'The class change has been linked to your Life-Drain mode.
You can have your previous class back if and when you revert to your normal self.'
Eren nodded his head and spoke up.
'That's right. Now I'll have to…'
The butcher stopped smoking and paused his line of thoughts when he processed what Alephee was trying to say. Having a part doubtful and part hopeful look on his face, he asked Alephee.
'Are you sure?'
Alephee took some time before speaking up.
'I'm sure. Your enhancement-mode Life-Drain never really matched your normal state. Because it was based on an ability that shouldn't exist in this world.
When you were in a state of epiphany, the world's consciousness was not ready to initiate a conversation with you. So you subconsciously chose to make that mode a part of this world. In doing that, you reconfigured the mana circuits and mana points the mode had by default. And while doing it, you changed it based on the layout of the summoner class you had received from Tim.'
Alephee said and took a pause. She decided that she would ask Eren to do something for her when they get out of the subspace. She was feeling bored by only talking in the guy's head without being able to interact with the world normally, sans her soul sense.
She sighed and put that thought aside before continuing.
'But the higher consciousness can't think as clearly as an individual. It can only give attention to one person at a time. After all, it has the entire world and all its denizens to keep tabs on. So I didn't realize that you have, for the lack of a better term, what can be called malleable mana circuits and mana points.
Even though your Life-Drain mode now has summoner class, you can have multiple modes if and when you tap further into your bloodline powers. With multiple modes, you can have a variety of classes.
Whoever came up with the artificial slime project while being part of this world was a genius. If I had my previous powers…'
Alephee paused for a moment to consider a few things. The butcher was listening to her. But he let her have her time. He trusted her as much as he trusted Reen because they both were part of his existence. So he just kept his silence and smoked Sativa Stick, enabling her to gather her thoughts before speaking once again.
'My point is, your bloodline powers can give you more advantages than you ever thought were possible. The reason I approved of you choosing to practice your half-blood ranking technique was because of this. Finding something deep within you is always a better choice than looking outside for something that you may or may not find suitable for you.
You just need to revert to your normal self and your close combat class would be available to you. Though, I believe you'd have to go through some form of pain.
It won't be as unbearable as you felt for the first time. And reverting to your original state or accessing the Life-Drain mode won't be as easy as it was before. But it should be tolerable as you get used to the whole thing.
What's also good about the class change in your case is the fact that you don't have to regress your ranking status. Nor would you require any special preparations.
You should also thank your past self for sticking with the Rootless ranking technique despite all its drawbacks. Due to your choice to practice half-blood techniques, you were able to keep your consciousness and your body intact even after such an unexpected class change.
Otherwise, your body would have been forced to sleep before I could intervene. I'm not sure my intervention would have helped you much at that time anyway.'
The realization dawned upon Eren when he heard Alephee state things out clearly for him. The Life-Drain enhancement-mode was something he seldom used because of the repercussions it carried if someone got a clue about it.
The butcher's mana signature was completely otherworldly when he was in that mode. So doing anything with that mode active was akin to leaving traces of his abominable existence behind.
But now since his mana circuits had been altered, Eren could feel that his mana signature now belonged to this world despite it being different from his normal state. He didn't mind that. He welcomed the difference. By doing so, he was able to change his identity that was not based on anyone.
Eren looked at his hands after thinking about something. His skin during the Life-Drain mode had gained a bit of texture. It was still paler than usual. But now it looked bearable to look at. He stopped looking like a frozen corpse now.
Life-Drain!
He regretted activating his ability immediately after that.
"Aaaaaaaaah… fuck!"
Eren felt like his arm would be split vertically in two when he activated his ability. His skin covering both of his arms kept on wiggling as it reverted back to being as pale as it was before while using Life-Drain. It was as if countless worms had suddenly got under his skin and started moving on their own while creating that wiggling effect on his skin.
'As I said, malleable constitution. You made a deal with world consciousness while leaving a loophole like this behind.
Now you still have access to Life-Drain while your mana signature belongs to this world. A small bit of pain like that isn't such a terrible deal considering the advantage you have gained now.
Um... what do they say? A small price to pay for salvation.'
Alephee cleared the air behind why Eren felt pain activating the Life Drain before he asked about it. The latter smiled mirthlessly when Alephee told him to be masochistic while looking at the positive side.
But Eren had to agree that what Alephee said was the truth. Earlier, he had kept his Life-Drain mode hidden. Even if he could use the ability while he was in his normal state, the otherworldly mana signature would still leak out.
Plus, using the ability while not in Life-Drain enhancement-mode made the ability's gains less efficient than they were supposed to be. So he seldom made use of his ability to not draw any unwanted attention.
But now, he could use Life-Drain without having to worry about it. At least, he won't be branded as an abomination if and when he gets caught using it.
'Things would be interesting from now on. I gained another trump card I can use. I need to operate with the same prudence. But I'll be using it more often from now on.'
The butcher thought to himself and smiled while looking at his wraith-like hands and overgrown nails. Despite their hideous and spooky appearance, his hands started looking beautiful to him.
