It was a miracle that Alex didn't pass out immediately after the fight. This was something that seemed to happen more often ever since he joined the faction.
Luckily, he didn't have to stay in pain for too long. Soon, two people dressed in white robes arrived and carefully lifted him. They moved with a sense of urgency but were gentle as they carried him away. The others followed behind, quietly watching as Alex was taken to the medical wing.
Before long, Alex was laid out on a hospital bed. His body, though still tense from the battle, seemed to relax slightly as the soft surface of the bed cushioned his weight.
Gwen, who had been silent since the fight, finally spoke. "I can feel it. He's not a Paragon yet, so how was he able to draw out that kind of power against me?"
Her words hung in the air, causing both Tamsin and Merrick to exchange puzzled glances. Neither of them knew how to respond to Gwen's observation. But Alex, lying on the bed, knew a little about what she was talking about. He had begun to understand his energy, even if only a small part of it.
Elder Rooney stepped forward, his presence commanding attention as he began to explain. "Alex has a special kind of energy. It has a unique trait—it adapts to situations. But calling it adaptation doesn't quite describe it fully. What this power does is take the pain he's feeling at the moment and transforms it into strength."
Elder Rooney's words sank in slowly, the room filled with an air of contemplation. "However," he continued, "with that rise in strength comes a cost. Alex's body is being pushed beyond what it should be able to handle. That's why he's in this condition."
Merrick furrowed his brow as he tried to make sense of it all. "So it's like a painful loop, right? He gets hurt, the pain turns into power, but then his body can't handle that power, which causes even more pain... which then creates even more power..."
"Exactly," Elder Rooney said, nodding. "But don't worry. He'll be fine. Even though Alex's body can't fully handle the power right now, there's always a limit. His energy won't give him an infinite amount of strength. Eventually, his body will become numb to this level of pain, and it won't be an issue for him anymore."
While Elder Rooney spoke, the others noticed something in his hand. He was holding a book. All three of them knew exactly what it was—the Pendragon's Knowledge Book, a text filled with ancient wisdom and secrets of the clan.
Their attention briefly shifted to the book, but then they looked back at Alex, whose condition seemed to be changing. The constant grimace of pain that had been etched on his face since the fight was beginning to fade. His muscles, once clenched in agony, were slowly relaxing. His breathing, once shallow and labored, was becoming steadier.
In that moment, something remarkable happened. A soft glow seemed to appear on Alex's skin, as if his body was absorbing the energy and transforming it in real-time. The pain that had consumed him was lessening, and the peaceful look on his face was undeniable proof that the process Elder Rooney had described was happening.
Regaining his senses, Alex slowly looked around at the people surrounding him and took in his surroundings. The room felt tense, with eyes on him, but Alex had something on his mind. After a moment, he lifted his hand and pointed his finger directly at Gwen.
"You... Just how strong are you? And what other powers do you have? Are you a mage?" Alex asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Gwen's lips curved into a slight smile. "Now I love that look on your face," she said. "First of all, I'm way stronger than you. As for my other powers or skills? I can't even count them all. And whether I'm a mage? Nope, not at all. I'm a warrior," Gwen answered confidently, her gaze steady.
"But... those things you did," Alex started, clearly confused. He wanted to ask more, but before he could finish, Elder Rooney stepped in.
"I understand why you'd think she's a mage," Elder Rooney said, his tone calm but firm. "You saw her split herself into two phases during the fight, right? It does look like magic. But what she did isn't magic. While it's true that magic could achieve similar results, those were not spells. What you witnessed can also be done with qi, as long as you have the right techniques," he explained.
Elder Rooney glanced at Gwen before continuing. "What Gwen used back there were different forms of martial arts. She's been practicing them for years, though most of them aren't meant for direct attacking."
Hearing this, Alex's eyes lit up with excitement. "Can I learn those techniques too?" he asked, his eagerness clear in his voice.
"Of course," Elder Rooney responded with a nod. "You're part of this faction now. Any technique or art that fits your abilities is open for you to learn." His words were exactly what Alex wanted to hear.
However, Elder Rooney paused for a moment, then added, "But keep in mind, some of these techniques aren't just for anyone to use. They require a certain level of power, and until you reach that, you won't be able to handle them." His voice lowered as he looked at Alex, his eyes sharp.
"Alex, do you know how many levels of evolution the human body must go through?" Elder Rooney asked, a serious tone settling in the room.
"Stan told me there are nine levels," Alex replied. He remembered the time Stan had taken him to the mountains, explaining many things to him, some of which he had also read about in the library.
Elder Rooney shook his head slightly, his expression thoughtful. "It seems Stan's information is a bit outdated," he said. "That was the old system of ranking, though it's still in use in some places. But after recent discoveries, we now know there's a new ranking system," Elder Rooney continued.
"Human evolution used to be classified from levels one to nine. But after deep research, it's been revealed that there are actually only five distinct levels of evolution," Elder Rooney explained, his tone growing more serious.
"The first tier consists of what we used to call the first and second levels of power," he said, pausing to let the information sink in.
"You see, when someone evolves from one level to the next, in certain stages, there's barely any noticeable change. For example, when a level one Paragon moves to level two, there's often no significant increase in power. In fact, many of the skills a level two Paragon can use, a level one can still manage to some degree," Elder Rooney explained.
Realizing Alex was following along, he continued, "Because of this, these two levels were grouped together into what we now call the Basic Tier. The first part of this tier is known as the Initial Stage, while the second is referred to as the Final Stage."
Elder Rooney paused again, letting his words sink in.
"Going up the numbers, we reach levels three and four, and the same principle applies. These levels are known as the Intermediate Stage," Elder Rooney continued, his voice steady but intense. "Then we have levels five and six, called the Advanced Level. Levels seven and eight, as you already know, are referred to as the Emperor Stage. And then there's level nine."
He paused for a moment, his eyes locking with Alex's, as if giving him time to process.
"Unlike the other stages, you might expect level nine to have a pair like the others, but it stands alone. Level nine is an entire stage of its own. It's called the Demi-God Stage," Elder Rooney said, taking in a cold breath as he let the weight of his words sink in.
Alex blinked, digesting this new information. The words "Demi-God Stage" rang in his ears. After a moment, his curiosity got the better of him. "So... is there a level ten?" he asked, a hint of eagerness in his voice.
Elder Rooney seemed to consider something deeply before answering. His expression shifted slightly, and he spoke slowly, almost carefully. "There is a level ten," he said. "Those who reach this level are called Divine Beings, gods, or goddesses. They are so rare that only nine have ever been recorded to exist," Elder Rooney added, his tone almost reverent.
For a few seconds, the room fell into silence. Alex, sitting there, was given a chance to let everything sink in. He felt the weight of the knowledge pressing down on him, the enormity of what Elder Rooney had just explained. His mind raced as he tried to grasp the concept of gods and goddesses walking among them.
After some time, though, Alex raised his head and looked around at the others in the room. "So... what level are you guys at?" he asked, genuinely curious.
The moment the words left Alex's mouth, the atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. The faces of everyone present—Elder Rooney, Gwen, Merrick, and Tamsin—changed in an instant. Their expressions turned grim and heavy, almost sad.
Alex noticed it right away. The sudden shift in their demeanor made him uneasy, and he wondered if he had asked something wrong. His eyes darted between them, searching for answers in their silence.
"Did I... say something wrong?" Alex asked hesitantly, his voice quieter now.