Phase

**Phase** (位相), also called **Texture** (テクスチャ), is a layer applied over the Mortal World, in this context referring to the entire universe or reality itself, acting like a veil or filter, and changing how the world appears to be.

## Summary

The Mortal World, as it is normally perceived, is not pure and untouched - Various layers exist over it and act like filters, affecting how it appears. Many layers have different forms of energy locked within them, which can be brought out through various means, with some layers may also be life-forms, often in the form of energy masses. By applying new layers over it or manipulating the existing ones, one's perception of the world can be altered.

The many pagan religions which have arisen throughout history have had the effect of applying various phases to the world. The result of this are the Phases, the phases interwoven into each pantheon's terrestrial territory that acted as anchor for both the pantheon's heaven and underworld. While most of these Phases were destroyed in the Great War, forcing the gods to retreat back into the Divine World, remnants of many phases still remain, and under the right circumstances, they can still be recreated.

It is believed that there exists a Pure World, the world beyond all filters and Phases. It is a world without magic, a world of science and logic where the laws of physics are the absolute truth. There is also a Hidden World, where the remaining Old Ones reside, hidden but unable to leave, which is beyond being detected or destroyed by even the gods.

## Effects

The effects of an individual Phase on the world and the effects of the Phases being manipulated vary depending on the circumstances involved. When the world is changed due to the manipulation of the Phases, most of its inhabitants have no idea that the world has been changed, truly believing the world is the same as always.

Beings who exist on higher levels of existence are not directly or completely affected by the changing Phases of the world, though they may be indirectly influenced. The Phases themselves are not usually perceived by most people, though there are beings who can detect them, including ones capable of influencing them.

The distances between the Phases are not even and the gaps between them change irregularly on a daily basis. As the overlapping Phases contact and collide with one another, "spark" is produced. The "sparks" and "spray" produced by Phase collisions have a thin but widespread influence on the world and its people, affecting fortune and misfortune. With the use of magic, particularly those involving unified theories, the phases are gathered and collide even more, making "sparks" more frequent.

## Trivia

* The Phases are closely linked to the use of Magic.
* Phases can only be created and applied within the Mortal World.
* As there are near-infinite amount of universes within near-infinite amount of multiverses, all of which are placed within the Mortal World, it can be assumed that there are near-infinite amount of Phases as well.
* Celestial beings like the Angels, Fallen Angels, and Devils, as well as those with celestial ancestry, are not affected by the manipulation of the Phases. As such, they are the closest to the World of Steel.