The Oracle Paths

"Plot Armor Wearer? What the fucking heck? Does this stele think I'm the protagonist of a friggin' book or something?" Jake lampooned without realizing how damn close he was to the truth.

[Who knows?] Xi shared his puzzlement. [My memories of Soul Classes are slowly coming back, but I've never seen this Soul Class mentioned anywhere. At least the original Xi didn't know about it. But based on my experience and what we know about the Aether and the Mirror Universe, we can make several assumptions.]

"Really?" Jake made no secret of his bafflement.

What he was convinced of was that in order to naturally awaken such a Soul Class, an absolute confidence in one's destiny, a kind of fanatical conviction of being the hero of one's own story would inevitably be required for this far-fetched miracle to occur. But even if this were the case, a Soul Class like Protagonist or Main Character would have been more appropriate.

No, to awaken this particular Soul Class, one had to come close to death many times and always manage to pull through inexplicably, as if the time to die had simply not come yet. From his strictly rational point of view, this was totally absurd, but since he had learned about the Reverse Fate Bow and its preposterously extravagant powers, he was much more open-minded.

[You've hit the nail on the head.] Xi agreed with his reasoning. [It is for these very reasons, however, that I advise you against choosing it. This Soul Class is undoubtedly extraordinary, but no Soul Class can make you instantly invincible. Their actual prowess, no matter what tier they are, will remain very dependent on your actual Spirit Body level. In contrast, they will affect your personality and the way you act and behave in the future in unpredictable ways.]

[Plot Armor Wearer... Just by the name alone, I'm afraid that after that the adjective foolhardiness will become a euphemism when describing you, compelling you to undertake more and more reckless and idiotic risks. For this, outstanding luck and a natural propensity to think and act as such is ideal. This is not your case. Without the recent addition of your Beskyrian bloodline, this Soul Class would most likely never have made it onto this list.]

Jake evidently agreed with his Oracle AI. As unbelievable as this Soul Class was, if by accepting it he turned into someone he didn't recognize himself in, then it wasn't much different than brainwashing.

Harbinger of Chaos? It sounded good and Tier 6 was a testament to the immense potential of this Soul Class. Such a name was not unfamiliar to him, it was the same as one of his very first Soul Glyphs and he owed it one of his most precious Skills: Bloodline Ignition. Whatever the abilities conferred by this Soul Class, they promised to be exceptional.

Alas, such tempting perks undoubtedly had terrible drawbacks. To win this Soul Class, or rather this title, Jake had single-handedly exterminated the Chaos Zhorion Tribe. The requirements for this title spoke volumes about the changes this Soul Class would bring about in him if he were to choose it.

It should not be forgotten that the Zhorions of Chaos were a vampiric and cannibalistic species completely degenerated and thirsty for violence. They owed their appearance and abilities to their excessive consumption of Flintium, the Red Soul Stones formed from the crystallized Spirit Body of veterans who had perished in an incomparably bloody war.

Jake had something much better in his possession: Xion Zolvhur's Soul Stone. Not only did it contain a balanced Soul Energy ready to be assimilated, it also contained techniques and knowledge that he struggled to understand even to this day.

"Harbinger of Chaos? I like the potential of it, but I think it's better to keep it as a mere Soul Glyph." Jake eventually shook his head. He had no regrets. It was too dangerous.

[You're doing the right thing.] Xi approved of his decision once again. She was about to warn him about the dangers, but he hadn't let temptation blind him. Although she would never say it, she was proud of him.

"What about Ordeal Ace, then? Jake asked his Oracle AI for her opinion.

Xi was flattered by his confidence, but didn't answer immediately. After a few seconds, she hesitantly explained,

[You can choose that one, I guess, but this Soul Class isn't as harmless as you might think. Unlike the two previous Soul Classes, this is not the first time I've seen this one. To unlock it, you have to win an Ordeal. This is an extremely strict requirement and almost impossible to fulfill, but you did it in your Second Ordeal. Even in your Third Ordeal you were one of the final survivors. Nevertheless, on the scale of the vast Mirror Universe, billions of Ordeals take place every day, and that's as many winners. The stronger an Evolver becomes, the more successful a Player is at Ordeals, the greater their chance of meeting individuals with rare and exceptional Soul Classes. Ordeal Ace is one of those unique, relatively well-documented Soul Classes.]

