In this world, heroes are classified according to the number of rings present within their SS—the core through which they manipulate and command their SE but also the depth and maturity of their cultivation. The progression of a hero's power follows distinct stages, each separated by both spiritual growth and ring accumulation.
The foundational level, referred to as the First Stage, includes those whose SS holds between one to four rings. These individuals are considered to be at the beginning of their journey—learning the basics of SE manipulation, combat control, and internal balance. Upon developing greater consistency and discipline, a hero can evolve into the Second Stage, characterized by five to eight rings. These heroes represent a transitionary strength—competent and disciplined, but still far from mastery.
At the cusp of real power lies the Third Stage, reserved for those whose SS holds between nine to fifteen rings. While technically still within the "lower tier," Third Stage heroes exhibit a level of strength and control leagues beyond those in the earlier stages.
However, a dramatic shift occurs with the awakening of the "Blue Eyes Form," a transformation that marks a hero's evolution into the middle tiers. Blue Eyes Form users often possess between nine and twenty rings and display not just increased power, but heightened spiritual precision and mental focus. What separates the mid and upper tiers from the lower ranks isn't just quantity of rings—but the purity of SE itself. It must be crystal-clear, harmonized perfectly with the hero's will.
The pinnacle of cultivation, however, lies in the Denkei and Henkei forms. Denkei heroes carry between twenty and twenty-three rings, while Henkei heroes—beings of legend—wield up to twenty-eight. These forms demand not just control, but complete synchronization between body, mind, and spirit. Reaching these stages is so rare, those who succeed become powerhouses in their own right.
Because of the purity requirement, it's significantly easier to ascend through the lower stages than to break into the mid or upper tiers. Most cultivators only ever ascend one ring at a time, as the amount of SE the SS can absorb without collapsing is tightly restricted.
And yet, Avery broke this mold.
During his breakthrough, Avery didn't just ascend to the Second Stage—his SS formed three new rings in one go. An extremely rare feat, especially since his SS lacked a stabilizing SE technique. That alone made his advancement exceptional.
Even more unbelievable was what happened next.
The Ransthrol family, Avery's bloodline, had long been famous for their unparalleled physical abilities—but notorious for lacking any inherent SE techniques. Unlike Prince Arizel with his Ice Domain, or Itekan and his Shadow Spirit, the Ransthrols relied solely on their unmatched physical prowess. Their lineage often intermarried with other powerful clans to mitigate this flaw, but even then, the Ransthrol blood always dominated. They simply couldn't awaken SE abilities.
Until now.
Forged through near-death and the trauma of losing Aaron, Avery awakened a power that hadn't existed before—an SE technique born from grief and rage. As he lunged at Zain, even he didn't fully understand what had just awakened inside him. But the name came instinctively, as if whispered to him from within.
"Hollow Dreams!" Avery roared.
His fist cracked through the air, striking Zain with terrifying speed. But it didn't end there—two delayed after-images of the punch followed, creating a triad of explosive impacts. It was like being struck three times in one heartbeat, a "combo" effect that overwhelmed the senses and balance, sending Zain tumbling.
Zain, however, recovered instantly. Landing with force, the ground beneath him cracked and he spread his arms wide, releasing an overwhelming force. Gravity spiked—ten times heavier in an instant. Itekan, Avery, and Keel Kun were slammed into the ground.
Itekan's body screamed in protest, blood oozing from every pore. He was confused. He couldn't sense his Shadow Spirit. Not even a flicker. It was the first time he'd ever been completely disconnected from it. Without its healing support, his reckless fighting style left him in ruins.
As he struggled to move, the truth struck him—he had treated the Shadow Spirit like an endless power bank. But that was wrong. It wasn't just energy. It was alive. A separate being born of his essence, not a tool but a partner.
"Gghk—" Itekan coughed, spraying blood across the dirt. Beside him, Keel Kun somehow stood despite the gravity. His body hunched, halo flickering—before finally extinguishing. Its time was up.
Yet Keel Kun didn't fall. With trembling hands, he raised one arm toward Zain, who grinned, intrigued by the young hero's resilience. With a clenched fist, Keel Kun summoned his halberd.
It came screaming through the air, breaking the sound barrier. But Zain reacted instantly—generating another gravity field directly in its path. The halberd slowed, distorted by the immense pressure. Still, Keel Kun pushed, forcing it to crawl forward. Just as it neared Zain's fingertips, where gravity was at its strongest, the weapon began to crumple in on itself.
Keel Kun tried to scream—but his mouth was sealed shut by the gravity.
Then, everything changed.
A swirl of shadow emerged above Itekan, unaffected by the gravitational field. His body turned pitch-black, darker than night. Twin flickers rose from his head—horn-like stalks of shifting shadow, dancing even in thirty times gravity, as light as whispers.
Itekan had advanced.
"Shadow's Hand; Inverse Gravity."
A wave burst from him—nullifying Zain's pressure with an equal force of reversed gravity. The battlefield lightened, the weight lifted. Avery and Keel Kun stood up, fire reigniting in their eyes.
The next round was about to begin.
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Spiritual Energy (SE)
Spiritual Sea (SS)
Spiritual Signature (SST)