There were seven known ranks:
Each stage represented a significant leap in strength, contract capability, and magical control. Progression wasn’t just about power—it also involved deepening one’s connection with magical beasts, refining summoner arts, and enduring life-threatening trials.
"But there are two more ranks above Master," Marina had added, narrowing her eyes at the curious faces. "And you lot are too weak to even hear their names. You want to know? Earn it."
The air thickened with unspoken challenge.
Igaris, however, wasn’t too disappointed. He knew some truths came only through experience.
He turned his thoughts inward, comparing what he now knew to his own system.
The World Diver Power Ranks, the ones he was more familiar with, were:
Commoner → Warrior → Elite → Champion → Master → Legendary → Mythical → Apex....
This hierarchy didn’t just apply to him but extended to all Acquired beings and spirits under a his command.
Among his Acquisition Army, Malthius and Evernight were both Champion-level powerhouses—the highest-tier beings he had acquired so far.
He wasn’t sure whether they had advanced recently, but their power was already formidable.
As for himself, he had broken into the Elite rank as a World Diver; something that took most others months, even years, to achieve.
To rise this far in just a week after entering this world? It wasn’t normal. Not even close.
But Igaris was far from normal.
Despite that, he wasn’t certain how his current power would measure against native Beast Summoners in this world. The ranking systems were different. One focused on raw spiritual and magical power, the other on authority and combat refinement through contracted beasts.
Still, in Orca, Elite World Diver ranks carried weight. Commoners and Soldiers alike recognised Elite-level Divers.
That alone was proof that Igaris had made considerable progress.
He wasn’t just surviving here anymore. He was growing.
And soon, he would dominate.
Soon, Soon, Marina raised her hand and gestured.
Then a small group of assistants approached, each carrying a tray filled with strange, dull-looking stones. Despite their lifeless appearance, each stone shimmered faintly under the training hall’s magical lights—hints of color hidden just beneath their surface.
Lifting one of the stones for everyone to see, she explained:
"These are Affinity Stones. They’ll reveal what elemental affinity lies dormant within you. According to that result, we’ll provide Summoner Arts suited to the beasts you’re most compatible with."
Some murmurs rippled through the group.
"What if we don’t get any affinity?"
"Does that mean we’re useless?"
Marina silenced them with a glance. "Everyone here was selected for a reason. If the stones show nothing, then either you’re suppressing your potential—or you’re too scared to awaken it."
Her words struck like lightning. No one dared speak again.
One by one, the recruits stepped forward and placed their hands over the Affinity Stones. When touched, the stones glowed—some faintly, some with vibrant intensity.
A girl gasped as her stone lit up blue.
"Water affinity," the assistant noted.
Another recruit’s stone gleamed faint orange—Fire.
The third turned rich brown—Earth.
Most people only awakened a single elemental affinity. But a few caused murmurs among the group.
"Dual affinity," someone whispered as Barefoot stepped forward. His stone shimmered, first with a sharp blue hue, then a rush of green.
"Water and Wind. He’s got two," Marina confirmed, arching a brow with mild interest.
Barefoot smiled, clearly proud.
Osama followed next. His stone pulsed with deep brown light—Earth affinity.
Nagi’s stone flared red with fire.
Each affinity reflected a hidden potential, but it didn’t mean they could wield magic immediately.
Rather, these affinities determined the kind of bonded magical beasts one could contract with, and what powers might manifest through that bond.
Igaris watched with quiet focus.
There were six known elemental affinities in total:
Water, Wind, Fire, Earth—the four basic elements most commonly found.
Then there were the rarer ones: Space and Time. Extremely rare, even in the realm of Summoners. Rumors said that those blessed with Space or Time affinity were destined for greatness—or ruin.
"Step forward, Igaris," Marina called out.
All eyes shifted toward him again.
He took a slow breath and stepped forward, placing his palm on the affinity stone without hesitation.
At first, nothing happened.
Then, the stone sparked.
Faint red embers swirled through its surface, indicating Fire affinity.
But just as people began to murmur, a second color surged beneath it.
A deep violet glow rippled out of the stone, casting eerie shadows across the ground.
"Is that...?" someone whispered. "Space?"
Marina narrowed her eyes, leaning forward.
Even she sounded uncertain.
Because... another color was starting to emerge beneath the surface of the stone.
A deep, swallowing black.
"...Black?" she murmured.
The assistant holding the tablet suddenly paled. Her voice cracked as she shouted, "Marina! He—He’s a Dark Summoner!"
The words hit like a thunderclap.
The entire training hall went dead silent.
Everyone—rookies, assistants, even summoned beasts—froze.
Because they all knew what it meant.
A title that carried centuries of fear and infamy.
In ancient times, those born with Dark Affinity could forge pacts with horrific beings from the abyss—Oni, Hellhounds, Incubi and Succubi, even forbidden names like Leviathan or Demogorgon, the Untamable.
Dark Summoners didn’t just battle their enemies.
They stole life essence, brought plagues upon cities, and fed on the magic of others like parasites. Wherever they walked, chaos followed.
And now... one stood among them.
People backed away instinctively, some eyes wide with terror, others full of suspicion and hate. Whispers rose like static, a flood of voices.
"How can Freedom Force allow a Dark Summoner?"
"They’re supposed to be extinct..."
But Igaris didn’t flinch.
He stood calmly, though inside, his fingers twitched slightly.
"So this is why I could use Undead Recovery..."
"My ability must stem from the Darkness affinity."
"But did Igor was born with it? Or I acquired it from the Undead?
He had never thought of it before. He had no definite answers. But there’s a possibility.
Marina raised her hand, silencing the crowd again. But even her expression had hardened, unreadable.
"Igaris," she said, her tone slow and deliberate, "did you know?"
He shook his head. "No. I only knew I had a strange bond with death. That’s all."
Then Marina turned toward the assistant. "Write down his result: Fire, Space... and Darkness."
The assistant hesitated. "But—"
She obeyed, though her hands trembled.
Marina’s voice rose, addressing the entire hall:
"Listen well! The era of fear is over. The Perfect Society may treat the Dark Affinity as a curse, but we are not in the place to judge him as evil. We need all the help get. Whether he is Saint or Devil we don’t care!"
She glanced at Igaris again. Her eyes narrowed. "Whether this boy becomes a threat or a savior depends entirely on him."
Then, she looked over the rest. "If anyone here has a problem with that—feel free to challenge him during the trials."
A murmur passed through the crowd. No one stepped forward.
Igaris didn’t look at anyone.
But his silence said everything.
If they come for me... they better be ready.