Author’s Note: Understanding the Mortal World and Power Structures

In the vast expanse of the universe, beyond mortal comprehension, lay the Divine Order a structured hierarchy that governed all realms, both seen and unseen. From the lowest of mortals to the mightiest gods, power was not given freely but earned through suffering, ascension, and sacrifice.

Eliam, now cast into the abyss, could feel the weight of these laws pressing against his very soul. If he was to challenge the heavens, if he was to tear down the barriers keeping him from Seraphine, he had to understand the path before him.

The Hierarchy of Power

Power was everything. It was the force that dictated who ruled and who served, who ascended and who was erased from existence. Every being, whether mortal or divine, was bound by this structure:

1. Mortal Realm (The Beginning)

Mortals were the weakest, bound by flesh and time. They relied on physical strength, intelligence, and willpower, but against divine forces, they were powerless. Only by breaking the limits of mortality could one step onto the path of true power.

• First Awakening – A mortal's first connection to the energy of existence. This could be through divine blessing, sheer will, or a near-death experience. Their lifespan expands, their senses sharpen, and their bodies become resistant to disease.

• Second Awakening – A state where a mortal begins manipulating spiritual essence, gaining abilities beyond human limitations. They can sense energies, heal from injuries faster, and their strength surpasses any normal human.

• Third Awakening – A perfected mortal, touching the edge of divinity. They can unleash power strong enough to challenge weak divine beings but are still bound by mortality.

2. The Ascended (Transcending Mortality)

Those who shattered their mortal chains stepped onto the true path of power. The transition from mortality to divinity was brutal one had to endure destruction before they could rebuild.

• Soul Tempering – The soul undergoes purification, strengthening the core essence of an individual. The process is agonizing, requiring deep meditation, intense battles, or even divine trials.

• Spirit Shaping – One's willpower becomes a tangible force, shaping reality around them. This allows for minor reality manipulation, mind control resistance, and a significant boost in strength.

• Void Baptism – The moment one severs their final mortal ties. To undergo Void Baptism is to accept the loss of all earthly attachments, emerging as an entity beyond time and space.

3. Divine Realms (Stepping into the Eternal)

True gods were not born; they were made through endless suffering and enlightenment. The Divine Realms were split into levels, each representing a deeper mastery over existence.

• Lesser Divinity – The lowest level of godhood. Their abilities are bound to a single aspect of reality (fire, wind, time, war, etc.). They are worshipped by mortals and can influence the physical realm, but they are still subject to greater gods.

• Greater Divinity – A step above, possessing multiple aspects and far greater control over reality. Their presence alone could shatter mountains, and their will could shape the fate of nations.

• True Godhood – A being who transcends the limitations of a single domain, existing beyond time and space. They can create or erase entire civilizations with a thought.

• Celestial Sovereign – The rulers of creation. Few have ever reached this level, for to do so means to command the very fabric of the universe. Even other gods tremble before them.

The Forbidden Forces

Beyond the structured path of power lay the Forgotten Paths—dangerous, unpredictable, and often forbidden. Those who walked these paths were outcasts, feared even by the gods.

• The Abyssal Path – Power fueled by chaos and destruction. Those who embrace it devour the essence of others, growing stronger with every soul they consume. They are feared and hunted by all realms.

• The Void Walkers – Beings who exist outside reality, capable of bending space, time, and fate itself. Their power is immeasurable, but their existence is unstable.

• The Accursed Ones – Those cursed by the Divine Order. They gain unnatural strength but are forever hunted by celestial beings, their existence marked by suffering and torment.

The Price of Power

Power was never free. To ascend was to sacrifice—one's humanity, memories, or even love. The gods, in their arrogance, believed that love was a weakness, an anchor preventing true ascension. But Eliam knew better.

His love for Seraphine was not his weakness. It was his power.

And if the heavens thought they could chain him, they had made a fatal mistake.

With a deep breath, he clenched his fists. The first step had been taken. Now, he would rise.

Not as a mortal.

Not as a servant of the divine.

But as the one who would defy the gods themselves.