The last system notification faded, leaving Drake standing in the quiet solemnity of Elder Jian's sanctum. He felt… different. The [Twin Soul Bladesworn] class resonated within him, a subtle shift in his virtual presence, accompanied by the knowledge of new passive abilities like [Dual Intent] and [Echoing Steel], and the re-awakening of his potent [Relentless Assault]. His old Warrior skills were gone, replaced by the foundational techniques he had just arduously mastered: [Parry] (80% SCR), [Twin Fang Strike] (83% SCR), [Blade Dance] (81% SCR), and the core [Basic Attack Combo R/L] (R-100%/L-82% SCR).
Elder Jian's ancient eyes finally focused fully on Drake, a hint of something akin to approval within their depths. "You have successfully navigated the Trial of Resonance, initiate. You have proven your dedication and your capacity to grasp the fundamentals of the Twin Soul path. The [Twin Soul Bladesworn] class is now yours to walk."
Jian then glanced at Drake's currently equipped [Rare Bandit Chieftain's Blade] and [Rare Guardian's Buckler]. "Your previous armaments, while serviceable for a warrior, are ill-suited to the true form of the Bladesworn. This art demands perfect symmetry, two blades acting as a single extension of a unified will."
The Elder gestured, and from a previously unseen alcove, two perfectly matched swords floated silently towards Drake. They were slightly longer and more slender than his previous longsword, crafted from the same dark Alvari alloy as the [Trial Blades], but these felt more substantial, imbued with a faint, stable energy. Their hilts were wrapped in dark, supple leather, and their balance felt extraordinary even before he touched them.
<< Item Received: [Initiate's Twin Blades] (Pair - Rare)! >>
His currently equipped sword and shield automatically unequipped and returned to his inventory. Drake reached out and took the offered blades, one in each hand.
[Initiate's Twin Blades] (Matched Pair)
Quality: Rare
Type: One-Handed Sword (Class: Twin Soul Bladesworn Only)
Damage (per blade): 28-38
Requirements: Level 20, Twin Soul Bladesworn
Stats (per blade, and stack if applicable): +4 Agility +4 Precision +2% Attack Speed
Set Bonus (2/2): "Echoing Strikes" - Basic attacks have a small chance to cause the other blade to strike for minor bonus ethereal damage.
"Rare quality, matched pair... higher base damage than my old sword, plus Agility, Precision, and Attack Speed on each? And a set bonus for bonus damage? This is a massive upgrade." He gave them a few experimental swings. The balance was exquisite, feeling incredibly natural in his hands despite his newness to dual-wielding, likely a subtle effect of the [Dual Intent] passive already working.
"These are your starting blades," Jian stated. "They will serve you as you begin to truly understand the path. But know this, Bladesworn: the journey you have embarked upon is one of perpetual growth, of constant refinement. The echoes of this trial chamber are not so easily silenced."
Jian's expression became grave. "The Twin Soul path demands that you never stagnate, that your mastery continuously evolves. To ensure this, a binding has been placed upon your new class, a perpetual test. Once every seven standard days, measured from this moment, you must return to a place of resonance – this sanctum, or others you may discover – and face the Mirror's Edge trial again. Your previous victory is but a benchmark."
Drake felt a chill despite the powerful new blades in his hands. "Every seven days? A mandatory trial?"
"Each week," Jian continued, his voice unyielding, "the Echo you face will be subtly stronger. It will execute every Bladesworn technique precisely +1% SCR higher than the highest baselines you yourself achieved during your last victorious trial. If you achieve 90% SCR on a skill this week, next week's Echo will perform it at 91%. To merely survive, let alone progress further on your path, you must continuously, relentlessly, refine your own execution beyond your previous limits, across all your core abilities."
The weight of this condition settled upon Drake. It wasn't just about learning skills; it was about an unending push for greater perfection, week after week, with an ever-improving opponent as his measuring stick.
"And the consequence of failure?" Drake asked, though he already suspected the answer.
"Should you ever be defeated by your advancing reflection in this weekly trial," Jian stated, his gaze piercing, "the unique potential of the [Twin Soul Bladesworn] will be deemed to have reached its limit within you. The class, its skills, its unique passives – they will be permanently sealed, rendered inert. You would revert to a base Warrior, your connection to this path severed."
"Permanently sealed?! Lose the class, lose Dual Intent, Echoing Steel... everything? The stakes are… astronomical. This isn't just a class; it's a constant, high-stakes challenge against myself." The [He Who Beat the Unbeatable] title suddenly felt less like a past achievement and more like a continuous job description.
He thought of his [Eidetic Execution]. It would lock in any improvement he made. But making those improvements, pushing past his current 80-83% SCRs on his special skills (and his 82% Left-Hand basic) towards the 90s and eventually 100s, especially with an Echo constantly raising the bar, would be an unending grind.
"Do you accept this burden, this path of perpetual honing?" Jian asked.
There was only one answer for Drake. This was what he did. This was who he was. "I accept, Master Jian."
A faint smile touched Jian's lips again. "Good. Only then can the true legacy begin." He paused. "The Hilt you carry, now part of your new blades through the awakened Omega Core, is but one step. The full power of the Twin Souls, their true purpose, requires more. Your first task as a Bladesworn is to seek out the [Echoing Forge]. It is an ancient Alvari installation, one of few that survived the Shattering somewhat intact, a place where the resonance of creation still lingers. It is there that the next stage of understanding your blades, and perhaps the Hilt's counterpart, might be found."
Jian provided Drake with a series of cryptic clues – navigational references, symbolic alignments, and vague historical notes – pointing towards a remote, mountainous region far from Silverhaven.
<< Class Quest Received: [Legacy of the Twin Souls] >>
<< Current Objective: Locate the [Echoing Forge] using Elder Jian's guidance. >>
<< Rewards: ??? >>
Drake meticulously stored the information using [Perfect Recall]. He was now a Level 20 [Twin Soul Bladesworn], armed with his new [Initiate's Twin Blades], a daunting weekly trial hanging over his head, and his first official class quest leading him into unknown territory. The path ahead was uncertain, demanding constant growth under immense pressure.
He bowed deeply to Elder Jian. "Thank you for the guidance, Master. I will not fail this path."
Jian simply nodded. "See that you do not, Bladesworn. The echoes await."