The Sanction of God is an expansive interdimensional world whose true planetary size remains unknown due to its vastness and the presence of powerful monsters. Some experts speculate that the Sanction of God is 20 times larger than Earth, while others believe it could be as colossal as the sun. However, no one has been able to fully explore the entire place because the monsters grow stronger and the terrain becomes more treacherous the further one ventures from their nearby bases. The Sanction of God consists of four distinct sections known as the 1st Sanction, 2nd Sanction, 3rd Sanction, and 4th Sanction. Each sanction operates under its own set of natural laws and limitations.
In the 1st Sanction, Starters and Pursuers, ranked awakened individuals, are permitted to traverse the world, while beings of higher rank than Pursuer are rejected. The majority of monsters within the 1st Sanction fall into Tier 0, 1, 2, and 3. Tier 3 monsters are particularly formidable predators, and encountering one spells certain death. No one has ever managed to defeat a Tier 3 monster even if you were the most elite of a pursuer or a newly awakened Evolved. Due to this fact, they are regarded as natural disasters. Awakeners are equipped with mana crystals embedded in their wrists, which record the different tiers of mana absorbed by their body. To obtain mana crystals, one must kill a monster and extract its mana core, which can be absorbed or used for crafting equipment. The strength of the mana core corresponds to the power and rank of the monster. Advancement to the next rank requires entering an awakening pool, where the absorbed mana is purified and integrated into the awakener, resulting in increased strength.
To progress from Starter to Pursuer rank, specific minimum requirements must be met, such as absorbing 500 Tier-0 mana crystals and 200 Tier-1 mana crystals. However, these are only the basic requirements, and the effectiveness of the awakening can be enhanced by absorbing mana cores from stronger and higher-ranked monsters within their respective tiers. While the requirements may seem straightforward, not all reawakened individuals will possess the same level of strength, as it depends on the potency of the monster cores and the amount of absorbed mana. Similar requirements apply to subsequent awakenings, with the understanding that as tiers increase, the monsters to be defeated become stronger. Attempting to cheat the system by absorbing powerful Tier-3 mana cores from the 2nd Sanction of God is highly perilous, as it renders the person's body unstable, akin to a ticking time bomb. Therefore, it is crucial to abide by the rules of the Sanction of God, which is why only a select few have reached the highest ranks over hundreds of years.
Once a Pursuer reaches the Evolved rank, their body starts to be rejected by the 1st Sanction of God. If the Evolved does not exit promptly, their mana core will be destroyed, leading to a vegetative state or, worse, death. This is why Pursuers who become Evolved immediately depart from the 1st Sanction and proceed to the 2nd Sanction of God. The requirements for advancement remain the same, but the monsters and battles they face become significantly more challenging and formidable.
The awakening rankings progress as follows: Starters, Pursuers, Evolved, Master, Grandmaster, Monarch, Ancient, and finally, Demi-God. Throughout history, only ten individuals have managed to attain the rank of Demi-God, highlighting the rarity and difficulty of achieving such a status.
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After heeding Sol's warnings, Aries made the decision to make his Livestream private, allowing only Sol to join him. Frustrated by the powerful monsters they had encountered, Aries remarked that they seemed more fitting for the 2nd Sanction of God rather than the 1st Sanction of God. He glanced at the mana crystal embedded in his wrist in which projected a hologram that displayed his status.
Aries - Human
Rank: Starter (F)
Tier-0: 92/500
Tier-1: 25/200
Element: None
His status was disheartening, as he had remained an F-rank Starter for the past two years since awakening. Aries felt trapped and unable to change his circumstances. He had lost his freedom to legally enter the Sanctions and was left with the option of doing so illegally. The portal that had once granted access to 4th-class citizens, like himself, was destroyed by an angry old man with a thunder stick.
"I need to become stronger, but I can't find worthy opponents anywhere," he muttered to himself.
Sol chimed in, suggesting that Aries should learn a fighting style to improve his combat abilities.
Aries asked if Sol would teach him, to which Sol responded with sarcasm, pointing out that Aries was a Gold Member and VIP, granting him access to the VIP Star Store.
