The Origin Of Hell-Borns& The Power Ranking System

As Instructor Kroos's lecture unfolded, a strange mix of clarity and new confusion swept through me—and judging by the glances exchanged across the room, my classmates felt the same. The history we'd just heard was vast and unsettling, peeling back the layers of our world to reveal something much darker than we'd ever imagined.

A boy sitting at the front raised his hand hesitantly. "Instructor Kroos, is it because of Hell's creation that the Hell-Borns roam Main Earth?"

Kroos gave a small, tight smile, the kind that hinted at deeper complexities. "No... and yes," he replied, a cryptic answer that left many of us frowning.

He pressed on; his voice low but firm. "We're all aware that Hell-Borns originate from Hell. But here's the thing—they were never meant to roam our world. In fact, they weren't supposed to exist at all, not in any corner of the universe. Their existence stems from a cataclysmic event, something no one foresaw, something triggered by one of the Seven Generals of the Devil himself."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as Kroos continued. "During the infamous Cosmic War, the Devil led an army against the Creator. Among his forces stood seven generals—powerful beings, each the equal of the Creator's mightiest warriors. When the war ended, the Devil's army was scattered, and the generals vanished without a trace. For a long time, we believed the threat was over. But much later—long after the Creator entered his deep slumber—one of those generals resurfaced. His return ignited a second war. Though smaller in scale, it had devastating consequences: he tore open the Gates of Hell, creating a rift between realms and allowing Hell-Borns to spill into the multiverse, including Main Earth."

A shiver ran through me at the sheer weight of that revelation.

"The story doesn't end there," Kroos added. "This general was eventually defeated by the strongest god of the Order. He was sealed away using the ancient Seal Secret Arts—arts so powerful they were said to be devised by the greatest master in the White Clad."

Those last words triggered a flicker of memory. My guardian used to boast—endlessly—about being a disciple of the universe's greatest seal master. At the time, I dismissed it as exaggeration, but now... now I wasn't so sure. Maybe there was more truth in his claims than I'd given credit for.

From the side of the room, Nana raised her hand, her expression serious. "Sir, if they could seal the general, couldn't they also seal the Gates of Hell?"

Instructor Kroos shook his head solemnly. "Unfortunately, no. Even if all the strongest beings in the multiverse combined their power, they wouldn't be able to seal the gates completely. That's why the company exists: to manage and combat the Hell-Borns that emerge from Hell. It's far from an easy job. Those of us who are awakened face countless dangers in this fight. One of the greatest threats is Hell-Gas—an insidious force that wreaks havoc on the mind, leading to severe mental issues. This is one of the key reasons the Union Link made it mandatory for every newly awakened individual, young or old, to undergo this rigorous school system. We need to prepare you—thoroughly—before you can fully engage in paranormal operations."

Kroos's eyes swept across the room, his expression sharpening. "One of the most crucial things you all need to understand as newly awakened is the power level system," he began. "It's this system that defines where each person stands in the field."

He turned to the side and tapped the holographic screen, which flared to life, displaying a detailed list that seemed to glow with quiet authority.

"The ranking system is structured like this," he said, pointing as the tiers appeared one by one. "It begins with F Rank, followed by FF and FFF. Then comes E, EE, and EEE. After that, we move up to D, DD, and DDD; then C, CC, CCC; and so on—B, BB, BBB; A, AA, AAA. Afterward, we reach S Rank, SS, and SSS."

A ripple of excitement and apprehension passed through the room as Kroos's voice grew more serious.

"Beyond these, we have the elite tiers: Gold, Platinum, and the Legendary Rank. Achieving Legendary might seem like the pinnacle, but in truth, that's where your journey only truly begins. After Legendary, the real challenge starts as you step into realms known as the Mortal Realm and the Immortal Realm. And beyond even those lie the stages spoken of in myths: Demi-god and God."

He paused, letting the magnitude of the ranking system sink in, his gaze locking on us one by one.

