This space...
Locke looked around. The space wasn't large; if compared to a physical building, it would be roughly a two-story layout covering about a hundred square meters.
At the very bottom of this mental plane sat a glowing cluster of energy. The amount of energy was so small it could be measured in drops—less than ten, in fact.
'So, is this the key to Carrie becoming a magic user?'
Because Carrie naturally possessed the aptitude, those ten drops of energy were her "seed capital" to jumpstart her potential. But... where did that demon come from?
Locke looked down at himself. He was currently an incorporeal entity, wrapped in a thick shroud of energy that allowed him to manifest here. However, the demon snarling and pacing not far away was different.
It had horns on its head and a barbed tail. Its appearance... "hideous" was an understatement. It was an insult to the word. To call it "unbearable to look at" was being polite.
"Roar!"
Blackheart bellowed, "Which dimension are you from? I claimed this one first! My father is Mephisto!"
Locke raised an eyebrow. 'Mephisto? The big boss of the Hell dimension.'
"Your father is Mephisto?" Locke tilted his head, curious. "Then who are you?"
"I am Blackheart!"
"..."
'Does Blackheart really look like this?'
Locke blinked, trying to recall any movies featuring the character. Right—when Blackheart came to Earth, he used a human vessel. As they say, people care most about what they lack. Since his true form was so revolting, he had chosen a body that could actually be called handsome for his Earthly visits.
Blackheart stared at Locke, who appeared as a shimmering figure hidden within a dense mist. "Now that you're scared, get lost! This believer belongs to me."
"No."
"...What?"
Locke shook his head. "I'm taking her. Go find someone else."
Was he joking? If this had been a reasonable demon who spoke politely, Locke might have reconsidered; his principles were quite flexible, after all. But Blackheart?
"I was here first!" Blackheart roared.
Locke spread his hands. "So? Want to fight? Loser leaves?"
He didn't know exactly how he had ended up here, but he understood his current state. He was a pure energy construct backed by an infinite source. Forget Blackheart—even if Mephisto himself showed up, Locke didn't think he'd flinch.
No matter how powerful Mephisto was, he didn't have a "Cheat Code" this strong. Infinite energy? Even Odin didn't have that. Though Hela technically did, inheriting the power of the Giantess and being fueled by Asgard's eternity.
"I said I was first!" Blackheart screamed.
Locke scoffed. "Give it a rest. We aren't children. 'I was first, I was first'—do you think this is a cafeteria line? Beat it. This person is under my protection!"
"Roar!"
"Stop mooing like a cow. You're a demon, not a bull!"
"...Your name!" Blackheart demanded.
Locke looked at him. "I'm not telling."
Demons were mysterious by nature, and Locke was no different. Other than Melinda May, none of his targets had ever learned his true identity.
Blackheart felt like his lungs were going to burst from rage. On Earth, almost everyone who worshipped demons was under his father's monopoly. There is no family love among demons; even though he was Mephisto's son, he was constantly denied his own followers.
And now, just as he was about to land a talented one like Carrie, some random Dimensional Lord had swooped in to hijack the deal.
'Weren't all dimensions capable of reaching Earth supposed to be blocked by that damn old woman?' he wondered. 'Where did this guy come from?'
Suddenly, Locke stretched his form. Using his infinite energy, he shifted his appearance into the likeness of Dark Zero.
Blackheart's eyes narrowed. With a sharp hiss, he retreated from the space. "I've memorized your form, Dimensional Lord! Don't let me find you. Once I do, the Hell dimension will hunt you for eternity!"
'Heh. Find me? Talk to me when you can find Nebula M78.' Locke chuckled.
Then...
『Ding!』
『Player attempt to unlock the Faction System detected!』
『Consume 50,000 Achievement Points and 50,000 Potential Points to unlock?』
『Confirm / Decline!』
"...Motherfucker, I just saved that money!"
