Zen'nō Wars


 * -|Gods' War Above All Creation=
 * -|Paradise Apocrypha=
 * -|Rebelión=
 * -|Onislayer=

Summary= Zen’nō Wars (神座大戦) is a collection of dark fantasy visual novels developed by VenomElite, all of which share a grand continuity. It started off as a series of original stories in 2007. Because of its complexity, background material will be expanded in character books, databooks, artbooks etc. There is a tremendously expansive lore and backstory behind the series. There are three games currently in development: Paradise Apocrypha, Rebelión, and Onislayer. These games have completely different histories and settings (as the Multiverse is constantly reshaped by the gods), but are linked by the common concept of the battle for the Throne, rewriting multiversal history, complex theology and the center of the universe where the gods are constantly fighting over endless hegemony and dominion over the world.

Paradise Apocrypha
During the 10th millennium (i.e. some 7,900 years in the future) the technological advancement has reached a point where resources for development have become scarce. The Inquisition, the dominant governing body of the world, have decided they no longer had to share with the “colorless folk” and began exterminating them as new resources were found. A dark age where being “colorless” is nothing but a sin - an “ugly, deceptively beautiful existence” - to the Inquisition, they must be eradicated. Thus, the Inquisitors of Heresy, God’s most trusted servants head out to purge the world of these colorless beings.

Zephyr didn't expect it to ever result to this. His mother, murdered for the color (or lack of color) of her skin. Surely this isn't new, but on a global scale? Such a world is full of madness. It is a drama set on stage, the actors fully aware of their roles, and the rain is the tears of the planet. “Wake up Zephyr, you live in an insane asylum. You'll die if you don't do something y’know?”. These were the words of a girl that appeared before Zephyr as white as snow. She offered him not revenge, but freedom. If he helps her regain her lost power, she can in turn help him survive as he promised his dying mother he would.

Thus, he stands and accepts the mysterious snow-haired girl’s hair. “This ‘paradise’ of ‘gods' let us turn all of it to ash, and shatter it like the End of Days. Let wage war until we die for our vigor….”. Yes, it was that clear to him. He and the girl are not alone in this hellish world. There are other innocent people. The young girl with the teddy bear and the old man with the cane, defenseless “colorless” beings that will inevitably be slain by the Inquisitors unless someone sacrifices it all to paint a brighter future. “Snow-haired goddess, what is your name? “ “Renounce your name, prepare for judgment, and as you die I shall tell you. I am The End - my name is Apocrypha”.

Rebelión
During the climax of the Fourth Throne War (an over-the-top combination of World War II and the Cold War), a collective group of soviets, nazis, and shogun gather to perform a terrible ritual. They will sacrifice entire nations just to gather souls to fuel their spell. They are “preparing to revolt against All Creation, against God himself”. To do this, they require an immense number of souls. “Alchemy, magic, forbidden arts, all shall be taught to you. Feed the Beast with the souls of this universe, and all of Creation will be yours.” These terrible words are of genocide of countless worlds. For all fear the demons who take human appearance - the fallen angels, kings and queens of death and devourers of souls. They are the cult known to few - the Fallen Apostles, otherwise christened as the Knights of the Fallen Empire.

Fast forward a hundred years into the future, in the city of Tokyo-to (basically future Tokyo), Myeato is a 14 year old boy who can visualize various metaphysical phenomena ordinary people cannot see. He wanders the streets with his two best friends Joineth and Rio, in search of meaning in their ordinary lives. Myeato, keeps having visions of a girl with sweeping rosé-colored hair that no one else can see. He does not believe that she is an ordinary spirit, a yokai, or even an angel, but something extraordinary. However the description of this entity, according to Rio, matches that of the “Beheading Princess”, believed to be a daughter of the Royal Family sealed within the Labyrinth of Roses because anything she touches loses its head under a Crimson Moon. However in spite of the alleged danger, Myeato and his companions discover the lost Labyrinth of the Princess - only to discover a great, unfathomable power within it. At the same time the greatest nightmare has been realized, for the Knights of the Fallen Empire have returned - the Fifth Throne War is upon the world.

