on Earth. Never really has.

[[Strength] +1, [Speed] +5, [Vitality] +2, [Mind] +0, Maximum [Health] +400, Maximum [Ether] +0 when choosing this class. [Strength] +1, [Speed] +2, 5 Free Stat Points per level.]

Not ideal. This is more of a [Speed]-focused class, eschewing the tanking capability of a [Bulwark] or even Alexey’s [Bludgeoner] in return for quick movements and the ability to avoid getting hit. The rare [Agility]-tank class. If I were alone, this wouldn’t be a problem. But traveling with Chloe and needing to protect her makes this a more concerning issue. That I’m stuck with a [Mind] x10 [Ether] regeneration rate isn’t helping matters.

In terms of Skills, I get to keep [Tinkerer] and [Mechanist’s Eye], which remains unchanged. Well, not quite. The [Agility] bonus increases from [Level]% to [Level x 1.25]%, keeping with the theme of the class. I also keep [Mass Production], but I don’t get [Flash of Insight] any longer. Instead, I get the all-valuable [Identify]. Goddesses help me, but why the hells is that a class-locked Skill? That should be a general Skill available to everyone. I also get a ranged-communication Skill, somewhere between a weak telepathy and the [Sending] spell I’ve seen in some tabletop games.

The biggest complaint about this class, other than the fact that it has a soldier theme to it, is that it does absolutely nothing for my magic and [Glyphcasting]. It’s more Ethertech for martial combat, without the aspects that delve into spellcraft analysis. For good or ill, my [Glyphcasting] has been among my most crucial aspects as a combatant. I won’t lose the general Skills relating to them, but this class does nothing to advance that part of me further. I’m not willing to dismiss the class completely for that reason, but it’s definitely near the bottom of the list.

All in all, I see six options and not one of them is a class I can just dismiss outright. Among them, however, the [Gunner Elementalist] and the [Ranger-Technician] are my least preferred choices. Both are ranged fighter classes with limited magic and limited ability to defend others. The [Glyphcasting Evoker] is similarly squishier, but it operates on the principle of defense through overwhelming offense. I’m not sure that principle really works in protracted engagements against strong or numerous enemies, but it is something. It’s also the class most built around [Glyphcasting] in practical application.

In contrast, the [Spell Researcher] class is the most natural direct evolution of [Planetouched Mechanist]. It maintains the research and development aspects of my class that I enjoy while also allowing me to move my [Glyphcasting] into a class Skill. This, in turn, frees up a general Skill for me to expand my focus outward.

[Valkyrie] is a fine class, and I don’t hate it like I’d originally expected I would. It’s just inferior to [Mechanical Angel] for what I’d like to do with my life. And hot damn does [Mechanical Angel] speak to my very soul. If not for the need to make a good decision for the long run, I’d choose it just for the feel-good it provides me thinking about myself.

[Spell Researcher] and [Mechanical Angel] are the two standout options. The other four don’t have the right combination of offerings that appeal to my intentions and desires. Who I am, versus who the original Seraphina was. That’s really the choice. Do I want to embrace my past self and the life she lived, or blaze forward with a new path for myself.

But of course, there’s always a complication at play. As I weigh these options, a seventh, final option appears. And it’s again one I have to consider very strongly.