Heavenly Unbound [A LitRPG System Survival]

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 - Tier Up!



Ann glanced at Michael, her brow furrowed. "So, we need to do this now?"

"Yes," Sam replied firmly. "Tiering up will make you significantly stronger. The monsters ahead will only get tougher, and we need every advantage we can get."

Eddie nodded, his playful grin replaced by a more serious expression. "Makes sense. No point waiting around."

Michael, however, looked hesitant. "What if I pick the wrong class? What if it doesn't suit me?"

Sam placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, his gaze steady. "Don't overthink it, Michael. Trust your instincts. The system will only give you options you're capable of handling. Just choose the one that feels right."

Michael exhaled slowly, nodding. "Okay. I'll do it."

Sam stepped back, giving them space. "Go ahead. I'll keep watch while you tier up. Once you're ready, we'll move on."

As the three of them focused on their system windows, Sam turned his gaze toward the darkened forest ahead.

A while later, one by one, they began to undergo their tier evolution. Above their skin, clouds of energy in different hues started to form, swirling and warping around them like a living force. It was a sight Sam remembered well from his own tier-up process.

However, unlike his own painful experience, their evolutions seemed calm, almost serene. They each sat in quiet meditation, their expressions untroubled as the energy enveloped them.

Sam observed closely, noting the distinct characteristics of each aura

Michael's energy was a yellow, calm aura, radiating steadiness and resilience.

Anne's was a blue, living aura, dynamic and fluid, like ripples on a tranquil lake.

Eddie's aura, by contrast, was translucent and still, almost invisible except for the faint shimmer of its presence, exuding quiet, deliberate focus.

The energy types must correspond to the stats they unlocked, Sam thought. I'll need to ask them about it later.

It wasn't long before Michael opened his eyes. He looked different—not drastically, but subtly altered, as though every part of him had been honed and refined. Even his posture seemed more confident, and Sam noticed he appeared slightly taller than before.

"How do you feel?" Sam asked, his tone steady but curious.

Michael took a deep breath, a small smile spreading across his face. "I feel... more than fine. This is incredible—like being reborn."

Sam nodded, satisfied with the answer. "Good. Take some time to get familiar with your new form. I'll have some questions for you once you're ready."

Michael nodded back, his expression serious. Without a word, he closed his eyes again, his focus shifting inward. Sam watched as Michael began experimenting with the yellow aura surrounding him, moving it in subtle waves as though testing its responsiveness.

Sam folded his arms, leaning against a nearby tree.

As Anne and Eddie showed signs of nearing the end of their evolutions, Sam's gaze shifted to the swirling blue and translucent energy around them. He couldn't help but wonder What kind of power are they awakening?

A moment later, Ann and Eddie finished their evolutions. Like Michael, they radiated a sense of newfound power, their postures exuding confidence and energy. If they were back on Earth, Sam mused, they could probably lift a small car without breaking a sweat. They were, without a doubt, superhuman now.

Sam left them to acclimate to their new abilities, giving them the time and space to adjust. After a short while, he walked over to Michael, who was inspecting the faint yellow aura around him with fascination.

"What's your class, Michael?" Sam asked, his tone casual but curious. "Can you tell me about it?"

Michael turned to him, a broad smile of satisfaction on his face. "When I opened the options, there were three common classes and three uncommon ones," he began. "I recognized the three common classes you told me about—Fighter, Spellcaster, and Backpacker—so I focused on the uncommon ones instead."

Sam nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

"The uncommon options were Combat Medic, Guard Knight, and Alchemist," Michael explained, his voice filled with excitement. "Combat Medic is a hybrid class—half combat, half support. Guard Knight is pure combat, focused on defense and holding the line. And Alchemist is a crafting and healing class, with skills for making potions and tools."

Michael paused, his expression thoughtful. "I wanted a combat class, but I didn't want to lose the ability to heal. So I chose Combat Medic. It felt like the best balance for me. Plus, it unlocks the Stamina stat."

Sam raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Sounds solid. Did you pick a skill yet?"

Michael grinned, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "Yeah! I picked Healing Pulse! It lets me release a burst of healing energy around me, instantly healing nearby allies. How cool is that?"

Sam gave a faint smirk, nodding. "Not bad. Sounds like it'll come in handy."

Michael chuckled, flexing his hands as if testing his new strength. "I can't wait to try it out in an actual fight. It's like... I finally feel useful."

Sam clapped him on the shoulder, his expression neutral but encouraging. "You've always been useful, Michael. This just gives you more options."

Michael's grin widened, and he turned back to practice with his aura. Sam watched him for a moment longer, satisfied to see his brother embracing his newfound potential.

After checking in with Michael, Sam made his way to Anne and then to Eddie, curious about their choices.

Anne was the first to explain. Other than the three common classes—Fighter, Spellcaster, and Backpacker—she was offered one uncommon option. Naturally, she chose the uncommon class: Spear Arbiter.

