Second World-Novel

The fourth item was a technique book. One that was called Flash Step. It was a movement skill, something that Jack was lacking. It was an advanced skill eligible for any advanced melee class. From its description when Jack tapped the red gem beside his seat, it was shown that this skill allowed its user to move instantaneously within a short distance while leaving an afterimage in its user's original position that could confuse the opponent.

The starting bid was 3 gold coins with each bid increment of 1 gold coin.

When the auctioneer started the bid, Jack immediately lifted his hand and yelled 4 gold coins. Although the auction block was a distance away and Jack was not yelling particularly loud, the auctioneer could still hear him clearly. Jack assumed it should be another function of the rune diagram surrounding this hall, apart from for a security reason.

Another NPC soon outbid Jack. Jack immediately raised his hand again to bid for 6 gold coins.

"What are you doing?" Dylan asked.

"Can't you see? I'm bidding for the item."

"I can see that, but you are doing it with such low class."

"The heck are you talking about? I don't know that there are classy ways to bid."

"Of course there are. I've known you brutes are clueless about the art of auction," Dylan said with contempt. "I will teach you two methods to effectively win an auction. First, you can just throw a bid much higher than the increment. It can show the others that you are dead set on obtaining the item and dissuade them from continuing. Another is to not join the auction at the start and wait until everybody slowed down. This way you can see when the others are starting to feel reluctant to bid for the item, that's when you dive in."

"You talked as if they are a sure thing. In the end, isn't it just the matter of who has the more coins?"

"Of course it's about coins. But doing it my way and doing it your amateur way will have a difference in how much you end up paying for the auctioned item. My way can definitely save you some coins which will otherwise be wasted."

"Really?" Jack said skeptically.

Dylan didn't feel like deigning him with an answer.

While they were chit-chatting, the bids had started to slow down at 14 gold coins. When the auctioneer started hammering his count, "going once… going twice…," Jack shouted out, "18 gold coins!"

"F**k me! You just go and combined both my methods," Dylan cursed out.

It was effective though, no one was bidding anymore. The auctioneer hammered thrice and announced Jack as the winner. He could come and pick up the item at the counter once the auction was over.

"So, what's the fair market value of a technique book of an advanced skill?" Jack asked with a high spirit after winning the bid.

"10 gold coins," Dylan replied.

Jack felt his high spirit was doused by cold water. It meant that he had spent almost double the price of the skill's normal cost. But he didn't dwell on it, it was a rare opportunity to encounter an available technique book after all. Increasing his battle prowess was more important than his wealth in this world.

The auctioneer presented the next item which looked like a pair of gloves, yet the auctioneer called it a weapon. Jack checked out the information from the interface beside his seat. The hologram data appeared, it was written that the supposed gloves were called Fist Hammer, it was a level 40 Fist weapon.

'Fist weapon? I have never seen this kind of weapon used in this world before. Can a warrior equip it?' He asked Peniel in his mind.

"No, that was an exclusive weapon for Battle Monk class," the fairy answered.

'Battle Monk class? Wait… do you mean an elite class?'

"Yes."

'Which class can evolve to Battle Monk class? Is it Warrior?'

"No, Battle Monk class branched out from Rogue."

'Rogue? Well, I guess a battle monk would be a dexterity-oriented melee class, so it makes sense to come from Rogue. What's another class that evolves from Rogue? Is the other class still used dagger as the main weapon?'

"Another?" Peniel's voice was a bit condescending. "Are you assuming there are only two classes branching out of Rogue class?"

'Hm? Are you saying otherwise? How many elite classes can be evolved out of Rogue class?'

"Four," Peniel answered.

"Four?" Jack blurted out unconsciously.

Dylan who heard, commented, "what four? Are you placing a bid again? The bid is at 22 gold coins now, what are you yelling four for?"

"I wasn't talking to you," Jack said to him.

Dylan looked at Marquess Fernando, who shrugged, indicating that he was also not the person Jack was talking to. Dylan then used his index finger and made a circling motion near his ear, trying to tell the marquess that maybe their friend here had gone cuckoo. Marquess Fernando watched Dylan's gesture in bewilderment, completely not understanding what Dylan was trying to say with his expression. Was it some kind of an outworlder's gesture? The marquess wondered.

Jack in the meantime, was already back to conversing with Peniel within his mind, thoroughly unaware of his two companions' unsynchronized sign language.

'You are saying the available elite classes are twice the numbers available than when we change from basic to advance?'

"Yes, basic and advance are sort of the foundations, like a trainee or a cadet. The elite class is where you truly come to your own."

'Does that mean Warrior and Mage will also have four options when I can become an elite class?'

"Naturally," Peniel replied.

'By the way, you kept saying elite class in the past. At what level exactly can we change to elite class?'

"You can start your elite class trial once you reached level 30."

Level 30? Not too far then, Jack thought. He was already at level 20 now. 10 more levels to go.

Peniel could sense his thinking, she said, "the higher your level, the longer it will take for you to level up. Do not expect these 10 levels will be as fast as your previous leveling speed.

Jack was aware of the RPG mechanic where higher level requires more exp points hence longer time. He was not discouraged by Peniel's words. He went back to the elite class topic, 'tell me, what elite classes branch out from Warrior class?'

His interest in the auction was totally gone. Unless the item was something he could use, he totally ignored the auction.

"Warrior class can evolve into Berserker, Blade Dancer, Weapon Master, and Mage Knight," Peniel informed.

'what's the difference between those classes?' Jack asked further.

"Berserker is a melee damage dealer specialized in using axe weapon, the class can increase their damage output in proportionate to their remaining HP. Blade Dancer was a melee damage dealer specialized in dual-wielding sword weapons, they are the fastest amongst the other warrior's elite classes. Weapon Master is a melee damage dealer who has mastered all sorts of weaponry. The more weapons they use, the stronger they become. They can also channel inner energy into their weapons to boost their damage."

Inner energy? Did she mean some kind of chi as known in martial arts?

Peniel continued, "Mage Knight is a melee damage dealer who has learned the arcane arts, allowing them to cast spells that reinforced their fighting skills."

Mage Knight? He wondered if his peculiar dual-class trait could consider him as a mage knight already. In that case, he should probably avoid that class. He already had access to real magic from the Mage class, no point in becoming a Mage Knight just to be able to cast some more spells.

'What about Mage class? What can they become when they reach elite class?' Jack resumed his question.

"They can become Archmage, Elementalist, Summoner, and Warlock."

Before Jack could ask, Peniel had already gone on with her explanation, "you can see Archmage as a direct extension of a Mage. They are a versatile magic user that has a variety of spells for many situations. Elementalist is a mage that focused on the means of destruction. They can control the element of fire, ice, and lightning and unleash their destructive natures. That Fireball spell and Chain Lightning spell you have used before come from this class."

Hearing it, this class was already a very tempting one for him.

"Summoner is as its name implied. Their spells focused on summoning multiple beings. Give a summoner enough time, you will find yourself overwhelmed by their minions. A Warlock is a mage that has turned to demonic magic. Their infernal spells might prove troublesome. They are the class that has the earliest access to Chaos damage."

'Chaos? Isn't that the damage caused by my Storm Breaker's Overlimit skill? The one you mentioned is the least able to be defended against.'

"Yes, and if you check your stat window, you will find that there is no resistance to chaos damage. That's why it's so troublesome."