"In the world of Aris, physiques are generally divided into five ranks."
Kevin’s voice echoed through the hall as the long hours of waiting continued.
With Sera still enclosed within the cocoon formed by the World Tree, there was little anyone could do except wait for the awakening to complete. The atmosphere had gradually relaxed over time, and the girls of the group, Katherine, Kara, and Leila, had naturally gathered around Kevin after discovering that he possessed an endless supply of stories and knowledge.
Kara, Katherine, and Leila sat nearby, listening attentively as Kevin explained the subject of physiques. Their curiosity was obvious from the way they leaned forward and occasionally interrupted him with questions.
William remained a short distance away, listening with mild interest.
Most of what Kevin was saying was already known to him, either through the novel or through information he had gathered from the system. Still, hearing a native of this world explain the concepts offered a different perspective.
"There is no perfectly framed classification system," Kevin continued. "Everything we know is what has been taught at the academy for years; all this knowledge was incorporated by either the current primarchs or previous ones before them.
However, the academy has always followed a fairly simple classification, and according to that, physiques are separated into five major ranks."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The emergence of a powerful physique can have an enormous impact on a cultivator’s future growth. In some cases, a physique alone can completely change the path a person walks throughout their life."
The girls listened carefully.
"The lowest rank is simply the racial physique that everyone possesses."
Kevin raised a finger.
"There is not much mystery behind this one. Every race possesses natural advantages. Those advantages are essentially classified as their racial physique."
He gestured casually toward Selena and the surrounding elves.
"If you are born an elf, your body will naturally possess greater agility than most races. Elves also tend to have stronger affinities toward elements such as nature, light, and rune elements."
"Nature affinity makes it easier to pursue paths such as alchemy and herbalism, while rune affinity opens doors toward professions like rune master or artificer."
Kevin smiled.
"That is one of the reasons why you find so many elves working in those professions."
The girls nodded in understanding.
"The racial physique of dragons grants them tremendous physical strength and extraordinary defensive capabilities. Phoenixes possess bodies with low-density flesh and bones suited for flight and speed. Titans naturally possess immense vitality and strength, and so on. Every race begins with some form of advantage."
"After that comes the Special Rank."
Kevin crossed his arms.
"Across every race, there are certain ancient bloodlines and noble families that possess unique traits passed down through generations. Those traits provide advantages beyond what ordinary members of their race can achieve."
"Some possess specific elemental affinities, while others inherit unique physical characteristics or special abilities."
"Their physiques are categorized as special rank. There is a high chance of nobles or royals possessing special physiques."
William quietly listened while recalling Katherine’s situation.
The blood she had consumed had belonged to a Royal Fire Dragon.
That dragon’s physique had clearly surpassed the ordinary racial rank, placing it within the Special Rank category.
Even now, William had no idea how Katherine’s mother had managed to obtain something as valuable as the blood of a Royal Dragon.
His thoughts naturally drifted toward his own physique that he got from the feedback.
The True Fire Dragon Physique.
Sometimes he genuinely wondered whether such a dragon had actually existed in history or whether the physique had become what it was solely because of the system’s hundredfold amplification.
Given the absurd nature of the system, either possibility seemed plausible.
Kevin’s voice pulled him back to reality.
"The rank above Special is known as the True Rank."
The professor’s expression became noticeably more serious.
"This rank is very different."
"A true physique is created by a being when its existence reaches extraordinary heights. Through cultivation, evolution, and refinement, their body transforms into something unique."
He slowly paced while speaking.
"The physique becomes so exceptional that it stands apart from all others. After such an individual dies, only a handful of people can inherit that legacy."
"Their physique may be passed down through fragments of essence, special treasures, or other unique methods."
The girls stared with widened eyes.
"To put it simply, a true rank physique is the legacy of someone who once stood at the very peak of their era."
William glanced toward the cocoon hanging among the branches of the World Tree. According to the novel, Sera was expected to awaken a true-rank physique today.
The exact physique she received depended entirely upon the World Tree’s choice.
Unlike many races, elves possessed a unique relationship with their ancestral tree.
Whenever an elf died, their body was placed within special burial pods created from the roots of the World Tree and then buried underneath it. Over countless generations, the tree absorbed their remains, preserving traces of their essence within itself.
Many believed the World Tree carried fragments of countless powerful elven warriors and heroes.
