The clash between Kai and Leo had reached a new level.
From the stands, Zeran leaned closer to Imperial and whispered, his voice tinged with awe,
"You're witnessing something rare… a battle between two *Eminence*-class warriors."
**Flashback Begins**
Imperial stared at an old tattered cloak draped over a training dummy in Master Kaien's quarters. On the back, in faint golden letters, one word stood out:
**"Overload."**
He turned to his master. "What does *Overload* mean? And why is it written on this cloak? Is it some kind of army suit?"
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
Imperial scratched his head. "I've only been at the Royal Academy for about a month... and then I quit."
Kaien gave a short sigh. "What do you even know about magic ranks?"
"Mostly what Kai taught me. Some basic stuff."
Kaien crossed his arms. "Then listen closely. It's time you understood the structure of power in this world."
"There's a ranking system for magic users. It starts from **E-Rank**—those who can barely sense or use magic.
Then comes **D-Rank**, which includes people like you—new users who can control magic but aren't battle-ready.
From there, it goes up: C, B, A, S, and finally S+.
Each rank is harder to climb. It's not linear. For example, if it takes 10 points to go from E to D, it might take 60 or more to jump from D to C. The difficulty keeps increasing."
Imperial asked, "How is it measured?"
"There's a device called the *Magic Measurement Box*. It gauges your magic output, control, and combat adaptability. Now, starting from **A-Rank**. If the magic user is exceptional and was close to achieving the next rank then users are given specific titles."
Kaien raised his fingers one by one:
"**A-Rank but almost close to S rank ** – *Eminence*
**S-Rank but almost close to S+ rank ** – *Overlord*
**S+ Rank but almost close to emperor level ** – *Primarch*."
Imperial's eyes widened. "So *Overlord*… that was your title?"
Kaien smirked. " yes but not for too long cause when I got that rank after few month my old injury didn't allow me to work more she then I retired ."
"Wait," Imperial leaned forward, "That means if you achieve the Primarch level then you is almost last step close to become an emperor, right?"
"Exactly," Kaien said. "In most empires, a **Primarch** holds emperor-level power and when the current emperor retired then he take the place but form may years non one achieved that title and which result in that the current 5 emperors are the longest serving emperors. Usually an emperor served around 12-15 years but they are ruling from I guess now 20 + years.
But that also because Royalty usually starts from at least **C-Rank** at birth and in today's era royalty are not that much good and powerful as they were past years back."
"Is there any rank above emperors?" Imperial asked, almost whispering.
Kaien paused. "No, achieving that level requires so many years and I already told you that, increasing the rank brings more difficulty to go to the next rank.
Imperial – but why these special ranks?
Kaien said – in old times. There are many strong fighters exist in a same rank but somehow there is still too much power difference among them.
Then that time the rank system was like low, mid and high.
If you start as A rank recently then you considers to be an A-LOW rank.
And if you are strong A rank fighter as you grow then rank increase like A –MID and then A-HIGH ,and these mostly used in royal armies .
But now they introduce an new system, the star system which replace the LOW and MID . and then this fancy word like eminence, overlord and Primarch .
**Back to Present Time**
Zeran watched intensely from the stands.
"You feel that, Imperial? The pressure in that arena? Kai just became an Eminence recently… but that Leo guy—he's matching him blow for blow."
"But I've never seen Leo in the Royal Academy or among the Royal Army Council…"
Kai has realized—this isn't an ordinary opponent. He can't hold back anymore."
Kai roared, lightning crackling along his blade.
"**Lightning Blade: Storm Slash!**"
He swung. A raging arc of lightning erupted, surging toward Leo.
Leo narrowly dodged. The ground behind him erupted, the strike carving deep trenches into the arena floor.
The crowd gasped. Even the **protective barrier** began to crack from the intensity of their power.
Winds howled. Mana pressure filled the air.
Quickly, members of the barrier team chanted in unison, reinforcing the shield—stronger than before. The storm calmed—outside the battlefield.
**Leo's Counterattack**
Leo raised his arm.
"**Titanfall.**"
Massive stone boulders began raining from the sky like a meteor shower.
Kai dodged as best he could, getting clipped by a few. Blood streaked his cheek.
Then he countered:
"**Lightning Shower!**"
Bolts rained upward, shattering the falling rocks mid-air.
Kai clenched his fists.
"Now take this—**Lightning Fall!**"
Storm clouds gathered over the arena. A massive bolt surged downward.
Leo raised a barrier of stone just in time—only for Kai to **appear in a flash**, slicing through it with his blade.
**BOOM!**
Lightning struck Leo directly.
Leo hit the ground, smoke rising from his body.
Everyone thought it was over.
Until—
**WOOOOM!**
An immense surge of energy exploded from Leo's body.
He rose, eyes burning with rage. A metal club spun in his hand.
*CRACK!*
In a blur, he closed the distance.
Kai didn't even realize it.
*WHAM!*
Leo smashed him into the barrier wall. Blood flew from Kai's mouth.
*BOOM!*
Another strike sent Kai tumbling across the ground.
Zeran's voice trembled.
"He's not just strong… He's brutal. If that next move lands, it's over."
Leo raised his club.
"**Stone Devastation!**"
The same move that once left a crater in the earth.
He swung.
But at the last second—
*FLASH!*
Kai vanished.
Above him—
"**Lightning Swords: Clone Strikes!**"
Dozens of lightning-forged blades floated in the sky, crackling with power.
They rained down.
Leo spin his club, deflecting what he could.
Zeran grinned, eyes gleaming.
"Bingo."