"Let's go to my place," Volt suggested. Now that they were special students with individual rooms, privacy was no longer a concern.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Uriel entered the dormitory hall. As they walked, Rachel suddenly turned to her friend. "Do you know Ray?"

Uriel nodded with a bright smile. "You could say that. I met him one morning while jogging. He's… really handsome. And earlier, I saw him holding your hand. Don't tell me you two are—" She giggled mischievously.

Rachel's face flushed at once. "Your imagination is way too wild! There's nothing between us." She denied it repeatedly, carefully avoiding any mention of Ray now being her father's disciple.

Uriel gave her a knowing look. "Nothing at all? Then why didn't you shake him off when he grabbed you? That didn't look like our usual Fiery Queen."

"So annoying. And don't call me that!" Rachel huffed. "Come on, let's just go rest."

They were not only classmates but also close friends who shared a dorm. As they climbed the stairs, Rachel asked casually, "Then how do you feel about Ray?"

"Oh, he's great!" Uriel replied without hesitation. "He looks like a shy junior, but he's ridiculously talented. I heard he's in that new class zero. And he's fast too. Even without soul power, I can't outrun him."

"Oh." Rachel nodded, her tone unreadable.

Uriel leaned closer, teasing, "You still say there's nothing? Since when have you ever cared about boys? The age gap isn't even that big. Three or four years is nothing. No rule says an older girl with a golden brick can't chase a younger guy!"

"You still dare—!" Rachel lunged at her in embarrassment. Uriel laughed and skipped aside, her smile dazzling.

*

Ray followed Volt into his room.

After closing the door, Volt gestured for him to sit. He lowered his head, silent for a long while, as if something heavy was pressing on his chest.

Ray could guess the topic, but he didn't interrupt.

Finally, Volt spoke. "Your… power suppresses my martial soul. I know I shouldn't ask about it, but I can't stop thinking about it."

Ray frowned. "That's not something I should explain."

"I know." Volt nodded bitterly. "And I won't force you. But this has been bothering me so much that I can't even cultivate properly. That's why I came to you."

He clenched his fists. "My martial soul is the Bone Dragon King. It's powerful, rare, and compatible with both assault and strength. With the right cultivation and spirit soul, I could even fly someday. I've always believed I would become a strong Soul Master. That's why I've worked so hard… until I met you."

He raised his eyes, troubled. "I knew martial souls could suppress one another, but I never imagined it would be like this. Your power weakens me so much that I can't even fight properly. It makes me wonder if all my effort was meaningless."

His voice softened. "If this continues, no matter how hard I work, I'll never overcome that suppression. That thought… scares me."

He lowered his head again, dejected.

Ray was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "It's not my martial soul."

Volt looked up sharply.

Ray sighed. "I understand how you feel. I was once in a worse position than you. When my martial soul awakened, it was Silverfalls Vine. Everyone said it was trash. If I hadn't had soul power at all, I wouldn't even have been allowed to become a Soul Master."

He smiled faintly. "But I didn't give up. I trained harder and learned forging to earn money for a spirit soul. My family was poor. When I finally bought one, I was told I could only afford a random spirit soul, and even that one turned out defective."

His eyes darkened slightly. "That despair was… deeper than what you're feeling now."

He looked at Volt calmly. "But I still kept moving forward. The reason I suppressed you has nothing to do with Silverfalls Vine. It's my bloodline. I don't fully understand it myself, but it's connected to dragon-type soul beasts and is at an extremely high level."

Volt listened intently, visibly shaken.

"Bloodline power…" he murmured.

After hesitating, he asked, "Can you release that aura again? I want to feel it clearly."

"Sure." Ray didn't hesitate. Golden scales spread over his right arm as a majestic dragon aura filled the room.

Volt trembled instantly.

But then, his expression changed.

"No… It's different." His eyes widened. "This time, it's not suppressing me."

"What do you mean?" Ray asked.

"Before, your aura weakened me. Now… it feels like my soul power is being stirred, even strengthened. I don't feel suppressed at all. I feel stronger." Volt was utterly confused.

