The Black Cube had returned to its original shape. With anticipation—and a few weak smiles—the group gathered around it. Each of them placed their left hand on the white hemisphere. All except Zane, who had to use his right hand since his shield was still strapped to his left arm and in the way.

The system message that appeared this time was… different.

System Message Dungeon Name: Dungeon at the End of the Beginning Level: Unknown Type: System Calibration Highest Level Completed: 3 Party Members: 5 of 5 Do you wish to enter the Dungeon at your highest level reached (4)? Yes / No (Just a heads up, there are 284 Classes.)

They all stared at the glowing message for a moment.

"Holy hairy orc brown eye, that's a lot of classes," Tarni muttered.

"Yeah, two hundred and eighty-four?" Kai whistled. "What the hell."

"I really hope we don't all get crafting classes," Lily said, eyeing the prompt like it might explode.

"I'm praying to the RNG Gods we get good ones," Bell added.

Then Lily tilted her head. "Wait… did anyone else notice the dungeon type changed? It used to say 'Unknown.' Now it says 'System Calibration.'"

"Oh crap," Tarni muttered. "You're right."

"Yeah," Zane nodded, "I kind of missed that with the whole 284 classes thing. That… seems important."

"We're definitely going to need to talk about that later," Kai said, eyes narrowing.

The rest nodded their heads in agreement. Then they selected Yes.

The white and black sides of the Cube dissolved into the ground, revealing the downward tunnel once more. With one last look around, the group entered.

SYSTEM NOTICE Dungeon at the End of the Beginning — Floor Four Biome: Quintessential Beginner's Village (Summer) Dungeon Monster Level: 10 Time Limit: 24 hours Option to Exit Without Completion: OFF Completion Criteria: Everyone in the party must level up Completion Reward: Soul Bond Companions are granted to 1 in every 100,000 people added to the System during full initialisation. (To make it easy for poor old Tarn, 95,000 people will start with Soul Bond Companions.)

The message flashed as the world around them fell away into blackness.

For a few seconds, there was nothing—just the void.

Then, it changed.

A moment later, Zane found himself in a white room about the size of a small bedroom. The bright, sterile light came from nowhere and everywhere at once, forcing him to squint as his eyes adjusted.

When he finally could see clearly, the first thing he noticed was that all his gear, except for his basic clothes, was missing. Then a message on the wall directly in front of him, written in large, bold black letters:

DON'T PANIC

Naturally, Zane started panicking.

He spun around. The others were gone.

"Hey! CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME? ARE YOU GUYS THERE?" he shouted, slamming his fist against the wall and spinning in place, desperate for a door, a crack—anything.

In his frantic search, his foot collided hard with something solid.

Zane stumbled and hit the floor, landing on his hands and knees. He winced, breath catching in his chest as pain shot up his leg. His foot throbbed like it had struck a concrete pillar.

Right in front of him sat a round black stone, roughly the size of a soccer ball. White numbers glowed faintly across its surface in no discernible order. The thing hadn't budged at all when he'd kicked it.

If not for his high Vitality, he was pretty sure he would've broken several toes.

Still on his knees, he stared at the unyielding stone ball.

And hyperventilated.

Kai blinked against the brightness. For a second, he thought he was dreaming—until the sterile, oppressive silence pressed in on him. He looked around the room, all white walls and no shadows, and muttered, "This is some serious sci-fi horror crap."

On the far wall, black lettering greeted him:

DON'T PANIC

He squinted at it. "Bit late for that, thanks."

Then he spotted the black ball. Unlike Zane, he didn't trip over it. But he walked around it cautiously, noticing the strange numbers scattered across its surface. He poked it with his boot. No movement. No message.

"Alright, System. What's the catch?" he asked the air, already bracing himself for whatever randomness was coming next.

Bell stood completely still.

Her arms were crossed, eyes narrowed at the glowing words on the wall:

DON'T PANIC

"Comforting," she said dryly. Then her eyes shifted to the black orb near her feet.

Without touching it, she knelt and studied it carefully. Her fingers twitched toward it, but she pulled back. "Not yet."

