Back in the area reserved for students who had completed their awakenings, Ethan paid little attention to the eyes around him.
His attention was entirely focused on the Profession Profile that had just unlocked.
After awakening, everyone could directly check their basic personal information. The data was divided into two main sections: attributes and skills.
Ethan focused his consciousness.
An interface visible only to him immediately appeared.
「Name: Ethan Mercer」
「Profession: Life Priest」
「Level: 1」
「Promotion Requirement: Reach Level 10 and absorb an Elemental Origin」
「Constitution: 100」
「Agility: 30」
「Mana: 50」
「Stamina: 110」
「Strength: 120」
Ethan silently stared at the numbers before him.
Three attributes had surpassed one hundred.
Even without enough data to make an accurate comparison with every profession, he knew this was an extraordinarily abnormal starting stat spread.
Nearly nine years of training hadn't disappeared after the awakening.
If Ethan had truly become a Warrior, this foundation would have been nearly perfect.
High strength.
High stamina.
His constitution also far exceeded that of an ordinary newly awakened person.
It was just a shame that his profession was a Life Priest.
Ethan switched to the skills section.
Five lines of information appeared.
「Elemental Suppression」
「Exclusive profession talent. Creates an area of effect with a fifty-meter radius, weakening the activity of elemental mana and absorbing part of the suppressed energy to replenish the user.」
Ethan paused slightly.
His first talent wasn't like an ordinary support skill.
He continued reading.
「Restoration Hymn」
「Deploys a restoration field, transferring vitality to allies within its area of effect and healing injuries to a certain extent.」
「Soul-Summoning Hymn」
「Creates an area of deathly energy that weakens enemies, while also having a chance to summon a suitable undead creature from the surrounding environment.」
「Bewitching Hymn」
「Releases mental fluctuations throughout the area of effect, with a chance to inflict adverse states such as disorientation, hypnosis, hallucinations, or behavioral disorders.」
「Blessing Hymn」
「Creates a blessing field for allies. The enhancement effects are randomly determined when the skill activates.」
Ethan read through everything once, then looked over it again from the beginning.
One exclusive talent.
Four starting skills.
Judging by quantity alone, the Life Priest absolutely deserved the title of the only hidden profession.
Most Level 1 professions had only one or two skills that could actually be used right away. Ethan had just awakened with four skills and a special talent.
The problem was that nearly all of them leaned toward support.
Healing.
Weakening.
Control.
Enhancing allies.
Even Soul-Summoning Hymn was random and couldn't be considered a reliable source of damage.
Ethan let out a quiet breath.
The situation was even more difficult than he'd expected.
A powerful support profession was by no means useless. On the contrary, professional dungeon-exploration teams always needed people capable of healing, enhancing allies, and controlling the battlefield.
But that was when you had teammates.
If Ethan wanted to hunt monsters and level up on his own, his current skill set offered almost no reliable solution.
“Ethan.”
Miles walked over beside him.
He studied Ethan's expression for a moment before speaking.
“Don't overthink it. In a few days, the universities and specialized academies will begin their recruitment drives.”
Ethan dismissed the interface and looked over.
Miles continued:
“Your grades are the best in the school, and your physical fitness goes without saying. Even if your profession has problems at the promotion stage, that doesn't mean there won't be somewhere willing to take you.”
“Are you trying to comfort me?”
“Sounds better than what I said earlier, right?”
Ethan thought for a few seconds.
“It's an improvement.”
Miles grinned.
“See? Besides, Life Priest is still a rare support profession. You don't necessarily have to fight monsters yourself. As long as you find the right team and support them while they hunt, you'll still gain experience and loot.”
That wasn't wrong.
After the Great Convergence, monster hunting and dungeon exploration had become fully developed industries. Materials, magical tools, skill books, and many types of special resources could all be obtained from monsters or dungeons.
A good support player had never lacked a place in a team.
But Ethan understood that his problem wasn't Level 1.
It was Level 10.
He opened the Profession Profile again.
