This fic has a power system of Lookism but i put my own into it since PTJ has been not clear.
The stats will be shown through the story but only you readers can see them, as they are a method to let you know the actual power levels the characters are showing.
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Tier System for Stats
Each stat has its own tier, meaning two people can have the same stat ranking but still differ in strength. For example, two individuals with SR Strength may not be equally strong, one could be stronger than the other. However, if a UR-ranked fighter appears, they can easily overpower an SR, though not necessarily defeat them in a single blow. One-tier gaps matter, but a fighter with a two-tier or higher advantage can potentially defeat an opponent in a single strike.
Additionally, stats reflect current physical ability, meaning someone can hide their strength or can't use the full strength of their body. The rank does not always represent a character's true power unless they unleash their full potential.
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Stats
={NORMAL}=
F Rank
E Rank
D Rank
={FIGHTER}=
C Rank
B Rank
A Rank
S Rank
SS Rank
SSS Rank
={HIGH TIER}=
SR Rank
SSR Rank
UR Rank
LR Rank
MR Rank
={KING TIER}=
X Rank
XX Rank
XXX Rank
EX Rank
DX Rank
={HIGH KING TIER}=
CX Rank
BX Rank
AX Rank
SX Rank
XR Rank
={LEGEND TIER}=
XXR Rank
Y Rank
YR Rank
={PINNACLE / PEAK TIER}=
Z Rank
ZR Rank
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Stats have different levels, meaning two people can have the same rank (e.g., C in strength) but differ in actual power.
Not everyone has the same potential within a rank. For example:
Guy 1 is a strength specialist. He has B rank in strength and can reach 100% of that rank before advancing to A rank.
Guy 2 specializes in speed. Even though he also has B rank in strength, he only reaches 60% of its potential before advancing to A rank.
This explains why some kings have the same tier and rank but different strength levels. Training can push someone to the next rank even if they haven't fully unlocked their previous rank's potential.
Think of it like a cultivation power system, there are realms, but not everyone maximizes their potential or uses the same cultivation techniques.
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Potential Stats
Potential stats determine how far a person can grow. However, talent does not define the future, someone with F-Rank potential can surpass an SS-ranked fighter through extreme effort, conviction, and luck. That said, an SS-ranked individual will naturally have an easier time growing and surpassing obstacles.
F Rank
E Rank
D Rank
C Rank
B Rank
A Rank
S Rank
SS Rank
SSS Rank
"Hard work can surpass talent... but can it surpass talent that also works hard? No."
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Intelligence / Battle IQ
F Rank
E Rank
D Rank
C Rank
B Rank
A Rank
S Rank
S+ Rank
SR Rank
X Rank
SX Rank
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Masteries & Their Attributes
There are four types of masteries, each represented by a distinct color:
🔴 Strength – Enhances raw power
🔵 Speed – Increases movement and reaction speed
🟢 Durability – Improves endurance and resistance
🩷 Technique – Elevates skill and combat precision
Unlocking Mastery
To attain mastery, a fighter must reach a physical (or sometimes mental) wall, a moment where they face an opponent significantly stronger than them. This wall marks a crucial turning point:
If they fail to overcome it, they will remain weak and stagnate.
If they break through, they begin walking the path toward mastery, gaining new strength.
However, simply breaking past the wall isn't enough. A fighter must understand and refine their mastery before fully unlocking it.
A person can acquire multiple masteries, but the difficulty of doing so depends on the individual's dedication and effort.
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Additional Traits
Besides masteries, fighters can gain two unique traits that further enhance their capabilities:
🟣 Conviction – Temporarily boosts stats and can even push someone into ascension.
🟢 Animal Instincts – Obtained after surpassing their personal wall, functioning similarly to a mastery.
Once a mastery is acquired, it can be further refined to advanced levels. For example, a 🔵 Speed Mastery user can reach a level where they execute attacks so fast they become invisible, thus gaining the ability 'Invisible Attacks'.
It's important to note that not all strong fighters require a mastery.
"Not every individual reaches a wall, some are the wall themselves"
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Paths: The Essence of a Fighter's Strength
What is a Path?
A Path is the foundation of a fighter's combat style, shaping their techniques, philosophy, and ultimate potential. It can be developed personally or inherited from predecessors. Paths fall into two categories:
1. Normal Paths – The standard combat styles most warriors develop.
2. Path to Pinnacle – A rare, exclusive path that only a select few can walk, leading to peak-tier strength.
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Normal Paths
Most fighters follow a Normal Path, meaning they either develop their own unique fighting style or inherit an established one. Second-generation fighters often refine or adapt pre-existing paths rather than creating their own from scratch.
For example:
Warren crafted his own Normal Path by merging Manager Kim's military CQC with Jeet Kune Do, creating a hybrid close-quarters combat style.
While a Normal Path can reach great heights, it has its limits, fighters relying on it may eventually hit a ceiling in their growth.
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Legends: The Step Below Pinnacle
The Legend Tier is the level below Pinnacle. A fighter can reach this tier even if they follow a Normal Path, but they have not yet forged or fully mastered their own unique path.
To become a Legend, a fighter must:
1. Walk the path of a Legend Prospect (a stage of potential greatness).
2. Refine and sharpen their combat style.
3. Fully understand their personal fighting philosophy.
4. Reach the threshold of the Legend Tier through mastery and experience.
Legends are considered dominant forces, but they are not yet at the pinnacle of martial arts. Unlike Pinnacle-tier fighters, Legends experience a decline in strength with age, meaning their peak is temporary unless they ascend further.
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Path to Pinnacle: The True Summit of Strength
The Path to Pinnacle is reserved for those who carve out a path entirely their own, mastering it to the point of absolute refinement. Fighters who complete this journey ascend to Pinnacle Tier, the highest level of martial prowess.
However, achieving Pinnacle does not make one universally supreme, it simply marks the peak of that individual's potential. Even among Pinnacle-tier fighters, strength varies based on factors like talent, experience, and the refinement of their path.
For example:
Gapryong and Shingen both reached Pinnacle Tier, yet one still stood above the other.
The defining trait of Pinnacle-tier fighters is their ageless strength, unlike others, their power never fades with time, ensuring they remain at their peak indefinitely.
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The Ultimate Divide: Legend vs. Pinnacle
Legend Tier fighters can reach immense power but rely on Normal Paths. Their strength naturally declines with age.
Pinnacle Tier fighters achieve their level by fully mastering a unique path. Their power never diminishes, making them timeless warriors.
Ultimately, only those who forge their own perfected Path can step into the realm of Pinnacle.