After clearing the first floor of the dungeon, Jonathan and Dayana found a small resting area—a safe zone where they could recover. It was a welcome sight, as they were exhausted from their first real taste of combat. The tension of their earlier battles, and the loss of Theo, hung heavy between them, but the presence of the resting zone was a temporary relief. The air was thick with a sense of uncertainty, but for now, they had a moment to breathe.

  The room they entered was modest but comfortable, with soft lighting and a warm, almost inviting atmosphere. A message appeared, confirming that all their resources had been restored. HP, MP, SP—everything was back to full.

  As they rested, three doors appeared on the walls. Each door had a name inscribed above it. One had Jonathan's name, another had Dayana's, and the third—Theo's—was grayed out, as though the door had been sealed off by something beyond their control. Below the names was another message, one that caused Jonathan’s heart to tighten as he read:

  "Once you max out a skill, you can resurrect a fallen team member."

  Jonathan paused, the weight of the words sinking in. He couldn't shake the image of Theo disappearing before them. His death was still fresh in his mind. The possibility of resurrecting him, of bringing him back if they succeeded in reaching a certain point, filled Jonathan with mixed emotions—hope, yes, but also an overwhelming sense of responsibility.

  Jonathan stepped forward and entered the room labeled with his name. As soon as he crossed the threshold, he was met with a surreal sight. The room around him looked exactly like his childhood room—a miniature version of it, resized to match his current height. The bed was massive, stretching out to accommodate his current size, and his old desk sat in the corner. The memories flooded back, and for a moment, Jonathan felt a deep sense of nostalgia.

  He sat on the bed for a moment, trying to calm his racing thoughts. Dayana, too, had entered the room after him, and she seemed equally exhausted. Despite the strangeness of their situation, they both agreed that it was best to rest after the long and taxing day. They both lay down, exhausted, but sleep didn’t come easily. The weight of what had happened, of what was still to come, hung over them.

  Suddenly, Jonathan found himself standing in a familiar, sacred place—a shrine. The area around him was serene and quiet, with an ethereal glow lighting up the stone path beneath his feet. He could feel the calmness of the surroundings, but his thoughts raced with the realization of where he was. This wasn’t just any shrine—it was a place where decisions were made, and choices determined the path ahead.

  As Jonathan stood there, he pondered the journey he was on. He knew he had to change things, to take on a role that would allow him to protect those around him. He needed someone to be the tank—the one to absorb damage from enemies. And, as he thought about it, he realized that this role would likely be tied to one of the male-specific rooms, where he could gain the strength he needed.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  He approached two doors, one labeled "Deal Damage" and the other "Soak Damage." Without hesitation, Jonathan chose the "Soak Damage" door. It felt right, a choice that would align with his newfound determination to protect others.

  The door opened, and Jonathan stepped inside. The room was dark, save for four pedestals that stood before him, each one glowing faintly. There was one pedestal for each of the four classical elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The Air pedestal was grayed out, just like Theo’s door had been earlier. Jonathan’s gaze lingered on the Earth pedestal, and he felt drawn to it. Earth, the very foundation of life itself, the element of stability, strength, and endurance.

  Without thinking, Jonathan stepped forward and placed his hand on the Earth pedestal. As soon as his skin made contact, he felt a deep, resonating connection with the element. The ground beneath him seemed to pulse, and a semi-transparent screen materialized before his eyes:

  [First Trial Passed: Earth Affinity Acquired at Level 1.]

  Jonathan’s breath caught in his throat. He had done it. He had passed the first trial. A sense of power surged within him as the Earth Affinity began to settle into his being. He felt solid, grounded, as if he was in tune with the very core of the planet itself.

  But just as quickly as the feeling had risen, it intensified. Jonathan felt as though he were being buried in earth, as if the ground had swallowed him whole. He stayed calm, focusing on his breathing, and recalled what he knew about Earth. It was the origin and the end of life. It was everything around him, supporting him.

  Suddenly, another screen materialized, this time with a new message:

  [Second Trial Passed: Earth Affinity Acquired at Level 2.]

  The first spell you get is being upgraded to Level 2, and you gain one more spell at Level 1.

  But before he could fully process this, another series of messages flashed before his eyes, the words calculating as though a higher power was trying to make sense of Jonathan’s actions:

  "Error: You do not have a spell of this class and Affinity yet. You have 2 levels in it. Calculating…"

  The messages continued to calculate, the screens flickering as the system processed Jonathan’s progress.

  "It seems you are a Lucid Dreamer. You are granted the class Summoner. All abilities are open to you. All spells are in your grasp. You gain 10 points to each of your stats."

  Jonathan felt a rush of energy flood through him as the new class and abilities were unlocked. Summoner. He was now a Summoner, with the power to summon creatures or forces to his side. This was a class he hadn’t expected, but one that now seemed destined for him. The abilities it offered were vast—he could feel it in the depths of his soul. With this new power, he could call forth allies to help him face the dangers ahead.

  The message continued:

  "Achievement Unlocked: First Summoner."

  Jonathan stood there in awe, absorbing the weight of his newfound abilities. The Earth Affinity had opened up new possibilities for him, and with the Summoner class, he felt empowered in ways he hadn’t imagined. But with this new power came a heavy responsibility. The fate of his fallen companions, Theo included, still weighed heavily on his heart. Would he be able to use this power to save them—or was he merely a pawn in a much larger game?

  The choices were becoming clearer, but the path ahead was anything but easy. Jonathan had to keep moving forward, no matter the cost.