Ren had turned to leave when a final thought nagged at him. He paused, then turned back toward Isamu.

  “One last thing,” he said. “You told me about the Essence Beast rankings, the Yokai, even the animals… but what about the Mandate itself?”

  Isamu raised an eyebrow. “What about it?”

  Ren crossed his arms. “The rankings. If there’s a hierarchy for everything else, then the Mandate must have one too, right?”

  Isamu smirked. “Sharp. Yeah, there are nine ranks. They determine your aptitude for absorbing Essence… but they also determine how dangerous your Flaw is.”

  Ren’s eyes narrowed. Dangerous? He already knew his own Flaw was deadly—the gnawing hunger that demanded he consume to sustain himself. Did that mean his Mandate was high-ranking?

  Isamu lifted a hand and began listing them off.

  “First is Common. The weakest. People in this category barely absorb Essence at all, and their Mandate is often subtle. Something minor, like increased stamina or slightly sharper senses.”

  Ren frowned. That didn’t sound too bad.

  “Next is Adept. A little better. People here can start gathering Essence with effort. Their Mandate is more noticeable, but their Flaw is still manageable.”

  Then Isamu’s expression shifted slightly.

  “After that comes Elite. This is where people start becoming real contenders. Their Mandate gives them something tangible—something useful. But their Flaw starts becoming a problem.”

  Ren nodded, committing it to memory. So far, that was three.

  “Then you have Master. This is where Shikari really start to stand out. People at this level can absorb Essence instinctively, and their Mandate actively alters their body or mind. But their Flaw? It gets worse. Sometimes it even becomes crippling.”

  Ren felt a pit form in his stomach. That meant his Flaw could get worse?

  “And after that?” he asked.

  Isamu hesitated for a second.

  Then he continued.

  “Grandmaster. Their Mandate becomes more than just a power—it shapes their very existence. These people aren’t just strong, they’re forces of nature. Their Flaw, though? It can break them if they’re not careful.”

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  Ren exhaled. That was five.

  But Isamu wasn’t done.

  “The sixth rank is Ascendant. This is where things get rare. People at this level are monsters. Their Mandate doesn’t just shape their existence—it demands something from reality itself. They bend the rules just by existing. But their Flaw… well, let’s just say most don’t last long.”

  Ren swallowed. That was six.

  “The seventh rank?”

  Isamu’s smirk was gone.

  “Transcendent. There aren’t many of these in history. Maybe a handful, if that. Their Mandate redefines what’s possible, and their Flaw is so severe it usually kills them before they can fully grasp their power.”

  Ren tensed. That was seven.

  “The eighth?” he asked.

  Isamu sighed. “Mythic. There have only been whispers about them. People who didn’t just bend reality but broke it entirely. People who became legends and monsters in equal measure.”

  Ren’s breath slowed.

  And the final one?

  “What about the ninth?”

  Isamu’s expression was unreadable.

  For the first time since meeting him, Ren saw something almost like hesitation.

  Then, in a quiet voice, Isamu said—

  “Primordial.”

  A chill ran down Ren’s spine.

  “That’s the highest?” he asked.

  Isamu nodded. “It’s not just rare—it’s unheard of. A Primordial Mandate means you aren’t just absorbing Essence. You aren’t just using a power. Your Mandate is something fundamental. Something that shouldn’t exist.”

  Ren felt something click inside him.

  His Mandate Rank…

  He had never checked it. It had always been displayed as ???

  But now, his instincts were screaming at him.

  His Flaw—Hunger Unending.

  The way it constantly gnawed at him. The way it demanded he consume, no matter the cost.

  Was that because his Mandate was Primordial?

  Isamu gave him a measured look. “The higher the rank, the more Essence you can absorb. But the stronger your Flaw becomes. It’s a double-edged sword, Ren. And if your Mandate is at the highest level… you might not survive it.”

  Ren stayed silent.

  He wasn’t afraid.

  If anything, he felt something worse.

  A deep, unshakable certainty.

  His Mandate wasn’t normal.

  And neither was he.

  But that didn’t change his goal.

  If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to control this power—

  He needed to get stronger.

  He exhaled slowly. “I get it.”

  Isamu studied him. “You sure?”

  Ren smirked. “No. But I don’t have a choice.”

  Isamu chuckled. “Fair enough.”

  Then Ren shifted.

  “I have one last question.”

  Isamu rolled his eyes. “Another one?”

  Ren ignored that. “How do I apply to the guild?”

  Isamu raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious?”

  Ren’s expression was firm. “If I’m gonna survive, I need money. I need experience. The guild’s the best way to do both.”

  Isamu studied him for a long moment.

  Then he grinned.

  “Alright, kid,” he said. “I’ll help you out. But before you apply, you need to learn the basics.”

  Ren narrowed his eyes. “Basics?”

  Isamu smirked. “Yeah. You’re strong, but you’re wild. If you rush into this without knowing how to use your Mandate properly, you’re gonna get yourself killed.”

  Ren sighed. “So what, you’re my teacher now?”

  Isamu shrugged. “Think of it as a favor. One good lesson before you step into the deep end.”

  Ren crossed his arms.

  He didn’t like relying on others.

  But…

  He needed this.

  He needed to learn everything.

  He exhaled. “Fine. Where do we start?”

  Isamu grinned.

  And just like that—

  Ren’s real journey began.