The air in the room grew thick with tension, the students' eyes wide as they processed the enormity of what they were hearing. The future felt more uncertain than ever.
A boy in the back raised his hand, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "How strong were the beasts?"
Mr. John's lips curled into a knowing smile. "I'm sure the students from the west already know how strong the beasts are."
William's heart skipped a beat. I definitely know, he thought, mories of the tunnel flooding back. The weakest beast had wiped out dozens of students in re seconds. They hadn't stood a chance.
Mr. John picked up a marker and turned to the board, his movents deliberate. "The strength of the beasts, just like humans, is categorized into eight tiers," he explained, as he began writing on the board.
Mr. John continued, writing the tiers as he spoke:
Tier 1: Newborn
Tier 2: Ferus
Tier 3: Warrior
Tier 4: Master Read new chapters at empire
Tier 5: Commander
Tier 6: Ruler
Tier 7: Titan
Tier 8: Apex
(Author's Note: For simplicity, we'll be using just the tier numbers. There's no need to morize the nas. For example, just rember "Tier 1 beast" or "Tier 5 beast.")
The room was silent as Mr. John turned back to face the students. "Those of you who haven't ford your soul crystal are still considered 'mundane.' Once you do, you'll be in Tier 1."
A student near the front raised his hand, his voice filled with curiosity. "How do we advance in tiers?"
Mr. John's expression darkened. He leaned against the desk, his eyes scanning the room. "You'll have to break your heart."
The students' faces paled, their eyes wide with shock.
The class fell into a stunned silence as Mr. John's words hung in the air. Break your heart? The phrase seed more poetic than practical, yet sothing about the way Mr. John said it sent a chill down everyone's spine.
A girl seated at the front, her face paling, whispered to the boy next to her, "Did he an that literally?" Her voice was barely audible, but the tension in her tone was unmistakable.
The boy didn't reply, his wide eyes glued to Mr. John, who continued pacing in front of the board. He didn't offer any clarification, allowing the students to stew in their thoughts before finally explaining.
"To advance in tier," Mr. John said, "you must fill your soul crystal with enough soul essence until it can no longer hold any more. Then, and only then, will it break—transforming into a new, stronger soul crystal."
Several students let out audible sighs of relief. It wasn't their literal heart they had to break, after all, but sothing inside them that seed far more abstract yet no less dangerous. William wasn't sure which was worse.
"The first thod," Mr. John said, continuing his lecture, "is the slowest. You draw in soul essence from the nature around you—gradually, over ti."
A boy in the middle row raised his hand, his voice sharp with skepticism. "Isn't that too slow, though? Once one form a Soul Crystal, it becos harder to draw in Soul Essence into the body."
Mr. John's expression didn't change. He had probably been asked this question hundreds of tis before. "That's the problem, isn't it? The first thod is slow. It can take years, sotis even decades, depending on your potential and the amount of essence you can absorb naturally."
There were murmurs around the room. William felt a wave of impatience stir within him. Years? He didn't have that kind of ti. If it takes years for those with one crystal, how many years will it take him with 2 crystals.
Mr. John's voice cut through his thoughts. "The second thod," Mr. John went on, "is to use a catalyst. Artifacts, soul potions, and other objects can increase the speed at which you absorb essence."
So of the students perked up at the ntion of artifacts. Money always bought an advantage.
"Of course," Mr. John added with a wry smile, "this thod is expensive. Catalysts aren't cheap and unless you have access to significant resources, you won't be able to rely on them for long."
William's thoughts imdiately drifted back to Mr. Beth's gift. He had one soul portion, but it was a precious resource—sothing he needed to use wisely since he has to fill two crystals. The thought of burning through it too quickly sent a nervous pang through him. He wasn't ready to squander such a rare advantage.
Mr. John's tone grew darker. "The third and final thod is the fastest, but it's also the most dangerous. You can absorb the soul crystals of beasts."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the class. The re ntion of beasts always had that effect—unease and excitent in equal asure. William's muscles tensed involuntarily at the thought. His mind flashed back to the tunnel and the carnage the creatures had caused. Absorbing the soul crystals of beasts? It sounded insane.
"When a beast dies, it leaves behind its soul crystal," Mr. John explained. "If a human absorbs the crystal, the soul essence inside it transfers to their own, filling their crystal faster."
William could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He knew where this was going, and it didn't sit well with him.
Mr. John didn't disappoint. "But there's a catch. You have to kill the beast first."
The air in the room grew thick with tension. So students glanced nervously at one another. Others clenched their fists or stared blankly ahead, as if ntally preparing themselves for the reality of what Mr. John was saying.
Before anyone could ask more questions, a boy seated near the back stood up, clearing his throat nervously, his voice shaky. "But what if—"
The sharp sound of the bell ringing cut through the room, signaling the end of class. Mr. John didn't even spare the boy a glance. Without another word, he packed up his belongings, slung his worn-out bag over his shoulder, and left the room, leaving the boy standing awkwardly with his question hanging in the air.
William sighed in relief. At least Mr. John didn't leave before the bell today. He gathered his own things, but his mind was far from at ease. The thought of advancing through tiers, of absorbing soul crystals from beasts—it all seed so far beyond what he was ready for. And yet, deep down, he knew he would have no choice.
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