Then he opened the familiar translucent blue panel in front of him, his eyes quickly scanning the updated stats and abilities.
[Class: Combat Mage] (Class update available)
[Level: 20]
[EXP: 49,667,600 / 39,321,600]
[HP: 828 / 828]
[MP: 1900 / 1900]
[Stamina: 424 / 424]
[Strength: 48]
[Agility: 40]
[Endurance: 52]
[Intelligence: 19]
[Wisdom: 18]
[Luck: 7]
[Unallocated Stat Points: 16]
[Unallocated Skill Points: 6]
[Traits: Pseudo-immortality, Minor Regeneration]
[Skills: Basic Martial Arts, Fire Fist, Fireball, Fire Kick, Flame Sweep, Heat Burst, Blazing Dash, Stone Spike, Stone Skin, Quake, Meteor Flame Strike, Flame Pillar]
[Passive Skills: Heart of the Infinite Well]
[Equipment: Arcane Catalyst Gloves (Basic), Combat Mage Coat (Basic), Mage's Boots (Basic)]
Luke smirked, a feeling of satisfaction washing over him. Finally reaching level twenty brought with it a fresh class update, a new trait, and that coveted Random Box for a class change. It was about damn time—he had been waiting for this moment since level 1.
Without wasting a second, he focused on the unallocated stat points. Sixteen of them stared back at him, and he knew exactly where they needed to go. Intelligence and Wisdom had always been his weak spots, and now was the perfect moment to bring them up to speed.
He tapped the screen to allocate points into Intelligence and Wisdom.
[Intelligence: 19 → 27]
[Wisdom: 18 → 26]
Almost immediately, a wave of clarity surged through his mind. It was like cool air flooding a stuffy room, washing away the headache he'd been battling all day.
The pounding migraine that had made his head feel like it was splitting disappeared completely. He leaned back, closing his eyes to enjoy the relief.
This was exactly what he needed. Now, casting multiple spells at once wouldn't leave him suffering afterward—a huge advantage in any fight.
[MP: 3500 / 3500]
Next came skill points. Luke had six available, and he wasted no time deciding how to spend them.
He planned to unlock the Lightning element next. The Lightning skill tree required both the Advanced Fire element and the basic Air element—both of which he was close to achieving.
Since his Fire skill tree was already close to full intermediate level, now was the perfect time to branch out and unlock Lightning.
At first, he had considered unlocking Ice, but Lightning could be unlocked more easily right now. So, he decided to put Ice on hold for the time being and focus on mastering the Lightning element instead.
He tapped on the Fire branch of the skill tree and funneled five points into it.
[Combustion Field Unlocked] - Creates a wide-area flame zone that rapidly expands outward, engulfing everything within a 200-meter radius. Enemies caught inside suffer continuous damage.
Luke grinned, feeling a rush of excitement. Heat Burst had been a handy panic button when things got tight, but it only affected a ten-meter range.
This new skill was its big brother—a true battlefield changer. It wasn't hard to see why basic skills paled compared to intermediate and advanced ones.
Perfect. Now he could finally think about changing his class without hesitation—he was ready.
After bathing, Luke dressed in his usual outfit and slid the Arcane Catalyst gloves onto his hands, feeling the familiar weight and texture of the magical material. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, taking a moment to examine himself closely.
Like in every classic RPG, a class change required a test. It wasn't about just pressing a button or hitting a level milestone.
He had to prove himself in combat by defeating real enemies in a challenging environment. Only then could he move forward, unlock new abilities, and truly evolve.
[Class Change Quest Available]
[Do you wish to take it?]
"Yes," Luke said firmly. No hesitation. No second thoughts.
Almost instantly, the bathroom around him shimmered and dissolved, replaced by an entirely different scene—a dense, shadowy forest.
The sharp scent of pine mixed with the damp smell of earth filled the air, and the ground beneath his boots was soft and spongy.
"Hmmm… trees?" he murmured, taking in his surroundings with a slight smirk. He already knew this was one of six test areas in the game.
Each area had a specific purpose—to challenge different skills and push players to their limits. The forest test was among the toughest, known not only for its complexity but for its fierce inhabitants.
The main opponent here was called the Spider Queen of Death, and the name was no exaggeration. She was a massive spider, easily towering over any human, surrounded by thousands of smaller spider minions—each roughly the size of wolves.
The forest gave them a natural advantage, with thick trees and shadows providing the perfect cover for ambushes. This meant attacks could come from multiple angles at once, making it a nightmare for most players. Out of all six test zones, it was ranked second hardest.
For most players, this would have been terrifying. For Luke, it was a challenge he could handle. With his Fire element, he could burn the forest and the spiders at the same time, turning what would be a dangerous fight into a straightforward way to gain experience.
He exhaled and muttered with a small smile, "Good thing this isn't the volcanic test ground." That particular area was hardest, filled with fire element opponents immune to most flame magic.
If he had faced that test first, his fire skills would have been useless—not to mention the danger he'd be in. "If it had been lava and magma all around, I'd have been completely screwed."
This forest test suits him well. The fire element gave him an edge here, something to work with instead of being handicapped.