"Soul devices were born for battle. Only later were they adapted for civilian use."

"The Soul Guide Masters of ancient times never imagined that soul devices could amplify a Soul Master's strength so dramatically. Once they realized this, mechas were born."

He spoke evenly, his voice steady.

"For tens of thousands of years, Soul Masters have been the core power of civilization. They were rare, and most were weak. Soul devices changed that. Low-rank Soul Masters could become far stronger through external amplification."

"Then came soul mechas."

"Soul mechas use soul power batteries as their core, allowing their users to display power far beyond their personal limits. Early mechas were massive. Larger frames allowed for larger batteries and more weapons."

"As technology advanced, mechas became usable even by ordinary people with sufficient physical strength. From that point onward, soul mechas became the backbone of modern armies."

"In their development, mechas shifted between large, medium, and small forms until stabilizing in the designs you see today. This process involved countless failures, improvements in soul circuits, and leaps in technology."

"From the moment they appeared, mechas only grew more important on the battlefield."

Ray listened intently.

This was the first formal mecha lesson he had ever received. For someone who dreamed of becoming a Mecha Master, every word mattered.

"But," Alfred said, pausing deliberately, "these are not the mechas I truly want to discuss."

The five froze.

Not these mechas?

Alfred continued indifferently, "Many people believe that as technology advances, ordinary humans can rival Soul Masters. That belief is naïve."

"In the tens of thousands of years of Xynnar Continent's history, one truth has never changed."

"Soul Masters are the strongest existence."

"With soul devices, an ordinary person may rival a Soul Grandmaster. With a mecha, they might contend with a Soul King."

"But no machine can grant the power of an eight-ring Soul Sovereign. Let alone a nine-ring Soul Paragon."

"At least, not at present."

Raziel Phoenix blurted out, "What about super-weapons? Some can be used by ordinary people."

Alfred nodded. "That is possible."

Then he countered calmly, "But what if both sides possess super-weapons? Who holds the advantage?"

He didn't wait for an answer.

"The strongest super-weapon cannot defeat the strongest individual."

The words landed heavily, forcing the five students into stunned silence.

After a brief pause, Alfred continued, "Perhaps in the future, technology will produce such a weapon. But that future has not arrived."

Ray raised his hand. "Teacher… the powerful individual you mentioned. Are they a Mecha Master or a Soul Master?"

Alfred replied without hesitation, "Both."

"The mechas you commonly see, five to eight meters tall, are standardized medium mechas. They balance offense, defense, and mobility. These are army mechas."

"White and yellow mechas fall into this category. They are not your goal."

"With your talent, if you follow that path, you will only waste your potential."

He paused, his gaze sharp.

"You should aim for battle armor."

Battle armor?

The term was unfamiliar to all five.

Alfred continued coldly, "True power does not lie in becoming larger. Mechas exist to amplify strength, not to turn humans into giants."

"Purple-grade mechas and above shrink in size until they resemble armor worn directly on the body."

"These are known as battle armors."

"Only a Soul Master equipped with battle armor can truly be called an expert."

"They are those who perfectly merge martial soul and mecha, achieving terrifying combat power."

The classroom fell silent.

For the first time, the five students glimpsed a path far beyond ordinary strength.

A path reserved only for the truly elite.

Battle armor!

The moment those two words were spoken, they seized the attention of every student in the room.

Armor-like mechas were universally acknowledged as the pinnacle of mecha evolution. To these youngsters, that single concept was enough to ignite countless fantasies.

Alfred continued evenly, "As everyone knows, aside from Mecha Masters who operate mechas, there are also craftsmen who are absolutely indispensable to their existence. Mecha craftsmen are divided into three categories: mecha designers, mecha manufacturers, and mecha mechanics."

"The purpose of today's lesson is to help you understand these paths so that you can make an informed decision about your future secondary occupation. I strongly recommend that each of you choose one. It will greatly assist you on your road to strength."

