Azure: Gunner

We’re not done yet, kids! On every odd-numbered Tier, the System will give you an additional modifier slot – and it’s up to you which item you choose to enhance with it. Typically, offensive and Spell-casting Classes pick their weapon, while defensive oriented Classes pick their armor.

Last and definitely least, you’ll get a single booster at every Tier in your System chest. These bad boys look like a mod, except they’re gold instead of white. Unlike a mod, a booster can only be used once. Just apply it to an item and poof! The System will increase the Level of the item to match the booster!

You might be thinking that is the greatest thing ever, but it’s actually just pretty cool. Sure, high-Level boosters are quite valuable – I’m talking decent money at Level 30 and a fuck-ton of it at 40 – but no one will give a shit about your Level 10 booster. The only people who don’t make it to Level 10 are the exceptionally incompetent and/or unlucky, and replacing a Level 5 item with a Level 10 version won’t exactly break the bank anyway.

- Delver’s Guild Handbook, Section 2.8 – “Tiers”

“There, there,” the fearsome Black Razor said, awkwardly patting my back as I clung to him and sobbed.

“You’re all right Az, everything is going to be OK,” he tried, adding another pat for good measure.

“You’re like Level negative 10 in Bedside Manner, you know?” I accused through my sniffles, then tightened my grip as he tried to escape. It was several more minutes before I was able to compose myself, finally releasing him.

Then I started giggling as the mighty warrior looked down at the mess I’d made on the front of his armor and channeled mana into it, the snotty mess drying up and falling off, leaving it spotless again.

“I suppose I don’t need to ask if you’re all right,” he said dryly as he returned to sitting on the reversed chair, thick arms crossed.

I shrugged helplessly, noting the wrongness of the motion as I did.

“I… have no idea,” I admitted. “I’ve only been awake for, what, maybe an hour? And it seems like the whole world changed when I was out… My body feels weird, I have a Class the stupid System picked for me because it was the first option alphabetically, and… fuck, I don’t know. I’m confused,” I admitted.

“The System picked your Class by alphabetical order?” Mason seemed genuinely surprised.

“I don’t know! PAST won’t admit it, but I’m pretty sure that’s what he did!” I responded, quickly outlining my suspicions and what PAST had told me about my new Class.

“Have you ever heard of a CQS before?” I asked Mason, and was somewhat relieved when he nodded.

“It’s an uncommon Class, more so than Gunner. It’s been a while, but I have encountered a few before,” he said.

“Who? Where? Can I meet them?” I asked eagerly.

It was hard to tell, but it looked like Mason’s dark skin flushed slightly as he shook his head.

“What?! Why? Wait a minute…” I trailed off suspiciously, glaring at him. “You fought or killed whoever it was, didn’t you?” I said, pointing a finger at him accusingly.

“Does it really matter? They’re not here for you to question, regardless of what may have happened,” he responded.

“Hmph,” I said, crossing my arms. “Fine then. Do you know anything about the Class besides how to kill them?”

He ran his hand over his short black hair and sighed.

“Even if two people get the same Class they don’t automatically get the same Skills or have the same strengths and weaknesses,” he reminded me. “What is your new Class Skill?”

“PAST, show me my new Skills!” I commanded, and a notification appeared.