As Colm absorbed the weight of the information Jerry had laid out, his thoughts shifted to his class. He leaned forward and asked, "You said my Spirit Warden class is Tier 4 or 5. What exactly are the tiers of classes, and how rare are the higher ones?"

Jerry, sitting across from him, gave a small nod, as if he'd been expecting the question. "You got very lucky, kid. First off, let's clear something up—the system doesn't officially designate class tiers. That's something we came up with based on the attribute points a class provides and it lines up nicely with the tier nomenclature the system already has in place. The math's pretty simple: if a class gives +4 attribute points per level, it's Tier 4. If it gives +5, it's Tier 5, and so on."

Jerry paused, his gaze steady. "High tier classes like yours? They're rare—damn rare. It's been years since I've come across someone new with one of those. If you have what I think you do you're walking proof of an extraordinary opportunity, kid. Don't waste it."

Colm blinked as the weight of Jerry's words sank in. A Tier 5 class. The rarity of it hit him like a punch to the gut. He rubbed the back of his neck, processing it all, before asking, "What about beyond that? Is Tier 5 the peak? Are there any higher classes?"

Jerry's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "I've yet to confirm if anyone I've met has a class higher than Tier 5, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. If they do, though, they're going to be so rare that most of us would never see one. The system is full of mysteries we still don't understand, and there's always a possibility for something greater out there."

Colm's mind buzzed with the possibilities, the sheer luck of having landed something so powerful. He was about to ask another question when Jerry continued, letting the words hang with deliberate weight. "That said, don't get too cocky. The system wasn't always this stingy with its offerings. When it first appeared, it was a hell of a lot more generous and a lot of the power houses today are from when it first came about. My theory is that because the system was new, it wanted to give people a fighting chance. So it handed out higher-tier classes more frequently back then. These days? Not so much. You have to earn it, that is if you can."

"That makes sense, I guess," Colm replied, his voice thoughtful. "So what are the standard tiers of classes now?"

Jerry's mouth twitched into a smirk. "You're catching on quick, kid. Nowadays, most people hover around Tier 2, maybe Tier 3, if they're lucky. It's just the way things have settled. If you want to dig into it more, we've got a book in the guild library—an encyclopedia of known classes and their tiers. I'd highly recommend giving it a read. It'll help you get a sense of what's out there."

Jerry leaned back in his chair, the faint flicker of pride in his expression as Colm kept asking questions. "Once you get your Analyze skill to Tier 2, you'll be able to see other people's classes, too. It's an invaluable tool, especially if you need to gauge a threat quickly when you're in a bind.

Colm filed that tidbit away, then asked the next question on his mind. "So what tier is your class?"

At that, Jerry's expression hardened, his tone growing firm. "I rarely tell anyone that, kid. It's better to keep that information to yourself. The element of surprise can mean the difference between life and death. And me? I've got a little something that helps obscure Analyze results on me. Makes it so no one can snoop around easily."

Colm's eyebrows rose in surprise, but Jerry wasn't done. "Listen up—take my advice on this. Not everyone has Analyze at Tier 2, as it's a damn pain to level, so you'll be able to keep your class hidden from most people. Still, it's not a bad idea to invest in some protection. If you can find an Enchanter, they can craft you a talisman or something similar to hide your class. But let me warn you—they don't come cheap."

Colm nodded slowly, processing everything Jerry had said. The system wasn't as straightforward as it seemed, and the value of keeping secrets was something he hadn't even considered. But now, it was clear: in a world like this, knowledge—and the ability to keep it hidden—was power.

