Chapter 16.
"My boy… it was out of my hands."
Grandfather's voice softened, sorrow clouding his features. "You may not yet understand the affairs of adults, but in time, you will.
When you reach the pinnacle of Rank Nine, you will understand why my hands were tied."
His gaze drifted as painful memories resurfaced.
"During my isolation… that was when the Blood River Cult struck. The only ones capable of protecting her were your father and his disciple. But they were not strong enough."
Dax listened silently as his heartbeat thundered.
"Your mother possessed a rare constitution—the God vessel Body. Because of that, the Blood River Cult set their eyes upon her. And… tragedy followed."
The courtyard fell silent.
Dax's fists clenched so tightly they trembled. Genuine rage boiled within him—hot, violent, consuming.
The greed of the Blood River Cult infuriated him beyond reason.
How dare they?
He himself was greedy a greedy man but when that was directed at him. Against his family.
only carnage awaited.
Something clicked in his mind. Earlier, his grandfather had mentioned Micah being a Rank 9 Mage and a Rank 9 Aura Master.
At the time, the meaning escaped him. But now… He understood.
Nine ranks of power define the world.
Mana users must complete nine cycles—each one a rebirth of the core.
Aura users must burn their bodies nine times—each reforging their flesh and bone.
Only at the Ninth Rank does one stand at the peak.
The power system of this word is very different from my original. He began to understand then he wondered what level solos was.
Dax forced himself to focus.
This was not the time to get lost daydreaming about the world's power levels. He was easily easily distracted—always analyzing, always calculating—but the fire of wrath burning in his chest anchored him to one truth:
The Blood River Cult would pay.
A stray thought struck him like cold lightning.
Those angels… they were stronger than Micah.
If Micah stood at Rank 9, yet Grandfather could crush him with a mere flicker of intent… then Grandfather was beyond the known pinnacle. And the angel who defeated Micah?
That was something else entirely.
This world never ceases to amaze me, Dax mused, a twisted excitement blooming within.
Beneath that thrill simmered his darker side—one born from death and rebirth. He thought of the Backrooms… that infinite prison housing the twisted creatures he once harvested from distorted worlds.
A beautiful idea surfaced.
Let those demons do what they know how to do best… and let the Blood River scream.
The smile that curled Dax's lips had nothing to do with humour.
"Grandfather… if you permit, I will take my leave."
A simple snap echoed through the chamber
space folded and the two returned to reality.
Dax stepped forward, each stride pounding with purpose.
The courtyard wind swirled around him as though sensing the storm he carried.
He did not look back.
—-
Dax sat alone in his courtyard chamber, shadows crawling along the walls like restless spirits. His mind replayed the battle with Solos in relentless detail.
That moment when he should have crushed his opponent when victory should have been absolute his body had failed to keep up.
That humiliation gnawed at him.
My power is there… but this body is too slow to accept it.
Even now, the flesh he wore trembled with untamed potential—his soul far outpacing the vessel that housed it.
"How do I force this adaptation?" he muttered, fingers tapping in frustration.
His mind sifted through memories as though flipping pages of a universe-sized catalog—
9,000 races he had studied, dissected, conquered, and evolved.
There had to be a solution.
Currently, his physical prowess was limited to that of a Trait Master, yet his true realm stood at that of a Trait Emperor.
Three great steps still separated him from fully reclaiming his throne—Trait Saint, Trait King, and finally, Trait Emperor in the flesh.
In his world, power rose through nine distinct stages:
1st — Trait Awakened
2nd — Trait Warrior
3rd — Trait Captain
4th — Trait General
5th — Trait Lord
6th — Trait Master
7th — Trait Saint
8th — Trait King
9th — Trait Emperor
Just as he sank deeper into thought, a silent disturbance tugged at his attention.
A tiny face a child with white hair, no older than four peeked through a crack in the door.
The moment she realized she'd been seen, her eyes widened in panic, and she bolted down the corridor at full speed.