Authors Note: Hiii, please this chapter and the next two are just going to be an info dump, where I explain the systems workings and the classification of power ATPS runs on. It's gonna be a very long chapter tho. I initially uploaded a chapter explaining this at the start but it seems it was taken down unawares. So sorry. You can decide to skip these chapters if you don't really care about classification. Amithaba.
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"What are you doing up this early though?" Leo asked, with his usual curious tone, "and in the gymnasium no less"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" she replied snarkily. "This is my routine, since childhood."
Leo blinked before letting out a small chuckle.
"Your routine?" he repeated.
Alauna folded her arms, clearly confident in her point.
"Exactly."
Leo simply shrugged, pointing his thumb toward himself.
"Funny. Because this is my routine too."
For a moment, the two stared at each other before Alauna shook her head, amused.
Leo stood up and turned toward the exit. "Anyway, carry on. I'm just going to freshen up a bit before we start training."
Alauna nodded and moved to begin her exercises.
As Leo walked away, he couldn't help but feel a little impressed. She wasn't someone who relied solely on her talent, she constantly pushed herself to improve.
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Leo returned to the gymnasium a short while later, finding the training centre much more populated than before. The once quiet hall was now filled with the sounds of movement and exertion as Theo, Ray, Avril, and Grey had joined Alauna in their morning training.
As he stepped inside, Leo greeted them with a simple wave.
"Hi."
A bright, familiar smile rested on his face as he spoke.
The others turned toward him and responded with their own greetings before returning to their exercises.
Leo walked over to the same bench he had occupied earlier and sat down, resting his back against it. From there, he watched his teammates continue their training, each of them pushing their bodies to their limits.
A small smile formed on Leo's face as he observed them.
"Your friends are really doing the most to bring out the potential buried within them."
A familiar, ancient voice echoed in Leo's mind.
It belonged to Nux, the Guardian of Potential—one of the Guardians Leo had gained during the Temple Arc.
Leo's smile widened ever so slightly.
"You think so?" he asked inwardly.
"Nux is right."
Another voice joined the conversation.
It was Hermes, the Guardian of Wisdom.
"It is rare to find individuals blessed with such talent who are still willing to work this hard," Hermes continued. "Most gifted people become complacent once they realize how far ahead of others they already are. They mistake talent for the finish line, when in reality, it is merely the starting point."
Leo remained silent, his gaze fixed on his teammates as they continued to train with unwavering determination.
Watching them now, he couldn't deny the truth in the Guardians' words.
---
Before long, the doors to the gymnasium slid open, and Chris walked in with Max in tow.
The moment they noticed their instructor, everyone halted their training and gathered before him. Max casually swaggered over to join his teammates, wearing his usual confident grin.
Chris glanced around the group, his eyes briefly scanning each of their faces before giving an approving nod.
"It seems you were all up early today. Truly befitting of young heroes."
A few smiles appeared among the seven, though no one spoke.
"Let's head to the basement. There's a studio and a combat room down there. We'll begin with a short theory lesson before moving on to some drills."
"Yes, sir!" the seven responded in unison.
Without another word, Chris turned and led the way out of the gymnasium, the Elite 7 following closely behind as they headed toward the basement for the day's first official training session.
The Elite 7 followed Chris down a flight of reinforced stairs into the basement level of the training centre. Unlike the spacious gymnasium above, the lower floor was divided into several specialized facilities. Chris led them past a fully equipped combat room before stopping at a modern study room.
The room was arranged like a compact lecture hall, with a large interactive screen mounted on the front wall and rows of desks facing it.
"Take your seats," Chris instructed.
The seven quickly settled into their seats as Chris stood before the screen.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, today's session will begin with a bit of theory."
He paused, allowing his words to settle before continuing.
"It may seem a little redundant to some of you, but it's necessary that I go over these fundamentals. My goal is to bridge any lacunae in your knowledge while reinforcing what you've already learned."
Chris's expression turned serious.
"So, I want your full attention. Listen carefully to everything I say. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!" the seven answered in unison.
{Well, let's see what you humans know, hehe. Anyone wants popcorn?} Primo chuckled asking his 5 neighbors. Leo rolled his eyes at Primo's antics and decided to focus on the study.
"Excellent." He activated the interactive screen behind him with a tap. "Then let's begin. So, as you already know, the vast majority of humanity, if not every single person alive, currently possesses what we refer to as a System, thanks to the Descent of the Records."
Chris paced slowly across the front of the room as he spoke.
"However, the Records are not external entities. They have always existed within us. The only reason they remained dormant for so long was because the world's life force, what we call Pneuma, had been severely depleted."
He paused for a brief moment before continuing.
"It was only recently, following the sudden mysterious and unprecedented surge of Pneuma throughout the world, that the Records awakened once more."
{ It's not so mysterious to me, after all why wouldn't the world react to the birth of moi} Primo spat with an arrogant tone.
