Time Period:
The story takes place in an alternate reality where magic was discovered in like the first century. And with over two millenniums of research, wars, and discovery, the characters now live in the 2000's. If I had to choose a year, maybe 2024. This year.
Threat levels of Monsters: (from weakest to strongest)
1. Cub (Threat to a group of people)
2. Wolf (Threat to a building)
3. Tiger (Threat to multiple buildings)
4. Gorgon (Threat to a city)
5. Yokai (Threat to Multiple cities)
6. Dragon (Threat to a country)
7. Oni (Threat to Multiple countries)
8. Iridescent (Threat to a Continent)
9. Ascended (World-wide threat)
10. ??? (Supernova level threat)
Levels of Magic mastery:
1. (Newcomer level) You can't even control the raw magic inside you. Sometimes, you can't even channel it yet. Usually spans from the birth to two years old
2. (Beginner level) You get a natural affinity and harmony to raw magic. You can barely do anything with it though, other than magic blasts or reinforcement. This is the weakest level of magic mastery. People who don't pursue in becoming a warrior, mage, or martial artist, aiming for a more peaceful and mediocre life stay at this level.
3. (Upper-beginner level) You have a better understanding of magic. And can actively use it efficiently in your everyday life. magic blasts and reinforcement are stronger, and you can even do more basic things like forming barriers, strengthening your body, etc. This is the beginner level of people who are learning how to become a mage, warrior, or any profession that heavily involves magic. As they learn how to control it.
4. (Lower-intermediate level) You have improved and gained a better knowledge of yourself and the magic around you. You now have a higher amount of magic reserves, and you can now imbue things with your raw magic. Prestigious schools like Cainlocke often requires a minimum magic mastery level of 4 to be considered for acceptance.
5. (Intermediate level) Your understanding of raw magic is high. You are eligible to start learning a specialized magic path that suits to your liking or compliments your blessing (If you have it. it's pretty rare.) Taking the first baby steps of becoming a renowned magic user, you begin to delve into the thousands of Magic path options. This is the average level of students in prestigious schools.
6. (Upper intermediate level) This is the average level of S-rank students in Cainlocke. They learn more of their magic path and are able to perform some basic spells or rituals with their magic path. You are now able to dominate cub, and wolf level monsters. Then hold up your own against tiger level monsters.
7. (Lower expert level) Your understanding of your magic path goes farther. You are able to utilise your magic path well, and defeat tiger level monsters solo. With a combined team of your level, you can beat a gorgon. The average graduates of Cainlock reach this level.
8. (Expert level) You have accessed the first milestone in magic. First release. You have opened your heart and soul more for magic. Allowing you to gain a large boost in every aspect of your body. Magic, strength, everything. You can hold your own against A gorgon and possibly even a Yokai. Only a few hundred had achieved this level when they graduated from Cainlocke.
9. (Upper Expert level) Your ability to utilize first release has improved drastically. Able to use it for a longer time and more often in a day. Your magic reserves had increased drastically as well. You can hold your ground against a Yokai easily. And together, a Dragon level threat. The average Heiulbearer and even I.T.A peak at this level.
There is a LARGE gap in between level 9 and 10.
10. (Master) You are unstoppable. You are far beyond the average person in magic. And even outclass some of the experts. Your understanding of your magic path and yourself had reached levels even you can't comprehend. Dragon level threats are nothing to you. Oni level monsters are a fun challenge to you. Samuel and Gary, and many of the eldest soldiers of Hanlerk reach this level.
11. (Grandmaster) You have reached the second release. Far surpassing your first release. Only a few thousand in the whole history of intelligent life on earth ever achieved this level. And they had cemented themselves in history. A notable character in this level would be Donovan. And Oni-level monsters can be defeated solo. Iridescent level monsters are a good challenge for you.
12. (Saint) You are the pinnacle of magic mastery. You are not normal. It's as if you were blessed by god himself to harness such power and mastery. Normal people mistake you for a god. For the line between godhood and humanity is blurred by your mere power. Iridescent level monsters are a fun little distraction for you. And ascended level monsters is in your sights. Only a few dozen in all of history, from the time magic dawned on earth have achieved this level of mastery. Headmaster Avshino in his prime and Hanlerk himself is at this level.
13. (Transcendent) Are you really a human? or a god made flesh? The amount of people having reached this level of mastery could be counted with two hands. When they roamed the earth, the world bent their knees and bowed their heads toward them. Their mere presence or mention spreading generational-wide fear through the offsprings of their enemies, and monsters they had massacred with their own two hands. You are beyond ascended level monsters. And those who exceed their levels roam the universe. And you are their hunters.