The air in the room grew thick with tension, the students' eyes wide as they processed the enormity of what they were hearing. The future felt more uncertain than ever.
A boy in the back raised his hand, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "How strong were the beasts?"
Mr. John's lips curled into a knowing smile. "I'm sure the students from the west already know how strong the beasts are."
William's heart skipped a beat. I definitely know, he thought, memories of the tunnel flooding back. The weakest beast had wiped out dozens of students in mere seconds. They hadn't stood a chance.
Mr. John picked up a marker and turned to the board, his movements deliberate. "The strength of the beasts, just like humans, is categorized into eight tiers," he explained, as he began writing on the board.
Mr. John continued, writing the tiers as he spoke:
Tier 1: Newborn
Tier 2: Ferus
Tier 3: Warrior
Tier 4: Master
