46. The Path of Warriors

Rain lay in bed, reflecting on the day. He had spent the entire day training at the virtual realism centre and later had dinner with Siobhan. Earlier, before lunch, he had cleared level 70 with relative ease, but level 71 had proven a real challenge—it had taken him 10 attempts to finally succeed. By 8 PM, he still couldn't defeat the level 72 opponent. The program had indicated that while he could handle a newly advanced middle D-rank opponent, once they gained more experience, they'd be beyond his current ability. 

Still, there was a silver lining—his agility had increased from 2 to 2.4, a noticeable improvement. Closing his eyes, he opened a book in his BIT interface to continue reading, as his Chip was still busy learning the Life Vine Shield technique for him. With no other option, he focused on the book about genetic warriors. After witnessing the intense battle between Lady Caldwell, head of the Hei family, and Francis' clones, his curiosity had driven him to better understand the differences between the various realms of genetic warriors.

As Rain continued to read, he began to grasp the core distinctions in strength and abilities between each genetic warrior realm.

1. **D-rank Genetic Warrior**: At this stage, genetic warriors can only use their genetic energy to create basic energy weapons, but they are unable to manipulate that energy once it separates from their bodies. When a D-rank genetic warrior reaches their limit, they face two options to break through to C-rank. The first is by taking another genetic medicine—an evolved version of the one they originally used to break through to D-rank. The second path is more profound: the warrior can fully comprehend the mysteries embedded in the genes of the radiation beast in their body. 

These mysteries represent only a fragment—at most 1%—of a far greater truth that exists in the world. To break through to C-rank, the warrior must grasp and understand a portion of this mystery that exceeds the initial 1% limit, unlocking deeper insights into their genetic potential.

2. **C-rank Genetic Warrior**: At C-rank, genetic warriors gain the ability to absorb the world's ambient energy and can manipulate their genetic energy even when it is separated from their bodies. Progressing within the C-rank requires a deep understanding of the "rules" of the world.

- **Breaking through to middle C-rank**: A warrior must comprehend one specific rule of the world, gaining insight into how it governs their abilities.

- **Advancing to late C-rank**: The warrior needs to understand either a complementary or an opposite rule to the one they initially comprehended, creating balance or contrast within their powers.

- **Reaching peak C-rank**: At this stage, the warrior must combine the two previously comprehended rules into a cohesive whole, mastering both in unison.

To break through to **B-rank**, a warrior must further refine the combined rules to the point where they can form a "field," an energy domain governed by those rules. Once the field is formed, they have two options: they can either take a B-rank genetic medicine to advance, or they can continue refining the combined rules to such an extent that they achieve a natural breakthrough to B-rank without the need for external medicine.

3. **B-rank Genetic Warrior**: At B-rank, genetic warriors unlock the ability to manifest an **Avatar**, which is an energy form resembling the radiation beast from the genetic medicine they used. This Avatar can act as a clone, or the warrior can combine with it to temporarily boost their strength by tenfold. Additionally, with the aid of their field (formed from the rules they comprehend), B-rank warriors can fly for brief periods.

To advance through the ranks of B-rank, a warrior must continue to comprehend the **mysteries** of the world, gradually refining their understanding until they form a **domain** based on that mystery. This domain is a crucial requirement for breaking through to A-rank.

However, there are **three key steps** to successfully advance to A-rank:

1. **Form a Domain**: Comprehend a mystery to such a degree that it manifests as a personal domain, an advanced form of their field.

2. **Open the Spirit Gate**: If the spirit gate was not opened before reaching D-rank, the warrior must now unlock it. After opening the spirit gate, they must journey inward until they find where their soul resides, further deepening their spiritual connection.

3. **Body Transformation**: The warrior's physical body must transform into a form capable of switching between an **energy form** and a **material form**, making them far more versatile and powerful.

These three steps are the foundation needed to advance to A-rank and unlock even greater potential.

4. **A-rank Genetic Warrior**: A-rank genetic warriors possess the extraordinary ability to **regenerate any part of their body**, including their brain, effectively eliminating any physical weaknesses. Additionally, they gain the power to **defy planetary gravity**, granting them the ability to fly freely. 

To advance through the A-rank:

- **Peak A-rank** is reached by comprehending a mystery to its fullest extent—**100% mastery** of a specific mystery.

- **Title A-rank** is a step beyond. This rank is achieved by creating an entirely **new mystery** that does not exist on the planet, an unparalleled feat of comprehension and creativity.

The book then notes that **genetic energy control** is not covered in detail, as it is considered basic knowledge for any genetic warrior by this stage. The **Title A-rank** is regarded as the pinnacle of the A-rank realm, with no further guidance provided on how to transcend it. The author encourages readers to explore and discover what lies beyond A-rank themselves, so that the author can later document these discoveries in future works.

After finishing the book, Rain decided to delve deeper into his soul space. Upon entering, he noticed that the spinning circle within his soul space barrier had vanished, leaving behind a strange black oval, almost like a mirror against the white backdrop of the soul barrier.

