The air in the room shifted immediately. Athena’s expression changed from amused to razor-sharp, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in. “What’s your Talent?”

Cross met her gaze and activated his Heavenly Eyes. His vision shifted, and the world around him became clearer, sharper, as if reality itself was being pulled into focus. Athena’s eyes widened slightly, clearly impressed.

“Ocular abilities,” she muttered, standing up from her chair and pacing around the desk. “Now that’s rare. In fact, there’s only one other ocular ability Talent Holder in the world that I know of. And guess where she is?”

Cross raised an eyebrow, already guessing the answer. “The King Familia?”

Athena nodded. “That’s right. Her name’s Chloe King. Her ability lets her temporarily double the power of anything in her line of sight. She’s a terrifying Ranker. Your Talent… it’s different, but it’s on par with hers in terms of rarity.”

Cross blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected that comparison, but hearing it made him realize just how valuable his Heavenly Eyes could be.

Athena stopped pacing and turned to face him again. “So you’re a Talent Holder with a rare ocular ability. That explains why Bronx is so interested in you. But tell me… what do you know about Source and the six classifications?”

Cross shifted uncomfortably. “I’ve done some research, but I’m still figuring things out. From what I understand, Source is the energy that powers everything, right? It can be harnessed and manipulated by Rankers, and it’s divided into six classifications—Body, Mind, Soul, Will, Domain, and Unknown.”

Athena nodded approvingly. “Not bad. But let me take it a step further for you. Source is more than just energy. It’s the lifeblood of the world. In a way, it’s the fruit that came to bear through the harmony of the universe. But here’s the kicker—there was no Source a century ago.”

Cross’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

“Exactly. It’s only been around for about a hundred years, and its appearance changed everything,” Athena explained, leaning against her desk. “Rankers, Towers, Fiends—they’re all a result of Source. Without it, this world would be a very different place.”

Cross let that information sink in, his mind racing. The very foundation of this world’s power system was a recent phenomenon. That explained why it felt so… chaotic. It wasn’t as old or established as he had imagined.

Athena continued, her tone now more instructive. “The six stages of Source-users aren’t just about advancing through power levels. To break through each stage, you need two things: the first is obvious—you need to gather enough Source. Without it, you won’t have the energy to make a breakthrough. But the second thing is where most people fail.”

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Cross leaned forward, intrigued. “What’s the second thing?”

Athena’s golden eyes gleamed with intensity. “You need personal understanding. It’s not enough to just gather Source. You have to understand it, to internalize it, to make it a part of you. Every stage represents a deeper connection with the universe and the energy that flows through it. That’s why advancing isn’t just about training or fighting—it’s about growth, mentally and spiritually.”

Cross nodded, absorbing her words. It made sense, in a way. This wasn’t just a power grind; it was about personal development as much as it was about strength.

Athena pushed away from the desk, her voice turning serious again. “Your Heavenly Eyes give you an edge, Cross. The fact that you can see Source in its raw form is something only Rankers at Stage Two or higher can typically do. But don’t get cocky. It just means you’ve got potential. Reaching Stage One in six months is still going to be a hell of a challenge.”

Cross took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the task ahead. “Please, don’t remind me.”

Athena eyed Cross with newfound interest as she stood behind her desk, arms crossed. The energy in the room had shifted. She wasn’t just amused by him anymore—she was genuinely curious. “So,” she began, “what class are you most compatible with? Body? Mind? Will?”

Cross hesitated for a moment before answering. “Actually… I have a dual affinity. Body and Domain.”

Athena froze mid-step, her eyes widening. “Body and Domain?”

Cross nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious under her sudden scrutiny. He could tell from her reaction that this wasn’t a normal combination.

“That explains everything,” Athena muttered to herself, pacing around the room. “No wonder the King Familia wants you so badly. A dual affinity is rare enough, but Domain? That’s… different.”

Cross tilted his head. “Different how?”

Athena paused, gathering her thoughts. “Domain is the second most mysterious class, right after ‘Unknown.’ Most Rankers don’t even understand it fully. I’ve only fought one person who was a Domain-class Ranker, and let me tell you—despite being in Stage Two myself, I barely managed to defeat him, and he was only at Stage One.”

“Wait, really?” Cross was surprised. Athena seemed like someone who could level a city block if she felt like it, and she struggled against a Stage One Domain Ranker?

Athena nodded. “Domain is the ability to impose your reality on the world around you. At higher stages, Domain users can reshape entire environments to their advantage. It’s like stepping into a different world—their world—and unless you’re prepared, you’re at a massive disadvantage.”

Cross felt a chill run down his spine. The more Athena spoke, the more he realized just how potent his affinity for Domain could be. He wasn’t just some guy with a bit of extra power—he had the potential to control the battlefield itself.

Athena leaned against her desk, her expression serious. “But don’t get cocky. Dual affinities are rare, but they come with a price. Balancing two classes is much harder than mastering just one. You’ll have to work twice as hard, maybe even three times, to make meaningful progress.”

Cross nodded. “I figured as much.”

After a moment of silence, Cross hesitated before asking, “What about the Unknown class? What’s that all about?”

Athena’s face hardened immediately. “Forget about it.”

“Why?” Cross pressed, sensing there was more to the story.

Athena sighed, her golden eyes narrowing. “Because only one person in the world has ever been in that class. It’s not something you or anyone else can access easily. The Unknown class is… well, it’s exactly what the name suggests: a mystery. No one really knows what it is, how it works, or why it exists.”