Class Change

Chapter 12: Class Change

Hearing Nedeli's words, Yuan Chen raised an eyebrow. Without hesitation, he reached in and felt around for a moment before pulling out a paste-like substance wrapped in a large leaf.

Her expression was a little unnatural, but when she saw that Yuan Chen had only taken out the medicine by accident, Nedeli said nothing more. She merely said coldly,

"Just apply this medicine to my body. Adjust the bones in my arm and secure them with vines and branches... You know how, right?"

"Of course." Yuan Chen nodded casually at her words. "Getting stronger through battle and training is nothing unusual. If I couldn't even do this, you'd be underestimating me."

"Hmph. Just a house cat's survival skills."

Though she was the one at a disadvantage, Nedeli's wild instincts kept her from giving in.

Of course, she was only putting on a brave front. When Yuan Chen got ready to apply the medicine, she still closed her eyes and lay there as if she were at his mercy.

Nedeli was able to stay alive now mostly thanks to Oshirresh's Blessing. This state of exhilaration, nearly the opposite of being at death's door, made her senses exceptionally sharp.

Suppressing the urge to cry out, Nedeli could only bite down on the tip of her tongue, constantly driving the encroaching sensations from her mind.

Yuan Chen, meanwhile, looked down at the herbs in his hand.

Nedeli was Vastaya, whose ancestors belonged to the ancient Ionian race known as the Vastaya.

The names differed by only two characters, but the Vastaya and the Vastaya were two entirely different things. The ancient Vastaya could move freely between the physical and spiritual realms.

According to legend, in 9000 BC by the Noxian Calendar, Ionia's native inhabitants fought a fierce battle against giants who had descended from the heavens. In the end, they drove the giants back with the power of the Vastaya.

The inhabitants and civilizations of the Valoran Continent and Shurima, meanwhile, had migrated there from the Lost Eastern Continent around 6000 BC by the Noxian Calendar.

These ancestors from the eastern continent had brought their ancient knowledge and wisdom west. As they landed on the shores of Shurima and Valoran, they also took over the civilizations already there...

That was right: the Lost Eastern Continent had always existed, but contact with it had been lost long ago. Based on Yuan Chen's guess, it would probably appear as a large expansion in Riot Games' future MMORPG.

For now, though, Yuan Chen had no information about it at all. It was just a detail mentioned in the setting.

As he thought, Yuan Chen cast Scout Skill.

Name: Nidalee's Secret Herbal Medicine.

Crafting Requirement: Herbalism Lv. 6.

Effects:

A special healing item made by mixing, grinding, soaking, and fermenting various herbs, natural elements, and beast materials. It can quickly restore an injured person's vitality and can also be used as a combat supplement, briefly increasing agility and stamina.

Seeing the herbalism requirement for the recipe, Yuan Chen abandoned the idea of asking about growing herbs. Herbalism was a Life Profession, one that let its practitioners create special medicines with healing properties.

But no profession that seemed ordinary was ever that simple in Runeterra. At the very least, without a solid understanding of natural elements and living creatures, it would be impossible to reach Nedeli's level.

And in the game, Nedeli did indeed have a skill that healed allies and greatly increased their attack speed... That had to be the herbs she was using.

After a quick examination, Yuan Chen could only identify Honeyfruit among the ingredients. As for the rest... Well, the lore of Runeterra didn't say anything about plant ecology, either.

Before applying the medicine, Yuan Chen made up an excuse to send Milio off to study. About half an hour later, Nedeli, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, was secured on Yuan Chen's back.

Her original pack had been shredded by blades flying through the air during the battle. So Yuan Chen had simply made a carrying frame from branches and vines, something like the book boxes scholars used to carry to the capital for the imperial examinations. Unlike an ordinary book box, though, his had a wooden stretcher mounted across the top.

Lying on it made Nedeli feel a little embarrassed. And as Yuan Chen walked, the swaying left her feeling thoroughly unsafe.

"Slow down! I feel like I'm going to fall off!"

