(This chapter serves as information only. All of this will be eventually explained throughout the story. I thought I should write this though in case anyone wants to read up on something in case they forgot, or for any other reason. Because of this though, there will be spoilers. If you wish to experience this story with no spoilers at all, then please skip over this chapter!!!
Not everything within the Webnovel will be explained here either. There will be some things that won't be spoke about here but will be revealed inside of the actual chapters.)
✴ Trials/Sequences
These Trials are special as they test a person in several ways.
✴ Aura / Aura Core
Every living human possesses an Aura Core, but not all humans are capable of harnessing Aura. The Aura Core is vital, as it serves as the source and reservoir of Aura for humans. Without an Aura Core, one can not live, and without training their aura, one can never become an Arbiter.
✴ Seals & Gateways
A seal and Gateway are similar in the sense you receive them for power. However, they work completely different on a fundamental level.
Seals: They exist beyond the physical world, lurking within the mysterious Seal Realm—a pitch-black abyss where only those with the ability to manipulate their aura to a degree could enter.
A person's will, talent, luck, and the depth of their craving for power determined the Seals they could choose from. Some will have only one option, while others could glimpse thousands. Regardless of how many appeared, only one can be contracted.
Each Seal comes with a theme, dictating the powers granted. A fire-based Seal might offer a route for raw destruction, while another route could turn flames into healing energy. The true depth of a Seal's potential depended on its Route—the specialized path it took within its core nature.
Each Seal has three routes you can choose from.
Gateways: In a realm, similar to Seals lay the Gate Realm, where cosmic entities resided. Unlike Seals, Gateways were not taken—they were granted through contracts with beings of immense power. Each Gateway's strength depended on the level of the contract, determining how much influence the wielder held over its domain.
Unlike seals, Gateways are locked into one route by force.
✴ Arbiters
an Arbiter is a person who has connected with a Seal or Gateway.
✴ Arbiter System / Arbiter: Resonance Lens
The system which every Arbiter has to check their stats, Seal or Gateway, and the only way to access the Sequences.
✴ Resonance Name
A Resonance Name is a very rare title granted to Arbiters.
✴ Monster Cores
A Monster Core functions similarly to an Aura Core, but it is exclusive to monsters, animals, and beasts within the Sequences. These cores can be harvested from the corpse of a defeated monster ranked Ravager or higher.
(Continue scrolling to see more information about these)
✴ Core Rank
A system that is used to check an Arbiter's Aura Core. There are nine ranks.
✤ Sealed
✤ Unsealed
✤ Initiate
✤ Resonant
✤ Ascendant
✤ Paragon
✤ Sovereign
✤ Eclipsed
✤ Empyrean
Just like Arbiters, monsters also possess Core Ranks that define their strength. However, unlike Arbiters, their evolution follows a far more primal and chaotic path until Abyssal.
Monster Core Ranks
✤ Shackled
✤ Unshackled
✤ Ravager
✤ Tyrant
✤ Abyssal
✤ Cataclysm / Paragon
✤ Calamity / Sovereign
✤ Apocalypse / Eclipsed
✤ Primordial / Empyrean
Once a monster reaches the Abyssal Rank, it encounters a pivotal transformation—one mirroring an Arbiter's Seal Route selection.
[The following two Routes are now available for selection.]
[Cataclysm / Paragon]
Upon making its choice, the monster undergoes an irreversible metamorphosis.
Those who embrace Cataclysm descend further into ruin, becoming vessels of destruction.
Those who choose Paragon ascend like Arbiters, evolving into what is known as Spirit-Bound Beasts, creatures infused with sacred or mystical power.
✴ Spirit-Bound Beasts
A Spirit-Bound Beast is a creature that has chosen the Paragon path upon surpassing the Abyssal Rank. These beings can form alliances with Arbiters who are ranked Paragon or higher. However, they may also choose to serve someone weaker if they sense great potential within them, or for any other reason they wish to serve someone.