Aries admitted that he had forgotten about the store but questioned whether they sold Combat Scriptures, which were martial manuals used in his universe to learn various fighting styles. Due to his low social status as a 4th-class citizen, he had been unable to obtain one and had resorted to mimicking tutorials found online.
Sol chuckled at the outdated concept of Combat Scriptures and informed Aries that the VIP Star Store sold Martial Runes instead. These runes would instantly allow the user to master a fighting style. As a humanoid, Aries was advised to browse the Bipedal Section of the store and choose a style he preferred to learn. He could also purchase weapons of his choice, as the VIP Star Store offered a wide variety of items. With 8,900 star points remaining, Aries had more than enough to buy a Martial Rune and a weapon.
Curious, Aries checked the VIP section and discovered numerous impressive Martial Runes available for purchase. However, most of them were priced at 10,000 star points or more. Aries realized he could afford a few with his five 40% discount vouchers but wanted to buy two Martial Runes and two martial weapons. He desired a combat style suitable for close-quarters combat and another style that would enable him to effectively fight against long-range adversaries. Most of the available Martial Runes focused on one style or the other, lacking the combination he sought.
'There are many sword-style Martial Runes that follow The Righteous One's techniques, but in my current situation, I need to focus on survival rather than fighting. As Sol mentioned, these monsters are far beyond my capabilities. I feel like an ant being crushed by a herd of elephants,' Aries contemplated deeply.
Sol interrupted, asking if Aries had made a decision.
Aries replied, "I want to train in swordsmanship eventually, but right now, I need a fighting style that can help me defend myself against powerful enemies. I need something that will increase my chances of survival."
Sol suggested, "How about learning Vishnu's Vanguard?"
Aries considered it and said, "Let me take a look..."
[Vishnu's Vanguard
Grade: E (Growth)
Enhances overall strength, agility, flexibility, and defense.
No Pain, No Gain (Passive): Proficiency increases whenever your body takes damage, leading to an increased synchronization rate based on the power of the absorbed blow. When the synchronization rate reaches 100%, Vishnu's Vanguard increases its rank by 1 (capped at S-Grade).
Rune Requirement: Grade 9-10 lifeforms
Price: 12,000 Star Points (40% Discount - 7,200)]
Aries exclaimed, "This Martial Rune seems masochistic! I was hoping for a fast and agile style that would allow me to dodge attacks, not one that requires me to face opponents head-on! And it's incredibly expensive! How can it be sold at such a high price?"
Sol reassured him, saying, "At first glance, it may not seem impressive, and it is true that it has its drawbacks. However, I promise you it's one of the best survival Runes you could ever need. The best part is that it's a Growth-type fighting style, which means that if you can raise its rank, you'll gain additional benefits. You might even acquire more passive and active skills! There's actually a renowned fighter from Universe-42069 who possesses this Rune as his main style. He managed to raise it to A-Grade and can now withstand attacks from planets as if they were nothing!"
Aries's eyes widened at the thought. If he could elevate this Martial Rune to A-Grade, he might be able to reach the level of The Righteous One and potentially fight alongside him in the future. Motivated by this possibility, he decided to purchase the Martial Rune.
With a tingling sound, a black runestone materialized in Aries's hand, bearing a carved shield emblem. The instructions on the runestone indicated that he should break it. Summoning all his strength, Aries crushed the stone into dust.
Another tingling sound resonated, and a notification appeared:
[YOU HAVE BOUGHT THE MARTIAL RUNE: VISHNU'S VANGUARD!]
The dust in Aries's palm transformed into smoke, which he inhaled. It entered not only his nose but also his mouth, eyes, ears, and even his pores.
"I don't feel anything... huh?" Aries uttered, surprised by a sudden sensation.
Sol chuckled and said, "[Sol: Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, learning Martial Runes can be quite painful, especially when using special types of runes. Vishnu's Vanguard happens to be one of them ;).]"
