Dominik woke up late, the drugs he had taken the previous day having caused him to oversleep. The sun was already high in the sky, and he cursed himself for missing the morning training. Despite the lingering pain, he hurried to dress. By the time he arrived at the training grounds, Master Rika was already there, waiting, his face a mask of fury.
"You're late," Rika said, his voice cold and unyielding. Without another word, he threw a mask at Dominik. "Put this on."
Dominik hesitated, but the stern look in Rika's eyes left no room for argument. He strapped the mask on, its weight pressing uncomfortably against his face.
"Follow me," Rika commanded.
They walked in silence to the outer grounds of Stonehenge, where the landscape turned to rocky and sandy plains. Dominik's heart sank as he saw the heavy rocks waiting for him.
"You will run," Rika said, attaching the rocks to Dominik's feet. "Barefoot. Until I say stop."
Dominik started to protest, but a sharp look from Rika silenced him. He began to run, each step sending jolts of pain through his feet as the rough ground tore at his skin. The mask made breathing difficult, and the weight of the rocks dragged at him mercilessly. An hour later, he collapsed, his feet bloodied and his body trembling with exhaustion.
Rika stood over him, his expression impassive. "You will do this until you can run for five hours at top speed. Do you understand?"
Dominik nodded weakly, struggling to comprehend the purpose of such torture. "What is the point of this?" he gasped. "Aren't you supposed to be teaching me how to pass the labyrinth?"
Rika laughed, a harsh, mocking sound. "Did you think the labyrinth was just some sort of game? Do you think it's hide and seek? Generational geniuses have entered the labyrinth and died. If you find this training excruciating, then the labyrinth will be hell itself."
Without another word, Rika lifted Dominik and hauled him back to the Laika for continued training. The rest of the session passed in a blur of pain and exhaustion.
After training, Aqua approached, dressed in leather pants, a black fitted short tunic with body armor placed over it. Her demeanor was softer than before. "I apologize if I was rude yesterday. I should not have been condescending and dismissed you like that," she said.
Dominik shook his head, not expecting the apology at all because he didn't take offense to what she said; it was true at the end of the day. "It's all good."
She offered him a small smile. "I see you struggling with the training, but we all did when we started. If you need help with anything, just let me know. After all, we're going to be a team."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it," he said.
She took a slight pause before exclaiming, "If I'm being completely honest, I really wonder what is special about you. My mother speaks so highly of you. Besides, why is the grandson of the great Master Yammant a Class 5?"
Dominik opened his mouth to ask more, desperate to know what she meant.
Before he could, Aqua was summoned by her master. Dominik watched her leave, a thousand questions swirling in his mind. Who was his grandfather? He resolved to find time to speak to Aqua again, as she seemed to know something he didn't.
Back in his room, Dominik tended to his wounds, wincing as he cleaned and dressed them. Once he was done, he headed to the dining hall for lunch. The meal was a blur of flavors and textures, but his mind was elsewhere, fixated on the mysteries surrounding his family. The whole thing was driving him mad. He felt like he was being cruelly awakened, learning that all the things he'd known about himself might've been lies.
After lunch, Dominik made his way to the library, determined to learn more about the higher classes. As he entered, he couldn't help but notice the ancient, paper-bound books lining the shelves, a stark contrast to the floating hologram tomes of the Andhuim central library. The musty scent of old paper filled the air, and Dominik found it oddly comforting.
He began his search for a book on the taxonomy of humans. After several minutes, he found a thick volume titled "The Classification of Human Subspecies."
The book was dense and filled with detailed descriptions of the different classes.
### Taxonomy of Humans in the Post-Apocalyptic Era
#### 1. Introduction
Post-apocalypse, humans have evolved into distinct subspecies, classified based on their genetic and physiological adaptations. These adaptations have led to the emergence of two broad divisions: the Saiyans and the Elementals.
#### 2. Saiyans
**Definition:** The Saiyans are humans whose genetic structure closely resembles that of pre-apocalypse humans.
**Characteristics:**
- **Genetic Similarity:** The Saiyans retain the most genetic similarities with pre-apocalypse humans, maintaining baseline human traits with some enhancements.
- **Super Speed and Strength:** Saiyans exhibit superhuman speed and strength, a result of minor genetic mutations that have enhanced their muscular and skeletal structures.
**Government Classification:**
- **Class 4 and Class 5:** The government classifies Saiyans into two categories based on their abilities and societal roles. Class 4 Saiyans possess higher degrees of superhuman traits, while Class 5 Saiyans are more limited in their enhancements.
#### 3. Elementals
**Definition:** The Elementals represent a more evolutionarily advanced subspecies of humans with unique abilities to control natural elements. They were classified by the government as class 1, 2 and 3.
**Family and Class Structure:**
Elementals are divided into three primary families, each further subdivided into 10 classes.
**3.1. Sub Elementals**
- **Classification:**
- **Basic Stage:** Classes 1-4
- **Intermediate Stage:** Classes 5-6
- **Advanced Stage:** Classes 7-10
- **Abilities:**
- **Elemental Control:** Sub Elementals can control one or more of the four basic elements: fire, water, wind, and earth.
- **Variability:** Some Sub Elementals may only control a single element, while others can manipulate multiple elements.
**3.2. Elementals**
- **Evolution:** Sub Elementals evolve into Elementals when the Core Lobe of their brain is fully formed.
- **Abilities:**
- **Mastery and Manipulation:** At this stage, Elementals gain mastery over their elements, enabling advanced manipulation. For instance, a water elemental can transform water into ice or snow.
**3.3. Monarchs**
- **Classification:** Monarchs represent the pinnacle of elemental evolution, but detailed information about this stage is scarce.
- **Rarity:** Achieving the Monarch stage is exceedingly rare and requires significant expansion of the Core Lobe.
#### 4. The Core Lobe
**Definition:** The Core Lobe is a unique brain structure found in Elementals, responsible for their elemental abilities.
**4.1. Genetic Transmission:**
- **Hereditary:** Children of Elementals are naturally born with a Core Lobe, inheriting the potential to control elements.
**4.2. Development and Training:**
- **Expansion:** Continuous practice and honing of elemental skills lead to the expansion of the Core Lobe, allowing Elementals to progress through stages. However, more often than not, elementals employ the use of genetic improvers to advance in stages.
- **Stages:** Progression from one stage to another within the Sub Elementals and Elementals involves increasing control and precision over elemental manipulation.
**4.3. Vulnerability:**
- **Damage:** Damage to the Core Lobe results in the loss of elemental abilities, highlighting its critical role in an Elemental's powers.
Hours passed, and the library grew dim as the sun set. Dominik closed the book, his mind buzzing with new information. Everything he'd known about the world had been turned upside down in only a day since he'd arrived in Turin. The strong get stronger while the weak stay weak.
As he left the library, he vowed to speak to Aqua again and to delve deeper into the secrets that everyone around him seemed so determined to keep hidden.