"I don't know if you already know this," Emilia began slowly, her voice calm but serious, "but even though [Eternal Ascension] is fair, worlds don't all start on equal footing."
Leon nodded without interrupting her.
This wasn't news to him. Every world, no matter how weak or powerful, began in a place called a [Novice Village].
On the surface, that sounded fair. But the truth was more complicated. The ranking of a world determined almost everything else.
Low-level worlds faced weaker monsters, simpler environments, and fewer hidden dangers.
Intermediate worlds were harsher. High-level worlds were brutal. And eternal-level worlds… those were something else entirely.
The enemies were stronger. The trials were deadlier. Even basic locations were filled with threats that could wipe out entire groups in seconds.
In exchange, those worlds offered better rewards, stronger growth paths, and far more opportunities to rise quickly.
