At some point in every human's life, they obtain a Class.
A Class determines the path followed by anyone capable of wielding mana. There are countless Classes in existence, including Mage, Priest, Knight, Archer, Assassin, Beast Tamer, Paladin, Magic Knight, and many others.
Once someone begins progressing through a particular Class, their journey of growth truly begins, allowing them to ascend through the ranks.
There are ten known ranks that every warrior must pass through as they strive to grow stronger.
Beginner, Intermediate, Skilled, Advanced, Elite, Saint, King, High King, Emperor… and finally, God.
Each rank possesses its own characteristics and brings an enormous increase in power. Some people are capable of reaching the higher ranks, while others will never progress that far.
Players, however, are different.
They possess the Player System, allowing them to increase their level by hunting monsters. Unlike ordinary people, Players have no inherent limit to their growth, with each range of levels corresponding to one of the established ranks.
Beginner
The first rank, and the starting point of everything.
Those at this level are barely capable of anything noteworthy. A Knight will have only begun developing familiarity with the sword, while a Mage might be capable of casting a few low-level spells, but rarely more than once or twice due to their extremely limited mana capacity.
For Players, the Beginner Rank corresponds to Levels 1–9.
Intermediate
This rank does not differ drastically from the one before it, but it brings considerable improvement to the attributes most important to each Class.
A Mage's Intelligence increases significantly, while Priests and Paladins experience similar growth in Faith. Knights and Warriors, meanwhile, gain substantial improvements to their Strength and speed.
This rank is generally considered the minimum requirement for becoming a mercenary and having a genuine chance of surviving the dangers that come with the profession.
For Players, the Intermediate Rank corresponds to Levels 10–19.
Skilled
This rank represents the peak of what an ordinary human can realistically achieve.
Those who reach it possess considerable mastery over their combat abilities and chosen specialization. Mages at this level can even cast certain mid-level spells, though only to a very limited extent.
For Players, the Skilled Rank corresponds to Levels 20–29.
Advanced
This is where true evolution begins.
The Advanced Rank is the minimum threshold required to manifest Aura Armor, allowing Knights to perform feats that surpass ordinary human limitations. It is also the decisive factor that finally allows them to stand against Mages on relatively equal footing.
Aura Armor drastically increases the body's defenses while allowing its wielder to move with levels of strength and speed that would normally be impossible for a human to achieve.
For Players, the Advanced Rank corresponds to Levels 30–39.
Elite
Mages at this rank become capable of casting high-level spells, although their ability to do so remains limited.
For Knights, Aura Armor becomes considerably denser, stronger, and more effective.
For Players, the Elite Rank corresponds to Levels 40–49.
Saint
Knights at this rank become capable of extending their Aura Armor beyond their own bodies, allowing it to envelop external objects such as swords and other weapons.
Some become fast enough that their attacks can barely be perceived by the naked eye. Mages, meanwhile, become capable of repeatedly casting high-level spells rather than treating them as limited trump cards.
For Players, the Saint Rank corresponds to Levels 50–59.
King
Very few ever reach this level.
The King Rank is the very definition of a superhuman. Those who attain it often occupy the highest positions of power and rarely appear on the battlefield except during conflicts of great importance.
A single King is worth one hundred Elite Knights on their own.
For Players, the King Rank corresponds to Levels 60–69.
High King
Only an exceptionally small number of people ever reach the High King Rank, and the difference in power between it and the previous rank is enormous.
High King does not unlock any fundamentally new abilities or techniques. Instead, it pushes everything already acquired to its absolute peak, creating monsters wearing the forms of humans.
For Players, the High King Rank corresponds to Levels 70–79.
Emperor
Their existence is extraordinarily rare, even across the entire continent. So few have reached this rank that they can practically be counted on one hand.
Mages at this level can cast transcendent spells, catastrophic magic capable of affecting enormous areas. A single Emperor can influence the fate of entire nations.
Knights at this rank wield swords with such overwhelming speed that their attacks become impossible to track.
For Players, the Emperor Rank corresponds to Levels 80–99.
God
The God Rank is a special existence entirely separate from the ranks beneath it.
Only one person from each Class can possess this rank at any given time.
To reach it, one must kill whoever currently holds the title and take their place. In other words, an Emperor-ranked Knight seeking to ascend must defeat the God of Knights and seize the rank from them.
Their very existence is considered a calamity.
Each of them alone possesses power comparable to an entire nation.
For Players, the God Rank corresponds to Level 100 and beyond.
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Ethan's Abilities (Spoilers for anyone who hasn't read the first 10 chapters.)
After striking his bargain with the Demon of Balance, Ethan received eight Blessings. But nothing came without a price.
In exchange for those eight Blessings, he was burdened with eight corresponding Curses.
Legendary Weapons Master
Allows Ethan to transform the souls of those he kills into weapons. Some of the weapons created through this Blessing may possess unique abilities of their own.
Price : Curse of Darkness:
A fifth-level Mark Curse that causes Ethan to be hunted by every calamity inhabiting the Cursed Land whenever darkness falls.
It also allows him to hear the voices of the dead.
Eventual Greatness
Places severe restrictions on Ethan's attributes, including his HP and MP.
He can remove those restrictions whenever he chooses.
However, the longer he endures without releasing them, the greater the benefits he receives once the restrictions are finally removed.
Those benefits are permanent.
Night Lord's Aura
Creates an aura that multiplies Ethan's offensive power several times over.
Price:
Every defensive attribute is reduced to 1, meaning a single successful blow can defeat him.
It is the ultimate glass-cannon ability.
Class Change at Will
Allows Ethan to freely change into any Class whenever he desires.
Price:
Every level requires twice as many souls to obtain compared to other Players.
Blood of the God
Allows Ethan to die more than once.
Price:
Every time he dies, either his own lifespan or the lifespan of those around him is reduced.
Wise Raven Insight
Grants Ethan complete awareness of weaknesses and allows him to perceive things ordinary humans cannot see.
Price:
Excessive use gradually causes him to lose his eyesight.
Demonic Body
Grants Ethan an extraordinarily powerful body with endurance far beyond normal human limits.
Price:
He gradually loses his humanity.
Miracles and healing potions also have no effect on him.
Eighth Blessing Unknown.
Ethan possesses an eighth Blessing and an eighth Curse.
He currently knows nothing about either of them.