She stood, taking a slow breath to calm herself. "Alright, System," she said aloud, "I don't know what twisted quiz show you're running, but I've played worse games."

Lily spun in place as the room solidified around her.

"This isn't funny!" she called out, even though she knew no one could hear her.

Then she noticed the ball.

"Ugh, you've got to be kidding me."

She stepped up to the black orb, scanned the white numbers, and tried tapping it lightly with her boot. When that did nothing, she threw up her hands. "If this turns into one of those spin-the-wheel-of-fate things, I swear to god…"

The black lettering on the wall caught her eye last:

DON'T PANIC

She snorted. "Rude."

Tarni was already laughing when the room formed around him. He had noticed that part of the system message that hard referred to him directly.

He looked around, did a slow spin, and gave a mock bow to the white walls. "Well then! Welcome to another exciting episode of 'Mess With the Aussies'!"

He noticed the black orb and walked up to it, placing both hands on it like he was about to propose. "Alright, mate. Be gentle."

As he glanced up, writing appeared on the white wall in front of him.

DON'T PANIC

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Tarni chuckled. "Too late for Zane, I bet."

As Zane stayed on his hands and knees, trying not to spiral into another panic attack, new writing appeared on the glowing wall—but he didn't see it at first.

You must roll for Class selection. There are 285 Classes available.

The words hung there for a full ten seconds before a sharp and distinctly irritated Ding! rang out from the wall like someone tapping a microphone in frustration.

Zane's head snapped upward. The new message registered at last, and with it, most of the panic drained from his chest. Right. They had expected this. Something about Class selection. That was fine.

What wasn't fine was the way they'd all been separated without warning.

As he slowly stood, brushing his hands off on his pants, he let out a shaky breath and muttered to himself, "Okay... okay. You're fine, mate. They're just in other rooms. Everyone's alive. No one's screaming."

His hand hovered over his chest for a moment before he dropped it, shaking his head at himself. "Panicked more than the situation needed. Damn it."

He made a mental note—talk to Bell about that fear of being separated. Maybe process it before the next bloody dungeon. For now, he squared his shoulders and looked up at the glowing text.

"Okay, glowing wall," he said aloud. "What do you need me to do?"

To his relief, the message shifted immediately. DON'T PANIC faded from the wall, replaced by:

You must roll the Dice.

As he read, there was a deep thunk from the floor, and the large black ball moved—just barely. A fraction of a centimetre, like it had been unlocked.

Zane blinked, eyebrows raised. "Oh. You're alive now."

The ball sat silent, numbers glinting softly under the white lights. It still looked like it weighed a ton, and his toes throbbed at the memory of tripping over it.

He rolled his shoulders once and stepped toward it with caution, then glanced up at the wall again. "Just roll it, huh?"

He placed both hands on the ball, feeling the faint hum of energy beneath the surface. "Alright, RNG gods. Let's see what sort of nonsense you've got in store for me."

His breath caught in his throat.

Zane slowly turned in a full circle, his jaw slack, trying to make sense of the endless wall of names. Some were familiar—Warrior, Wizard, Thief—others sounded like something pulled from a fever dream—Slimelord? Wyrmcaller? Qabalist? He could feel the heat of panic trying to crawl back up his spine, but he forced it down with a shaky exhale.

