Ethereal

Name: Ethereal Hunting World: In this world, various beings, called monsters, have begun to appear, possessing powers and abilities beyond any technology. Upon death, these monsters release their cores, which, depending on the monster's level, are more powerful and can be absorbed by weapons. To confront them, humans were forced to evolve. All of this takes place in an era where technology as we know it doesn't exist; the buildings are constructed as they were in the medieval period.

Rules: As humans "evolved," they began to bond with different weapons, the most commonly used being melee weapons, since their effectiveness depends on the wielder's skill. Here, humans, after bonding with their weapon, will never be able to switch to another, since a symbiotic relationship is established in which the weapon becomes part of the body. With this, humans can make it appear at any time if necessary and not transport it by conventional means. At the same time, the weapon is responsible for the human's combat improvement, since they project a panel that only the wielder of the weapon can see, with the exception of those who decide to show it to another person. On the panel, you can see the person's level and basic statistics. However, to level up, no one knows what the criteria for weapons is. It has been theorized that each weapon has its own methods. To go from level 1 to level 2, it is required to have met the weapon's criterion twice. For some, it is easy and for others, difficult, since depending on the type of weapon, the criteria are different. Some of the known criteria are: "Defeat a person stronger than you", "Kill a weak monster", "Kill a strong monster", "Save a person's life", "Steal a monster core without killing it", among other criteria still unknown. At the same time, it is believed that the more difficult it is to level up, the stronger the owner of said weapon will become, even if it is a person with great talent, everything will depend on the criteria of their weapon, which once determined, never change. Another way to improve, but not level up, is to absorb the core of monsters with your weapon, usually this is not done unless you buy cores on sale, which are extremely expensive, since when hunting it is recommended to hunt in groups, if you are a solitary hunter, we recommend feeding your weapon with good cores and selling the rest.

Absorbing a core improves your weapon and your connection to it, but not your level. The better the core, the better the upgrade. Under no circumstances should hunters attempt to switch weapons, as this will break the bond with the previous weapon, and they will die instantly.

Monsters emerged after The Ethereal Rupture, a cataclysm that fractured the barrier between dimensions. This unleashed chaotic energies that transformed ordinary beings into monstrous creatures.

There are currently rifts in the world, these rifts releasing chaotic energy, which increases the strength of the monsters in the area. These places are called Danger Zones.

Weapons are any object or artifact that has absorbed Chaos energy, created to counter monsters. Each weapon houses an Ethereal Spirit that grants it personality, which explains the unique criteria for leveling up its wielder.

Truly, it is the weapons that choose their bearers, and not the other way around.

Weapons can be any object that has absorbed chaotic energy. Artifacts are artificial weapons, that is, those created by humans. Obviously, there are more artifacts than weapons, but weapons are of higher quality.

The Ethereum Fist Empire rules here. Hunters are organized into Hunters' Guilds, each with its own hierarchy and rules. The most powerful guilds control the core market and wield political influence. At the same time, conflicts often arise between guilds over control of monster-rich territories.

To limit hunters, the empire created the Council of Bonded Weapons, a council that regulates hunts and establishes strict laws on the use of weapons and the absorption of cores.

Costs and risks of linking

Bonding isn't just a physical process, but also a mental and spiritual one. If a wielder doesn't meet their weapon's criteria, it could begin to drain their life force or affect their mind, causing ethereal madness. This would turn some hunters into monsters. How can it simply reject its wielder and not form a bond with them, allowing the wielder to seek out a weapon that will accept them?

The act of bonding is irreversible and painful, like a blood pact, where the wielder's soul is bound to the weapon. This explains why breaking the bond is fatal.

A very few hunters achieve symbiosis with their weapon or artifact upon reaching level 3. These cases can be identified when a tattoo resembling the weapon or artifact in shape and size appears on one of their arms. These hunters are considered future elites, and most hunters of second rank or higher have a symbiotic tattoo.

Just as there are different weapons and artifacts depending on your criteria, one can identify the monsters according to their strength and danger. The weakest are called Tenth-grade Mountruos, then those of the Ninth grade, those of the Eighth grade are slightly stronger, Seventh-grade ones release very small, almost useless cores, those of the Sixth grade are stronger than those of the Seventh grade, and their cores are the same. From the Fifth grade onwards things change, Fifth-rank monsters are much stronger than Sixth-grade ones and their cores are copper-colored, it is preferable to sell them and not absorb them, which is why the most common core on the market is the Fifth-grade. Then there are the Fourth-grade, these mounts are found on the edges of the Danger Zone, and their cores are green, it is recommended to sell them or absorb them, since they are cores used to create artifacts, also for decoration, but they are useful to be absorbed by a weapon or artifact. Third-grade monsters are considered highly dangerous monsters, since from the third grade onwards, monsters demonstrate intelligence above the average of hunters, they drop red cores and it is recommended to absorb them if one is below level 50. Second-grade monsters, these monsters are extremely violent and aggressive, the worst thing about them is that they hunt in packs, it is recommended to flee if you find a pack of them, when they die they drop white cores, if one's level is less than 100, it is recommended to absorb it, otherwise it is advisable to sell it. First-grade monsters are almost impossible to defeat, but luckily they are not very aggressive and show themselves rarely, it is recommended to hunt them with a squad with all its people at level 100 or higher, these monsters drop Golden cores, it is recommended to absorb them and never sell them. Finally, Zero-grade monsters, it is recommended to flee immediately if you see them, luckily they are peaceful

At the beginning, all hunters are of Tenth Rank, upon reaching level 2, they become Ninth Rank, upon reaching level 3, they become Eighth Rank hunters. Those of Seventh Rank are those of level 5 and can hunt monsters of the same rank. Those of Sixth Rank are those above level 10 and once they reach this rank they can begin to absorb cores. Those of Fifth Rank are those above level 20, considered the average hunter rank. Those of Fourth Rank are those above level 30, they are considered above average hunters. Then there are the Third Rank hunters, those of level 40 or higher, it is best for them to absorb red cores until level 50. Those of Second Rank are considered the elite, since they are those who are over level 50 and are able to face Third Grade monsters with ease, and in a group, face a pack of Second Grade monsters. First-rank hunters are those above level 100, and are considered the elite of the elite, as most hunters do not exceed the Fourth Rank. First-rank hunters, when formed into a squad, can face a First-grade monster. Zero-rank hunters are currently nonexistent.