The group was still debating who should go next when the white walls of the room abruptly dimmed to black. The only light came from the open archway behind them.

"I think that's the System telling us to move along," Tarni muttered.

"Yeah," Zane agreed, though his tone was uneasy.

They filed out into the circular hall. As soon as Bell stepped through, the archway shimmered and sealed shut, the glowing glyphs above it guttering out until only bare stone remained.

Bell scanned the other archways curiously, but Zane's frown caught her attention. "Zane? What's wrong?"

He crossed his arms, eyes narrowing at the sealed entrance. "All the archways are closed. We can't get into any of them now."

That stopped everyone cold. Bell felt her stomach twist—had they somehow ruined their one chance?

Tarni tilted his head and gave Zane a look that was half pity, half amusement. "Mate… you need glasses. All the other archways are still open. It's just the one we came out of that's shut."

"Yeah, they're glowing just fine," Lily added gently.

Zane blinked, clearly unsettled. "Wait—you can all see that?"

"Crystal clear," Tarni said, grinning. "Maybe the System doesn't want Mr. Vanguard sneaking into anyone else's room and nicking their Class."

Kai decided to test it. He strode toward the nearest archway, glanced back at the others, then stepped through. The glyphs above it pulsed brightly, the light spilling across the hall.

Zane startled. "Now it's open—for me too."

Bell let out the breath she hadn't realised she was holding. "So once you've chosen, that's it—you can't step into another door. But for the rest of us, it's still open until we go."

"Guess the System's keeping things neat," Kai's voice drifted faintly from the archway.

"Yeah," Lily said, her brow furrowed in thought. "It's probably only different for us because we're being allowed to help each other choose. Normally, everyone would be going in blind, all on their own."

Tarni clapped his hands once, startling them all. "Well then—field trip's back on! Let's see what Kai's destiny menu looks like."

One by one, they followed Lily into Kai's archway, stepping into the white glow together.

The room was nearly identical to Zane's—smooth white walls, no dice, no doors. On the far wall, the bold words greeted them again:

DON'T PANIC

Tarni opened his mouth, but before he could let anything out, Kai stepped forward and tapped the wall. The letters dissolved, replaced by a neat block of System text.

Kai Rider has 0 points to spend

Level 9 Strength: 12 Dexterity: 11 Constitution: 17 Intelligence: 25 Wisdom: 16 Charisma: 9

Titles

You just made it

(You are the third to kill a Dungeon Defender on planet EARTH. You will receive +1 bonus XP (Experience Point) for all stats at each level up until level 5.)

Panicking never helped anyone!

When your allies are in danger and you're under high stress, you will find it easier to calmly make decisions

Skills

Basic healing touch

(This skill needs to be activated.)

Targeted Healing

Heal only targeted body parts for quicker and more effective healing.

Group Heal

Heal for 75% over an area of effect. Area size scales with Wisdom—¼ meter radius per point.

Gear

Leather Vest

+2 Defence

Lily once again writing everything down. Like the system was waiting as soon as she finished the text, the Text on the wall changed once again.

Class: Cleric

Description: The quintessential healer, the Cleric has powerful divine healing spells and access to subclasses like the Life Domain, which maximises healing.

+ 4 Wisdom, + 2 Intelligence

Level 1 Skill: And they're ok!

Description: instantly restores up to 30% HP on touch

90 Minute cool down

User will receive 4 Skill Points per level

Class: Druid

Description: Healer Class specialising in group and long-term healing

+ 6 Wisdom,

Level 1 Skill: Come, Sit Awhile

Description: Use a Large amount of mana to create a Healing Circle that is 4 meters in radius. The Healing Circle will last 90 Seconds. The amount of healing depends on the Level of those in the circle

User will receive 4 Skill Points per level

Extra Class: Battle Healer

Description: Are you a Healer or a Warrior? Use your skill to heal your teammates while you stand next to them, taking your turn at the front

+ 2 Wisdom, + 2 Constitution, and +2 Intelligence

Level 1 Skill: It's a Mere Flesh Wound!

Description: Passive, restore 5% of your own HP every 300 Seconds

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

User will receive 5 Skill Points per level

They all read silently for a beat before Tarni broke it first. "Well, well, Kai. Option one: stock Cleric—healbot supreme. Option two: Hippie Circle of Friendship. Option three: you in scrubs charging into battle with a first-aid kit and a death wish."

