Great Journey: Whims of Fate

Over the past three years, Bastion had made tremendous strides in improving his overall combat capabilities.

He had successfully combined technique, skills, and free-cast magic, becoming an incredibly frustrating opponent for his training partners. 

The technique he used was essentially martial arts. Bastion hadn't been an expert when he left Earth, but he'd seen enough movies and videos to build a decent reference point. With intelligence far beyond human limits, it became easy for him to memorize, theorize, test, and refine these techniques, much like Bruce Lee's famous one-inch punch.

While such moves were ineffective against overwhelmingly strong opponents, his current training partners were only slightly stronger, making them ideal for practice. Many walked away frustrated after being disarmed, grappled, or outmaneuvered by sheer technique.

Skills, on the other hand, were used far less in these sparring sessions. They were simply too powerful, and Bastion had grown accustomed to conserving both stamina and mana. Ironically, his restraint only frustrated his opponents, who began avoiding skill use as well, wary of provoking a response. When they did break that unspoken rule, Bastion either endured their assault through sheer technique and outlasted them, or ended the match with a sudden burst of free-cast magic.

Free-cast magic had immense potential in Bastion's hands. Most people simply used it to mimic spells, never thinking outside the box.

For example, Bastion used wind and fire to create thrusters, allowing him to execute impossible maneuvers, like dodging in midair. He could manipulate water to obscure his opponent's face right when they inhaled deeply. He used earth magic to significantly shift his height, making it easier to evade attacks. With light magic, he could emit rapid strobe flashes, effectively blinding opponents. In short, he was an incredibly frustrating opponent to face.

Sure, free-cast magic was weaker, slower to activate, and consumed more mana when cast from a distance, but when used effectively, it could be just as threatening as a Skill.

It also helped that he was no longer restricted by his old restraining outfit. While his physical development had slowed somewhat, increased effectiveness in combat was a far more valuable gain.

Eventually, things reached a point where his opponents began asking him for advice, reversing the dynamic from when they used to coach him. 

In response, Elyra increased the number of opponents he had to face, which usually ended with Bastion getting beaten up all over again. She also began mixing different classes together to probe his weaknesses and force broader coverage.

For example, Bastion discovered he had a major weakness against fast, long-ranged classes. He had no efficient way to chase them down, while they, having spent their lives playing tag, could kite him with ease. Without a mount, he didn't stand a chance.

Free-cast magic was especially ineffective at range, since he had to send his mana outward before activating the spell. This not only consumed far more mana but also slowed his casting time significantly.

If he simply tossed a fireball like most sorcerers, it would be easily dodged. But if he took the time to build up a proper one, he risked getting punished by Skill-enhanced attacks, or worse, having the gathering mana disrupted by a well-placed shot before he could finish casting.

On the bright side, he could handle close-range fighters with ease, while magic users lacked the firepower to outlast him.

Fortunately, the Diamond Knight class came with a summonable steed to help cover that weakness, and he was eager to finally gain his Class today.

The process of gaining a new class was, in most cases, a simple affair, a quick blessing from a priest, freely given to those aged eighteen and above, in accordance with the teachings of the Goddess of Brilliance. 

As such, the Diamondhart family typically invited a trusted priest from a nearby church to their castle whenever blessings were needed, accompanied, of course, by a sizable donation to the church.

However, acquiring a specific class, especially one as rare and prestigious as the Rank 3 class: Diamond Knight, was an entirely different ordeal. Calling it torture would not be an exaggeration.

The first requirement was possessing all the foundational skills of an Apprentice Rank Knight: Slash, Parry, Dash, Reinforce, and Amplify. These could be acquired either by obtaining the Apprentice Rank Knight class or by learning them individually through skill books.

The next requirement was a body strong enough to endure the infusion of diamonds into the body, demanding abnormally high vitality and the constant use of health potions to keep the subject alive over the course of a month.

The great ancestor who founded the Diamondhart lineage had not merely discovered a single Rank 3 Diamond. He had uncovered a Rank 3 Diamond Lode, a peculiar, semi-living organism that passively absorbed magic from its surroundings over time, producing diamonds as a byproduct.