Intrigued, Rain observed the black oval carefully like a door leading to another place . It had grown larger, and where his soul space had once been purely white, this new black door existed replacing the spinning circle. Curious and cautious, he used his spirit to probe the black space, searching for any sign of danger or understanding what this mysterious presence might be. To his surprise, Rain discovered that the black space wasn't harmful but rather a door. 

As his spirit passed through, Rain found himself in another location. This place was eerily similar to his own soul space, with a white barrier, behind him the black door , and a soul at its centre—but the soul space was much smaller. The soul, however, was motionless, and Rain quickly realized that this wasn't his own space. It appeared to belong to another individual, likely the one who had absorbed his thoughts earlier. The soul barrier was healed, suggesting the person was still unconscious, perhaps recovering from an injury.

Contemplating his next course of action, Rain decided to make contact with the foreign soul, touching it with his spirit. The moment he did, a torrent of memories from the other soul flooded into him, overwhelming his mind with their sheer volume and intensity. Without the chip's protection to regulate the flow, Rain was instantly overwhelmed, and the surge of memories knocked him unconscious.

---

The grand ballroom gleamed under the light of a crystal chandelier, casting a warm glow over the elegant gathering. Through the expansive windows on one side, the vibrant colours of a rose garden could be seen, while on the other side, a serene lake was framed by towering trees. The room buzzed with conversation, as well-dressed guests mingled, glasses of drinks in their hands. 

Suddenly, a loud clap echoed, cutting through the hum of voices and drawing all eyes toward its source. Secretary Jose stepped forward, commanding the room's attention. "Everyone here knows who I am, so I'll spare you the introductions," he began smoothly. "This dinner party has been organized to collect donations for our brave army, who are currently fighting against the vile forces of the Black Tower. While their wages come from the capital, they're out there, risking their lives to protect *our* mine. I've taken it upon myself to establish a pension plan for the families of every soldier who falls in defence of our interests."

Whispers of surprise and unease rippled through the crowd. Diaz, frowning, spoke up. "What are you talking about, Jose? Have you lost your mind? Throwing a party while there's a war raging outside? These soldiers are defending their master's mine, not ours! Your words could get us all killed!"

The murmurs grew louder as a woman with striking golden hair joined in, her voice sharp with indignation. "He's right! You've truly gone mad. Seventy percent of that mine belongs to Spark Central City, and we only hold thirty percent."

Jose remained unfazed, his voice calm and calculated. "You're right, Madelyn—if our city were still a Tier 2 city. But we're on the verge of being promoted to Tier 1. And according to Spark Technology's regulations, a Tier 1 city controls everything within a 1,000-kilometer radius. That mine? It's well within our territory now."

Elswell, narrowed her eyes as if piecing together a puzzle. "A Tier 1 city requires one A-rank genetic warrior and two B-ranks to qualify," she said, her voice laced with scepticism.

Before she could continue, Leonard, standing nearby, spoke with a confident nod, stealing the moment. "We already have two B-rank genetic warriors—Lord Hei Shun and Sylvia. All we need is the A-rank to secure our claim."

At Leonard's statement, the crowd turned toward Jose, their gazes filled with curiosity and suspicion, as if they were collectively holding their breath for confirmation of their suspicions. Jose met their eyes, a knowing smile spreading across his face. 

Just then, the lights in the ballroom dimmed, casting the room in shadow. In their place, a glowing holographic display materialized in the center, flickering to life and commanding the attention of every guest.

The display began playing a video, immersing the audience in scenes from the outside world. A snow-covered forest came into view, followed by a small town filled with soldiers in the unmistakable uniforms of Spark Technology. The footage showed tanks and armored cars making their way through the dense forest toward the town from the west.

As the video continued westward, something extraordinary appeared in the sky: a flash of purple light. The radiation clouds overhead parted, allowing sunlight to break through, illuminating the snowy landscape below. The purple light traveled swiftly toward the town before stopping, revealing a man dressed in a black robe, standing still and staring eastward.

The video panned slowly, revealing the target of the robed man's focus. The camera zoomed in on a figure seated high above the clouds, as if the vapor had solidified into a throne beneath him. The man sat there, exuding a quiet yet commanding presence. Instantly recognizable, the figure left no doubt in anyone's mind.

When the video abruptly stopped, the ballroom fell into stunned silence. Faces that had been joyful moments before now wore expressions of shock and fear. Some had gone pale at the sight, and a whisper passed through the crowd: "Lord Martin and A rank."

Jose cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "I know we were all enjoying ourselves, but there is an urgent matter to address. Lord Martin has issued instructions. In one month, a fighting contest will be held with three categories: under 20 years old, under 50 years old, and under 100 years old. Every genetic warrior who meets the requirements must participate."

He paused, letting the weight of the announcement sink in. "The top five from each category will receive special training from the city for five years, preparing them to compete in the Spark Genius Battle. This is our chance to bring glory to our city." 

Jose raised his glass. "Now, let's cheer for Lord Martin! and for our city."