On the planet Cray, high above the clouds where the heavens kiss the earth, floats the city of Ketergia—a marvel of ingenuity and ambition. Built centuries ago, it was the crowning achievement of the Divine Knight King, Alfred the Holy Savior, a Grade 4 whose power and vision soared above all.
Ketergia was meant to be a sanctuary of unity, a place where the six clans of the United Sanctuary could finally stand as one. Lord Alfred envisioned a world free of division, where strength, wisdom, and spirit would not dictate status, but where harmony and understanding would shape the future. For decades, he labored to bring his dream to life, pouring his soul and immense power into the city's creation. When Ketergia was finally complete, it stood as a gleaming beacon of hope—a testament to what could be achieved through unity.
But dreams, no matter how grand, can wither in the hands of those blinded by greed. As the final stone was laid, Lord Alfred's time came to an end. Entrusting his successors with his vision, he departed from this world, leaving Ketergia and its promise in their hands. Yet, the promise was soon betrayed. The rulers who followed him reshaped the city, not into a haven for all, but into a fortress for the few. A rigid hierarchy emerged, dividing the kingdom by power, wealth, and influence.
At the pinnacle of this order stood the ruling elite—warriors, nobles, and scholars who claimed Ketergia's skies for themselves. They lived among its gleaming spires and crystal towers, untouched by the struggles below. Beneath them, far from the light of prosperity, the Ground Dwellers toiled in hardship. Banished from the floating paradise, they lived in its vast shadow, suffering under the weight of Ketergia's neglect. Poverty, disease, and the unrelenting cruelty of nature became their constant reality.
The city itself reflected this imbalance. What was once built as a symbol of unity had become a place of strict division, its people bound by an unyielding system. Power was everything, measured, ranked, and respected in a way that dictated one's worth.
Everyone begins at Grade 0, the starting point. No magic, no supernatural strength—just the raw potential of the unknown. It is the stage of infancy, where all are equal in their limitations, relying only on hard work and perseverance to rise.
But then comes the first awakening—Grade 1. For most, this moment arrives in adolescence, a spark of power flickering to life. For others, it is triggered by an event so profound that it forces them beyond their mortal shell. Those who reach this stage gain the first glimpses of their true potential, the first steps toward something greater.
With training and experience, that spark ignites into something far stronger. Grade 2 marks the mastery of one's abilities, a stage where individuals wield their power with purpose. The gifted can manipulate elements, enhance their bodies beyond human limits, or even glimpse into the realm of the mind itself.
Yet, only a rare few ever reach Grade 3. Those who do are not merely skilled—they are forces of nature, warriors and leaders who push beyond the ordinary. The laws of reality begin to blur around them, their strength and abilities allowing them to carve their names into history. But such power comes at a cost—sacrifice, hardship, and an unrelenting pursuit of strength.
And then, there are the ones spoken of only in myths—Grade 4. The pinnacle of existence. To attain this level is to become more than human, to transcend mortality itself. Those who reach it are gods in their own right, wielding forces vast enough to reshape the world with a mere thought. Few have ever stood at this height, and even fewer have lived to tell their tale.
Among them was Alfred, the Holy Savior. And among those who now rule Ketergia in his name is Bastion, the current king—a Grade 3 whose power is both feared and revered. He sits upon a throne high above the world, watching over the city Alfred once built. But even as he reigns, corruption festers beneath him.
Ketergia is rotting.
The once-noble ideals of unity and compassion have been swallowed by arrogance and greed. The Ground Dwellers, forgotten and oppressed, struggle to survive while those above them look away. The floating city remains untouchable, yet its foundations tremble under the weight of its sins.
And soon, the balance will break.