Nemesis. Start on the End.

The helmet slipped over my head, sealing me in darkness. For a brief moment, I felt the familiar weightlessness, the sensation of crossing into another world. I had long anticipated this moment—the moment when I would finally step into this new reality, away from the burdens of my past. This was my chance to be someone else, someone powerful.

But as the world began to form around me, as the virtual landscape came into view, I realized something was different. I felt... unprepared. The certainty I once held about my future had vanished. I had come here for a reason, but now, I didn't know what to do.

Before me appeared a figure, bathed in soft light, her voice breaking the silence. "Welcome, player," she said. "Please state your name."

"Revsha," I said, my voice steady but hollow. It felt right to say it, though there was something unsettling about it. I couldn't explain why.

The figure nodded, her image shifting and blurring slightly. "Thank you. I am Aurora, your guide. Together, we will begin your journey."

Aurora. The name sent a strange shiver down my spine. The voice... it was familiar, like a distant echo of something I couldn't quite recall. I ignored the nagging feeling that tugged at me. I had come here to make something of myself, to escape the memories of my past.

"It's time to choose your class," Aurora continued, her voice unchanging. A menu of options appeared before me—warrior, mage, assassin, and more. I stared at the list, my mind racing. Which one? Which class would define my future?

I hesitated. I had dreamed of becoming a powerful figure—a demon lord, someone who could change his fate. But now? Now, the choices seemed empty. Warrior, mage, ranger... none of them felt right. I didn't know what I wanted. All the plans I had made seemed pointless. I was lost.

"I... I'm not sure," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Aurora didn't respond right away. Her tone remained neutral, almost mechanical. "If you are undecided, we will proceed with a test. Please, follow the instructions."

A test? My confusion deepened, but there was no turning back. I had no choice but to accept it.

The world shifted again, and suddenly, I was standing in a dense forest, surrounded by ancient trees. The air was thick with the smell of moss and earth, and the faint rustle of leaves filled the silence. Before me stood an old man—tall and imposing, his features marked by age and wisdom. He held a wooden training sword, his expression calm yet stern.

I stood there, hands trembling slightly as I stared at the old man in front of me. He was a rough-looking figure, his long white beard nearly brushing his chest, his weathered face creased with countless years of experience. I hadn't expected a test—not like this, at least.

"Who are you?" I asked, a sense of confusion seeping into my voice. "Why am I here?"

The old man merely grunted, eyeing me with an air of mild amusement. He scratched his beard thoughtfully before answering, his voice deep and gravelly.

"Another one of you, huh?" he said, eyes narrowing. "Indecisive and lost, just like the others before you. Can't decide what kind of warrior you want to be. Can't figure out who you really are." He let out a short chuckle. "Well, if you want a class, I'll help you figure it out. But first, pick a weapon."

I blinked in surprise. "Pick a weapon? I thought… I thought you were supposed to help me choose my class," I stammered, still processing his words.

The old man grunted again, unimpressed. "You can't choose a class if you don't know what weapon you want to wield. Pick one, and let's see what you're made of."

I looked at the rows of weapons displayed before me—swords, spears, axes, maces, daggers… There were so many, and none of them felt right. I was supposed to be a warrior, wasn't I? I had used a sword and a dagger before, in my past life. Surely one of these would feel familiar.

Tentatively, I grabbed the first sword on the rack. My fingers tightened around the hilt, and I raised it with what I thought was confidence, but the moment the blade left the ground, my grip faltered. The sword felt heavy in my hands, like it didn't belong. I swung it through the air, but it was sluggish and awkward, completely uncoordinated.

The old man let out a low chuckle. "Hah! What's this, a paladin wannabe? Sword's a little too much for you, isn't it? You think you're a hero, or maybe one of those noble types? Running around, saving ladies and such?"

I scowled, but his words hit too close to home. I wasn't some knight in shining armor, but the sword felt foreign in my hands. My movements were clumsy, unrefined. I quickly dropped the sword and grabbed the next weapon—an axe.