Abjurer, Acrobat, Adventurer, Aeromancer, Aeronaut, Alchemist, Alienist, Animist, Antihero, Apothecary, Arbalester, Arbiter, Arcanist, Archeologist, Archer, Armiger, Armorer, Artificer, Assassin, Astrologer, Avenger, Bandit, Barbarian, Bard, Battlemage, Beastlord, Beastrider, Beguiler, Berserker, Binder, Bishop, Blackguard,Blacksmith, Bladesinger, Blighter, Bloodmage, Bravo, Brawler, Brewmeister, Brigand, Cavalier, Cavalryman, Cestus, Champion, Channeler, Charioteer, Chevalier, Chirurgeon, Chronomancer, Cleric, Conjurer, Corsair, Crossbowman, Crusader, Cursebearer, Deathknight, Defender, Demolitionist, Demoniac, Dervish, Diabolist, Diplomat, Dirgesinger, Diviner, Djinncaller, Doomsayer, Dragonrider, Dragoon, Dreadnaught, Dreamwalker, Druid, Duelist, Earthspeaker, Elementalist, Empath, Enchanter, Engineer, Evoker, Executioner, Exile, Exorcist, Explorer, Falconer, Fearmonger, Fencer, Fighter, Firedancer, Fleshwarper, Forrester, Frostmage, Fusilier, Gadgeteer, Geomancer, Gladiator, Grappler, Gravecaller, Guardian, Guerilla, Gunslinger, Gypsy, Harbinger, Harrier, Haruspex, Healer, Heirophant, Herald, Herbalist, Hermit, Hero, Hexmage, Highwayman, Hivemaster, Hoodwink, Hospitalier, Houndmaster, Hunter, Hydromancer, Hymnist, Hypnotist, Illusionist, Incanter, Infiltrator, Inquisitor, Invoker, Jester, Jinx, Juggernaut, Justicar, Kensai, Knight, Lancer, Lasher, Legionnaire, Lich, Lightbringer, Machinist, Mageknight, Magician, Magus, Malefactor, Malus, Maniac, Marauder, Mariner, Marshal, Masque, Mastermind, Medium, Mentalist, Mercenary, Merchant, Mindbender, Miner, Minstrel, Monk, Mountaineer, Musketeer, Mysterion, Mystic, Necromancer, Nethermancer, Ninja, Nil, Noble, Nomad, Occultist, Oracle, Outcast, Outlaw, Outrider, Paladin, Paragon, Pathfinder, Piper, Pirate, Plaguemancer, Planeswalker, Poisoner, Priest, Prophet, Psionicist, Psychic, Pugilist, Pyromancer, Qabalist, Raider, Raindancer, Rake, Ranger, Ratcatcher, Reaver, Riddler, Rifleman, Ritualist, Rogue, Ronin, Royal, Runic, Saboteur, Sage, Saint, Samurai, Sandman, Sapper, Savage, Savant, Scavenger, Scholar, Scout, Scrier, Seasinger, Sensei, Sentinel, Shadowmancer, Shaman, Shapeshifter, Sheriff, Shieldbearer, Sibyl, Siegemaster, Siren, Skald, Skirmisher, Skycaptain, Slavemaster, Slayer, Slimelord, Sneak, Sniper, Soldier, Soothsayer, Sorcerer, Soulblade, Spearman, Spellbinder, Spellbreaker, Spellknife, Spiritualist, Spy, Stalker, Stormlord, Strategist, Strider, Summoner, Swashbuckler, Swordsman, Tactician, Taskmaster, Telepath, Templar, Thaumaturgist, Theurge, Thief, Thrall, Tinkerer, Tormentor, Totemist, Transmogrifist, Transmuter, Trapsmith, Trickster, Ur-Priest, Valkyrie, Vanguard, Viking, Vindicator, Vizier, Voidcaller, Wanderer, Warden, Warlock, Warlord, Warpriest, Warrior, Weaponmaster, Wilder, Windcaller, Witch, Witchdoctor, Wizard, Wonderworker, Wormtongue, Wyrd, Wyrmcaller, Zealot

The list wrapped all the way around the room.

Zane spun slowly in place, trying to take it in. "Two-eighty-freakin'-five…"

His lips twitched into a smirk.

"Please let Tarni get 'Wormtongue'..."

Then the text shifted.

🌀 Class Assignment Protocol: ENGAGED ⚙️ Please roll the Class Die. 🎲 One roll. Only once. 🕒 Time Remaining: 60 seconds

A faint ticking sound began—gentle, but unmistakable.

Zane's eyes widened. "Oh come on! Now there's a countdown?!"

He dropped to his knees and placed both hands on the almost-sphere. A 285-sided die was basically a sphere with an identity crisis. He felt the cool surface hum faintly beneath his palms. There was no real weight to it—or maybe there was too much—it was like trying to grasp a planet.

One deep breath.

"Alright, RNG gods. Be kind."

With a grunt, he gave it a push.

The die tumbled across the floor like a drop of oil skipping over water—almost weightless, bouncing and spinning in weird, impossible directions. It hit a wall, rebounded twice, and spun in place near the center.

