Addendum: Understanding Power Sources in the World of Naraka
The world of Naraka is a stage for various incredible powers that shape the destinies of its heroes and villains.
From divine legacies flowing through bloodlines to the heights of human technological achievement, these power sources often dictate the fate of battles and the course of history. Understanding the fundamental differences between these powers is key to comprehending this complex world.
Broadly, powers in Naraka can be divided into two primary paths: the Divine/Mystical Path originating from cosmic entities, and the Human Path born from mortal ingenuity and effort.
1. The Divine/Mystical Path: Astral Flux, Maha, and Rem
These powers originate from the highest source, the Creator, and flow downwards through the following tiers:
Astral Flux: This is the ultimate power, pure divine essence possessed by the first 8 Deities upon creation. This power is potent enough to create worlds but is also too pure and dangerous to interact directly with the world of Naraka, which has been tainted by the Tulah (a form of corruption or deviant will originating from Akh, the fallen First Deity).
Maha: These are direct fragments of Astral Flux, primarily inherited or derived from Laila (the Sun Deity). Maha is the core power wielded by the 12 Grand Aeons (immensely powerful beings descended from Laila and Yom). Each Maha possesses a unique and Absolute essence (e.g., Lightning, Ice, Fire, Healing, Anti-Magic, etc.) whose fundamental nature cannot be changed. However, Maha can be split or divided.
Once bound to a host (a Grand Aeon), the Maha loses its own consciousness or will and follows its host's commands. These Grand Aeons are divided into two Orders due to past events: the Order of the Sun (those purified by Laila's tears) and the Order of the Moon (those still tainted by the Tulah/Blight).
Rem (Remunah Emusa Maha): These are smaller fragments of Maha. Rem grants more specific and focused mystical abilities, such as transformation (e.g., Jade's Vampiric power obtained from Ave), the ability to tame or form pacts with animals and Mystical Beasts (from Demantra's lineage), or other specific enhancements (like those from Bahamut's Rem).
Rem can manifest in several ways:
Automatic Shattering: A Maha can shatter into Rem if its Aeon host violates certain cosmic laws involving the Tulah (like Demantra's physical union with a Tulah-affected human, with the Rem being passed to descendants).
Conscious Fragmentation: An Aeon can deliberately break down their Maha to grant it to followers before death or defeat (like Bahamut's case).
Conscious Sharing (Soul Marriage): A unique method where an Aeon (like Ave) binds their soul to a human's via a ritual in the Nypocampus. This shares a specific aspect of the Maha with the human, empowering them (like Jade).
Key Traits of the Divine Path: These powers are inherently supernatural, obtained through lineage or direct intervention from an Aeon, and grant abilities often surpassing ordinary physical laws.
Importantly, users of Rem (and certainly Maha) possess a natural resistance to common weaponry.
Harming them effectively usually requires equivalent power (other Rem/Maha) or special weapons crafted from rare materials like Mythrilblood (a substance originating from Laila's tears mixed with life essence/blood).
2. The Human/Technological Path: Muscle Force Serum
Distinct from inherited mystical powers, humans in Naraka, particularly in regions like Bornika, have developed their own means to exceed natural limits through technology:
Origin: Muscle Force is not magic but the result of biotechnology in the form of a Serum. This serum is created by humans processing Mythril (a rare metal which is crystallized teardrops of the Deity Laila – ironically, its base material is still derived from a divine source).
Effects: The serum works by modifying and enhancing the user's biological capabilities. There are two main tiers:
Common Muscle Force: Increases running speed, reflexes, close-range danger sense, and basic movement prediction. Commonly used by military/law enforcement.
Special Muscle Force (Rare): Provides drastic increases in focused muscle strength (super jumps, powerful strikes), visual acuity (optical zoom), physical endurance, minor wound regeneration, and short-term environmental adaptation. Possessed only by elites.
Acquisition & Risks: This power is gained via serum injection. The process is described as excruciatingly painful and dangerous, with high risks of severe side effects (extreme fatigue, muscle damage, mental instability) and even death if the body is incompatible.
Not everyone can physiologically or psychologically accept the serum. There's also potential for a shortened lifespan from overuse without regulation technology (cell defragmentation).
Key Traits of the Human Path: This power is an artificial physical and sensory enhancement, acquired through technological application, and carries significant risks and side effects. Its most crucial limitation is that Muscle Force cannot grant or counter magical power and is ineffective against magic users (Rem/Maha) or mystical creatures directly.
These fundamental differences create critical dynamics:
Muscle Force users might excel in physical speed and strength against ordinary humans or non-magical targets. However, they face immense difficulty harming Rem users due to their innate resistance to common weapons, unless equipped with Mythrilblood weaponry.
Rem users, even with seemingly minor abilities, can be very dangerous to Muscle Force users because their supernatural abilities (e.g., minor elemental attacks, illusions, transformations) bypass purely physical enhancements. Muscle Force itself offers no defense against magic.
The world of Naraka thus presents a battlefield where the mystical legacies of gods clash with the peak of human ingenuity and technology. Each source of power holds its own wonders and carries its own heavy price, shaping the conflicts and possibilities within this complex world.