"Now, do not misunderstand the classification of humans based on their genetic awakening," Instructor Han clarified, pacing the stage. "Those of you who were brought in from the outskirts were branded with colored armbands based on your latent talent potency: Blue, Green, Yellow, and Orange. Earlier, I mentioned our S-Class and A-Class forces. To put it simply, a Blue band corresponds to S-Class potential, Green to A-Class, Yellow to B-Class, and Orange to C-Class."
Han held up a single finger. "However, even below that, there are personnel categorized as D-Class. These individuals have successfully forced their Gene Locks open, yet they remain fundamentally incapable of absorbing latent atmospheric energy. They possess only slightly elevated human strength. Consequently, D-Class individuals are permanently relegated to the frontline infantry, acting as basic foot soldiers alongside the C-Class recruits. While exceptional C-Class soldiers can rise to the rank of Sergeant, our B-Class personnel typically command as Lieutenants, Captains, and occasionally Majors. A-Class elites dominate the upper echelons as Captains, Colonels, and Major Generals. Finally, the S-Class are the true titans—serving as Sectors Commanders. The NHF is divided into four distinct defensive sectors, each one governed exclusively by an S-Class super-soldier."
He paused, offering a crucial caveat. "But remember: not all genetic manifestations are combat-oriented. Even so, the biological ability to heal remains the absolute most sought-after asset on a battlefield."
Glancing down at his digital watch, Han let out a brief sigh. "Time is slipping away."
He looked back up at the silent crowd. "One of the definitive traits that separates S and A-Class soldiers from the rest of humanity is their innate ability to manifest genetic weapons. These armaments are biologically attuned to their specific DNA profile, engineered exclusively for them. When wielded by their genetic master, these weapons unleash catastrophic power. Now, looking at this hierarchy, some of you might be wondering: If humanity possesses such terrifyingly powerful individuals, why haven't we simply wiped out the entire devil race?"
Han smiled warmly, the expression like an old village elder watching a child playing a naive game.
"The answer is simple: because just as humanity boasts peerless champions, so do the devils. There are S-Class devils out there with the raw, devastating power to shake entire continents and reshape geography. These apex entities possess an intellectual capacity on par with—or superior to—any human. They understand that a direct, all-out clash with our S-Class commanders would result in mutually assured destruction, catastrophic to both sides. A single S-Class devil can command hundreds of millions, sometimes close to a billion, lesser kin. Beneath them are the A-Class battle commanders, strategically orchestrating hordes of lower-tier monsters; their individual might is capable of altering the entire landscape of a nation. B-Class devils can flatten a fortified village with terrifying ease, followed by the standard C and D-Classes."
Han tapped the holographic terminal. "A devil's threat level is judged entirely by the density of its crystal core. The denser the core, the more cataclysmic its power reservoir. Do not miscalculate—even a C or D-Class devil can cause absolute ruin. A giant, hundred-meter-tall C-Class entity can easily collapse skyscrapers and shatter reinforced infrastructure in seconds."
Checking his wrist once more, he mumbled under his breath, "Ten minutes left."
"These crystal cores are the literal lifeblood of the modern world," Han continued, his voice echoing with authority. "Everything you see inside this Wall—the military transports, the plasma weaponry, the electrical grids—is entirely sustained by crystal core energy. They are even processed into specialized ammunition to eliminate lower-tier devils. When the first generation of gene-unlockers realized that conventional, old-world gunpowder weapons couldn't pierce a devil's hide, they threw themselves into researching what could. It took years of desperate science, but they eventually concluded that a devil's core is packed with such dense, concentrated energy that it could be weaponized. By pairing this discovery with reverse-engineered alien technology, humanity cracked the code, turning the enemy's own hearts into our primary power source, munitions, and infrastructure."
He shook his head slightly, contrasting the new world with the old. "In the pre-collapse era, crude oil was the world's primary energy source. That primitive age is gone. The entire foundation of the NHF runs on crystal cores. This energy network is perfectly legitimate and practically impossible to counterfeit; the core systems are imprinted with unique energetic signatures from our S-Class soldiers, leaving a biological watermark that absolutely cannot be impersonated."
Han stopped abruptly, a look of sudden urgency crossing his face. "Ah... I am running behind. I have to speed through this final section."
He looked out over the sea of rapt faces. "I promised I would explain exactly how the devils came to be in the first place, correct?"
"Yes, sir!" almost every single student responded in unison, leaning forward in breathless anticipation.
Han checked his digital display one last time, his brow furrowing. "Five minutes remaining..."