-Ranks
F-rank: Just awakened and gained the ability to control mana at a beginner level.
E-rank: One's body begins to adapt to mana usage, allowing for more precise control and the ability to sense mana.
D-rank: Mana control becomes more precise, and mana sense is expanded, as well as the 5 main senses become more refined.
C-rank: The body undergoes a full transformation, creating mana pathways within. Unlocking one's unique trait.
B-rank: Mana pathways become more accessible, and the unique trait effectiveness increases.
A-rank: One's unique trait begins to transform unpredictably, which could lead to multiple new traits or just an overall upgrade to the original.
S-rank: One's body undergoes a second transformation, the unique trait(s) become incorporated within the body, essentially becoming one with their trait(s)
SS-rank: Unknown to the public
SSS-rank: Unknown to the public
[For story sake, I won't reveal what the SS and SSS ranks do yet]
-Power System
-Spells:
Spells are divided into numerous categories, mostly elemental; however, elemental affinity is dependent on personal traits. A spell formula is used in order to produce spells and their outcomes.
A spell's power and cast speed are dependent on the amount of mana used, the mana control one has, and the environment.
Example: Water-based spells would be easier to cast in damp conditions, such as a rainforest.
-Curses
A power used by a dark god's follower. Oftentimes, more powerful than spells, as its power is derived from the dark god. However, it still uses one's mana.
Curses are categorized by the god it derives from.
Example: God of Gluttony allows you to absorb mana beyond your natural capacity and absorb another being's mana; however, the more mana you absorb using this, your mind begins to break down as the power consumes your sense of self, making you a puppet of the God of Gluttony.
Curses all have side effects.
-Apostlehood
Those chosen by a god to be their champion and representative or… puppet.
Apostles all have a trait given to them by their god.
The existence of apostles is the stuff of legends; many believe they never existed in the first place.
-Unique trait:
A specific ability or power that is unique to an individual, only accessible once one's mana pathway is made. Can range from extremely powerful to just a slight upgrade. Believed to be the manifestation of one's inner self or soul.
Example 1: Your unique trait doubles spell effectiveness on usage.
Example 2: Your unique trait allows you to transform into a rift creature.
These use mana as well. The amount of mana used is dependent on the trait itself and one's mana control.
-Ranking up:
Ranks are dependent on how much mana one can absorb into one's body. The higher the rank, the higher the absorption rate. However, everyone is born with a predetermined absorption rate and a limit to how much one can absorb. This separates the talented from the untalented.
One can speed up the process by directly absorbing mana from rift creatures and mana stones(High chance of death).
-World
-Rift Creatures:
Beings from another dimension that enter through rifts and attack humans on sight. They also have ranks divided all the way from F-rank to SSS-rank... or higher.
Rift creatures have bloodline traits that are similar to unique traits, but specific to their bloodline instead of an individual.
-Rifts:
Holes in space that combine dimensions, allowing for the mixture of existing space and beings from both dimensions to enter each other's dimension.
Rifts are opened seemingly at random; however, with enough mana, one could create a space where rifts cannot form.
Rifts are humanity's main research topic.
-Mana Stones:
Can only be found within rifts and do not naturally occur. They also have ranks all the way to SS-rank, and their rarity is based on their ranks.
-Runes:
Structured instructions for mana derived from mana stones. The core of mana technology.
These form arrays, layered systems that behave like programs, somewhat similar to spell formulas. Their forms are subjective based on their purpose.
Runic Engineering requires talent in mana control and mental fortitude.
-Spirits:
Beings purely made from mana and are categorized using elements. Usually do not interact with humans, but do contract with special individuals.
Spirit contracts are mutually beneficial and grant various enhancements and abilities depending on the spirit type. One would supply the spirit with mana and assist the spirit by doing a specific action or retrieving something (sort of like quests) in exchange for the spirit's abilities.
They are ranked from low to high tier, and at the top is the King of Spirits.
Their origins are unknown to the public.
-Churches of Dark Gods
Each dark god maintains a church of followers that operates independently but cooperates with the others for large-scale operations.
Within each church, followers are ranked by devotion and power.
Apostle: chosen directly by the god, one per god maximum, carries a granted trait.
Prophet: interprets the god's will, handles doctrine, and recruitment. The ideological architects.
Inquisitor: enforcement and elimination. The ones who handle problems quietly.
Acolyte: general members, the body of the organisation.
The existence of these churches is unknown to the general public; most assume they're just terror groups.
Joining a church and choosing to follow a dark god corrupts one's mana. Corrupted is indistinguishable from other mana to most, but certain races, such as spirits, can sense the corruption.
-Essence:
The soul of a rift creature, which contains its bloodline trait(s).
Impossible to obtain normally, therefore extremely rare.
Its existence is unknown to the public, known only to higher-ranked individuals.