This chapter will server as a compendium of knowledge about the world of the novel. The information here will be gradually revealed within the story and is duplicated here for easy access. So skip this chapter if you don't want spoilers
GENERAL INFORMATION
Ascension
Ascension only affects chosen humans on the night of their 18th birthday. After being summoned, those chosen are assigned classes and sent into the sanctuary to train and secure resources.
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is an artificial world created specifically to nurture awakeners. It is believed to be created by gods and has several levels. This place houses all the resources awakeners need to grow and reach their full potential.
Citadel
These are safe zones within the sanctuary carved around gateways linking the mortal realm to the sanctuary. These safe zones usually serve as starting points for newbies, but there are still several neutral citadels scattered across all levels in the sanctuary.
Ascendants
This is the professional term used for awakeners. And of course, it comes with an ID and privileges.
Gates
If a void seed is not found and destroyed before it matures, a gate from the outer realm is opened and a horde of void creatures are unleashed into the real world. To destroy the seed, any number of ascendants can enter and attempt to conquer it.
Void Creatures
Monsters of unknown origin that invade worlds through gates.
Hollow
A Magical item tied to the essence of void creatures. Hollows are created from soul essence but can assume physical form when summoned.
Echo
A magical replica of a slain void creature, person or entity. Echoes are capable of limited autonomy but do not possess a soul and thus are not alive. Just like hollows, they are created from soul essence and assume physical form only when summoned.
Soul Core
A mystic core of one's spirit that is capable of accumulating and storing vast amounts of soul essence.
Soul Shard
A physical manifestation of a broken soul core which contains soul essence.
Soul Essence
A mystic spirit energy ascendants absorb from slayed void creatures to level up
Soul Rank
A measure of power that is based on the quality of one's soul core.
Faint
Radiant
Resonant
Eclipsed
Oblivion
Eternal
Primordial.
Void Creature Classes
Void creature classes are determined by the number of soul cores they possess. These are the ranks ranging from one to seven:
Beast
Monster
Terror
Demon
Devil
Titan
Calamity
Hollowed Tiers
An estimate of a hollow's potency is not only decided based on the soul rank but the classes as well. So an item from a resonant demon would be categorized as a tier four resonant hollow while an eternal titan will be classified as tier six eternal hollow.