Ding!
[Class Copied]
[Class Details]
Class: Armourer
Name: Phoenix
Ability: Phoenix Carapace
---
Ren's heartbeat skipped.
Yes… this is real strength, Ren thought as he stood up.
But his thoughts were interrupted by the figure towering above him.
"Hey! Watch where you're going—unless you want your hands chopped off," said the young male who had shoved Ren.
His tone was sharp—almost delighted at the chance to threaten someone weaker. Ren's jaw tightened as his hands curled into fists, nails digging half-moons into his palms.
Anger flickered through him.
A small, trembling flame.
This wasn't the first time someone had pushed him around. But today… something inside him had shifted. Maybe it was the near-death experience earlier, or maybe the vow he had made earlier in the day had sunk deeper into his bones.
I'm tired—so tired of being stepped on. Still, strength is strength. And I don't have enough. Not yet, Ren thought as he swallowed everything down and turned his gaze away.
"Just wait…" Ren muttered under his breath as he stood, "Soon we'll see who laughs last."
The figure who was about to leave paused.
"Huh?" His voice sharpened. "You talking to me?"
Ren didn't even have time to raise his head fully.
A blur.
That was all Ren saw as rushing wind slammed into him before his mind could even catch up.
The figure bent his knees—
coiled like a spring—
and then—
Crack.
His left fist shot upward in a vicious uppercut.
Ren's chin exploded in pain.
The world spun.
Suddenly, sky and earth traded places twice, and Ren's body hit the ground face-first with a bone-rattling smack.
Warmth spread along his tongue.
Blood dripped.
His vision flickered in and out.
From far away—like someone shouting through water—he heard the voice:
"Weak. You don't even deserve to die by my hand."
Ren's fingers twitched weakly.
The figure continued:
"But for daring to compare yourself to me… for saying those words…"
His boots scuffed the dirt.
"I'll make sure you pay."
He spat near Ren.
Then he straightened, turning toward the scattering crowd, his voice ringing loudly.
"Listen well!
Anyone who decides to group up with this trash—this waste of space—will answer to me. Disperse!"
The crowd scattered immediately. Not a single person argued. Not a single person even hesitated.
Fear of him outweighed any sympathy for Ren.
Ren sprawled there for a moment, tasting dirt and blood on his tongue, his head spinning and his pride burning hotter than fire. While still on the ground, he heard more whispers as people backed away.
"He actually angered Mister Oskara…"
"Idiot… I bet in the following week we won't see him again."
"Such a handsome face, wasted on someone so weak and idiotic."
"Hey… do you think I should get a taste of him before he's gone?"
The conversation faded into the surroundings as Ren slowly pushed himself up, his body trembling.
"Shit…" Ren muttered under his breath. "What's with this birdie guy and his bloody temper?"
No answer came.
Only throbbing pain and the bitter sting of humiliation.
Staggering to his feet, Ren forced himself to move—straight toward his room in the castle.
The faster I reach my room, the easier it'll be to breathe… and the easier it'll be to focus, Ren thought as he continued down the path.
By the time Ren reached his room and locked the door behind him, his heart had calmed—but his jaw was still throbbing, and his cheek still burned. He didn't rest.
He refused to.
Instead, he summoned his status screen.
The class information appeared before his eyes.
This—this is the first class I've copied. And it's from that asshole. I hope it won't be shabby, Ren thought as he focused on the copied class section.
[Class Details]
Class: Armourer
Name: Phoenix
Core Ability: Phoenix Carapace
Class Description: Materialize an armour composed of ultra-dense, interlocking phoenix feather-shaped plates. The armour is designed with a phoenix in mind.
---
Staring at the description, Ren thought, "Phoenix Carapace," huh? Let's see what gives it the right to include the word phoenix in its name.
With a thought, Ren activated it.
[Class Activated]
Amidst golden sparks, a sleek golden armour materialized over Ren's body, shaped aerodynamically with a phoenix motif in mind.
Testing the armour, Ren found it to be extremely lightweight—almost as if he were wearing nothing at all.
Ren nodded. Hmm… this is somewhat befitting.
Deactivating the class, Ren couldn't help but think of Oskara's fist.
The whispers.
The humiliation.
Oskara's attack wasn't what hurt the most.
It was the way everyone simply accepted it.
As if it were natural—expected—for people like him to crush people like me.
But not for long. Not forever.
Soon, I'll become strong enough for all of them to look up to me.
I guess I'll have to thank that bastard someday, Ren thought.
Walking toward the teleportation gate in his room, Ren activated it. With a flash, he teleported back to Planet Earthiana—one of the planets under government jurisdiction.
Earthiana, when viewed from outside, resembled the planet Earth of the past. On Earthiana, the government did not allow overly advanced technology to be used, stating that it was meant to preserve the feeling of the old world.
After the Great Reshape, the Big Seven had ruled humanity as an unchecked oligarchy, disguising tyranny as governance. Their reign was ruthless, their laws unjust, their power absolute.
Until he appeared.
Caelum Rex rose like a calamity—a force of will and strength unmatched in human history. He shattered the dominance of the Big Seven, crushing their rule and stripping them of unchecked authority.
Yet he did not destroy them.
Instead, he restructured them.
The old system of governance was reinstated—but transformed. Where once the Big Seven Clans' rule had been absolute, now their power was no longer so. It was divided, monitored, and bound by law.
Back to the present.
The world blinked.
As Ren's vision stabilized, a giant broadcast screen on a nearby skyscraper flared to life, displaying a neatly dressed middle-aged man.
"Greetings, citizens," the man announced with forced enthusiasm. "Today, I bring wonderful news. Several of our human comrades have just ascended to higher realms. This is a cause for celebration! With every new ascender, we strengthen our standing against the Deva. So work hard. Stay strong. Ascend. We must never fall behind those bastards."
Ren exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing at the display.
"Hey, idiot!" someone barked. "Move out of the way before I blow your brains out!"
Snapping back to reality, Ren saw a female officer standing at the edge of the platform, arms crossed, scowling at him as if he were the bane of her existence.
Right. Standing around like a lost child wasn't exactly allowed here.
Ren moved away quickly without looking back, heading straight to the bus station and boarding a bus home.
When he got home, the first thing he did was take a shower before collapsing onto his bed and taking a nap.
When he was exiled from the Vishun Clan, he had only been given an apartment on Earthiana and some cash—just enough to last him three months.
Some hours later, Ren woke up to his stomach rumbling.
Ah… I should visit the grocery store now that I have a means of hunting strong beasts, Ren thought as he changed into casual attire and headed toward the train station.
Minutes later, Ren stood at the entrance of the Remas Supermarket—a famous business organization with branches across many planets.
Stepping inside, Ren began browsing through the store with his cart in tow. As he passed close to a hanger, he bumped into someone and lost his footing, nearly falling—
—but a soft, gentle hand reached out and caught his right hand, stopping him from hitting the ground.
Lifting his gaze upward, Ren was stunned.