Kryptonians: Man of Steel

Chapter 1536 New Career

This term was not unfamiliar to him; in those RPG games that consumed a lot of his youth, it was a key point in the character's growth.

But he never imagined that this word would hit him so realistically and so heavily in his real life.

As the words "Job Change" slowly disappeared from his sight, five or six semi-transparent windows, each with a distinct style and emanating different energy fluctuations, floated before him like ancient scrolls.

Each window represents a completely different path to the future.

He suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly scanned the options that would determine his fate:

1. [Ghost Swordsman]

Icon: A phantom of a left arm with bulging muscles wrapped in dark purple chains, its fingertips shrouded in ominous black mist.

Description: "A swordsman whose left arm is corrupted by 'demonic power.' Curse and power coexist. In the initial stage, the left hand will suffer continuous corrosive pain and the risk of losing control, but it can be used to drive destructive power far beyond reason. As the level increases, one can try to control it or achieve a deeper symbiosis with the curse, unlocking more powerful demonic skills. This path is fraught with danger; a slight wavering of will may lead to becoming a puppet of the demonic spirit, or going completely insane."

Traits: High attack power, strong burst damage, skills inflict dark attribute/curse effects. Cost: Left hand continuously corroded (pain/risk of loss of control), requires immense mental stress.

Growth path: Controlling ghosts and gods or complete liberation (higher risk and reward).

2. [Berserker]

Icon: A silhouette of a warrior with bloodshot eyes and a twisted, ferocious face against a background of raging crimson energy.

Description: "A mutated branch of the Ghost Swordsman, completely controlled by the rampaging demonic power within. Normally, they can barely maintain their sanity, appearing no different from ordinary people. However, once intense emotions such as anger, grief, or fear cross a critical threshold, their mental defenses collapse, and the dormant 'Blood Frenzy' within them is fully awakened. They transform into a crazed 'Blood Demon,' gaining explosive speed and devastating attack power, with significantly dulled pain sensation, and their life force converted into power through burning. The cost: complete loss of sanity, inability to distinguish friend from foe, attacking all living things within range until exhaustion or death. This is a double-edged sword, a path to death."

Traits: Extremely terrifying explosive power, speed, and attack power (fueled by life force), weakened pain perception. Cost: Complete loss of sanity (indiscriminate attack), extreme weakness or even near-death state after battle, with a very high risk of permanent life force depletion. Growth Path: Deepen understanding and temporary control of berserk power? Or completely embrace destruction?
3. [Sword Soul]

Icon: Several phantom images of weapons of various shapes (katana, greatsword, short sword, blunt weapon, lightsaber) surround a calm, focused swordsman, radiating a pure and sharp light.

Description: "Those who dedicate their lives to the ultimate pursuit of the 'Way of Weapons,' unconstrained by supernatural powers. Regardless of physical defects (weak heart, missing limbs), or a sword-wielding hand twisted by a curse, their conviction never wavers. They forge ahead under any circumstances, constantly pushing the limits of weapon use. They are proficient in all types of swords, able to switch instantly according to the battle situation, leveraging the unique advantages of each weapon (the speed of the katana, the weight of the greatsword, the deceptiveness of the short sword, the destructive power of the blunt weapon, the sharpness of the lightsaber). Their pursuit is the supreme state of 'man and sword as one,' a pure sublimation of skill and will."

Traits: Weapon Master (can freely switch between and master multiple sword types), skills are flashy and practical, pinnacle of skill-based gameplay, highly dependent on weapons. Growth Path: Deepen understanding of various weapons, fuse innovative sword techniques, pursue the "Selfless Sword Realm". 4. [Holy Sword Wielder]

Icon: A longsword radiating a soft yet firm pure white light, its blade engraved with sacred runes; wherever the light reaches, darkness melts away like ice and snow.

Description: "A warrior whose faith and will are of utmost purity, capable of creating a divine resonance with the sword in their hand. The sword they wield will gradually transform into a 'Holy Sword.' After slaying evil monsters (with significant effects on elite-level and above), a portion of their primal power can be stripped, purified, and absorbed, merging into the Holy Sword. The Holy Sword will continuously grow and evolve as it slays more and stronger evil, becoming sharper and stronger, and granting the wielder divine attack and defense attributes, as well as special attack effects against evil. The Holy Sword will also nourish the wielder, slowly enhancing their physical and mental qualities. This path requires a heart filled with light; the sword's edge points only to cleanse evil."

Traits: Weapon can be upgraded (core!), holy attribute attack (especially effective against evil), comes with certain purification and exorcism effects, and enhances the wielder's basic attributes.

Cost: Extremely high dependence on weapons (the Holy Sword is the core of power), power growth is tied to "Slaying Evil", and its power may be weakened against non-evil targets.

Growth path: Seek stronger evil purification, upgrade the Holy Sword's rank, and comprehend sacred sword techniques.

5. [The Demon Swordsman]

Icon: A longsword with a jet-black blade, wrapped in ominous dark red patterns, as if countless painful faces are wailing within it, exuding a greedy aura that devours everything.

Description: "A swordsman who embraces darkness and the essence of plunder. The sword he wields transforms into a greedy 'Demon Sword.' This sword is indiscriminate, friend or foe, good or evil. As long as it slays anything containing 'life force,' 'necromantic aura,' or 'soul energy' (including but not limited to living beings, undead, and even powerful spirits), the Demon Sword forcibly devours and absorbs the core power dissipated at the moment of death to strengthen itself. The Demon Sword thus becomes increasingly powerful and eerie, granting the wielder terrifying attack power, corrosive dark/curse attribute damage, and may even unlock the bizarre ability to devour parts of the target's characteristics. However, the Demon Sword's greed is endless; the wielder must constantly satisfy its bloodlust, or it may suffer a backlash. Long-term use may also erode the wielder's mind, dragging them into an abyss of slaughter."

Traits: Weapons can grow (core!), grow rapidly (indiscriminate absorption), attacks inflict powerful dark/curse attribute corruption, and may gain some of the target's traits.

Cost: The weapon is extremely dangerous (risk of backlash), requires continuous killing to sustain it, severely erodes the wielder's mind (bloodlust, ruthlessness, madness), and can easily turn them into a demonic sword puppet who only knows how to kill.

Growth path: To satisfy the demonic sword's ever-greater devouring needs (stronger targets), maintaining a sliver of clarity on the verge of ruin? Or to completely succumb to the demonic path.

Hachiman Hikigaya almost stopped breathing.

He leaned against the cold wall, sweat mixed with dirt sliding down his forehead, dripping into his eyes and causing a stinging sensation, but he was completely unaware.

These five options each lead to a bizarre yet perilous extraordinary world, each like Pandora's box, tempting power while also harboring an abyss capable of devouring him.

(End of this chapter)