Their goal is simple when spoken - summon "the Throne” from the city of Tokyo-to as the final sacrifice to bring Lucifer into the physical universe (which will bring about its destruction). The only ones who can stop it are the mere children who take up the sword to defend their world. Winter has come, and the rarest cherry blossom variety are in bloom. Myeato tries to rebuild his life, but finds himself in the terrible nightmare, and is forced to use the same dark magic as his enemies. Can Myeato will protect what is dear to him from the unbelievable power of Fallen Empire? He, like most of the other characters, does not know that all of this is romanticism on an unprecedented scale. Such terror has dragged the world into its darkest age, now there is only an Endless Night - the Crimson Moon is out - the Labyrinth Rose has bloomed - the stage is set for the most grandiose of all tragedies - Rebelión.

Onislayer
The Xin Empire is sealed off from the rest of the world - a powerful barrier protects the largest military might in the universe from the demons that ravage the world - the youkai oni. The reason for being protected despite being so powerful is because of the Empress’ benevolence, God’s love for her people. However, the barrier is weakening, the heavenly song the Goddess Empress sang to maintain the barrier has ceased, and she has been weakened due to the presence of a deity from another dimension - which very presence and monologue is causing the domain of the gods to breakdown. Subsequently, this is strengthening the youkai oni. Soujirou Metsu, a young and reckless, yet exceedingly powerful samurai was selected to go outside the barrier into the demon infested world in order to find Jin Madara, a powerful and immensely intelligent Truth Seeker (sage), who can help with this crisis. The outside world - to the say the least - is hell. Nothing but death, blood, and the cries of innocent people. Those of the outside world care only for themselves. “Survival of the fittest” “only the strong survive, the weak will be purged.” Unironically, this is a trend also found on the other sides of the world. Different time periods, different eras of magecraft, different laws, same dystopian world filled with endless struggles and regret. The last thing Metsu wants, is for his nation to be swarmed with the same madness. “I’ll take up my sword, bathe it in the blood of my enemies, be they demon or man. Anything to protect these people. I’ll become the one youkai-oni fear most. The worst nightmare - the Onislayer”.


 * -|Terminology=

-Zen’nō (全能, Zen’nō) also referred to as Dharma or “Supreme Law”, is a class of Law that outclasses all potential theories and sciences in that era (regardless of how complex). It is the supreme law that dictates the unique properties of that domain. To describe it simply, if the law was “fire”, than all of existence would be flames or have the properties of fire. It is the primary nature of the Ultimate Ones, which is the force that constantly reshapes the multiverse and its laws.

Zen'nō can be differentiated as two categories. Using the example of fire again, the fire that subjugates absolutely all things in creation (and beyond) thus turning all things into fire, is Zen'nō. However, the flames that are able to exist within an infinite ocean and do not die out/become the water because it is an independent law/domain is also Zen'nō. The former is Naido (Inner Path), the latter is Gedo (Outer Path). However, since the appearance of the Moonlight Princess, the coexistence of Naido Laws is possible.


 * First Law of Heaven (最初大天 Saisho Ten): The original supreme law. Though it mechanisms are only loosely explored in Rebelión, its principle is undoubtedly the “Operation of the Supreme Ultimate” - the Goddess’ colorlessness of which oneness, duality, and the True Ancestors were formed. “I neither exist or nonexist. For I am ultimateless without any qualities.”. Therefore even the race of countless beings copied from her which are fundamentally qualities (pitch black beings representing nothingness and pitch white beings representing substance) at the core of their existence, are part of the oneness from which they were formed.


 * Second Law of Heaven (魔法第二大天, Dainiho Ten): Supreme Law of the Second World,the details regarding its domain are unknown.


 * Third Law of Heaven (第三法天, Daisanho Ten): Supreme Law of the Third World. The details regarding its domain are unknown.


