After a few minutes of silence, Jhon looked at us and spoke. "You can sit."
The remaining 41 people all sat down on the floor, eyes fixed on him.
"Today, we're going to discuss something you all need to remember. Talent."
He paused for a moment, as if letting the word sink in. "You've all heard of it, of course."
Jhon continued, his voice steady. "If you take 100 people, 99 of them will have no talent. The remaining one will have low-level talent. Talent is everything in this world. It surpasses resources, techniques, martial arts, and even money. Everything else falls below it."
He let the weight of his words hang in the air before he spoke again.
"A person with no talent will only ever reach the First Order. They will spend 9 years mastering their first ability, which will be ranked F. After that, their ability will evolve to rank E. Though they have no innate talent, they can still grow their one and only ability."
"By the time they're between 19 and 40 years old, they will have fully mastered their E rank ability. After that, it will evolve again to D rank, but that's the limit for most."
Jhon's gaze swept across the room, making sure everyone was paying attention.
"So, a person with no talent will have a D rank ability after the age of 40," Jhon said. "And to fully master that D rank ability, they'll have to spend another 60 years."
The room fell silent. One of the children exclaimed, "Sixty years? That's absurd!"
Jhon nodded calmly. "Yes, you heard me right. Sixty years, if they wish to fully master their D rank ability."
The shock lingered, but Jhon continued without missing a beat. "The maximum lifespan of a First Order being is 110 years. So, in theory, they could have a C rank ability in their final years."
I was momentarily stunned. Jhon glanced at me, as if he sensed my confusion. "Yes, even First Order beings can have a C rank ability," he said, then turned his gaze back to the rest of the children.
But I couldn't shake off the shock. It wasn't the C rank ability that had me stunned—it was the lifespan of 110 years. On Earth, the average life expectancy was only 75 to 85 years, and even then, that's something only the wealthiest could hope for, those who earned enough to live in the most advanced, richest countries.
"Now, let's talk about low-level talent," Jhon continued. "As I said earlier, out of every 100 people, only one person has low-level talent."
He let the words sink in before continuing. "A low-level talent will master their first ability by the age of 13. After that, they will evolve into a 2nd Order being, and their lifespan will increase to 125 years."
There was a pause as the children absorbed the information.
"When they evolve to 2nd Order," Jhon explained, "their first ability will evolve to the next rank, which is E. The twist, however, is that this ability will already have 25% mastery or in ascendant stage. But their new ability, the one they acquire upon evolving, starts from scratch."
"So, for a 2nd Order being, it will take approximately 7 years to fully master their first ability, and 9 years to master their new E rank ability," he continued. "In total, 16 years to master both abilities."
Jhon paused for effect. "To sum it up, a low-level talent will reach 2nd Order at age 13, take 16 years to master both abilities, and become a 3rd Order being by the age of 29."
The children were silent, thinking about the implications. Jhon went on, "The maximum a low-level talent can reach is 3rd Order, and the lifespan of a 3rd Order being is 150 years."
A few children spoke up. "Elder, how long will it take for a 3rd Order being to master all three of their abilities?"
Jhon nodded, ready to explain. "It takes 20 years to master the first ability, another 20 years for the second, and for the third, the new ability, it takes about 27 years. So, in total, it would take 67 years to master all three abilities."
One child looked worried. "67 years? That's... huge!"
Jhon smiled slightly not commenting on that huge number.
Another child perked up. "So, in theory, a low-level talent could master all their abilities by the age of 96...
There was a murmur of understanding and awe from the children.
I raised my hand.
Jhon looked at me, nodding. "Yes, what's your question?"
"What's the difference between a non-talented person and a talented person?" I began. "Even though one of them stuck at the 1st Order, their one and only ability evolves, so what would happen if a 1st Order being and a 2nd Order being fought, each using only one ability? Who would win? If the 2nd Order wins, why?"
"Good question," he said. "Even though they are only using one ability, which is the same rank, there are still obvious differences between a 1st Order and a 2nd Order being. Let me explain further."
He raised a finger to emphasize his points. "First: Mana Capacity. A 2nd Order being has a larger mana pool compared to a 1st Order. This means they can use their ability many more times before running out of mana. In a prolonged fight, the 1st Order being would eventually tire out and be forced to stop using their ability, while the 2nd Order being could keep going for longer."
"Second: Recovery Rate. A 2nd Order being's recovery rate is much faster than that of a 1st Order. Their stamina and mana regenerate at nearly twice the speed. This gives them an edge in combat, as they can recover from using their abilities more quickly, while a 1st Order being would have to wait longer before being able to use their ability again."
"Thirdly," he continued, "the most important difference is Evolution. The evolution of a being changes everything about them—strength, agility, reflexes, and even memory. When a being evolves to the 2nd Order, it's not just their ability that improves, but their entire body and mind.
At the 2nd Order, a being's physical strength increases, allowing them to wield their ability with greater force and precision. Their agility improves, allowing them to move faster, dodge attacks more effectively, and react in combat with lightning speed. Their reflexes sharpen, making it easier for them to anticipate and counter moves. Even their memory improves, which means they can adapt more quickly to new situations, remember key details about opponents, and strategize better."
Jhon looked around, making sure everyone understood the magnitude of what he was saying. "So, when a 2nd Order being faces a 1st Order being, the difference in evolution is a game-changer. Their bodies and minds have evolved to a level that gives them superior physical and mental capabilities. Even if their abilities are the same rank, their overall performance will be far better."
"That's why evolution isn't just about the ability—it's about the being themselves. A 1st Order being will never have the same physical or mental capabilities as a 2nd Order being. Even with the same E-rank ability, the evolution of a 2nd Order being makes them far more dangerous in combat."