Body Tempering, Class Synergy

Early the next morning, the sky had yet to fully brighten.

Ron was sleeping soundly when a rapid but not particularly forceful knock woke him.

He became alert almost instantly—this was a conditioned reflex developed at Ralph Manor. After all, no one knew when his father might suddenly pay a visit.

"Ron, are you up?" Andre's slightly hoarse voice came through the door.

Ron was about to answer when he heard the other man continue in a lowered voice:

"Don't make a sound. That madman Darund next door has been researching Sonic Spells. Too much noise will disturb him."

When Ron quietly opened the door, he discovered that Andre was in a terrible state.

The prince, who had always cared greatly about his appearance, now had disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes, and several blackened scorch marks on his usually immaculate apprentice robe.

"Your Highness, what happened to—"

"Shh." Andre raised a hand to stop his question and gestured for them to leave the dormitory area first.

Only after they had walked some distance did Andre let out a long breath.

"Don't mention it. There was a little accident while I was studying Enchanting last night."

He pulled out a Magic Stone Fragment and gestured with it.

"I blew a hole in the wall next door. The repair runes alone cost me ten fragments. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I'd probably have been sent to the laboratory as material by now."

Ron caught the implication—in Black Mist Forest, any kind of "accident" could become a reason for wizards to requisition experimental materials.

Andre took a crumpled notebook from his robes and flipped through it quickly.

"But it did remind me that the location is important for your first use of Scorching Essential Oil."

He looked up at the sky. "The sun is just about to rise. This is the best time for body tempering."

The two of them walked down a secluded path.

The morning chill carried a faint stench of rot, the distinctive smell of Black Mist Forest.

As they passed a patch of glowing fungi, Andre deliberately slowed his pace.

"These are markers left behind by pathfinders. They fade under sunlight, which is why wizards use them to guide the way."

More than ten minutes later, they arrived at a clearing.

Several broken Stone Pillars stood crookedly about, their tops etched with indistinct runes.

Andre patted the nearest Stone Pillar, sending up a cloud of dust.

"Black Mist Forest isn't very large, so there are often abandoned wizard experiment sites like this. Usually, no magical creatures or Aberrants dare approach places like these, so they're relatively safe."

Under the morning light, the runes occasionally flashed with a faint glow.

"And although those runes are damaged, they can still block magical fluctuations."

He crouched and examined the ground carefully. "Who knows how many test subjects died here back then. The floor tiles were dyed this color by all kinds of energy."

Ron noticed that the ground was indeed an eerie bluish gray.

The color had not been painted on. It had seeped out from within, as if the tiles themselves bore some kind of curse.

"But precisely because of that, this has become a safe place for us."

Andre rose to his feet and dusted off his hands. He motioned for Ron to sit on the bluish-gray stone platform in the center. "Take off all your clothes. Leave only your underwear."

"What?"

Ron froze for a moment. The morning chill made him instinctively pull his clothes tighter around himself.

Had he heard wrong? Back in the kingdom, he'd never heard that the Thirteenth Prince had a taste for men.

"Don't overthink it." Andre rolled his eyes.

"I'm not one of those perverted mentors who like preying on pretty boys. Scorching Essential Oil needs to be applied directly to the skin, especially to certain important—"

He suddenly paused, as though choosing his words. "According to the wizards, they should be called acupoints."

"Did this knowledge also come from another world?" Ron asked as he unfastened his buttons.

Much of the occult knowledge here had extremely complicated origins. The main reason was that wizards especially enjoyed absorbing extraordinary knowledge and cultivation systems from other worlds.

"I don't know." Andre shook his head.

"Our royal records say this breathing technique was a revelation from the Sun God. But in my view, rather than dwelling on its origins, we should focus on the matter at hand."

He opened his notebook and carefully checked something.

"According to the records, the first body tempering must target important areas: the heart, spine, and limb joints. The order is important. Even the slightest mistake—"

Just then, the panel suddenly displayed a notification:

Detected use of extraordinary item: Scorching Essential Oil

After use, the first body tempering will begin, initiating the class advancement process for the combat class: Knight Squire

Combat Class: Knight Squire (One Star)

After advancement:

1. Attribute Growth:

Magic Growth (One Star)

Constitution Growth (Two Stars)

Spirit Growth (Half Star)

2. Unlock class skills: Basic Swordsmanship, Breathing Body Tempering

3. Special Bonuses:

Slightly increased skill experience gain speed for martial skill-related abilities

Slightly improved physical training efficiency

Advancement Requirements:

1. Constitution attribute reaches 0.5 √

2. Complete one Breathing Body Tempering session

Warning: The first body tempering will determine the foundational attributes of the Knight class

Notice: Potion Apprentice class detected. Class Synergy may be triggered for additional benefits

"So there really is Class Synergy." Ron lowered his head, a faint smile appearing on his face.

These synergy bonuses were exactly what made that game so appealing.

Players were willing to spend enormous amounts of time and money just to discover the most perfect class combinations.

And now, he possessed unlimited class slots. What did that mean?

Attribute stacking between different extraordinary classes, complementary skills, growth bonuses—these would all become his exclusive advantages.

In the game, players could possess at most three classes at once. But his potential now was limitless.

As long as he had enough time, he could maximize the effects of Class Synergy and build a perfect growth system.

Perhaps this was his greatest reliance in this dangerous world.

Ron put those thoughts aside and glanced at Andre. The other man was intently studying his notes, seemingly confirming every detail.

That caution reminded Ron of last night's accident that had "nearly blown up the dormitory."

In this dangerous world, even the smallest mistake could be fatal.

"All right." Andre finally closed his notebook.

"I need you to focus completely on every word I say next. During the application of the essential oil, you may feel intense burning, and you may even experience hallucinations—"

His voice suddenly became exceptionally grave.

"No matter what happens, do not struggle or move. Once the essential oil seeps into your body, it will begin affecting your meridians. This process must be completed fully, otherwise—"

Ron nodded. He could feel the weight in Andre's words.

This was not merely a simple body tempering. It was an important Choice that would determine his future path.

"In case you aren't prepared, I'll tell you first. I'm about to begin."

Andre picked up the bottle of Scorching Essential Oil and poured some into his palm.

Ron noticed that the pale golden liquid began to emit a strange glow the moment it came into contact with the air, accompanied by a faint scent of sulfur.