Chapter 10: Blood and Fury Unleashed
Layla didn't look back as she left her former home. Her father's worried shouts and the villagers' scared whispers faded. She had a clear path now, heading for the big mountain peak she knew well – the very place where Yusuf had almost ruined her. It felt right, going back there, but this time, she wasn't weak. She was armed, changed, and dangerous.
The walk was hard, but her body didn't care. Weeks of fighting in another world, plus the new energy inside her, made her tough. Her old armor scraped, but the goblin sword felt like part of her hand. By late afternoon, the sun was a red ball sinking low, and she reached the mountain's base. The air grew cooler, quieter. No village sounds, just bugs humming and dry leaves rustling. She found a small, hidden cave, perfect for the night.
Alone in the dark, Layla finally focused on the system. Time to pick a class.
The clear screen popped into her mind, showing a huge list of choices. Too many. Then, a new message flashed, cutting through the clutter.
[Ping: Based on Host's combat style (Aggressive, Adaptable, Survival-focused), current skill set (Proficient in Melee & Ranged Combat, Evasive Maneuvers), and Elemental Affinities (Fire 43%, Earth 29%, Wood prominent), the System recommends the following classes for optimal synergy:]
The long list shrank to a few options. Layla read them, trying to make sense of what each one meant.
[Combat-Oriented Mage Classes:]
* [Blazing Earth Weaver (Rare)]
* Hint: A mage of searing fire and solid ground.
* Buffs: +20% Intelligence, +15% Defense, +5% Strength, +5% Speed, +5% Stamina.
* Needs: High Fire & Earth, Elemental Affinity Token (Consumed), 500 Isekai Coins.
* [Verdant Pyromancer (Rare)]
* Hint: Explosive flames fueled by nature's rapid growth.
* Buffs: +25% Intelligence, +15% Speed, +10% Stamina, +5% Defense, +5% Strength.
* Needs: High Fire & Wood, Elemental Affinity Token (Consumed), 550 Isekai Coins.
* [Cinderheart Sorcerer (Epic)]
* Hint: Unleash devastating fire from the very earth beneath you.
* Buffs: +35% Intelligence, +20% Speed, +15% Stamina, +10% Defense.
* Needs: Very High Fire & Earth, Advanced Elemental Affinity Token (or X2 Affinity Chance), 800 Isekai Coins.
[Energy-Oriented Warrior Classes:]
* [Stone-Fist Crusader (Rare)]
* Hint: A titan of defense, striking with earthen might.
* Buffs: +30% Defense, +15% Strength, +10% Stamina, +5% Speed, +5% Intelligence.
* Needs: High Earth, Strong Physical Constitution, Elemental Affinity Token (Consumed), 480 Isekai Coins.
* [Solar Blade Warden (Rare)]
* Hint: A scorching warrior, empowering weapons with raw fire.
* Buffs: +20% Strength, +20% Speed, +10% Stamina, +5% Defense, +5% Intelligence.
* Needs: High Fire, Weapon Mastery (Melee), Elemental Affinity Token (Consumed), 520 Isekai Coins.
* [Blood Berserker (Epic)]
* Hint: The more savage the fury, the greater the might.
* Buffs: +30% Strength, +25% Speed, +20% Stamina (scales with madness), +5% Defense, +0% Intelligence.
* Needs: Strong Physical Constitution, High Mental Fortitude (or 'Madness' Soul Mark), Elemental Affinity Token (Consumed), 700 Heim Coins.
* Special Skill: Unhinged Fury - The greater the berserker's madness, the greater their physical strength, attack speed, and pain tolerance. This effect stacks exponentially with the 'Madness' Soul Mark.
Layla read the last one again. Blood Berserker.
Strength and speed surge exponentially with escalating madness.
This effect stacks exponentially with the 'Madness' Soul Mark.
A cold, thrilling feeling went through her. This wasn't just a suggestion. It was like the system understood her. The Madness Soul Mark, the brutal part of her from the other world, wasn't a weakness. It was power. The Blood Berserker wasn't just a class; it was exactly who she was becoming. It was the roar she felt inside when she killed goblins. It was the calm she felt now, even facing down her old life.
