Level.

A system used to quantify a person's strengh.

Although it is not absolute, a person with a higher level will in most case be stronger than a person with a lower level.

That is why everyone strive to increase their individual level.

Be that as it may, it is not that easy.

To increase your level you need to increase your stat.

And to do that you need to train your body to the maximum.

In this world, there is no such a thing as 'experience point'.

Meaning that there is no easy way to increase your level.

For example, trying to kill a weak monster a million of time would be completely meaningless.

Or, for another example, winning against a strong monster by 'luck' or by using a 'cowardly method' would also be meaningless.

Only by puting your life on the line and giving everything you've got will you be able to rise your level.

That is why, even rising by hundred level is extremely hard.

However, that is not all. For every five hundred level there is what we call a ‘wall’, and to break that ‘wall’ one need to ‘evolve’.

Moreover, it is said that the condition to ‘evolve’ differ for each person.

Due to that, in the human race, passing the first wall was near impossible.

That is also why no one in humanity was ever able to break past the third wall.

——————————————————————————————————————————————

Crysta Empire, Kain Sherman's mansion

Kain was sitting in his bed while staring at the ring on his finger.

“So beautiful.”

The people around him found it suspicious that he said those word toward such an ominous ring but they didn't dare to voice their thought.

After all, the one in front of them was Kain Sherman who was the son of a duke.

If he was displeased, they might even get executed.

*knock*knock*

At that moment, someone knocked on his room's door.

“Who is it?”

“Young master, Seiya has been baited”

Hearing those word, Kain began to smile.

Seiya.

That was the name of his nemesis.

He was someone who has incurred his wrath.

He was someone that couldn't be left alive.

Yet, no matter who he sent after him, they all failed.

Moreover, he couldn't let his father know that a commoner has given him so much trouble.

That's why he had to kill him with his own hand.

Kain knew though, that he was no match for Seiya.

The last time he has confronted him, he was utterly beaten to a pulp.

However, this time will be different.

“This time I have been blessed”

Said Kain with a disgusting smile as he headed toward his prey.

★

Sherman's mansion, Arena.

The figure of a girl with both hand and feet cuffed could be seen in the middle of the Arena.

She was wearing tattered clothes, and was locked inside a cage.

However, all that was irrelevant to her because, right now, all her thought was directed toward a certain someone.

‘Seiya, please don't come here!’

She was prying so that the one she loved wouldn't come to save her.

Normally, she would have wished for the opposite, however, this time she didn't.

Why?

Because she didn't want her beloved to die because of her.

At the moment she saw the ring in kain's finger, she knew that even Seiya couldn't win.

‘That's why you shouldn't come here.’

However, it was hopeless thought.

She knew it very well. That the one she loved wouldn't abandon her.

That's the kind of person he was.

He would help people in need, no matter who it is without compensation.

He was like a Hero to her.

That's why, if he knew that she was in danger

‘He would come without hesitation.’

Sure enough, when she oppened her eyes, the figure of a handsome man could be seen running toward her alongside two beautiful girl.

“Maria! Are you alright!?”

“Did they do anything to you?!”

“Thank god you are safe”

The voice of three people full of worry was directed to her.

“Seiya, Chloé, Ellen...”

“We're here for you, Maria.”(Ellen)

“You don't need to be scared, anymore.”(Chloé)

“We'll definitely save you, so don't worry”(Seiya)

Maria's heart was happy that her friend had come to save her, but,

“No, you shouldn't... Please leave this place right now”(Maria)

“What are you saying. We won't abandon you here”(Seiya)

Saying that, Seiya approached the cage and tried to break the lock.

“No, no, please leave this place before he come”(Maria)

“Are you talking about Kain. Don't worry, if he do come, I'll just beat him”(Seiya)

“You don't understand! Right now, you can't beat him!”(Maria)

Maria began shouting, but Seiya didn't budge.

“Even so, I won't abandon you”(Seiya)

“You....”(Maria)

Maria was frustrated at Seiya's answer, but she couldn't retaliate to him anymore.

At that moment,

“Stuborn as always, huh, Seiya.”

Kain appeared from the entrance of the arena.

“Kain! you piece of shit!”(Seiya)

Seiya shouted angrily, while the two girl behind him sent death stare toward Kain.

However, Kain just laughed it off.

“What's so funny? Are you that confident in beating the three of us”(Seiya)

“That's right! Killing you three would be peace of cake with my artifact”(Kain)

Kain then showed the ring on his finger to Seiya.

Then a frown appeared on his forehead.

“Have you gone crazy! Take off that ring right now”(Seiya)

“You want me to take it off, you are the crazy one. This is a gift of god. If I don't use it, it would be an insult to god himself.”(Kain)

“A gift of god? Are you serious? No matter how I look at it, that thing come from the devil itself.”(Seiya)

“Devil!? How dare you?! As I thought I really need to kill you, Seiya!”(Kain)

As he said that, black aura began to engulf him.

★

At the same time, at the entrance of Kain's mansion.

A beatiful and luxurious carriage was there, however, no one was inside of it as the two people meant to there were standing in front of a beautiful girl.

“Is no, your answer”

One of the man said.

“I don't know who you are.”

The girl said.

“My name is Diall Sherman, girl. I am a noble. So, before you say no again, I hope you seriously consider marrying me”

“It is still a no.”

“Tsk. Wrong! Commoner you should know your place and obediently say yes! Carlo! Capture her!”

The man, Diall, adressed to the person behind him, who was visibly in his forties.

“Understood, Master”

In that instant, a malicious aura filled the entire area causing the three people to reflexively gaze toward the mansion behind them.

“Gluttony...”

The girl, Zero, muttered.

“What is that little brother of mine doing!? Carlo, I leave that girl in your hand. It seems I need to punish someone”

With these word, Diall dashed toward the mansion leaving the two people behind.

The old man returned his eye to match that of Zero.

“It is a pity but order are order. Sorry, young miss”

“Don't worry, you won't be able to capture me”

“Such confidence”

Then the bell rang out.