Ethan blinked as shimmering glyphs appeared before his eyes, unfolding like ancient pages touched by starlight.
[Tutorial Unlocked: World Structure – Mage Hierarchy]Beginner Mages must understand the world's power system to survive. Knowledge grants Advantage.
"Perfect," Ethan murmured. "Time to see what I'm dealing with."
The air around him pulsed, and the words began to unfold…
1. The Three Pillars of Magic
The world Ethan had arrived in was not chaotic—far from it. Beneath the surface of free-roaming spellflames and roaming magical beasts existed an exquisite, terrifying structure.
All magic was governed by The Three Pillars:
Realm – Pure power. The depth of one's mana core, the density of one's spellforce.
Path – Specialization. Every mage walks a "Path": Fire, Frost, Illusion, Void, Spirit, Blood, Astral, etc.
Authority – Influence over the natural laws. Only high-rank mages touch this.
Ethan nodded slowly. "Realm is raw strength. Path is technique. Authority is… broken."
2. Mage Realm Hierarchy
The Simulator presented a ten-tier system, each one exponentially stronger than the last. Ethan almost choked at how many layers there were.
Tier 1 – ApprenticeSmall mana core, weak spells, capable of simple elemental manipulation. Most common.
Tier 2 – Novice MageSpells stabilize. Real combat begins here.
Tier 3 – AdeptQualified to join academies or guilds. Major growth stage.
Tier 4 – Senior MageHigh spell potency, complex runes, large mana pool.
Tier 5 – High MageLeaders of noble houses. City-level threats.
Tier 6 – ArchmageControl over environment. Legendary.
Tier 7 – SageTouch the laws. Territory distortion possible.
Tier 8 – Grand SageNation-level. Weather, gravity, even fate slightly bend.
Tier 9 – SupremeWorld-shaking beings. Maintain magical balance.
Tier 10 – TranscendentBorderline deities. Rewrite reality in limited zones.
Ethan swallowed. Hard.
"I start at Apprentice… great. Ten whole tiers above me. And each tier probably wants me dead or enslaved."
He wasn't wrong.
3. Path Hierarchy — The 12 Great Paths
The screen shifted, forming a circle of glowing sigils.
Fire – DestructionWater – AdaptationEarth – DefenseWind – MobilityLightning – BurstLight – PurificationShadow – Stealth / AssassinationSpirit – Mind / Will / IllusionAstral – Space / Time RipplesBlood – Regeneration / Parasitic GrowthVoid – Negation / Anti-MagicCreation – Constructs / Runes / Artefacts
Ethan stared. "Twelve Paths… and I only have one technique from the simulation."
But that technique was overpowered.
4. Cores, Veins, and Law Seeds
The Simulator deepened the explanation:
Cores – Every mage must refine their mana core. Bigger = more mana. Denser = stronger spells.Veins – Mana veins determine how fast mana flows through the body.Law Seeds – Extremely rare. Grant partial Authority, allowing mages to bend the world slightly.
The technique Ethan retained strengthened core density—the hardest aspect for mages to improve.
This made his path terrifying.
5. Society: Guilds, Towers, and Empires
The hierarchy wasn't power alone. Society itself was structured like a magical pyramid.
Mage GuildsWhere low-level mages gather. Missions, spell scrolls, potions.
Arcane AcademiesTrains Novice to Adept mages. Entry is competitive and political.
Mage TowersIndependent research sanctuaries. Often run by High Mages or Archmages.Neutral, wealthy, dangerous.
EmpiresRuled by Sages and Grand Sages.Wars between empires could destroy continents.
Forbidden OrdersShadow-aligned organizations practicing illegal Paths like Blood or Void.
The Simulator displayed an alarming message:
[Warning: Your technique is classified as Forbidden-Class]Possession without certification risks execution.
Ethan froze.
"…What?"
His technique compressed mana with unnatural efficiency—so efficient it bordered on breaking the natural order.
"So I'm starting the game… with a cheat that can get me killed."
Perfect.
6. Mana Beasts and Mystic Zones
Outside the cities, evolution ran wild.
F-Rank Beasts threaten Apprentices.
E-Rank challenge Novices.
D-Rank require parties.
C-Rank destroy villages.
B-Rank kill High Mages.
A-Rank rival Archmages.
S-Rank… nobody hunts alone.
And between landscapes existed Mystic Zones—pockets of twisted magic:
Time loops
Gravity anomalies
Floating islands
Mana storms
Reality fractures
"Okay," Ethan muttered, "so the world is basically trying to kill me every five minutes."
7. Noble Houses & Bloodlines
In this world, bloodlines were everything.
Strong Houses possessed abilities passed down through generations:
Phoenix Bloodline: fire regeneration
Thunder Lion Bloodline: lightning claws, speed
Starborn Bloodline: micro-star mana
Shadowborn Bloodline: stealth
Commoners, without bloodlines, were often ignored—unless they showed monstrous talent.
"Which means I'm the underdog."He smirked."Good. Best position to rise."
And rise he would.
8. The Simulator's Last Message
The glyphs stopped, forming a final warning:
[Note: The world is in the middle of a silent war.][Three Empires, seven hidden organizations, and at least two continental disasters are approaching.][Your advantages are insufficient… unless you grow quickly.][New Quest: Reach Tier 2 — Novice Mage][Reward: Talent Upgrade]
Ethan clenched his fists.
"Fine. If this world has ten tiers—I'll climb all ten."
His vision hardened.
"And then I'll break the system that tried to control me."