The Mystery of Omniforgers

Derrin nodded, agreeing to George's words. "There are methods to influence your awakening," he admitted. "Certain rituals, rare elixirs, bloodline inheritances. But in the end, your body more often than not gravitates toward the energy it was meant to wield."

Lennox absorbed the information carefully.

So, classes weren't something people just picked.

They were an innate talent, a direct result of the type of energy a person awakened upon stepping into Rank One.

But if that was the case, something still didn't make sense.

His brows furrowed as he recalled something. "Then why do I see plenty of Rank Zeros already sorted into classes? I've met archers, mages, even clerics who aren't even Rank One yet."

He thought of Kael Orin, one of his tavern's regulars. The young man wielded mana despite still being an apprentice.

George chuckled and took another sip of his ale. "Ah, that's because most people get tested early on."

Lennox tilted his head. "Tested?"

The grizzled adventurer nodded. "Yeah. If you go to the right places—warrior guilds, magical academies, temples, churches—they can test your talent and tell you what kind of energy you'll eventually awaken. That way, you don't waste years training the wrong way."

Derrin stroked his beard. "Some families even have access to their own methods. High-ranking nobles, major sects, old bloodlines… they use ancient artifacts to determine their children's potential before they even start training."

Lennox thought about that. It made sense—powerful families wouldn't want to waste time training a future warrior, only to find out they were meant to be a mage all along.

George leaned in slightly. "Of course, there's another way, too."

Lennox arched a brow. "Oh?"

"If you've got gold, you can buy a Talent Stone."

"Talent Stone?"

George smirked. "A myterious crystal that reacts to a person's potential. You hold it, channel some energy, and it lights up with the color of the power you're most attuned to."

Lennox's eyes gleamed with interest. "And where can you get one?"

"The Adventurer's Guild sells them," George said, "but they don't come cheap. The last time I checked… about two hundred gold coins for a single-use stone."

Lennox whistled. That was a hefty sum, but considering what it could do, it wasn't surprising.

"So," Lennox mused, "if someone tests their talent and finds out they'll awaken Battle Chi, they start training as a warrior. If they're attuned to mana, they train as a mage. That way, by the time they reach Rank One, they're already skilled in their field."

George nodded. "Exactly."

Lennox glanced at his two companions. "And what about people like Kael Orin? Apprentices who can already wield mana?"

George exhaled. "Those are people who've already reached the peak of Rank Zero. When you get close to a breakthrough, you start awakening traces of your energy—whether it's mana, battle chi, divine grace, or something else. That's why some apprentices can already cast minor spells or enhance their weapons before officially stepping into Rank One."

The adventurer smirked, lifting his mug. "Take me, for example. I'm a Peak Rank Zero, and I've already started awakening Phantom Chi—which means my skills in archery are sharper than most."

Lennox nodded slowly. That explained a lot.

With this new understanding, the haze in his mind started to clear. Classes weren't random choices—people simply trained according to the type of power they were destined to awaken.

Just as he was about to put the whole topic to rest, Derrin suddenly spoke again.

"There is… one more thing."

His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant.

Lennox looked up, catching the old man exchange a glance with George.

Derrin lowered his voice. "In fact, there's another group of powerhouses in Eldonia. They are very special and rare."

Lennox's intrigue sharpened. "What do you mean?"

Derrin exhaled slowly, his fingers tapping lightly against his mug.

"There are some… a very, very small number of people… who awaken a rare type of energy that is universally accepting."

Lennox's brows furrowed. "Universally accepting?"

Derrin nodded. "Unlike the rest of us, these individuals aren't bound to a single class. They can train in all paths—warrior, mage, cleric, rogue, archer—without conflict."

Lennox's heart skipped a beat.

That didn't sound logical.

George exhaled sharply. "They are called Omniforgers."

Derrin's voice dropped even lower. "And it's best if you never speak of them."

A strange tension filled the air.

Lennox leaned in slightly. "Why?"

Neither man answered immediately.

Then, Derrin sighed. "Because knowledge of them is… forbidden."

Lennox's skin prickled. "Forbidden? By who?"

George downed the rest of his drink, setting his mug down a little too forcefully. "You ask too many questions, kid."

Derrin simply shook his head. "It's not something you should concern yourself with. Otherwise you might bring trouble to yourself."

Lennox opened his mouth to press further, but the look in their eyes told him he wouldn't be getting any more answers.

Reluctantly, he let the subject drop.

Still, his mind buzzed with questions.

Omniforgers.

Why was information about them hidden? What made them so special?

And more importantly…

Where did his own talent lie?

Since he had successfully trained the Titanbone Method, did that mean he was destined to awaken Battle Chi and become a warrior?

Or… could he have a talent for something else entirely?

A flicker of excitement coursed through him.

He needed to find a way to test his talent.

But one thing still lingered in his mind.

If warriors wielded Battle Chi, mages controlled Mana, clerics channeled Divine Grace, and rogues honed Shadow Chi…

Then what was the power that Omniforgers awakened?

Almost as if sensing his unspoken question, Derrin finally muttered under his breath—so softly it was nearly lost to the ambient sounds of the tavern.

"From what I have heard, they awaken Primal Essence."

Lennox barely suppressed a shiver.

Primal Essence.

The name alone carried weight. It sounded ancient.

But before he could ask anything else, Derrin and George had already turned back to their drinks, signaling the conversation was over.

For now, Lennox forced himself to refocus on running the tavern.

As for the answers, they would come in time.