Grabbing the blood-soaked hilt, I pull the blade out of my body. A wave of dizziness washes over me.


    I fall to my side and vaguely recall something about keeping the knife in so you don''t bleed out.


    Thanks for only reminding me now, I tell my brain.


    I crawl across the ground, wincing as each movement sends a spike of agony through my side.


    After what feels like 30 minutes, but in reality is more like 30 seconds, I make it back to where I had dropped my shopping. I thank the convenient timing of Mother Nature as I pull out a pack of tampons. From what I remember, these were originally made for soldiers to plug up bullet wounds. A stab wound is basically the same, right?


    I swear a bit (a lot) as I fumble with the stupid plastic applicator—like why????—but eventually manage to plug the hole in my side. From my shopping bag, I also pull out some wet wipes, and set about cleaning my hands, and then my side, as best I can. I''d bought some painkillers earlier too, so I down like five.


    As I struggle to my feet, I finally noticed the glowing blue window floating in the air.


    [Congratulations! You have gained the unique skill <Fury of the Small>!]


    [You have Awakened!]


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    [Gained 5xp]


    [Gained 5xp]


    [You have successfully reached Level 1]


    [Class Advancement unlock! Please select a class!]


    I look at the class list, still perplexed at what is happening. Me? A Ranker? I''d laugh if the situation wasn''t so dire and I wasn''t slowly bleeding out. I don''t want to be a Ranker! I just want to stay in my apartment and code, and not have to deal with anyone.


    Although… I do need to get out of here alive.


    What Class would increase my chance of survival, I wonder. A Tank like Jake?


    While pondering a class choice, another notification pops up.


    [You meet the conditions for the Hidden Class <Berserker>]


    [Do you accept? (Y/N)]


    Berserker? I haven’t heard of any Rankers with such a class. So, either it’s utter garbage and everyone who chose it died or retired. Or… perhaps? This is a class just for me…? It at least sounds fun though! I reach out a hand to the message in front of me and tap “Y”.


    The screen flashes again with a new set of messages.


    [You have chosen the <Berserker> Class!]


    [You have gained the skill <Berserk>]


    [You have 3 Attribute points to allocate]


    After dismissing these notifications, a screen with my stats shows up.


    [ID:


    ]


    [Rank: D]


    [Berserker Level 1]


    [HP: 5/20]


    [MP: 5/5]


    [STR: 3]


    [AGI: 0]


    [ARC: 0]


    [VIT: 0]


    [INS: 0]


    [Status: Bleed]


    [Take 1 damage every minute]


    [Skills]


    [(Passive) Fury of the Small]


    [(Active) Berserk]


    Most are set to 0, which is the default attribute value for non-Rankers. My STR, however, is already a 3! It seems this Berserker class really values strength, but unlike something like a Warrior class, its vitality is lacking.


    More worryingly is my health, only at 5. I had very nearly died just from that one stab wound. I wince as my side aches and my health drops another point.


    [HP: 4/20]


    Shit.


    I have 4 minutes before I bleed out.