The Void

The void creatures are categorized into different ranks based on their mana core levels:

- Beast -> Mana core level: 0-1

- Monster -> Mana core level: 2

- Demon -> Mana core level: 3

- Abyssal -> Mana core level: 4

- Monarch -> Mana core level: 5

- Titan -> Mana core level: 6

- Leviathan -> Mana core level: 7

- Defiled -> Mana core level: 8

- ???

Each rank of void creatures is split into different grades:

- Grade 3

- Grade 2

- Grade 1

For example, a Grade 2 Demon is a void creature that is stronger and smarter than a Grade 3 Demon.

It is possible for a void creature to advance in rank, such as a Grade 1 Demon ranking up to a Grade 3 Abyssal.

Humans also have mana core levels and are categorized into different ranks:

- Dormant -> Mana core level: 0

- Awakened -> Mana core level: 1

- Intermediate -> Mana core level: 2

- Advanced -> Mana core level: 3

- Expert -> Mana core level: 4

- Master -> Mana core level: 5

- Grandmaster -> Mana core level: 6

- Saint -> Mana core level: 7

- ???

Just like the void creatures, the ranks for humans are also split into different grades with the same rules:

- Grade 3

- Grade 2

- Grade 1

The void rifts that appear on Earth are categorized by their danger levels into different phases:

Phase 1:

- A wave of Beast-ranked void creatures

- A Monster-ranked void creature being the strongest

Phase 2:

- A wave of Monster-ranked void creatures

- A Demon-ranked void creature being the strongest

Phase 3:

- A wave of Demon-ranked void creatures

- An Abyssal-ranked void creature being the strongest

Phase 4:

- A wave of Abyssal-ranked void creatures

- A Monarch-ranked void creature being the strongest

Phase 5:

- A wave of Monarch-ranked void creatures

- A Titan-ranked void creature being the strongest

Phase 6:

- A wave of Titan-ranked void creatures

- A Leviathan-ranked void creature being the strongest

To date, there have been no records of a Phase 7 or above void rift showing up.

Europe unfortunately fell 150 years ago due to the appearance of a single Phase 6 void rift and multiple other lower phase void rifts.

It is possible for a human to enter a void rift, transporting them to a mysterious world where the void creatures come from.

Nothing is known about this world at all, and the majority remains unexplored due to its dangers.

This mysterious world of the void creatures has been named the Void Realm.

When one is in the Void Realm, the only way to return to Earth is by entering another void rift within the Void Realm.

Upon entering a void rift, the destination on Earth is unknown, and there is even a danger of suddenly being sent to Europe.

Those who wish to return to Earth from the Void Realm have no choice but to kill the void creatures that are entering the void rift, as the void rift will disappear once the strongest void creature present has passed through it.

[Reading further information may be considered a spoiler! You have been warned!]

Abilities unlocked by each mana core rank for humans:

A Dormant: Every person is born as a dormant-ranked human, possessing a [unique skill]. Not everyone can use it, as it requires a significant amount of mana or other factors that make its use difficult.

An Awakened: When someone becomes Awakened, they unlock their affinity. There are two types of affinities:

Basic affinities—fire, water, earth, and wind—are foundational.

Greater affinities, like ice, lightning, metal, shadows, and light, are rarer and demand far more mana.

However, rarity doesn't equate to superiority. There are no weak affinities, only weak users.

An Intermediate: When someone becomes an intermediate, nothing is explicitly updated in the status screen that each human possesses. However, internally, their mana veins evolve into [Soul Veins], a term self-coined by humans. This evolution causes an internal mana burst that enhances specific veins in the body. These veins increase mana flow, improve control, speed up spellcasting, and boost efficiency.

An Advanced: [Soul Rebirth], named by the status screen, is a transformation that every human undergoes upon reaching the advanced rank. It triggers a drastic transformation of the physical body, enhancing strength, agility, endurance, and durability.

An Expert: Experts unlock the ability called [Soul Echo] by killing void creatures. There is a small chance for the void creature to become theirs. There can be multiple [Soul Echoes].

A Master: Masters undergo a second [Soul Rebirth], but this time, they gain the ability to see and control mana within their body, a concept known as aura.

A Grandmaster: Grandmasters are capable of using [Soul Anchor]. They can open void rifts and place anchors on both Earth and the Void Realm.

A Saint: Saints can use [Soul Domain], which creates a separate space. More information about this ability is currently unknown.

Special Information about Void Creatures:

No two void creatures are exactly the same.

Some have affinities.

Some have abilities.

Some have both.

But what do all void creatures have?

Mana.

Just like humans, they have mana. But what do they do with that mana, other than using it for their abilities or affinities?

It's similar to how a master can eventually manipulate their aura. Void creatures can do the same, using mana to strengthen their bodies.