"You bastard-kheeok!" Aries couldn't help but curse at Sol, who knew full well about the rune's effects but intentionally failed to warn him beforehand. He groaned in pain as he collapsed onto the shell floor of the Terradon, writhing in agony. Every muscle in his body felt as if it were being torn apart, his bones seemed to shatter into powder before reforming, his veins felt sliced and rearranged, and his organs underwent a deep cleansing. It was an excruciating torture that lasted for a minute, but each moment felt like an eternity—like holding a plank position for 30 seconds, where time seems to stretch endlessly.
Then, with a tingling sensation, the pain subsided.
[YOU HAVE MASTERED VISHNU'S VANGUARD!]
"I'm never doing that shit ever again," Aries declared, panting heavily and covered in sweat as he gazed at the window panel in front of him.
[Sol: Don't you feel lighter and stronger? Take a look at your reflection.]
Aries mustered the energy to stand up and opened his bag, retrieving a pocket mirror. As he stared at his reflection, he was astonished to see visible muscles bulging all over his body. Despite his previous lean physique, he now had the potential to possess the most aesthetically pleasing body in the world—something that even aliens would gawk at—if he incorporated a strict bulking diet into his routine.
[Sol: So, how do you feel?]
"Taller, stronger, faster, and I look twice as handsome as before."
[Sol: Your face is still ugly as shit XD]
"Fuck off," Aries retorted.
Jokes aside, he truly had become taller and more attractive. Previously standing at around 5'7, he now measured between 6'4 and 6'5. His Asian American features had become bolder and sharper, with a defined nose bridge and a more chiseled jawline. The pain he endured had unquestionably been worth it. Aries became so fond of his new appearance that he began striking poses and admiring himself in the mirror, much to Sol's amusement and subsequent teasing.
"You're just jealous that I'm a perfect ten."
[Sol: Pssh... I'm more attractive than you are, and if you were compared to my kind, you'd barely be a 3/10.]
"Haters gonna hate," Aries playfully replied. After spending a considerable amount of time examining his transformed body, he felt satisfied with the changes not only in his muscles and face but also in the size of his manhood.
"Now that I have a fighting style, what should I buy next?"
[Sol: A weapon. With your newly perfect bipedal body, you can wield any type of weapon suitable for bipedal creatures. However, considering the current situation, I recommend using your remaining points to purchase a shield.]
Aries protested, "A shield? Isn't it just for defense? What's the point of buying a shield when it's only going to minimize the attacks I can absorb and use to increase my strength? Plus, even with my new fighting style, this Martial Rune turns me into a mere meat shield. It doesn't teach me any fighting techniques at all."
[Sol: That's precisely why you need a shield. A shield is not just for defense; it can also be used offensively. Buy the Homing Shiva. It's an all-rounder shield that can protect you, block attacks, be used as a weapon in close-quarters combat, and even thrown at enemies. It will return to you after being thrown. Additionally, it has an active skill that absorbs damage and repels it back to any enemy.]
"Whoa! That sounds like an overpowered shield, but I was thinking of getting a sword."
[Sol: Just buy the damn shield. You can get a sword next time. Your safety is the top priority right now!]
"Alright, alright, no need to get so worked up. I'll buy it."
Aries followed Sol's advice and purchased the Homing Shiva. It originally cost 2,500 Star points but was discounted to 1,500, leaving Aries with only 200 Star points remaining.
Ting~
[YOU HAVE BOUGHT THE HOMING SHIVA!]
[Homing Shiva
Grade: 5-8 (S)
Type: Shield (Main Weapon)
Durability: 200/200
Elemental Affinity: Ice
A circular shield that can be thrown over long distances and will track any target it locks onto (can hit multiple targets simultaneously). It has reflective properties that deal 10% of the damage back to the opponent.
Parry (Passive): If you completely block an attack, repel the damage back by 200%.
Stun (Passive): If the shield successfully hits the enemy's weak point while using [Parry], the target will be immobilized for 5 seconds and weakened by 40%.
Shiva's Guard (Active): Absorbs the impact from any type of damage. When the absorbed impact reaches 100%, release it to generate a wave that deals significant damage in a straight line and inflicts a slow effect on targets in the area. If the durability decreases by 1, the damage absorption instantly fills up by 100%.]