"Battle Healer," Kai corrected, though his grin tugged wider.

Bell tilted her head. "Cleric's straightforward. Good stats, instant burst heal… but the cooldown's an hour and a half. You'd have to be careful with it."

"Yeah, that's once a fight at best," Zane agreed, folding his arms. "It's not useless, but you'd still be leaning on what you already have."

"Druid's group healing is strong," Lily said, scribbling notes, "but it looks incredibly mana heavy. If you ran out, you'd just be standing there."

Kai snorted. "I don't plan on being a glorified cheerleader."

Tarni smirked. "Oh, c'mon, you'd look great with pom-poms. 'Go team, heal team!'"

"Shut it."

Zane jabbed a finger at the wall. "This one. Battle Healer. That's you all over. You hate just standing back—you want to be right there with us."

Kai's eyes narrowed as he scanned the text again. "Five skill points per level. The other two only give four." He glanced back at the others. "That's a huge difference long-term."

"True," Lily said, nodding quickly. "It means faster scaling—you'll outpace every other healer type eventually."

"Hold up," Tarni interrupted, pointing. "That passive skill—'It's a Mere Flesh Wound'—it only heals you. Doesn't that kinda suck for the rest of us? If you're patching yourself up every five minutes, that's still one less heal for the team."

Kai shrugged. "Yeah, but if I don't go down, I can keep healing the rest of you. Staying alive is half the job."

Bell's expression softened. "Makes sense. You already steady everyone when things get bad. This just… reinforces that role."

Tarni gave a dramatic sigh. "So it's official—we're stuck with Combat Nurse Barbie."

Kai smirked. "Keep pushing, and you'll be first to test how effective my patch jobs are."

Zane clapped him on the shoulder. "Battle Healer suits you. Tough, reliable, and keeps us all alive. I say we lock it in."

Kai studied the glowing text one last time, then gave a decisive nod. "Yeah. Battle Healer. That's me."

CLASS CONFIRMATION You have chosen Extra Class: Battle Healer

+ 2 Wisdom, + 2 Constitution, and +2 Intelligence

Skill: It's a Mere Flesh Wound! +1 additional Skill Point per level compared to base Classes. Total of 5 per level

Y/N

Kai drew a sharp breath as the glowing words unravelled into drifting sparks that sank into his skin. Warmth surged through him—not a blazing fire, but a steady, pulsing heat, like the beat of a second heart thrumming in time with his own. His muscles tightened, not with brute strength, but with resilience, a promise that he could stand longer, endure more. A faint hum threaded through his veins, carrying the quiet knowledge that wounds would close and pain would ebb. For an instant, he saw himself shoulder-to-shoulder with his Dad on the front line—not just a healer, but a shield that bled so others didn't have to.

It did not take long for everybody to file out of the room; both Zane and Kai saw only closed archways this time, their paths sealed behind them. Tarni, not willing to waste a second, strode straight toward the nearest open one.

"Alright, my turn—" he announced, finger-guns already half raised.

But Lily darted in front of him with surprising speed, her notebook clutched tight to her chest.

"Nope! I'm next," she declared, slipping through the shimmer before Tarni could even sputter.

He stood there, frozen mid-stride. "…Did she just queue-jump me?"

Bell chuckled as she followed Lily in. "Looks like it."

Zane clapped Tarni on the shoulder, smirking. "Guess that's the risk of taking too long with your entrance speech."

Tarni groaned dramatically. "Unbelievable. Outrun by a 24-year-old researcher. Fine! But if she comes out with some sparkly wizard crown or a flaming staff, I'm stealing it."

The archway pulsed once, brighter than before, and then swallowed the rest of them as they stepped inside after Lily.

"Yes, yes."

Lily waited until everyone had entered the room before tapping the DON'T PANIC wall.

Lily Rider has 1 point to spend

Level: 9 Strength: 16 Dexterity: 16 Constitution: 16 Intelligence: 16 Wisdom: 16 Charisma: 16

Titles

You Took Your Time

(5th to kill a dungeon defender +1 to all stats per level until Level 5.)

Keeping It Even! All your stats at an equal value, you will receive +1 to all stats for every 10 levels. Your current equal level is 15, so you will receive +1 to all stats.

Skills

Rapid Appraisal Level 2.