Ray frowned. "Then try hitting me."

He raised his arm, bracing himself.

Volt nodded and threw a punch.

Bang!

Ray didn't move an inch. Volt, however, was knocked backward, crashing onto the sofa.

"It changed," Volt muttered, stunned. "When I attacked, my strength suddenly dropped."

Ray was just as confused. "Then we shouldn't guess anymore. Let's ask the teacher."

Volt nodded firmly. "Agreed."

The two of them quickly left and headed for Alfred's living quarters.

When Alfred opened the door, he was dressed in a loose white robe, long hair falling naturally behind him. At that moment, he embodied two words perfectly—

Pure.

Cold.

After hearing their explanation, Alfred made a decision without hesitation.

"We'll test it directly."

Class zero enjoyed many privileges, one of which was unrestricted access to the academy's testing facilities. In fact, a brand-new strength testing machine had already replaced the unfortunate one Ray had shattered.

Alfred said calmly, "Ray, release your dragon's might. Volt, attack the machine after receiving the effect."

"Yes!"

As Ray released his aura, a faint yet domineering dragon's presence spread through the room. Volt felt his soul power surge violently, as if something deep within him had been ignited.

Bang!

He drove his fist forward with full force.

"Right fist, 643 kilograms."

Silence fell.

Volt and Ray both stared at the number in disbelief. Just recently, Volt's strength had barely reached four hundred kilograms. Now it had jumped by nearly fifty percent!

"Your intuition was correct," Alfred said heavily. "Ray's dragon might amplify you."

Volt frowned. "Then why was I suppressed during the Class Promotion Tournament?"

"Hostility," Alfred answered instantly. "Your hostility toward him triggered suppression. His dragon's might responds to intent. When hostility exists, it suppresses. When there is no hostility, or even goodwill, suppression becomes amplification."

Volt stared blankly. "So… I can never be his enemy?"

"In a sense, yes," Alfred replied. "Unless your cultivation far surpasses his, the influence will always exist. If my judgment is correct, Ray is likely awakening an extremely powerful dragon-type second martial soul, or something equivalent. That is why he has such a profound effect on you. All dragon-type martial souls would be affected. Only those on the same level or higher could resist it."

He paused, brows knitting. "I've never encountered a case like this. Suppression between martial souls is known, but not to this degree."

Volt looked at Ray with a complicated gaze.

A dangerous thought surfaced briefly in his mind. If Ray were gone, this problem would vanish forever.

He came from a large clan. Such thoughts were not unfamiliar.

Alfred spoke again, cutting through the silence. "Tonight, you two will cultivate together. I want to observe the effects."

"Alright," Ray agreed immediately.

Volt hesitated. Cultivating together? Just moments ago, his mind had wandered somewhere dark. Now he felt ashamed of himself.

Back in Volt's room, the two sat cross-legged and began meditating. Alfred remained nearby, silently observing.

Ray entered meditation smoothly, but Volt's turbulent thoughts slowed him down.

As time passed, Alfred noticed subtle fluctuations in their soul power. He said nothing, choosing to wait.

Ray felt something unusual as he cultivated. External energy flowed into him more abundantly than usual, nourishing his body and soul power. The increase wasn't dramatic, but it was undeniably faster.

So the teacher was right… There really is an effect.

The next morning, Ray awoke first. His soul power felt fuller, steadier. He was certain he had reached rank fourteen.

Volt opened his eyes shortly after.

Alfred stood up. "Tell me what you felt."

"My cultivation speed increased," Ray said.

Alfred turned to Volt. "And you?"

Volt hesitated, then replied, "Mine increased too, but… I felt energy leaving my body, flowing toward Ray. Overall, my gains were about ten percent higher than usual."

"Mine was about five percent," Ray added.

Alfred's eyes gleamed thoughtfully. "You complement each other."

After a brief pause, he said, "Hold hands. Circulate your soul power while maintaining goodwill."

Ray and Volt exchanged glances, then clasped hands.

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