Sitting primly in her seat, Meer looked over curiously: "So, Luo Shu, when do you think I should change Classes?"
"Preferably as soon as possible, but honestly, I suspect you might not be the only one suited for the Death Flame Sorcerer Class."
As he spoke, Luo Shu turned to Lacus with a light chuckle:
"Lacus, what about you?"
"Me?" Lacus seemed surprised that Luo Shu would suggest she change Classes too, though not overly so: "I haven't mastered much of the Sky-attribute Dying Will Flames."
"Are you sure?" Luo Shu gave Lacus a strange look.
Weren't all Sky-attribute Dying Will Flame users seemingly weak but actually overpowered cheaters in disguise?
Seeing Luo Shu's sceptical expression, Lacus sighed helplessly:
"Fine, I have grasped some of the Sky Flames with Mia's help, but if I were to change Classes, I'd need to discuss it with Mia first."
Hearing this, Luo Shu suddenly realised something and asked in surprise:
"Does the Kusanagi Sword have a matching Class?"
"Probably. Mia mentioned it a few times, but I haven't found the time yet."
Lacus nodded.
"Then, how about considering combining the Kusanagi Sword's Class with the Death Flame Sorcerer?" Luo Shu tentatively suggested. "After all, we have the means, don't we?"
"That is an option, but..." Lacus gave Luo Shu a curious glance, "Do we have enough points?"
Luo Shu froze momentarily before laughing wryly.
Just then, Lacus asked him:
"Speaking of which, I just tested it - the Death Flame Sorcerer Class would require 150,000 points to develop results up to Demigod Rank, right? In that case, further enhancements would cost even more, wouldn't they?"
"I'm curious - with the Death Flame Sorcerer Class already available, what considerations led you to want me to develop a High Tier Class?"
Hearing Lacus's question, Luo Shu couldn't help but smile. "Providing better options for the Familia - does that count as consideration?"
Lacus studied the smile on Luo Shu's face and responded with an understanding smile of her own:
"It does!"
She seemed to grasp Luo Shu's meaning and didn't press further.
Seeing Lacus ready to leave it at that, Luo Shu instead offered a detailed explanation:
"Actually, after truly reaching Demigod level, I've realised the disparities in this realm begin from the very foundations."
As he spoke, Luo Shu's eyes filled with emotion:
"This might be hard to understand, but at the Demigod stage, what determines strength isn't concepts - those powers only accessible at Demigod Rank - but rather basic attributes."
"The fundamental factors determining a Demigod's strength are the body's resilience, the mind's fortitude, and the combined measure of these—the abundance or scarcity of Spiritual Power."
"Regarding the power of concepts, whether it's a Common Class or a Top Tier Class, as long as one isn't an Apostle and hasn't completed the sublimation of Greater Abilities into Divine Authority, their fundamental strength remains the same."
At this point, Luo Shu gave an example:
"For instance, a Common Class that masters the Fire Concept versus a Top Tier Class that masters the Causality Concept."
"Setting aside other factors, in the realm of Demigods, the weight of the Fire Concept is equivalent to a ton of cotton, while the Causality Concept is equivalent to a ton of refined iron."
"Without considering subsequent developments and focusing solely on the Demigod Rank, a ton of iron and a ton of cotton are actually of equal weight."
Hearing this, Meer looked somewhat surprised:
"Luo Shu, are you saying... that in a clash of concepts between Demigods, it would only ever end in a draw?"
Luo Shu nodded at this, then rubbed his chin and said:
"In terms of concepts, the two are indeed equivalent."
"Take the same example. Suppose two Demigods simultaneously employ Concept Entanglement—one using the Fire Concept, the other using the Causality Concept. If both exert the same output, the result of their confrontation would most likely be evenly matched."
"The same output?" Lacus, recalling Luo Shu's earlier words, immediately grasped the key issue.
"Yes, the same output." Luo Shu sighed, unable to help but reflect. "The so-called Class tiers, the gap between Common, High Tier, and Top Tier Classes, lie precisely in this output."
At this, Luo Shu raised a finger and said:
"If we collectively term a Common Class's physical attributes, mental strength, reaction speed, and Spiritual Power as 1 point..."
"Then a High Tier Class would typically be 3 to 5 points."
Luo Shu gestured with his right hand to indicate 3 and 5, then said with a grave expression:
"As for Top Tier Classes, the minimum is 8 points or above, with 10 being the most common, and 15 or even an exaggerated 25 points not impossible."
"In the end, the disparity between Classes lies in the refinement of ability combinations and, through these abilities, the further excavation and enhancement of the body's latent potential."
"The more exceptional the Class, the stronger the foundational attributes."
"And the result is that at the Demigod level, a higher-tier Class will almost always overpower a lower-tier one."
"The concept is simple. If one side's output is only 1 while the other's is 5 or even 10, the outcome speaks for itself."
"So if the Class disparity is too great, it's entirely possible for a Demigod to be killed one-on-one within a Demigod battle."
"But beyond combat disparities, the most fatal difference lies in the difficulty of subsequent advancement for Demigods."
At this point, Luo Shu lowered his hand and spoke earnestly to Lacus and Meer:
"According to information released by the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System."
