The moment Derick's skin touched the crystal, his class reacted.
Ding!
[Fragmented Class Detected]
[Attempt to Copy: Confirm? — Yes / No]
Before Derick could even react—
Ding!
[Copy Failed]
[Reason: User strength insufficient]
Then, another line of text slid downward beneath the message.
The tone was wrong.
Mocking.
Almost… amused.
Derick stiffened internally.
There was a brief pause.
Then the response came, sharp, hurried, and edged with irritation.
>
Derick's heart skipped.
The message cut off abruptly.
The presence vanished.
The system fell silent.
All of it, every word, every exchange, had taken place within the span of two seconds.
Inwardly…
His world had just cracked open.
But outwardly he continued his actions as if nothing had happened. Slowly, he extended his hands, letting the crystal's warmth seep into his palms. He acted somehow unsettled, not wanting to appear suspicious.
"I… Derick," he began, his voice somewhat calm and stuffy like he always was, "do solemnly swear, by this Fragment of Binding and Obligation, that anything I see or hear behind these walls shall remain within them. I shall not reveal it to any outside force, nor speak of it to any being other than those from the Dragon Spirit Clan, save when commanded by the Matriarch of the Dragon Spirit House or her appointed companion."
The crystal pulsed faintly, a warm red glow traveling up his arms as if acknowledging his words. A quiet hum echoed in the room, subtle yet resonant, vibrating in sync with the oath he spoke.
"I swear," Derick repeated, his voice firmer now, "to uphold this oath unbroken, to honor the trust bestowed upon me, and to bind myself to the will of the Dragon Spirit House in all matters revealed within these walls."
Rui Yan studied him closely, her eyes narrowing just slightly, measuring the sincerity in his words. Then, with a nod, she placed her hand over his on the crystal, completing the bond.
A streak of red light snaked out from the crystal, sipped underneath his skin, and then back to the crystal as a sudden warmth spread through Derick's chest, as if chains of energy anchored him to his promise. But suddenly, the invisible chains that were restricting him shattered and were absorbed inside him, and the hum of the crystal died down gradually.
The oath is now complete.
Derick lifted his hands, feeling the lingering warmth of the crystal. "Understood," he replied, while grinning in his mind.
Rui Yan returned the tray containing the artifact to the maid, who withdrew quietly, escorted by the two guards.
Rui Yan snapped her fingers, the sharp sound cutting through the air and pulling Derick's full attention back to her.
"Although it was the Matriarch herself who extended the invitation for you to join our family," she said calmly, "she still has to make the elders see reason in you joining the clan as a complete member."
Derick's expression tightened.
"That means," Rui Yan continued, her tone turning serious, "she must prove your worth to them. Otherwise, your only role within the clan will be that of a servant."
She let the words sink in before going on.
"To do that, you will undergo the trial with the other participants."
Derick frowned slightly.
"Unfortunately," Rui Yan said, "the trial has been rescheduled. Thanks to the Deva attack, we were able to glean information from one of the Devas. That they have been preparing to ambush us and seize control of the trial grounds while the trial was going on, disrupting many things, and somehow, word leaked. The Devas have learned both when and where the trial was supposed to take place."
A faint chill crept down Derick's spine.
"For that reason," she continued, "the elders and the Matriarch have decided to move the trial forward to catch them unaware."
She met his gaze directly.
"You have three days."
"Three days?" Derick echoed.
"Yes," Rui Yan confirmed. "Three days to prepare yourself before the trial begins."
She paused, then added, "Normally, candidates must pass through multiple stages. However, because you were personally invited by the Matriarch, you will be allowed to skip directly to the final two stages."
That didn't sound like mercy.
It sounded like pressure.
"So," Rui Yan said, her eyes sharpening, "we have three days to raise you to a level that will satisfy the elders."
She leaned back slightly, studying him with renewed interest.
"We'll begin by understanding you better—your class, your preferred weapon, and your combat style."
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Tell me, Derick… how do you fight?"
Thankfully, Derick had come prepared.
Before stepping into the Dragon Spirit House, he had already researched ways to disguise his true Class. Caution had become second nature to him.
