Transcendents, beings who could break through the ceilings of a world.
Overview
Even when walls existed, there were existences who could break through the ceiling and grow. People who had the right to break through the limits set by the world and go above and beyond. This right was completely up to one's potential. People who weren't born with this couldn't even dream of such a thing. When someone transcends, those below won't be able to go against them.
Those born with the Transcendent Star are those who have the right to transcend in a world with ceilings. Hansoo and Tiamet are those were were born with the Transcendent Star. Hansoo's trait, Seven Stars, is one of the many forms of it. It gives him the right to break through the ceiling that stopped everyone else. He is the sole human who had the potential to become a Transcendent in the Otherworld, before the Abyss descends.
Those who have the Transcendent Star must then acquire a Skill of Annihilation. They're also called Zero Numbering Skills by humans. These are skills one could only gain by proving themselves. There are 2 conditions to gain it: Fight until you get annihilated or destroy the entire world and swallow it whole. These are why they are called Skills of Annihilation. A tremendous amount of strength that one could only gain after overcoming various trials both internally and externally.
Hansoo was able to acquire his Skill of Annihilation by fighting to the brink of death in the Otherworld. He was able to obtain the Demonic Dragon Reinforcement by killing a weaken Demonic Dragon in the Tutorial, the Pandemic Blade by killing the Five Calamities in the Red Zone, the Nine Dragons Spear by killing the Gael-Tara in the Yellow Zone, and the Immortal Soul by killing Tiamet in the Green Zone.
Method
There are 3 known methods for becoming a Transcendent.
- Fight until you get annihilated. This is the fastest and most efficient method. If one discarded the dangers.
- Destroy an entire world and swallow it whole. Though it would take longer, it was safer and more fun to do so.
- Absorb Abyssal Crystals dropped by Abyssal creatures. These crystals are a code. Mixing the code of humans who could not go through the limits with the ones of the Abyssal beings allows the human body to forcibly reach the level of a transcendent, without any enlightenment or physical strain. One would grow stronger with each crystal collected. This is one of the more efficient and weaker ways of becoming a transcendent. It is one of the fastest ways to raise one's strength.
Someone who had fully mastered a skill and someone who merely bulked up using crystals; the difference is like that of heaven and earth, even within the same star level.
Hansoo was able to become a Transcendent through the first method. He mastered Demonic Dragon Reinforcement by straining himself against beings stronger than himself and against a harsh environment. Only after being beaten to inches of his life was he able to break through.
WIP
*(To be edited) Hansoo is able to Transcend again through the first method by turning the body into a container for the skill and surviving. The creator of the Nine Dragons Spear died from this method.
*Personality changes and drawbacks