Reading this "chapter" is not mandatory; you can start with Chapter 1 if you prefer.
This chapter serves as a compilation of knowledge about the webnovel's world. The information is gradually revealed throughout the story and gathered here for easy access. As such, it may contain minor spoilers.
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❖ General Information
❖ Worldbuilding and Power Scale
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❖ The Nine Realms
The universe of Shadow of Angels is composed of nine realms or dimensions that coexist harmoniously — or not. They reside within the Yggdrasil Tree and make up the universe. They are:
▷ Earthrealm
▷ Other Side
▷ Setealém
▷ Purgatory
▷ Underworld
▷ Heavenly Realm
▷ Limbo
▷ World of Shadows
▷ World of Ideas
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❖ Earthrealm
The normal world we live in, separated from the Other Side by the "Veil," a barrier between realms that prevents supernatural invasions. Sometimes, the Veil tears, allowing beings from other realities to enter the Earthrealm. Usually, only Paranormals can cross the Veil.
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❖ Other Side
A world of oddities separated from ours by the Veil. The Other Side is like a "broken mirror" of our reality: geographically identical but untouched. Instead of cities, everything is wild, as our world was thousands of years ago. The only structures are built by Paranormals who crossed the Veil. It's an inhospitable place filled with creatures and indescribable dangers.
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❖ Setealém
A "literal mirror" of the Mortal Plane: separate but similar. Everything there is dark, corrupted, filthy, and in ruins. Its inhabitants are as macabre as the place itself. Setealém does not want to be found or visited, and no one knows for certain how to enter or leave. There are portals, but crossing requires being mentally and spiritually susceptible. If you fall into Setealém, pray for a quick exit — or for a painless death.
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❖ Purgatory
A place of purification where souls are cleansed of unexpiated sins from life. It's an intermediate state between death and heaven, preparing imperfect souls for sanctity. It's not a place of eternal condemnation, but of hope and temporary purification.
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❖ Underworld
Where condemned souls go after death. A dark and mysterious place, described as a realm of eternal torment for the most heinous. The concept exists in almost every civilization, as ancient as humanity itself.
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❖ Heavenly Realm
The highest of the three heavenly realms of glory, where those who inherit the greatest glory — compared to the sun — will dwell. Its inhabitants live in the presence of God in eternal peace. It is the true Paradise.
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❖ Limbo
The edge of everything: physical, mental, and spiritual. Where Nothing is Everything and Everything is Nothing. An abstract place full of doubt, uncertainty, and neglect. While it is the end, it has no end.
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❖ World of Shadows
The fourth dimension, above everything — except Ideas. There, those who dwell believe they know everything, but they are merely prisoners watching shadows on the cave wall. It's unreachable, futile, and full of lies, where ideas do not exist.
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❖ World of Ideas
A perfect, eternal realm of forms, distinct from the imperfect world we perceive. It represents true reality; our sensory world is just a copy. It is where Truth, the Alpha and Omega, resides — everything is there.
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❖ Human Power System
❖ Energy
The main source of power for those who interact with the supernatural. An unlimited manifestation of phenomena governing the universe's laws. Those who manipulate it are called Paranormals, divided as follows:
▷ Aura: used by Warriors to amplify physical capabilities. Red color.
▷ Mana: used by Mages to manifest supernatural phenomena with nature's elements. Light blue color.
▷ Prana: used by Spiritualists for support actions with vital energy. Light green color.
▷ Divine Power: used by Priests, derived from faith. Golden color.
▷ Demonic Energy: used by Warlocks, born of dark pacts. Purple color.
▷ Qi: used by Cultivators, shapes the universe and soul. White color.
▷ Spiritual Power: used by Sorcerers, born from divine blessings. Cyan color.
▷ Magical Power: used by Magic Warriors; fusion of Aura and Mana. Dark blue color.
▷ Ether: used by Elementalists, manipulates fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetism, etc.). Metallic color.
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❖ Inner Cores
By manipulating energy, a human forms an Inner Core, which evolves as their energy grows, increasing their power. Levels:
▷ 1. Apprentice: uses energy superficially; capable of defeating large predators.
▷ 2. Awakened: greater mastery; can destroy houses.
▷ 3. Graduate: core formed; class defined; can destroy buildings.
▷ 4. Specialist: can destroy city blocks.
▷ 5. Master: human limit; can destroy cities.
▷ 6. Saint: surpasses limits; can destroy mountains.
▷ 7. Supreme: defies world laws; can destroy islands.
▷ 8. Sovereign: creates Domains to shape reality; can destroy continents.
▷ 9. Demigod: manifests Primordial Spirit; can destroy multiple continents.
▷ 10. Transcendent: fully controls the Primordial Spirit; can destroy planets.
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❖ Monster Power System
Like humans, supernatural creatures can achieve transcendence. They are born Graduated and possess eight power categories:
▷ Dormant
▷ Vile
▷ Malignant
▷ Sealed
▷ Demonic
▷ Diabolic
▷ Cursed
▷ Corrupted
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❖ Class
A measure based on the number of Inner Cores a creature has, ranging from one to ten cores, in the following classes:
▷ Atrocious
▷ Dark
▷ Fallen
▷ Tyrant
▷ Great
▷ Terror
▷ Obscure
▷ Shadowy
▷ Profane
▷ Abyssal
Example: Great Vile = 5 cores of Vile category; Tyrant Malignant = 4 cores of Malignant category.
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❖ Artifacts
Objects created from supernatural creatures' matter and energy. Classified into nine Levels and ten Grades:
Levels (in ascending order):
▷ Common (Dormant)
▷ Rare (Vile)
▷ Epic (Malignant)
▷ Unique (Sealed)
▷ Legendary (Demonic)
▷ Mythic (Diabolic)
▷ Ancestral (Cursed)
▷ Divine (Corrupted)
▷ Stellar (explained later)
Grades: range from 1 (one core) to 10 (ten cores).
Example:
Common 1st Grade = Atrocious Dormant;
Legendary 6th Grade = Terror Demonic;
Divine 10th Grade = Abyssal Corrupted.
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❖ Common Terminology
❖ Paranormals: people able to sense/control energy; the only ones who can cross the Veil.
❖ Veil Fracture: a fissure allowing creatures from the Other Side to invade the Mortal Plane; closed with Paranormal energy.
❖ Gate: permanent fracture, used by the Esoteric Society.
❖ Esoteric Society: organization that trains Paranormals and protects humanity, divided into niches with a power hierarchy.
❖ Clans: hereditary factions of the Society, each with specializations and secret techniques.
❖ Aspectual Ability: abilities shaped by the user's personality and energy; can manifest elements or concepts.
❖ Primordial Spirit: manifestation of the user's inner essence, whether elemental or conceptual.
❖ Innate Spell: pre-defined aspectual abilities of Sorcerers, inherited at birth.
❖ Hereditary Spell: like Innate Spells, but passed down through generations.
❖ Lineage Technique: abilities/fighting styles passed through clans.
❖ Blood Legacy: physical peculiarities passed through blood; can include traits of non-human races.
❖ Ultimate Battle Art: unique fighting style created upon reaching Supreme level.
❖ Divine Protection: innate blessing given by higher beings at birth to manipulate elements or enhance abilities.
❖ Blessing: similar to Divine Protection but can be gained after birth.