The Strongest S-Ranker

Volume 1: Resurgence Chapter 1: The New World In a world where seven kingdoms are ruled by their respective monarchs, my kingdom stands apart. It is divided into two factions: the Nobles and the Commoners. The Nobles live behind towering walls, completely isolated from us. There is no way for a commoner like me to enter their world, filled with wealth, influence, and power. But I won't lie. I’ve dreamed of scaling those walls, of reaching their heights. Our kingdom, despite its power, is infamous—not for its military strength or resources, but because of the corruption at the top. The King and the Nobles are despised for their cruelty, their sinful actions, and their disregard for the suffering outside their walls. They care only for themselves, leaving us to endure the agony and famine of the Commoners’ faction. Within those walls, the Nobles live in comfort, oblivious to the pain outside. It’s a dream for them. For us? A nightmare. My family and I live in a humble, rundown home, but we make do. Life is bearable as long as we can eat. The real struggle is my sister. She’s gravely ill, and though we’ve accepted her fate, we can do nothing to ease her suffering. Her Mana Core is breaking down, and any healing would only speed up her demise. We try to make her remaining time joyful, but we know it won’t last. On her birthday, I climb the mountain to fetch food and flowers, hoping to make the day special for her. But when I return, the village is burning. People scream in terror, blood stains the ground. I drop everything and rush home, hoping against hope that my family managed to escape. But then, I hear my mother’s voice. My chest tightens, and I run toward it. When I reach the village center, I see the King’s flag. The King himself is here. And before him, hundreds of people kneel—not in respect, but begging for their lives. I scan the crowd, searching desperately for my family. I spot them—my mother and sister, crying, pleading. Before I can react, the King waves his hand, and fire erupts, engulfing them. I stand frozen, my heart shattering as their screams echo in my ears. "Mom… Sister… I’m sorry I couldn’t help," I whisper, numb. A guard spots me, but I know I stand no chance against them. The King’s power is too great. I run, my body moving on instinct, driven by the need to survive and grow stronger. Days pass, and I find myself in a border village, surviving on scraps I find in the trash. I’m weak and pale, barely clinging to life. One day, as I sit in an alley, I feel someone standing before me. When I look up, a man asks, "Do you desire power?" I black out before I can answer. When I wake, I’m in a strange house, and the man is cooking me a meal. I devour the food, feeling strength return to my body. "Who are you?" I ask between bites. "My eyes are special. I can see glimpses of the future," he replies, his voice serious. "I’m part of a faction opposing the King. We’re small, but we need someone like you. I saw a future where you play a crucial role." His words resonate with me. Revenge. If this man can help me achieve my goal, I’ll give everything. My body, blood, and soul. I’m ready. He trains me in combat, magic, strategy—everything I need to know to take down the King. The first year is grueling. I build my physical strength, learn to wield weapons, and master the art of conserving energy in battle. Then comes the magic training. Mana flows through the world, granting life to all things. I train my Mana Core to handle more magic, discovering that I’m a prodigy. My core can hold vast amounts of mana without breaking, a rare and valuable gift. Through relentless training, I also discover an affinity for a unique form of magic—Spatial Distortion. It allows me to manipulate space, turning it into destructive energy. With this power, I can distort the fabric of reality itself. As the years pass, I become stronger, more skilled. I learn the importance of teamwork and strategy. Alongside my companions, I prepare for the final confrontation: the assault on the Noble Faction. The plan is simple: kill anyone on sight. We strike during a festival, when all the Nobles gather. I unleash a powerful magical attack that devastates a large portion of their forces. The Resistance takes care of the remaining knights, and I storm the castle. Inside the throne room, I face the King. He’s waiting for me, his golden eyes gleaming with recognition. "I knew this day would come," he says, drawing his sword. "I’ve heard of your achievements. You’re the last obstacle in my way." Without a word, I attack. The battle between us shakes the world itself. The King is strong, but so am I. We clash for hours, each blow shaking the very earth beneath our feet. As we near our limits, we prepare for the final confrontation. I pour all my power into a single strike, determined to end this once and for all. The King retaliates, and our magical beams collide, pushing against each other in a battle for supremacy. In that moment, I see flashes of my past—my family, my companions, and everything I’ve sacrificed to get here. I push through the pain, releasing everything I have in one final, devastating blast. The King falls. I stand victorious, but the battle has taken its toll. I’m exhausted, my body battered, but I raise my fist in triumph. But as the dust settles, a new threat emerges. From the King’s broken body, a dark, oppressive energy spreads. The Seven Kings of Hell, the true masters behind the throne, have taken notice of me. Their voices fill the air, and the pressure is unbearable. I can’t breathe. The world itself seems to be collapsing under their power. "Impressive," one of them says, its voice a growl. "You’ve defeated our puppet. But now, you’ll face us." My mind goes blank. I realize too late that the King was never the true enemy. These beings, these Kings of Hell, are the real threat. "Marcus!" A voice calls. It’s Master Sebas. He’s alive, but badly wounded, missing an arm. He’s still fighting. "We’ve done all we can," he says. "It’s time to accept our fate." The Resistance stands with him, ready to die with honor. We’ve achieved our goal, but it’s clear now that it was never enough. The Kings of Hell are too powerful. I look up at them, my resolve hardening. I know I can’t win, but I won’t back down. If I die, I die fighting. And then, the last of my strength is spent. I cast a final spell, a pillar of light that erupts from the ground, enveloping us all. The Kings of Hell stand unscathed, but for us, it’s the end. As the light consumes us, I see my family again. They’re waiting for me in the afterlife. I apologize for my failure, but I know they’ll forgive me. And as my body disintegrates, I wonder if this will be the end. But then, I awaken in a strange, dark place. My mind is foggy. I feel like I’m sinking into an endless abyss, but then, I hear a familiar voice. "My son, it’s not your time yet," my mother says. "This is just the beginning of your destiny." I reach out for her, but she disappears, replaced by a strange, glowing image. [Welcome to the System ‘Gifted’] I have no idea what’s happening. The words in front of me make no sense. A voice asks if I would like to be reborn, and before I can think, I’m suddenly filled with an overwhelming sense of light. When I open my eyes again, I’m in a new world—a strange, unfamiliar place. I’m in a new body, younger, weaker. The System is linked to my mind, and I can feel its presence. It offers me a new chance at life, a new beginning. STATUS WINDOW Zenon Fernandez Rank: E Strength: 5 Agility: 5 Magic: 5 Battle IQ: 5 Defense: 5 I don’t know who this person is, but I have no time to dwell on that. The System offers me tools—Appraisal, Contacts, and Storage. But first, I need to understand what’s happened. Through a series of painful memory merges, I gain the memories of this new body. Zenon was poor, struggling to survive. He lived in a city where people called the ‘Gifted’ fight to close dimensional Gates, tearing through dimensions to fight strange, dangerous creatures. I stand on the rooftop, looking out over the city. The world here is different, but I recognize some similarities. Magic exists here, but it’s tied to these Gates, and the people who fight them are far stronger than normal humans. I’m in a new world, but my goal remains the same: revenge. But this time, I won’t be alone. The Kings of Hell are no longer my only concern. The new world holds its own dangers, and I must find a way to survive, to grow stronger. The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear: this is just the beginning.