The King’s Path

Dimensional Gates and Their Threat Levels

Dimensional gates, remnants of the ancient invasions, continue to pose a threat to humanity. These gates serve as pathways to otherworldly realms, allowing alien creatures and outer gods to breach into Earth's reality. They are classified by their severity and the types of beings they allow through. Each gate has its own characteristics, with varying degrees of difficulty for exploration, containment, and eradication.

Gate Classification:

D-Rank Gates (Low Threat):

These gates are minor tears in reality, leading to relatively weak dimensions filled with low-level creatures. D-rank awakened individuals can typically handle these threats alone or in small teams.Common enemies: Lesser demons, corrupted beasts, elemental spirits.Typical response: Local defense forces and novice awakened.

C-Rank Gates (Moderate Threat):

Contain stronger enemies that pose a risk to smaller cities and towns if left unchecked. C-rank awakened individuals often work in squads to handle these threats.Common enemies: Greater demons, minor eldritch horrors, intelligent alien species.Typical response: Government-sanctioned awakened units.

B-Rank Gates (Significant Threat):

Capable of releasing monsters that could devastate major population centers. B-rank awakened, often working in coordinated teams, are required to combat these incursions.Common enemies: Abyssal warlords, dragon-kin, rogue elemental monarchs.Typical response: National military involvement with heroic oversight.

A-Rank Gates (Severe Threat):

These gates unleash calamities capable of wiping entire regions off the map. Only elite A-rank or S-rank awakened can contain these threats, often requiring days or weeks of effort.Common enemies: Outer god avatars, planetary destroyers, ancient titans.Typical response: Full-scale mobilization of national heroes.

S-Rank Gates (Catastrophic Threat):

The most dangerous gates known in modern times. S-rank gates could potentially destroy entire nations if not immediately addressed. Only the most powerful awakened, sometimes entire coalitions, can hope to face these challenges.Common enemies: Eldritch deities, celestial warlords, god-level invaders.Typical response: Mobilization of the Council of Heroes.

Black Gates (Unknown/Apocalyptic Threat):

The last recorded Black Gate appeared over 3,000 years ago and nearly led to the extinction of humanity. These gates are considered beyond comprehension, potentially leading to dimensions governed by Outer Gods themselves.

Black Gates are theorized to connect directly to the rulers of the invading forces from the past.No known awakened has ever returned from a Black Gate, and their exact contents remain speculative at best.

Typical response: Immediate evacuation and full hero mobilization under the Council of Heroes.

Awakened Individuals and Power Classification

The awakened, those who have inherited the spirits of past heroes, are the frontline defenders of humanity. Their strength is determined by the hero they embody, their synchronization with the heroic spirit, and their personal potential.

Awakening Process:

At the age of 18, individuals undergo the Hall of Awakened Trial, where they enter a specially designed astral space to test their aptitude. The Hall evaluates factors such as:

Aptitude: The compatibility between their soul and a heroic spirit.

Strength: Their raw potential to wield supernatural abilities.

Personality: Their ability to bear the psychological burden of an ancient legacy.

Will: The determination to overcome adversity and fully awaken their power.

Success Rates:

20-30% of the population can awaken a heroic spirit.Less than 5% awaken at A-rank or higher.0.1% or less have the potential to awaken an S-rank heroic spirit.

Heroic Classes and Their Roles

Awakened individuals are categorized into seven primary heroic classes, each specializing in distinct combat roles. Each hero is further ranked from D to S, with SS-ranked heroes considered legendary like the heads of the Council of Heroes.

Warrior (Frontline Combatants)

Excel in melee combat and physical endurance.Notable Heroes: Achilles, Alexander the Great, Siegfried.

Strength Focus: Raw power, battlefield dominance.

Archer (Long-Range Specialists)

Experts in ranged attacks and precision strikes.Notable Heroes: Robin Hood, Arjuna, Atalanta.

Strength Focus: Speed, accuracy, strategic positioning.

Mage (Masters of Magic and Arcane Arts)

Commanders of elemental and mystical forces.Notable Heroes: Merlin, Solomon.

Strength Focus: Spellcasting, battlefield control.

Rogue (Stealth and Assassination Experts)

Masters of agility, deception, and precision strikes.Notable Heroes: Hassan of the Thousand Faces, John Fawkes, Jack the Reaper. 

Strength Focus: Subterfuge, speed, critical attacks.

Berserker (Uncontrolled Powerhouses)

Overwhelming force and unstoppable might at the cost of control.Notable Heroes: Hercules, Beowulf.

Strength Focus: brute force, unrelenting attacks.

Ruler (Leaders and Commanders)

Tactical geniuses who inspire and lead armies.Notable Heroes: King Arthur, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Ozymandias .

Strength Focus: charisma, battlefield strategy, and commanding strength that overwhelms lesser beings.

Lancer (Mobile Combat Specialists)

Flexible warriors specializing in spear-like weaponry and swift attacks.Notable Heroes: Karna, Cu Hulainn, Vlad Tepes. .

Strength Focus: Mobility, precision, adaptability.

Modern Global Powers and the Heroic Order

After the Heroic Wars, only seven major powers remained, each governing vast territories and safeguarding their awakened. Each faction has its own unique approach to handling awakeneds and threats.

American Awakened Association (AAA):

Governs North America.Advanced technology integration with heroic abilities.Specializes in ranged combat and mobility.

Asian Confederation:

Governs most of Asia.Houses the largest number of awakened individuals.Known for strong melee combatants and strategic warfare.

European Association:

Covers most of Europe.Focuses on teamwork, magic, and battlefield tactics.Known for producing high-ranking mages.

British Royal Council:

Based on Greater Britain.Specializes in knightly orders and ruling-class awakenings.Strong emphasis on leadership and tactical planning.

Egyptian Council:

Covers most of Africa.Masters of ancient relics and divine awakenings.Excel in arcane and spiritual combat.

Australian Council:

Governs the continent of Australia.Specializes in survival-based training and unpredictable tactics. Often produces resilient and adaptive awakenend.

Arctic Council (Russian Governance):

Operates across the Arctic and Siberian regions.Focuses on endurance and brute strength tactics.Specializes in harsh-condition warfare.

Lastly, there are beings who operate in the shadows, ones who have let go of their humanity and seek to spread chaos throughout the world. They are mostly known as the "Hidden Ones", an organization with rogue heroes and demonic humans who have been tainted by the dimensional corruption.

The world is a fragile balance of power between humanity and the lurking threats beyond the dimensional gates. As the possibility of a Black Gate reappearing looms, the modern era finds itself at a crossroads—will the awakened heroes rise to the occasion, or will humanity fall once more?

Two hundred years ago, the once-dormant dimensional gates reawakened, their eerie glow dotting the skies across the world.

Humanity, fearing a repeat of the catastrophic invasions from ancient times, scrambled to contain the rising threat. However, the Heroic Council, with its elite SS-ranked awakened, swiftly neutralized most of the incursions, reassuring the world that the situation was under control.

For decades, the public grew complacent, their fear dulled by the Council's repeated victories. Nations turned their focus to rebuilding and expansion rather than preparation.

They didn't realize that what they thought was victory was merely a pause—a brief respite before something far worse. A storm was brewing, hidden behind the thin veil of peace.