[The attribute growth rate is one of the best, but the skills are limited to the context of Ordeals only. You can expect many privileges, like knowing in real time what Rating to expect from each action, details about your main competitors like their Oracle Rank ect... You can even choose your Ordeal destination from a selection list. The missions you receive are broken down into many simpler sub-missions, allowing you to maximize performance without wasting time looking for your own solutions. From a combat standpoint, the Ordeal Ace also receives a boost in attributes as the Ordeal goes on, exponentially increasing his chances of victory as he gets nearer to the conclusion. Without a doubt, this is a formidable Soul Class.]

"So why talk me out of it?" Jake was confused.

[For the same reason as the previous two. It will change you. With this Soul Class, you would never have saved Trash, let alone agreed to let him go with you. You would have refused to help Jeanie, probably choosing to silence her to eliminate any risks. Instead, an Ordeal Ace would have let his Shadow Guide lead him directly to the nearest town or individual who could help him win this Ordeal. All this while flying as fast as possible and eliminating any nuisance on the way. Easy and straightforward. The missions received would also have been accomplished in a protocol and apathetic way, seeking an optimal efficiency and speed of execution and always serving directly or indirectly the ultimate goal of victory.]

Jake was beginning to see what she was getting at. Indifference. These Ordeal Aces were no different than robots while they were here. If this mindset was limited to the Ordeals, so be it, but the personality changes were much deeper. This ambition, this apathetic coldness bordering on that of a psychopath, were traits that would most certainly be prevalent in their future personalities, wherever they were and whatever they did.

[Indeed. Ordeal Aces are notorious for being a bunch of assholes. They have no friends, no lovers, never fall in love and only enter into relationships that bring them strict benefits, always in relation to their sole reason for being: To remain, to become the first. Whether the Ordeal asks them to save people or torture babies, it makes no difference to them.]

Jake was speechless when he heard this. Still, he found it hard to believe that such a noble Soul Class only created freaks.

[But it does. If you're not willing to accept the changes that come from a Soul Class, it's better to stay classless.] Xi sighed wryly. [Sadly, this Ordeal doesn't give you a choice. If you refuse to choose one, your final rating will be heavily impacted....]

Jake felt horribly helpless, but what else could he do but follow the rules? To have a choice, he had to possess a power that he could only acquire by choosing a Soul Class, which he might regret in the future.

Resigned, he reluctantly contemplated the last Tier 6 option. Immortal...

"Xi, don't tell me that if I choose this Soul Class I'll become some kind of coward unable to risk my life?" Jake tried to lighten the mood with a tasteless joke. "Unless it's the other way around, thinking I'm invincible I'll do anything without being able to stop myself?

[Neither.] She replied cheerlessly, unmoved by his humor. [To unlock this class, all you have to do is be Immortal for real. Thanks to your Myrtharian Bloodline, you are. Kintharians, if their bloodline is pure enough and they reach a sufficient level, can regenerate from any injury, including DNA damage. Their souls can also absorb radiation, thermal and gravitational energy to sustain themselves even in a world devoid of Aether. From the perspective of the Stele, this is enough to qualify you as Immortal.]

[Note, however, that Immortal does not mean invincible or unable to die or you would have gotten a different class like Undying. Not all species with long life will awaken this Soul Class. In general, it is more characteristic of individuals who are aware of their own nature and develop an atypical personality as a result. If you choose this Soul Class, the most common personality change is a total loss of motivation and urgency. Because you know you have time, there is no rush. Compared to the three previous Soul Classes, this is a minimal backlash without much consequence in peacetime. Unfortunately, you want to get stronger as fast as possible. It's incompatible with your goals and personality.]

Xi's adamant tone sounded the death knell for his last hopes. Tier 6? Apparently it wasn't for him...

Riddled with frustration, Jake cursed Aurae, the Oracle, and all the bastards who created this sadistic evolutionary system, until he finally came to terms with his fate.

"Xi... Instead of making me pine, why don't you tell me what you have in mind instead?"