Hierarchy of Nightmare Creatures and Awakened Humans

Show

Each step of the Path of Ascension and Path of Corruption has its own meaning. The first path is the ascent toward divinity, while the second is the descent into profanity.^[1]

Dormant can Awaken. Following that, some rise above the mundane and take the first step toward the divine, becoming Ascended. Others fall into the abyss of corruption, becoming Fallen.^[1]

The essence of the second step is transformation, and the third step is transformation. Ascended individuals transcend their mundane origin, becoming Transcendent, while fallen individuals become corrupted by the dark abyss, and are thus called Corrupted.^[1]

The essence of the fourth step is authority. This authority is more important than other forms of power because a god has to be a god of something or someone.^[1]

In the fourth step, the Sovereigns start to coalesce their domains. It is speculated that the Domain can pave the way for a Supreme to take the next step on the Path of Ascension and become Sacred.^[1]

The Path of Ascension was the road to divinity and each step brought those treading it closer to godhood. If Transcendence was the step of breaking away from the limits of the mundane. Supremacy was the act of asserting one's power over the world, thus establishing the foundation of their future apotheosis. The next step signified attaining the qualities of the divine. A Sacred being was already a lesser deity.^[2]

Show

Ascending to a new Rank was more of a profound change. It elevated the quality of the cores and essence, gifted the Awakened with new abilities, and allowed for deeper access to their Aspect. The resulting jump in power was tremendous.^[3]

Reaching a new Class, primarily affected the quantity of essence, and as such, the increase in power was much more gradual. It gives extra strength and essence capacity. Unlike all other Awakened, there was no limit to the capacity to store essence and reinforce their body.^[3]

Show

There are a lot of Masters, but not all Masters are equal. There are a few dozen Saints, but not all Saints are equal. This is due to the nature of the Nightmare they had challenged that determines what Memories and Echoes they received, the battles they fought and the experience they brought back. The more unique the Nightmare they challenge would certainly pose more risk but also promise a greater boon.^[4]

Show

Other Awakened receive a portion of the soul fragments his enemy had accumulated when killing another Awakened.^[5]

For example, if a Master killed a Transcendent soul core that had been fully saturated, they would have received twice the amount.^[5]

Show

As humans walked the Path of Ascension, their control of soul essence became more intricate.^[6]

Awakened are able to control their essence by instinct.^[7] They had crude and rudimentary methods, mostly consisting of flooding their bodies with essence.^[8]

Meanwhile, Masters were more skilled in it. Their control of essence and understanding the human body was intricate. By selectively infusing various areas, muscle groups, and organs with essence at just the right time, they were able to not only increase its efficacy, but also drastically reduce its consumption, thus raising efficiency.^[8]

Saints could control soul essence as naturally as they were breathing and with incredible finesse, selectively enhancing each muscle fiber, nerve cluster, or tendon in their body. Their control, range and manner of enhancements were broader than those of a Master and could be consciously altered. Saints could explosively increase their strength, speed, agility, and resilience if they were smart about using their essence and trained instinctively.^[8]

Show

The gap between Ranks grows much wider as the ranks goes higher. The difference between a Corrupted creature and a Fallen one is much greater than the difference between a Fallen creature and an Awakened one while the gap between a Great abomination and a Corrupted one is even greater.^[9]

There was a vast chasm between a Terror and a Titan class and an even more boundless abyss between a Fallen and a Corrupted one.^[10]

The gap between ranks was vast but it was not absolute. There was nothing indestructible in the world and even gods were dead.^[11]

Show

There is a recognizable pattern to how Nightmare Creatures evolve. A Demon must first develop unnatural powers to ascend into a Devil. A Devil then evolves into a Tyrant by gaining authority over lesser creatures and claiming a territory. Unlike Tyrants, abominations of higher Ranks no longer need to project authority outward; instead, they internalize it, becoming self-contained and self-sufficient forces. To ascend further, Tyrants usually consume their own minions to fuel their evolution into Terrors, which is why Terrors and Titans rarely have servants. Finally, Terrors evolve into Titans by spreading and growing until they reach critical mass, at which point they must consolidate themselves and complete their transformation. This final stage of evolution requires an enormous amount of soul essence, often resulting in a massacre of harrowing proportions.^[12]