"You should have more confidence in a Dancer Profession's sense of balance."

Yuan Chen said confidently,

"Not just you—even if it were... Oh, crap!"

As it turned out, Yuan Chen had been a little too confident. The forest floor was soft and damp, and he didn't have Nedeli's Wilderness Blessing. On top of that, he had just fought a major battle; his lower back and knees were sore, and his whole body ached.

His leg gave way when he wasn't paying attention, and Nedeli went flying. Fortunately, she had Wilderness Blessing. Just before she hit the ground, the earth softened beneath her, cushioning her with fallen leaves and pliant branches.

Even so, the impact aggravated her wounds, and Nedeli couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath. While doing her bit to contribute to global warming, she clenched her teeth and said,

"Bastard, ngh—!!"

She sucked in sharp breaths from the pain. By the time Yuan Chen had lifted her back onto the stretcher, Nedeli still hadn't recovered.

Before, Nedeli could have endured it. She was used to pain, and beasts were best at enduring it. The problem was that the vitality Yuan Chen had given her made her far more sensitive—

That could greatly sharpen her senses in battle. For someone like Yuan Chen, a Demon Agent, it could also help her provide the "pleasure" required as a sacrifice more quickly. But in ordinary circumstances... Nedeli had never suffered so much.

"Heh..."

Yuan Chen gave an awkward little laugh, then carried Nedeli on his back as he and Milio made their way to a cave deep in the forest.

When they noticed someone approaching, a rustling came from the surrounding woods. With his powerful senses, Yuan Chen could clearly hear the beasts moving and breathing...

Nedeli opened her mouth and let out a few low, beastlike growls. The bushes around them replied with a few questioning calls—

Growls as well. Nedeli responded, and a moment later several cougars cautiously emerged from the bushes. They watched Yuan Chen warily, but when they saw how badly injured Nedeli was, their eyes filled with unmistakably human concern.

"They're my family. Don't worry."

Nedeli said wearily, "Take me inside. There are herbs and food stored in there."

"Fine, but don't try anything." Yuan Chen warned her. "Those cougars can't turn into humans like you can."

He didn't even need Scout Skill to be certain that these wild cougars had the Beast profession and were at most Lv. 3. There were several of them, but with the advantage of favorable terrain, Yuan Chen could slaughter them all without wasting much time.

"I'm not stupid. I know what they're capable of better than you do."

Nedeli sighed.

"I was wrong to attack first. I know a little about the beasts you're looking for. I'll tell you in a bit... But right now, I... want to rest for a while..."

Nedeli's voice was weak. By the time they'd made their way through the woods to the cave, the medicine was gradually wearing off. Her exhilarated state of mind was fading too, and the loss of nourishment had left her visibly feeble.

On the road, with danger all around and the path ahead uncertain, she could grit her teeth and keep going. But now she was home, with her family—the cougars—beside her. The moment her taut nerves relaxed, her eyelids began to droop beyond her control.

"Yeah. I need to rest, too."

Yuan Chen nodded and carried Nedeli to the innermost cave. Although she lived far from human civilization, Nedeli wasn't a complete beast. Her room was noticeably neater than the other cougars' dens.

Soft, dry grass was spread across a level stone slab. On a nearby stone platform lay stone knives, iron knives, a Bone Spear, and even an exquisite rifle from Piltover.

They must have belonged to hunters. Yuan Chen had no desire to find out what had happened to them.

The cave didn't look large, but it had clearly been shaped by hand. Inside, passages branched in every direction, though they were too narrow for a human to get through.

Yuan Chen guessed that Nedeli had designed them. After all, being able to shift freely between human form and Cougar Form meant passages like these could only help her. They also improved ventilation.

After finding a cave for himself, Yuan Chen turned to Milio and asked, "Can you feel the flames?"

"No..."

Milio sounded dejected. "I've tried really hard, but I just can't feel them... Yuan Chen, do you think I don't have any talent for this?"

