The game YGGDRASIL was fundamentally different from traditional games, featuring an extremely harsh death penalty. Death would result in a loss of five levels, and if a character fell below level 5, the account would be permanently deleted . To mitigate this, players relied on resurrection spells, carried resurrection items, or used pay-to-win options like Cash Shop resurrection rings or staves.
Irvine Wolf possessed none of these resources. Moreover, he suspected that even with his Player Talent, death in this real New World would not grant an automatic resurrection. This was no longer a game; it was a lethal reality. Caution was not just advisable—it was essential for survival.
As Irvine gnawed on his hard rye bread, his hand drifted to the short sword at his waist, purchased for a silver coin. Without an Appraise Magic spell, he couldn't access the weapon's detailed stats, but he knew it was a mundane item with no magical enhancements. He had bought it not only for self-defense but also because touching it had revealed a crucial mechanic: class acquisition.
'Buzz—'
'Contact with weapon — Short Sword. Basic class information acquired: Warrior.'
'Do you wish to take up this class?'
The prompt appeared on his status panel, visible only to him. This was not the first time he had encountered it; the same notification had appeared when he first handled the sword.
"No," Irvine immediately mentally dismissed the prompt.
The class information vanished from his interface. He had now declined this offer twice. Through experimentation, he had discovered that prolonged contact with specific weapons could trigger class-related prompts. While in a weapon shop, he had touched a uniquely crafted shield, which unlocked an intermediate class: Black Guard. However, to qualify for this class, he needed the basic class Guardian as a prerequisite.
This discovery had excited him, leading him to discreetly touch every weapon within reach, much to the shop owner's irritation. Unfortunately, aside from the shield, all other weapons only offered the basic Warrior class.
In YGGDRASIL, classes were categorized into three tiers:
· Basic Classes (15 levels maximum)
· Intermediate Classes (10 levels maximum)
· High-Tier/Special Classes (5 levels maximum)
With over two thousand classes in the game's system, class builds were highly customizable, and it was rare for two players to have identical configurations .
Irvine had refrained from committing to a class immediately because he understood a critical point: the level cap was 100. Basic classes alone could consume 30 levels if he chose both warrior and caster paths, leaving only 70 levels for more advanced specializations. This decision was irreversible and carried immense weight. A flawed build would leave him vulnerable, especially against the optimized, min-maxed entities of Nazarick. He could not afford mistakes.
As he chewed the coarse bread, Irvine frowned, deep in thought. His head was bowed, and his expression was troubled. Without the threat of Nazarick, he could have chosen a class freely, focusing only on overcoming the native challenges of the New World, such as the True Dragon Lords. But the impending catastrophe forced him to strategize meticulously.
He had concluded that bridging the gap with Nazarick required two key elements:
1. Leveraging unique New World capabilities absent in YGGDRASIL, such as Martial Arts or legendary items like the Kingdom's national treasures: Razor Edge and the Ring of Avarice.
2. Acquiring a Special Class. These classes were rarer and more powerful than high-tier classes, often granting unique skills or effects that could rival Super-Tier Magic. Only with such a class could Irvine hope to stand against a Floor Guardian in direct combat.
Tap, tap—
Footsteps approached through the bustling crowd. A shadow fell over Irvine, blocking the sun's glare. Startled, he looked up, maintaining a neutral expression.
Before him stood a young boy with short, golden hair, his bangs almost covering his eyes, giving him a gentle, unassuming appearance. He was dressed in simple but decent-quality clothing, a step above Irvine's own cheap attire. Irvine's dark brown eyes widened slightly in recognition.
Nfirea?
This was Nfirea Bareare, the future "Genius Alchemist" highly valued even by Ainz Ooal Gown. Though younger than his depiction in the main story, his distinctive features were unmistakable.
"Hello, are you in some kind of trouble?" Nfirea asked softly, his tone sincere and slightly shy.
Trouble? Irvine glanced at the half-eaten rye bread in his hand, his hunched posture in the corner, and the palpable air of dejection around him. The conclusion was obvious.
I'm being pitied.
Irvine's mouth twitched. "No," he replied flatly.
"What are you doing, Nfirea?" a cold voice interjected.
An elderly woman, barely five feet tall, with pale hair wrapped in a green headscarf, approached. Her expression was stern, and her gaze was sharp. This was undoubtedly Lizzie Bareare, Nfirea's grandmother.
Hearing her call the boy by name confirmed Irvine's suspicion: this was indeed Nfirea Bareare.
Irvine studied him again. This unassuming boy was a genuine prodigy. He possessed the variant classes Alchemist (Genius) and Pharmacist (Genius), which were unique to the New World and functioned like innate Talents. These "(Genius)" classes allowed him to learn extra skills, exceed normal skill level caps, and enhance the potency of his abilities .
Within a few years, Nfirea would use local herbs to replicate the Red Potion (known as "God's Blood" in the New World), a low-tier healing item common in YGGDRASIL but invaluable due to its consumable nature. This ability alone had earned him the attention of the Sorcerer King.
More impressively, Nfirea possessed the innate Talent "Unlimited Item Usage," allowing him to bypass all class, race, and level restrictions on items. He could even use Guild Weapons, which were typically restricted to guild members .
Irvine took a deep breath. Such talent. He is truly a high-quality human in this world. To a certain extent, Nfirea's abilities could even pose a threat to the absolute dominance of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.