"While Common Class Demigods can eventually become Apostles given enough time, that's their absolute limit. Only High Tier Classes and above possess the potential to become Angels."
"The distinction here stems from fundamental differences in capacity."
"If elevating an Authority Embryo into a full Authority requires accumulating 1000 units of energy, a Common Class Apostle's maximum capacity would only be around 300, fundamentally cutting off any possibility of advancement."
After this explanation, Luo Shu picked up his coffee and remarked calmly:
"This is why I must provide Familia members with High Tier Classes, and why I want you, Lacus, to strengthen your Class and raise your potential ceiling as much as possible."
"Because whether one can become an Angel is essentially determined at the Class tier level."
Hearing this blunt truth, Meer couldn't help but pause. "Then does that mean Common Class Demigods can never advance to become Angels?"
"No, there's still a chance." Luo Shu rejected Meer's assumption, considering his words carefully. "With profound mastery of one's Class, through deep analysis and reconstruction of the Class itself, even a Common Class can be upgraded to High Tier or even Top Tier."
"But the difficulty involved..."
Luo Shu trailed off, because frankly, the difficulty seemed absurd - a path only true monstrous geniuses could tread.
Yet this raised another question: would geniuses of that calibre even choose to become Demigods with Common Classes in the first place?
Such prodigies could easily join any reputable organisation and be granted at least a High Tier Class, surely?
Moreover, talents capable of creating original Classes would likely have deepened their Class power to High Tier or beyond while still at Hero Rank, rather than becoming Demigods with Common Classes.
Thus, the notion of Common Class Demigods advancing through Class elevation was inherently contradictory.
Genuinely ordinary Demigods simply wouldn't possess such capabilities.
Understanding Luo Shu's implication, Meer finally grasped his real reason for not enhancing the Common Rank Sorcerer Class:
"So that's why you're not concerned about potential leaks regarding the Sorcerer Class?"
"Because you've known all along that Demigods advancing through such Classes couldn't threaten us?"
"Not exactly." Luo Shu shot Meer a look before adding wryly: "Even if they can't become Angels, Common Classes still serve as stepping stones to Apostle Rank."
"Besides, even the weakest Demigod isn't completely powerless."
"And any Class capable of producing Demigods does hold significance."
"Still, in my view, while such Common Classes are important, they're not beyond being traded."
"If exchanging one can secure what we need, then trade it we shall."
"And since it's a trade item, just keeping it confidential is enough. Adding traps to it would only make the product flawed and destabilise our allies' positions, wouldn't you agree?"
At this point, Luo Shu smiled somewhat mischievously:
"Moreover, from what I understand, when Class users from the same origin fight each other, the suppression of lower-tier Classes by higher-tier Classes seems much greater than between Classes of different origins."
"To put it bluntly, it's straightforward level suppression."
"So..."
Luo Shu grinned wickedly:
"I'd actually love for the Sorcerer Class to spread more widely among our allies. That way, by controlling the promotion materials, we can not only keep earning funds but also ensure our Familia members always have the upper hand against opponents of the same level."
"With this backup plan, there's no need to prepare too many other traps."
"Will you sell High Tier Classes in the future too?" Meer asked curiously.
At this, Luo Shu's attitude immediately changed:
"High Tier Classes and above must be kept as confidential as possible, reserved only for Familia members and key contributors."
Luo Shu adopted a righteous expression:
"After all, as Chief God, I should at least leave some promising development channels for my Familia!"
Meer looked at him with a feigned expression of innocence, matching her angelic appearance.
But then she abruptly changed the subject:
"So, Shu-kun, how many points did you spend this time?"
Luo Shu's expression seemed to freeze for a second.
Meanwhile, Meer's interrogation continued leisurely:
"Let me calculate carefully. The 150,000 points Lacus mentioned earlier must be the cost of deriving just the Death Flame Sorcerer, right?"
"Beyond that, the modifications to the Sorcerer Class must have cost another sum?"
"And if you spent all that, might there also be specialised Classes necessary for certain... special someones?"
"For example, Utaha-chan and Kisara-chan - as your second and first wives respectively, shouldn't they have their own privileges?"
"So, be honest - how many points are left?"
Looking at Meer's smiling face, Luo Shu seemed to see demon wings spreading behind her and a heart-shaped tail.
At this moment, Luo Shu felt the strange sensation of being caught by his wife after spending money on a gacha game.
Even though it was his own money...
Well, that was just a joke.
Facing Meer's questioning, Luo Shu said mysteriously:
"Meer, do you think there's a possibility..."
"Hmm?" Meer blinked curiously.
Luo Shu smiled as he looked at her:
"A possibility that derived Classes don't actually cost points unless I materialise them?"
Hearing this, Meer blinked, then suddenly smiled even more brightly:
"Ara ara, I just remembered something. Before coming here, Lacus mentioned she wanted to celebrate your successful promotion to Demigod by wearing a bunny girl outfit for you. Did you know about this, Luo Shu?"
Lacus: "???"
Was this because she hadn't brought her Kusanagi Sword today?
Meer, are you trying to turn the tables?! Damn it!