The axe was heavier. It felt like it would take more strength, more force. But as I raised it above my head, it felt... wrong. I swung it forward, but my form was terrible. The axe flew to the side as I lost my balance, and I nearly stumbled, the heavy weapon throwing me off course.

The old man sighed heavily, shaking his head. "You think an axe is gonna make you a lumberjack or something?" He smirked, stepping forward and tapping me lightly with his staff. "You're trying to use strength where you should be using control."

He gestured toward the next weapon. "Pick something else. You won't get it right until you feel the weapon. It's not just about brute force. You've got to let it become part of you."

I nodded, a mixture of frustration and determination building within me. I had to find something that felt right. But the more I tried, the more lost I felt.

I grabbed a spear next. Its long shaft felt sturdy in my hands, but the moment I thrust it forward, I overcompensated. The spear moved too far, and I nearly fell on my face as I tried to regain my balance.

The old man raised an eyebrow. "Trying to play the javelin thrower, eh? Don't look like an athlete to me." He stepped forward, prodding me with his staff once more. "Spears are for distance. You're not just swinging it around like you've got a giant's strength. You've got to control your strikes. Make each one count."

I let out a long sigh, wiping the sweat from my brow. This wasn't what I expected. Every weapon felt foreign, and I was running out of time. My movements felt more like random stabs and slashes than real technique. There was no flow to any of this.

"Alright, alright," I muttered, clearly frustrated. "Let's try the daggers."

I grabbed the pair of daggers and immediately, the difference was noticeable. The moment my fingers wrapped around their hilts, the weight was more natural. The speed, the agility—it felt like home. But still, something was off. I didn't feel like I was mastering the daggers like I should have been. It was as if I was just remembering how to use them, trying to recall my past experiences but failing to connect it fully with this new body.

I swung the daggers through the air, trying to match my old fighting style, but everything was too slow. Too stiff. The daggers seemed to slip from my grasp, my stances were awkward, and I stumbled forward, losing my balance yet again.

The old man chuckled again, but this time, it was less mocking and more thoughtful. "Better," he muttered. "You're quicker than with those other weapons, but it's not fluid enough yet. You're trying to force it. You've got to stop thinking like a warrior and start thinking like a fighter. The weapon should flow with your movements, not the other way around."

I bit my lip, trying again. This time, I focused less on trying to remember how I used to fight and more on letting the daggers guide me. Slowly, the motions started to feel smoother. I wasn't forcing anything anymore. The daggers became part of me, and I began to feel the rhythm of combat, as if I were dancing with the blades.

But just as I started to get the hang of it, the old man moved swiftly, stepping in and tapping my hand with his staff. "You've got the right idea, but your stance is still off. You're thinking too much about the strike, not about the flow."

I growled in frustration, but I was determined. After what felt like hours—though I knew it was only minutes in the real world—I was beginning to feel it. Each weapon became a part of me, but my true skill was in the daggers. With them, I found my pace.

The old man sighed deeply. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that." He looked at me carefully now, almost thoughtfully. "I can see it. You're trying to be something you're not. Trying to fit yourself into a mold. But you don't want to be like anyone else. You don't want to just pick a class, do you? You want to be something else. Something different. A warrior... no. Something new."

I paused, breathing heavily. The old man was right, in a way. I didn't want to be a mere warrior, or some knight in shining armor. I didn't want to follow a path that had already been laid out. I wanted to carve my own.

"You're not fighting like a typical fighter," the old man continued. "You don't want to pick one weapon. You don't want to be restricted to a class. You want something different—something that shapes with you."

I stood still for a moment, taking in his words. The clarity was slowly beginning to settle in. My quest for power wasn't about fitting into a mold, but about breaking free from one. The old man was right. I didn't want to be a paladin. I didn't want to be a warrior. I wanted something that would shape with me, not bind me.

"You've got it," the old man said softly, almost with a hint of admiration. "I know the class that would suit you. But it's not going to be easy. It's not for everyone. It's... hard. But maybe you can make it work."

I nodded, more certain than ever. I wasn't ready to pick just any class. This wasn't about being a hero or a simple warrior. It was about carving my own future. It was time to choose something different.

