ASCENSION STAGES, RANKS AND PATHS

[ This chapter serves as a summary of the knowledge about the Ascension Stages, Ranks, and Paths in the novel ]

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CAN SKIP THIS CHAPTER AS EVERYTHING WILL GRADUALLY BE REVEALED WITHIN THE NOVEL. HOWEVER, YOU CAN STILL CHOOSE TO ADVANCE IF YOU DON'T MIND SOME SPOILERS!!!

Ascension Stages

The first time a person awakens and feels the flow of mana, their mana reserves are tested with an instrument called the 'Ascendant's Cylinder', which tests how potent their mana reserves are and assigns it a mana numerical value, which determines what kinds of 'Paths' an ascendant can choose and what 'Ranks' they are in.

Warrior Rank - From 5 to 20 [Ascendants of this rank are unable to pick a lesser path]

Because of their poor magical reserves, they are only able to stimulate and train their bodies with the use of their magical energy. Although there're chances for them to increase their mana reserves as they grow stronger, but when compared to those with a higher mana numerical value, it is still a minuscule increase

And because of the hardship faced by those within the 'Warrior Rank', they ultimately created the 'Sacred Arts' as a way to utilise and maximize more of their magical energy and go toe to toe with those at the 'Hunter's Rank' or 'Mage Ranks'.

And also, those strong or talented enough could utilize an ''Aura' - [Which is a type of energy that is produced when every fibre of flesh and muscles becomes filled to the brim with magical energy], which amps up their strength also to a significant amount.

Paths -

Berserker Path - Path Perk -

They can manipulate their blood or the blood of their enemies however ever they wished to, without the use of 'Spells' or 'Sacred arts'.

But, the only thing they have to fear is the slow corruption of their minds, however, that can be avoided with the help of gruesome training and mind-strengthening techniques. As such, most 'Berserkers' are either very calm or very feral individuals.

Magical Swordman Path - Path Perk -

They can use and amplify their strength through the use of their swords. Although it's a very crude method, many with lesser magical reserves have chosen this path because they don't have to fear their mind being corrupted and losing their sanity in the process.

And when their understanding of the sword reaches its limit, they can develop a 'Sword Aura' - which is a lesser version of the main 'Aura', however, more refined and lethal.

And also when they reach the status of 'Sword God', they are a significantly high chance of forming a 'Sword Embryo' {Which is made from their 'Sword Aura' and is practically indestructible by normal means}.

Fighter Path - Path Perk -

They can strengthen their bodies to an unknown limit, even going as far as being able to stop a sword or an arrow with their bare skin. They also have higher chances of activating their 'Auras' because they are constantly training their bodies to the limit, as such, their every being is filled with mana.

However, because of this the amount of time they can use 'Aura' is limited because of the number of strains it causes on their bodies.

They are also able to fight Magical beasts with their bare hands, making the use of weapons non-essential. Many with lesser magical reserves have chosen this path because they don't have to fear their mind being corrupted and losing their sanity in the process.

And at a certain point, their bodies become nigh-indestructible, being able to stop any attacks at point blank with only their bare skin.

Hunter Rank - From 21 to 50 [Ascedants of this rank can pick a 'Path' in the 'Warrior Rank'. However, how far they can grow in it is limited]

The 'Hunter Rank' and 'Mage Rank' was created and gifted to mortals by 'Divine beings', also known as 'The High Gods' who were amazed and shaken by how they were able to create the 'Warrior Rank' and its 'Path' with no aforementioned knowledge about mana soon after they awakened and discovered the magical energy flowing through their bodies.

As such, every path is linked to god, receiving a small fraction of their divine abilities.

And also, because of this, only those with a higher mana numerical value can choose these paths. Which is the very reason why the 'Ascendant Cylinder' was invented, to know where each ascendant fell into.

They are also able to use sacred art to its fullest.

Assassin path - Path Perk -

Blessed by The God Of Darkness and The God Of Death, they can freely and instinctively move and teleport through shadows. And also whenever they are dealt a serious blow that is supposed to outright kill them, they are given one last chance at life in the world of the living for a limited amount of time.

Both abilities grow stronger the more they ascend, thereby increasing the range in which they can move freely through shadows and increasing the amount of time they can stay alive even if their heart or brain are crushed.

Even if their bodies are dissected, they still have a chance of being alive, however, with some depending restrictions. But there are no chances of utilizing such an ability unless their bodies are fully destroyed or disintegrated.

Ranger Path - Path Perk -

Blessed by the Goddess Of Hunt And Wilderness, and The God of Foresight, they can use all manners of weapons instinctively, however, a dedicated amount of training is needed in other to fully master them. They can also communicate with the forest and woodlands around them, whether it is by requesting aid or peeping into their thoughts and desires.

