The Woman's Return
Keon sat there, watching the undead serpent slowly regenerate, completely unconcerned about any remaining dangers. The sun was falling, casting long shadows across the ruins.
Then, a faint blue spark flickered nearby.
Before Keon could turn, the woman reappeared, just a few meters away.
She landed in a low stance, gun raised, scanning the area. Her breathing was controlled but sharp, like she had been running.
Her eyes darted around, searching for the Rank 5 Beast. No sign of it.
Her gaze snapped to Keon. Still alive. Sitting there like he was watching some kind of slow entertainment.
She narrowed her eyes. How the hell…?
"Where is it?" she demanded.
Keon, not bothering to look at her, lazily pointed at the open field. "Ran off."
The woman froze. "It ran?"
Keon finally glanced at her, tilting his head. "Yeah. Guess it didn't feel like fighting anymore."
She stared at him like he had just said the sky was green.
A Rank 5 Apex Beast… ran?
Before she could question him further, a faint crackling sound echoed behind Keon.
She instinctively raised her weapon—then froze.
Her sharp, battle-hardened instincts told her something was very wrong.
Her eyes locked onto the massive, bone-covered creature behind Keon.
Glowing blue embers pulsed in its wounds, slowly repairing the damage.
For the first time since she arrived, her composure broke.
"What…" she exhaled, her voice low. "The hell… is that?"
Keon followed her gaze. "Oh. That."
He gave the regenerating serpent a casual look before shrugging.
"Not sure yet. Thought I'd let it cook."
Keon leaned back on his hands, still watching the undead serpent patch itself up. His curiosity finally got the better of him.
"So…" he started, tilting his head toward the woman. "What exactly did you mean by Rank 5 Apex Beast?"
She blinked at him, caught off guard.
"You're serious?" she asked, lowering her gun slightly.
Keon just raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I know?"
The woman exhaled, pressing a hand to her temple. "Of course, you don't…" she muttered, mostly to herself.
She took a deep breath, still side-eyeing the massive undead creature behind him, then focused back on Keon.
"Beasts in this world are categorized into five Ranks, based on their strength, intelligence, and how much of a threat they pose. Rank 1 is the lowest, things that normal civilians can handle with enough firepower. Rank 5…" She hesitated for a second before continuing, "Rank 5s are monsters. The kind that require an entire elite squad—sometimes an entire battalion—to take down."
Keon hummed. "And you expected me to run from that?" He jerked a thumb toward where the wolf had fled.
She shot him an incredulous look. "Anyone with common sense would run."
Keon smirked. "Good thing I don't have common sense, then."
The woman narrowed her eyes at him, then glanced back at the regenerating serpent.
"...I'm starting to see that."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute… I feel like there should be more than five ranks."
The woman looked at him sharply. "Where the hell did you get that idea?"
Keon shrugged. "Gut feeling."
She hesitated for a moment, as if debating whether to tell him. Then she sighed.
"Fine. There are nine ranks. But most people never need to know beyond Rank 5. Anything past that is…" She trailed off, glancing at him.
Keon raised an eyebrow. "Is what?"
"…Not meant for normal people to fight. Rank 6 and above are classified threats. Government-level problems. They aren't just beasts, they're calamities."
Keon grinned. "So, you're saying there's something even worse out there?"
The woman stared at him. "You're way too excited about this."
Keon chuckled. "I just like knowing what I'm up against."
She sighed again, rubbing her forehead. "You're insane."
"Probably," Keon admitted. "Now, tell me—what's the strongest confirmed Rank?"
The woman hesitated, then answered, "Rank 9, Abyssal Apex."
Keon leaned forward, intrigued. "Abyssal Apex? Sounds dramatic. What kind of monster qualifies for that?"
She exhaled, as if recalling something unpleasant. "Monsters that shouldn't exist. Beasts that don't just threaten cities or nations—they can alter the entire balance of the world. Rank 9s are beyond comprehension, beyond strategy. You don't fight them. You survive, if you're lucky."
Keon smirked. "So, nobody has ever killed one?"
She shook her head. "No confirmed kills. Only one known case where a Rank 9 disappeared... and nobody knows if it was actually destroyed or just waiting to return."
Keon's grin widened. "Now that's interesting."
