Zhu shook her head and decided to ignore the matter for now. There was no point worrying about Mutation Mana when she barely understood the basics.
Instead, she continued studying the glowing purple screen floating before her.
"Herkid, what does Potential Tier mean?"
Herkid immediately perked up.
Unlike most people, he seemed genuinely happy whenever someone asked him a question.
"Oh, that's an important one."
He shifted slightly, adopting the posture of a teacher preparing to deliver a lesson.
"After awakening, every person is evaluated and assigned a potential tier. The ranking is based on several factors, including the strength, purity, density, and flow of their mana."
"Basically," Mara interrupted with a grin, "it's society's way of deciding how excited they should be about you."
Herkid sighed.
"That is an oversimplification."
"But not wrong."
"...Unfortunately."
Zhu chuckled while Herkid continued.
"The lowest normal rank is F-Tier. Their mana reserves are minimal and most never develop particularly powerful abilities."
"Most village farmers and laborers who awaken fall into F-Tier," Mara added.
Herkid nodded.
"Above that is E-Tier, then D-Tier, which is considered average."
"Most adventurers live somewhere between D and C rank," Mara said.
"C-Tier awakeners possess above-average mana and generally have good prospects. B-Tier awakeners are considered skilled and often become respected adventurers, soldiers, or specialists."
Herkid raised another finger.
"A-Tier is where things begin to change. These individuals are exceptional. Cities compete to recruit them. Noble families actively seek alliances with them."
"What about S-Rank?" Zhu asked.
This time even Mara became serious.
"Those are monsters."
Herkid nodded in agreement.
"S-Tier awakeners are considered elite. A single S-Rank can influence the outcome of battles, protect entire regions, or become a cornerstone of a powerful organization."
"And above that?" Zhu asked.
"SS-Rank."
Herkid's expression grew solemn.
"Legendary."
"There are stories about them," Mara said quietly. "Heroes. Kings. Founders of nations."
"Most people will never meet one in their lifetime," Herkid added.
Zhu stared at her screen.
"And SSS?"
The clearing fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Mara and Herkid exchanged glances.
Finally, Herkid spoke.
"SSS-Tier awakeners are considered mythic existences."
His voice had become noticeably quieter.
"They are often referred to as Nation-Level Threats."
"Threats?" Zhu repeated.
"Threats," Mara confirmed.
"Not because they're evil," Herkid explained. "Because a person with that level of potential possesses enough power to influence the fate of the entire world."
"Their existence alone changes political landscapes," Mara added.
"Kings want them."
"Nobles fear them."
"Guilds compete for them."
"Wars have been started over less."
Herkid folded his arms.
"Only a handful of SSS-ranked awakenings have ever been recorded in history."
"Most become famous."
"Some become rulers."
"And some become disasters."
Faral's voice suddenly echoed inside Zhu's mind.
"The strongest are rarely remembered for being reasonable."
Zhu ignored him.
Mostly because she had a terrible feeling he was talking about himself.
"Is SSS the highest?" Zhu asked.
"As far as anyone knows," Herkid replied.
"But there is one special classification."
"Oh?"
"Null Rank."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
The excitement vanished from Zhu's face.
Herkid's smile faded.
For the first time since the conversation began, neither seemed particularly eager to talk.
"Ah, that," Zhu said with distaste. She had been a Null until very recently. She didn't even like the word.
"A Null possesses just enough mana to awaken," Mara said softly, "but not enough to manifest an ability."
"They have no mana type, no affinity, no real powers."
"They're considered failures by society."
Zhu frowned.
"Don't I know it."
"It's sad," Herkid said, looking toward the forest.
"Many families celebrate when their children awaken."
He paused.
"Unless they're Nulls."
Mara's expression darkened.
"Some are abandoned."
"Some are disowned."
"Some spend their entire lives being reminded that they're worthless."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Herkid shrugged.
"Though every once in a great while, a Null evolves."
At that moment, Faral interjected.
"Just like what happened to you."
Zhu nodded.
"Yes. Under the extreme circumstances of being raped and beaten to death, I rose like a phoenix from the grave."
The mood instantly darkened.
The memory of the campsite returned to everyone's mind.
Mara looked away.
Herkid sighed heavily.
"Ashes," Faral said.
Zhu blinked.
"Huh?"
"The statement should be, 'I rose like a phoenix from the ashes.'"
Zhu stared at the fire for several seconds before rolling her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into the back of her head.
"Faral, you are such a perfectionist," she complained.
