System Made Me a Tank [LitRPG-Evolution]

Boran was tossing and turning in his bed. He had just returned from military service and tomorrow... Tomorrow would be one of the most important days of his life. He would pass through a portal for the first time, be evaluated by the system, and choose his class. His mind was constantly occupied with possible classes...

"Maybe a mage..." he muttered to himself. In his mind, he envisioned figures throwing fireballs, freezing enemies with ice, controlling lightning. He had read magic stories since childhood. To be like those wise, powerful characters from fairy tales... And physically, for real... "Wait, that would be an elementalist..."

He sat up in bed and looked out the window. A rift in the sky divided the night illuminated by city lights. "Or perhaps an assassin?" A warrior moving through shadows, silent and deadly... That sounded pretty cool too. After all, he had always scored the highest marks in stealth tests during military service. Even the instructors were surprised by his talent.

"I could actually be a healer..." he thought. After all, helping people was important too. Plus, a good healer would always be valuable. During his military service, when he ended up in the infirmary a few times, he had observed how the healers worked. It was incredible. They could mend broken bones and heal deep wounds in seconds. "Nah… it seems too boring."

Another idea came to mind: "What if I became an archer?" An elite warrior capable of making ranged attacks, each shot deadly... That wouldn't be bad either. He was always among the best in shooting practice during military service. Maybe that was a sign? "Could be a gunslinger actually..."

"Druid?" he murmured. A talent for controlling nature's forces, commanding wind and earth, even transforming into powerful animals by choosing the subclass... Or maybe an illusionist? A master who clouds enemies' minds and alters reality... "These seem too mentally taxing..."

He lay back down in bed, staring at the ceiling. Or perhaps a sword master? Fast, agile, and deadly... He had been quite successful in sword training during military service too. His instructor had called him a "natural talent." But just using a sword... seemed a bit simple to him. "Though I do enjoy playing warrior classes in games..."

"Maybe..." he began but couldn't finish his sentence. His eyes were getting heavy. Images of different classes danced in his mind: Necromancers, war mages, summoner, runemaster, berserker... Each with their unique characteristics, each with their own style...

He tried to think one last time, but his mind was starting to blur. Tomorrow... tomorrow everything would be clear. His eyelids grew heavier. As moonlight filtered through the window, gently illuminating the room, class images still danced in his mind. And finally, amidst all these thoughts, he fell into a deep sleep.

He jumped out of bed as soon as he heard his alarm set for 6 AM. Although he wouldn't pass through the portal until noon, he wanted to be there as early as possible.

He quickly showered, got dressed, and left his hotel room at the foothills of the Taurus Mountains. This region of Adana had become a tourist center in recent years thanks to the nearby portal.

As he walked toward the bus stop in front of the hotel, the first light of dawn was just beginning to show. When he reached the stop, several others were waiting - most likely candidates heading to the portal like him. Everyone wore the same tense expression.

The bus arrived right on time. Boran scanned his card and sat in one of the back seats. Looking out the window, he watched the city slowly wake up. Shops were raising their shutters, and the smell of fresh bread wafted from bakeries.

After about a 3-hour journey, the bus stopped at a point marked by a massive sign reading "Portal Zone." This was now one of the busiest parts of the city. A wide boulevard stretched before them, flanked by high security walls. Armed guards stood watch every hundred meters.

Watchtowers were placed at regular intervals along the walls. Blue-white lights flashed at their tops, and magical crystals scanning the area hummed softly. Boran knew these crystals could detect even the slightest threat.

However, despite all these security measures, the atmosphere resembled a large shopping mall more than a military base. Colorful store windows, cafes, restaurants... This was a massive complex designed for the families and friends of candidates waiting to enter the portal. Tourists were taking photos, children were eating ice cream.

As Boran made his way toward the security checkpoint, he glanced at the shops he passed. Weapon shops, armor vendors, stores selling magical supplies, herbalists selling healing herbs... Everything had been thought of. He could buy his first equipment here based on his chosen class after exiting the portal.

Additionally, because all portals were interconnected, many people from different countries were present here. Armor shopping was usually done here because the armor found in Turkey was superior to that of other countries.

Inter-portal travel, meaning teleporting to another country, was quite expensive for an ordinary person. This was a system mostly used by high-level adventurers. Only "gold," the common currency dropped by creatures inside the portal, was used for transfers. This allowed local trade to function smoothly in all portal regions.

When he finally reached the security checkpoint, it was 10 o'clock. While waiting in line, he watched videos playing on giant screens. The videos told stories of famous adventurers who had successfully emerged from previous portals. An elementalist who single-handedly defeated an ice dragon in the Frozen Realms, a necromancy master who stopped an undead army emerging from ancient tombs in the Cursed Forests... Each had become legendary heroes.

When his turn finally came, the security guard checked his ID and appointment document. They scanned him with a special crystal to ensure he wasn't carrying any weapons or dangerous materials. When everything appeared in order, they directed him to the waiting room.

"For now, just wait," said the guard. "When your name is announced at 12 o'clock, please go to gate number 3. Good luck."

He began listening to the excited conversations of people around him. People moving in small groups along the path to the gateway area were discussing their possible classes and abilities. Some seemed prepared in advance - they had books and notes in their hands.

As he approached the checkpoint, one group particularly caught his attention. Two young people were heatedly discussing the sub-branches of the elementalist class. "Fire or ice?" one asked the other. "I think merge sorcerer makes more sense, you can combine anything you want..."