"The path to true strength in the spiritual world is long, treacherous, and reserved for only the rarest talents," he said. "It's a dangerous journey—one where only a few ever rise beyond the highest mortal ranks. But make no mistake: the most critical stages, the ones you'll see most often in our company, are from F Rank up through Legendary. This is the battlefield where nearly everyone fights—and where you'll need to prove yourselves if you hope to ascend any higher."

Kroos stepped back from the screen, his tone final. "Remember: the ranking system is more than just numbers or letters. It's a reflection of your growth, your determination, and your will to survive in this world."

I raised my hand, the question pressing too hard to keep inside. "So, sir, how exactly does this power system relate to the Trainee levels we'll be assigned as we progress through this school system?"

Kroos's eyes flicked to me, and he gave a curt nod. "Good question. But to be clear—it doesn't relate at all," he said bluntly. "You could be at EEE Rank and still only hold the status of a Level 1 Trainee."

A ripple of confusion passed through the class.

"The reason for this," Kroos explained, folding his arms across his chest, "is that the Union Link isn't just looking for raw strength. We're not interested in people who operate purely on ego or ideals that clash with the mission of the Order. This system is designed to assess more than power—we're also measuring mindset. We want to ensure that newly awakened individuals are cooperative, responsible, and won't turn their abilities toward selfish or destructive purposes."

He paused, his gaze darkening slightly. "We've seen too many cases in the past where things went wrong—even after this system was put in place. One prime example is the incident caused by the Izana Heir, which plunged their entire clan into its current struggles."

His words sparked a sudden memory. I thought back to what one of the Iroha had said before their attack: that the Izana family had suffered a disastrous event that nearly destroyed them. I'd noticed something in Shizu's eyes before—the weight she carried, the shadow that seemed to follow her every move. She'd hinted at it once, right before the exam began. Back then, I hadn't cared enough to dig deeper. But now, with Kroos mentioning the Izana incident again, curiosity gnawed at me harder than ever.

"The Trainee system works like this," Kroos continued, bringing my attention back. "Once a newly awakened individual passes the Paranormal Officer Candidate Exam, they start at Level 0. From there, as they complete school assignments and engage in missions—whether assigned by the Union Link or their company—they earn what we call Value Points."

He gestured toward the screen, where bullet points appeared, marking each stage.

"These points are awarded based on your mission performance and your overall progress here at school. The levels progress up to five, and Level 3 is the critical milestone. Reaching Level 3 is the minimum requirement to qualify for the Main Exam, which will take place three years from now."

Kroos's tone turned sharper. "You are expected to level up past Level 3 before the three-year deadline. Fail to do that, and you'll be required to repeat the cycle—another three years. However," he added with a sly smile, "for those of you who manage to reach Level 5 by the end of the third year, there's a special opportunity. You'll be summoned to take the Main Exam directly at the Union Link headquarters. Be warned, though—the test there will be far tougher than the standard one. But the rewards?" He paused for effect. "The rewards will be far greater as well."

A girl seated near the back raised her hand. "Sir, is it possible to level up higher than Level 5?"

Kroos's eyes gleamed, as though he'd been waiting for that question. "Yes," he said. "In fact, during the Golden Era, there were individuals—monsters, really—who surpassed Level 5. Some even pushed past Level 7. The record? Level 10."

The entire classroom erupted in shock. Gasps, whispers, and disbelieving stares filled the space.

I wasn't too familiar with the so-called Golden Era, but one thing became immediately clear: earning points to level up was no simple task. The idea that someone had climbed all the way to Level 10 as a Trainee was nothing short of astonishing.

"For those monsters," Kroos went on, "their accomplishments earned them a seat at the exam held by the Order itself. And let me be clear: the beings that make up the Order are beyond anything you've imagined. The honor of being called into that exam? The fame it brings? The rewards? All of it—utterly out of this world."

He glanced at the clock, and his lips twitched in a slight smirk. "But that's the kind of dream you're all allowed to have. For now, keep your feet on the ground."

With that, he turned and made his exit, vanishing almost theatrically, leaving the room buzzing with excited chatter. Groups began forming as people huddled to discuss everything they'd just heard, while others quietly slipped away, deep in thought.