Chapter 12: Levels Beyond Boundaries

Outside Orion's hut, Marcus had begun his initial training. He started with physical exercises like lifting stones and long-distance running, but his mind was still fixated on the rankings of the Martial World and the secrets of the power within him. One evening, after practice, as they sat by the fire, Marcus asked Orion.

"Orion, you told me about the five levels of the Martial World," Marcus said, his voice filled with curiosity. "From Apprentice to Legendary Level. Is there any power beyond these levels? Any level you didn't mention?"

Orion looked at the flames, a deep, distant glint in his eyes. He paused for a moment, as if lost in ancient memories.

"Marcus," Orion finally said, his voice slow and serious, "there are some powers in Alaria that don't fit into any known level. They are boundless, beyond rules."

Marcus furrowed his brow. "What does that mean?"

"It means that there are some beings whose power cannot be contained within the scope of normal rankings," Orion explained. "They are like natural disasters, or ancient gods."

Marcus immediately asked, "So, what level were Dracula and... Alpha Zephyr on?"

Orion looked into Marcus's eyes. "Dracula and Alpha Zephyr... they were Anomalies. No one knows what level they were on, because they didn't fit into any known classification."

Marcus was surprised. "No one knows? But how were they so powerful?"

"Their powers didn't come just from cultivation," Orion elaborated. "Dracula, he comes from an ancient and mysterious race, whose roots are believed to be older than Alaria itself. The source of his power isn't just blood or Vampire lore, but something that has been with him since the dawn of creation. He is immortal, indestructible, and his magical abilities are so vast that no wizard can come close to them."

Orion took a deep breath. "And Alpha Zephyr... the soul within you. He was also an Anomaly. He wasn't just a Werewolf, but a symbol of the 'Red Moon's' curse, a being who could control lunar power at its peak. His powers were far greater than even the most powerful Alphas of the Werewolf Empire. When he was in his full form, his power could even bend nature. His origin and his powers are also mysterious, so mysterious that even the oldest texts of the Werewolf Empire do not give complete information about them."

"So, how does one know how to fight them?" Marcus asked, a new challenge rising in his mind.

"That is the challenge," Orion said. "You cannot understand them only through the levels of martial arts. You have to understand what they are, where their weaknesses lie, and most importantly, you have to raise your own power to a level where you can match them, or even surpass them."

Orion closed his eyes, as if remembering the ancient conflict between Alpha Zephyr and Dracula. "They were like two opposing poles in Alaria. One like light, the other like darkness. Their battle has shaped the history of Alaria."

"Did they ever meet?" Marcus asked curiously.

"Yes," Orion opened his eyes. "They clashed many times. Each time, widespread destruction occurred in Alaria. It was Alpha Zephyr who had kept Dracula at bay centuries ago, but in the end, Dracula defeated him by deceit. This is why Alpha Zephyr's soul within you is so eager for revenge."

Marcus now began to understand the true scale of his journey. This wasn't just a story of revenge, but the next chapter in the battle between two ancient powers in Alaria's history. He not only had to master martial arts, but he also had to understand the ancient soul within him and bring its powers under his control so that he could face an Anomaly like Dracula.

"You have to forge your own identity, Marcus," Orion said. "You not only have to become Marcus, but also embody the power of Alpha Zephyr, and become a new being that transcends all these Anomalies."

Marcus nodded firmly. His goal was now even clearer. He not only had to understand his powers but also had to take them to a level where he could challenge the most powerful beings in Alaria. It seemed impossible, but the fire of revenge within him and Orion's guidance motivated him to move forward. His journey was now beyond 'levels'; it was going to change the fate of Alaria.