The Heart Of Chaos

The first rays of dawn illuminated the peaks of Doomswood, casting the mountains in a golden glow. From the safety of the shelter Orlan had secured, the distant cacophony of screeches and roars echoed ominously.

Inside the cave, Abaddon, Jane, and Fatty sat in rapt attention as No'el stood before them, delivering a lesson.

"Ranking is a gift bestowed upon mortals by the Twelve Erythrian Gods"

No'el began.

"It is a path toward godhood, divided into two stages: the Early Stage and the Ascension Stage. Each stage contains five ranks. While the Early Stage is often called the 'False Ranks' for its relative ease, the Ascension Stage—the 'True Ranks'—requires immense energy and dedication."

He paced as he explained, his tone steady but intense.

"The Early Stage can take anywhere from half a year to a year for advancement, depending on a ranker's compatibility with mantra energy. Now, Fatty and Jane, I assigned you both to study the ranks and their effects. Let's see how well you did. Fatty, you first."

The sound of his name seemed to drain the color from Fatty's face. He stammered, his voice trembling.

"Erm… erm… oh, right, I got it!"

After a painful pause, Fatty managed to recall his answer.

"The Early Stage has five ranks. The first is Bronze, where rankers awaken their class, develop a sixth sense for instincts, and gain minor superhuman defenses. It also extends life by fifty years.

Next is Silver, which grants the ability to use aura, enhances senses, and increases superhuman strength. Life is extended by 150 years.

At Platinum, rankers begin infusing mantra energy into weapons, leading to class-specific abilities—mages casting spells, warriors empowering weapons. Speed and life span both increase significantly.

The fourth rank is Gold, where mantra energy becomes refined. Rankers gain enlightenment in class skills, learn to create techniques, and unlock all senses. Life span increases by 300 years, and, uh… rankers start to look better too.

Finally, the Diamond rank prepares the ranker for Ascension. Here, all fundamental skills are mastered, classes fully awaken, and abilities reach peak superhuman levels. Life span continues to grow."

Fatty finished in a rush, sweat pouring down his face, as No'el gave him an approving nod before turning to the others.

"Good enough. Now, let's move to the real task. Abaddon, you'll lead Jane and Fatty into the woods to hunt four Vermin Class-I Myths as a team. Watch for anything unusual with your body during this mission. As for me, I'll investigate what G-66 shared with us yesterday. We can't let her out of sight just yet."

Abaddon nodded, and without hesitation, the group set off into the depths of Doomswood. They soon stumbled upon a fierce battle between Black Stone Spiders, Wood Centipedes, and a Human-Faced Sand Beetle. Without hesitation, they attacked, proving their mettle against the Vermin Class-I threats.

A week later, both Jane and Fatty advanced to Bronze Rank. Jane awakened as an Assassin, specializing as a Poison Rogue, while Fatty awakened as a Beast Tamer with a talent for mythical creatures. Meanwhile, Abaddon, growing ever closer to his first rebirth, discovered his latent necromantic abilities, confirming No'el's suspicion that he was a Necro-Berserker.

Months passed as the group grew stronger under No'el's guidance. Jane and Fatty excelled as rankers, while Abaddon unlocked the Root Chakra, Muladhara, and began wielding two-percent of the Chaos Energy within his Chaos Heart. Meanwhile, G-66, now renamed Ryn, became Abaddon's servant, assisting Orlan in exchange for information about Eleanor and the S.T.E.E.L Scientific Faction.

Present Day

No'el stood before the group, his gaze stern.

"Abaddon, Jane, Fatty, and Ryn—your next task lies in the second layer of Doomswood. There, you will face Vermin Class-I Myths of the Alpha category. Bring back two Alpha Myths, and I'll teach you an ancient technique."

The group exchanged determined glances. Fatty, now more muscular, smirked with confidence. Jane's poison-infused eyes gleamed faintly, while Abaddon simply turned to lead the charge. Ryn quietly prepared to assist.

"Let's go"

Abaddon commanded, and they plunged deeper into the ominous woods.

As their silhouettes disappeared into the dark expanse, No'el retreated into the cave. His expression twisted into a sinister grin as he sat cross-legged, tracing an intricate array on the ground. The symbols began to glow faintly with power.

"Six years… six years, and everything will change."