Chapter 43: Class Ability
After a few minutes, the hug finally ended.
Seraphine stepped back with perfect composure as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. Her arms folded behind her, her posture calm, her voice measured. But the faint smile tugged at her lips refused to disappear—like it had made a home there.
Leon cleared his throat and looked away. His cheeks were just a bit too warm from the hug earlier.
'Why am I blushing? It was just a hug. A strong, spine-crushing hug... from my master. Who is kind of... overwhelmingly affectionate sometimes.'
He had been hugged many times but this was the first time he blussed due to it.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. That smile was still there. She was pretending it wasn't, but it clearly was.
She caught the look and tilted her head, amused. "Don't be embarrassed," she said gently. "I'm your master. It's my job to check if my disciple is emotionally functioning."
Leon blinked.
'Is that a real rule or did she just make it up?'
"...I'm functioning," he muttered, crossing his arms. "Just... not used to this."
Seraphine nodded sagely, still smiling. "Then consider it training in emotional resilience."
'She's not going to let this go, is she?'
He looked down at the floor for a moment, then back at her smile—and despite himself, the corner of his mouth twitched up too.
This... wasn't bad. Weird, sure. But not bad.
Seraphine turned with that familiar, sly smile tugging at her lips. "I was just making sure you won't embarrass me when you get a girlfriend."
Leon blinked. 'Where did that come from?'
He straightened, brushing his bangs back with mock dignity. "Well, I do 'look' older than ten. You might want to prepare yourself."
Seraphine arched an eyebrow.
He smirked faintly. "Who knows? I might introduce her to you someday. Hope you're ready for that."
That got a soft, amused scoff out of her.
But before she could reply, Leon added quickly, "...Not that I'm in a rush or anything. Just—statistically speaking."
She leaned in slightly, hands on her hips. "You've been spending too much time calculating dungeon survival rates. Not everything is strategy."
Then, with a light flick to his forehead: "And you're still ten. So keep those 'girlfriends' hypothetical for at least a few more years."
Leon rubbed the spot she flicked, a slight blush on his cheeks despite his teasing tone.
Seraphine's smile lingered, but something in her gaze shifted—subtle, thoughtful. She looked him over again.
The silver-white hair. The calm, sharp eyes. The quiet confidence in his posture.
'He really doesn't look ten anymore... more like a fifteen to sixteen-year-old'
Her expression sobered. "Still, don't rush. And if you ever do... bring someone into your life like that—"
She met his gaze directly.
"—I expect to be consulted."
Leon blinked. Then smirked. "Permission to date, granted by Knight-Commander Seraphine Vael?"
She didn't answer. Just folded her arms, the faintest crease forming between her brows.
'Is she... actually serious?'
Leon exhaled softly, adjusting the collar of his new tunic. "Alright, alright. If it ever happens, I'll run background checks, and then maybe schedule a meeting with you."
He turned toward the door, waving lazily over his shoulder.
"But you better start preparing now... because eventually, you 'are' going to meet her."
He didn't turn back to see her reaction.
If he had, he would've caught the sudden twitch in her jaw. The narrowed eyes. And the words, half-muttered under her breath:
"...Not if I meet her first."
The conversation was over.
But her mind? Still very much spinning.
''''''
Leon still hadn't checked what abilities came with his class.
He hadn't absorbed any of the mana cores either—the ones he'd risked his life to collect.
'I really should've asked Seraphine for a demonstration...'
But instead of magic training, he got a full-body hug and a crushing dose of emotional whiplash.
'Yeah. Not the time.'
He followed the maid through the hall in silence, arms tucked neatly behind his back. But if she thought 'he' was quiet, she clearly hadn't heard the whispering storm behind her.
"His hair... it's actually silver-white—"
"And those eyes—did you see the glow?"
"He looks like a little prince... or... no—doesn't he remind you of the young master Leon?"
Leon blinked, inwardly wincing.
'Guess I was more memorable than I thought.'
The murmurs only grew louder as more maids appeared around corners like butterflies drawn to sugar.
"He's adorable—no, handsome—wait, both!"
"I've never seen anyone that pretty walk through these halls without an escort."
"Do you think he's from a noble house? Maybe one of those secret heirs—"
Leon said nothing.
Not a word.
He just let his blank expression do the talking and followed the first maid until they reached a tall, double-door chamber at the end of the west wing.
She opened it with a slight bow.
And Leon paused.
For a breath.
Then he stepped inside.
The room looked like it belonged to a noble heir who'd already inherited a fortune.
Soft white carpet stretched across the floor, muffling each footstep. Golden-trimmed curtains hung from tall windows that let sunlight spill like honey across everything it touched. A crystal chandelier hovered from the ceiling, its frame shaped like twisted vines and ice.
The bed—gods, the bed—looked like it could erase trauma. Four posts, carved with delicate art, held a sheer silk canopy. The sheets were cloud-pale, and the pillows were stacked in layers that threatened to consume whoever lay down.
There was a sitting area with a velvet couch, a mahogany desk near the far wall, and a shelf stocked with thick-bound books. A tray of fruit and honey pastries waited on a silver stand.