 * Fourth Law of Heaven (第四法天, Daishiho Ten): Supreme Law of the Fourth World. the principle of which is the “Denial of Colorness”. Blackness, greatness, omnipotence. “My kind is the one true kind. All others are copies, all others are degenerative. Only I and my kind are God. We - the original owners of this world. The principle that only the dark ones and their descendants are the rightful heirs to claim true godhood. Such a world denies other beings of inherent magical power at birth.


 * Fifth Law of Heaven (第五法天, Daigoho Ten): Supreme Law of the Fifth World, the principle of which is the “Quintessence of Emptiness”. “Because all things lack any intrinsic existence, color means nothing. Colors/dualities - they are illusory form. True existence is formless emptiness (Sunyata).


 * Sixth Law of Heaven (第六法天, Dairokuho Ten): Supreme Law of the Sixth World. “Oroboros” - the principle of which is the “Transmutation of Souls” also referred to as “Hell’s Redemption”. “That which lacks substance cannot be beautiful. You are filthy, allow me to grant you rebirth and redeem your pitiful soul.”. The most prominent form of magic used in the Throne Wars, is Black Alchemy - the forbidden knowledge required to perform such evil is only required through making a Faustian Bargain with Satan, a contract formed in the depths of Naraka which grants access to black magic and dark vessels. The other part of this Law is Oroboros - the inevitable return to the start (of any given point) - the tragedy of an opera that goes on for eternity and the constant theme of black roses (that which was once beautiful but is now dying and withering away due to not being allowed to die properly). Due to the presence of the Moonlight Goddess, other Naido domains came into existence such as the “Rebellion Against Creation” by the Golden Emperor of Entropy and the “Eternal End” by the Dragon God of Time.


 * Seventh Law of Heaven (第七法天, Dainanaho Ten): Final Law of Domain in any world, the principle of which is “Naido Kyozon” - the “Coexistence of Supreme Laws”, which establishes harmony, instead of war-state, among the gods. “I will hold you, embrace you, and cherish you for all eternity”. The most powerful yet nonaggressive law of the Moonlight Goddess, whereas she is a literal semblance of the laws of all the Ultimate Ones sans the Sixth Law. Fall into the embrace of the gentle composite goddess and your greatest desires may become reality. It doesn't matter the deity, their law or how complex, the Goddess is the semblance of all.

- Spiritual Sensories (精神感覚, Seishin Kenkaku) are an extrasensory perceptive system that spreads itself through the Reijin (spiritual body) and is what qualifies a person to be a magi/apostle/witch/alchemist/etc. There are eleven sensories in total: seven going vertically down the body, two on each hands and two on each feet. Sensories are purely spiritual, what is found in the body is just the physical expression of them that stretches itself throughout the body in a fashion similar to the chakra or kundalini systems but certainly not to be confused with either of them.

- Mana (マナ, Mana) is the life force of a planet and exists in core of any planetary body. It is produced by the world itself. Though Mana is usually found in great quantities, it takes a long time to replenish once it is used up. It is the primary source of energy for Celestial Spirits.

If the atmosphere of a planet is controlled by something, it is impossible to use large scale magecraft within the environment because the magical energy cannot be utilized. Only small-scale spells utilizing an individual's internal storage can be used.

- Seiryoku (精神力, Spirit Energy) is the energy found within living organisms such as humans and animals produced by the sensories. Once depleted, the Spiritual Sensories that are stored in the human soul will begin to replenish it. Seiryoku is produced as long as one lives, but the amount a person can store varies from individual to individual and the more souls one’s Reijin stores, the more Seiryoku they possess.

- Mage (マギ, Magi) is a human practitioner of magecraft. Variant types of mages depend on the world/version (or “side”) or the world. In the Fifth World they are mages, in the Sixth World they are Black Alchemists and Dark Mages, in the Second World they were Original Scientists. Because the world is constantly reshaped by the Gods, the type of abilities mages use varies between the different novels (which portray different versions/sides of the world). However, in the Sixth World, due to the presence of the Moonlight Goddess, mages with abilities from the other sides of the multiverse are able to exist.