The promotion requirement still sat directly beneath the profession's name.
Elemental Origin.
Those four words alone were enough to make the road ahead seem almost completely blocked.
According to Walter Hayes, the most stable source of this thing lay deep inside the Elemental Calamity.
Those were regions that even Level 60 awakened people wouldn't enter casually.
And Ethan?
By the time he reached Level 10, he wouldn't even have completed his first promotion.
Asking someone at that level to enter the core region of an Elemental Calamity was no different from asking them to walk to their own death.
Miles was still saying something beside him, but Ethan only heard part of it.
His mind was already calculating the realistic possibilities.
Hire a high-level team?
He didn't have enough money.
Seek sponsorship?
An organization would have to invest enormous resources and even accept the risk of casualties just to help a student pass their first promotion threshold.
No one gave away charity on that scale.
Find an Elemental Origin through another route?
It might exist.
But if it were that easy, the people who had possessed similar Priest professions throughout history wouldn't have been stuck at Level 10.
Ethan furrowed his brow slightly.
Ten years since he'd crossed into this world.
Nearly nine years spent preparing for the day of his awakening.
In the end, he'd received a unique profession and five extraordinarily rare starting abilities, only to immediately discover that his entire path of advancement was blocked by a condition that was nearly impossible to fulfill.
If this was a joke, whoever came up with it had a pretty terrible sense of humor.
A sudden thought surfaced in Ethan's mind.
In the stories he'd read before, people who crossed into other worlds usually received some kind of special advantage.
Knowledge.
Abilities.
A system.
He had nothing.
Over the past ten years, Ethan had long since given up on waiting.
But today, right as his professional path opened only to be nearly locked shut, it was still hard to avoid feeling dissatisfied.
He should at least be given a chance.
The moment that thought appeared, a completely unfamiliar sound rang out in his mind.
「Suitable activation conditions detected.」
Ethan froze.
Miles's voice beside him immediately grew distant.
A new interface appeared before his eyes.
It wasn't the Profession Profile.
It wasn't anything like the functions the school had ever taught them about.
「Limitless Amplification activated.」
Ethan stared at the line for several seconds.
His heart began beating faster.
Had it finally come?
He didn't immediately show anything on the outside. After living in this world for ten years, Ethan was mature enough to understand that an ability of unknown origin wasn't something he should shout about in the middle of a crowded gymnasium.
He merely focused his consciousness on the interface.
The next information appeared.
「Limitless Amplification」
「May select a target owned by or directly linked to the user for amplification.」
「Base multiplier: x10,000」
「The amplification result depends on the nature of the target. The multiplier will not necessarily be converted directly into a numerical value.」
「Amplification may affect scale, quality, efficiency, structure, effects, and attributes.」
Ethan read each line very slowly.
x10,000.
That number alone was enough to make him check it a second time.
But the more important part was the explanation that followed.
It wasn't simply multiplying a number by ten thousand.
Limitless Amplification could cause the target's very nature to evolve.
Keeping his expression normal, Ethan asked mentally:
“What happens if I choose the Profession Profile?”
The interface responded almost immediately.
「The Profession Profile belongs to the user.」
「Amplification is possible.」
A hot sensation ran down Ethan's spine.
If he could choose only one skill, he would still have to weigh his options.
But if the entire Profession Profile could become a target, the meaning was completely different.
“Proceed.”
「Target confirmed: Profession Profile.」
「Beginning Limitless Amplification.」
There was no light.
No thunder.
No strange phenomenon like the one during his awakening.
In less than a second, the interface before Ethan changed completely.
「Amplification complete.」
He immediately opened the attributes section.
All his basic numbers had increased dramatically.
They hadn't shot straight into the millions like the result of a mechanical multiplication, but Ethan could still clearly feel that his body had changed.
His nervous system had grown more sensitive.
His breathing was steady.
His sense of center of gravity, grip strength, and the movement of each muscle group had become so clear that it felt almost unfamiliar.
