Chapter 1514: Ranks

Ranking among Dragonborns. That was certainly something Erend had never expected to hear. Until now, he had never encountered anything that suggested the Dragonborn followed any kind of hierarchy.

As far as he knew, they were probably just scattered throughout the cosmos and lived according to their own choices. The idea that they could still be divided into formal ranks raised more questions than answers.

Erend frowned slightly and asked, "What exactly does that mean? Can you explain it to me?"

The Obsidian Dragon remained silent for a moment before answering.

"Of course. The rankings were not something our creator imposed on us. They were created by the Dragonborn themselves. They existed to describe the level of a Dragonborn’s development and the extent of their power."

"So the rank isn’t something we’re born with?"

"Correct. A Dragonborn’s rank is determined by what they become."

Erend’s expression became more focused.

"Then what are the ranks?"

"There are several of them," the Obsidian Dragon explained. "The lowest recognized rank is called the Awakened. This is the stage where a Dragonborn has fully awakened their inherent power but has not yet reached the level required to transcend their natural limits."

Erend nodded slowly. "So... every Dragonborn eventually becomes an Awakened?"

"Not necessarily. Some Dragonborn never develop far enough. Others die before they can reach it."

Erend blinked, that was kind of... depressing. It feels like knowing your far relative died far away.

"Then what comes after the Awakened?" Erend continued to ask.

"The next rank is the Ascendant. An Ascendant is a Dragonborn who has surpassed the limitations of their original body and begun to control their power on a much deeper level. Their Magic becomes more refined, their physical strength increases dramatically, and their connection to their Dragon nature becomes stronger."

Erend immediately thought about his own transformations.

"Does transforming into a Dragon count?"

"No. Transformation alone is not enough. An Awakened Dragonborn can possess a powerful Dragon form and still remain an Awakened. Rank depends on the totality of your existence, not one ability."

Erend absorbed the answer. "Then what determines it?"

"Power, control, understanding, and the ability to survive the transition between stages. A Dragonborn cannot simply declare themselves an Ascendant. The change has to occur naturally through their development."

Erend crossed his arms with a deep frown on his face. "Alright. Then what’s after Ascendant?" he asked.

The Obsidian Dragon’s voice became slightly more solemn. "Eternal."

That single word made Erend’s expression change.

"Eternal?"

"Yes. An Eternal Dragonborn has reached a level where their existence can no longer be measured by ordinary physical standards. Their body, soul, and Magic have become deeply interconnected. Killing such a Dragonborn becomes extraordinarily difficult because their existence is no longer dependent upon their physical body alone."

Erend thought about the cosmic beings he had encountered. "That sounds similar to the beings I’ve fought," he said.

"Yeah. Some cosmic beings may possess characteristics similar to an Eternal Dragonborn, but don’t mistake the two. Power can manifest in many ways. The ranking only describes Dragonborn."

"I see." Erend paused before asking another question. "Is Eternal the highest?"

The Obsidian Dragon laughed quietly. "No."

Erend’s eyebrows rose. "There’s another one?"

"There are several stages beyond it. But those are much rarer. Most Dragonborn never reach them."

Erend shrugged, "Okay, I think you can just tell me."

"After Eternal comes Transcendent. A Transcendent Dragonborn has surpassed the boundaries of ordinary existence. Their influence can extend far beyond a single world, and their power can affect the fundamental forces surrounding them."

Erend became increasingly serious. This was getting bigger and bigger, and it seems it would not stop soon.

"Then what’s above Transcendent?" Erend asked.

"Cosmic."

Erend fell silent. The word carried considerable weight.

"A Cosmic Dragonborn exists on a level where entire worlds can become insignificant compared to their power. They can travel through the cosmos without relying on ordinary means and can fight beings that threaten civilizations or worlds."

Erend immediately remembered Nyssara.

"So a Cosmic Dragonborn can fight another cosmic being equally?"

"Potentially. But rank alone doesn’t determine the outcome of a battle. Two Dragonborn of the same rank can possess completely different abilities."

Erend nodded.

"Is there something more above Cosmic?"

"Above Cosmic is the Sovereign."

"Sovereign..." Erend muttered.

"Very few Dragonborn have ever reached that level. A Sovereign is no longer just an extremely powerful Dragonborn. Their existence becomes something that can influence vast portions of the cosmos. Their actions can change the fate of countless worlds."

Erend stared into the stone ceiling and sighed. "How many Sovereigns were there?"

"Not many."

"How many?"

"I don’t know the exact number."

"You don’t know?" Erend frowned.

"I lived in one world and spent most of my existence there. Even as a Dragonborn, I did not know every other Dragonborn scattered throughout the cosmos."

That answer made Erend realize just how enormous their species truly was.

"So the rankings aren’t absolute measurements?"

"No. They are a framework. They allow Dragonborn to understand roughly where they stand compared to others. But there will always be differences between individuals."

Erend thought for several seconds. "And how does someone increase their rank?" he asked.

"By growing."

"That’s kinda vague."

The Obsidian Dragon laughed.

"Because there is no single method. Some Dragonborn increase their power through battle. Others deepen their understanding of Magic. Some develop their souls. Others discover abilities that fundamentally change their existence. Every Dragonborn walks a different path."

Erend nodded slowly. That explanation actually made sense to him.

"So there’s no ritual? or test?"

"Not for most ranks. The change happens when a Dragonborn reaches the necessary threshold. They will know when it comes."

Erend looked toward the ancient throne.

"Then what rank were you?"

The Obsidian Dragon became quiet. For several seconds, the hall remained completely silent.

Then his cheerful voice returned.

"I was an Eternal."

Erend’s eyes widened slightly.

"Only Eternal?"

"Hehehe. Don’t sound disappointed. Reaching Eternal was already an extraordinary achievement. Most Dragonborn never came close to it."

"Right." Erend nodded. He paused before another thought occurred to him. "Then what rank am I? can you see?"

The Obsidian Dragon did not answer immediately.

When he finally spoke, his tone sounded amused.

"That’s the interesting part. I can’t tell you yet."

Erend frowned.

"Why?"

"Because... somehow... your existence doesn’t fit neatly into the standards."

Erend’s expression became serious. "What does that mean?" He knew that it must be because of the system. But what he wanted to know more.

The Obsidian Dragon laughed softly.

"Hmm... maybe your story will be heading somewhere the old rankings were never designed to measure? I don’t know."

That was... not really giving him an answer.

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