There's something that King Baalrek told me the other day that still sticks with me.

To evolve your Class to Platinum Rank, you'll need access to better Skills. Many Infernal Skills start at Gold-rank, Cloud. As a result, some of them are extremely rare. Only that Professor of yours might have access to them. I doubt even Iskara could get her hands on them for you without incurring heavy debts.

Even when I finally visit the Hidden Market, it's going to be a long shot to find exactly which Skills I need for my Class Evolution.

A Class Evolution happens when you have enough Skills at the right level, and you reach the peak of your Class's Rank. In my case, that is Gold-rank. It's similar to the process of acquiring a Class. You can take as long as you'd like, waiting to get exactly the right combination of Skills needed to evolve your Class into something very powerful.

The problem is, sadly, that the kind of Skills King Baalrek recommended for me to get a strong Infernal Class are almost impossible to find.

They're Royal Grade Skills that are jealously guarded by some of the strongest and most talented Infernals in the world.

Baalrek has told me that he can feel one of the Skills I need in a Dungeon not too far from the Academy. Thankfully, this knowledge should still be unknown to most Infernals, since it's hidden away in a secret room.

Unfortunately, I still have to acquire two more Royal Grade Skills before I can evolve my Class.

"A bet?" Professor Veythra asks. "And what could you possibly have to offer me?"

"I'll drop out of the Class," I say.

"That's all you can offer?" the Professor smirks. "And what did you have in mind as a reward?"

"I want a Skill Crystal. One only you can get me, The Blood of the Ancients."

I see Professor Veythra freeze for a moment, and then narrow her eyes at me.

"You want what? Are you trying to insult my people?"

Someone asked Iskara what the Skill is, and she replies under her breath, "That is a Royal Skill Crystal, something that has to be sold to Royalty and our most talented warriors on the pain of death. It's an extremely rare Skill that very few Infernals will ever even see, let alone absorb. It's also a Platinum Rank Skill that is foundational to many of our rarest Platinum Classes. That must be why Jacob has asked for it."

"He's courting death," someone spoke from behind. "Asking for a Royal Skill so brazenly?"

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"He definitely has a death wish."

"He's just an idiot. He'll be kicked out of the Class and the Academy soon enough."

"Shut up," a resonant voice silences a few of the students who all turn to see Kai Valemont lording over them. "Don't distract my brother."

The silence stretches as Professor Veythra takes a few moments to think of her reply, when suddenly she looks at me and smiles.

"When I win, I want you to abandon your title as Champion and renounce your Infernal Class. If you don't lose, you may have The Blood of the Ancients Skill. It just so happens that I have one such Skill Crystal with me."

Professor Veythra produces a bloody red Skill Crystal and puts it on her desk.

At that request, Iskara shoots to her feet.

"Aunt Veythra! You can't take his Class! You would cripple him!"

"He requested a Skill so rare that only a scant few are found each year, Iskara. His life is not even close to being worth as much as a Skill Crystal of this kind. So, if he wants it, the least he could do is put his Class on the line."

* * *

Professor Veythra smiles because she knows just how hard the trial she created will be for Jacob Cloud.

It is one thing to complete the schema uninjured, but it's a whole other matter to perfectly circulate your mana through it completely. Even Iskara would probably take, at the very least, a few hours to learn this pattern properly, even with her Rainbow Skill helping her.

Professor Veythra was one of the very few individuals who knew about her niece's luck. And that spoke volumes about just how hard it would be for Jacob Cloud to learn this even if he had a whole year.

Even if he somehow brought Minor Enlightenment to Level 40 or 50, he has no way to solve a Platinum-level mana schema. Nothing short of Minor Enlightenment at Level 100 would EVER allow him to solve this puzzle. And I can't see the typical aura signature in his soul that would indicate that his Skill is already Level 100. That means it must still be underleveled, and he's severely overestimating his abilities.

Crippling a student by taking their Class would normally break her soul oath. Fortunately, this scenario was different—this was recognized as a trade by her Oaths and by most Contracts. The Headmaster was still mostly lax in his writing of oaths to avoid restricting the professors too much. And no one was going to antagonize that monster of a man about his Oaths, unless they had a death wish.

A few civilizations had disappeared on account of their royalty thinking themselves above the man. Veythra doesn't plan on making the same mistake as those poor souls, but she's also not going to cower in fear at the potential consequences of her actions.

If Jacob Cloud accepts this bet, with these conditions, with such an equivalent trade, then the Headmaster would have to accept the outcome.

He'll be angry that I broke up his Generation of Legends, but this kid… he gives me a bad feeling. I can't let him take his Infernal powers any further than this.

There's a hunger in Jacob Cloud's eyes that Veythra recognizes. She knows just how rare it is for someone to be that hungry for power, fame, and recognition. There's also his unnaturally strong sense of pride, something that most people as weak as him would naturally lack.

"I accept, Professor," Jacob replies. "But with one more added condition. I'm staking my Class and my title, I'd want in exchange, on top of the Skill Crystal, earnest guidance from you. One lesson a week."

Professor Veythra struggles to smother a laugh.

He wants private tutoring?! It's smart to ask this of me, but, Cloud, there's no chance in hell you're going to survive this!

"Sure," Veythra says, cutting her own palm before even being requested, swearing a blood oath.

"Now, it's your turn."

Jacob does the same, leaving the entire class to hold their breath in anticipation.

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