Chapter 48: A New Rank and a New Threat
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The air crackled with tension as the Vantore family elders loomed over the battlefield. Their leader, a tall, imposing man with red eyes, stepped forward, his aura exuding immense power. He was clearly at the top of his rank, far beyond the level of ordinary fighters.
"You've caused enough trouble for us, boy," the leader said, his gaze fixed on Dabi. "The Vantore family doesn't tolerate insolence."
Dabi felt the overwhelming pressure of their presence but stood his ground, focusing on his newfound strength. He had leveled up, gaining more power, and it was time to use it.
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System Notification
Ding! You have allocated 12 Stat Points to Agility!
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Dabi's Correct Stats (Level 49):
Strength: 73
Agility: 70 (+10 from the ring)
Endurance: 68
Intelligence: 68
Mana: 450
Memory: 54
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Dabi could feel the change immediately. His body felt lighter, his reflexes sharper, and the flow of his movements more fluid than ever before. His agility was now a force to be reckoned with.
But as he prepared to face the new threat, Raghnall Ferrin, the headmaster of Astral Heaven Academy, stepped in front of him. His calm, commanding presence filled the battlefield.
"Enough," Raghnall said, his voice cold but steady. "This fight ends now."
The Vantore family leader, whose name was Garrick Vantore, gave a dark chuckle. His red eyes scanned Raghnall dismissively before his gaze shifted back to Dabi. "So, the great fallen saint finally decides to show his face," Garrick mocked, his tone dripping with arrogance. "I thought you were done playing the hero after your little 'accident.'"
Raghnall's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't rise to the bait.
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The Ranking System Introduced
Dabi, his friends, and even Reniel listened closely as Garrick's words hung in the air. The concept of Ranks was something every warrior aspired to achieve in their world. From the moment someone crossed Level 50, they entered a new stage of power and prestige, marked by Ranks. The ranks were as follows:
1. Gatekeeper (Level 50–99)
Mastery over basic dimensions and portals.
2. Riftwalker (Level 100–149)
Ability to traverse dimensional rifts with ease.
3. Abyssal Knight (Level 150–199)
Skilled in battling within the depths of dimensional chaos.
4. Master (Level 200–299)
Command over complex dimensional energies.
5. Grandmaster (Level 300–399)
Command over entire dimensions and the entities within.
6. Voidbreaker (Level 400–499)
Breaks through the boundaries of the void, on the verge of transcendence.
7. Saint (Level 500+)
Transcendent beings that have fully mastered the void and all dimensions.
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As the ranks were laid out, Dabi's heart raced. He turned to his friends, who were equally wide-eyed. "Did you know about this?" Dabi asked, shocked.
"No! I thought the highest rank was Grandmaster," one of his friends exclaimed, their eyes darting between Dabi and Raghnall.
"Wait," another friend interjected, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Are you saying that Garrick Vantore is a Voidbreaker? That's insane! He's on the cusp of becoming a Saint!"
Dabi nodded, feeling the weight of the situation. "And Raghnall was a Saint too," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "But now… he's a fallen saint."
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The Confrontation
Garrick's red aura flared as he prepared to attack, but Raghnall responded in kind. Despite his injury, the headmaster unleashed a fraction of his true strength, the ground cracking under the pressure of his energy. The sheer force of his power caused the weaker members of the Vantore family to take a step back, their faces filled with shock.
"You're not as invincible as you think, Garrick," Raghnall said, his voice low but filled with authority. "And you will not harm Dabi or anyone under my protection."
Garrick sneered. "Protection? You couldn't even protect your own body, let alone this brat."
Raghnall didn't respond to the insult. Instead, he raised his hand, and a massive wave of pressure flooded the battlefield. The sheer weight of Raghnall's power was undeniable, even in his weakened state. For a moment, it felt as if the air itself had been squeezed tight, leaving no room to breathe.
Garrick's eyes narrowed, and though he still wore a smug expression, Dabi could sense a slight hesitation. The power differential between Garrick and the headmaster might not have been as wide as Garrick believed.
Seeing this, the elders of the Vantore family stepped forward, their combined power creating a wall of energy behind Garrick. It was clear they were prepared to back him up, even if it meant clashing with Raghnall.
But before things could escalate further, one of the Vantore family's elders stepped forward, placing a hand on Garrick's shoulder. "We've made our point, Garrick," the elder said quietly. "Let it go. We don't want to start a war here."
Garrick clenched his jaw, his pride wounded, but he finally nodded. "Very well," he said, his voice cold. "But mark my words, this isn't over. The Vantore family never forgets."
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A Temporary Truce
With that, the Vantore family withdrew, leaving behind an air of tension and unresolved conflict. As they disappeared into the distance, Raghnall let out a breath, the pressure in the air dissipating along with his power.
Dabi, still shaken but standing firm, turned to the headmaster. "Thank you… for stepping in."
Raghnall nodded, but his expression remained serious. "You've made powerful enemies today, Dabi. Be cautious. The Vantore family may have retreated for now, but they won't forget this."
Dabi's heart pounded, the weight of Raghnall's words sinking in. He had defeated Reniel and held his own against some of the strongest warriors he had ever faced, but the threat of the Vantore family loomed larger than ever.
As he reflected on everything that had just happened, Dabi knew one thing for certain: he would need to grow stronger—much stronger—if he wanted to survive in
this world. The fight was far from over, and the challenges ahead were only going to get more dangerous.
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