The Power System: Mana Cores, Classes & Stages

SPECIFICS: Mana Cores/Cores-

Developing a mana core from nothing happens naturally for most individuals, way before they even think to try out their Direction in a temple and become a combatant.

A mana core is tied to an individual's soul and body, and if they are interested in combat, it is as essential as the Stages or a Class.

There are four calibres of mana Cores represented through colour.

White, Blue, Purple and Gold.

White mana cores are the most common, and possess the most basic quality of mana.

When a mana core evolves from the natural white, the mana quality increases, and this affects the body's physical quality in turn.

Essentially, from white to blue, the overall value of mana quantity is divided/compressed 10 times, which means it is no longer inflated, but it will also possess more than 10x the quality per unit of mana.

For instance, if Human A has 1,000 units of basic mana (white), and their core becomes blue, their value of mana will become 100. However, EACH unit of the mana making up the 100, will be more than 10x more powerful it was when the overall value was 1000. This means, at the very least, Human A's mana quantity as a 100 (blue), if specified in terms of basic quality, amounts to 10,000 at the very least.

This effect is passed on to all physical stats as well.

When it comes to higher mana qualities, like Purple and Gold, mana compression and heightened quality is also expressed by 10x.

Additionally, since this story features a system, the depiction of Mana in its different qualities is different.

Basic mana and stat values are presented as:

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Mana : 100

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Blue quality is represented by;

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MANA (I) : 100

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Purple is depicted as MANA (II); and Gold as MANA (III).

Do remember evolving mana quality affects all stats, so all stats are affected by this dentition as well.

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-SPECIFICS: CLASSES-

Classes are generally determinants of how one will be using their mana.

They come in three calibres which extend range and strength.

First and foremost are NORMAL Classes. For instance, Swordsman, Mage, Archer etc.

Second, a user of any Normal Class can evolve it to an ADVANCED Class through training and knowledge absorption. So the class can become, for instance; Mist Swordsman, Space Mage, Axis Archer. There are practically an infinite number of Advanced Classes.

The last calibre of Classes is a HIDDEN Class. Hidden Class are not restricted by the bounds of ordinary Class archetypes, and are only inherited from previous users through ancient legacies or inheritances left behind in Crypts, Labyrinths, Temples, Ruined Cities etc.

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There are also three categories, or archetypes among Class users.

Energy Formers, Form Users and Arma Users.

<Energy Formers>

These are users of Classes that require an extensive understanding of mana and its derivatives or other forms of energy outside mana bounds. Among them, one can find Mages, Tamers, Diviners, Summoners, Shamans etc.

<Form Users>

These are users of Classes that mainly use the force from their bodies to inflict damage, or you could interpret it as using the body as the base for all abilities. Among them, you find Warriors, Blacksmiths, Mind Casters etc.

<Arma Users>

These rely on weapons for their abilities to shine. Essentially, Swordsmen, Archers, Spear wielders etc.

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-SPECIFICS: STAGES-

Stages are mainly considered in the world of Aigas as the strongest form of power because develop the body in a rather collective sense, unlike Classes for instance.

Humans and beasts accumulate mana from other existences they kill. Unlike atmospheric mana, the mana nurtured in another living body can be used to augment another. Thus, when one creature is killed, the mana within their body (not the core), is transferred to the killer.

This mana which is within the muscles, flesh and bone, even if it has been drawn from the mana core, mutates and has unique properties that work in another living body.

This is the basic principle behind the Stages.

Unlike beasts though, humans cannot grow through cumulative mana experience alone.

Stages are dictated by cumulative AND Tasks, which are assignments granted from the Deity one favours – the one they declare to the Priest. Tasks start out easy, but grow harder the further one grows. For EACH level, there is a Task, and a requirement of cumulative mana experience to meet before moving to the next.

The Stages begin from the Foundation Stage, Advancement Stage, Master Stage, Incandescent Stage, Transcendent Stage and Beyond the Veil Stage.

Asides from the Foundation Stage, every other Stage, on top of augmenting the body and soul, grants a unique power aspect shared among all the users of said Stage – Full Body Aura, Genuine Incarnation, Majestic Territory etc.

Users above the Incandescent Stage are extremely rare in the current timeline.