Leo's eye twitched 'Will you just keep quiet '
{ Hmph, whatever}
The interactive screen behind him displayed a diagram of a human silhouette intertwined with streams of luminous energy.
"The Systems we possess are merely a medium, an interface, if you will, that the Records have deemed to be the most effective means of guiding growth and continuous evolution."
"A System does not simply appear out of thin air. It is meticulously formed using the information embedded within your soul: the experiences you've accumulated throughout this life, the echoes of your previous lives, and even the legacy carried within your bloodline."
The seven listened intently, none of them daring to interrupt.
"By drawing upon all of that information, the Records create a System uniquely tailored to bring out the very best in its host."
Chris's expression grew solemn.
{It seems he is quite knowledgeable, mhm}
Primo gave his unneeded input. Leo decided that he is going to ignore the chatter box and just gleam whatever he can from the lesson.
Chris continued,
"Naturally, this means that not all Systems are created equal. Differences in one's experiences, soul, and bloodline result in differences in the strength, growth rate, and overall potential of a System."
He tapped the screen, causing several classifications to appear.
"Some possess Systems with average potential, while others awaken Systems with extraordinary or even unique bearings. The greater the System's bearing, the greater the heights its wielder may be capable of reaching, provided they have the determination to realize that potential."
Chris tapped the interactive screen, and the image shifted. A familiar holographic interface materialized, displaying the translucent blue panels of a System.
"This," he said, turning toward the projection, "is the standard System interface."
A few chuckles rippled through the room.
"Of course, all of you are already familiar with it. After all, each of you possesses one."
The faint amusement faded as Chris continued.
"However, familiarity does not necessarily equate to understanding."
He turned his attention back to the seven.
"I have been authorized to provide you with deeper insight into how Systems function and the principles that govern their operation. While certain aspects remain classified, everything I discuss today is knowledge that every promising Awakened should understand."
Chris paused briefly.
"By the end of this session, I expect you to understand not only what your System can do, but also why it functions the way it does."
The Elite 7 remained silent, their attention fully captured by the lesson.
"Please open your system panels before we continue."
The 7 youngsters immediately muttered 'status' opening their system panels.
"As you're all familiar with, the default System panel displays your basic information the moment you open it. It shows your name, your level, your health, and your four fundamental attributes: Strength, Agility, Endurance, and Magic Power."
They nodded in accord.
"These four form the foundation of every Awakened. Regardless of your fighting style or specialization, they are the core attributes upon which your growth is built."
The display shifted, revealing another section beneath the primary attributes.
"Below them is an expandable menu that grants access to your secondary or special attributes, provided you possess them."
"These include attributes such as Intelligence, Luck, Charisma, and many others. Some are common, while others are exceedingly rare. Their existence and number vary from one individual to another."
"However..."
Chris's tone grew noticeably more serious.
"Below the attribute section lie the two most important pieces of information on the entire panel."
The screen zoomed in on the final section.
"Your Affinity... and your Bloodline."
The room grew tense.
{ Now this is what I have been waiting for} Primo giggled.
Leo's eyes immediately settled on that section of his panel:
[ Bloodline: Primordial Bloodline (Origin- Locked, Current status - Mythic)
Affinity: Chaos(Origin)- Locked
Current Status- Fire and Lightning . unlocked. ]
"More than anything else displayed on your System, these two define your potential. They determine the path most suited to you, the heights you may one day reach, and, in many cases, the limits you will have to overcome."
"There are six known tiers of Bloodlines, and to the best of our knowledge, this classification is consistent throughout the entire Multiverse."
With another tap, six names appeared on the screen in ascending order.
Common. Noble. Royal. Sacred. Mythic. Legendary.
Leo looked at his Bloodline's tier and lifted an eyebrow.
{ Don't worry your pretty little head boy. Your posses a bloodline that is above all and below none} Primo said with pride dripping in his tone, {Surely you don't expect these... individuals to posses any information about its classification do you?}
Leo let out a sigh, 'you really do have a lot of things to explain'
He turned his attention back to Chris.
"The higher the tier of your Bloodline, the greater the potential locked within it. A superior Bloodline not only grants a higher ceiling for growth but also makes it easier for its bearer to progress."
"From the Noble tier onward, there is also the possibility of inheriting abilities once wielded by your ancestors. These are known as Bloodline Skills. Depending on the strength and purity of your lineage, such abilities may awaken naturally as you grow stronger."
Chris turned his attention to the Elite 7.
"I believe each of you possesses, at the very least, a Sacred Bloodline. After all, you hail from the Legacy Families—houses with histories stretching back centuries, their bloodlines carefully preserved across generations."
His gaze eventually settled on Leo.
"As for you, Leo..."
He paused thoughtfully.
"I can't say for certain. Your background remains something of an enigma. However, judging from everything I've witnessed so far, your potential is by no means inferior to that of the other six."
Leo simply met his instructor's gaze without saying a word.