When Derick remained silent, Rui Yan studied him for a moment before speaking again—this time, her tone softened slightly.
"The reason I'm asking about your Class and how you fight is for your own benefit," she said calmly. "It allows us to provide techniques and skills that best suit your abilities. You may choose to reveal only the general capabilities of your Class." She met his eyes. "But the more you tell me, the easier it will be to prepare you properly."
Derick slowly exhaled.
He steadied himself and began describing his fighting style—how he favored mobility, timing, and close-range precision over brute force. He spoke carefully, choosing each word with intent.
When the moment came to reveal his Class, his fingers twitched unconsciously.
For a brief second, hesitation flickered across his face.
Then he hardened his resolve.
"My Class," Derick said in a calm, measured voice, "is a copy-type Class. It allows me to copy another Class for twenty-seven hours. Once that time expires, I must copy a new one."
Rui Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Hm."
She tapped her finger against her chin in thought.
"A Class with great potential," she said, "but also a severe weakness." Her gaze sharpened. "If no suitable target is near you for an extended period, you become extremely vulnerable—especially against powerful long-range specialists."
Derick remained silent, listening.
"As for your weapon choice…" Rui Yan continued. "A dagger is both a wise decision and a mistake."
Derick blinked.
"It suits your temperament and fighting style perfectly," she said. "However, relying on a single weapon specialization is a flaw."
She stepped closer.
"You need a secondary path. An archer's specialization would be ideal." Her voice was firm. "It compensates for your weaknesses and ensures survivability."
She met his gaze again.
"When your copied Class expires, and there is no one nearby to copy from, the archer path becomes your lifeline."
Rui Yan straightened.
"So," she said, "let's see what you got."
She removed the gloves she always wore, revealing slender hands marked with faint calluses—proof of years of training. Extending her hand toward him, she offered a handshake.
Derick reached out and clasped her hand—
—and in that instant, he saw it, just as the familiar notification chime rang in his mind.
Ding!
[New Class Detected]
[Attempt to Copy: Confirm? — Yes / No]
[Dragon Musical Instruments — Summoner]
Class Description:
Allows the user to summon musical instruments at will. Sound produced by these instruments can directly influence, disrupt, or stabilize the minds of those who hear it.
Passive Skill — Musical Aptitude Amplification:
While holding a musical instrument, the user's ability to comprehend, memorize, and master musical notes is greatly enhanced.
Passive Skill — Speaker Clarity:
Amplifies sound waves produced by the instrument to calm, stabilize, and sharpen the minds of listeners.
Active Skill — Speaker Disruption:
Amplifies sound waves to distort, overwhelm, and disrupt the mental focus of listeners.
Derick's breath caught.
A summoner… but tied to music?
He hesitated only a fraction of a second before making his choice.
Confirm.
The moment he activated the class, sparks erupted around his hands—tiny arcs of light snapping through the air. They converged rapidly, shaping themselves into solid form.
A guitar materialized in his grasp.
Its body gleamed with a faint draconic sheen, the strings humming softly even before he touched them, as if alive.
Rui Yan's eyes narrowed with interest.
She stepped closer—and activated her own class.
In a mirror of his summoning, a guitar appeared in her hands as well, elegant and refined, its craftsmanship far beyond ordinary instruments.
"Can you play?" she asked, studying him closely.
Derick shook his head.
"Then listen," Rui Yan said softly, "and play with me."
She slipped the strap over her shoulder and began to pluck the strings.
The sound that flowed out was pure—clear and resonant. Each note seemed to wash over the space itself, gently sweeping away lingering tension, sharpening Derick's thoughts, steadying his breathing.
It wasn't just music.
It was guidance.
Minutes passed.
Without realizing it, Derick's fingers began to move.
At first clumsy, uncertain—then gradually smoother, more confident. His hands followed instinct rather than knowledge, responding to the rhythm as if the notes themselves were teaching him where to go.
Before he understood what was happening—
He was playing.
Rui Yan smiled faintly, the music between them intertwining, one melody guiding the other.
While playing Derick understood something.
This class wasn't just about music.
It was about manipulating sounds for different use...