The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly on the village square, turning the dusty ground into a haze that clung to Neo's skin.
His heart hammered against his ribs as he stood inside the ancient temple, the air thick with incense and the murmur of nervous teenagers.
One by one, the others had stepped forward to touch the glowing Crystal of Awakening.
Shouts of joy and flashes of light had filled the space.
Now it was his turn.
Neo stepped up, his palms slick with sweat.
He placed his hand on the cool surface, and a surge of energy ripped through him like lightning in his veins.
Words materialized in his mind, shimmering with ethereal gold.
Class Awakened: Guildmaster - 5 Stars
His eyes widened, breath catching in his throat.
A Guildmaster?
Passive earnings of Vala after taming each woman, scaled by her rank.
The words sank in, heavy and wrong.
He had dreamed of a warrior's path, something to fight with, to shield his mother from the endless grind of this brutal world.
Not... this.
His stomach dropped like a stone into a well, guilt twisting sharp in his gut.
'What kind of monster does this make me?'
The village priest, an old man with kind but weary eyes, noticed his frozen expression and laid a gentle hand on Neo's shoulder.
"Boy, what did you awaken? Speak it true. The gods rarely grant weakness on this day."
Neo swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper.
"Guildmaster class."
The priest's eyes flew wide, his grip tightening in shock.
"Guildmaster? A five-star rarity? Lad, that is no curse. It is the first of its kind to grace our humble village in living memory. Why the long face? Rejoice!"
Neo blinked, glancing around.
The other kids were leaping with glee, their own classes lighting up their faces, hunters, mages, scouts.
Laughter echoed off the stone walls.
A small spark of hope flickered in his chest despite the unease.
'If this can actually lift the weight from Mom's shoulders after everything she's given up... maybe it's not so bad.'
He walked out of the temple with the priest and the others, the afternoon light now feeling a little less oppressive.
Mary waited just outside, her face eager and bright, strands of her dark hair escaping her simple braid.
She was still beautiful, even after years of scraping by, strong shoulders from carrying too much, warm eyes that had always held him steady.
"Neo! What have you awakened?" she asked, voice bubbling with anticipation.
He hesitated, closing his eyes for a moment, already imagining her disappointment or worse, shame.
"Guildmaster. Five stars."
But instead of shouting or pulling away, Mary let out a cry of pure joy.
She lifted him up, strong arms wrapping around him despite his size, and spun him toward the sky.
"My son! You don't know how proud I am. A five-star class, the first in our village... and it even brings free Vala!"
Neo's chest tightened, tears stinging his eyes as he hugged her back fiercely.
Her trader class had been a meager one-star, barely five percent returns on her endless bar shifts and odd jobs.
This changed everything.
"Mom… I promise I'll use this to take care of you. You've done enough for me."
He pulled back slightly, searching her face.
"Is it really that good?"
Mary nodded, beaming, her eyes shining.
"It is. Free Vala after taming? We'll never go hungry again."
Soon, two other women approached with their daughters in tow, one blonde, one raven-haired, both mothers glowing with their own children's successes.
They clapped Mary on the back, voices overlapping in congratulations.
"Your boy's the talk of the square already!"
Mary smiled graciously, exchanging pleasantries before tugging Neo's hand.
"Come on, love. Let's celebrate properly. Meat tonight, even if it's pricey."
Neo watched her carefully as they walked toward the village center, heart aching.
She was willing to splurge on him despite their threadbare savings.
'I swear I'll change this. No more scraping by.'
The market buzzed around them, stalls overflowing with fresh fish glistening on ice, heaps of vegetables, slabs of meat hanging heavy.
Vendors shouted their wares.
As they passed one shadowed corner, a woman with curves as generous as his mother's leaned against a post in revealing silks, calling out services with a practiced smile.
Neo's cheeks burned.
He looked away fast.
This world was merciless; he refused to let his mother sink any deeper into it.
They bought the meat and a few staples, then made their way home.
The moment the door shut behind them, Mary winced at the coin pouch, lighter than it should be.
But then she looked at him, softening.
"Son, I'm gonna rely on you more from now on. You've awakened. It's time."
Neo felt a surge of determination laced with nervous energy.
He nodded, and they set about making dinner together.
As Mary cleaned the meat in the kitchen, her hips swaying gently with the rhythm of her work, Neo slipped into the food storage.
Bare shelves stared back at him.
'The bar takes so much, and rent... I can't let her carry this alone anymore. Not ever.'
He pulled up his class details in his mind.
Tame a woman, earn passive Vala based on her rank.
But a soft, melodic voice, Luna, the system guide, spoke then, cutting through.
"Don't get cocky, Neo. Taming isn't easy. Fail, and the difficulty rises next time."
'What do you mean, tame them?' he thought back.
Luna laughed softly, the sound like wind chimes.
"Simple. Make them fall for your dick. That's the core of a Guildmaster's bond."
Neo's face heated.
'Is there a limit per rank?'
"Yes. It grows with your strength. You're level one now, two F-rank women, or one E-rank."
Curiosity pulled him.
He focused on his mother as she worked, analyzing her.
Mary - E Rank.
A rush of warmth flooded him, tangled with crushing guilt.
'This is my mom. The woman who raised me alone, sacrificed everything.'
Memories of her late nights at the bar, her quiet strength, flooded back.
Yesterday she'd promised him a lesson on... intimacy, for when he awakened and found a girl.
'I can use this as a chance. To grow stronger, to protect her.'
A sudden, primitive urge slammed into him as he watched her massive rear sway, full, inviting curves that strained against her simple dress.
Slap those cheeks. Push inside. Claim.
His body reacted instinctively, heat pooling low, reasoning fogging under raw reproductive drive.
Neo shook his head hard, fists clenched.
'No… not her. She's my mom. I owe her everything.'
"Neo?" Luna's voice snapped sharp.
"You've been standing there gawking at Mary for minutes."
'What the hell was that feeling? I didn't feel like myself.'
"The class effect," Luna explained gently.
"It pushes you toward taming. Guildmaster instincts."
His hands shook.
'Can I get rid of it?'
"Sorry. It's tied to your soul. You'll control it better as you level up."
'I'll get stronger then,' he vowed silently.
'I won't let this control me. I'll use it to protect her, not hurt her.'
"Lunch is ready!" Mary's voice called warmly from the kitchen.
Neo helped set the table, pushing the turmoil down.
They ate, and for the first time in years, the rich taste of real meat filled his mouth, savory, satisfying.
He glanced at his mother across the table, her face relaxed and happy in the candlelight.
'Soon... another kind of meat.'
The thought brought a shameful thrill he shoved away fast, focusing on her smile.
This was her day.
Mary had taken the afternoon off from the bar, a rare treat for her only son still at home.
Their daughter had left for the capital years ago with her own rare class; Mary's eyes misted as she spoke of that last wave goodbye.
Neo had been so young then.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, heart aching for her losses.
"You've been so strong, Mom."
Night fell softly.
They prepared a simple second meal together, the house quiet except for the clink of plates.
After they finished eating and cleared the last of it, Neo gathered his courage.
"Mom... will you teach me that lesson you promised yesterday?".