Locke's face darkened. He looked at the prompt, gritted his teeth, and thought: *Unlock!*
The next second—*Boom!*
Locke's consciousness snapped back to the physical world. From a third-person perspective, he watched as a mysterious channel suddenly connected his energy sea to that empty mental space within Carrie.
Energy began to pour into her like a waterfall. In an instant, her empty "reservoir" was filled to the brim.
"Ah!"
Back in the forest, less than a second had passed. To Carrie, the moment her hand touched Locke's, infinite energy had flooded her mind.
*Boom!*
An unprecedented shockwave erupted from Carrie's body, sweeping outward like a tidal wave. Dirt, branches, and leaves were pulverized as if caught in a localized hurricane.
The wind vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
In the blink of an eye, the area around Locke and Carrie had been swept clean. It was a perfect, pristine circle of earth. A circle defined by 3.1415.
Carrie let go of Locke's hands, her body going limp. She nearly collapsed, catching herself on the ground. Her blonde hair fell around her face as she gasped for air. But she felt the difference immediately.
Power.
Her outward appearance hadn't changed, but the spark she had felt before was now a roaring furnace.
Locke pulled his hand back and tucked it into his pocket. He watched her with an appreciative gaze as she stared at her own hands, her face lit with joy.
He had created this. He had bestowed the power to complete her awakening.
*Excellent. Now it's my turn to change classes,* Locke thought.
『Ding!』
『Supernatural Class [Witch] detected. Open Class?』
"Confirm... Wait, what?"
Witch?
'I'm a guy! Why are you giving me a Witch class? Do you want me to castrate myself? Stop!'
Unfortunately, he was too late.
『Ding!』
『Class [Witch] unlocked successfully. Consumed: Supernatural Class Change Voucher * 1.』
"...WTF!!"
Locke's eyes went wide. "Shouldn't it be Mage?"
He was speechless. What was this? A total waste? What the hell was a "Witch" class for him?
A mental image flashed through his mind: Under a full moon, atop the White House. The Ancient One in her white robes bows: "I am the Sorcerer Supreme of Kamar-Taj, the Ancient One!"
Then Locke, in full ceremonial robes, curtsies: "And I am the little Witch, Locke?"
Locke felt like vomiting. There was nothing wrong with his orientation. Even if he hadn't "tested" it in this life yet, he was certain he had zero interest in sword-fighting or changing his gender.
Locke extended his right hand. *Hum!* A black orb of energy condensed in his palm—solid, real energy. He could finally use the infinite sea. But...
『Name: Locke Broughton (Sole Player)』
『Class: Supernatural—Witch (Toggle: Common—Assassin)』
『Achievement Points: 39,000』
『Potential Points: 28,000』
『Supreme Talent: Limitless Energy (Gold, Level 1): Infinite Energy.』
『Supernatural Talent: Resilience (Red, Level 2)...』
『...』
『Faction: (Unnamed)』
『Members: 1/1 (Your energy is infinite, but you can currently only share it with one person. Available Class to bestow: Witch!)』
『Name: Carrie White』
『Class: Witch』
Locke's lip twitched as he stared at the glaringly obvious text. He immediately clenched his hand, dissipating the energy, and selected the "Toggle Class" option.
『Ding!』
『Class Toggle Successful!』
『You may toggle again at any time to become a... Supernatural Witch!!!』
'What do you mean by adding three exclamation marks?! Are you trying to tempt me? In your dreams!'
Locke fumed. He would rather stay a "Common Assassin" forever than call himself a Witch. There would be no "Oh, actually it's pretty good" moment here. The Law of Irony would not claim him today.
It was embarrassing. He seriously suspected this was the first major bug in the game. It was like a gender-locked class in an RPG that somehow glitched and allowed a male character to equip it.
What? He was a cheater? Even a cheater has standards!
'This is a bug. I want to file a complaint!'
Locke's mood was utterly ruined. This class change... was a hollow victory. And it had cost him a fortune in points.
(T/N:- So dramatic bro, magic is magic regardless of the class ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )
***
Read 30 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666