--------------| General Information |--------------
[This chapter exists to give you knowledge about the Catalyst Anchor and the other horror aspects that come with it. It might also give you a small spoiler.]
The Catalyst Anchor
The Catalyst Anchor is a magical infection that targets young adult humans who are emotionally unstable—those experiencing deep grief, sadness, depression, or mental illness. However, the Catalyst Anchor only infects those in their prime age, between eighteen and twenty-two years old. To recognize the Infected, the Anchor leaves a mark similar to a blood-colored bruise. Once infected, they become "The Infected." They will feel an overwhelming urge to fall into a deep sleep, as if they have given up on the world, and will be transported into an alternate realm called "The Fallen Dream."
The Fallen Dream
The Fallen Dream is an alternate realm where "The Infected" are transported and tested with their greatest fear as a trial. They must face and overcome it. The reward given in the Fallen Dream depends on how strong the foes were. Once "The Infected" finally conquer their trial, the Anchor itself will grant them a reward and appraisal as the conclusion of their trial. For those who fail — or more precisely, die — their soul will be trapped in the realm eternally, and their body in the real world will become a lifeless corpse.
The Graveyards of the Fallen Gods
The Graveyards of the Fallen Gods is an alternate space that requires a "Chalice Ritual" to open its gate, or one must simply wait for the "Fog Gates" to appear in the real world. It would be unfortunate for humanity if the "Fog Gates" appeared, as they would release "Unholy Beings" that would savor humanity's blood and flesh. In this realm, The Awakened can enter after successfully performing the Chalice Ritual, but the Catalyst Anchor will not let The Awakened roam freely without purpose. It will mark the Awakened with symbols of time—a line marked on their forearm in Roman numerals and the mark called the "Mark of Time." If the Awakened fails to conquer the trial, the Fog Gates will appear. The Graveyards of the Fallen Gods consist of many tombs belonging to different gods—the places where the gods fell during their endless war.
Mark of Time
A mark in Roman numerals that will appear on the awakened's forearm, a deep slate black-colored mark on the forearm, tells them how many days or weeks they will have as soon as they enter the Fallen Dream or the Graveyard of the Fallen Gods.
The Waking World
A real-world dimension where humanity lives, a world that separates humanity and the Unholy Beings, and only to traverse between those two worlds or realms is performing the Chalice Ritual only to summon the Fog Gates to enter them.
The Awakened
"The Awakened" is the first title that the Catalyst Anchor grants to "The Infected" who successfully conquer their "Fallen Dream." The Awakened will then be assigned as "The Hunter" and tasked with expedition trials into "The Graveyards of the Fallen Gods" to conquer them. If the Awakened manages to challenge the Anchor, the Anchor will reward them, but doom awaits those who fail.
The Fog Gates
Gateways to the Graveyards of the Fallen Gods. They can be forced open with the Chalice Ritual, which must be performed by a Caster. However, beware: if the Fog Gates appear in the real world without a Caster, it is a disaster caused by those who failed to conquer their trial.
-------------| Common Terminology |-------------
The Chalice Ritual
It is a ritual spell performed by the Caster. The Caster must use the blood of an Infected who died in the Fallen Dream. Only then will the Fog Gates appear before the Caster.
The Chapel
A shelter that the Awakened build to rest, but not for long—the time the Anchor gives to the Awakened is much shorter than their remaining lifespan.
The Hunter's Gift
A gift granted by the Anchor for slaughtering Unholy Beings. The Hunter's Gift can be ranked based on the blood ranks and class classification of the slain being.
Attunement
A magical prowess that the Awakened (The Hunter) can learn from the Caster and can be enhanced by using Blood Stones and collecting more Attunement scrolls.
Blood Rune
A core that stores all Blood Stones. It can be expanded by slaughtering higher Blood Rank Unholy Beings, but it cannot be overwritten with the same rank. For example, if the Awakened has a Hollowed Rank Blood Rune 1, they cannot enhance it with another Hollowed Rank Blood Rune 1 — they must find Unholy Beings that possess Awakened Blood Rune 2 or higher. The Blood Rune also has a maximum capacity for storing Blood Stones. Blood Rune 1 can store 2,000 Blood Stones, and obtaining a higher-rank Blood Rune will expand the capacity by two or three times. And also after managing to slaughter the Unholy Beings, Blood Rune will evolve based on the Unholy Beings' rank and convert it into humanity's rank.
