Below are the known flows and mechanics of Stiletto's world. Additional rules and systems will be revealed over time; this section includes only what is currently necessary to understand. Nothing is listed here that has not already been introduced within the novel!
The world is structured around seven distinct Stages—formal tiers of power, existence, and capability that all beings inhabit.
Each Stage corresponds to an official Rank, but in common usage, individuals are often regarded almost exclusively by their Stage (i.e., most people will say someone is Stage X rather than refer to their "official" Rank name).
Any being who has reached Stage 2 or higher is referred to as a combatant, regardless of whether they actively fight or choose to apply their abilities in non-combat roles.
Stage Hierarchy (Strongest → Weakest)
Stage 7---> Divine
Stage 6---> Mythic
Stage 5---> Apex
Stage 4---> Unique
Stage 3---> Common
Stage 2---> Flicker
Stage 1---> Mortal
Skills follow a ranking system that mirrors Stages 2–7. These ranks define the quality of an individual skill, independent of the user's overall Stage.
Skill Rank Hierarchy (Highest → Lowest)
Divine
Mythic
Apex
Unique
Common
Flicker
Mortal Exception
Mortal is not a skill rank.
Beings classified as Mortal (Stage 1) possess no stats and no skills whatsoever. They are functionally equivalent to baseline humans in the real world.
The vast majority of humans fall into this category.
Other races exist under different baseline rules, but those distinctions will be revealed as the world unfolds.
Stage vs. Skill Rank (Critical Distinction)
Also, a being's Stage does not determine the rank of their individual skills.
For example, a Stage 4 individual may possess skills ranging anywhere from Flicker to Divine, though ranks of Unique and above become increasingly rare as the skill rank rises. The factor that determines a person's Stage is separate from skill rank and is dependent on something else entirely.
To simplify classification within Stiletto's system, a being's Stage is determined by the cumulative total of all stats listed on their stat page.
In other words, Stage is a function of total stat volume, not skill rank, skill rarity, or raw combat performance. As a result, it is entirely possible for a lower Stage individual to defeat a significantly higher Stage opponent if they possess superior combat skill, tactical awareness, or make better use of circumstance.
The power-system is non-rigid. Stage reflects capacity, not inevitability.
The determination of Stages follows this structure:
Stage 1 (Mortal) 0
Stage 2 (Flicker) 1-699
Stage 3 (Common) 700-1,999
Stage 4 (Unique) 2000-4,999
Stage 5 (Apex) 5,000-14,999
Stage 6 (Mythic) 15,000-99,999
Stage 7 (Divine) 100,000-x
As an example, Stiletto's combined stats as of Chapter 21 total 99. This places him within the 1-699 range, classifying him as Stage 2 — Flicker, regardless of the ranks of any skills he possesses.
Of course, the beings in Stiletto's world do not have access to a system capable of numerically assessing their stats. Instead, each race possesses its own rough methods for determining an individual's Stage.
As for the Divine Stage, it encompasses any total stat value from 100,000 upward, with no known upper limit.