He tried closing his hand.
Ethan stopped immediately.
He couldn't try anything else here.
He didn't yet know exactly where his new limits lay.
If his strength had increased too much, even a habitual movement could cause unintended consequences.
Ethan shifted his attention to the skills.
The first line had changed.
「Null Zone」
「Evolved from Elemental Suppression.」
「Creates an area of effect capable of weakening the structure of elemental magic, obstructing spell formation, and absorbing part of the nullified mana. Range, intensity, and efficiency depend on the user.」
Ethan held his breath.
Elemental Suppression had already been quite special.
After amplification, it had practically become an anti-magic ability.
He looked down at the next skill.
「Guardian Angel」
「Evolved from Restoration Hymn.」
「Creates a high-intensity vitality restoration field for targets identified as allies. Under suitable conditions, it can reactivate the life of a target that has just died if the biological structure and soul have not exceeded the limits of restoration.」
「Has no effect on mechanical units, pure elementals, or creatures that do not possess a compatible life structure.」
A red warning appeared directly beneath it.
「Classification: Forbidden Spell」
Ethan stared at the final two words.
Forbidden Spell.
Not a high-level skill.
Not a rare skill.
It was a classification for spells whose consequences were significant enough to require special regulation.
He continued scrolling down.
「Death Sovereign」
「Evolved from Soul-Summoning Hymn.」
「Reliably summons undead entities suited to the environmental conditions. Enemies killed within the area of effect may be converted into undead units under the user's command with a certain probability.」
「Cannot convert targets that do not possess a compatible soul structure.」
「Classification: Forbidden Spell」
The third skill.
「Fallen Night」
「Evolved from Bewitching Hymn.」
「Creates a wide-area mental effect field. Can simultaneously impose multiple states such as disorientation, hallucinations, reduced will to fight, hypnosis, or cognitive disorder.」
「Targets with high mental resistance may resist some or all of the effects.」
「Classification: Forbidden Spell」
Ethan no longer knew what expression he was supposed to make.
The final skill appeared.
「Chaos Realm」
「Deploys a continuously sustained magical domain. Allies within receive multiple enhancement effects simultaneously. While it exists, the domain may spontaneously generate offensive magical phenomena based on the amount of mana and the surrounding environment.」
「These phenomena may include Ice Storms, Lightning Storms, Meteor Showers, Judgment Day, and other compatible variants.」
「Classification: Forbidden Spell」
Ethan stood motionless for a long time.
Four skills.
Four Forbidden Spells.
A Level 1 who had completed the ritual less than an hour ago now possessed four abilities categorized among the things that most awakened people would never be permitted to approach in their entire lives.
This was no longer a matter of strength or weakness.
If this information became public, the consequences would certainly go far beyond the scope of a high school.
Ethan immediately checked the promotion requirement.
「Promotion Requirement: Reach Level 10 and absorb an Elemental Origin」
It hadn't changed.
Ethan looked at the line and suddenly laughed.
This time, he no longer felt as though it were an insurmountable wall.
He still had to find an Elemental Origin.
The Elemental Calamity was still dangerous.
But now the problem was completely different.
Before, Ethan had been a Level 1 Life Priest with almost no ability to fight independently.
Now, he had an anti-magic ability, a restorative Forbidden Spell, an undead-summoning Forbidden Spell, a mental-control Forbidden Spell, and a magical domain capable of launching attacks on its own.
Not to mention that his body had just been transformed by Limitless Amplification.
Finding an Elemental Origin was no longer completely impossible.
That didn't mean Ethan was stupid enough to think he could charge straight into an Elemental Calamity.
He needed to level up.
Test his skills.
Determine their mana costs.
Understand their actual ranges.
And most importantly, find somewhere safe enough to test what Limitless Amplification had turned his body into.
“Ethan?”
Miles lightly nudged him.
Ethan immediately exited the interface.
“What?”
Miles eyed him suspiciously.
“You've been standing there for almost a minute.”
