June was training relentlessly in the training room and he was sweating heavily. He tried the auto-pilot function and was amazed as his body moved without his conscious thought. He dodged every attack the robot launched. Even though the robot's attacks were just stimulation, they were very strong and could move at the speed of sound, basically Sonic speed. The auto-pilot kept dodging, knowing it could not attack, just dodging endlessly. Then the auto-pilot saw an opportunity to strike. The robot's attack was wide open, it made a mistake, and in the end, it was defeated.
This was the second round. In the first round, June had just dodged the robot attacks and could not attack at all. He had seen opportunities but could not act. Still, the robot was not stupid. It was called AR-1, meaning Attack Robot 1, and there were multiple robots. The AR-9 was said to be the most dangerous. It could move near light speed, which was the robot speed limit in this world. Normally impossible things were possible here. June had won the first round but was exhausted and sweating.
June thought about what the auto-pilot would do next. Surprisingly, it performed even better than he expected, attacking only when the robot was wide open. It was impressive.
Now I will explain how power rankings work in this world so you do not get confused. In the world of Zenith, power is not simply about strength or combat skill. It is built upon four pillars: mana, body, mind, and authority. All four must grow together. If one is neglected, the entire foundation becomes unstable. Forcing growth too quickly can backfire catastrophically. Ascension is not automatic. It is personal, dangerous, and often irreversible. No one can simply train and expect to rise. You must survive trials that push every part of yourself to the very edge of life and death.
Tier zero is called Zero. People at this level have almost no mana or their mana flows inconsistently. Even the simplest spell can drain them completely or cause their bodies to collapse. They are fragile in every sense and the world treats them as disposable. Many never survive to advance. Those who try to push beyond their limits often perish. Some fall into permanent comas while others shatter their bodies entirely, leaving nothing behind.
Tier one is the Initiate. At this stage, mana begins to circulate properly. The body responds to training in ways it never has before. Minor techniques and small spells become possible but the body is still weak. One mistake can end life prematurely. Initiates begin to understand the taste of power and responsibility. They can endure small dangers and perform basic combat skills but their reflexes and endurance remain limited. Many fail at this stage because they underestimate the subtle dangers that surround them.
Tier two is the Awakened. This is the tier I currently occupy. Mana flows steadily through every vein. The body reinforces itself naturally and even basic combat skills begin to feel instinctive. Reflexes sharpen, perception heightens, and small dangers become easier to notice. Awakened can survive alone in hazardous zones but dominance is still impossible. Mistakes are often fatal. Many who attempt to overreach are claimed by the very dangers they seek to master. Some never leave dangerous zones alive and the memory of their failure serves as a warning to others.
Tier three is the Adept. At this stage, mana, body, and mind begin to work in harmony. Combat instincts sharpen and the ability to handle multiple opponents at once emerges. Awareness of danger becomes instinctual. Adepts are where true fighters begin to emerge. They can survive situations that would kill the Awakened. Many Adepts attempt forbidden shortcuts seeking faster growth but those who fail are lost forever, either physically or mentally. The jump from Awakened to Adept is not merely strength. It is a test of instinct, perception, and endurance.
Tier four is the Elite. Elites are strong at a regional level. They can command squads, fight continuously without exhaustion, and feel the flow of battle and the intent of enemies. They influence local wars and are respected in their regions. Yet they are still mortal. Many die attempting to surpass their limits either in combat or by tampering with forces beyond their comprehension. They are the benchmark others strive to surpass, and their deaths often serve as warnings of what happens when ambition exceeds skill.
Tier five is the Lord. At this tier, authority begins to manifest. Mana pressure can affect weaker beings. Lords can suppress opponents, influence territories, and command subordinates with efficiency. A single Lord can slaughter dozens of Elites with ruthless precision. Lords often rule cities, academies, or strategic regions. But even they face challenges that can overwhelm them. Rival Lords or unforeseen events can kill them. Many who seek to shortcut their growth through forbidden paths fail and are destroyed or twisted into monsters.
Tier six is the King. Kings dominate nations. Their mana is overwhelming and they can fight armies alone. They shape history, influence terrain or weather, and direct large-scale battles. Even so, multiple Kings acting together or rare weapons can challenge them. Some Kings never achieve Monarch status because their bodies, minds, or authority fail under pressure. Others attempt forbidden paths seeking rapid advancement and the consequences are often catastrophic.
