“Impossible,” Professor Fornblack declared.
“You can’t increase a blue ranked class to a higher color beyond a soul fruit? There is nothing?” I asked. Healer Melon was listening into everything behind me.
“No soul fruit. No tiering up. And your class is Blue. Blue. Do you even understand what that means? It is the fifth color, the fifth. Most people get a blue tier class at level 80 or level 100. You have one for tier 1 and you want to improve its potential to a higher color? Impossible,” he replied.
“Perhaps not,” another female Professor came over and pushed up her magical glasses. I was visiting the research lab of the Class Research Group where they got together monthly to debate and discuss various class related topics of study.
“Professor Terril, your theories are dangerous and need more testing,” Professor Fornblack declared.
“Perhaps, but we have someone coming to talk to us. It would be rude to turn him away.” Professor Fornblack let out a scoff and walked away. “I apologize for my rude colleague, he is a bit hidebound by tradition and standard understanding of classes.”
“What are you proposing?” I asked and Professor Terril gave me a smile.
“Classes are the restructuring of Mana density at certain intervals determined by your level with the aid of the System. Just like it helps moderate your stats and skills, it also helps moderate your class. This is accomplished through incredibly fine and complex Mana manipulation. You can create skills through Mana manipulation. You can even boost stats temporarily by overlaying Mana manipulation. But you know what hasn’t been done, messing with the Mana that makes up a class as part of your soul,” she said.
“That sounds like a bad idea and how does that relate to color?” I asked.
“The color on your status page and for monster cores indicates density and complexity. The range of effects and your blue class are high. You hit the Class cap at tier 0, of blue. It isn’t widely known, but that is the cap at tier 0. The Class cap at tier 1 is indigo. Then violet for tier 2. But beyond that, nothing. But at each tier, the number of people that can get a higher color class decreases by several orders of magnitude. For a tier 2 violet class is incredibly rare.” I listened carefully.
“While this doesn’t directly relate to your situation, it is related. Going up in color is infinitely more difficult. But what I am proposing is a targeted regime of Mana injections using your own Mana as a mirror,” she said.
“Mana injections! His soul would rupture, his body would collapse. Absolutely not,” Healer Melon said.
“We have had success with other colors. The trick is to use one’s own Mana and class structure. We copy that Mana and send it back, strengthening the class a person has,” she explained.
“With red or orange classes. A blue class, you can’t copy the complexity of the Mana used for it to raise the color,” Healer Melon said.
“It is a work in progress, and we would proceed carefully. Getting Justin’s Mana that composes his class as accurate as possible. Then he will send that Mana through a Mana compressor which will help shape it. Then he will get that Mana back,” Professor Terril explained.
“With how unstable his soul is the risk is too high,” Healer Melon said.
“I reviewed Justin’s records when he requested this meeting. That instability is exactly why it will work. His soul will push back, but it will also adapt under the pressure of additional Mana. His stats are strong enough to endure,” she explained.
“What about replicating what a soul fruit does?” I asked.
“We have been trying that for centuries with limited success. We still don’t fully understand the underpinnings of how a soul fruit works. There aren’t many that we can use for experimentation freely. And higher colors of soul fruit would never be used for research due to their rarity. As for you, you would need an indigo color soul fruit to advance your class,” she said.
“Not blue?” I asked.
“No. That is only based on theoretical knowledge. A blue soul fruit is a once in a millennia discovery. Your mother inquired about one a couple of times over the year since we handle soul fruit trades through the College, but we just don’t have one,” the female Professor explained with a shake of her head.
“Justin, what they are proposing is similar to Pic,” Healer Melon said with a frown. Pic meant power infused crystals.
“Really?” I asked with concern.
“Pic doesn’t use your own Mana, which is why there is lingering damage,” Professor Terril countered.
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“What other options are there?” I asked.
“Direct Mana Manipulation at that color of class. Impossible. Blue or higher soul fruit. Impossible. Mana reflection injections. Rejected. Everything else is for lesser colors.”
“What about a skill? There is a skill for everything?” I asked.
“You would need a tier 6 skill at the very least. Classes are of immense complexity. There is no way.” The meeting quickly came to an end after that. Healer Melon left to do whatever he wanted to do. I made my way to the edge of the College.
Looking out from a balcony, the College was cutting through clouds over the Great Ocean. The waves were massive. We could possibly fly to another continent with the College. That would be a huge risk and resupply would be impossible, but it could happen.
Ozy pushed his snoot into my neck, and I gave him some scratches on his head. His weight on my shoulders was a comforting presence. What had I been thinking when I selected my class? There was no way forward.
“Justin?” someone asked, and I turned around. I scanned the area with Shadow Vision and Mana Vision, in case there was a threat. It was a middle-aged man in a staff members uniform.
