Darkness surrounded him — but it wasn't empty.
It was the kind of black that vibrated softly against the skin, as if the world was holding its breath just beyond the veil.
Then a voice — calm, genderless, mechanical and warm all at once:
Welcome to Veilborn.
Identity confirmed.
Neural sync complete.
Conscious-state integrity: Stable.
A light bloomed around Michael like rising mist. His bare feet stood on a floor that wasn't there — silver, rippling, and endless. In the center floated a single ring of glass, suspended in the air like a divine compass. Around it: icons.
Seven.
They rotated with slow reverence, glowing softly with faint colored trails.
Class Selection Interface Activated.
He stepped closer. The silence of the world hummed in his ears. No cinematic cutscenes. No blaring menus. Just titles, symbols, and a strange sense of gravity.
Available Starter Classes:
• Sellsword – A versatile melee fighter. Balanced. Simple. Dangerous in the right hands.
• Vanguard – Armored and unyielding. Takes the hit so others don't.
• Wraith – A swift killer, favoring shadows and swift burst damage.
• Acolyte – Healer, buffer, light-magic support.
• Arcanist – A long-range elemental spellcaster.
• Hunter – Precision-based. Traps. Bows. Mobility.
• Monk – Close-quarters fighter, unarmed, focused on internal energy flow.
No tutorials. No advice.
No hand-holding.
Michael slowly turned the wheel with his hand, letting it click softly as each class lit up in turn. The interface was responsive, but quiet — respectful. Like it was waiting for him to understand something.
Then a subtle ripple passed through the air.
A new line of text blinked faintly into existence at the base of the ring:
Note:
Hidden Classes Exist.
Hidden Classes are not available at character creation.
Some are unlocked through story.
Others… through fate.
He leaned in instinctively. The text changed.
Hidden Class Origins:
– Rare: Found through relics, rituals, or lost knowledge.
– Epic: Born from triumph, sacrifice, or mastery.
– Mythic: Awakened by divine trial, ancient pact, or legend.
– Forbidden: Twisted echoes of systems long buried.
– World-Bound: Not created. Remembered. The world knows them, even if you don't.
– ???: Class unknown. Conditions unknown. Identity unstable.
Michael's pulse quickened. That last line…
A second screen flickered — for less than a second:
[Veiled Star Affinity: Unreadable Signature Detected]
Compatibility with advanced paths may apply.
…or not.
And then it vanished like smoke.
He stepped back. The light of the class wheel seemed brighter now, like it was watching him back.
This was no ordinary MMO. This wasn't just a power fantasy dressed in pixels. This thing… breathes.
He hovered his hand over Arcanist for a moment — tempted. Magic was rare in real life. And there was something seductive about it. But he wasn't stupid. Magic in Veilborn looked fragile — low HP, complex mechanics, long cast times.
And he wasn't here to play safe.
He turned the wheel until Sellsword returned.
Simple. Flexible. Strong enough to survive now. Open enough to become something else later.
The blade is just the shell. The path comes later.
He clenched his fist.
[CLASS SELECTED: SELLSWORD]
The wheel pulsed once. Warm. Final.
And the world exploded in white light.