Chris continued.
"I'd like all of you to understand something. Your Bloodline does not merely represent the potential hidden within you or the ease with which you grow stronger."
He tapped the screen once more.
"It also serves as a measure of your innate battle potential."
The screen displayed two silhouettes standing opposite one another.
"Ordinarily, if two individuals are of the same level and possess similar combat experience, the one with the superior Bloodline will hold a significant advantage."
He looked around the room.
"A bearer of a Noble Bloodline can generally defeat someone with a Common Bloodline under equal conditions. Likewise, a Royal Bloodline typically surpasses a Noble one, a Sacred Bloodline surpasses a Royal one, and so on."
Chris raised a finger.
"Of course, this is not an absolute rule. Skill, intelligence, experience, strategy, and sheer determination can all bridge the gap. Never assume victory simply because your Bloodline is superior, nor concede defeat because yours is inferior. History has shown that exceptional individuals are capable of overturning what others deem impossible."
"However, there is one thing I want all of you to remember."
He looked at the seven youngsters seated before him.
"A Bloodline is not immutable."
A flicker of surprise crossed a few faces.
"Just because someone is born with a Common Bloodline doesn't mean they will die with one."
Chris continued, his voice carrying a tone of emphasis.
"Throughout your journey, you will encounter countless opportunities capable of transforming your Bloodline. The experiences you endure, the life-and-death battles you survive, the fortuitous encounters you stumble upon, and even the integration of other Bloodlines can all elevate your own."
His words lingered in the room, allowing each of them to fully absorb the meaning behind them.
"In other words, your Bloodline tier is not your destination—it is merely your starting point."
He looked across the group.
"If you continue to challenge yourselves, surpass your limits, and seize every opportunity that comes your way, your Bloodline will continue to evolve alongside you."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" the seven responded in unison.
"Next up are your Affinities."
Chris changed the display, and the Bloodline classification disappeared, replaced by a new set of information.
"The world of Affinities is far more complicated than that of Bloodlines. While Bloodlines follow a relatively straightforward hierarchy, Affinities have multiple layers of classification that determine their overall rarity, strength, and potential."
He tapped the screen, causing three categories to appear.
Common. Rare. Unique.
"Affinities are divided into three primary categories. These categories represent the rarity of the Affinity itself and the uniqueness of the power it grants."
Chris paused briefly before continuing.
"However, the category alone does not determine the true strength of an Affinity. Within each category exists another ranking system that measures the level and quality of the Affinity."
Another set of classifications appeared.
Basic. Advanced. Elite. Divine. Mythic. Legendary.
"The higher the level of an Affinity, the greater its potential, versatility, and compatibility with higher forms of power."
He looked toward the seven.
"For example, two individuals may possess a Common Affinity, yet their actual combat potential may differ greatly if one possesses a Basic level while the other possesses a Legendary level."
Chris folded his arms.
"Likewise, a Rare or Unique Affinity does not automatically guarantee superiority. A lower-level Affinity may not necessarily surpass a higher-level one simply because of its rarity."
He allowed the information to sink in.
"Remember this: Bloodlines represent the potential hidden within your existence, while Affinities represent your connection and compatibility with power itself."
Chris continued, the information on the screen shifting to display various symbols representing different types of powers.
"Now, let us discuss the different types of Affinities."
He pointed toward the first category.
"The most basic Affinities are the four fundamental elements of our world: Fire, Earth, Water, and Wind."
The four symbols appeared on the screen.
"The majority of Awakened possess one of these Affinities. They are considered the foundation of all elemental powers, and many Rare and Unique Affinities originate from them through evolution, mutation, or special circumstances."
The display changed, showing the next category.
"Next are Rare Affinities."
Several examples appeared.
"These include, but are not limited to, Lightning, Ice, Storm, and Metal. Unlike the fundamental elements, these Affinities are far less common and usually possess greater complexity and destructive potential."
Chris then moved to the final category.
"Finally, we have Unique Affinities."
The screen displayed a new set of symbols.
"As the name suggests, these Affinities are unique to the individuals who possess them. They are the most diverse category, containing abilities that cannot easily be classified under the conventional elemental system."
He pointed toward the examples displayed.
"The known Unique Affinities include Shadow, Blood, Illusion, Magma, and Sound. There are also records of individuals possessing Affinities such as Dreams and Souls, though information regarding them is extremely limited."
Chris paused before adding another point.
"Additionally, there are individuals who possess two or more Affinities. These people are known as Dual Affinity users or Multi-Affinity users."
The screen changed once more.
"However, those who possess multiple Affinities are classified under a special category known as Daemons."
The room became noticeably more attentive.
"Daemons are incredibly rare. Their existence grants them extraordinary versatility, but it also places a tremendous burden on them, as mastering multiple sources of power requires exceptional talent and control.
And in this room, me excluded we have 5 Daemons as you have come to realize"