Lily frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "Teacher, shouldn't we focus all our effort on cultivation? At most, learning how to operate a mecha should be enough. Why do we need a second profession?"

Alfred replied calmly, "If you want powerful battle armor, then it must suit you perfectly. Truly powerful Battle Armor Masters are intimately familiar with their armor. They design it, forge it, or repair it themselves. Only through this process can you understand every detail of it."

"If you don't take on a secondary occupation, you will never obtain battle armor that truly fits you, and you will never step onto the god altar."

His voice grew colder.

"Now that Class Zero exists, your goal is singular: ascend to the god altar."

"This is a long and arduous path, one that may require your entire life. What I intend to do is eliminate wasted effort and point you toward the most efficient road."

"As for which occupation you choose, you don't need to decide immediately. But by the third grade at the latest, you must give me an answer. Even with your talent, starting earlier will always be better."

"The three occupations I mentioned are simply what I consider optimal. They are not your only choices. There are other mecha-related professions available."

He paused, then added, "In fact, one of you has already made a choice."

His gaze settled squarely on Ray.

Secondary occupation.

Ray instantly understood. Alfred was referring to his blacksmithing.

"Raymond chose to become a blacksmith at a very young age," Alfred said flatly. "He is extremely gifted in this field. Blacksmithing is also one of the professions I want you all to seriously consider."

"From purple-grade battle armor onward, forging becomes inseparable from its creation. No matter which path you choose, if you reach five stars or higher, cultivation resources will never be a concern."

Ray remained the calmest among them.

He had already chosen his path and had no intention of wavering. He was a three-star Grandmaster Blacksmith, valued by the Blacksmith's Association, and deeply immersed in forging. The deeper he went, the more he understood its depth. His father had taught him long ago: once you choose a path, walk it without hesitation.

Mecha design, manufacturing, and maintenance held no appeal for him. He had already committed himself.

The remaining four fell silent.

Choosing a secondary occupation was no trivial matter. They were still young and uncertain, but fortunately, they still had time. Two years were enough to decide.

Alfred said indifferently, "That concludes today's lesson on mechas. Remember two things."

"First: truly powerful mechas are battle armors. All purple-grade mechas and above fall into this category."

"Second: by third grade, you must choose a mecha-related occupation."

Simple. Clear. Unforgettable.

Ray finally asked, "Teacher, when can we see an actual battle armor?"

Alfred glanced at him. "After you complete the first stage of combat training. Whoever finishes first will see it first. As of now, none of you is qualified."

Combat training?

Without allowing further questions, Alfred continued, "From now on, your curriculum will emphasize combat practice. Here."

"Ray, move the desks aside. Clear the center."

Here? In the classroom?

Doubt surfaced in their hearts, but no one disobeyed.

"Ray, come here," Alfred said.

"Yes." Ray stepped forward.

"How do you feel about yesterday's battle?" Alfred asked coldly.

Ray thought for a moment. "I was short-sighted. We're classmates. We shouldn't injure each other. We should have restrained ourselves."

Alfred waved dismissively. "That's not what I asked."

"I'm asking how you felt during the battle. How did your team perform?"

Ray hesitated, then replied honestly, "We were unprepared for their strength. Our reactions were chaotic and lacked coordination. Their team was more coordinated, though still not fully synchronized."

Alfred cut in icily, "Chaotic? That wasn't chaos."

"It was a complete mess."

The five froze.

They were elite students. A special class had been created for them. Aside from Ray, all of them carried immense confidence.

Alfred stared straight into Ray's eyes. "I trained you three for three months. Your coordination was excellent."

"But the moment real combat began, you abandoned every advantage you had."

"Raziel Phoenix's broken arms are the direct result."

Raziel Phoenix stiffened, stunned.

Alfred turned to him. "Did breaking through to Soul Grandmaster make you think you could charge blindly?"

"Do you even remember what a team is?"

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