Now Seth has three problems he has to watch out for, which are the rival dungeon, the priesthood guilt,d, and the mercenary guild.
Back to the world progression...
In total summary of what Malia had said the key points he picked were;
Each rank reflects a significant leap in power, often requiring a combination of natural ability, training, and meeting specific conditions.
Advancing from one rank to the next involves overcoming trials, attaining rare resources, or fulfilling unique requirements tied to an individual's class or skill set.
As for their class, it turns out people adopt specific classes, such as Warrior, Mage, Beastmaster, or Alchemist, which define their abilities and influence their advancement paths.
Classes are divided into Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic, reflecting their potential and complexity.
Some advanced classes, like Beastmasters or Summoners, may face unique, complicated challenges to ascend ranks (e.g., assimilating a bloodline).
As for skillets, it refers to the unique abilities, talents, and proficiencies that define an individual's combat style, support role, or utility in the world.
Unlike classes, which are broad categories, skill sets are more specific and adaptable, often evolving with the user as they rank up.
To put it simply...
A skill set is a person's unique arsenal of abilities, shaped by their class, experiences, and creativity.
While classes provide a broad framework, skill sets are where individuality shines ranging from swordsmanship and elemental magic to stealth and crafting.
They grow and evolve as the individual ranks up, turning basic talents into refined powers.
For example, a mage's simple fire spell might become a blazing inferno capable of shaping battlefields.
What makes skill sets fascinating is their adaptability.
Two warriors might both wield swords, but one might master devastating, precision strikes, while the other develops techniques that cleave through entire armies.
As ranks progress, skills transform, and some unlock new dimensions of power or even break the limits of reality at the highest levels.
In this world, skill sets aren't just tools, they're reflections of the person wielding them.
As for the ranks and how they're advanced, she did say something around.
F to D Ranks focuses on developing physical abilities, learning skills, and acquiring combat experience.
C to A Ranks Demands mastery of one's abilities, gathering rare resources, and passing life-threatening trials.
S Ranks, which happen to be the most complicated and near impossible, requires Breaking the limits of humanity, requiring extraordinary feats like merging with divine blessings or transcending mortal constraints or whatever that meant.
However, that also explained how impossible it was for Alex's situation to be because when it came to Mana, it is Central to most classes, as mana serves as the lifeblood of magic, skills, and many abilities.
Adapting to mana the way Alex does requires Higher ranks, which also require individuals to adapt to immense amounts of mana and magical environments, forcing them to reshape their bodies and minds, which Alex hadn't achieved.
That was only the subtle part; the more life-threatening part was Advancing ranks, which involved completing trials, such as duels, exploration of forbidden zones, or passing divine or dungeon-based challenges, which, again, Seth didn't fully understand.
As in, why is improving in strength tied so much to external factors?
The answer Malia gave him, though, was that until he experienced it, he'd be ignorant of it.
Seth doubted, though, that he could probably achieve more with the dungeon system; that was his best.
Those achievements not only solidify one's rank but also grant recognition within guilds, kingdoms, or divine hierarchies, which he didn't again care much about.
He also remembered where she hinted at the fact that some individuals were rare exceptions.
Her thoughts exactly kept revolving around her brother and potential... situations, both favorable and dangerous.
Some individuals bypass traditional advancement paths through divine intervention or exposure to unique anomalies, such as dungeon cores or rare artifacts.
With how frequent divine intervention was mentioned, Seth wouldn't be surprised if the kingdoms around him were also theocratic.
Also with great power comes great responsibility and good drawbacks
There were social implications like hierarchy, guilds, and politics.
As much as they solved a lot, there was always a flaw.
Hierarchy Ranks determine social status, with higher-ranked individuals holding greater authority in guilds, armies, and kingdoms.
Guilds like the Mercenary and adventurer guilds often enforce rank-specific missions, ensuring individuals operate within their capabilities.
Kingdoms and Politics allow Monarchs and nobles to prioritize high-ranking individuals for protection, alliances, and military campaigns.
The drawbacks though were
The power ranking system stratifies society, creating rigid hierarchies where higher-ranked individuals enjoy privileges while lower ranks face marginalization.
This leads to exploitation, as weaker individuals often become resources for the powerful, and access to advancement tools like rare items or dungeons is monopolized by elites.
The competition for advancement fosters betrayals, infighting, and societal tensions, while those unable to progress stagnate, deepening inequality.
Overreliance on class and skill sets reduces people to their utility, ignoring qualities like wisdom or leadership.
In the pursuit of power, some sacrifice morality or humanity, especially at higher ranks like S-rank, leading to corruption or monstrous transformations.
Gods play a significant role in granting blessings to select individuals, which creates resentment among those left out.
Their interference often sparks conflicts, with chosen champions dominating guilds or kingdoms.
Guilds, in turn, manipulate the system through bribes, favoritism, and underhanded tactics, fostering corruption and power struggles.
This system rewards ambition but devalues cooperation and compassion, pushing society toward a might-makes-right mentality.
The result is a world fraught with inequality, rebellion, and moral decline, where the pursuit of strength often comes at great social and ethical costs.
Though some of these drawbacks were obvious and Malia and her family seemed to have experienced a lot in short... It couldn't be helped.
With more information came answers and with more answers came questions needing more answers.
In this now dimly lit room laid Alex and Malia, they seem to be fast asleep and in the presence of a stranger at that matter.
It felt comfortable but it was time for him to go take care of other things.