"How do you level Analyze?" Colm asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Trial and effort, kid," Jerry responded with a shrug. "It's a slow skill to level, but it's worth it. Knowledge is power, remember that. Just keep using it on everything you come across, and it'll steadily level up. It has a few nuances, though." Jerry's expression grew serious as he leaned back in his chair. "At Tier 1, it shows you basic information—the name and, depending on what you're looking at, the level. If their level is too high compared to yours, all you'll see is question marks. But as you level it up, you can analyze higher-level targets. At Tier 2, things get interesting, as it gives more information. It also lets you see up to 10 levels above you plus 10% of your own level. So, for example, if you're level 100, you could analyze creatures up to level 120."

Colm nodded slowly, absorbing the explanation.

Jerry wasn't done. He explained how skills worked—generic abilities available to anyone, provided they were willing to put in the effort to train them. It makes sense, Colm thought, glancing at his own skills. You just have to use them repeatedly, over and over, until they improve.

Next on the agenda were stats. While it sounded familiar—mirroring the vague description the system had shown him when he first arrived—Jerry's words hammered home their importance with a blunt clarity that Colm couldn't ignore.

"You can only do so much if someone's stats outclass yours," Jerry said, his tone sharp, almost scolding. "If you have 30 strength and someone else has 60, they're twice as strong as you. They'll overpower you without breaking a sweat. Balance is key. I've seen it too many times—mages who dump everything into intelligence since that's their primary stat only to get smashed to a pulp because their dexterity was too low to react. You'll find creatures like that too—ones that specialize in just one or two stats. Those bastards can be terrifying depending on the spread or as weak as can be. It's all about balance kid."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Jerry paused, letting his words hang for emphasis before continuing. "Maybe they focus entirely on speed and become blurs of death. Maybe it's strength, and every hit they land is devastating. But here's the thing—specialization comes with flaws. A creature that's all speed might not hit hard. One that's all strength might not land a hit. And those weaknesses? Those are your opportunities."

As Jerry spoke, Colm's mind drifted back to the Grove Stalker. That creature had been devastatingly fast and brutally strong, but it lacked versatility—no magic, no poisons, nothing beyond sheer physicality. It had been terrifying, sure, but Colm had survived by exploiting its short range and finding the crevice where it couldn't reach. Jerry's words rang true.

"That brings me to the most important thing of all: ingenuity." Jerry's voice dropped, becoming both calmer and more intense. "You can have the strongest class in the world. You might be talented. But none of that matters if you don't know how to use your resources. Be creative. Think outside the box. Don't take the system at face value. It will not spoon-feed you success. The system gives you just enough to survive, but it rewards creativity."

Colm sat there, letting the words sink in, their weight settling heavily on his shoulders. The thought gnawed at him: The system is a tool. It's up to me to make the most of it.

Jerry leaned forward, his voice firm and measured. "In this world, it's not just the highest stats, most optimized build or strongest abilities that determine success—though without them, you won't get far. What really matters is adaptability. The ones who thrive are those who can think on their feet, who can outsmart the challenges they face. Remember that, kid. It'll keep you alive."

Jerry let out a long breath, his gaze steady as he spoke. "That's the basics on classes, kid," he said, raising a hand to silence Colm before he could speak. "Before you ask questions, there's a bit more I need to cover."

He leaned back in his chair, his tone calm but firm. "We've focused on class tiers and their capabilities, but fighting isn't all there is to classes. There are entire classes dedicated to crafting—building incredible tools, weapons, armor—anything you can think of and they all have their own unique leveling system not based on combat. Now, imagine combining the weapons of a top-tier crafter with the skills of a top-tier fighter. Together, they're an unstoppable force."

Jerry gestured out toward the window as if pointing to the city beyond. "In Brimhope, we have a wide variety of shops filled with crafters. If you're planning to fight—and judging by you being here at the Adventurer's Guild and class name, I assume you are—find a crafter you can trust. Your life will depend on the gear you wear."

Pausing for emphasis, Jerry leaned forward, his eyes serious. "Now, this next part is something that will shape your path—your journey in this world. By the time I finish explaining, you'll get a system notification. It took us decades to figure this out." He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a small huff. "Classes are just one side of the coin. They're a resource to help you grow stronger, granting you active and passive abilities. Those abilities can tier up with use, sure, but they don't evolve beyond their initial design, that is unless you tier up your class."