Special Information about Void Artifacts, Mana Artifacts, Skills, Soul Weapons, and Mana Contracts:

Void Artifacts: Unexplainable artifacts found in the Void Realm. How and who made them is unknown, and more information is currently unavailable.

Mana Artifacts: Created by humans attempting to mimic void artifacts or develop better items to advance humanity. An example of a mana artifact is a mana collar, which can suppress a mana core. Note that, at certain mana core levels, this artifact will no longer work.

Skills: A [unique skill] and a [skill] are fundamentally different.

[Unique skills] are innate abilities that every human is born with. However, most people cannot use them without becoming Awakened due to their immense mana cost.

[Skills], on the other hand, are entirely different.

They are not innate. They can only be obtained in two ways:

By killing a being with a mana core. Even then, there is only a 5% chance of gaining a [skill], and whether the skill is useful or worthless is entirely up to chance.

By finding a [skill book], which can only be discovered in the Void Realm. However, [skill books] are so rare that killing someone for a 5% chance at a [skill] is statistically more likely.

Soul Weapons:

If a person prefers a soul weapon over a mana weapon, they must first venture into the Void Realm. At least, that's where the greatest chance of obtaining a soul weapon lies.

One must explore the Void Ruins or kill Void creatures. However, the chances of obtaining a soul weapon by killing Void creatures are even lower than the odds of gaining a [skill], so most people opt to explore the Void Ruins instead. Even then, the chances are slim, and the risk of death is significant. As a result, most humans choose to stick with mana weapons.

Mana Contracts:

A Mana Contract is a binding agreement made by a mana user, tying a fragment of their essence directly to their mana core. In exchange for fulfilling certain conditions, the user gains a significant boost in power. The mana core, located near the heart, serves as the central source of their energy and is intricately linked to their life force. Any violation of the contract's terms carries dire consequences, often affecting the user's mana, health, or even their life.

Mana Contracts remain an enigma to the world, their existence deliberately kept secret by the Four Great Kings and the Sovereigns. Apart from these rulers and a handful of apostles or select others, no one should possess knowledge of Mana Contracts—or the method to forge one.

Unless...

That individual had stumbled upon a certain book from another world and spent a year secretly mastering the art of forming such a contract.

The revelation of Mana Contracts to the wider world could change everything. Entire grades within each rank could be rendered meaningless.

The binding of one's essence empowers the mana core, amplifying its capacity. For instance, a user could experience an explosive increase in power by agreeing to severe limitations on their abilities or accepting a steep price. The harsher the restriction, the greater the potential power unlocked.

However, violating the contract's terms unleashes devastating repercussions. The mana core may react violently, causing intense pain, debilitating weakness, or, in some cases, partial sealing of the core itself. This leaves the user unable to access their powers, sometimes permanently.

A damaged core is a death sentence for most. It erodes the user's ability to harness mana and, if left untreated, can lead to a slow and excruciating demise.

While the strength of the core determines the user's power, overextending or recklessly exhausting it hastens its decay. Once decayed beyond repair, the user is left as a hollow shell of their former self—or worse, fatally wounded by the core's implosion.

Regardless of the terms, a Mana Contract always demands payment. The price can be high, and the consequences of breaking it are severe:

Soul Destruction

Physical Decay

Mental Collapse

It is theorized that the mana core and the soul are intricately connected. The mana core functions as a gateway to a person's soul. Removing the mana core disrupts the delicate network of mana veins coursing through the body. For Awakened or Dormant users, this renders the mana veins useless. For Intermediates or higher, whose soul veins have formed, the effects are equally catastrophic.

When the mana core of a void creature or human is extracted, it often appears radiant at first, with its essence intact. Consuming this core gradually dims its light, as if draining its soul essence. Over time, the core becomes dull, lifeless, and ultimately useless.

The act of consuming a mana core is believed to involve devouring the very essence of the soul itself—an act that is taboo for humans. This practice, shrouded in fear and superstition, is forbidden for a reason.

The forbidden knowledge of Mana Contracts carries with it both temptation and peril. To forge such a pact, one must be willing to pay the ultimate price—and accept the consequences, no matter how devastating they may be.

To form a Mana Contract, one must fulfill one of the following conditions:

Emotional Overload: One must be overwhelmed by an emotion so powerful—grief, rage, desperation, or another—that it consumes them entirely. Only when their emotional state reaches this extreme can the mana core respond to form the contract. However, be warned: Emotional Overload has a 90% chance of failure.

Sacrifice of a Life: One must sacrifice a life—either their own or another's—to form the contract. This requires giving up a significant part of themselves, a piece of their very essence. But, like the first, the Sacrifice of a Life also carries a 90% chance of failure.

Complete Isolation from Mana: In this case, the individual agrees to sacrifice their mana core entirely. If they survive, they will be left without the ability to use mana for the rest of their lives. But as with the others, Complete Isolation from Mana also has a 90% chance of failure.