“Looking over my skills.”
“Anything good?”
Ethan thought about it.
“Pretty decent.”
Miles raised an eyebrow.
Those two words didn't convey even one-thousandth of the truth.
Just as Miles was about to ask another question, a voice laced with amusement came from the side.
“Pretty decent?”
Jordan Blake and several other students were walking toward them.
He had just awakened as a Scout, and his mood was clearly excellent. Ethan's fall from the school's most highly anticipated Warrior candidate to a Life Priest stuck at Level 10 seemed to have improved that mood even further.
Jordan looked at Miles first.
“I just heard you say Ethan could still get into college?”
Miles frowned.
“What does it have to do with you?”
Jordan smiled.
“Nothing. I just think you're being a little optimistic.”
His gaze shifted to Ethan.
“Your grades are great. Your physical fitness is great too. But you know what combat-profession schools look at after awakening.”
Miles stepped forward slightly.
“At least Ethan awakened a unique profession.”
“So what?”
Jordan shrugged.
“A unique profession stuck at Level 10 is still Level 10.”
The air between the two sides immediately grew tense.
If this had happened before Limitless Amplification appeared, those words might have upset Ethan.
Now, he found them merely a little amusing.
Jordan continued:
“My family scheduled a trip to a leveling dungeon this afternoon. The skill books and starting equipment are ready too.”
“In a few days, I'll have at least gained some real combat experience.”
He looked at Ethan.
“What about you?”
Miles said coldly:
“Jordan, that's enough.”
“Not happy about it? Then let's try it right now.”
Jordan looked over at Miles.
“Your Card Mage is a combat profession too. I don't mind.”
Miles was about to step forward when Ethan raised a hand and held his shoulder.
It was only a very light movement.
But Miles immediately felt the hand on his shoulder grow as heavy as a steel clamp.
He froze.
Ethan realized it too and immediately let go.
As expected.
His physical attributes had changed dramatically.
This absolutely wasn't the right place to test them.
“Forget it.”
Ethan spoke.
Miles turned to him.
“You're just going to let him talk like that?”
“It's not worth it.”
Jordan heard him, and his smile immediately vanished.
“Not worth it?”
Ethan looked at him.
There was no anger in his eyes.
Nor did he seem intent on provoking him.
That attitude only made Jordan more upset.
“Ethan, do you still think you're the top student in the combat program?”
“No.”
Ethan answered.
“But I'm not interested in fighting at school over a few words, either.”
Jordan narrowed his eyes.
“Or are you scared?”
Ethan looked at his hand.
If they really fought now, his biggest concern wouldn't be losing.
It would be not knowing how much force to use to leave Jordan in one piece.
“You can think that.”
The calm answer left Jordan speechless.
Miles struggled to hold back a laugh beside him.
Jordan looked at the two of them, his expression growing even uglier.
“Fine.”
“There'll be a Profession Ability Assessment in a few days.”
“If there's a combat segment then, I'll volunteer to face you.”
Ethan didn't answer.
Jordan continued:
“I just hope you're still this calm when the time comes.”
With that, he turned around.
The students accompanying him quickly followed.
Jordan already had his own leveling plan for that very day. With his family's resources, he could access managed dungeons, purchase suitable equipment, and start accumulating experience earlier than most students.
In Jordan's mind, a few days would be enough to widen the gap.
A Scout who had already started leveling.
Against a Life Priest locked at Level 10.
Did the outcome really need to be guessed?
Miles watched his retreating back, then turned to Ethan.
“You're really going to let it go?”
Ethan reopened the Profession Profile.
The four red warning lines were still there.
「Forbidden Spell」
「Forbidden Spell」
「Forbidden Spell」
「Forbidden Spell」
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“If he wants to level up, let him.”
Miles blinked.
Ethan didn't explain further.
Jordan was thinking about leaving him far behind in a few days.
Ethan, meanwhile, was thinking about an entirely different problem.
Finding somewhere safe enough to test his first Forbidden Spell.