That was why it possessed the ability to bestow inheritances.
And in the original story, it had granted Sera a True Rank Physique.
Kevin continued his explanation: "Beyond the True Rank lies the Ancient Rank."
The moment he said those words, even William became more attentive.
"Ancient rank physiques are exceptionally rare."
Kevin’s voice carried unusual gravity.
"These physiques originate from the most ancient ancestors of a lineage. We are not talking about someone 30 or 40 generations back but almost at the cusp of a great change in the bloodline, maybe tracing hundreds of generations back."
"We are talking about legendary progenitors whose names have survived for thousands or even tens of thousands of years."
The girls unconsciously straightened.
"This is where the true difference begins."
Kevin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"An ancient rank physique is not merely a collection of abilities."
"It is the destiny of the bearer."
"A fragment of an existence that once shook the world."
The atmosphere around the group became noticeably quieter.
"Those who awaken such physiques gain access to powers that cannot be learned through conventional cultivation. The physique itself guides them toward abilities unique to that ancient existence."
"The moment an ancient-rank physique awakens, a person’s life changes forever."
Kevin slowly raised a finger.
"Some scholars even believe that the new bearer inherits the unfinished purpose of the previous owner."
"The legends claim that the successor must eventually fulfill the previous holder’s unresolved wishes, ambitions, or missions."
"Woah!"
Katherine’s eyes widened.
"So if they fail to do that, does the physique disappear?"
She hesitated before asking another question.
"Or does the previous owner haunt them?"
Kevin suddenly smiled. A mischievous smile.
Kevin placed a finger against his lips.
"Shhh."
He slowly leaned closer toward the girls. His voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper.
"Well... there hasn’t been a confirmed Ancient Rank Physique holder for a very long time."
"So nobody really knows."
The girls leaned closer despite themselves.
"But if the stories are true..."
Kevin paused dramatically.
"There exists the horrifying possibility that the original owner could eventually seize control of the successor’s body."
Silence followed.
Three horrified expressions immediately appeared on the faces of the three girls.
For several seconds nobody spoke.
Then Selena’s amused voice shattered the atmosphere.
"Relax, girls." She rolled her eyes.
"This idiot simply enjoys terrifying children."
Kevin immediately looked offended. "I am providing educational information."
"You are making things up."
"I am proposing possibilities."
"You are just scaring them."
William silently nodded with a chuckle.
The girls also appeared far less frightened after Selena’s interruption.
Meanwhile, the cocoon remained unchanged. Hours had already passed since the awakening began.
No new developments had occurred. Despite the apparent calm, William remained vigilant.
His omniscient eyes had been active the entire time.
Periodically, he spent SP to check Sera’s condition through the Supreme System. Every report reassured him that she was stable.
Orion had repeatedly informed him that there was nothing wrong. Yet William refused to lower his guard.
Not just him, Selena was going through her own battles in her mind.
The awakening was too critical. One unexpected complication could change everything.
"Professor," Leila suddenly asked, "what is the final rank?"
Kevin smiled. "The Divine Rank."
The answer immediately captured everyone’s attention.
"Divine rank physiques are among the greatest mysteries in existence."
Kevin’s expression became thoughtful.
"No one truly understands where they come from. Some believe they originate from gods. Others think they are miracles created by the world itself."
"Whatever the truth may be, our knowledge about them is extremely limited."
He looked toward the ceiling as if recalling something.
"The only consistent thing ever observed is that the world itself seems to announce their arrival. Apparent signs begin appearing before the physique awakens."
"Strange events occur, prophecies emerge. and the beings related to the physique start giving hints."
The girls listened in complete fascination.
Kevin eventually nodded.
"Take Galeion, for example."
"The day he was born, the River Goddess appeared in the dreams of every member of the Titan race."
The girls blinked.
"Every single one?" Kara asked.
Kevin nodded. "Every single one, and according to the records, she delivered a message."
"What message?" everyone asked simultaneously.
Kevin shrugged helplessly.
"Nobody knows."
The girls stared at him.
"Nobody knows?"
"Nope." Kevin spread his hands.
"She spoke in an ancient Titan language that nobody currently understands."
A long silence followed.
"What the heck?" Kara’s face twisted into a strange expression.
"So everyone just assumed it was related to a divine physique?"