This wasn't about magic tricks. It was about becoming the monster she needed to be.
She didn't think twice. She tapped the prompt for Blood Berserker.
[Ping: Class 'Blood Berserker' purchased for 700 Heim Coins. Elemental Affinity Token consumed.]
A new kind of energy, raw and animal-like, exploded through her. It mixed with the hum of elemental power already there. It felt less like a controlled spell and more like a wild beast waking up inside her. Every muscle twitched. Every nerve ending buzzed. A silent, powerful roar echoed in her mind, a mirror to the wild energy now rushing through her.
[Ping: Host Status Recalibrating...]
[Ping: Recalibration Complete.]
[Name: Layla]
[Age: 17]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Blood Berserker]
[Equipped Items:]
* [Damaged Tactical Armor (Uncommon)]
* [Goblin Sword (Common, Blood-soaked)]
[Soul Mark:]
* [Madness (Tier 1): (Current Growth: 12%)]
* [Combat Status Buff: +5% Physical Strength, +3% Attack Speed, +10% Pain Tolerance per 1% of Madness Growth.]
* [Note: Effects stack exponentially with Blood Berserker's 'Unhinged Fury' skill.]
[Elemental Affinities:]
* [Fire: 43% (Enhanced)]
* [Earth: 29% (Enhanced)]
* [Wood: Prominent (Enhanced)]
* [Others: Shared]
[Inventory:]
* [Isekai Coins: 665]
* [Heim Coins: 175 (700 consumed)]
* [Chance to Increase Elemental Affinity: X2 (Used)]
Her Heim Coins were down, but Layla barely noticed. The Blood Berserker class made her new self official. And the Soul Mark. It wasn't just a name now; it had numbers. Every percent of her Madness gave her real combat boosts. 12% growth meant 60% more strength, 36% faster attacks, and a huge 120% more pain tolerance. And it got even bigger with Unhinged Fury. She was a living weapon, powered by her own rage.
Layla squeezed her fists, feeling raw power under her skin. The world outside, the bad government, the scared villagers, even the land itself – it all felt ready for a fight. And for the first time, she was truly ready for it too. The need for battle, the urge to let out the beast inside, was a cold, thrilling promise of what would come.
[Ping: Training Wheel Program: System Interface Connection Terminated on Home Dimension.]
[Ping: All Host affairs, including status management and communication, will now be handled by your Guardian Spirit. Expect direct interface in Isekai.]
A strange, final quiet settled in her mind where the system prompts used to be. Then, a sharp, exhilarating jolt, as if a switch had flipped. A crack appeared before her, like a tear in space itself, shimmering with dark, unstable energy.
From the crack, a small, fairy-sized woman forced her way out, tumbling onto the cave floor with a string of curses that would make a sailor blush. She landed in a crouch, dusting off her tiny, dark-clad form, then looked up at Layla. Her eyes, impossibly bright and predatory, narrowed.
"Well," the tiny woman snapped, putting her hands on her hips, "you wanna say something, bloodling? Or are you just gonna stand there gawking like a stunned goat?"
Layla blinked, her mind still catching up. "Huuhh?" she managed, the sound barely escaping her throat.
The small woman groaned dramatically, rolling her bright eyes. "Oh, for the love of... I really got my work cut out for me on this one." A voice, distinct from the woman's physical form, but undeniably hers, resonated in Layla's mind. That's right, bloodling. My name is Rava. And your pathetic 'system' is gone from this side. You'll see it again when we pop back to Isekai. But here? It's just me and you. And trust me, I'm far more entertaining.
Layla reached out mentally, trying to call for the familiar system interface, the reassuring blue screens. Nothing. The space where they usually appeared was empty, silent. Just Rava's sharp, demanding presence, and her physical form, now standing proudly on Layla's shoulder, radiating an "extra spicy" energy. The realization settled, cold and firm. Her new world, her new powers, were now entirely at the mercy of this demanding, vampiric entity.