He held up a finger, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "But that doesn't mean you can't reshape them or attune them. To supplement your class, the system offers ‌a specialization—or, in proper terms, an attunement. This attunement is a critical part of your path, and it can bolster your strength by magnitudes."

Jerry's tone turned sharp, his expression stern. "I'm telling you this because I like you, kid. You remind me of my first days here, and I want you to survive and see what this world offers. So mark my words: pick an attunement wisely. Not because it sounds cool or edgy. I've seen too many dumb kids choose a void attunement because they thought the 'dark' aspect was badass. They didn't know how to use it properly and met an early grave. Meanwhile, something straightforward—like an ember attunement—could've saved their sorry hides."

He sighed and continued. "I know I said abilities don't evolve, but that's only half true. With an attunement, they do. It reshapes your abilities into something more. Let's say someone with a wizard class has an ability called Magic Bolt. If they choose an ember attunement, that Magic Bolt gets an additional attunement effect. No pun intended, but it literally adds more firepower to their arsenal."

Jerry stood, his voice tinged with frustration. "You should see a system notification soon about this hidden feature being uncovered. And I mean hidden. The system doesn't tell us shit. It took some fire-obsessed lunatic stumbling across it for word to get out. Pure dumb luck." He shook his head, clearly annoyed.

Fixing Colm with a meaningful stare, Jerry added, "Take your time. Think about what kind of fighter you want to be, how you want to survive. Attunements are unique to each person—no two are the same—so whatever you choose will be yours alone. Keep that in mind."

With a note of finality, Jerry grabbed a few books from the table and snapped them shut. "Alright, that's enough for tonight. I'm heading out to get some food and sleep. You don't need either, given your race, so use the time to focus on your attunement. I want you to think long and hard about your choice by the time I come back in the morning. Don't pick it right away either. Think about it. I'm not going to help you decide either as an attunement is a personal journey. You have to pick what feels right for you."

He turned toward the door, his footsteps surprisingly light for a man of his presence. "You can stay here for the next couple of days while we go through these lessons, but after that, you're on your own. I'll let the guild know you're staying, so don't worry about getting kicked out."

Jerry paused at the threshold, glancing back over his shoulder, his voice heavy with warning. "Good luck, Colm. And don't be stupid."

With that, Jerry disappeared into the hallway, leaving Colm alone with his thoughts—and the looming weight of the notification before him.

[ Congratulations! Hidden Feature Unlocked.

Attunement

An Attunement is a hidden system perk granted to those who align themselves with the elements of the world and have gained the knowledge to do so. Your personality, class, and abilities determined the attunements presented to you.

7 Suitable Attunements found. Please select an attunement to shape your path.

Mist – Silent and elusive, mist clings to every surface, concealing movement and intent. It shrouds your presence like a veil, lingering faintly before vanishing into nothingness.

Spark – A fleeting brilliance, a crackle of energy. Spark ignites life into every action, flickering with relentless intensity before surging into power.

Gale – The untamed force of the wind, swift and unpredictable. Gale sweeps across the battlefield, carrying strength in its flow and leaving the air trembling in its wake.

Clay – Solid, steady, and malleable. Clay forms the foundation, adapting to pressure with enduring resilience, shaping the path with each grounded step.

Twilight – Where light and shadow meet, twilight blurs the edges of reality. It exists between moments, subtle yet profound, leaving traces of its quiet power across the world.

Tide – Constant and inevitable, the tide flows without end. It leaves its mark on everything it touches, carving paths and pulling all into its steady, relentless embrace.

Ember – A spark that refuses to die, embers smolder with quiet promise. Small and unassuming, yet ready to ignite into a blaze when fanned by determination. ]

"Holy shit", Colm muttered.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.