"What exactly does the Overwhelming Origin Class do?" TJ asked the System. "It's supposedly different from all the other Classes, but how?"
The Overwhelming Origin Class is an exclusive Class that will change the path forward for any who choose it. Instead of pursuing Divinity through one of the Systems preorganized paths, the Participants who follow the Overwhelming Origin become half a god as soon as they take the Class. They will be able to receive the strength granted by their devotee's faith, and their bodies and souls will be changed to become divine beyond the bounds of a mortal's. As such, their focus is, even at so early a stage as Copper (I) tier, on gathering worshippers and establishing a religion. The Overwhelming Origin will become and take over your Bloodline, thereafter granting bonus Attributes to every Attribute for every level of Race attained.
Though that gave more of an insight into the future for any Participant, TJ didn't want to focus on that right now. That the Class would also benefit his Race wasn't to be underestimated either. Gathering worshippers sounded nice, to do that instead of slaughtering hundreds of monsters for a single level. On top of that, he could immediately intuit the synergistic possibilities between gathering worshippers and Savage Shaman. He could establish a society and create rituals to siphon hundreds of people's resources into himself, to make himself basically a deity. Or literally a deity, considering that was the whole point of the System. The question of if he could, however briefly, gain more resources than he naturally had was answered quickly.
Yes.
More and more, the Overwhelming Origin Class sounded powerful, intense, maybe even too good to leave behind, even if it didn't speak to him the way that Storm-Calling Neophyte did. The explanation of its bonus Skill further cemented the power the Class would offer.
Divine Presence (Copper (I)): You have set foot into the realm of the truly divine, the gods. The aura of a god compels those that lay eye on them to worship. Divine Presence inflicts the Awestruck affliction on those within 100 feet of the Skill's holder.
The Skill description was so short, and initially, TJ was disappointed by how it was only Copper tier. After all, shouldn't a Skill offered by a transcendental Class be higher tiered than the Class itself? Then, his critical thought caught up with the brief frustration, and he realized that if it was as powerful as it showed at Copper tier, then it'd have an additional tier to continue to grow more and more influential. Again, he nearly made the decision that very second, but that discomfort in the back of his mind remained. What was it about this Class that had his subconscious recoiling?
TJ thought for a moment, then a question occurred. "What kind of influence would this Class have on my mind? If it replaces my Bloodline, then it'll probably change the way I feel somewhat, right?"
Those with the Overwhelming Origin Class and Bloodline become the culmination, apex, and perfect representation of the Divine System. With each step, they grow closer to the Divine Throne, and with each movement, they form a deeper connection with their own Divine Realm.
The System presented it as this wonderful change, TJ's enthusiasm grew cold. "If I had the Overwhelming Origin Bloodline, would I still remember who I am? Would I remember Junior and my life from before?"
All memories would remain present, but they would retain no lasting emotional hold on you.
With that, the Class was entirely off the table. TJ had already suspected that the System would try to wrest all individuality away from Participants until they were its perfect little godlings, but he could fight that gradual change. There was nothing he could do if the System itself stripped away all that made him TJ. As such, he pushed Overwhelming Origin away, shuddering at its fitting epithet of "overwhelming".
Now, TJ only needed to choose between Paternal Protector and Storm-Calling Neophyte. The difference in Attribute points offered was negligible, with an extra 2 for Paternal Protector, but nothing specialized. Instead, Storm-Calling Neophyte was focused on those Attributes that would strengthen his Wind Manipulation and any other Skills he got that supported that. He didn't like the idea of getting manhandled, but more and more, his power was becoming focused on his MP, whether that was because it was the limiting factor for Divine Manifestation, Wind Manipulation, or otherwise.
Thus, the Attributes were slightly in the favor of Storm-Calling Neophyte. In fact, TJ stopped lying to himself. The only reason why Patrenal Protector remained an option was because of the Father's Sacrifice Skill. Nothing else about it was noteworthy, but it was a huge draw. If Junior was brought into this world like this, then he would need to be protected. Father's Sacrifice would help him keep Junior safe… but would TJ actually be able to protect his child if he took Paternal Protector?
It didn't provide any other Skills, and it was obvious that the focus of the Class was protecting others. If TJ truly did end up alone, then Paternal Protector would help him keep Junior safe in the immediate appearance of a danger. That was far from something to discount, but what if it was a powerful creature that TJ struggled to face? Would the Class allow him to defeat the monster? Would it help him to get Junior out of danger? For all of those, it seemed like TJ would be better served by having the Silver tier of Divine Transformation and Storm Soul, to have so much more to help Junior with.
