Evolving Classes In The Apocalypse-Chapter 16: The Axiom Dimensional Store
The transports set out, rolling across the vast stony lands. Decrepit and torn structures moved past us at a steady speed, half-swallowed by dust and silence. Everyone had settled in, some dozing, others staring at nothing.
Ysor was seated beside me, her head leaned on my shoulder as she took a gentle nap.
Her breathing was even. As if we weren’t sitting in a transport full of strangers, one of whom had the highest potential of recognizing us.
Sleep pulled at me too, a heaviness behind my eyes that I couldn’t shake. But my paranoia wouldn’t allow it.
How could I sleep knowing that a friend of Vorn was here, that I could easily be noticed? It was even worse if word had already reached them that I was gone. If Vorn knew, then his associate might already be on the lookout.
And everything felt more suffocating because there was nothing I could do about it here. The best I could manage was to sit still and reach the Crucible of Giants, then once we were in the mine, I would find a way to escape with Ysor.
Having to just sit and wait sucked. I felt like I would have been less paranoid if I was at the very least walking with my own two feet, making progress I could feel in my legs instead of trusting the rumble of wheels beneath me.
’Or should I take my chances surviving the wilderness?’
That was a stupid idea, one I wouldn’t have considered if my head was in the right space. In fact, this was proof to myself that I was spiraling. Entertaining thoughts I would normally discard in an instant.
Knowing this, I inhaled and exhaled silently. Forced my shoulders to loosen. Then I summoned my Class info, as provided by the Axiom.
[Axiom Status]
[Name: Axel Rubravis]
[Main Class: Hollow]
[Sub-Class: Weapon Novice] (Inactive due to low rank)
[Rank: Mundane] (Awaiting Evolution: 20:34:12)
[Stage: Transcendent]
[Attributes]: [Strength:10], [Agility:10], [Vitality:10], [Spirit:10], [Perception:10].
[Essence: ~ ] (Section unavailable until after Evolution)
[Class Trait]: [Absence]
[Sub-Class Skills]: [Appraisal]
This was my class window, and it confirmed I hadn’t been hallucinating at any point. The Class I gained from killing Desmond was there, staring at me like a ghost of the degenerate boy.
I studied the parts that seemed bolder. They were written in a way that made them outshine the rest of the information on my status. Taking a closer look, the underlying details had faded to near-transparency, while the new information layered over them burned brighter and more insistent.
’I suppose this is due to the pending evolution...’
I gave the Class one last look and then focused on something else.
’Enter Axiom Dimensional Store.’
The moment I issued the mental command, a feminine voice answered inside my head. It was very different from the voice that had conveyed the Class Evolution information to me. Warmer. Almost conversational.
[Welcome, to Axiom Dimensional Store]
[Since you’re using the Dimensional Store for the first time, I will give you a brief of all that you need to know]
[Dear Transcendent Axel, I am Alora, your Axiom-designated Dimensional Store Virtual Attendant]
[The Axiom Dimensional Store is a virtual shop run by the Axiom, only accessible to people who have been Established into their Class]
’I know that... but what I didn’t know is that we get Virtual Attendants...’
[You are a Transcendent, hence you are a VIP client, this gives you the right to have your own designated Virtual Attendant]
’Does that mean you’re also the one telling me about my status and stuff?’
[No. I exist to attend to you in the Dimensional Store alone. In the Store, we sell different things, these things are called Vestiges; they are items provided by the Axiom Dimensional Store. They exist as stable coherent forms—equipment and consumables defined into reality.]
[There are four categories of Vestiges; Armaments, Catalysts, Foundations and Keys]
As Alora explained, I followed along, though these were not things I didn’t know. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
The Academy had ingrained every piece of knowledge about the Axiom into us until we were ready for Definition. But I listened nonetheless.
’I can’t rely on their information alone.’
[Armaments, are weapons, shields and armors. Catalysts are consumables that provide temporary effects. Foundations are permanent enhancements which are very rare and expensive. Keys are Access titles for restricted Vestiges or Dimensional Locations, they are even rarer and more expensive. Having a key means, as long as you don’t sell that key, you will have the effect that comes with the key.]
[So, Dear Transcendent what would you like to spend your precious hard-earned D.Es on today?]
’Ah... keys?’
Those were not something the Academy had taught us. A whole category of Vestiges, and they’d never mentioned it.
’As expected, I can’t rely on their knowledge...’
I paused, thinking about what to ask. Then something came to mind.
’Can I see the frequently purchased Vestiges across all Dimensions?’
[Sequencing Input...]
[Please wait a moment...]
The sequencing took longer than I expected. I figured I might have asked for quite the task, but what I wanted was to see what Defineds usually depend on once they become Established.
It was curiosity, but I also felt like it would help me know what to expect from others if things went wrong.
The input was still being sequenced even after two minutes. I tore my gaze from the system and studied our surroundings instead.
Earlier there had been the torn structures, the ruins, but now the transport had carried us into a woodland. Trees flanked the path on both sides, their leafless branches twisted towards the sky in wrong angles, like limbs frozen mid-convulsion.
I didn’t know exactly how a tree was supposed to look. I hadn’t been privileged enough to see many, and the ones in front of me looked nothing like what the Academy had described.
’They were supposed to be full of life and bring fresh air... how does something this ugly bring fresh air? Or maybe these were Undefined too, and lost their original purpose along with everything else...’
Undefinition and Definition affected everything and anything equally, as far as it was part of nature. Part of our reality.
The transport vehicles were moving at immense speed now, their tires crushing stones and anything solid with furious ease. Nothing stopped their acceleration.
Until something did.