And the bath?
It was sunk into the floor and lined with marble, faint steam curling into the air.
"...this is too much," Leon muttered even more luxurious than his previous room.
But he could understand why she had changed his room suddenly.
The maid behind him smiled brightly. "The Commander insisted you receive a room equal to your contribution, young master."
He turned slightly.
"Alright, you can go now."
Maid hearing his command quietly left.
He stepped into the room, letting the doors close behind him.
Silence returned.
He moved to the center and sat cross-legged on the soft carpet.
The mana cores waited.
And his class—Elemental Paragon—remained untouched, unread, unrealized.
He breathed in slowly.
Then out.
'Alright. Let's finally see what I've become.'
Leon thought system in his mind once again as the transparent golden screen appeared in front of him.
[Character Information]
[Name: Leon]
[Level: 1]
[Class: Elemental Paragon(SSS)]
[Age: 10 ( Soul Age: 19)]
[Race: Human]
[Cultivation: Apprentice Rank]
[Affinity: All (Rank 5)]
[Strength: 8]
[Agility: 9]
[Stamina: 9]
[Mana: 1000]
[Intelligence: 100]
[Skills: None]
[Technique: Mana Body Enhancement(Adept Rank)]
He focused a bit more on his class a new window popped up in front of him.
[Class: Elemental Paragon(SSS)]
[Abilities]
[Passive Ability: Elemental Crown]
—> Effect: When used All elemental affinities are increased by +2 ranks, regardless of their original tier.
Leon read the passive ability of his class there was only one ability, but he didn't feel the least bit disappointed after knowing its overpowered effect of increasing all his elemental affinity by two ranks.
Chapter 44: Cosmic Shop
From what Leon understood, passive abilities were supposed to activate on their own without any conscious effort. So when he checked his affinity rank, a question formed in his mind.
'Does that mean my actual affinity rank was 3, and after the increase, it went to 5?'
He considered it seriously for a moment. It was possible. But then he remembered—Seraphine's lightning affinity was also rank 5. If his had only been 3 to begin with... that felt disappointingly low in comparison.
'So even after getting a divine treasure, I was still two ranks below her?'
The thought sat wrong with him.
Driven by curiosity, he closed his eyes and focused, wondering—What if the ability didn't activate on its own? What if I needed to will it into effect?
---
[Passive Ability: Elemental Crown]
→ Effect: When used, all elemental affinities are increased by +2 ranks, regardless of their original tier.
---
The moment he focused on it, he felt it—an immediate surge in awareness. His connection to the elements sharpened, and deepened. It was like stepping from candlelight into open sunlight. The difference was stark, undeniable.
He got to his feet and walked across the stone-tiled floor of his room to the tall mirror standing against the wall. It had a dark wood frame etched with swirling patterns of wind and flame—a gift from Seraphine, though she'd never said so aloud. Standing in front of it, he examined his reflection closely.
There was no visible change. No glowing marks, no crackling aura, not even a faint shimmer. And that was... comforting.
He couldn't feel even the slightest bit of mana leaking from his body. There was no drain, no resistance. It felt like this ability wasn't something he used—it was something that was. A natural extension of himself.
He let out a breath of quiet relief.
He already drew too much attention as it was—especially with his eyes. Silver-white irises etched with a pristine cross at the center, surrounded by a swirling halo of color that shifted with the light.
'Hmm. The eyes really are kind of mesmerizing.'
If he saw someone else with those eyes, even he would've done a double take. Maybe stared a little too long.
Now fully certain the ability was active, he called up his system interface to see the change firsthand. And sure enough, the confirmation was there.
But something else caught his attention too—two unfamiliar entries below the standard status panel. New system functions, newly unlocked.
---
[Character Information]
Name: Leon
Level: 1
Class: Elemental Paragon (SSS)
Age: 10 (Soul Age: 19)
Race: Human
Cultivation: Apprentice Rank
Affinity: All (Rank 7)
Strength: 8
Agility: 9
Stamina: 9
Mana: 1000
Intelligence: 100
Skills: None
Technique: Mana Body Enhancement (Adept Rank)
— [COSMIC SHOP] —
— [COSMIC CHAT] —
---
Leon stared at the new value.
'Rank 7... That's high. It has to be.'
Excitement stirred in his chest, but it was quickly followed by a quieter thought.
'But how high is high? What's the scale? Is 7 close to the max—or just a stepping stone?'
He didn't know. And that bothered him. Seraphine had never spoken about maximum affinity ranks, and he doubted most people even had access to that kind of information.
'I'll have to find out eventually... but not now.'
For now, he was still a first-level nobody in the eyes of the world.
He took a breath, steadying himself. His eyes shifted toward the faintly glowing icon labeled.
[COSMIC SHOP].
'Let's see what kind of things this shop has to offer'
And with that, he reached toward the unknown once again.
[Cosmic System Shop Interface]
– Payment Type: Casualties Registered by System
– All prices calculated by the Cosmic System based on existential value loss.
– Once the purchase is made there is no going back.
– Your identity is protected by the Cosmic System.