While waiting in line at the security checkpoint, the man in front of him kept squeezing and releasing a small crystal in his hand - probably using it as a stress ball. The girl behind him was constantly muttering something.

Suddenly the giant screens in the waiting room went dark and an officer's voice echoed: "Name reading for door number 3 is beginning."

Boran's heart started beating faster. As names were read one by one, there was a brief silence after each name. Eight names... Eight people... And yes, he heard his own name: "Boran Apaydin."

As he walked toward door number 3, he made eye contact with the other candidates. They all had the same tense expression on their faces. When they passed through the door, they found themselves in a large, modern conference room. One wall was made entirely of glass and offered a magnificent view of the gateway area.

Just as they were about to take their seats, the door opened and someone entered. Everyone in the room held their breath. Boran had only seen this man before in videos and news. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a scar on his face from his legendary battle...

The girl next to him whispered: "Is... is that really him?"

Someone else murmured: "Yes, Mariusz Kowalski... Poland's Sword Master..."

Boran's heart stopped for a moment. "Kowalski?" he repeated. "Mariusz Kowalski?"

A tall, broad-shouldered man stood before him. The thin scar on his face and his piercing gaze were enough to identify him - Poland's legendary warrior Mariusz Kowalski. Behind him was a team of three more people, all wearing gate officer uniforms.

"Welcome," said Kowalski in accented but understandable Turkish. "I'll be taking care of you today. I need to share some important information before you enter the gateway."

Boran and the other eight candidates began listening carefully. Kowalski first clasped his hands behind his back and began walking slowly around the room.

"When you pass through the gateway... you'll feel something you've never felt before in your life. It's as if a power sleeping inside you will awaken. Some describe it as a warm wave, others like an electric shock... But they all agree it's the most unforgettable moment of their lives." He paused and swept his eyes over each candidate. "In my own experience... it was like a volcano erupting inside me. I understood what I wanted in that moment. I formed a special bond with my sword before I even picked it up. It was no longer just a weapon, but a part of my body."

"The system will suggest the most suitable class for you, but your desires are what matter. Because the higher your compatibility with the chosen class, the more powerful you'll become." Kowalski started walking again. "However, don't obsess too much about compatibility. Compatibility can decrease as well as increase. Even if you struggle at first, over time you'll become 100% compatible with the class you choose."

"Now, which class are you thinking about? You start first." He pointed at Boran.

Boran cleared his throat. The dozens of classes he'd thought about last night came to mind. "I..." he began, "I'm still thinking… honestly, I'm not entirely sure."

Kowalski nodded understandingly. "What about you?" he asked, turning to the candidate next to him.

"I want to be a healer," said the girl next to him excitedly. "I'm very interested in helping people."

"I'm thinking about the berserker class," said the large-built young man in the back row. "Fighting on the front lines with a massive sword is just my style."

Kowalski smiled. "I see you all have specific classes in mind. But let me tell you a secret - when the system activates, alongside the dozens of classes you've thought about, classes you've never even considered will appear before you. And at that moment... That moment you'll instinctively know which path to choose."

"Now follow me. The gateway awaits us."

The group followed Kowalski into a wide corridor. As they progressed along the corridor, the energy in the air grew increasingly dense. Boran's hair stood on end. He felt slight tingling on his skin, as if there was an invisible electric current.

And finally they saw it - the Gateway. A massive, oval-shaped portal hung suspended in the air. Blue and purple energy waves danced along its edges, while deep darkness extended from its center. Hundreds of rune symbols blinked around the gateway, keeping the portal in balance.

"When you enter..." said Kowalski, "completely let yourself go. Don't resist. The system will scan you and reveal your potential. But when I say let yourself go, don't collapse on the ground. Most people drop to the ground when they start feeling their powers. Just stay relaxed, that's enough."

Boran took a deep breath and took his first step. As he approached the gateway, he felt something being drawn from within him. It was as if every cell in his body was vibrating. When he stood before the portal, he noticed his heart was beating as if it would burst from his chest.

And then he let himself enter. The first sensation was like floating in an endless void. Then, tiny points of light exploding at every point in his body... It was as if liquid light was flowing through all his veins. Thousands of images, thousands of possibilities danced in his mind. Wizards, warriors, healers, assassins... And classes he had never heard of, never even imagined...

As Boran's consciousness floated in this cosmic dance, every particle of his body was awakening. It was as if a giant power that had been sleeping until now was opening its eyes within him.

And then he saw it - an endless hub, a massive central station. The portal had brought him here. The view before his eyes was breathtaking. Under crystal domes, countless portals were arranged like a galaxy. Each was a gateway to a different world, a different adventure.

Among columns thousands of meters high, people moved like ants. Thousands of people from different classes: knights in shining armor, wizards with flowing cloaks, assassins melding with shadows, healers with glowing staves... All heading their own ways.

Some portals rose like massive towers, while others opened into dark dungeons. In the distance, crimson portals opening to dragon lairs were visible. On the other side, bluish gateways leading to glacial realms sparkled. Each portal indicated its destination with runic inscriptions.

At the center of the hub was a massive information center. Holographic maps hung suspended in the air, showing the path to each portal.

Boran's head spun. So many choices, so many paths... And all were open to him. If only he could choose the right class. If only he could find his own path. While the echoes of the system scan still continued in his mind, he watched the endless possibilities before his eyes.