Epoch of Desolation

[Division selected]...

[Assigning Saint Division to Side Character Rain Leclair]...

[Assignment successful]...

[Selected Division cannot be changed]...

Thought as much.

[Proceeding]...

[Skill selection has been unsealed]...

[Proceed to select Skill?]...

Skill?

It turned out that selecting a Division wasn’t the be-all to becoming a different person from who he already was. It was just a prelude.

Since he had not been expecting the development which had occurred, Rain was startled at first. But it took him nothing more than a couple of seconds to decide his next course of action.

Besides, it was not like he had any choice in that regard.

From what made up the ethereal words before his eyes, it was obvious that postponing a response to the latest question he had been asked would put a hold on him receiving any substantial abilities to protect himself—if everything was as he’d assumed.

I can also use this as an excuse to rest more, Rain thought.

His initial plan had been to scoop himself up once he was done selecting his Division and go after the Jaguar, because, unlike a few moments back, he could not take the overwhelming anxiety clouding his body for much longer. His mind and heart felt like they would explode if he kept waiting without a sense of how much time had passed.

But now he had something to keep his mind company and his body rooted to where he was. Though, he knew that once he was done with this current scenario of his life he would have no choice but to move on to the next. The courage he had could only last for as long as his anxiety was low. Once the latter spiked, the former would dwindle, and at that point such a thing would be anything but good.

Rain sucked in a considerable quantity of the damp air in the vicinity and heaved out an exhale. Then he answered in a rather nonchalant manner, Proceed.

[Saint Division]

[Blade Saint]: A Skill tailored to grant its user exceptional abilities in the handling of any and all blade-type weapons the universe has to offer.

[Martial Saint]: A Skill tailored to grant its user exquisite qualities in the art of combating without a need for weapons.

[Ranger]: A Skill tailored to grant its user fabled flair in the manipulation of various ranged weapons.

[Smith Saint]: In a similar way to a forge, this is a Skill which exceptionally boosts the smithing capabilities of its user, guiding them into a deeper world of weaponry that no man should be able to reach otherwise.

[Make your choice Side Character Rain Leclair]...

Rain sent a palm to his forehead in obvious exasperation, the words before his eyes shimmering for a mere second as his hand passed through them on its way.

Maybe it was a characteristic from who he was before he’d lost his memories, but he hated reading. That much he could see now. Words upon words irritated him. And his head was now aching.

So much for making use of the selection process as a chance to rest. Using my brain is an act of work after all.

Rain skimmed over the words with his eyes.

This was the part where he just had to sucker up and get on with what he had to do whether he hated it or not.

He couldn’t also just randomly pick and hope things would turn out good for him. His uncertain future was at stake here. There was no leeway for him to make a mistake—not now, not ever.

Just so you know, Rain, your choice will determine your survival, and also if you’ll be able to get back your memories. He briefly recalled the message which confirmed the unchangeability of his Division. There are no second chances, get things right the first time. You can do it.

Resolving himself, Rain got into gear and thoroughly examined each of the Skills that had been made available to him. He did the same thing he had done while he had been selecting his Division a few seconds back: analyzing their pros and cons with regards to his future.

He started from the first: ‘The Blade Saint Skill.’

It was a skill that stood out, undoubtedly, just like the Saint Division had stood out from the rest of its peers.

However, he couldn’t select the Skill just because of that. He needed to be sure he wouldn’t regret his decisions later on.

The Blade Saint Skill granted him exceptional qualities in handling blade-type weapons; in other words, his attack potency would be at its peak. He would be deadly when faced with danger, and as long as he had something with a blade he would be able to harm his enemies.

But… What if he didn’t? What if he had no weapon on or near him? What then? He would be no better than he was currently.

Rain pursed his lips.

It was a risk to choose this Skill. With a blade he would be deadly, but without one, he would just be plain old Rain.

Still, he did not rule it out completely.

He moved on to the next Skill: ‘The Martial Saint Skill.’

This one was rather fascinating. It seemed to Rain like it existed purely for those who were not delighted by the con of the Blade Saint Skill.

With the Martial Saint Skill he would be a master of attacking with his fists, not wielding a weapon would pose no problems.

But… It was obvious what its con was. The damage dealt to enemies would undoubtedly be low. After all, fists and feets could only do so much compared to blades; and since it was apparent that he had no knowledge on fighting with blades he couldn’t just claim that he would complement himself with his existing natural skills on them.

Choosing the Martial Saint Skill meant he would have no worries when he had no weapons, at the very least he would be able to defend himself well enough to escape, but on the other hand, he would practically be unable to decide a battle quickly. And that could prove worrisome if he met a beast he could not escape from and he needed to kill in a single blow or it would kill him.

He was in quite a dilemma.

The next Skill on the list discredited his initial conclusion that his choosing of the Saint Division meant his abilities could only shine in close combat, since this particular Skill was called: Ranger. And it was a Skill that would seemingly provide him with exceptional abilities in handling ranged weapons.

Now, this was a lovely Skill Rain would have not once hesitated to select, but… where in the world was he going to find a ranged weapon?

Arrows? Spears? This was not the stone age, damn it.

He had been excited when he’d first seen the Skill, but now he was sneering at it, displeased with everything about it.

I hate you, Rain murmured, making sure his annoyance was not kept all to himself.

He cut the Ranger Skill out of his options, and at the same time, the Smith Saint Skill.

Even though whatever had brought about this ethereal words before his eyes seemed to be taking a rather peculiar liking to the Smith Skill—seeing how its explanation stood out from that of its peers—Rain could not find a reason why he would want to learn about the intricacies of a weapon when he was yet to find out about that of his own self.

With a snort of derision toward the last Skill he had been offered, he glanced up and down at the first two Skills he had analyzed. His brows were pulled in, and his head was tilting in a side-to-side rhythm.

Tsk.

Rain became frustrated after a while of indecisiveness.

He would have loved to put this selection on hold, but he felt that doing such would be unwise, considering his situation and how he had zero knowledge on what was going on. It was best if he had a way to survive in his grip.

In that case, I have to make a choice now. He looked over the Blade Saint and Martial Saint Skills one more time, and at the end decided on the one with better pros for his survival in extremely dangerous situations.

Blade Saint… Rain answered, and the words before his view shifted as usual.

[Skill selected]...

[Assigning Blade Saint to Side Character Rain Leclair]...

[Assignment successful]...

At that moment a tingle overcame Rain’s body. This was not in any way similar to the chilly wind that had been biting into his shriveled skin all these while, this one was something he could not quite explain. But if he was forced to say, then he would liken it to a fleeting ethereal sensation comparable only to what the calm waves of seas were always described as. And most of all, it caressed him with the warmth of life.

Though, just as mysteriously as it had come so had it vanished, leaving him momentarily confused that maybe what he had just felt had been merely a figment of his imagination.

A familiar message popped up in his view then.

[Selected Skill cannot be changed]...

Sure. Sure. There was an exhale from him, as if to say: “at last”, and then an unfamiliar sentence showed itself.

[Proceed to Plexus Interface?]...