In this world, power comes from Divine Smoke, a strange energy released when rare plants touched by gods, demons, or ancient sea spirits are burned and inhaled. These plants contain fragments of power known as Ash Spirits, which travel through the smoke and enter the body through the lungs.
Yes they are smoking it.
Most people cannot withstand it though, their bodies reject the smoke and they die coughing blood, but those with strong bodies and willpower become Smokers, warriors who harness the smoke's power in battle. Pirates in particular have embraced this system, carrying pipes, cigars, or rolled leaves filled with rare herbs such as Godweed, Demonleaf, and Sea Ash plants.
Once inhaled, the smoke spreads through the body like living energy, strengthening the user and awakening supernatural abilities tied to their soul.
The power develops in stages as the user inhales more smoke during battle. The first stage enhances the body, granting heightened strength, speed, and senses as smoke energy circulates through their muscles.
The second stage occurs when the smoke begins manifesting unique abilities shaped by the user's spirit, allowing them to create attacks such as blades of smoke, explosive ash clouds, illusions, or shadowy movements, or anything related to it.
The final and most dangerous stage is when the Ash Spirit begins merging with the smoker, transforming their power into something monstrous or divine. Smoke may form giant avatars, demonic horns, halos of burning vapor, or massive storm like clouds, or anything far more destructive or worse.
However, staying in this state for too long destroys the body and mind, slowly turning the user into a Smoke Devil, a being consumed by the very power they wield.
Different herbs produce different forms of smoke, which leads to different powers. God Smoke grants abilities connected to divine forces, while Demon Smoke produces darker and more destructive powers like corruption or shadow.
Sea Smoke, favored by pirates, allows manipulation of mist, fog, and ocean pressure, and the rare Ghost Smoke grants strange abilities such as intangibility and illusion, or anything in that category.
Smokers (Power Users)
People who use this system are called Smokers.
They carry special pipes, cigars, hookahs, or rolled leaves containing rare Godweed, Demonleaf, or Sea Ash herbs.
When smoked, the smoke enters the lungs and spreads through the body like energy.
The stronger the smoke, the stronger the power.
But there's a risk.
Too much smoke and the Ash Spirits possess you.
The Three Stages of Smoking
1. First Drag: Ignition
The smoker inhales power and temporarily enhances their body.
Effects may include:
• superhuman speed
• stronger strikes
• heightened senses
• smoke aura
Most pirates and warriors stay here because it's the safest stage, obviously.
2. Second Drag: Manifestation
The smoke begins forming abilities unique to the user.
Examples:
• turning smoke into blades
• shadow smoke teleportation
• explosive ash clouds
• hallucination smoke that traps enemies
At this stage the smoke begins to shape around the smoker's soul, no two abilities are identical.
*no one in the world will have the same ability, but it's possible for two to have the same affinity*
3. Third Drag: Possession
This is where legends are born, or just die altogether.
The Ash Spirit inside the smoke begins merging with the user.
This can manifest as:
• a giant smoke avatar
• demonic horns made of ash
• divine halos of burning smoke
• storm-like smoke beasts
And plenty more that will take all day to explain.
But staying in this stage too long can destroy the user, their lungs blacken, and their mind burns, and they become Smoke Devils as mentioned earlier for the 200th time.