Beast Tiers

The clearing was still quiet after the fight. The blood-soaked ground gave off a faint smell, and the Kiba-hound's lifeless body lay in the middle of it. Mono and the others hadn't spoken much since Sensei's strange action. They watched him closely, unsure of what was happening.

Sensei, kneeling next to the beast, didn't seem rushed. His hand moved carefully inside the creature's body. The sight of his arm buried in the flesh made the disciples uneasy. They looked at each other but didn't say anything. Their breathing had slowed, but the weight of the moment was heavy.

Mono stood straighter, his grip firm on his sheathed sword. 'He knows something,' Mono thought. 'Something we don't.'

Sensei pulled his arm out slowly. His hand was coated in thick, dark blood. In his palm, there was something strange. A pale, brown crystal that seemed to shine faintly, even in the dim light of the forest. He held it up slightly, letting the group see it.

"What is that?" Raiba asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Sensei didn't answer right away. He stood up carefully, looking at the crystal as if studying it. The way it shimmered made the disciples lean in slightly, curious despite themselves. Mono felt his chest tighten. 'It looks… important,' he thought.

Sensei finally looked at them, holding the crystal higher so they could see it better. "This," he said, his voice calm and steady, "is what remains of the beast's essence. The crystal holds its power, its life. What you fought was more than just flesh and blood. This is proof."

Hito raised an eyebrow, his exhaustion making his voice flat. "Proof of what?"

Sensei glanced at him briefly before turning his attention back to the crystal. "Proof of why beasts grow stronger," he explained. "Their rankings, their power—it's tied to these crystals. Every beast has one. Some shine brighter. Some grow duller. But these crystals show their strength."

He stepped closer to the group, still holding the crystal in his bloodied hand. "You should know," he said firmly, "that beasts are not equal. They follow ranks. These ranks show their level of power. But it's not just about strength—it's about how common they are. Some ranks are everywhere. Others are rare. Rare enough that some think they don't exist at all."

Mono's eyes narrowed slightly as he listened. 'Ranks,' he thought. 'I've heard about them, but I didn't know they had this kind of connection.'

Sensei lowered the crystal slightly, turning it as he spoke. "The lowest rank, Seed-tier, is the one you just fought. Seed-tier beasts are everywhere. They are the most common. You can find them in forests, plains, even caves. They're small, but dangerous if underestimated. That Kiba-hound was Seed-tier."

Raiba nodded, his grip loosening on his sword. "Makes sense," he said. "It felt dangerous, but it didn't seem impossible."

Sensei's gaze shifted toward him briefly. "Seed-tier beasts may be common," he said, "but they can still kill if you aren't careful. Don't forget that."

He paused, turning the crystal again. Its faint glow caught the light, almost pulling their attention to it. "The next rank," Sensei continued, "is Sprout-tier. These beasts are also common, but they're faster. They attack harder. Their instincts are sharper. You may think you're ready for them after fighting Seed-tier beasts, but you aren't."

Josei frowned slightly, her voice softer than usual. "Are they everywhere, too?"

Sensei nodded. "Yes. Sprout-tier beasts are in all kinds of places. They don't seem that rare, but they are harder to fight than Seed-tier. You'll know the difference when you face one."

Hito leaned forward slightly, still sitting on the ground. "What's after that?" he asked, his voice low but curious.

Sensei kept his focus on the crystal as he spoke. "Fledgling-tier," he said. "These beasts are different. They're smarter. They don't just attack—they plan. They use tricks. They watch you, looking for the right moment to strike. Fledgling-tier beasts are not as common as the first two ranks, but you will see them if you travel far enough."

Mono tightened his jaw slightly. 'Smarter beasts,' he thought. 'That could be trouble.'

Sensei let the group absorb the information before continuing. He stepped closer to the fallen Kiba-hound, still holding the crystal firmly. "Beastling-tier comes next," he said. "These creatures are larger. Stronger. Their attacks can break shields, destroy walls. They're rarer than Fledgling-tier, but not impossible to find. When you face one, you'll understand what true power looks like."

Raiba shifted nervously, adjusting his stance again. "I hope we don't see one anytime soon," he said, half-joking.

Sensei didn't react to his comment. Instead, he kept turning the crystal, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Titan-tier follows Beastling-tier," he said. "Titans are massive. They crush everything in their way. They're rare, but they make their presence known. You don't stumble upon a Titan—you feel it before you see it. If you're lucky, you'll never face one."

Hito's face paled slightly. "Massive?" he repeated. "How big are we talking?"

Sensei's gaze shifted toward him briefly, his eyes calm but sharp. "Enough to shake the ground as they move," he said simply. "Enough to make the air feel heavy."

The disciples exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Sensei's words sinking in. Mono stood quietly, his mind racing again. 'These ranks… they aren't just steps up in power,' he thought. 'They're something else entirely.'

Sensei finally looked back at the crystal, holding it slightly higher. "Colossus-tier comes after Titans," he said. "These beasts are even larger. Even stronger. They are near impossible to defeat. Colossus-tier beasts are so rare that many people will live their entire lives without seeing one. Be thankful for that."

Josei swallowed hard, her knuckles tightening on her sword again. "It sounds… too much," she said softly.

Sensei turned toward her briefly, his expression unreadable. "It is," he said. "You aren't ready to understand them yet."

Raiba frowned slightly, stepping closer to Mono. "What's after that?" he asked, his voice quieter now.

Sensei didn't answer right away. He let his gaze linger on the crystal. The faint light seemed to glow a little brighter as he turned it again. "Warlord-tier," he said finally. "These beasts don't just attack. They lead. They hunt with precision. You won't see them alone—they are always part of something bigger."

Mono's grip tightened slightly. 'Lead?' he thought. 'That means they're more than just beasts. They command others.'

Sensei continued without pausing. "Monarch-tier follows Warlords. These beasts are rulers. Territorial. They claim areas and protect them fiercely. Monarchs are rare. Very rare. If you see one, you are likely already too close. Turn back before it's too late."

The disciples stayed silent. The weight of the ranks was starting to sink in. Sensei lowered the crystal slightly, his movements slow.

"Celestial-tier comes after Monarchs," he said. "Beasts with abilities that don't make sense. Celestials are not bound by the rules of this world. They are so rare that some believe they aren't real. But they are. If you face one, there is only one choice—run."

Mono felt his chest tighten. 'Celestial,' he thought. 'What kind of beast doesn't follow the rules of the world?'

Sensei's voice grew quieter as he spoke again. "And at the top is Eternal-tier. The rarest of all. Beasts of legend. Only a few have ever been seen, and those who faced them didn't survive. Eternal-tier beasts are beyond understanding. Beyond anything you've ever heard of."

Hito shook his head slowly, disbelief written all over his face. "How… how can something like that exist?" he asked softly.

Sensei didn't answer. He held the crystal up again, letting its faint glow catch the light. The disciples' eyes followed the movement, their unease growing. Mono clenched his jaw, his mind full of questions.

Sensei turned the crystal in his hand one last time. "This crystal holds the essence of the beast," he said firmly. "And with it… comes its power."

He paused, lowering the crystal slightly. His gaze swept over the group. "The use of these crystals… that is something you must understand."

He stopped speaking, his focus fully on the crystal now. The disciples stood in silence, waiting for his next words. Mono tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing. 'The use?' he thought. 'What does he mean?'

The clearing grew quiet again, the weight of what was to come heavy in the air. Sensei didn't move, the pale brown crystal glowing faintly in his bloodied hand.