stakes - gambling with gods.

"That's all for now, but there is still much more to cover in the future. We can't possibly delve into every aspect in just one day. Now that we've discussed the beasts, let's continue exploring their classification system. Each beast falls into one of nine categories based on their combat abilities. These categories include normal, common, uncommon, rare, epic, unique, legendary, myth, and transcend. While the naming may seem archaic, it has been used for countless generations and no one has attempted to change it, considering the lengthy process it would require to gain acceptance from the royal court and implement a new system."

"The seven beasts I mentioned earlier are part of the transcend category, which is the highest possible tier. The remaining beasts are divided into three tiers based on their relationship with the transcendent beasts. Those above the unique rank are direct descendants, while those from uncommon to epic are considered indirect descendants. The beasts in these two tiers possess intelligence comparable to humans to varying degrees. You won't encounter them on the sea, and only a few exist beyond the frontline. The beasts in the third tier, which are found everywhere, are mindless creatures. It is these creatures that you will be facing in battle."

"These mindless creatures of the third tier pose a significant threat, despite their lack of intelligence. They may not possess strategic thinking or cunning, but their sheer number make them formidable opponents."

Then Devon delved into the concept of power levels and rankings, shedding light on the intricacies of the system. He explained that there were seven tiers, each further divided into nine subparts known as stars, progressing in ascending order. The number of stars indicated the level of power and strength possessed by an individual. He emphasized that the difference between each star within a tier was significant.

At Tier 1, the power difference between two adjacent stars could be bridged by doubling the number of individuals. For example, it would take twice the number of people to bridge the power gap between a Tier 1, 1-star and a Tier 1, 2-star. However, as the tiers advanced, the power disparities between stars increased exponentially. Devon provided a specific example to illustrate this point. He explained that at Tier 2, it would take four times the number of individuals to bridge the power gap between stars.

The pattern continued, with the power gap growing exponentially at each tier. By the time they reached Tier 6, it would require over a trillion Tier 6, 1-star individuals to defeat a single Tier 6, 9-star-precisely 1,099,511,627,776. This revelation left the me in awe of the immense power discrepancy between stars within the same tier. It became clear that achieving higher star rankings was not a simple task.

Then Devon proceeded to explain the ranking system. He clarified that the ranking consisted of three parts. The first part was a number representing the region to which an individual belonged. This indicated the geographical area they represented or hailed from. The second part indicated the highest-ranked beast they had successfully slain. For instance, Devon's ranking included the term "rare," signifying his participation in the killing of a beast of rare rank.

The final part of the ranking was another number that denoted an individual's position within a group of individuals with the same power level and similar achievements. Devon shared his own ranking as an example. He revealed that he was the 1,056,099th ranked individual among a group of Tier-3 fighters from the 7th region who had participated in the slaying of a rare-ranked beast.

Having a higher rank came with its own set of benefits. Firstly, it bestowed a certain reputation upon individuals, garnering respect and recognition from others within the society. Additionally, the empire provided monetary rewards based on one's ranking. For instance, Devon currently receives approximately 20 gold coins per month, but if he were to ascend to the one million mark, his monthly reward would increase to 100 gold coins. This financial incentive served as a motivation for individuals to strive for higher ranks.

The third benefit of attaining a higher rank was access to valuable information. As individuals climbed the ranks, they gained access to exclusive knowledge and insights that were shared within their respective circles. This information was often crucial for further advancement and understanding of the empire's inner workings.

To progress in rank, there were essentially two methods. One could either defeat higher-ranked beasts or challenge individuals of higher rank to a battle. To prevent continuous bloodshed, each person received a challenge coupon every month. Once the coupon was used, regardless of the opponent's wishes, a battle had to take place. However, there were exceptions in cases where there was a significant gap in rank between the challengers. It was important to note that the challenged individual had the opportunity to benefit from the challenge. If they emerged victorious, they could not be challenged again for a period of one year, granting them a reprieve from further battles.

"And not only can you benefit in terms of rank, but also in other aspects," Devon continued. "You see, every battle that is fought has something at stake for both sides. These stakes can be anything, absolutely anything, no matter how absurd it may sound. It adds an extra layer of excitement and motivation to the battles. So, not only will you have the opportunity to advance in rank, but you might also gain something valuable or achieve a specific goal through these battles." Devon's words sparked our curiosity.