The Curse and the Wisp
The Curse is not a disease, nor a spell. It is a metaphysical brand — a sentient force that marks individuals upon reaching the age of seventeen. When the moment arrives, a dark wisp emerges from the chest of the chosen, swirling with ancient symbols and spectral energy. This wisp is the harbinger of fate, assigning one of four possible sequences:
- Cursed – A 50% chance. The individual must slay a deadly Entity within 24 hours or die.
- Purified – A 35% chance. The individual is cast into a Nightmare Realm to conquer a Holy Exile.
- Chosen – A 14.99% chance. The individual awakens their Spiritual Trademark without trials.
- Lost Soul – A 0.01% chance. The individual vanishes, their fate unknown.
However, not all are marked. There is a 35% chance that an individual will awaken without any Curse at all, living a normal life untouched by supernatural trials.
The Wisp is more than a messenger. It is a judge, a guide, and a gatekeeper. It may assign Wisp Trials — dangerous tasks that, if completed, reward the bearer with rare enhancements:
- Special Skills – Unique abilities tied to the bearer's spirit and sin
- Skills – Combat techniques or support powers
- Special Weapons – Forged from trial essence or Entity remains
The Nightmare Realms
The Nightmare Realms are parallel dimensions born from humanity's collective fear and sin. Each realm is ruled by a Nightmare King, and each Purified must conquer a Holy Exile within these realms. There are five known realms, each with its own terrain, laws, and horrors. When a king falls, the realm collapses — and many believe that defeating all five will unravel the Curse itself.
Entities roam these realms and occasionally breach into the human world. They are manifestations of corrupted spirit energy and are classified by threat level using the Entity Detection System.
Entity Detection System
A tactical tool used by Extermination Squads to assess threat levels. It uses electromechanical, pneumatic, capacitive, and photoelectric sensors to read spiritual pressure and classify entities on a color scale:
- Green to Yellow – Awakened
- Dark Green to Orange – Awakened to Astral
- Yellow to Dark Orange – Astral to Spiritual Saint
- Dark Orange to Red – Soul Enforcer
- Dark Red to Purple – Supreme Spirituality to Transcendent Astral Being
- Dark Purple / Broken Meter – Nightmare Class
The system is prone to malfunction under extreme pressure, adding tension and unpredictability to missions.
Spirit Cores and Trademarks
Every individual possesses a Spirit Core — a metaphysical chamber within the soul that stores Spirit Energy, the fuel for supernatural abilities. Upon completing their Curse sequence, the bearer awakens inside their Spirit Core in a dreamlike state. This realm reflects their inner self and reveals their Spiritual Trademark — a unique manifestation of identity and power.
Those who slay Entities absorb their essence and gain Entity Trademarks, granting access to the Entity's abilities and often reshaping the Spirit Core itself.
Spirit Aspect — The True Name Of Ones Soul
Beyond Trademarks lies the Spirit Aspect — the embodiment of one's true nature. Unlocking a Spirit Aspect means discovering the True Name of the soul and becoming its living avatar. This transformation is rare and deeply personal, shaped by upbringing, trauma, and belief. Most individuals do not awaken their Spirit Aspect until reaching the Supreme Spirituality level or higher.
Spirit Aspects are powerful and volatile. They can also be obtained through possession — when a high-class Entity (Supreme+) invades a Spirit Core and mimics the host's identity. Possessed beings are dangerous, deceptive, and often indistinguishable from their original selves.
Spiritual Levels — Ranking the Soul
Spiritual progression is measured across seven tiers, from weakest to strongest:
1. Awakened
2. Astral
3. Spiritual Saint
4. Soul Enforcer
5. Supreme Spirituality
6. Transcendent Astral Being
7. Nightmare Being
Each level unlocks new abilities, deeper Spirit Core access, and greater control over Spirit Energy. Only those at Supreme or higher can manifest their Spirit Aspect fully.
Exterminator Starter Kit
Issued to new recruits of the Entity Extermination Squads, the kit includes:
- Spirit Katana – Forged from Nightmare Realm Steel, glows with the user's spirit energy
- Spirit Gun – Used for ranged purification or spiritual disruption
- Holy Water Bottles – For cleansing, weakening spirits, or activating seals
- Black Uniform – Tactical and symbolic, often customized by rank or squad
- Entity Detection System – For threat assessment and mission planning
The kit is designed for survival, but only those who understand their Spirit Core can wield it to its full potential