- Magecraft (魔術, Majutsu) is a class of Law (an abstract concept applied to the world). It is differentiated from ordinary magic/sorcery and is a separate class from Black Alchemy (i.e. you don't need to make a contract with Satan to practice magecraft). Of course this is a very powerful practice originally only taught to the regal or aristocratic elite. Magecraft remains far more powerful than ordinary magic (key word “ordinary” as some forms of magic can be just as powerful or even exceed magecraft such as dark magic - a study related to black alchemy). The type of magecraft used, again, depends on the side of the world and the Ultimate One that influences that side.

- Bounded World (束縛世界, Sokubaku Sekai) is a world/domain unaffected by the supreme law but is not necessarily a Zen’nō/supreme law (not even a Gedo-type supreme law). What this is, is a domain acting sort of like a hub world or overworld (or in some cases a safe zone). An example is the Moonlight World. It is the location of the Moonlight Goddess that is used as a backstage for the opera that is all of reality being orchestrated by Satanael. As such, whenever Satan rewinds the story to a particular point, the Moonlight World is unaffected. This is because the world itself is protected by some sort of bounded field, but it is virtually unclear.

- Law (法律, Hōritsu) is a concept or domain of many different types that is applied to the world. It is the source of all supernatural phenomena within a given domain and is the result of Magecraft or Sorcery, and is applied by beings such as True Ancestors, Apostles, Spiritual Bodies, as well as Fantasy Species which are formed entirely of laws. If two different types of Laws collide with one another, the stronger Law will overwhelm the weaker one. However, this does not necessarily mean that the user of the stronger Law is stronger than his opponent.

- Master Vessel (マスター船, Masuta-sen) is a mage (of sorts) who has become one of the formal participants of the Throne Wars by obtaining a Household upon forming a contract with a Spirit. This concept is only found in the Sixth World/psychotic side of the world. A Master Vessel are those select group of beings said to be capable of becoming Ultimate Ones, however that is a right determined by birth that only the exceedingly few achieve on any side of the world.

- Spirits (霊) are spiritual bodies formed by the collective manifestation of humanity. There are several types of spirits and despite the fact that they can be found everywhere, only those humans who possess a spiritual awareness can perceive them. Spirits are generally harmless to people, but those of the legendary class are of such a dimension that they can be perceived and interact with people by taking a physical form.


 * Animal Spirits (動物霊, Doubutsurei) are animalistic spirits. Differently, as by the souls of dead humans, who are generally formless existences, animals retain their form from their former lives. But they are, just as Human Spirits, able to consume the souls and minds of people and convert them into Seiryoku due to the Law of the Sixth World. The basic abilities they had from the time when they where alive still remain but they don't change from such nourishment, as they only become tougher as their magical energy capacity increases. Animal Spirits tamed by mages are called “familiars”. The familiar of a Master Vessel is part of their Household and thus the abilities of that familiar are derivative of their master’s own capabilities.


 * Historical Spirits (歴史霊, Rekishirei) are spirits of renowned historical figures, those who have achieved great deeds in life, having become objects of worship after their deaths. Historical Spirits are beings of a higher existence, becoming categorically closer to mythological spirits than legendary spirits. Differing from how mythological spirits are "power" granted form using human imagination as a container, they are entirely woven from the ideals of people all throughout history on any side/version of the world.


 * Legendary Spirits (伝説霊, Densetsurei) are legendary creatures from folklores classified as spirits. These includes, vampires, draconians, werewolves, ghouls, ghosts, zombies, devils, demons, genies, goblins, and a myriad of cryptids. While most legendary spirits are born just like any other spirit (from humanity) some are not. Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster are examples. Vladislaus became the first ever vampire via making a Faustian Bargain with Satan (and is the first ever being to do so) and all other vampires were created from him, whereas Frankenstein's Monster was a creation of Dr. Frankenstein under the tutelage of Dracula. Also, similar to mythological spirits, while some legendary spirits are tamed by mages as part of their Household, others are free beings with a separate agenda.


