Between Shadows

The World:

The story takes place on contemporary Earth. Countries, governments, borders, cultures, political conflicts, and technological advancements remain virtually identical to those in the real world. There are no futuristic cities, impossible technologies, or drastic changes in the structure of human society. For any ordinary person, the world functions exactly as it should. The only difference is that this reality is shaped by the Awakened. Although they represent a portion of humanity (40%), their influence is much greater than it appears. Throughout history, Awakened beings have been present in wars, political disputes, military operations, economic crises, and countless other important events.

Influence in the World:

The influence of an Awakened One does not depend solely on their strength. Many of the most powerful individuals on the planet have never participated in a public battle. Some work as businesspeople, investors, scientists, political advisors, or leaders of private organizations. Meanwhile, there are extremely powerful Awakened beings who live ordinary lives and show no interest in participating in the hidden society. The world of the Awakened is not governed solely by brute force. Information, resources, alliances, and reputation are all equally important. Conflicts Conflicts between Awakened beings happen constantly. However, they rarely take the form of open warfare. Disputes over territory, resources, influence, artifacts, techniques, or prestige are much more common. When large-scale conflicts occur, specialized organizations typically work to minimize harm and create plausible explanations for the general public. Explosions become industrial accidents. Urban destruction transforms into structural failures. Disappearances become unsolved cases.

Isolated Domain:

Isolated Domain is an advanced technique used by high-level Awakened beings to prevent conflicts from affecting the ordinary world. When activated, a specific area is temporarily separated from the main reality and overlaid by a dimensional layer created through the Core. This layer perfectly replicates the original environment at the time of activation, including buildings, streets, objects, and terrain. However, it contains no ordinary humans or any form of life that was not dragged into its interior during the creation of the Domain. To outside observers, nothing appears to be happening. For those within the Domain, the environment continues to exist normally, but completely isolated from the main reality.

How it works:

The Domain does not create a new permanent dimension. It creates a temporary copy of the selected area and overlays it on the original location. Everything that occurs within this space remains separate from the ordinary world until the technique is terminated. This allows Awakened beings to use their power without the worry of destroying entire cities or exposing their existence.

Limitations:

Creating an Isolated Domain requires an enormous amount of energy from the Core. For this reason, few individuals are able to use it on their own. Most often the technique is performed by specialists, artifacts, or groups of users working together. The larger the isolated area, the greater the energy consumption.

Resistance:

Extremely powerful Awakened beings can disrupt the stability of a Domain. In matches involving members of the World Top 100, it is not uncommon for the structure of the playing field to begin to suffer distortions. Conflicts between members of the World's Top 10 can break up an entire Domain if its creator does not possess enough power to sustain it.

Heroes and Villains:

Within the society of the Awakened, there is no official division between heroes and villains. These concepts are considered too simplistic to represent reality. An individual can protect thousands of people and still be responsible for the deaths of hundreds. Someone might be considered a criminal by one organization while being seen as an ally by another. The reputation of an Awakened One often depends on who is telling the story. For this reason, most conflicts are analyzed through consequences, interests, and responsibilities, not through absolute concepts of good and evil.

The Fundamental Truth:

There is a widely known phrase among the Awakened: "The world belongs to the common people. The shadows belong to us." This idea sums up the logic of society. Ordinary humans live in the light, constructing the history they know. The Awakened live in the shadows, silently influencing this very story.

But many choose to oppose this.

Awakened:

The Awakened are individuals capable of using the Core, an energetic structure linked to the soul. Although all living beings possess a Core, the vast majority never develop the ability to use it. When awakened, the Core allows its bearer to manipulate energy, strengthen their own body, and manifest unique abilities known as Affinities. The existence of the Awakened is kept secret from the general population, forming a parallel society that operates in the shadows of the modern world.

Core:

The Core is the primary energy source for the Awakened and the element responsible for manifesting their abilities. Its exact origin remains unknown, but it is known to be deeply connected to the individual's soul. The energy produced by the Core can be used for combat, physical strengthening, special techniques, and countless other applications. Like a muscle, the Core can develop through training, experience, and constant refinement, allowing an Awakened to surpass limits that previously seemed impossible.