"Wow, the effects are incredible!"
[Sol: Yeah, they're powerful against Grade 5 and below life forms. Against higher-level opponents, its effectiveness will diminish. However, it should still be quite effective against these monsters if you end up fighting one.]
"It says I can only use it if I'm at least Grade 8. Can I use it?"
[Sol: You can't...]
"Aw..."
[Sol: But now that your physical structure has undergone significant improvements, the Martial Rune should have evolved you into a Grade-8 life form.]
Upon hearing Sol's explanation, Aries eagerly equipped the circular blue shield. It locked perfectly onto his right arm, fitting snugly with its own arm brace that allowed the shield to attach and detach with a mere thought.
Ting~
[YOU HAVE EQUIPPED SHIVA'S GUARD!
Warning: This is a cursed main weapon. Once equipped, it cannot be removed unless your lifeform grade increases beyond the curse's threshold or the durability drops to zero.
You can only wield one cursed weapon at a time.
You are unable to use any other main weapon.]
"What the hell! You bastard!"
[Sol: HAHAHAHAHAHA! I forgot to mention that it's a cursed weapon XD.]
Aries cursed at Sol, who continued to spam laughing emojis, feeling frustrated that he couldn't use any other weapon and helpless in the face of danger. Suddenly, the sound of Aries screaming caught the attention of a flock of bird-type monsters. These creatures, known as tier-2 Scavengers, resembled vultures but were as large as cars with a wingspan of 20 feet. Their sharp tendons were as long as swords and as deadly as obsidian.
"Oh shit! It's a flock of tier-2 Scavengers!"
[Sol: Quickly! Throw your shield at them!]
Aries wasted no time and hurled his shield towards the approaching creatures. In a stroke of luck, the shield struck their weak limbs, causing the Scavengers to lose their balance and crash onto the Terradon's shell. Aries swiftly retrieved his shield and approached the immobilized Scavengers, but before he could reach them, the birds opened their beaks, unleashing sharp wind blades aimed at Aries.
"Shit!"
[Sol: Block it!]
Aries used his shield to guard himself, and the wind blades striking the shield rebounded back at the Scavengers in a more powerful wave, leaving wounds on their thick feathers and hide.
[Damage absorbed! Shiva's Guard (10%)]
[Synchronization rate increased by 0.8%]
.
.
.
.
"Crap!"
The relentless barrage of wind blades continued to pummel Aries. Though his shield absorbed most of the damage, some of the blades managed to cut through his body, leaving lacerations and cuts. While not life-threatening, the force behind the wind blades caused Aries to stumble several meters away. He quickly regained his footing and prepared to defend against the ongoing onslaught.
Ting~
[Shiva's Guard is now full!]
"[Shiva's Guard]"
Understanding the activation of the skill, Aries witnessed his shield glowing in a bright blue shine. It expanded, transforming into a massive wave that obliterated all incoming wind blades, while the Scavengers were swept away by the force, causing two of them to die instantly and the remaining two to slow down significantly, nearing death.
"..!" Aries was taken aback by the incredible power of the skill but quickly regained his composure. He charged toward the weakened Scavengers, but not before one of them launched a final desperate wind blade. Aries instinctively blocked the attack with his shield.
Pang!
[Parry has been activated!]
The wind blade was instantly repelled, striking the Scavengers' throats and opening deep gashes that nearly killed them.
[Stun has been activated!]
With the targets now immobilized, Aries threw his shield at one of the Scavengers, completely severing its long neck. The shield curved back towards Aries, slicing through the other Scavenger's neck before returning to his arm.
[Sol: Nice finishing move. I'll rate it a 6/10.]
"Nah, to think I was able to defeat not just one, but four tier-2 A-rank Scavenger birds because of their size! That's the coolest thing I've ever done. It deserves a 10/10 in my record," Aries replied with a wide smile on his face, still in disbelief about what he had accomplished. He acknowledged that none of this would have been possible without the help of Sol and the Star Stream.