Blood Stones
Cold, crystallized blood that appears after slaughtering Unholy Beings or other Awakened. The stone appears as a red, blood-colored shard similar to broken glass. The number of stones depends on the target's rank. If the target's rank is too low, it will not be enough for the Hunter's daily expenses.
Blood Ranks
The seven ranks granted by the Anchor to both humanity and unholy beings—a ladder from fodder to divinity.
Blood Ranks (Humanity):
Hollowed
Awakened
Vessel
Apostle
Ascended
Demigod
Immortal
Blood Ranks (Unholy Beings):
Hollowed
Awakened
Wild
Dire
Mythical
Ancient
Eldritch
Class Classification (only for Unholy Beings, ranked by Blood Rune possession):
Scourge (Blood Rune 1)
Accursed (Blood Rune 2)
Beast (Blood Rune 3)
Undead (Blood Rune 4)
Blight (Blood Rune 5)
Calamity (Blood Rune 6)
Titan (Blood Rune 7)
Unholy Beings
Creatures that appear in the Fallen Dream and the Graveyard of the Fallen Gods are grotesque and gruesome in appearance. They exist to challenge humans — those known as the Awakened. These Unholy Beings possess blood ranks and class classifications, and they contain far more blood runes than humans.
Gift's Tier
Hunter's Gifts obtained from Unholy Beings can be converted into humanity's blood ranks based on the slain being's blood rank and class. For example, an Awakened Undead Hunter's Gift converts into a Tier 4 Awakened Hunter's Gift, while a Wild Blight Hunter's Gift converts into a Tier 5 Ascended Hunter's Gift.
Insight
Another core similar to the Blood Rune, but it elevates the Hunter's eyesight, allowing them to see hidden walls, traps, and the unseen (including invisible foes). It also helps with Blood Stone acquisition: when slaying a foe with a low amount of Blood Stones, Insight will increase the yield by one fifth (the Hunter acquires an extra 20% of the Blood Stones). To increase the insight core, one must encounter more treacherous beings or consume the knowledge of madmen.
Spirit's Ashes
A copy of a fallen foe, but weaker than the original. It can still be helpful in battle or for other tasks that the spirit is skilled at. It can be summoned by ringing the Spirit's Bell. Then the spirit of the fallen foes will arise and be ready to partake in the battle alongside the summoner.
Spirit's Bell
A rusted silver bell that contains the spirit of the fallen foes. It awaits being used for summoning. The spirit inside has an overwhelming urge to battle for the summoner's side, despite its limited capabilities compared to the original foe.
---------| Persona & Abilities |---------
Persona
The Anchor grants the victor of the Fallen Dream a blessing in the form of a new identity in the Graveyards of the Fallen Gods, but it also counterbalances this with a Curse.
Attribute
Passive ability traits that come from the Awakened's Persona.
Persona Ability
Physical or magical prowess that the Awakened obtain from their Persona. They can only choose one out of the two available ability types.
The Curse
A unique aspect whose sole purpose is to counterbalance the user's Persona. It is the great price they must pay for their power.
Epithet
A title or name granted by the Anchor to the victor of the Fallen Dream or the Graveyards of the Fallen Gods.
Hierarchy of Humanity
Those who conquer their Fallen Dream receive titles based on ranks that apply only to humans. These are similar to the class classification for Unholy Beings. There are seven humanity ranks in total, but only four have been revealed so far: Infected (Hollowed) → Hunter (Awakened) → Stalker (Vessel) → Harbinger (Apostle). To ascend to the higher titles in the Hierarchy of Humanity, the Awakened must conquer more than one Graveyard. Therefore, there are a lot of stalkers, but not all of them are equal despite having the same title; however, those who have achieved Harbinger are less than a dozen, but same as stalkers, they are not equal in powers either, and they can choose in between to set forth as independent awakened or join the legacy covenant that has been built for over years. The remaining three ranks are still hidden because those who have achieved rank ascended and above are truly the rarest of humanity's awakened. But afraid not; those three classes will be revealed sooner or later.