Chapter 9: Pantheon

"Well now that we know he won't die, let's talk. Codename is Lilac and I am a tier-5 Alpha working with the association."

The woman introduced herself while pulling out a badge. The badge was silver and black with her rank and codename on it.

"Tier-6 Alpha, Titanium," her partner introduced while also flashing his badge.

"We both work for the Association as I said before. Every Alpha is required to become a member of the association but few actually work for it.

"Doesn't pay as much as private work," she said with a shrug.

"Anyway, we are here because it has been confirmed that you are an Alpha. From what we can tell, you can manipulate or create flames as well are fireproof. We will have to some more testing later but you will definitely become at least tier-3.

We are here to ensure that you know the basics about the Association as well as extend you an offer and take you in for your test once you leave here. We are also for your protection so no rouge Alphas try to kidnap you or invite you to join seedy organizations.

The Association was created by the United Nations when Alphas first came about. The original purpose was to monitor us. But when they found out about High Tier and Pantheon Tier Alphas, it became more like an actual organization for Alphas.

Every Alpha has to register with us. The official reason is so that we can ensure the safe growth of every young Alpha and make that they do not get corrupted and yada-yada.

The real reason is to know how to take down anyone who goes rogue while also creating a catalog for companies to try and hire Alphas from. The higher-ups want to create a free market where no child is allowed to join or pledge themself to an organization before they become 18.

Cryo. Inc is on thin ice, pun intended, though and none of their members are able to adopt you due to the unethical way they took in that Samantha girl and broke that last rule. Any questions before I go into other stuff?"

Alex looked very confused and did not understand what was going on. He was still puzzled over being an Alpha and could not even process what they were saying. The Alphas were patient though and waited for him to speak and gather his thoughts.

"What are tiers? I heard about them on TV and stuff but they never went into detail. And I've never even heard of Pantheon Tiers before."

The woman did not seem surprised about hearing that. Few people really knew about the tiers unless they were Alphas themselves.

"Tiers are the basics that would have been explained to you when you register and your powers are truly tested to their limits but I don't mind sharing that with you. Alphas are divided into 9 numbered tiers and then 1 tier after that.

Tier 1-3 are low-tier, 4-6 are mid-tier, and 7-9 are high tier. The tier above that is called Pantheon or Deity or Divinity tier depending on who you ask but it is officially listed as and the majority just call it pantheon tier. We tier Alphas based on the number of uses their ability has, the number of weaknesses it has, and the life span of the Alpha. Basically how much of an impact it makes.

You know how we have extended life-spans right? Like how this crazy woman is in her 50s yes does not look a day over 23? Low-tier live up to 200 years. Mid-tiers are estimated to have a lifespan of 500 years. Alphas have only been around for about 300 years and most of them are combat-related ones who died.

As for high-tiers and pantheon tier, we are really not sure. We haven't even seen a mid-tier die of natural causes yet so we can barely guess for higher tiers. We assume high tiers die around 1000-1500 years while pantheon should be around 5,000 but as I said, we really don't know.

Take you for example. Your power can be used offensively, although the flames do not seem too strong from what we can tell, and makes you fireproof. Based on just those two things, you are a Tier-3 or low-tier Alpha. We need to do more tests to see if you qualify for mid-tier.

Most low-tier have combat abilities comparable to tens of trained men and women or make little impact on the world. Mid-tier can take on hundreds of soldiers or vehicles and can make a decent impact on the world.

Most combat high-tier can take on armies, convoys, and fleets of enemies and can threaten an entire country by themself. Non-combat high-tier can create or do things that can change the course of human history or civilizations.

The Pantheon tier is all monsters. There are currently only 3 Alphas who are qualified as Pantheon tier but each of them can affect the entire world if they are careless. 2 of them have directly combat-related abilities while one of them does not but that last one is the scariest of the group in my opinion. At least from what I have heard about her abilities."

Alex was shocked to hear about Alphas and their tiers but Seth knew all about it. He was surprised that the way that Alphas were tiered was similar to the method in his world as well as the number of Pantheon tier Alphas.

Even in his world, there were only 13 deities, as they were referred to after Alphas had been around for nearly 1,000 years. Each of them was a monster that even Seth had never dared to accept an assassination order against.

The one time he was foolish enough to try in his youth and before he had gained his 7 weapons. He sent thousands of different weapons at the person while they slept but he was unable to lay a scratch on them.

When the person opened their eyes, they shot a beam of energy from them that pierced thousands of weapons and shields before reaching in front of Seth and detonated, which left Seth on the verge of death.

The deity did not even look at Seth again before going to sleep thinking that they had killed him. Seth surviving that blast is a testament to his prowess and luck since anyone, besides a deity, that received the full attack of a mature combat deity had died.

It was also this encounter that led to him finding his 7 weapons. Although he was grateful to the deity for leading him to his weapons, he swore that he would never try to battle against one again.

He also chose his new name because of it. He took it with pride that he had survived an attack from a deity and named himself Apex not because of how powerful his new weapons made him but due to believing that he was the ultimate Alpha beneath the Pantheon tier.