The teacher's voice grew heavier as he delved into the importance of resonance and its impact on the trials ahead.
"You should pray that you face monsters you can handle. But if you stumble across creatures that are much more intelligent, much stronger, and far beyond your level…" he paused, his gaze sweeping the room, " …whatever happens think of it as fate."
He let the weight of those words linger in the room before continuing. "When you awaken your resonance, you will receive a resonance rank, which determines the aspect of your power. It's essential to understand this, as it will define the kind of challenges you face."
"Fragmented," he began, "is the lowest rank, where your core is weak and unstable. You'll barely feel any resonance at all, and it will take immense effort just to control your energy .The abilities given are weak, unpredictable, or incomplete. You are basically useless."
He paused, letting the students absorb the gravity of that level before moving on. "Next is Singular. With this rank, your core stabilizes, and you receive your first resonance mark. Your abilities will be more predictable, but still limited. You're no longer unstable, but you're far from being truly powerful."
The teacher's eyes shifted toward the students who had shown a spark of talent.
"The next is Dual Forged. This is where things begin to change. You receive a refined soul core, a resonance mark, and an Archetype Identity."
He let that sink in before continuing with a touch more gravity. "Then, there's Ascended. This rank grants you both a Soul Core and a Soul Sanctuary, a Resonance Mark, and a True Archetype Identity. This is extremely rare. Only the most gifted or the most dedicated rise to this level, and even then, the trials you face will be exponentially harder. You'll need to master your abilities, face deeper, more dangerous threats, and survive them."
The teacher's tone darkened as he concluded, "Finally, Celestial. The pinnacle. Those who reach this rank do not receive a Resonance Mark like the rest. Instead, they receive a Soul Title—a unique divine name that represents their true power. With this rank, you've surpassed even the highest forms of resonance. Your Soul Core and Soul Sanctuary are perfected, your power infinite, but the path you walk is fraught with the most dangerous challenges. You'll find yourself facing things no one else can comprehend."
The teacher's voice grew steady again as he moved on, "Next, we move to Ascendant Ranks. These are earned by completing Rift Zones of varying ranks. The ranks range from Common Folk, to Novice, the stage you're in as of today. After you undergo the Blood Moon Trial, you will rise to Awakened rank. From there, you'll continue progressing through Resonants, Archons, Aetherians and finally, Celestial Beings."
A boy in the front raised his hand, asking a question, "Is there anyone who has reached Celestial Beings?"
Professor Grimm let out a laugh that startled everyone. "Boy, there is no one who has reached that rank. It shouldn't even exist. There is no solid proof of Aetherians either—just legends, myths, and bedtime stories for kids," he scoffed, shaking his head as if the very thought of Celestial Beings was absurd.
"Then what about His Highness, what rank is he?" a boy asked, his voice cutting through the tension.
Professor Grimm looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, clearly surprised by the question. He paused for a moment, as if contemplating whether or not the answer was too obvious to explain.
"It's obvious, no?" he muttered, a touch of exasperation in his voice. The class remained silent, waiting for his response. Professor Grimm pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a long sigh before continuing.
"His Highness' ascendant rank is Archon," he stated, his tone now matter-of-fact. "That's the highest rank that's been confirmed so far. Anything beyond that is nothing more than speculation."