[This chapter serves as a breakdown of the system of the book. It has been made as simple as possible so as not to contain major spoilers.]
♠︎The Dead:
The Dead are liminal beings, meaning they exist in a state between life and death. If one is newly marked to belong to this community, they are regarded as empowered.
◆Empowered
Once marked, individuals are collected by the Death Bringers and taken to the Academy of the Legion of the Dead. After undergoing preparations, they enter the phase of liminality.
They are then sent to the Underworld to resolve an anomaly caused by the Winter Solstice. If they survive, they become Dead, also known as liminal beings.
◆Winter Solstice:
It is the darkest day of the year, when one hemisphere of the Earth is tilted farthest away from the Sun, resulting in the longest night and shortest day of the year. During this time, the Forbidden Sphere is at its peak, and the Underworld becomes highly unstable, volatile and dangerous.
♠︎The Underworld:
The realm of the Dead. Every sphere possesses its own Underworld.
♠︎Novices
After preparation in the Academy, novices enter the Underworld to resolve the fluctuation anomaly. If successful, they emerge as liminal beings and evolve to the next rank.
Their souls harden, and their minds become capable of withstanding the corrosive toxicity of the Forbidden Sphere should they enter it.
♣︎The Forbidden Sphere
The Forbidden Sphere is an unnatural realm created by a dark, cataclysmic event that occurred three centuries ago. It is filled with abominations, monsters, and beasts of various calibers, created through necromancy and other forms of dark magic.
After becoming liminal beings, the Dead enter the Forbidden Sphere to tame it and prevent it from bleeding into other spheres.
Only Dead beings can enter the Forbidden Sphere, hence the necessity of the Legion of the Dead.
◆The Four Spheres
There are four primary spheres inhabited by intelligent beings:
●The Elven Sphere: world of elves
●The Orcanian Sphere: world of orcs
●The Dwarken Sphere: world of dwarves
●The Earth Sphere: world of humans
All spheres bleed into one another, including the Forbidden Sphere.
Key Terms
●Relik
A magical item tied to the essence of an anomaly. It is formed from the soul essence of an anomaly and can be channeled, converted, and manipulated to a weapon depending on the user's system.
●Chaos
A dark, negative energy released by anomalies and absorbed by a warrior when an anomaly is slain. It fuels the Relik and enhances its magical properties.
●Echo
Magical essence obtained when an anomaly is slain. Echoes are drawn from the soul cores of anomalies and determine a warrior's progression to higher ranks.
●Soul Core
A mystical core of one's soul. It is capable of storing vast amounts of Echoes and other soul essences. Everyone has one Soul, and so one Soul core.
●Anomalies
Anomalies are the monstrosities that inhabit the Forbidden Sphere. Like liminal beings, they possess ranks based on their Soul Cores.
However, as their rank increases, they develop multiple or more complex soul cores, unlike humans, who possess only one soul core.
◆Anomaly Classification
Unwinged Anomalies
■Beast²
■Monster³
■Demon⁴
■Devil⁵
Winged Anomalies
■Scavenger⁶
■Tyrant⁷
■Calamity⁸
■Titan⁹
N/B: The numbers they carry, stands for the number of there Soul Cores.
♠︎Core Anomaly States
Unlike humans, who have only three states:
●Manifested
●Ascended
●Transcended
Anomalies possess five states:
■initial
■Corrupted
■Forsaken
■Unholy
■Immortal
DESCRP: Before any evolution happens, they pass through 5 stages:
Example (Beast -> Monster path):
■Beast(initial)
■Corrupted Beast
■Forsaken Beast
■Unholy Beast
■Immortal Beast
-> THEN becomes Monster
Same pattern repeats for:
Monster -> Demon
Demon -> Devil
★L.O.D – Legion of the Dead
The Academy and the Councils of the Legion are governed by a system structured around death.
The Nine Ranks
●Novice
●Warden
●Thanir
●Reaver
●Master
●Saint (S)
●Specter (SS)
●Sentinel (SSS)
●Rectorium (Golden S)
N/B: When one defeats anomalies, they absorb echoes they climb the next core liminal state, until they are able to ascend the next rank. Example:
A Thanir climbs from:
●Thanir
●Manifested Thanir
●Ascended Thanir
●Transcended Thanir
-> the to Reaver.
◇Titles
●Warden
●Council-Bound
●Master
●Grandmaster
●Elder
●Lord
Roles and Hierarchy
●Warden
Wardens are placed under Masters who train and prepare them for the next phase: entering the Forbidden Sphere.
●Council-Bound
Once individuals ascend to the Thanir and Reaver ranks, they are no longer bound to a single Master but to the entire Council.
●Grandmasters
Retired and old liminal beings who possess vast knowledge and wisdom. They train novices and help preserve the legacy of the Legion.
●Elders
There are only four Elders, each representing one of the Four Spheres. They are the most powerful beings from their respective spheres.
★Lords
The supreme heads of the Legion. They are not merely liminal beings; they embody death itself.
Having ascended to the Golden S rank, they are the Bringers of Death and rulers of the Underworld. There are four Lords, each governing one of the Four Spheres.
They are referred to as;
Lady Elf.(since she's a she)
Lord Orc.
Lord Human.
Lord Dwarf
🚫 Necromancy
The most forbidden and feared power. Anyone who wields necromancy is executed, often in brutal ways.
A/N:
Finally, I would like to use this opportunity to thank God Almighty for His love, kindness, blessings, and gifts upon us. May His name be forever praised. Amen.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to my readers, both present and future, my AEs, editors, and everyone who has contributed and will contribute to this book in one way or another.
I am deeply grateful to you all and truly honored to have you by my side.
Thank you, and God bless you. I hope you enjoy the book, and trust me, you will.