Rank is Power

After meticulously compiling my grandmother's notes and delving into books like Modern Wizardry World Ranks Classification by Bathilda Bagshot, I realized just how far removed this world was from the Harry Potter I knew. The power scale here wasn't merely exaggerated, it was terrifying.

Every wizard in this world is associated with a rank, which they achieve through rigorous tests, demonstrations of specific qualifications, or endorsements from recognized authorities. These ranks exist independently of one's profession, though certain occupations, such as Aurors, enforce minimum rank requirements. The ranking system is divided into ten tiers, each denoting increasing levels of magical mastery:

Rank 1: Novice. This rank encompassed any student entering a magical school. Characterized by a basic knowledge of spells.

Rank 2: Adept. A graduate who has passed their O.W.L.s. Proficient in standard magical subjects.

Rank 3: Wizard. A graduate who has passed their N.E.W.T.s. Capable of independent magical research and advanced spellcasting.

At this stage, wizards are considered competent but remain within the bounds of conventional spellwork. It is only beyond this level that the true gulf between individuals becomes apparent.

Also, prior to graduating, a student was forbidden from taking a test to qualify for a higher rank. 

Rank 4: Magus. Requires mastery over at least one elemental magic and one discipline. A step beyond traditional wizardry, Magus begin to develop unique approaches to spellcraft.

Rank 5: Archmagus. Requires mastery over at least two elemental magics and two disciplines. At this level, wizards can blend multiple schools of magic, creating devastating synergies.

Magi and Archmagi mark the beginning of true magical specialists, those whose understanding of magic extends beyond academic knowledge and into deeper, instinctive control.

Rank 6: Warlock . Achieved by fusing one elemental magic and one discipline into a seamless, higher-level practice. Warlocks defy conventional spell classifications, their magic adapting to their will rather than adhering to predefined formulas.

This is where magic ceases to be merely a tool and becomes an extension of the wizard themselves. Warlocks wield power that challenges the very laws of spellcasting.

Rank 7: Grand Warlock. Requires the fusion of at least two elemental magics and two disciplines. At this stage, wizards wield magic that no longer conforms to normal restrictions. Spells of different disciplines merge seamlessly, enabling reality-altering abilities.

Few reach this stage, and those who do are often the strongest wizards in their era, capable of single-handedly shifting the tides of battle.

Rank 8: Grandmaster. A wizard who has achieved ultimate fusion, allowing them to bend the fundamental laws of magic itself. Capable of large-scale magical feats, such as battlefield-wide spell manipulation or reality distortions.

Rank 9: Legend. Possesses complete mastery over all known elements and disciplines. Said to be capable of reshaping the environment on a national or global scale. These wizards stand among the titans of history, their power unshackled by the limits of most magic users.

At this level, wizards are spoken of in myths and legends, their names etched into history as forces of nature rather than mere mortals.

Rank 10: Supreme Sorcerer. Transcends all conventional magical classifications, existing as a force beyond wizardry. Can manipulate reality itself with no apparent restrictions.

This rank is more myth than fact. Only Merlin is supposed to have reached this level, though legends also suggest the Hogwarts Founders may have also ascended beyond mortal magic.

This ranking system shook me to my core. Not because of its complexity, but because of what it implied about power levels in this world.

In my original plan, I had aimed to reach a level comparable to Dumbledore or Voldemort from the Harry Potter canon as soon as possible. Here, however, they both stood as world-renowned Legends, wielding power that could annihilate cities with a mere gesture. Rumors claimed that if Merlin hadn't created runes and wards to stabilize the planet, a duel between two Legend-ranked wizards could have destroyed the Earth itself.

This wasn't a story about a Dark Lord terrorizing the populace with a handful of Avada Kedavra spells. This was a world where power escalated to near-apocalyptic levels.

What terrified me even more was learning that Voldemort and Dumbledore weren't unique. There were nine Legends alive today:

Two in America.

Two in Russia.

One in France.

One in Germany.

One in China.

One in Japan.

And one in Britain (Voldemort was believed to be dead).

This changed everything. My original plan of surviving Voldemort's resurrection was no longer sufficient. I couldn't merely hope to match Harry Potter's canonical foes, I needed to contend with monsters.

To make matters worse, power in this world came with another unexpected twist: longevity. As wizards broke through their innate limits, they extended their lifespans. Some of these powerful beings were rumored to live up to 300 years! That meant they had centuries to accumulate knowledge and refine their abilities.

I didn't have that luxury.

Voldemort's final downfall was set to occur when I turned 27, giving me less than two decades to rise to his level, or surpass it. If I failed, I wouldn't just lose my life. The entire wizarding world could crumble under the weight of a resurrected Voldemort.

Adding to my growing concerns was a passage I discovered in Rowena Ravenclaw's notes. It spoke of a path beyond elements and disciplines, something she called Principles and Laws, which were required to reach the true pinnacle of magic. However, Rowena had left a clear warning for her successor: One must not seek to understand Principles before mastering most elements and disciplines. She wrote that the mind must first be tempered by a broad foundation before delving into the fundamental forces that governed magic itself.

Those revelations left me with two choices:

Follow my original plan, a calculated, controlled gamble. Or take a more drastic, high-risk approach to bridge the insurmountable gap.

I didn't have to decide yet. But when the time came, I'd be ready.

For now, I steeled myself to face the grind ahead. Every step forward, every book studied, every spell mastered, every ounce of magic drained was a step closer to survival.

"I'll reach their level," I whispered to myself one sleepless night, staring at my scattered notes. "I'll make it happen!"

And if this world's Voldemort thought he could extinguish me before my time came, he was in for a surprise.

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Second chapter of the day as promised! One more later today. (2/3)

50 chapters ahead on Patreon (Suiijin): Chapter 55: The Nature of Power