Vital Force:

Unlike the Core, Life Force is not a common energy source, but the very essence of life. Every living being possesses a limited amount of Life Force that sustains its physical and spiritual existence. In extreme situations, some Awakened beings are able to use this energy to exceed the normal limits of their Core and reach absurd levels of power. However, the price is high. Excessive use of Life Force can cause permanent damage, reduce life expectancy, or lead to death if completely consumed. Although recovery is possible, the process is usually slow and often requires external assistance through healing techniques or energy transfer from the Core.

The Society of the Awakened:

The Awakened do not form a global government nor a single organization. In practice, they constitute a parallel society spread across the world. Each country has its own organizations, its own agreements, and its own disputes. Some nations have strong governmental involvement in the affairs of the Awakened. Others allow clans and associations to operate with greater independence. Despite their differences, there is a mutual understanding that certain conflicts should remain hidden from the eyes of the general public. This created a kind of informal balance that has been maintained for generations.

Ways to Awaken:

The awakening of a Core can occur in different ways. Some individuals are born with the potential already active, usually belonging to families with a long history among the Awakened. Others awaken naturally throughout life, whether through extreme situations, traumatic experiences, or circumstances not yet understood by the Awakened community. There are also cases of rare mutations, where the Core develops in an unusual way and produces abilities considered anomalous. Finally, there are artificial awakenings, obtained through experiments, procedures, and prohibited methods, often accompanied by severe risks and unpredictable consequences.

Classification System:

The classification of Awakened beings does not use letters or fixed levels. While methods exist to measure a Core's capacity, an individual's strength cannot be defined solely by numbers. Affinities, experience, techniques, combat intelligence, and influence make it impossible to create a perfectly precise system. For this reason, the society of the Awakened adopted a model based on positions and recognition. The goal of the ranking is not to determine exactly who is the strongest, but to identify which individuals have the greatest relevance on the world stage.

World Ranking:

The World Ranking is the most prestigious ranking among the Awakened. It brings together the most powerful and influential individuals known to the international community. An Awakened being's position is determined by multiple factors, including combat history, recorded achievements, political influence, reputation, mastery of techniques, and the threats they pose. Since most Awakened individuals keep their abilities secret, the ranking is never considered absolute. There is always the possibility that there are individuals stronger than those officially recognized.

World Top 100:

The World Top 100 represents the elite of the Awakened. Being included on this list is considered an extraordinary achievement and guarantees international recognition. Most members hold leadership positions in large organizations, clans, or associations. A member of the Top 100 is typically able to influence the balance of power in an entire region.

World Top 50:

The World Top 50 represents the group of true giants. Its members are far above the average of other Awakened beings and are usually treated with extreme caution by governments and organizations. Conflicts involving individuals of this caliber rarely go unnoticed by the international community.

World Top 10

The World Top 10 brings together the most feared and respected individuals on the planet. Each member of this list is considered a power in its own right. Their influence transcends national borders, and their decisions often affect entire organizations. Many of them are treated as living symbols of power. A direct confrontation between two members of the Top 10 is a rare event capable of mobilizing observers from all over the world.

National Ranking

In addition to the global ranking, each country maintains its own evaluation system. National rankings serve to measure the influence and power of the Awakened within their respective nations. The most common structure is the National Top 30.

Top 30 National:

The National Top 30 brings together the most important Awakened Ones in a country. Not all members are strong enough to compete internationally, but they still represent the elite of their regions. Countries with a tradition in the world of the Awakened usually have several representatives in the World Top 100. Other countries may not have even a single internationally recognized name.

Updates:

The rankings do not have fixed update dates. Changes happen whenever significant events occur. Important victories, defeats, disappearances, deaths, the emergence of new talents, or displays of power can alter positions at any time. Therefore, the rankings are constantly changing.

Unclassified Individuals:

Not all powerful Awakened beings appear in the rankings. Some live in isolation. Others deliberately conceal their strength. There are also individuals who refuse any connection with organizations responsible for classification. For this reason, there is a widely accepted belief among the Awakened: "The ranking shows who is well-known. Not necessarily who is the strongest." This phrase is often used to remind us that, in the world of the Awakened, true strength is not always in the spotlight.