Both Mara and Herkid burst into laughter.
As adults with a little more life experience, they understood what Zhu did not.
For all of his arrogance, Faral always seemed to make a comment at exactly the right moment—just enough to distract Zhu from sinking too deeply into her sadness and anger.
The ancient guardian never acknowledged it, of course.
Mara smiled faintly and continued the conversation.
"There are stories of Nulls becoming powerful later in life."
"Not many," Herkid added.
"But enough to give people hope."
Faral's voice drifted through Zhu's mind again.
"Hope is often the most powerful force in existence."
This time Zhu couldn't stop herself.
"Would you stop sounding wise for five minutes?"
Mara blinked. "Hm?"
"Nothing." Zhu rubbed her forehead, realizing that Faral did not say anything out loud. "Just arguing with an old man."
"Ancient guardian."
"Old man."
"Ancient guardian."
"Old man."
Mara and Herkid stared at her.
Zhu pretended not to notice and quickly returned her attention to the status screen before either of them could ask questions.
Unfortunately, her eyes immediately landed on the words:
Potential Tier: SSS
Suddenly, all the information Herkid had just explained felt significantly less comforting.
Oh, God above...
Zhu stared at her status screen.
According to Herkid's explanation, she apparently possessed not one but two potentially earth-shattering abnormalities.
A rare and unpredictable Mutation Mana type.
And an SSS-ranked potential that could supposedly alter the fate of nations.
A headache was beginning to form behind her eyes.
The kind of headache that usually arrived just before her life became significantly more complicated.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
She had survived a disastrous marriage, discovered an ancient guardian living in her head, nearly drowned, fallen off a cliff, bonded with two rare magical beasts, nearly died again, and now she was apparently some kind of walking disaster waiting to happen.
Or, if you want it to flow a little more humorously in Zhu's voice:
She had survived a disastrous marriage, discovered an ancient guardian living in her head, nearly drowned, fallen off a cliff, bonded with two rare magical beasts, nearly died several times, and now she was apparently some kind of walking catastrophe waiting to happen.
The second version reads more naturally for Zhu's sarcastic internal monologue.
At this rate, she expected the screen to inform her she was secretly an ancient dragon in human form.
Zhu rubbed her temples.
"Everything okay?" Mara asked.
"No."
"That's fair."
"Very fair," Herkid agreed.
Taking a deep breath, Zhu forced herself to continue reading.
Her eyes drifted down to the next line.
System: Twin Blood
She frowned.
"What in the world is a system?"
Mara and Herkid immediately looked confused.
"A system?" Mara repeated.
"Your status says you have a system?" Herkid asked.
For the first time since they had started discussing the screen, neither seemed to have an answer.
Zhu's stomach dropped.
That was never a good sign.
Slowly, she pointed at the line.
"System Type: Twin Blood."
Silence.
Mara looked at Herkid.
Herkid looked at Mara.
Neither spoke.
Finally, Herkid scratched his cheek.
"I have absolutely no idea what that means."
"Me neither," Mara admitted.
The headache behind Zhu's eyes immediately doubled in intensity.
"Great."
Faral's voice sounded inside her mind.
"That is because systems are exceedingly rare."
Zhu closed her eyes.
Of course.
Of course the mysterious line that nobody recognized had to be another rare thing.
At this point she was beginning to suspect normality had permanently abandoned her life.
"Would you prefer mediocrity?" Faral asked.
"Yes."
"Liar."
"...Maybe."
"Definitely."
Unfortunately, Zhu couldn't even argue with that.
With a sigh, she turned her attention back to the glowing words.
System: Twin Blood
For some reason, she had a very bad feeling that this line was far more important than everything above it.
Zhu sighed.
So many new headaches.
It seemed she simply wasn't destined for a simple life.
How she felt about that fact was another matter entirely.
Pushing those thoughts aside, she continued examining the status window.
Most of it now made sense thanks to Herkid's explanations. Mana Type. Potential Tier. Skills. Bonded Entities.
The only part she still didn't fully understand was the line marked:
Status: Unregistered
As cautious as ever, Zhu chose not to reveal the details of her screen. She trusted Mara and Herkid more than she had a few days ago, but trust and recklessness were not the same thing.
Instead, she asked a more general question.
"Herkid, what does it mean when someone is registered?"
Herkid immediately nodded.
"Ah, that's simple. Every awakener is required to register at an Awakening Center."
"Required?" Zhu asked.
"Legally required," Mara corrected.