Struggling as a Villain - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Chapter 21- Ranks
There are three types of beings that reside in this world.

The weakest of all beings are known as humans. These are the non-awakened individuals who failed to ignite the ether within them when the world underwent its revolutionary change. These humans constitute nearly seventy percent of the planet’s population, living their lives without any special abilities or enhancements.

Next come the ether usersWith the advent of the Dark Star, a select few were awakened by this reality-defying phenomenon known as ether. Ether users can be both human and beast, their abilities enhanced and their strength amplified. The power they wield is determined by the flow of ether within them and the purity of their ether core.

Ether users are divided into various ranks,

Beginner-> F+ to E-

Trainee-> E+ to D-

Adept-> D- to C+

Master-> C+ to B-

Mage-> B+ to A-

Archmage-> A

Grandmaster-> S

Sage-> ???

The spells also adhere to a similar ranking system. The higher the count of ether produced for a spell, and the greater its complexity, the higher the spell is ranked.

One might assume that low-rank spells are only capable of killing a human or injuring a magician, but that is far from the truth. Even an E-ranked spell can be devastating enough to slaughter an entire group of magicians. The true power of a spell lies not only in its rank but in the mastery of the spellcaster wielding it.

A skilled magician can channel their ether with such precision and control that even the simplest of spells become lethal. This mastery transforms basic incantations into formidable weapons, capable of turning the tide in battle and wreaking havoc upon foes, regardless of their rank.

The process of refining one’s etherflow and solidifying their ether core can vary in individuals. However, the most common ones are repeated practice and some refining concoctions.

Now comes the strongest kinds—the ones who aren’t bound by any limits and those who belong to the same kind as the final boss.

When the Dark Star arrived in space, just parallel to this planet called Clion, a strange energy was being forced upon Clion that forced the living beings to change and adapt.

The force that descended was called Aembr.

Aembr is a malevolent force that gradually drives a living being into a state of madness. Those who fail to adapt to and resist the influence of Aembr eventually transform into entities that exist solely to satisfy their insatiable greed. This overwhelming greed can manifest in various forms, including an unquenchable desire for lust, an insatiable hunger for power, an uncontrollable urge for destruction, an endless pursuit of wealth, and much more. The insidious nature of Aembr ensures that those under its sway lose all sense of reason and morality, consumed entirely by their obsessive cravings for anything and everything.

Due to Aembr’s emergence, some humans were able to awaken a resisting force which helped them fight against the evil energy. And that resisting force is called Ether.

Only humans were the race who were able to resist Aembr without awakening and turning evil. However, Aembr constantly keeps on tormenting a non-awakened and as a result, a non-awakened lives up to only forty years of age at most.

Those beasts who couldn’t awaken Ether were enshrouded by the darkness and became Ambrobate.

There are several channels through which Aembr arrives on this planet and there is no way of getting rid of these connections…unless the Dark Star is destroyed. However, no one knows what consequences it would bring to Clion.

The major difference between an Ether-User and an Ambrobate lies in their magic sources. An Ether-User generates their magic internally, harnessing the power from within their own being. In contrast, an Ambrobate absorbs magic from its surroundings, drawing energy from the ambient environment. This fundamental distinction in how they access and utilize magic leads to significant differences in their potential power and capabilities.

An Ether-User’s magic is inherently more stable and consistent, as it is sourced from their internal reserves. This internal generation allows for precise control and the ability to perform complex spells with ease. However, they are limited by the amount of magic their body can produce and sustain, which can vary based on their training, health, and innate talent.

On the other hand, an Ambrobate’s ability to absorb magic from their surroundings can potentially give them access to vast amounts of power, especially in environments rich with magical energy. This external sourcing makes them highly adaptable and capable of drawing on immense strength in the right conditions. However, their power is also more volatile and dependent on external factors, which can make their magic-less predictable and harder to control.

Given these attributes, one could discern why Aembr users—those who can master both internal generation and external absorption of magic—could be far stronger than any other being. By combining the stable, controlled power of an Ether-User with the vast, adaptable energy of an Ambrobate, Aembr users have the potential to wield unparalleled magical force. This hybrid capability enables them to perform extraordinary feats of magic, making them formidable and revered figures in any magical society.

Based on their destructive power and the level of their sanity, Ambrobates are divided into these ranks;

Initiate -> Conduit-> Adult-> Disaster-> Mythical-> Monarch-> Deity.

Those Ambrobates who reach Deity class while retaining their mortality are the real threat to humans and Gods, since, humans don’t have the strength to fight against Deity class and Gods couldn’t interfere with the mortal realm.

As such, it becomes necessary for someone to take the mantle of defeating the ultimate danger before this world turns into dust.

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‘Haaaaah….what am I going to do?’ Sitting on a resting bench in the garden, Richard heaved a long sigh.

He was thinking about the final boss, the Monarch who can defy death and absorb the life force from other beings. Fighting someone who has the boon of absorbing half of their opponent’s powers is a real hassle.

In the final battle, from what Richard remembered, the King of Death had a grim reaper which he used to cultivate soul. It was a weapon which the Monarch obtained when he still was a believer in God. It was said that no one other than the Monarch could use that reaper.

However, the Protagonist was allowed to use it. The God who blessed the Monarch, cheated on him by granting the Protagonist a one-time use of that legendary weapon.

As such, the being who has already ascended to a Deity rank was defeated by a bunch of brats. Or so what was mentioned in the novel.

‘System, can you tell me how the King of Dead came out victorious?’

[Note: Host hasn’t achieved the required number of quests to access the information.]

‘And how many do I need?’

[Note: 5/50]

Richard raised his brows. Not because the requirement was very high—he expected such since the information he was searching for was quite vital and could prove to be a game-changer—but he was surprised because of the number of quests he had achieved.

‘Last I remembered I have only finished three quests?’

The system didn’t take time before feeding the response,

[Note: Quest points derive from the importance of the quest. A single quest which involves a great task could grant the host ten or so points at once.]

‘Damn….makes sense.’ Richard rubbed his chin and slowly nodded. This was useful information. If he could get data on the previous timeline through the system then he would be able to prepare better.

Currently, Richard is Adept-ranked; someone at D- considering his lack of efficiency. However, the vast amount of Ether he received in lineage allowed him to wield some of the most devastating spells.

Not to talk about his Elemental Ascension.

The reason why Richard was able to defeat Albert was because he somehow pulled the ultimate move.

Originally, Richard was able to unlock his Elemental Ascension when he was battling against the Protagonist. And as broken as this phenomenon was, even Ethan wasn’t able to defeat Richard.

Elemental Ascension makes a person pseudo-Ambrobate. Driven by strong emotions which lifts their limits and allows them to unite with the element they are proficient in.

‘It’s troublesome tho…I can’t let my emotions take over me and become a hulk all of a sudden…’ Richard sighed; clearly not happy because of his emotional instability.

He was about to get up and go back to his room and take a quick bath, when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps.

Turning to his left he found Lilia was advancing towards him with a slight frown on her face.

“Lilia.”

“Young master….there is someone whom the Dark Arrow has caught.”

Richard raised his brows and urged, “And…? Why does that concern me?”

Lilia’s frown deepened as she responded, “The spy they have caught, seems to have an affiliation with Albert.”

Now, this was worth his attention.

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A/N:- I had to take my time and plan things that’s why I took a day off. I would be consistent from here on. Thanks for reading.