The planet of terra is famously called the planet of the weak. It is the second smallest planet in the magical soral system called the throne world of Eternia. People famously know Terra as the home world of the weakest non-core using species. s. Humans and humanoid species like demi human tribes, merfolk; humanoid abominations like orcs, half spider half human hybrids etc. Almost all of the species on this planet are considered weak in this world of magic and gore.

  Most of the inhabitants of Terra are either born coreless or are born with useless cores like few of the demi humans and the humanoid abominations. Terra is 4/5th covered in water and the rest of the 1/5th land is also mostly forests, mountains. Civilizations live in close proximity to death. The sea holds the strength of the world. There were tornados that were existing for hundreds of years, but the winds stopped from touching cities by the strong ocean currents, even till today there are tornados that were swirling for thousands of years with a diameter of hundreds of kilometers halted by the ocean.

  In chaotic and unsafe planet of terra, its inhabitants have stuck with their kind and started living in cities that were the best protection any normal person can afford. Even though their planet rendered their progress in magic and technology, the humans and their sub species have excelled in both of the aspects. Humans have gone against all of the odds and made their race the most advanced in technology. They learnt how to bend the laws of physics by magic and complications of magic with physics. They raised floating islands that revolve around Terra. They raised cities on the ocean and inside the ocean.

  On the continent of Uratos lies the mountain city of Daro. It was situated in the middle of a valley. surrounded by snowcapped mountains that also act as mining sites for metal. The city originally started as a mining site for mithril and later throughout the years grew into a full-fledged city. Roughly the size of New York it was a hexagonal shaped city with clearly defined roads and plans. The hexagonal was in turn divided into 42 sectors , of which 32 were occupied by the ruling class, working class and clergy of various gods and beings who held 30% of the population and the rest of the 20 sectors were allotted to the rest of 70% which consisted homeless beggars , daily wage workers and some other anomalies . These 20 sectors were called the night city as most of its important inhabitants operate at night.

  The majority of the population were humans with a handful of demi humans from the cat and fox tribe. But the night city has all kinds of species living together. Most of the hated races like the spidermen and orc tribes live in the dark alleys of the night cities as thieves, mercenaries, and other jobs. There is a saying in the city, if the man has enough gold, he can even buy a legendary rank restricted cores like apple in a fruit shop.

  Alex was excited by the magical city around him. Daro, a place considered a rural hub, featured skyscrapers as large as anything on Earth. The mere scale of this backwater made him anticipate visiting major hubs like Skyfall and Derrus.

  The blue sphere landed on what looked like a lawn in an immense estate. The compound, comprised of numerous identical blocks, was no smaller than a royal palace. The Bishop rushed inside the main building the moment they touched the ground.

  “What happened to him?” Alex asked Ketovan.

  “He went inside to arrange a classroom for you. I hope you will forgive his rudeness,” Ketovan answered.

  “It’s okay. Whose estate is this?”

  “The Motsari Corporation owns this estate.”

  “Isn’t your surname Motsari?” Alex asked, turning to him with a suspicious look.

  “Yes.”

  “So, your family owns this estate?”

  “Not really. The Motsari Corporation operates semi-independently from the founding family,” Ketovan said, his face a mix of irritation and fatigue.

  “Okay, okay. One last question,” Alex said, noting Ketovan’s annoyance.

  “Fine, but only one.”

  “How rich are you, really?” Alex asked, each word feeling like a dagger to Ketovan’s pride.

  “After the Divine Rankers and a few rulers of various species, my family is the richest. For example, my great-grandfather bought a large piece of land at a small port city seven hundred and fifty years ago, and today it makes up nearly ten percent of the city of Derrus,” Ketovan said, watching Alex for hints of surprise.

  “I knew it!” Alex shouted in triumph.

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  “What happened?” the Bishop asked, approaching them.

  “I was explaining about my family,” Ketovan answered.

  “Oh… I get it,” the Bishop said, nodding sagely.

  They settled in a large room dominated by a digital board hanging on one wall, framed in gold and embedded with gemstones. Alex sat on a sofa facing the board, while Ketovan sat beside him, polishing his dark blue greatsword. The Bishop stood before the board like a teacher. When he touched it, it lit up in blue, displaying a complex flow chart.

  “What is this?” Alex asked.

  “What does it look to you?” the Bishop countered.

  “You’re an old mathematics teacher and a sick bastard?” Alex’s answer made Ketovan chuckle, and the Bishop merely shook his head.