 * Mythological Spirits (神霊, Shinrei) or “Mythical Spirits” are a class above most Historical Spirits as they are literal gods, devas, buddhas, etc. Gods are beings formed by the thoughts of humans and born into the world without being influenced by the will of the people. They grow stronger the more people worship them and those that are no longer worshiped become Historical Spirits. There also exist cases like gods becoming infamous as icons of terror, distorting their appearances through the human thoughts and ideals that formed them.


 * Nature Spirits (自然霊, Shizenrei) as the name states, a spirit born from elements of nature such as plants, soil, water, fantasy elements, natural phenomena, etc. Beryl deposits that have been beneath the surface for an extended period of time are said to be capable of easily giving birth to these kinds of spirits. Their spiritual bodies are formed by the will of the planet and they gain power from nature itself. Only the spiritual bodies of the nature spirits, who are wanted by the planet as a defense against the resource-plundering actions of humans, can receive a body made out of flesh from that planet. These supernatural entities are part of the transcendent variety.


 * Fantasy Spirits (狂想霊, Kyōsōrei) are a class a spirit similar to a mythological or legendary spirit but functions differently. They are empowered by the imagination of living creatures but are creatures that have no prior recorded existence in the world. I.e. they are not part of any legend or folklore (this really refers to real life, where we myths and folktales have existed for centuries). These spirits are like fictional characters, completely made up beings by humanity. As such they are usually the easiest to tame due to most spirits being attached to their creators.

- Soul Relics (精神船舶, Reishin Ibutsu) are the objects (weapons, jewelry, accessories, etc.) that are the divine placement for souls. Indeed, a Soul Relic can be anything, even another person (in rare cases). This is the primary tool for soul transmutation. The relics belonging to people of a Master Vessel’s Household is called a Household Relic.

- Household Relics (家庭用遺物, Katei-yō Ibutsu) are the Soul Relics of people who are part of a Household. Their relic can still be anything, but it's virtues, abilities, and even appearance (to a degree) are influenced by that of their Master’s Soul Relic. If the Master’s relic has complete control over water, the Household member’s relic will have some form of control over water. In other words, the relics and abilities of the Household are derivative of the Master’s law.

- Mugen Fantasia (夢幻, Mugen, lit. meaning “Fantasy”) is having one’s inner law materialized. This is classified into the two categories: Naido (Inner) and Gedo (Outer). Naido materializes one’s law within themselves and thus transforms them physically and metaphysically but they are still influenced by the outside law/domain. Gedo materializes one’s law and implements it onto reality (of a given scale depending on the strength of the user). They are no longer influenced by any surrounding law/reality other than the Godhead’s but it is possible that a more powerful Gedo law can subjugate the weaker domain in a battle. Only two known hybrids (a law of both Gedo and Naido) are known to exist: Lucifer’s Naido-Gedo law and Myeato’s Gedo-Naido law. It seems this is only possible due to Satanael and the Moonlight Goddess (perhaps the harmony between Gods allowed hybrids to exist when originally it was completely impossible).

- True Ancestors (真祖, Shiho) are a race of undimensioned beings copied from the the original Ultimate One (the Law of the First Heaven) who are the incarnations of the universe’s will, thus are it's primordial aspects. Though they were copied from the Law of the First Heaven, they are the incarnation of universal will, thus they follow the will of the Gods (even with the ability to create or give form to a God that they would then serve). True Ancestors have the ability to use Fantasia as well.

- Fallen Apostles (堕落使徒, Daraku Shito) are powerful beings akin to Mythological Spirits that have fallen from grace and into depravity. They are the most numerous faction in the Throne Wars. A Fallen Apostle is created via making a Faustian Bargain with Satanael. Therefore, they are Black Alchemists/Dark Mages in the Sixth World. The oldest and most powerful among them are the Mazoku, who were said to have been cast from Heaven for revolting against God. That is, “Heaven”, “God”, and “being casted down” are just plot points inserted by Satanael for his tragedy.