Learn the stats of anyone up to 5 levels higher than the user

Group Snare Enemies within a radius of 0.25 meters per point in Intelligence will be snared and unable to move for 0.5 seconds per 10 points in Strength.

Deep Think

Passive. Increases mana regeneration by 5%

Gear

Leather Vest

+2 Defence

Bow

+1 Dex

Lily wrote down all the information; she already had all the information, but it was arranged a bit differently than before. Once again, as she finished copying down all the information, it changed.

Class: Hunter

Description: Bow Hunter specialising in dealing high damage to single targets and monstrous foes,

+ 3 Strength, + 3 Dexterity

Level 1 Skill: Triple Shot

Description: Use a Small amount of mana to create two extra arrows in flight

User will receive 4 Skill Points per level

Class: warrior

Description: A versatile martial class known for their combat prowess, specialising in weapons and armour to excel on the battlefield

+ 2 Strength, + 2 Dexterity, and +2 Constitution

Level 1 Skill: Can you count to three?

Description: Use a Small Amount of Stamina to perform a 3-hit attack combo (Auto-adjust to opponent), 300-second cooldown

User will receive 4 Skill Points per level

Extra Class: Water Dancer

(😉)

Description: Fluid wielder of water, dance-channelled elemental sorceress

+ 2 Wisdom + 2 Constitution, and +2 Intelligence

Level 1 Skill: Rain-Forged Grace

Description: For a small amount of mana, add Water Elemental Damage to melee strikes when your movements flow like a dance.

User will receive 5 Skill Points per level

Lily's pen scratched quickly across the page as the final words flickered into place. She nearly squealed when she read the third Class option. "Water Dancer!" she gasped, turning the notebook around as if anyone else needed proof. "It's basically the same as the temp Rain Dancer Class—I loved that!"

Tarni put on his Watson act with one hand behind his back, the other pretending to hold a pipe. "Is that a wink from the System?"

Everyone stopped to look at the emoji wink. Lily tilted her head back toward the ceiling. "Thanks, System. I really liked Rain Dancer."

Kai leaned over her shoulder. "Except the name changed." He tapped the glowing text. "Says Water Dancer now, not Rain Dancer. Guess the System got tired of weather forecasts."

Bell smirked, shooting Tarni a look. "If I remember correctly, wasn't it you who kept calling it Water Dancer back then?"

Tarni immediately straightened, puffing his chest. "See? Even the System bows to my superior naming sense. I expect royalties."

"Or at least a puddle named after you," Zane deadpanned, though his eyes flicked back to the other Classes. "Still… interesting you got Warrior too, Lil. That's the same base one I had offered."

Lily waved it off. "Yeah, but that's just swinging sticks harder. I'd rather have water magic flowing around me than get sweaty playing tank."

"Hunter looks strong," Bell said thoughtfully. "Triple-shot arrows could do some serious damage."

"Sure," Tarni said, "but can Hunter make dramatic rain entrances with elemental flair? I think not."

Zane chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, I think we all know where this is going. You've basically been pining about losing Rain Dancer since we got back."

Lily's grin only widened, eyes shining as if she were already twirling blades of water around her fingers. "Exactly. It's not even a contest."

"Fine, fine," Kai said, hands raised. "Just don't get all our clothes wet the next time you get excited."

"Not promising anything," she replied, stepping closer to the wall.

CLASS CONFIRMATION You have chosen Extra Class: Water Dancer

+ 2 Wisdom + 2 Constitution, and +2 Intelligence

Skill: Rain-Forged Grace +1 additional Skill Point per level compared to base Classes. Total of 5 per level

Y/N

The words on the wall dissolved into motes of light that drifted toward Lily. Unlike Zane's heavy, grounding surge or Kai's steady pulse, hers came as a cool cascade, washing over her skin like she'd stepped beneath a waterfall. She gasped, not in pain but in delight, as a shiver ran down her arms and legs. The weight of exhaustion seemed to rinse away with it, leaving her lighter, quicker, more fluid.

For an instant, she felt droplets bead along her fingertips—then vanish as the light sank into her chest. Her heartbeat echoed like the rhythm of waves, calm yet unstoppable. She swayed once, instinctively moving as if the floor itself were water beneath her feet.

When she opened her eyes, they glittered brighter, catching the light as if reflecting a hidden ripple. Lily grinned, stretching her hands out. "Oh, I am so loving this."

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