  “As I said before, the cores are classified into various groups and rarities. What you are looking at is the skill tree of the Core of Earth, the most common core available on this planet,” Renald said.

  “Did you ever see the map of this planet?” Renald asked.

  “Actually, I am not from this planet, so, no,” Alex answered.

  “So, you are an Omniarch?” Ketovan asked.

  “I guess so.”

  “That explains a lot of things,” Renald said, looking into Alex’s eyes.

  “Omniarchs are rare but relatively common in bigger cities like Derrus or Skyfall. I guess there is only one Omniarch in this city currently,” Ketovan said.

  “Who is the other guy?” Alex asked.

  “I don’t know, but he is popular in Derrus. But he is still only a Commander Ranker.”

  Ketovan tossed a plain black and grey ring with a small glass face toward Alex. “Press your thumb on the screen.”

  The moment Alex touched the glass face, a small holographic box appeared.

  “Now think of a question. For example, how does this world look?” Ketovan instructed.

  Alex did as he was told, and the hologram shifted, displaying an image of a planet. It was mostly blue, featuring eighteen small continents, each appearing smaller than Earth’s Australia.

  “How big is this planet?” Alex thought.

  The screen immediately shifted, numbers appearing in the display:

  Alex’s mind went numb. The land area alone was almost four times the total surface area of Earth.

  “This planet is really big,” Alex said, stunned.

  “Stop joking, we are not even close,” Ketovan said, turning to Renald. “We must wait until he sees Darina.”

  “Darina?” Alex asked.

  “The planet of dragons, dragon-born, and dragonoids,” Renald answered.

  The Bishop returned to the topic of the skill tree.

  “The skill tree determines your advancement in your rank. Each core user is initially given 175 skills. These are all unlocked before they reach Soldier Rank. After that, five skills combine to form one new skill, which leaves a Soldier Ranker with only 35 skills. Once a core user reaches Commander Rank, those five skills again combine to form one skill, leaving them with only 7 skills.”

  “What does this combining process do to the skills?” Alex asked.

  “Upon combining, the resultant skill can produce equal or better results,” Ketovan explained, sheathing his greatsword. “For example, my Commander Rank skill, Reverse Gravity, is a combination of my two Soldier Rank skills—Domain Gravity and Reversal World—along with three other skills. By using this new skill, I can apply attributes of both previous skills for the same mana consumption, and the time limit is greatly increased because of an attribute from one of the three other skills.”

  “The Relic Cores give the user the choice of combination of all of their skills, meaning you can decide exactly which skills will combine to produce the new skill. The lesser the rarity of your core, the fewer choices you get. At Rare or lesser rank, there will be no choice at all,” Renald clarified.

  “It’s really a lot to take in at once,” Alex said, holding his head in his hands.

  “We know,” Ketovan said, patting Alex’s shoulders.

  Garahath Helmswell was not having a great day. Early in the morning, the ruler of the United Nation of Uratos had contacted him via holographic projection. That was followed by news of the forest’s destruction and its miraculous, instantaneous regeneration. The destruction of the oldest Soul Domain known to man and his kin had shaken the world.

  The most tiresome part of his day, however, was the man sitting before him. The visitor had taken a human form, but his eyes remained the same: white pupils staring directly into the Director’s soul. Garahath, an Adventure Society Director, had taken the drastic step of locking his office door to speak with this man.

  “Your Highness, with due respect, I ask again. May I know why you are here?” Garahath asked the man.

  “As I said before, Director, I am here on a vacation,” the man said, completely dismissive of the Director’s worry.

  “I know you are Royal Rank now, but it is not safe for the Crown Prince of the Flarens to move in our mortal realms without protection. Some of us may corrupt you,” the Director warned.

  “Director, how old are you?” the man asked, ignoring the safety lecture.

  “Somewhere around 1,260 years,” the Director answered.

  “How old were you when you reached Royal Rank?” the man asked.

  “Somewhere around 780 years,” the Director replied, still struggling to grasp the man’s point.

  “I am currently only 132 years old and am already at the same level as you. I am sure you know that we Flarens have the same rate of growth that you humans and human kin have,” the man spoke calmly.

  “Yes,” the Director nodded, the realization hitting him.

  “So, I am more than capable of handling myself,” the man concluded.

  “I am sorry, but the ruler of this land will inquire about this, and His Eternal Majesty shall talk with you this evening,” Garahath said, relenting.

  “Fine. It has been a long time since I had a chat with Uncle Deodas,” the Crown Prince said.