Let us begin with the rankings—both for humans and monsters.
For humans, their powers are not overly supernatural. Everything depends on their classification rank. With each rank, a person gains between one and three new abilities. There's a widely accepted theory that your number of abilities increases according to your rank—for example, someone in the First Rank typically has one ability, while someone in the Second Rank may have two, and so on. The number of abilities tends to double as you ascend through the ranks.
Take Commander Flora, for example—she is a Rank Four, which means she possesses incredibly advanced potential. She has sixteen different abilities, a number that exceeds the entire recorded history of our city. Additionally, your abilities evolve as your rank increases. For instance, if at a lower rank you could create a simple wall of earth, then as a Master, you could reshape entire landscapes and create vastly more complex constructs.
As for monsters, we call them the Unbound, for they defy natural instinct. Their bodies surpass those of ordinary creatures, and those in the First Level possess a set of powers—usually no more than five per group. Monsters are further divided into categories, ranked from highest to lowest. You'll learn more about these classifications later.
The Second Rank for humans is known as the Masters—because at that level, you rise above normal people and gain unnatural strength. You essentially become a walking catastrophe. It is a defining turning point on the path of ascension. Those who reach this level regenerate quickly, have heightened resistance to disease and poison, and their wounds heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. As mentioned before, your previous abilities develop further, and you acquire new ones as well.
The monsters of this level are called the Cursed, and the name is well-earned. Their forms are grotesque, and while they may be weaker than the Masters, their abilities are still terrifying. Their number and power depend on their specific classification. Do not look at them—some among them can sense your gaze. If you intend to kill one, you'll need at least ten Bound warriors or one Master.
The third category is what we call Regional Beasts. They are rare and live around the outskirts of the city. They rarely move, but their strength vastly exceeds that of both the Cursed and the Masters. We know they are bound to their territory—should they leave it, their strength wanes, their rank drops, and even their souls may suffer. If you're not a Master, do not look at them. Just witnessing them could harm your soul and your mind.
That is all we currently know about the monsters.
As for humans, they are known at this stage as the Fused or the Balanced. They exist in a state between full transcendence and human limitation. Those who reach this stage merge with or receive recognition from their elemental power—be it a natural element or an innate ability—and can control it with far greater mastery and wisdom.
If a Fused individual is aligned with a natural element, like darkness or ice, they receive amplified regeneration from the world's core essence—as though the world itself favors them and desires their strength to grow. Over time, they may transform into what is known as a Regional Creature—not a foul beast like the monsters, but a noble entity. One that does not weaken outside its land, nor does its soul suffer when it wanders.
However, with time, the Fused may feel their humanity slipping away. Without a strong will, they might begin to believe that their new form is their true self, and forget the path back to their human appearance—and their humanity.
The Fused can shatter mountains and redirect rivers. Their power is beyond comprehension for those of us who remain Bound.
That is everything our city has learned after two hundred years of struggle.
And with that, Master Ozni sighed deeply—his heart weighed with sorrow.