Aided by the blessing of the 'God Of Foresight' They can get a glimpse of the future, giving them eyes behind their heads. As they know what is about to happen not only to others but to themselves.

Both abilities can increase to the extent that they can control the forest and woodlands at will {Creating a temporary or permanent zone out of nothing but pure magical energy which could then control at will like an extended arm } and also see further into the future for an extended amount of time, the more they grow stronger.

Trickster Path - Path Perk -

Blessed by The Goddess Of Treachery and Deception and The God of Pact and Bargain, they can assume the form of whatever they wish to mimic, be it the appearance of another mortal or magical beast, and can even go as far as mimicking other ascendants power or abilities.

Though it is limited depending on how weak the ascendant is, and can only grow stronger to the point that they can permanently mimic any appearance or ability they wish to.

They are also able to make a contract with anyone, regardless of race or species. But, unlike the rest, this perk only activates after a specific amount of strength is gained since the amount of magical energy needed to trigger it is enormous.

Mage Rank - From 51 to 100 [Acendants of this rank can pick one or two 'Path' from either the 'Warrior Rank' or the 'Hunter Rank'. Nevertheless, picking two means that their growth in the two lesser paths will be limited, and only picking one lesser path means that they are guaranteed to grow in that 'Path' to the fullest.

They are also able to use sacred arts, however, it is not recommended. Sacred arts are used to stimulate the magical energy in one's body with every fibre of their beings, allowing them to fully utilize and maximize their magical energy.

But for people with a such huge amount of mana reserves, the use of sacred arts is useless and would likely limit their potential than increase it.

And as a way to resolve this issue, they can use spells, techniques, runes and enchantments from the 'Sorcerer Path' albeit at a much smaller degree.

Summoner Path - Path Perk -

Blessed by The Goddess Of Souls and Rebirth, And The Goddess of Oaths, Ritual, Pact and Bargain, they can separate their souls from their bodies and move around in an astral form. Because of their strong souls, they can also easily penetrate through the veil [Also called the other world] -which is said to be the central point between Heaven, Earth and the Underworld.

The veil is also home to Spirits and other incorporeal beings with immense supernatural gifts and abilities, whom they can form a contract with.

Using their souls as a beacon, they can draw the spirit out of the veil and into the physical world and have it do battle for them.

They are highly resistant to any form of soul attacks or techniques, And when they become strong enough, their souls become nigh indestructible, and they can choose to go through rebirth by leaving their bodies behind and be reborn as a transcendental being, which then enables them to freely walk in and out of the veil at will.

Beast Tamer Path - Path Perk -

Blessed by The God of Nature, Animal Welfare and Demi-Humans, together with The Goddess Of Souls and Rebirth, and The Goddess of Oaths, Ritual, Pact and Bargain, they can communicate with animals and form a contract with them with their body and soul, making them fight in their stead.

Apart from that, they can also merge with their magical beast, or absorb their magical energy to grow stronger if they wish to.

Since their blessings are also linked to nature, they can call on the will of nature {Like the emergence of a new forest out of solid rocks, summoning lightning and thunder or causing floods or terrible snowstorms, etc} But, since this ability consumes a tremendous amount of magical energy it is unusable until when they possess a specific amount of strength to activate it.

And they are also highly resistant to any form of soul attacks or techniques.

Sorcerer Path -Path Perk-

They are blessed by The God Of Wisdom and Knowledge, The God Of Runes, Sigils and Enchantments, The Goddess Of Witchcraft and Potions, The God Of Time and Space, The God Of Alchemy, The God of Nature, Animal Welfare and Demi-Humans, The Goddess Of Souls and Rebirth, The Goddess Of Oaths, Ritual, Pact and Bargain, The God of Darkness, The God of Death, The Goddess of Hunt and wilderness, and The God of Foresight.

They are the most versatile of any path and are the very definition of the master of all paths. Because of their blessings from numerous gods, they possess a broad range of different powers, skills and abilities that are far too many to count or put down into writing.

Regardless, because of this, they are not able to reach the full potential of their blessing like other paths, and also the route of a Sorcerer is a very tedious one which draws in and deters a lot of people from becoming one.

Nonetheless, the stronger a sorcerer becomes, the more they can do practically anything, depending on the number of blessings they focused on and how well they can fully train and maximise its uses.

It is also said that the Sorcerer path is the 'Divines Beings' last and greatest gift to mortal kind.

...........

There are only 12 Ranks, and each Rank contains 10 Circles in which Ascendants would have to climb and ascend if they want to grow stronger.

Beyond the 12th Rank is the 'Realm of the Gods'.

If you have any questions, please ask....

The next chapter will talk about the Magical Beast and summons.