The Skill

In this world, jobs were divided into combat, auxiliary, and lifestyle categories. Combat and auxiliary jobs had five grades—low, mid, advanced, rare, and legend. But there was another kind: Hidden Jobs. These were so rare that only one person in the world could have a specific one at a time. Some were incredibly powerful, changing history, while others were completely useless. No one knew which Ryo Takahashi's would be.

Everyone at Yellow Leaf Academy stared at him, waiting to see if he had awakened something amazing—or something worthless.

The magic circle on the ground still glowed faintly. Principal Li Jian rubbed his chin, his face serious. Next to him, Master Chen Hao adjusted his robes, watching Ryo closely. The students whispered, teachers exchanged glances, and even the academy's mage looked curious.

Ryo, however, seemed relaxed. He brushed the dust off his jeans and smirked.

"A Hidden Job..." Principal Li muttered. "Never seen one in my time here. You?"

Chen Hao shook his head. "Only in books. Some say they're blessings, others say curses. No way to tell until we see its effects." He looked at Ryo. "Check your status screen. Tell us what it says."

Ryo focused, and a faint, invisible panel appeared before his eyes:

---

[Name]: Ryo Takahashi

[Occupation]: ??? (Hidden)

[Level]: 1 (0.00%)

[Power]: 10

[Agility]: 10

[Spirit]: 20

[Physique]: 10

[Equipment]: None

[Skills]:

Shadow Bind – Traps a target in darkness, slowly draining their strength and adding it to your own.

Void Whisper – Creates a faint shadowy presence that confuses enemies or reveals hidden things. It gets stronger with use.

---

Ryo read it and grinned. Shadow Bind? Sounds interesting.

Across the playground, Anaya watched him with her arms crossed. When she saw his smirk, she snorted.

"Well? Show us what it does, Ryo," she said.

Principal Li nodded. "Go ahead. Let's see what you've got."

Ryo looked around and spotted a rusted metal pole sticking out of the dirt. He pointed at it. "That'll work."

Everyone leaned in, waiting. Anaya raised an eyebrow, curious.

Ryo lifted his hand. Thin, black tendrils of shadow slithered from his palm, wrapping around the pole. Slowly, the shadows tightened. The metal groaned softly, and a layer of rust spread where the shadows touched. After a few seconds, the tendrils disappeared, leaving the pole slightly bent and corroded.

Silence. Then—

"That's it?" a boy scoffed. "Some rust? My grandma's shovel can do that."

A girl laughed. "All that darkness, and it just makes things old? What a joke."

Principal Li frowned. "Shadow Bind, right? Not impressive. Weak output."

Chen Hao studied it. "It might work better on a person than an object."

Anaya smirked and stepped forward. "Useless. My fire could melt that pole in seconds, second place."

Ryo turned to her, his smirk still in place. "It'd feel different if it was wrapped around you." His voice dropped so only she could hear. "It doesn't just rust things. Imagine it creeping up your thighs, princess—draining you slow 'til you're begging me to stop."

For a split second, Anaya hesitated. Then she scoffed. "Yeah? Try it. I'll burn you first."

Principal Li clapped his hands. "Enough. It's still early. Hidden Jobs are unpredictable." He glanced at Chen Hao. "Might be a gamble."

Chen Hao nodded. "It is. The skill seems weak now, but… we don't know its full potential yet."

Ryo shoved his hands in his pockets, thinking. They don't get it. It's not about rust—it's about what it can do to people.

He looked at Anaya, who was still watching him. He winked, his smirk widening. Let them underestimate him. They wouldn't for long.

Job Awakening Completed – The Path Ahead

With the last flicker of magic fading from the air, Principal Li surveyed the gathered students with a nod of satisfaction. The awakening ceremony was over.

This year, 106 students had successfully awakened jobs. Among them, Ryo's Hidden Job stood as the greatest mystery, while Anaya's Rare Job marked her as a cut above the rest.

The distribution of professions was solid:

12 students had awakened main combat jobs, built for battle.

18 students had auxiliary jobs, essential for support roles.

The remaining students received lifestyle jobs, specializing in crafting, trade, and resource management.

It was a promising result, better than most years. Principal Li was pleased.

He stepped forward, his voice steady and commanding.

"Students, the awakening ceremony is complete. No matter what profession you've received, your future depends on how hard you work. From tomorrow onward, our city's Novice Upgrade Dungeon will be open to all students. This is your chance for real combat experience and rapid improvement.

For those who have awakened lifestyle jobs, don't worry. The school has arranged a Life Skills Hall, where experienced teachers will guide you in mastering your craft.

One week from now, you'll face your first major test. Your performance will determine which higher institutions you qualify for. I expect all of you to push yourselves and achieve the best results possible."

The Novice Upgrade Dungeon was well-known among students.

The monsters inside ranged from Level 1 to Level 8—strong enough for training, but not overwhelmingly dangerous.

Their numbers were manageable, making it safer than venturing into the wild.

For those who wanted faster growth and were willing to risk their lives, the untamed wilderness beyond the city remained an option.

There was no restriction. Whether they chose safety or danger was entirely up to them.

With the principal's speech concluded, the students were dismissed. Some left deep in thought, others buzzing with excitement. Ryo shoved his hands into his pockets, his mind already racing ahead.