"What class did you choose?"
"I'm a Tank," Boran replied.
William's expression froze for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly. This reaction didn't escape Boran's notice.
"What's wrong?" asked Boran.
William took a deep breath. "Well... it's a complicated situation. The Crimson Lion guild has adopted a very specific combat strategy, shaped through years of experience and countless failures."
"Our strategy relies on high damage output and rapid position changes. Our ranged and mage classes quickly weaken enemies, while our melee classes strike at critical moments and withdraw. Within this dynamic structure..." William paused, searching for the right words.
"There's no place for the Tank class, is there?" Boran finished.
"Unfortunately not," said William. "The Tank class is powerful—I don't deny that. But our tactics are built on speed and maneuverability. Tanks' durability and defensive abilities are amazing, but..."
"They remain slow and cumbersome," Boran completed.
"Exactly. We're currently accepting ranged damage dealers and agile melee fighters. This combination gives us maximum flexibility in both attack and retreat."
"So you never use tanks? Even in boss fights?"
William shook his head. "Even then, we have a different approach. We stay constantly mobile and avoid the boss's attacks. Rather than absorbing damage, we prefer avoiding it entirely. That's why we favor damage-dealing classes over tanks."
"By the way," William continued, "we have other criteria for guild membership. You need to have had your system for at least three months—this period is crucial for mastering basic mechanics. Also," he said, producing a crystal-like object from his inventory, "class affinity must be at least seventy percent. This crystal measures how well-suited an adventurer is to their class."
"Class affinity, huh."
"Yes. Each class has unique abilities and playstyle. The affinity score shows how well an adventurer can utilize their class's potential. For assassins, it's about positioning, timing, and critical strikes. For mages, it's mana management and spell combinations. This criterion ensures our guild members excel in their roles, making our tactics work smoothly."
William extended the crystal to Boran. "Try it if you'd like. It'll measure your class compatibility."
Boran took the crystal. It felt slightly weighted in his palm, its surface smooth. The crystal began to glow, green light dancing within.
"Hmm, interesting," said William, studying the crystal. "Fifty-five percent. That's quite good for a beginner, especially with a complex class like Tank."
"What exactly does that mean?" asked Boran, examining the crystal.
"The affinity score reflects your grasp of class mechanics. Fifty-five percent shows you've mastered the basics but have room to grow."
Boran returned the crystal. "How does this score increase?"
"Through experience and practice," William answered. "The more you fight and develop tactics, the higher it becomes. Some masters exceed ninety percent after years of effort. A few even surpass one hundred percent..."
"How is that possible?"
"You're asking about exceeding one hundred percent?" William smiled. "It's rare—usually achieved only by legendary adventurers or absolute masters."
"Typically, one hundred percent means utilizing a class's full potential. But sometimes, an adventurer masters their class mechanics so thoroughly that they create unexpected combinations or use abilities in innovative ways."
"Our guild leader Mark exemplifies this. His Archer class affinity is one hundred and forty-five percent. He makes impossible shots, maintaining perfect accuracy while moving. He can even curve arrows around obstacles to strike critical points. I've seen him during training."
"Exceeding one hundred percent isn't just mechanical mastery—it's understanding the class's essence. These adventurers become one with their class."
Boran listened, impressed. "That's remarkable. What's your score?"
William smiled modestly. "Only eighty-eight percent. I still have much to learn."
"Wow! You're a genius? What level are you?"
"67," William replied. "But experience and affinity matter more than level. I've had my system for a year, focusing constantly on improvement."
Boran nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So even if I wait three months and achieve perfect affinity, I still can't join because I'm a Tank."
"Unfortunately, yes," said William. "But if you consider changing classes and meet our criteria, our doors remain open. We especially need assassins right now."
"Changing class..." Boran mused quietly.
"Of course," William replied. "Though it's challenging. You must reach a certain level, complete specific quests, gather special items, and learn your new class's abilities from scratch."
"I'm sorry, but..." said Boran. "The Tank class is special. According to its specifications, this choice can't be reversed. Once chosen, it's permanent."
"What?" William said, surprised. "Why such a restriction?"
"I have no idea."
William looked thoughtfully at Boran's unanswered question. "This is interesting. I thought I knew the basic rules of the system, but this is the first time I'm hearing about such a restriction for the tank class. Perhaps it has something to do with the tank class's special role in the system."
"Well... It's not important. I can manage somehow. I've dealt with situations like this before, there's always a solution."
"What are you planning to do about your room? This is a safe zone, but spending the night outside could be risky. You never know what people might do."
"I guess I'll have to go back to my hotel in the real world. At least I have my own bed there. It'll just take me hours to get back to the hotel."
"Wait here a minute," said William and quickly headed toward his own room.
When the door opened, the interior looked like his room; completely clean and furnished with simple, elegant furniture. The walls were light-colored and sunlight streaming through the window illuminated the room.
After the door closed, someone else came and inserted their key to open the door. When the door opened, a completely different room appeared. This time the interior was more colorful and filled with personalized items.
"So that's why this place is so crowded! A different room appears every time a door opens."
When the door opened again, William came out. He was holding a carefully folded, thick-looking mattress.
"Sorry, this is all I can give you right now. It's quite a comfortable mattress, I used it for a while myself. I washed it, don't worry."
Boran smiled looking at the mattress. "Thank you very much, this is enough for me. At least it's better than staying outside."
"You're welcome," said William. "Get some rest, I'm sure it's been a long day for you."
Boran nodded and opened the door to enter his room. He turned around when he heard William calling.
"Would you like me to add you as a friend? That way we can easily keep in touch."
After thinking for a moment, Boran nodded. "Sure, why not?"
[The Ashborn William Bennet [Pact of the Pale Mist Warlock] has sent you a friend request. Do you accept?]
After pressing the confirm button, he could now see William in his friends list.
"Good night," said William, turning around and walking toward his own room.