CHAPTER 10 — The Law of Power
The laughter hadn't fully faded when the academy bells rang again.
Dong—
Dong—
Dong—
Three resonant chimes echoed across the Imperial Arcane Academy, silencing the plaza instantly.
Students straightened.
Instructors turned serious.
And Lucien Vale—still labeled a "blank"—tilted his head with curiosity.
"Oh?" he muttered. "Lore drop time?"
THE GRAND LECTURE HALL
The newly awakened students were ushered into a colossal amphitheater carved from white stone and reinforced with mana formations. Floating platforms hovered mid-air, seating nobles and foreign royals alike.
At the center stood Archmage Helior, one of the Empire's Twelve Pillars.
His voice carried weight.
"Before you train,"
"Before you compete,"
"Before you kill—"
A pause.
"You will understand the Law of Rank."
A massive illusion unfurled above him.
THE RANK SYSTEM
Rank F → Rank E → Rank D → Rank C → Rank B → Rank A → Rank S → Rank SS → Rank SSS
Helior's gaze swept across the students.
"Rank is not merely strength,"
"It is how deeply the world recognizes your existence."
Murmurs rippled.
Lucien leaned forward, elbows on knees.
Yep, he thought. This is exactly how it worked in the novel.
THE THREE THRESHOLDS
The illusion shifted.
S-RANK — AURA AWAKENING
"Upon reaching Rank S," Helior continued,
"the body and soul synchronize."
"An Aura is born."
A warrior-shaped silhouette appeared, surrounded by blazing energy.
"Aura is not magic."
"It is will made tangible."
"Fear, pressure, killing intent—these become weapons."
Lucien's eyes sparkled.
"Ah yes," he whispered. "Intimidation DLC unlocked."
SS-RANK — DOMAIN FORMATION
The illusion expanded into a territory.
"At Rank SS,"
"one's aura evolves into a Domain."
"A personal law imposed upon reality."
Inside the domain, elements bent unnaturally.
"Within a domain, the user gains overwhelming advantage."
"However—"
Helior's tone hardened.
"Domains consume enormous mana and will."
"A fragile mind will collapse."
Several students paled.
Kael Dravaryn smirked.
Brom clenched his fists in excitement.
Elarion narrowed his eyes in thought.
Lucien just grinned wider.
SSS-RANK — UNIQUE SKILL
Silence fell.
The illusion darkened.
"Rank SSS," Helior said quietly,
"is no longer mortal territory."
A single figure stood alone in the void.
"At this rank, the world grants a Unique Skill."
"One ability that reflects your existence itself."
Gasps erupted.
"Unique Skills are absolute."
"They cannot be copied."
"They cannot be replicated."
"And each possesses two to four core functions."
Lucien's heart skipped.
So it's confirmed, he thought.
SSS is the ceiling… for now.
A WARNING
Helior raised a finger.
"Power grows exponentially at higher ranks."
"A Rank A can defeat ten Rank B."
"An S can slaughter armies."
"But an SSS—"
The illusion shattered violently.
"—can reshape history."
The hall fell deathly quiet.
LUCIEN VALE — SYSTEM RESPONSE
New World Rule Registered
• Rank S → Aura Awakening
• Rank SS → Domain Skill
• Rank SSS → Unique Skill (2–4 functions)
Note:
Bond-based amplification will affect Aura, Domain, and Unique Skill growth.
Lucien nearly laughed out loud.
So my system scales with the laws of the world itself.
That's… broken.
OTHER MAIN CAST REACTIONS
Elarion (Elf POV)
"Aura… domain… unique…"
He exhaled slowly.
"This academy hides monsters."
His eyes flicked toward Lucien.
A blank who smiles too much.
Brom (Dwarf POV)
"HA!"
Brom slammed his fist into his palm.
"So the higher you go, the more the world bends?"
He laughed heartily.
"I like this place!"
Kael (Dragon POV)
"Unique Skill…"
Kael's draconic blood stirred.
If I reach SSS…
Even dragons will bow.
His gaze sharpened.
LUCIEN — EXTROVERT MODE
Lucien leaned back comfortably.
"Well," he said cheerfully to no one in particular,
"guess I'll just have to climb all the way."
Several nearby students stared.
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Lucien added with a grin.
"Someone's gotta hit SSS first, right?"
They didn't know whether to laugh or scoff.
But somewhere—
A goddess smiled.
GODDESS OF SIGHT — POV
"Aura."
"Domain."
"Unique Skill."
She watched Lucien carefully.
"And beyond SSS…"
Her smile thinned.
"That path will break him."
"Or elevate him."
The Path of Transcend remained sealed.
For now.