___
1. Chrono-Stasis Ring (Legendary – Item)
Freezes time for exactly three seconds. Usable once every 24 hours.
Price: 9,000,000
Vendor: Lord of Time and Space
_____
2. Ethereal Step (Epic – Skill)
Teleport a short distance instantly. Cooldown applies.
Price: 710,000
Vendor: Blink McTwist
_____
3. Inferno Blade (Epic – Weapon)
A sword wreathed in eternal flame. Passively increases fire affinity.
Price: 1,700,000
Vendor: Captain Burnbottom
____
4. Static Pulse Core (Rare – Item)
Generates a one-time shield that nullifies lightning damage.
Price: 125,000
Vendor: The Current Collector
____
5. Void Grasp (Rare – Technique)
Immobilizes enemies with a surge of shadow energy.
Price: 200,000
Vendor: Shady Steve
____
6. Gale Dancer's Cloak (Rare – Armor)
Boosts wind affinity and agility-based evasion.
Price: 180,000
Vendor: Madam Breezy
_____
7. Frost Fang Technique (Epic – Technique)
A deadly piercing strike that chills the target's soul and slows movement.
Price: 910,000
Vendor: Sir Chillington
_____
8. Mana Reservoir Pearl (Epic – Item)
Permanently increases total mana pool by +300.
Price: 350,000
Vendor: Professor Overflow
____
9. Phoenix Feather Amulet (Legendary – Item)
Revives the wearer upon death, once.
Price: 2,500,000
Vendor: Resurrecto Maximus
_____
10. Elemental Surge (Legendary – Skill)
Temporarily raises all elemental affinities by one rank for 60 seconds.
Price: 3,000,000
Vendor: Lord of Time and Space
_____
11. Seismic Tremor Step (Rare – Skill)
Every footstep sends out shockwaves that disrupt balance nearby.
Price: 190,000
Vendor: Stomp McGraw
_____
12. Mystic Mirror Shard (Rare – Item)
Reflects one spell back to its original caster.
Price: 270,000
Vendor: Reflection Rick
_____
13. Arcane Shackle (Rare – Technique)
Binds a target's mana flow for five seconds.
Price: 320,000
Vendor: Warden Wink
_____
14. Dimensional Pocket Cape (Rare – Item)
A cloak that contains a pocket dimension for storage.
Price: 220,000
Vendor: Hoarder Harold
_____
15. Hourglass of Reversal (Rare – Item)
Rewinds time in a 3-meter radius by three seconds. Single-use.
Price: 120,0000
Vendor: Professor Time-a-lot
_____
16. Mirror of True Self (Rare – Item)
Reveals the target's truest nature. Useful for interrogation or emotional ruin.
Price: 80,000
Vendor: Lady Whatsername the Unstable
_____
17. Feather of Dimensional Drift (Epic – Item)
Lets the user blink into an adjacent dimension for up to 10 seconds.
Price: 150,000
Vendor: Duke of Nope
____
18. Coin of Absolute Luck (Epic – Item)
Flip it. One outcome brings glory. The other, ruin. No in-between.
Price: 210,000
Vendor: Gambler X of the 7th Table
____
19. Cradle Seed of Elements (Divine– Item)
Once planted in the body, gradually enhances all Possessed elemental affinities.
Price: 790,000,000
Vendor: The Keeper of The Dimensions
____
20. Chain of Infinite Anchoring (Rare – Item)
Immobilizes any creature of your level or lower. Blocks all teleportation.
Price: 250,000
Vendor: Granny Clampjaw
____
21. Tome of Eternal Practice (Epic – Item)
Simulates 10,000 hours of training in your mind. Usable once per day.
Price: 6,000,000
Vendor: Archivist of the Unskimmable
____
22. Cloak of Singular Focus (Rare – Armor)
Nullifies all illusions, mental attacks, and distractions.
Price: 180,000
Vendor: Monk Dave the Barefoot
____
23. Shard of Unburnt Ice (Rare – Item)
Grants a permanent magical shield that blocks fire damage.
Price: 95,000
Vendor: Queen Chillington IV
____
24. Mark of Hidden Step (Rare – Skill)
Perfect stealth for 15 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.
Price: 300,000
Vendor: Mister Peekaboo
____
25. Lantern of Soul Echoes (Epic – Item)
Speak with one spirit of your choice for 60 seconds.
Price: 1,000,000
Vendor: Warden of Last Whispers
____
26. Seed of Stormlight Heart (Legendary – Item)
Implants within the user and evolve their lightning and light affinities over time.
Price: 15,000,000
Vendor: Lord of Lightning and Luminance
____
27. Scepter of Spatial Folding (Rare – Item)
Grants localized teleportation and storage manipulation for one hour.
Price: 380,000
Vendor: Baron Bagspace the Twisted
____
28. Vial of Second Breath (Epic – Elixir)
Restores all physical health instantly. Can revive near-death states.
Price: 320,000
Vendor: Dr. Fixme the Skeptical
____
29. Whistle of the Boundless Mount (Rare – Summon)
Summons a spectral steed that adapts to terrain and danger.
Price: 220,000
Vendor: Stablemaster "Neigh Means Neigh"...