Chương 110: Class Research Group

"Impossible," Professor Fornblack declared.

"You can't increase a blue-ranked class to a higher color beyond soul fruit? There is nothing?" I asked. Healer Melon was listening in on 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. Most people get a blue-tier class at level 80 or level 100. You have one at Tier 1, and you want to improve its potential to a higher color? Impossible," he replied.

"Perhaps not." A female Professor came over and pushed up her magical glasses. I was visiting the research lab of the Class Research Group, where they gathered monthly to debate and discuss various class-related topics.

"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 bound by tradition and the standard understanding of classes."

"What are you proposing?" I asked, and Professor Terril smiled at me.

"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 involves 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."

"That sounds like a bad idea. How does that relate to color?"

"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. Few people know that it 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 who can get a higher color class decreases by several orders of magnitude. A Tier 2 violet class is incredibly rare, appearing once every century or so."

I listened carefully.

"Going up in color while keeping your Tier the same is infinitely more difficult. But what I am proposing is a targeted regime of Mana injections using your own Mana as a mirror."

"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."

"That has been done with the red and orange classes. A blue class… You can't copy the complexity of the Mana used for it to raise the color."

"It is a work in progress, and we will proceed carefully to get Justin's Mana that comprises 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."

"With how unstable his soul is, the risk is too high."

"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."

"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 freely for experimentation. And because they are rare, we would never use higher colors of soul fruit for research. As for you, you would need an indigo-colored soul fruit to advance your class."

"Not blue?"

"Possible, but not guaranteed. That is based solely on theoretical knowledge. A blue soul fruit is a once-in-a-millennium discovery. Your mother inquired about one twice over the years since we handle soul fruit trades through the College, but we don't have one," the female Professor explained with a shake of her head.

"Justin, what they are proposing is like Pic," Healer Melon said with a frown.

"Really?" I asked with concern. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Pic doesn't use your own Mana, which is why there is lingering damage."

"What other options are there?"

"Direct Mana Manipulation of that color class. Impossible. Blue or higher soul fruit. Impossible. Mana reflection injections. Rejected. Everything else is for lesser colors," the Professor explained.

"What about a skill? Isn't there a skill for everything?"

"You would need a Tier 6 skill at the very least. Classes are of immense complexity. There is no way." The meeting quickly ended after that. Healer Melon was 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 cut through clouds over the Great Ocean. The waves were massive. We could fly to another continent with the College. That would be an enormous risk, and resupply would be impossible, but it could happen.

Ozy pushed his snout 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 member's 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?"

"No. Just that one with greater vision does, even in the dark. An oath of silence 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."

"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." I felt conflicted. On one hand, this was the Dark Cabal, a group of crazy terrorists. On the other hand, it was a lead against 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 to develop. 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 the Great Ocean light up in red and orange. The man groaned, and I focused back on him as his Mana fluctuated violently.

He immediately laid 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 lying 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 the Dark Cabal in proportion to their value." My mind raced at the statement. I was going to be used as a sword.

"You know he cursed me?"

"With Experience Siphon, of course. His favorite curse skill. But it has caused problems by drawing your mother's attention. This has led to his defeat and weakening."

"The curse skill dropped to Tier 5."

"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." Yonder laid out his naked ambition.

"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 after Xanatos is removed, I will have a better chance of taking over." My mind raced at the possibilities.

"What exactly do you want of me now, and what are you offering?"

"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 enhance the potential of your class, from blue to indigo. We require that you kill a student at the College."

"Murder for knowledge?" I did not like that idea.

"Yes. The daughter of a key supporter of Xanatos needs to die.

"As long as they die, the method doesn't matter."

"And then you can blackmail me."

"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 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 to be 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 more forbidden knowledge would tempt me.