Chereads / I Can't Level Up, So I'll Let My Familiars Do It Instead! / Chapter 19 - Chapter 16: Boundaries and Beyond

Chapter 19 - Chapter 16: Boundaries and Beyond

As they finished eating, the awkward atmosphere lingered, but it had loosened enough for them to converse more easily... that is, until Kael spoke up.

"So, umm... How'd you get hurt?" Kael asked with genuine curiosity.

Alden's gaze turned sharp, almost cutting through the air. Kael immediately regretted the question.

"I shouldn't have asked... I'm sorry,"

Kael muttered quickly, trying to backtrack.

Alden's eyes softened, and he sighed apologetically.

"It's better if you don't know. It'll only bring you more harm if you do."

Kael's curiosity only grew,

'What the heck did this guy get himself into?'

But sensing the weight behind Alden's words, he decided not to push further.

"What are your plans now?"

Kael asked, hoping to steer the conversation in a safer direction.

Alden was quiet for a moment before he replied, though his words were vague.

"Honestly... I don't know. I'm planning to recuperate first before venturing to Outer Haven.

I'll figure things out once I arrive there."

Kael's face twisted in confusion.

"Outer Haven? Where's that?"

Alden replied, a bit surprised that Kael didn't know.

"It's the district next to this one. About 20 kilometers west from here,"

Kael turned to Remy.

"Have you been there before?"

Remy, sitting cautiously by Kael's side, shook his head, signaling that he had never ventured that far.

A strange thought crossed Kael's mind, leading to his next question.

"What district are we in now?"

Alden blinked, clearly bewildered.

"You seriously don't know?"

Kael shook his head, wearing the same look of curiosity he had.

The realization hit Alden like a ton of bricks.

Of course. Kael had never received any formal education. Back at the orphanage, only the select few were given even basic knowledge, and Alden, adopted by a prestigious family, had the privilege of learning much more.

"We're in the Iron District," Alden explained, his voice steadying.

"It's ruled by the Advanced Lord Rank, Maxwell… Lionheart."

"Wait... there's a rank higher than Grandmaster?"

At this point, Alden felt a flicker of irritation, but he held it back. After all, Kael had saved his life—answering a few questions was the least he could do.

"What do you know?" Alden asked, almost cautiously.

"I know the basic history... about the apocalypse and all that... also about the first five ranks. That's basically it."

Alden couldn't help but feel a pang of pity after hearing how little Kael knew. Kael, however, caught the look in Alden's eyes and bristled slightly.

'Why is this guy pitying me all of the sudden? That kinda pisses me off... Sorry I don't know as much as you, Mr. Know-It-All,'

Kael grumbled in his mind.

Alden sighed. "Alright, let me explain from the start."

He adjusted his position and began to map out the world for Kael, painting a picture with his words.

"Our planet is divided into three major continents. The first is Pangaea, where most of the human population settled after the apocalypse. It's where our strongest powers are concentrated. It is also where we are right now."

"The second is the Azura Continent. That place is basically a warzone, with humans and monsters constantly battling for control, aiming to expand their territories."

"Lastly, there's the Noxian Continent—that land is now ruled by monsters. It was once a thriving landmass, but after the apocalypse, it became a haven for creatures that even emperor-ranked warriors fear to face."

Kael listened intently as Alden continued.

"Pangaea itself is split into three cities—Valeria, Argenis, and Drakenholm. Each city is ruled by an Emperor Rank. These cities act like fortresses, protecting what's left of humanity. Surrounding them are various districts, ruled by Lords of varying ranks—like this one, the Iron District, which is under Drakenholm city. The stronger the ruler, the safer the people."

Alden paused to let Kael absorb the information, then moved on to the different ranks.

"You already know the first five ranks—Warrior, Elite, Epic, Master, and Grandmaster," Alden began.

"But beyond that are the true powers. After Grandmaster comes Lord Rank, then King Rank, followed by Emperor Rank, and finally... Saint Rank. Saints are the pinnacle of human strength, the closest thing we have to gods."

Kael's eyes widened as Alden explained further.

"The higher your rank, the more you can unlock the potential of your talent. For example, someone with a fire talent at Warrior Rank might only be able to spark a small flame. But as they progress to higher ranks, that talent can grow to the point where they could create firestorms or even incinerate entire landscapes."

Kael's mind raced with the possibilities.

'So... that's how strong people can get?'

"However," Alden continued,

"Ranking up is harder than it sounds. Each person has a limit, and that limit depends on the quality of their origin roots. You can only absorb so much power before you hit a wall. Some people can't get past Warrior Rank, no matter how hard they try."

"Then how do you know what your limit is?" Kael asked, a slight hint of concern in his voice.

Alden shrugged.

"You won't know until you try. Some hit their limit early, while others find ways to break through it. But once you hit your ceiling... that's it. Most people never even reach the Grandmaster Rank."

As Alden's words sank in, Kael felt a mixture of awe and unease. He had heard rumors of such strength, but this was the first time someone had explained it so clearly. The idea of hitting a limit was unsettling, especially for someone like Kael, whose circumstances were already difficult.

"So that's how it works..." Kael murmured, staring into the distance.

But as he processed this new knowledge, one burning question remained.

'What about Remy?'

For now, however, Kael stayed quiet, letting the weight of everything he had just learned settle in.