---
Sarah stared at the ceiling of the inn, her body a tapestry of pain. Every ache was a reminder of the being who had effortlessly broken her.
[Query Detected. Compiling data on World Power Ranking System.]
A blue status window materialized in front of her, more complex than any she had seen before. A hierarchical list unfolded, and her breath hitched.
"To quantify strength, the civilizations of this world have established a system of ranks," the System stated, its voice clinical. "This is the hierarchy of power."
---
The Mortal Spectrum
· D-Rank: The foundation. Commoners, novice adventurers. The lowest tier of combat capability.
· C-Rank: Beginner adventurers. Skills are basic but developing.
· B-Rank: Intermediate. Competent and reliable, forming the backbone of any guild.
· A-Rank: Advanced. Recognized experts, capable of leading major missions.
· S-Rank: Elite. The peak of normal human potential, revered as heroes and masters.
· SS-Rank: Transcendent. So powerful they begin to defy standard human limits.
· SSS-Rank: Supreme. A living force of nature. Few in any generation reach this height.
The Legendary Echelon
· SL-Rank (Special Legendary): Unique cases, often granted for unparalleled talent or unique circumstances.
· SRL-Rank (Super Rare Legendary): Ten times the power of an SL-Rank. A name known across continents.
· UR-Rank (Ultra Rare): Power that can influence the fate of a kingdom.
· USR-Rank (Ultra Superior Legendary): A threat or protector on a national scale. Their movements can shift geopolitical landscapes.
The Pinnacle of Mortal Existence
· LR-Rank (Legendary): The absolute peak achievable through mortal training and effort.
· LR+ & LR++: Mythical tiers within the Legendary rank. Beings who have honed their power to a razor's edge beyond normal Legendaries.
The Transcendent Realms
· Beyonder-Rank: Existence beyond the mortal plane. They operate on a level that defies the world's laws, surpassing even many gods. Their power is conceptual, not merely physical.
· God-Rank: The divine stratum. Beings who embody domains and command cosmic power.
· Above God: Boundless. A theoretical rank for entities who are the laws of reality themselves. The Absolute.
---
The screen faded. Sarah sat in stunned silence, the names and tiers burning in her mind.
"W-what..." she whispered into the quiet room.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed, the wooden floor cool beneath her feet. That man in the dungeon... his casual power, the black flames, the effortless regeneration. It all made a terrifying new sense.
"That guy... he was a Beyonder," she murmured, the word feeling heavy and ancient on her tongue. A being that stood above gods. And she, a C-Rank adventurer, had challenged him.
A strange calm settled over her. There was no rage, no burning desire for revenge—he was so far beyond such mortal concepts. He had spared them not out of mercy, but perhaps out of sheer indifference.
But the humiliation, the helplessness... that remained. She would not avenge herself against him. She would avenge herself against the weakness he had exposed in her.
This wasn't the start of a revenge journey. It was the start of a revolution. Her own.
---
Screams shattered the morning calm. Sarah rushed to the window of her inn room, her body still aching, and looked down into chaos.
"AHHH!! RUN! RUN! THE EMPEROR OF SHADOW, ORION, IS H—"
The cry was cut short as a blade of solidified shadow erupted from the speaker's chest. Standing over the corpse was a towering, 6-foot-tall figure clad in armor that seemed to drink the light. This was Orion.
Without a second thought, Sarah leaped from the window, landing in a crouch in the town square.
[WARNING! WARNING! EVALUATING TARGET... COMPLETE.]
Status: Orion
Title:Shadow Emperor
Strength:LR+
Speed:UR+
Endurance:LR+
Intelligence:B
Potential:SS+
Level:1900
Rank:LR+
Ability:Shadow Necromancy
[ANALYSIS: Shadow Necromancy allows the user to reanimate corpses, turning them into loyal undead soldiers whose power reflects their strength in life.]
"Tch," Sarah spat, stepping between Orion and the fleeing townsfolk. "You won't be harming this town—"
Her words died in her throat. From the ranks of his shadowy demons, two figures dragged forward a broken body. Silvery hair was matted with blood. Half of her torso was cleanly severed. It was Sylvia.
"...what..." Sarah's voice was a ghost of a sound. All the color drained from her face, leaving her pale and frozen.
Orion didn't even glance at her. He began to walk past as if she were nothing more than a stray dog.
A primal scream tore from Sarah's lungs. "YOUUUU!!! PIECE OF SH!T!!" Her tears evaporated from the heat of her rage as she unleashed a torrent of flame magic at his back. "SYSTEM! ACTIVATE AUTO BATTLE MODE!"
[System: But Host's physical condition is critical—]
Her next thought was not a request, but a command that brooked no argument, cold and sharp as steel. "..It's an order."
[System: ...Acknowledged. Engaging Auto-Battle Mode.]
Her body moved with a familiar, alien grace. She lunged.
"Hmph. You're brave enough to fight an Emperor, girl," Orion remarked, almost bored, as he effortlessly deflected her blows.
The fight was a brutal, one-sided affair. The System, hampered by Sarah's recently injured and exhausted body, could only manage a desperate, three-minute defense. Every block sent shudders of agony through her frame.
"Is that all you got?" Orion smirked, his arrogance a tangible force.
[ANALYSIS: VICTORY IMPROBABLE. HOST BODY INTEGRITY AT 22%. INITIATING EMERGENCY RETREAT.]
The System pivoted, using a Swift Dash skill to disengage. It carried Sarah's body away at breakneck speed, leaving the burning town behind.
"Hm. A failure," Orion mused, not even bothering to give chase.
---
On a distant mountain peak, Sarah's consciousness returned. Below, Frenria Town was a pyre, the screams finally silenced. A profound loneliness and failure crushed her spirit. The System began to speak.
[System: Host, I—]
"Shut up!" she screamed, her voice raw, tears carving paths through the grime on her face.
[System: Revenge is a viable long-term directive. But it requires power.]
The word "revenge" was a spark on dry tinder. Her tears stopped. Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms. A new, cold fire ignited in her eyes.
[System: Alert. Fluctuation detected. Congratulations. Host's Potential has increased from S+ to SS.]
"What?" she whispered, the System's words cutting through her grief. "SS... potential? What does that mean?"
[System: It means your capacity for growth has expanded exponentially. Your ceiling for strength, speed, and skill mastery is now exceptional. You are no longer bound by your previous limits.]
The information settled over her, a grim comfort. "Wait... you said there were twelve emperors in this world. Orion is one of them?"
[System: Correct. Twelve Emperors rule the major nations. Orion, the Shadow Emperor, is one of the most ruthless.]
"That bastard..." she seethed, the image of Sylvia's broken body flashing in her mind. "I won't let him get away with this. I'll kill every last one of these 'evil' emperors."
[System: Warning. The Emperors are among the most powerful LR-Rank beings. They command armies and possess unique abilities. This path is tantamount to suicide.]
Sarah stood up, her silhouette outlined against the burning town below. Her eyes were dry now, burning with a cold, unforgiving light.
"I know," she replied, her voice terrifyingly calm. "But I won't back down. Whatever it takes."
---