"It unlocked the Mana stat," Anne said, twirling her spear with a thoughtful look. "The class is most likely linked to my use of the spear and what I studied in college."

Sam raised an eyebrow. "What's the class about?"

Anne's eyes lit up, a small smile forming. "It's simple but fitting: a spear wielder who upholds justice. I picked the skill Judgment Thrust. It's an attack that deals more damage to targets I consider evil. The stronger my conviction about their evilness, the more damage it does."

Sam hesitated, a flicker of unease passing through him. "So... it's all about your judgment?"

"Exactly!" Anne grinned, clearly excited.

Sam couldn't help but feel a little wary. I really hope she doesn't go overboard with this whole justice thing. The last thing we need is her going full law-obsessed.

Next, he turned to Eddie, who was equally eager to share his experience. Unlike Anne, Eddie was offered three uncommon classes, similar to Michael. Out of those, he chose Scout, a class Sam also remembered being offered during his tier evolution.

"It unlocked the Kinetic stat," Eddie explained, leaning on his bow. "I picked a skill called Trail Marker. It lets me track clues left behind by creatures, which is perfect for a place like this. We don't even know how big this dungeon is, but now I can help us navigate it better."

Sam gave a small nod, impressed by the practicality of Eddie's choice. "That'll definitely come in handy. Good pick."

Meanwhile, the rest of the group—those who hadn't reached Level 10 yet—watched the tier evolutions with wide-eyed excitement. Even though they couldn't evolve yet, their anticipation was palpable. Who wouldn't welcome the opportunity to become stronger, to step beyond the limits of ordinary humanity? The transformations were particularly inspiring, each one a clear step toward survival in this unforgiving world.

With everything settled, Sam motioned for the group to move forward. This time, they wouldn't wander aimlessly. Eddie stepped up, activating Trail Marker and scanning the ground for signs of their next target.

"It's not far," Eddie said after a moment, pointing toward a faint trail leading deeper into the forest. "Looks like we're heading this way."

The group fell in line, their pace steady but cautious. Sam stayed near the front, his hand on the hilt of his sword as the trees grew denser around them. Whatever was waiting for them next, they would face it together—with their newfound abilities and a growing sense of purpose.

Ding!

You have slain an enemy [Goblin: level 13]

Ding!

You have slain an enemy [Goblin: level 15]

Ding!

...….

...….

Ding!

[Congratulations! You have reached level 18]

Our progress through the dungeon was faster than expected. All ten of us had already reached Level 10 and undergone evolution. Michael and Ann had climbed even higher, now sitting at Level 14, both eager to unlock their second skills.

Sam opened his quest window to check the group's progress

[DUNGEON QUEST]

Quest Name: Goblins Village - Floor 1

Time Remaining: -

Objective: Eliminate all goblins [ 90/ 100 ]

Rewards: 5 Health Potions, Random Common skill book.

Sam scanned the numbers, his sharp gaze narrowing slightly. It seems like the next group of goblins will be the last for this floor, he thought, his grip tightening on his sword hilt.

But the quest wasn't what occupied his mind. What concerned him more was the strange absence of a new skill. He already hit Level 15—a milestone that should have granted him a new oneskill. Yet, nothing had appeared.

Instead, a different notification had popped up earlier:

[Source of All Matter ] had been strengthening.

Sam dismissed the notification earlier, unsure whether to feel annoyed or intrigued. His only unique skill, Source of all matter was powerful but had been the same since he first unlocked it. Now, the system seemed intent on refining it rather than offering him something new.

Is this because of my titles or traits? he wondered. Or is the system treating me differently for some reason?

Lost in thought, he barely noticed Michael approaching.

"Sam," Michael said, snapping him out of his reverie. "We're ready to move. Should we finish this floor now?"

Sam nodded, pushing the questions in his mind aside for the moment. "Let's finish this."

The group began moving again, a quiet determination settling over them. Sam stayed at the front, his focus sharp. Whatever the system's intentions, he'd figure it out—but for now, there were goblins to deal with.

[SOUL RECORD]

Name: Samuel Barlow

Race: Human / Heaven

Class: Unbound Initiate

Title: Lucky Man 9, Early Access, The First of Skill Wleider, Barrier Breaker,…]

Level: 18 [Tier 1]

[STATUS]

Strength: 25 +10[+80%]

Agility: 25 +10[+80%]

Vitality:25 +10[+80%]

Endurance: 25 +10[+80%]

Intelligence: 21 +10[+80%]

Wisdom: 21 +10[+80%]

Luck: 100 +10[+80%]

Grandmist: 10 +10[80%]

Undistributed Stats: 0

[SKILLS]: Mental Ruler , Battle Focus , Source of All Matter +1.

[COMMON SKILLS]: language, mathematics, cooking, exercises,….Etc.

[TRAITS]: The Eye of Heaven, Unbound.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.