Chris continued, "They are Avril, Alauna, Max, Grey, and Leo."
He paused for a moment, allowing the names to settle in.
"This makes your team of seven one of the rarest and most unique teams ever assembled. And quite blessed at that. It is incredibly rare for Daemons to gather in such a fashion."
The 7 exchanged glances with the others, their expression becoming more serious.
"Rare?" Max asked. "How rare are we talking?"
Chris smiled faintly.
"Rare enough that most people will never encounter a group like yours in their lifetime."
Alauna folded her arms. "And what exactly makes us so special?"
Chris looked at each of them in turn.
"It isn't simply the number of you. It is the combination."
His gaze lingered on them.
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Leo leaned forward slightly.
"Then what are we?"
Chris took a slow breath.
"That," he said, "is the question you should be asking."
Chris then used two fingers to adjust his nonexistent glasses.
"Now, let's move on to what's really important. How do you grow in strength, and how do you cultivate your abilities?"
"So far, there are two methods that have been discovered, with one being more effective than the other."
Chris paused, giving them a moment to process what he had said.
"The first method is primitive and dates back a long time. Meditation."
A few of them exchanged glances.
"Meditation helps you refine your bloodline, tapping into the potential inherently hidden within it and unraveling its brightness and glamour. The further you refine your bloodline, the stronger you become."
Chris raised a finger.
"But that's not all. Meditation also helps you gain insights into your affinity."
Ray's attention sharpened.
"Insights?"
Chris nodded.
"Your affinity isn't just an ability you possess. The deeper your understanding of it, the more ways you can use it."
He looked around the group.
"It can give you new ways to fight, new applications for your abilities, and even reveal combat possibilities you hadn't considered before."
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Leo couldn't help but wonder just how much potential was actually hidden within his own bloodline.
"The second method, and the more effective one, is by killing."
The room went silent.
A few of them stared at Chris in disbelief.
Leo's eyes dilated.
For a brief moment, the conversation disappeared from his mind, replaced by the memory of his first kill.
The feeling. After that intense battle with the mutated ape and after finally struggling to kill it, Leo clearly remembers the surge in strength and how he moved up a level.
He quickly pushed the memory aside.
"Yes," Chris continued. "Killing."
Chris didn't seem particularly bothered by the reaction.
"Every lifeform possesses Pneuma, the substance our world is made of. The stronger the lifeform, the higher the quality of its Pneuma, and generally, the greater the quantity."
He paused.
"Though that isn't always the case. Quality is what matters most. The higher the quality of the Pneuma, the more effective it is for growth."
Max frowned. "So you're saying we get stronger by taking lives?"
"Essentially."
Chris shrugged.
"Unfortunately, our world hasn't yet reached that stage of evolution where beasts have mutated enough for you to rely on them for growth."
He looked over the group.
Chris continued.
"Also, after you kill whatever creature it is, along with the Pneuma you absorb, you can gain a skill or two if your luck is good enough and you're compatible with them."
He paused for a moment, allowing the information to sink in.
"These are the two ways we've discovered to gain strength…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"But the System introduces a third."
"Quests."
"I bet you were wondering when I was going to get to that."
Chris chuckled before continuing.
"The System can assign you quests and, upon completing them, reward you with EXP. That EXP will help you grow stronger."
"And before you ask, yes. The Pneuma you absorb counts toward your growth as EXP as well."
"But quests aren't just another way to become stronger. They serve another purpose."
"They're a guiding light on your journey of strength and valor."
Chris's expression became slightly more serious.
"They can point you toward places you need to go, things you need to accomplish, and challenges you might otherwise never have encountered."
"In other words…"
He looked at his students,
"The System doesn't just give you the power to grow."
"It gives you a path to follow."
"For now, we're going to employ the first and third method."
His gaze shifted between them.
"Meditation and skill sharpening."
Leo frowned slightly.
Skill sharpening.
It sounded simple.
But after everything Chris had just explained, Leo had a feeling that nothing about their training was going to remain simple for long.
Chris clapped his hands, bringing the discussion to an end.
"Alright, that's enough for this section."
He turned toward the group.
"We're moving on to the next section."
A few of them straightened up.
Chris smiled.
"And this one should be a little more interesting."
He paused.
"We're holding a mini tournament."
The room immediately grew quieter.
"The purpose?" Chris continued. "To decide who will be the captain of the team."
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.
A captain?
He glanced at the others.
This was about to get interesting.