Tier seven is the Monarch. Monarchs are the apex beings of the current era. Each embodies a concept such as war, night, nature, or dominion. Their presence alone can alter reality and if left unrestrained they could destroy continents. There are very few of them. Many fail to ascend fully, becoming dangerous shadows or unstable forces. Their ambition or impatience leads them to forbidden paths seeking accelerated power and the consequences are devastating. Many fall into corruption, insanity, or eternal wandering as incomplete beings.
Tier eight is the High Monarch. High Monarchs are legendary near-mythical figures. They can defeat multiple Monarchs and reshape entire battlefields. Most remain inactive or watch the world silently. Those who attempt forbidden ascension to surpass even this level often lose their minds or bodies and become unrecognizable monsters. Some achieve incredible power but at the cost of their humanity or sanity.
Tier nine is the Ascendant. Ascendants exist beyond nations and rules. They manipulate natural laws on a small scale and only beings of similar power can challenge them. Many die in the attempt because the trials are merciless and mistakes are unforgiving. Ascendants are walking disasters. They exist almost as forces of nature and only the strongest or cleverest can survive encounters with them.
Tier ten is Zenith. Zenith is the ultimate pinnacle. Those who reach it have perfected mana, body, mind, and authority. They can influence nations, reshape entire territories, and stand at the very peak of power. Very few have ever achieved it. Throughout history countless have attempted forbidden paths in pursuit of Zenith. Many were destroyed by Corrupted Ascension which overloaded mana, granting rapid growth at the cost of body and mind. Many became Bloodline Devourers, stealing the strength and souls of others until their identity was lost. Authority Theft grants temporary Monarch-level power but almost always destroys the soul completely. Only those with extreme fortune, cunning, or hidden protections survive such trials and even they are never the same.
The world punishes impatience, greed, and weakness. Every step toward Zenith carries life or death. Every tier is a trial and every failure serves as a warning. Those who attempt forbidden shortcuts risk insanity, death, or eternal corruption. Ascension is personal and merciless. The trials of body and mind will break some while forging others into legends. The path to Zenith is long, deadly, and demanding. Only a handful survive and even among them only a few truly ascend fully. It is not a right. It is a path that tests the very essence of a person and demands everything they have and more.
Lifespan grows with each tier as mana gradually rewrites the body and soul. Zeros live sixty to eighty years, plagued by instability. Initiates survive eighty to one hundred twenty years as slow regeneration begins. Awakened live one hundred twenty to one hundred eighty years with minor wounds healing naturally. Adepts survive one hundred eighty to three hundred years, aging slows and disease becomes rare. Elites live three hundred to five hundred years, bodies maintain peak condition. Lords live five hundred to eight hundred years, aging nearly stops and only severe damage can kill them. Kings live eight hundred to fifteen hundred years and biological aging halts. Monarchs stabilize body and soul and can enter dormancy to pause time for one thousand five hundred to three thousand years. High Monarchs exist semi-eternally for three thousand to eight thousand years. Ascendants age stops completely and only beings of similar level or laws of the world can harm them. Zenith is conceptual existence. They do not age and death becomes optional or conditional.
Forbidden paths are tempting but deadly. Corrupted Ascension overloads mana, granting rapid growth but destroying the mind and body. Bloodline Devouring steals strength and souls of others but fragments identity. Authority Theft grants temporary power of Monarchs but almost always kills or twists the soul. Those who survive are never the same and their existence becomes a warning of the dangers of greed.
Every tier is a step in the long perilous journey to Zenith. Each requires mastering mana, body, mind, and authority. Each demands sacrifice, patience, and resilience. Every failure leaves a mark on the soul and body. Many die on the path and many more are twisted by ambition. Only the strongest, wisest, and most cautious can hope to reach Zenith and even then it is not guaranteed. It is very hard to reach tier three. Even the protagonist cheated through tiers because of the system. I am Tier two while Lucy is on Tier three.
June sighed and thought I should just rest. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for me. He left the training room and went to his room since it was night. He lay on his bed and finally slept.