Hearing Milio doubt himself, Yuan Chen shook his head. "Don't worry about it... This is my fault, too. I was expecting too much of you, too soon."

"Relax. You don't need to doubt yourself. You do have this ability; you're just missing the right opportunity."

Milio, already caught up in self-doubt, seemed about to say more. But when he looked up, he saw that Yuan Chen had already closed his eyes and looked utterly exhausted. So Milio said nothing. He crouched at the cave entrance and gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

Yuan Chen wasn't asleep. Though the hard-fought battle had left him physically and mentally exhausted, checking what he'd gained was more important than resting.

His Dancer level had increased. Based on Yuan Chen's guess, it was probably due to the experience he'd gained in actual combat.

As for technique, Yuan Chen had already mastered it completely over the past twenty-odd years. Or perhaps reaching Lv. 6 meant he could wield similar abilities with ease and begin developing a style of his own.

That was also why Yuan Chen could use martial techniques... Though their methods differed, Ionian martial arts and dance were two paths toward harmony and resonance.

One path honed the body and tempered the spirit; the other felt the rhythm and resonated with all things.

Under these circumstances, Ionian martial arts and dance, both rooted in the same core principles, had no clear boundary for Yuan Chen. Of course, warriors from Noxian or Freljordian schools were an entirely different matter, since their philosophies differed.

His technique was already incredibly solid, and he could perform it exactly as he wished. But Ionia was known for its peaceful ways, and genuine fights to the death were rare. As a result, actual combat had always been a weak point for Yuan Chen.

This battle had advanced his level, proving that his theory had been right.

Taking no detours, or at least fewer of them, was the greatest shortcut.

His Elemental Mage level had risen to Lv. 3, which was an unexpected bonus. Thanks to the passive effect of Oshirresh's Blessing, Yuan Chen could bring his Water Element up to Lv. 4 strength.

With other elements, however, he could only reach the basic level of an Lv. 3 Elemental Mage... Maybe not even that.

After all, Yuan Chen had only been an Elemental Mage for a short time. Without Oshirresh's Water Element Blessing, his mastery of the elements might not even have surpassed Milio's...

Then there was the class change.

Seeing the message that Oshirresh was pleased with him, Yuan Chen felt no joy. He wasn't some kind of cultist. He was far more wary and guarded toward Oshirresh than most.

Especially after experiencing firsthand the temptations he had to endure as a Demon Agent, Yuan Chen loathed it even more...

That pathological, physical craving for pleasure was enough to twist a person's mind and turn them into a wretched addict, neither human nor demon.

But... Yuan Chen had no choice.

Two options appeared before his eyes. A flash of helplessness crossed Yuan Chen's gaze... Oshirresh was capricious and would do anything for pleasure. Refusing outright might invite an even greater outburst of malice.

The Demon Agent was a rather unusual Epic Class. It let its wielder use some of a demon's power, but that power depended on the demon's will.

The demon could give it if it wanted to, or withhold it. In that case, the class was no different from an ordinary one—except it demanded a great deal more in return.

But this class change meant Yuan Chen would no longer be just an unremarkable agent. He would become a true divine emissary in the religious sense, a Great Demon walking among mortals and spreading Oshirresh's will.

There were two paths he could choose for advancement.

One was Prince of Joy, the other Pain Ascetic.

After a quick glance at the options, Yuan Chen's expression darkened.

Both advancement paths seemed closely tied to the pleasure he'd offered up before.

Prince of Joy drew on the ecstasy born of battle, the kind of pleasure that surpassed the limits of the mind. After changing class, he would literally become someone who pursued ultimate pleasure, gaining twisted power through promiscuity, lust, debauchery, and violent acts.

Pain Ascetic, on the other hand, drew on the pain transformed in battle: the redemptive pleasure that came from whipping and tormenting oneself.

After changing class, he would develop a pathological craving for that sense of redemption, becoming something like the self-flagellants of certain religions. He would gain twisted power through increasingly deranged and self-destructive acts of torture and mutilation.

Neither of them was what Yuan Chen wanted!