In combination with that fear, TJ needed to get out of this Tutorial alive. Paternal Protector wouldn't do much for him in this siege and boss fight, while it would be the proving ground for Storm Soul specifically, given the permanent storm he would provide. So, for the Tutorial, Storm-Calling Neophyte would be vastly superior to Paternal Protector. But did the Tutorial really expect people to reach the Copper tier? If it hadn't, wouldn't he be able to easily overcome whatever difficulties it had to put in his way? TJ stopped himself from thinking that way, as maybe it was, and he'd kill himself because he was banking on the System not being ready for him.
Then, too, there was the answer the System had given him. He could gain Father's Sacrifice as a Skill without taking this Class. That would be the best possible option, to have the Skill he wanted alongside the Class he wanted. It simply wouldn't be possible the other way around, so, although it pained him to push this golden, or Silver as the case may be, Skill to the side, TJ did so.
"I'll take Storm-Calling Neophyte as my Class."
Confirmation: You, Thiago Jorge Harris IV want your Copper (I) tiered evolutionary choices to be:
Race: Semi-Divine Human
Occupation: Savage Shaman
Class: Storm-Calling Neophyte?
TJ rolled his shoulders. "Yes."
Evolution confirmed. Typical Systemic Audience delayed until the culmination of Tutorial 107.48.891. Evolution to Copper (I) tier Semi-Divine Human Savage Shaman and Storm-Calling Neophyte will take place over the next 11:07:54.
The few questions TJ had about evolution and what was happening were wiped away by the forced oblivion of evolution, where he saw, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted nothing.
[Stanton POV]
It'd been a couple hours since TJ rushed off all in a tizzy about evolving. Something about it was a little weird to Stanton, though he couldn't quite say what. Maybe it was like how he was finding himself enjoying killing more than merely shooting these days. He didn't like remembering those days, when he'd been a more effective soldier than he'd like to admit.
As he'd been with TJ's Trial or whatever, Stanton stayed close, idly pushing his MP into the little grove of Lifeblooms and vegetables. The magical plants helped keep the spinach and broccoli growing quickly, even if he only visited twice a day. He looked up the hill of garbage where TJ sat with his legs crossed.
Stanton suspected, as well as everyone else did, even Zig, that TJ would be the key to their survival when this all went to shit. Just two nights and one day lay before them and the beginnings of the end of the Tutorial. That Stanton himself had gotten one of the requirements for evolving to the Copper tier was something he needed to share. He'd just barely gotten it when he'd figured out how to evolve his Divine Armament to the Silver tier. It was a bitch and a half to figure out five Attainments, but now, his Suzie was far more dangerous than she'd ever been. That she also gave him almost 200 Attribute points wasn't anything to neglect either.
He was almost there with his Fixation, too, now that he knew to throw more of his Free Points in there. What would that third requirement end up being? Eh. If he could figure it out early tomorrow, that'd be enough for him to join with TJ as Copper tier when this all went to hell in a handbasket.
"Anything change?" Sarah asked as she jogged up to Stanton. Most of the people in town had eaten their fill already and were in the process of tearing down the final building near the general store–the firehouse. It was bittersweet, but the concrete, cinderblocks, brick, and metal would be immensely useful as they put the final touches on their bulwarks tomorrow.
"Nope." Stanton answered, looking back up at TJ's form. The young man hadn't moved at all since Stanton had found him here, and nothing seemed to be changing. As they looked up there, though, TJ fell. Sarah used her Skill to dash forward, but with Acolyte giving him so many points in Agility, Stanton was quicker. He caught TJ, his heart in his throat.
"No way you're pulling this shit again." Stanton grumbled as he looked into TJ's face. The System didn't push him away this time, at least, and when he felt at TJ's pulse, it was slow but strong. When he went to push some of the life of the Lifeblooms into the unconscious man, there wasn't anything he could push it into as TJ grew healthier and healthier by the second.
"What's wrong with him?" Sarah asked, her eyes searching Stanton's face. "Do we need a Disciple?"
"No." Stanton laughed, shaking his head. "The dramatic little bastard just fell asleep."
After looking at him for a moment in confirmation, and then receiving a nod in response, Sarah laughed as well. "Hope he gets some beauty sleep, then, because he's got a full ten hours before we get moving. Better sleep than I've gotten this whole time."
"Here's to hoping." Stanton replied before asking, "Where should we put him now?" As he did so, he ignored a new System notification that appeared in the corner of his vision.