Zane stood frozen as the die slowed. Slower… slower… until it finally clunked down, one number face up. 163

And the wall lit up in blazing silver letters:

🎲 CLASS ROLLED: NIL CLASS 🧱 You have no Class.

No Class Buffs

No Class Debuffs

No Class Abilities

🗨️

(We hope your base stats are good.)

Zane just… blinked.

Then he whispered, "You've got to be kidding me."

And then he laughed. Loud, sharp, and just a little unhinged.

Of course. Of course this would happen.

Still chuckling, he flopped down onto the floor and rested against the blank wall.

"Alright then," he said to the empty room. "Let's see what no Class gets me."

Bell stood in the small white room, arms crossed, tapping one foot impatiently on the glowing floor. An endless list of Classes pulsed softly around her, each name flickering ever so slightly, like they were breathing.

She scanned it with interest, trying to guess at what some of the classes would do.

"hmm…planeswalker?"

before she could contemplate for too long, one of the walls went blank before showing a new message.

🌀 Class Assignment Protocol: ENGAGED ⚙️ Please roll the Class Die. 🎲 One roll. Only once. 🕒 Time Remaining: 60 seconds

Bell stared at the black ball of numbers like it owed her money.

"Alright, little orb of the RNG gods," she muttered. "Give me something good."

She gave it a firm shove, and it spun across the floor like a bowling ball on a mission. It bounced against the far corner before settling.

37

🎲 CLASS ROLLED: BRAVO Fighter Subclass — Cunning, unpredictable, scrappy

🩸 Skill Level 1: "You Thought You Saw It Coming?"

Upon activation, a forward-facing attack will be treated as a backstab.

Bell winced. "Ohhh, that's dirty. Tarn's going to be so jelly"

She turned in place, miming a little stab motion, and whispered, "Surprise, bastard."

Kai had never liked small rooms. He stared at the walls full of glowing names, breathing slow and deep.

The dice sat in the middle of the room like a bloated meteor, humming slightly.

The names changed to a new message.

He nodded once, then rolled it without ceremony.

It bounced, turned, settled.

171

🎲 CLASS ROLLED: PALADIN

Defender of the weak, righteous protector, light-forged tank

🛡️ Skill Level 1: "Protect the Weak"

Double your Armour Rating for 4 seconds when defending a party member with a lower Constitution than you.

Kai tilted his head, rereading the words.

Then he cracked a quiet frown.

"Yeah… well, that's crap, I've got the lowest con out of everybody."

Some of the names had been replaced with a new message.

Tarni squatted next to the dice, squinting at it like it was going to do something rude.

The room smelled like cleaning fluid and ozone, and he didn't trust either.

"Alright you magical bowling ball," he muttered. "Give daddy something stupid."

He rolled.

39

🎲 CLASS ROLLED: BREWMEISTER

Alchemical Drinker, Magical Brewer, Potion-Flinging Mad Lad

🍻 Skill Level 1: "That Wasn't In the Recipe"

Transfer one ingredient's effect partially into a custom brew.

Tarni blinked. Then blinked again.

"...Are you serious?" he said, looking up at the glowing words. "Is this because I told Kai to mix beer with cough syrup that one time?"

He groaned, then rubbed his hands together with a grin. "Fine. I'll make the best bloody potions this side of a Bunnings garden aisle."

Lily

Lily stood dead still in the middle of the room, eyes wide, the list of Classes reflecting in her irises.

She had always imagined something like this.

Magic. Power. Throwing lightning bolts and fireballs.

The dice shimmered. Her hand hovered over it, and then—soft as a breath—she pushed it. It seemed to roll a lot more than it should have with such a gentle push.

187

🎲 CLASS ROLLED: RAINDANCER

Fluid wielder of water, dance-channelled elemental sorceress

💧 Skill Level 1: "Rain-Forged Grace"

Add Water Elemental Damage to melee strikes when your movements flow like a dance.

Eyes lighting up, Lily swayed a little, then she took a single step, half spin, then a downward strike like she held a sword.

A sparkle of mist shimmered at her fingertips.

She smiled.

"sweet"

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