“Yes, what is it?” I asked, slightly annoyed at being interrupted.
“I couldn’t help but notice that you came from the Class Research Group. There are other options for class advancement. If one is willing to take risks,” the man said, and I was instantly intrigued but also incredibly weary.
“And you have these answers?” I asked in challenge.
“No. Just that one with greater vision does, even in the dark. An oath of silence in exchange for arranging a meeting and guaranteed safe passage is possible.”
“Truly, you think to trap me.” Ozy reared up ready to activate a skill and incapacitate this member of the Dark Cabal.
“Peace, peace. Just like there are factions within the College or any organization. I speak for the faction opposed to the Legend Xanatos and his attention grabbing ways. We don’t want to harm you, instead you would be a sword pointed at him,” the Dark Cabal member said.
“You expect me to believe that? This could easily be a trap to lure me somewhere,” I replied.
“Then we can continue the meeting here. No oaths. It will take me a few minutes to arrange for communication with Dark Councilmember Yonder. He has an offer he wishes to discuss with you,” the man said. I was conflicted.
On one hand this was the Dark Cabal, a group of crazy terrorists. On the other hand it was a lead against the Legend Xanatos who had cursed me and information about how to improve my class. Legend Xanatos had escaped my mother. That showed he was beyond capable. Anyone capable of pissing off my mother and escaping when she had drawn her sword to slay them, was not someone easily tracked down and killed.
While it had been easy to reach level 20 after several days of killing monsters, it would only get worse with the curse skill. Both my super powerful mother and world domination focused father couldn’t do anything about the Dark Cabal.
Just rushing at them was hopeless. My mother had tried that. My father had knowledge and contacts, but even he couldn’t do anything. That meant something else was required. While it might be soul skills, those would take a long time. And the possible knowledge of the famed Dark Library behind the Dark Cabal was tempting, very tempting.
“Very well. But you try anything, I won’t be nice,” I replied.
“It is no problem. Give me a moment. I will be possessed soon by Councilmember Yonder who will speak directly with you,” the Dark Cabal member said. I waited quietly while scanning everything nearby. No one else was near this section of the College.
Everyone was busy studying or working and it was getting late. The sun was setting on the opposite side of the College. It really made the sky and Great Ocean light up in red and oranges.
“Grrrrrr,” the man said, and I focused back on him as his Mana fluctuated violently. He quickly lay down on the ground. The Mana increased and then he opened his eyes and let out a gasping breath.
“Unpleasant. Hello Justin Burnstock.”
“Dark Councilman Yonder,” I replied hesitantly. While standing over the body laying on the ground, looking up towards me.
“That is me. While we have some time, this is not a casual conversation. There is no trust between you and the Dark Cabal. That is understandable with the actions of Xanatos. I can’t target him directly or betray the Dark Cabal. But I can teach someone to tempt them to join in proportion to their possible value.”
My mind raced at statement. I was going to be used as a sword. “You know that he cursed me?”
“With Experience Siphon, of course. A favorite curse skill of his. But it has caused problems by drawing the attention of your mother. This has led to his defeat and weakening.”
“The curse skill dropped to tier 5,” I replied.
“Xanatos is trying to recover from the setback your mother gave him. While you can’t join until he dies, it would solve many problems and help me if you join the Dark Cabal afterwards, taking his seat on the Council.”
“I am weak,” I replied.
“For now. This is an investment in the future. The Dark Cabal should be inviting those with strong backgrounds and who are capable. Avoiding the ire of your mother and your father would be enough. And if you join when Xanatos is removed, my chances of taking over increase,” Yonder laid out his naked ambition. My mind raced at the possibilities.
“What exactly do you want of me now and what are you offering?” I asked.
“Exactly what a member of the Dark Cabal should ask. Benefits are the only reason to risk one’s life and spend one’s time. You want to know how to increase the color of your class, its potential, from blue to indigo. We require that you kill a student in the College,” he said.
“Murder? For knowledge?” I did not like that idea.
“Yes. The daughter of a key supporter of Xanatos. The method does not matter as long as they are killed.”
“And then you can blackmail me,” I countered.
“Make it look like an accident. Have someone else do it. I do not care. Only the result within the next year. But I can see how hesitant you are. I will give you the information first. The Dark Cabal as a whole has no quarrel with you. If you take it as a gift or an apology and want nothing more to do with us, that is fine. But if you want more. If you want true knowledge from the Dark Library, then you will kill the student.”
“Very well,” I said since there didn’t seem like a downside to agreeing to this much. I knew it was a trap, but I couldn’t help but reach out for the knowledge. I would check it carefully, but I knew I would be tempted by more forbidden knowledge.