If an Arbiter is of a higher or lower rank than the Spirit desires, there are two ways to establish a bond:
A mutual contract – An agreement with terms beneficial to both parties.
Combat submission – The Arbiter must defeat the Spirit in battle to claim its allegiance.
✴ Passive
A Passive is an innate ability granted based on the Seal, or Contract Arbiter possesses. Not all Seals have a Passive, while some may grant multiple.
(More will be explained in the story as it progresses as this is kind of vague)
✴ Errors
Errors are anomalies that manifest in an Arbiter's Seal or Gateway. Their origins remain a mystery, but without exception, every Arbiter experiences an Error. These abnormalities vary in nature, sometimes not even being something bad and more helpful, sometimes they're minor inconveniences and other times imposing severe limitations.
- Errors will be given to an arbiter after Sequence 6 depending on the Arbiter's luck. (Before the sixth Sequence, there is a small chance of obtaining an Error early. It isn't common that it happens but it may happen.)
✴ More Monster Core Information
✤ There are multiple aspects of a monster core you receive.
✤ An Arbiter can sell these cores to the Arbiter system for money.
✦ Resonance Shards
Resonance Shards are powerful, crystallized shards of an entity's soul, often obtained through the defeat of monsters. These shards contain both the remnants of the creature's powers and its experiences, locked within a spiritual form. However, the power of a Resonance Shard cannot be immediately unlocked. The user must first attune themselves to the shard through focused meditation.
✤ There are multiple usages for these besides just attuning to it but I won't explain any of this.
✦ Resonance Fragments
Fragments serve as a "copy" of a creature's essence that says an Arbiter had killed the beast.
✤ Fragments can give a temporary buff in strength, agility, defense, or a certain elemental affinity, and sometimes even a new passive for a time being.
✤ There are also more usages for these.
✦ Resonance Mix
Resonance Mixes are created by fusing multiple Resonance Shards and Resonance Fragments together, combining the essences of different creatures or entities into a single potent mixture. These mixes hold the accumulated powers, knowledge, and traits of the creatures they are derived from, offering a unique set of benefits and possibilities.
Once formed, Resonance Mixes can be used in various ways:
✦ Training Grounds: The mix can serve as a training simulation, where the user can face off against the combined essence of the fused creatures. These training sessions offer valuable combat experience, allowing the user to refine their skills while battling a hybridized version of their previous enemies. These simulations are realistic, offering the user the chance to learn strategies, techniques, and battle tactics without the risk of permanent harm.
✦ Other Uses: There are also lesser-known applications for Resonance Mixes which I won't be covering.
NOTE: An Arbiter isn't guaranteed to get either Resonance Fragments, or Resonance Shards from the creatures they kill as these Fragments and Shards are extremely rare but are almost guaranteed from the First Sequence.
✴ Levels
It works the same way for both Seals and Contracts.
✤ Leveling from 1 to 15:
The Resonance Lens will appear randomly when your Seal deems you ready for a task. These tasks can range from something as mundane as chopping wood to something as extreme as carrying out a genocide.
Note:
In extremely rare cases, an Arbiter may come across a unique item tied to their Seal. These special items can allow them to skip their current Sequence and directly advance to the next one. Alternatively, the item can be broken, granting access back to the Seal Realm, where the Arbiter is given the rare opportunity to alter their Seal and shift into a different path/Seal entirely.
Additional Clarification:
Using such an item does allow advancement to the next Sequence, and the Arbiter will gain the associated attributes. However, to progress further beyond that point, they must still complete the Sequence as normal.
Example:
If a Sequence 9 Arbiter acquires a rare item such as "Shadow Bone of Windows"(not an item, just an example), they can use it to jump to Sequence 10. While they will receive the abilities and traits of a Sequence 10 Arbiter, they must still complete the Sequence 10 in order to advance to Sequence 11.
Also, to avoid any confusion, I want to clarify that much of this information may be presented differently in the early chapters, if it's included at all.
✴ That's all.
Enjoy Reading !
– NexMotions