[Warning: This archive contains information and data for the story Plague Lord. It may include spoilers, so proceed at your own risk. Most importantly, have fun!]
— General Terminologies:
⟐ The Black Mire
A mysterious tower that suddenly appeared on Earth, with multiple terminals scattered across every region of the world. One sign that a person has been infected by the Mire is the occasional, haunting Murmur they hear.
⟐ Floors
Within the Spire of Worms are multiple levels designed to test Espers. The theme of each level may differ; for instance, one level may focus on monster extermination while another emphasizes protection. These levels are considered conjured realities due to the altered terrain and environment. Each floor is unique.
⟐ Espers
Espers are individuals who have successfully awakened and formed a connection to the Black Mire. They possess extraordinary abilities but are prone to losing control due to factors such as the emotions of others or their surroundings.
⟐ Citadel
A fortress created within a floor that acts as a safe zone against monsters.
⟐ Mystery
A magical artifact ibtained within the tower. Only Espers can wield these weapons, and they are extremely dangerous to ordinary humans.
⟐ Ascension Ritual
A necessary step that allows an Esper to evolve to the next rank. This process requires a blessed altar.
⟐ Soul Slate
The core of one's soul that accumulates ether. It also functions as a recorder of one's experiences and stories.
Ω Ether
A spiritual energy that flows through the Cosmos.
⟐ Spirit Shard
Fragments that contain the Ether essence of a slain creature. Can be found within their bodies.
⟐ Soul Color
A parameter used to measure the quality of one's Soul Slate. There are seven colors that are ranked from lowest to highest:
• Black (Squire)
• Yellow (Knight)
• Crimson (Hunter)
• Grey (Saint)
• Silver (Transcendent)
• White (Spirit)
• Platinum (Archangel)
As an Esper grows stronger and stronger, their Soul Slate becomes more purer, allowing them to wield more power. The difference between each rank is considerably significant.
⟐ Chaos Creatures
The denizens of the Black Mire. They are commonly referred to as Hollows and are ranked separately from Espers. These creatures include:
• Fiend
• Beast
• Demon
• Tyrant
• Titan
• Leviathan
• Devil
• T̴r̷u̶e̸ ̷D̶æ̷m̶o̴n̷
Like Espers, Hollows grow stronger as they advance through each stage. The key differences are that they possess Spirit Cores instead of Soul Slates, and the darker their Spirit Cores, the more powerful they become.
These hollow colors are ranked from weakest to strongest:
• Gray (Fiend)
• Yellow (Beast)
• Red (Demon)
• Purple (Tyrant)
• Black (Titan)
• Crimson (Leviathan)
• Blood Red (Devil)
• Iridescent (C̴h̵a̸o̷s̶ ̷L̸o̶r̴d̶)
⟐ Attributes
A passive ability corresponding to a person's natural traits.
⟐ Origin
The manifestation of an individual's spirituality.
⟐ Origin Ability
An enigmatic power that an Esper receives upon their awakening. The manifestation of their Mythic.
Ω Origin Rank
A parameter used to measure the quality of an Esper's Origin. There are seven ranks, listed from lowest to highest:
• Dormant
• Awakened
• Radiant
• Luminous (Ascended)
• Transcendent
• Holy
• Divine
Note: Possessing a higher-tier Mythic Origin doesn't automatically make someone stronger. It simply grants more versatility and potential applications. A lower-tier Mythic Origin could, under certain circumstances, still overpower a higher-tier one.
⟐ Tier
A grading system used to measure the potency of a Mystery, ranging from Tier 4 to Tier 0, with Tier 0 being the most powerful and Tier 4 the weakest. Generally, the lower the grade number, the stronger the relic's abilities, but also the greater the risk posed by its inherent drawbacks. This was a fundamental flaw in the relic's system programming.
⟐ Law
A conceptual power that exist within every Esper, completely dependent on their Soul Color.
⟐ Imaginary World
Awakened are different from ordinary humans, and naturally, the way they perceive the world around them diverges as well. Each Esper possesses their own unique World that shapes how they interpret reality.
The concept of an Imaginary World is rooted in quantum theory, and grants its user the ability to transcend the limits of the "Uncertainty Principle."
⟐ Story
There exist two primary types of Stories in the World Hierarchy: Chained Stories (Broken Narratives) and Universal Stories (Meta Narratives).
⟐ Mundane
Ordinary humans untouched by the Mire. Though exceedingly rare, some among them can acquire a "body" that transcends the boundaries of sorcery.
⟐ Sequence
There are two primary Paths: one for those infected by the Mire who successfully evolve into Espers, and another for those who attain a supernatural body through unknown means. These are known respectively as the Path of Soul and the Path of Pain.
The four foundational Sequences of Espers are classified as Squire (Dormant), Knight (Awakened), Hunter (Radiant), and Saint (Ascended/Luminous). The term "Awakened" generally refers to any infected individual who has successfully become an Esper.
Squires are those who have overcome the initial dangers of monsterification and stepped into the First Sequence. They awaken their dormant powers and gain the ability to enter the Black Mire, though their descent is restricted to the First through Tenth Floors.
Once a Squire clears the Story of the Tenth Floor, they ascend to the rank of Knight. Their Soul Slate evolves to the color [Yellow], and their Origin manifests a second mythic ability. At this stage, they gain the capacity to interact with their unique Imaginary World and unlock Astral Progression, which enables them to enter the Mire with their soul rather than their physical body, using a terminal known as a Citadel.
Above the sequence of Knight is the sequence of Hunters, those who have cleared the 25th Floor and their Soul Slate evolves to [Crimson]. At this stage, their Mythic Origin manifests a third ability, often of devastating potency. Hunters are capable of Astral Projection, fully separating their consciousness from their physical body to explore deeper, more dangerous Floors of the Black Mire. They also gain the ability to absorb Spirit Shards efficiently, allowing them to strengthen their Soul Slate rapidly and advance their powers more effectively than lower Sequences.
The next rank above Hunters is the Saints, or Ascended Espers. These are individuals who have completed the 50th Floor and have achieved Luminous Soul Slate status. Saints are rare, representing only the top percentile of all Espers. Their Origins now allow them to transcend ordinary physical limitations, manipulate the laws of reality to a limited extent, and project their power across multiple Floors simultaneously. At this stage, their Imaginary World can overlap with Reality and bend the environment to their will using their incomplete "Winged Form," or also known as "Angelic Transformation."