As part of their rite of passage as the heir along with his shadow, Bastion and Elyra were given a tour of the highly secured cavern where the family had planted the lode beneath the castle. 

Bastion had imagined a glittering cave filled with jagged, radiant crystals, but instead, he found something more like a fountain, a slow, pulsing growth of glistening diamonds that oozed magic.

Sibelle gathered enough diamonds to fill a messenger bag before retreating and resealing the cave with multiple layers of protective magic circles.

Back at the castle, she ground the diamonds into an ultrafine powder using a specialized arcane grinder.

Then came the procedure.

Bastion stripped and was strapped to a stone table. He was first made to swallow mouthfuls of the diamond dust. Then, his entire body was generously coated in the powder, from head to toe.

The sensation was maddening. It felt as if thousands of ants were crawling over his skin, biting and burrowing into every inch. Each breath, twitch, or flinch drove the diamond particles deeper, making the torment all the more unbearable.

The first day, in Bastion's opinion, was the worst. The days that followed were just more of the same, until the pain dulled and he gradually grew used to the sensation.

That is, until the seventh day.

From that point on, Bastion had to bathe in diamond dust before donning the same tight, heavy leather bodysuit he had trained in since the age of five. The suit clung to him tightly, pressing the jagged dust deeper into his skin with every movement.

To make matters worse, the training didn't stop. For the next three weeks, he was forced to spar with Elyra in an isolated room, fully suited, fully coated, ensuring the infusion process was a success. Missing even a single dose of health potion could've killed him.

It was a brutal, torturous month.

Most people never went through such agony for a class. They simply accepted whatever the Goddess offered. That included future classes with every rank up, or so Bastion had heard was the current trend.

Once the month-long infusion process was complete, a priest was summoned to bestow the blessing. He didn't seem the least bit perturbed by Bastion's bleeding, bare skin that shimmered faintly with diamond dust, he'd likely seen far worse from those in pursuit of higher-ranked classes.

The priest stepped forward, placed a hand on Bastion's forehead, and spoke a solemn prayer.

"By the light of the Goddess of Brilliance, may her radiance guide your path and strengthen your soul."

A radiant light burst from within Bastion, engulfing him completely.

His consciousness was suddenly pulled inward, deep into his soul. The inner world was strangely colored, a brilliant yellow, glowing like golden sand under a midday sun.

Before he could orient himself, a translucent blue interface appeared, dominating his entire field of view no matter where he turned. Twining borders framed the panel, lending it an ornate, almost sacred appearance.

A list of available classes unfolded before him, with Diamond Knight prominently displayed at the top, the only Rank 3 option available. The rest were common Apprentice Rank and Rank 1 classes, unworthy of a second glance.

He ignored them and immediately selected Diamond Knight.

The panel expanded. On the left, an image of a gleaming knight appeared, armor shining, with translucent diamond-like hair reminiscent of his father's. On the right, the class ability and skills were listed in detail:

[Diamond Body]: Grants significant resistance to bodily status effects, increases magic resistance, stamina regeneration, and mana regeneration.

[Diamond Edge]: Coat weapons or body parts in sharpened diamond; may launch the edge at will, ending the skill.

[Diamond Rain]: Rain diamonds upon an area at variable size and speed.

[Diamond Armor]: Coat armor or body parts in malleable diamond.

[Diamond Shrapnel]: Shatter controlled diamond, sending shrapnel in a chosen direction.

[Diamond Steed]: Summon a diamond steed to aid in combat and mobility.

Bastion read through the list and was satisfied with the results. The skills granted by classes could vary depending on a person's known abilities and previously attained classes. Fortunately, the skills he received were all useful and complemented his existing skill set without any overlap.

Content with his selection, Bastion pressed Confirm at the bottom of the screen.

His vision shifted, and he returned to the real world, Sibelle, Elyra, and the priest standing before him.

"Congratulations, young master. You've become a Diamond Knight," Sibelle said warmly.

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