Later that evening, Argon sat beneath the glow of a mana lamp, reviewing old tomes and scattered scrolls he had requested. Among them was a particular set of documents describing the world's magical system and power hierarchy.
As he read, he compared it with the systems of his old world. Surprisingly, it was eerily similar.
Magic, both here and there, was tied to the concept of mana cores. The core inside a being functioned as the vessel for power. The more cores one developed, the more mana they could channel and control.
The system was divided into ten recognized tiers. A beginner had one core, often awakened around the age of ten. Each additional core marked a significant breakthrough in power, understanding, and refinement.
But Argon knew from experience—ten was not the end.
In his previous world, only a handful had ever gone beyond ten cores. Beyond that point, the numbering stopped, not because it was impossible, but because the power became ineffable—hard to measure. Those who went beyond were simply referred to as "Ascendants."
He remembered clearly: it wasn't just about strength. It was about control. Stability. Awareness. The tenth tier was more of a societal boundary than a physical one.
He tapped his pen against the page, recalling his own journey to tier ten in his past life—and what it cost him.
Then there were the combat classes: Warriors, Rogues, and Mages. Most people naturally aligned with one path, depending on their core development, body type, and mana compatibility. Hybrids existed, though rare.
In this world, combat schools revolved around these paths. Warriors reinforced their bodies with mana, Rogues used stealth and burst techniques, and Mages manipulated the arcane flow.
Argon, in his old life, had forged his own path—a hybrid known only to those in his inner circle. A combination of swordsmanship, magical mastery, and spiritual control. He remembered the name given to him:
The Arcaneblade Sovereign or BattleMage he humbly stated to his subjects.
But that was a lifetime ago.
Now, he was back at the beginning. One core. A new world. A broken legacy to mend.
He closed the book and stared out the window toward the southern city lights.
"If I am to survive this world... I must master it once more."
And perhaps, by understanding the secrets of this place, he might just find a way to save the world he left behind.