To the ordinary observer, the world is perfectly normal. Earthquakes are just tectonic shifts. Mass disappearances are tragic mysteries. Sudden outbreaks of madness are just gas leaks.
But the world is not whole. It is patched together, and the seams are starting to tear.
For those who have had their eyes forced open, the truth is undeniable: Reality is leaking. And what leaks through the cracks is changing us.
Here is what you need to know to survive.
1. DOMAINS (The Scars of Reality)
Not all ruins are just dusty stones and forgotten history. Some places have been exposed to so much conceptual pressure that local reality has permanently rotted away. These spatial overlaps are called Domains.
To enter a Domain, one must cross a Threshold. Once inside, the laws of physics are merely suggestions. Gravity might point sideways. The sky might bleed a bruised purple. Hallways might stretch into non-Euclidean geometry. Domains are highly dangerous, highly coveted, and the primary source of the hidden world's black-market economy.
2. THE POWER SYSTEM: EXTRACTION
In this world, power is not a magical gift, a blessing, or a martial art. Power is a symptom of a broken mind. It is a conceptual pressure forcing its way into reality through a human host. Those who survive this process are called Extractors.
Becoming an Extractor requires four brutal steps:
Exposure: A normal human comes into contact with a Domain, a cursed artifact, or a severe reality fracture.
Fracture: The human mind breaks under the conceptual pressure.
Resonance: If the person's mind aligns with the specific Concept leaking through, they survive. If they do not align, the result is instant mutation, madness, or death.
Stabilization: The Concept anchors itself in the survivor, manifesting as a supernatural ability.
3. THE RULES OF POWER
Extractors do not "cast spells." They manipulate reality through three strict rules:
Imposing the Rule: When an Extractor uses their power, they temporarily create a micro-Domain where their Concept is the absolute law of physics. They do not shoot fire; they impose the rule that the air must burn.
The Anchor: Human minds cannot handle raw Concepts. Every Extractor must subconsciously develop an Anchor—a mundane physical action, object, or habit that filters the power. If they don't use their Anchor, the Concept consumes their identity instantly. (Some use pocket watches, others use ledgers, and some use rhythmic counting).
Conceptual Scaling: Powers start literal and become abstract. An Extractor bound to The Frozen Angel might start by freezing a physical object, but at higher ranks, they can freeze kinetic energy, and eventually, freeze abstract concepts like "motivation" or "decay."
The Ironclad Rule: Power corrupts identity. Using an extracted ability widens the fracture in the user's mind. The more an Extractor uses their power, the less human they become, until they eventually collapse into the very concept they wield.
4. THE CONCEPTS
Extractors do not just get random powers; they are bound to specific conceptual forces. Scholars and ancient beings refer to these forces by their Titles, though street mercenaries often use simpler names.
While countless minor fractures exist, the most documented and feared Concepts include:
The Starving Maw (Street Name: The Hunger)
The Pale Weaver (Street Name: The Thread)
The False Twin (Street Name: The Mirror)
The Fallen Titan (Street Name: The Weight)
The Frozen Angel (Street Name: The Stillness)
The Screaming Static (Street Name: The Noise)
The Drowned God (Street Name: The Depth)
The Grey Rot (Street Name: The Decay)
*These are the main paths that will be used in the novel but i did not include the protagonist's path*
As an Extractor survives and deepens their resonance, they advance through the Stages of their Concept, gaining terrifying new authorities over reality.
5. ARTIFACTS
Extractors are not the only things that hold power. When an Extractor dies, or when a Concept shatters, it sometimes leaves behind a physical remnant. These are called Artifacts.
Artifacts are the lifeblood of the hidden world's black markets. But they come with a universal warning: Every artifact demands a cost.
Artifacts are classified by their danger and stability:
Tier 1: Dormant. Weak, minor effects. The cost to the user is usually negligible, like a mild headache or a temporary loss of taste.
Tier 2: Awakened. Active, highly useful abilities. Requires strict mental control to use safely. The costs are steeper—perhaps a temporary loss of a specific memory, or a physical toll on the body.
Tier 3: Distorted. Incredibly powerful but highly unstable. Using these artifacts actively warps the user's mind or surroundings. The cost is often permanent or dangerous.
Tier 4: Living. Artifacts that are semi-sentient. They possess a "will" of their own and will actively try to consume or manipulate the user if they show weakness.
(Rumors persist of artifacts beyond the Living tier—items tied to the very foundation of the universe—but such things are considered myths by most sane Extractors.)
Happy reading, and welcome to a world of horrors