The old man motioned toward the gate. "Go. Choose your class. You'll know it when you see it. But be prepared—it's not going to be easy."

I stepped forward, the weight of the old man's words ringing in my mind. As I crossed the threshold of the gate, the familiar voice of Aurora filled the air.

"Please select your class."

The screen flickered in front of me, and I scrolled through the list of available classes. But then, something caught my eye. A new class appeared at the top of the list, something I hadn't seen before.

Shadow of Vengeance.

It wasn't a class I recognized. It didn't fit the mold of a warrior or rogue or paladin. But something about it resonated with me. This was new, unknown. It wasn't a path that anyone had walked before, and that's what made it different.

I didn't know where this class would take me. I didn't know if it would be the right choice. But in that moment, I understood that it was my choice. A class that shapes with me, just as I had hoped.

I smiled, a sense of relief washing over me.

Class Name: Shadow of Vengeance

Class Type: Unique (Self-Created)

Level: 0

Experience: 0/1000 XP to Next Level

Class Description

The Shadow of Vengeance is a self-created, unique class that fuses weapon mastery and elemental magic. It allows you to adapt and master any weapon type, while gradually unlocking your control over the elements. As you train and experience the world, your muscle memory strengthens, enabling you to wield various weapons with ease and power. You are a figure that exists in the shadows of your former self, seeking to break free from cycles of the past and forge your own path.

Main Stats

You cannot see the exact values of your stats, but they govern your overall growth and combat abilities:

Body: Governs your physical capabilities.

Strength: Determines how much force you can exert with physical attacks.

Agility: Affects your speed, reflexes, and precision.

Endurance: Represents your stamina and resistance to damage.

--------------------------------------

Mind: Governs your intellect and magical potential.

Intelligence: Influences your magical affinity and mental clarity.

--------------------------------------

Soul: Governs your combat instincts and awareness.

Combat Awareness: The ability to perceive and react to threats in battle.

Vitality

Your Vitality is a reflection of your health and the physical state of your body. It determines how much damage you can take before becoming critically injured. Critical damage—such as a blow to the heart or head—will instantly incapacitate you. Vitality is tied directly to your body's condition, and a drop in Vitality indicates physical harm.

Mana System

In this world, Mana is the ambient energy found in the air. It is not stored within the body but can be drawn upon for casting spells and elemental powers. Using Mana will deplete your Mentality, the measure of your mental stamina. The longer you cast spells or use magical abilities, the more exhausted you become. When Mentality is depleted, you will fall unconscious due to mental fatigue. Blood Magic can substitute for Mana by using your life force, though it comes with great risks, draining both health and vitality rapidly.

Skills

--------------------------------------

Passive Skills

Weapon Mastery: Proficient with all weapon types, including piercing, bludgeoning, slashing, projectile, and throwing. Mastery comes with time, as you adapt and learn each weapon's unique characteristics.

Elemental Proficiency: You have basic control over the four classical elements—Air, Fire, Earth, and Water. Each element grants you a corresponding skill that will improve as you level up.

--------------------------------------

Combat Skills

Slash: A quick, efficient strike with slashing weapons (swords, axes).

Block: Deflect incoming attacks using a shield or other blocking item.

Charge: A powerful, focused strike with piercing weapons (spears, daggers).

Throw: Throw projectiles (daggers, knives) with precision and accuracy.

Crushing Blow: A heavy, forceful strike with blunt weapons (mace, hammer).

Quick Strike: A nimble and fast strike, designed to exploit the opponent's weaknesses.

--------------------------------------

Elemental Skills

Air: Shocking Grasp – A quick burst of electricity that stuns the enemy for a short period.

Fire: Burn – A small flame that causes burn damage over time.

Earth: Stone Armor – Hardens your skin temporarily, increasing defense against physical damage.

Water: Ice Knife – A sharp ice projectile that deals cold damage upon impact.

--------------------------------------

Class Skills

At each level, you will unlock a new class skill based on your experience and situation. These skills allow you to choose from different abilities or create new ones. You can either unlock predefined skills or create your own based on your growth and learning.