- Divine Priestesses (神巫女, Shinmiko) are born spiritually from the Ultimate Ones as their sense of touch and interaction with reality. These are the avatars of the Gods who may be ordinary humans physically but possess tremendous magical power that far exceeds that of gods and mythological spirits. They are also the living representatives of the Gods’ supreme laws, that is, their influence (range) is beyond the measurable scale of any other being, even spirits.

- Throne (座, Za) - the mechanism for the utilization of Naido, particularly for the transcendence to Godhood. It is also the “reward/prize” for winning the Throne Wars. The Throne is a very complex system. First off, there is the Cup of Heaven, (天の杯, ten no sakazuki) which acts as the physical container for the Throne. The divine blood of the Throne Vessel (Zatenkina) must be spilled into the heavenly cup in order to summon the “Greater Throne” which acts as a pathway from the world to the Domain of the Gods (but that's not enough, a vast number of souls normally exceeding the current human population greatly must be transmuted as the Cup of Heaven is a Soul Relic). The process will result in the victor of the Throne War (a Master Vessel) achieving transcendence.

- Ultimate Ones (究極神, Kyuukyokushin, lit. meaning “Ultimate Gods”) also known as “Supreme Spirits”, “Laws of Heaven”, or “Dharmic Ones” are the nine ultimate non-beings from other sides of the world, embodying the will of absolute/complete and utter nothingness (which is their essence) and the multiverse is their body. The gods are fighting over endless hegemony. It isn't until the presence of the Moonlight Goddess that they instead, reach perfect harmony and co-exist in peace.

The Ultimate Ones are divided into two categories: Gedo and Naido (the same categories as laws, i.e. the Gods are laws). Naido Gods are internal, their void body acts as a black hole that absorbs all phenomena, souls, concepts, theories, etc. (absolutely everything) and subjugates them to their domain, and because of this, there is friction between Gods, they are an equal force (more or less) so their auras are constantly clashing with each other. Thus, they represent sides of the world instead of just simply all of it. Therefore the Naido Gods are fighting for complete dominion over the multiverse.

Gedo Gods are external, they are individual beings who instead of incorporating reality into themselves, they imprint their universe onto the canvas of the whole of reality which acts as their territory. Therefore Gedo Gods are not constantly locked in war-state, they co exist just fine until a Gedo deity projects their reality into another deity’s domain. Gedo Gods are also independent of the Naido deities’ constant struggle. Essentially, this collective verse is a war between gods.

- Pure Eyes (純粋眼, Junsuigan) grant the power to perceive and interact with the outer world. This is caused by the Mind’s sensory being unnaturally more powerful than normal and thus materializes an effect within the eyes. Pure Eyes can have any sort of effect which is dependent on the user’s individual traits. Pure Eyes are activated through use of magical energy or Seiryoku. However some Pure Eyes are naturally activated due to the mind sensory being too powerful at birth.

Fate Manipulation (highest possible scale) Matter Manipulation Reality Warping (on a variety of scales) Probability Manipulation Energy Manipulation Elemental Manipulation Information Manipulation Causality Manipulation Flight Invisibility Conceptual Manipulation Resistance Dimensional Attacks Teleportation Time Manipulation Darkness Manipulation Soul Manipulation Creating Universes Creating Multiverses Higher-Dimensional Manipulation Aura Extrasensory Perception Superhuman Senses Body Manipulation Absorption Shapeshifting Soul Manipulation Shock Waves Boundary Manipulation Durability Negation (extreme levels) Immortality (types 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10) Regeneration (all types) Vampirism Intangibility Cybernation Void Manipulation manipulation of gravity Acausality Omnipresence Omniscience Conceptual Existence Resurrection Higher Dimensional Existence Dimensionless Existence Metaphysical Existence Transduality Magic Barrier Creation Reflection
 * - |List of Common Abilities=

In Appreciation
Special thanks to those who are contributing to building these novels, as well as those who show support to this verse.

Supporters / Opponents
Supporters:

Sera Loveheart

Tsubaki Blue

The Reclusive One

Opponents:

Neutral:

Profiles
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Character Profiles
-To be added

Weapon Profiles
-To be added.

Informational Blogs and Threads
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