Undergarden

This section provides information about the world. If there's anything you don't understand regarding the power system or the setting, you can always return here. Minor spoilers included.

Monolith

Monoliths are colossal magical stones that connect the world to the Undergarden. When you touch a Monolith, it becomes registered to you. If you've never touched one before, a random Monolith within the Undergarden will also become registered to you. You can travel between the Monoliths you are registered to.

Undergarden

A different realm visited through Monoliths. The Undergarden resembles a vast cave—meaning it has a ceiling. Despite this, it's so massive that birds can fly, and entirely new ecosystems can form along the ceiling.

Titans and Dhunes

The monsters within the Undergarden. I'll provide more details shortly.

Bloodscript

Bloodscript is a type of power that activates when a human experiences intense emotion within the Undergarden. This power allows control over one of the elements of the universe. Not only humans, but Titans and Dhunes can also possess a Bloodscript. Humans realize they have a Bloodscript when they undergo immense pain, during which tattoos form on their bodies. Different people can share the same Bloodscript.

Mana (Energy)

To use a Bloodscript, you need energy—and this energy isn't found everywhere. Crystals containing this energy can be found in certain places within the Undergarden. When humans discovered these crystals and the energy they held, they named it using a more common and familiar term: "Mana."

Stage

The power system for humans is called "Stage." Stages are tied to Bloodscript, and with each new stage, a new Bloodscript is obtained. Stages start at 6 and progress downward to 0.

They are as follows:

— Stage 6 – Seed

This is the initial awakening of the Bloodscript, and only one Bloodscript is possessed at this point. The individual's body is underdeveloped and considered worthless. For this reason, Pacts or Percentiles normally cannot be used (I'll explain what those are shortly).

— Stage 5 – Flesh

The individual's body begins to store mana, which is a sign that it has become valuable. At this stage, Pacts and Percentiles can be used.

Following that, it continues with Stage 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0. At each level, the person not only gains a new Bloodscript but their body also strengthens in various ways (the details of later stages will be revealed throughout the story and are not needed here).

Phase

For Dhunes and Titans, the equivalent of "Stage" is called "Phase." However, instead of progressing from 6 to 0, they progress from 1 to 7. Those in Phase 1, 2, or 3 are called Dhunes. Those in Phase 4, 5, 6, or 7 are Titans. In each Phase, the Titan/Dhune grows stronger, gains a new Bloodscript, and undergoes a species transformation. Although Titans and Dhunes seem unique, identical or similar ones may exist elsewhere in the Undergarden.

Phase 7

Titans in Phase 7 are also referred to as Ancient Titans. There is only one Ancient Titan in each region of the Undergarden. In other words, their numbers are limited, and no new Ancient Titans have ever emerged among the Titans who continue to grow or die. Each is nearly as powerful as a demigod and serves as a kind of foundation for the ecosystem of its region.

Regions

The Undergarden is divided into five regions. The map roughly resembles a circle, with five sections: center, north, south, east, and west. Their names are as follows:

Inksworn Depths (west)

Verdant Requiem (south)

Frozen Hollows (north)

Fogbound Grave (center)

Deathsea (east)

Races

Of course, there are intelligent races in the Undergarden, living among the Titans. Each region is home to a single intelligent race, and each race has its own culture, cities, social structures, and unique magic. Unlike Titans and humans, intelligent races do not use Bloodscript. Instead, they wield magics unique to their species.

Cathedrals

Cathedrals are incredibly ancient structures found in limited numbers within each region of the Undergarden. Most have collapsed or fallen into ruin over time, but a few still stand. From these Cathedrals, one can obtain the System.

System

The System provides personal information related to an individual's Bloodscript, Percentile values, Stage, registered Monoliths, which Cathedral they obtained the System from, and any Blessings they possess. In addition, it grants an inventory. Though not infinite, the inventory is quite spacious and highly useful.

Bonds (Blessings)

Blessings or curses that a person carries. These are spells that, through the use of mana, have been etched into the soul.

Percentiles

When you gain a Bloodscript, you also gain a portion of that Bloodscript's Percentiles. Not all of it, though—how much you receive depends somewhat on luck. The more you gain, the better, because Percentiles cannot be increased later or found elsewhere. You can think of them as a kind of energy source, like mana, but much more powerful. Even 0.01% of a Percentile is tremendously strong. However, using a Percentile also exposes you to harm—side effects. These vary based on how much Percentile is used and what Bloodscript it's tied to. There's also a luck factor involved—you might lose an arm or your sanity. If you're lucky, you might escape with no lasting damage after immense pain.

Pact

As the name suggests, Bloodscript is a power inherited from someone else. When using Percentiles, you're using them as fuel—but in a Pact, you become the fuel. You can choose to sacrifice a leg, an eye, or more abstract things like memories or thoughts. The sacrifice is determined by the individual. Unlike the side effects from Percentile use, everything here is much more deliberate and clear.

Humanity

After the discovery of the Undergarden, humanity fought a third world war. As a result, most of the human population on Earth was wiped out. Only three countries remain, and humanity is no longer the dominant power. Nevertheless, they still exist.