The woman frowned. "No, it's not. It's terrifying."
"Depends on perspective," Keon said, stretching his arms. "But if there's a Rank 9, that means there has to be a Rank 8. What's that one called?"
She crossed her arms. "Rank 8, Sovereign Apex. These are world-dominating threats. Some ancient empires were wiped out by a single Rank 8."
Keon whistled. "Alright, so I just fought a measly Rank 5. Not too bad."
She stared at him. "That Rank 5 almost tore you apart."
Keon shrugged. "Keyword almost."
She sighed again. "You're either the bravest person I've met… or the dumbest."
Keon grinned. "Probably both."
Keon leaned back, resting his arms behind his head. "So… was that your Espria? That disappearing act?"
The woman glanced at him, still cautious. "Yeah. Phase Step. Short-range teleportation, limited by line of sight."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "Teleportation? That's kinda broken."
She scoffed. "Not really. It doesn't work if I can't see where I'm going, and there's a cooldown. If I used it too many times in a row, I'd probably pass out."
Keon hummed in thought. "So, it's more like a tactical dodge than an escape."
"Exactly," she confirmed. "I use it to reposition in fights, not to run."
Keon smirked. "And yet, you ran."
Her expression darkened. "Because I know what happens when you don't run from a Rank 5."
Keon chuckled. "Fair enough." Then he glanced at her, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "So, what's the strongest Espria you've seen?"
The woman crossed her arms, watching Keon with a wary expression. "You're really not from around here, are you?"
Keon smirked. "I like to keep things interesting."
She sighed, then decided to humor him. "Alright, listen up. Espria is classified into nine tiers based on power and versatility. The higher the tier, the rarer and more dangerous the ability. Most people never get past Tier 3 or 4."
Keon leaned forward. "And the strongest?"
She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Tier 9 Espria… God-Slayers. The kind of abilities that could take down the strongest creatures or even rewrite the laws of reality."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "Sounds dramatic."
She shot him a look. "That's because it is. But let me break it down for you."
---
Espria Tier List
➤ Tier 1 – Basic Adaptation
Minor enhancements like increased stamina, sharper senses, or resistance to heat/cold.
Most civilians have this level.
Example: Keen Sight (Sharper vision), Ember Hands (Slightly warm hands, useful in winter).
➤ Tier 2 – Practical Abilities
Abilities that provide practical utility in daily life or low-level combat.
Example: Phase Step (Short-range teleportation), Ember Manipulation (Creating small fire sparks).
➤ Tier 3 – Combat-Ready
Abilities suited for battle, such as basic elemental control or physical enhancement.
Example: Stone Skin (Temporary rock-like defense), Rapid Strike (Faster attack speed).
➤ Tier 4 – Advanced Manipulation
Stronger elemental control or enhanced versions of lower-tier abilities.
Example: Flame Burst (Explosive fire attacks), Lightning Dash (Momentary speed boost).
➤ Tier 5 – Apex Combat
Abilities that can turn the tide of battle single-handedly.
Example: Blood Regeneration (Healing wounds rapidly), Phantom Clone (Creating temporary duplicates).
➤ Tier 6 – High Caliber
Powers that begin to bend reality in localized areas.
Example: Graviton Force (Manipulating gravity in a limited radius), Temporal Glitch (Briefly rewind actions).
➤ Tier 7 – Strategic Anomalies
These abilities defy conventional combat tactics, often requiring special countermeasures.
Example: Void Step (Phasing through solid objects), Nightmare Induction (Forcing enemies into hallucinations).
➤ Tier 8 – Cataclysmic Espria
Abilities that can level entire cities, shift landscapes, or affect entire battlefields.
Example: Storm Tyrant (Summon city-wide storms), Absolute Zero (Freeze everything in a kilometer radius).
➤ Tier 9 – God-Slayers
Abilities that break all known limits, capable of rewriting reality itself.
Example: Chrono Dominion (Full control over time), Abyss Creation (Summon an endless void of destruction).
---
Keon stared at her for a moment. "Huh. And you're telling me some people actually reach Tier 9?"
She nodded. "Few in history, but yeah. And if you ever meet one, do yourself a favor and run."
Keon smirked. "Noted." Then he leaned back, his mind already spinning with new possibilities.