Paradise Lost (Second Heaven)

## Paradise Lost

**Remorseless Paradise of the FallenParadise Lost** (堕天無慙楽土パラダイスロスト, *Daten Muzan RakudoParadaisurosuto*?) commonly known as the **Second Heaven**. The world ruled by The Remorseless and the setting of Paradise Lost.

A world in which people lived with sin and punishment, There are no good people here, and those who exist in this world are constantly punished by more "evil" actions. The ultimate result was a world in which violence ruled everything. It's a paradise for the strong, where the strong prosper, and the weak suffer. A constant warzone, not through two opposing sides, but of countless beasts, all without ethics, fighting among themselves.

There is no shame nor regret, nor lamentation. It's a non-traditional paradise, so it's at least superior in the quality of life of its people than the First Heaven.

## Terminology

### Original Sin

The nature of the second heaven. Every being was implanted an original sin in their heart. No one is pure in this world, all lives life without any regret or remorse. Sins that are powerful enough to access to higher dimension are called **Deadly Sins**. The weight of sin is connected to The Abyss, this is why being with a high density of Sin cannot interfere with higher Sephirot from Keter.

### Quintessence

The higher dimensional fifth element. As Judecca and Keter exit dual to one another, so does the Quintessence. While Keter flows the positive Quintessence, Judecca emits the negative version of it. Being in Malkuth cannot normally utilize the fifth element. Only those with a specialty such as a host of demons or Angels can access to it. The strength of Quintessence follows the rule of this world, where evil (negative) is stronger than good (positive).

### Angels & Demons

Creation of Nerose Satanael. In order to create **Adam Kadmon**, the perfect being, angels were born as a being free of Sin. However, they lack ego and thus considered a failure by Sanatael. Demon, on the other hand, are a mass of Sin that dwells in the abyss. In order to manifest in Malkuth, they require a host with compatible Sin.

### Vessel of Demon King

Host for a demon which is the mass of Sin cannot take form in the material world. Only those with a high density of Sin can be classified as the vessel.

### Equation

Akin to the passcode to access Quintessence. While angels require Satanael permission to access to Gate of Heaven, Sin bearers can draw out their Sin directly from the abyss.

## Cosmology

Unlike another Heaven, Paradise Lost has a unique cosmology that is shaped akin to the tree of life and death.

### Sephirot Tree

The model structure of the second heaven. It is a pathway to Godhood and the Throne. Consisted of 10 Sephirot: *Keter* (Crown)*, Chokhmah, Binah, Da'at, Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malkuth*. These ten are connected through 22 pathways, forming "**Heaven**". The highest Sephira, Keter, is the Throne itself, while Malkuth, also called Gaia, is the material world.

On the other side, exist the **Abyss**. The place that is considered to be the reverse Sephirot where Demons live as a lump of Sin. There is a total of nine circles of the abyss, the 9th circle is Cocytus, rebellion and the lowest part of Cocytus is Judecca. Considers to be another manifestation of the Throne, it is dubbed "God's dumpster".

Hence, those who harbor Sin will gravitate towards the abyss and cannot ascend. Only those such as completely pure Angels can acess to Quintessence of Heaven.

### Leylines

Paths between dimensions. Satanael attempt of interfere with Leylines in order to reach the Crown.

## Factions

### Illuminati

The head organization of Zoar. They are interested in angels, the biological weapon that can utilize higher dimensional elements.

### Ähnlichkeit Viper

Also known as '*Infinite Snakes*. The crime organization that controls parts of the Isolated city.

### Forbidden Fruit

The gang was led by Lot during the era of Old Sodom. Most of the members were killed as part of Satanael's plan.

## Locations

### Holy State of Sodom

A gigantic metropolis that prospers 3,000 years before the event of Paradise Lost. The city is divided into sections parody that of the Sephirot tree. Keter section is where the leader class such as Satanel resides, while Judecca is a dumpster where people like Lot live. The city met its end when Satanael initiate Armageddon. Afterward, the city was separated from the outside world due to Sin from the Great War and goes by the name of **Isolated City**. The place is a total wrench, crimes and murder can be found anywhere. The city is separated into 3 sections, S-Safety, D-Danger, and M-Murder.

### Zoar

The city outside of Sodom was founded by the Illuminati. Even though it has high advanced technology, its citizens are mind-controlled using chips implanted in their brains. This is where Satanael lives during the story.

## Trivia

* There are many references in Paradise Lost to the Old Testament:
	+ This Heaven derives itself from the concept of Original Sin, a concept in Judeo-Christian beliefs that sin is already inside humans since the fall of man in the Bible. Namely the sin of disobedience in consuming the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In Paradise Lost, the concept is taken to a more extreme interpretation.
	+ The Throne is referred to as **Keter** in this world, which takes its name and location from the Tree of Life seen in Jewish Kabbalah.
	+ **Armageddon** refers to both a location in Israel and the final battle between God and Satan in which the latter and his army of unrepentant sinners are ultimately destroyed by divine wrath.
	+ **Cocytus** is a location in the *Divine Comedy*, in which Satan resides. **Judecca**, which in the visual novel, is also synonymous with the Throne, is the lowest section of Cocytus, housing both Lucifer himself alongside traitorous humans.

* The name **Paradise Lost** refers to the epic poem which details the War in Heaven and the Fall of Man.
* The world that Paradise Lost took place is a ruin of Star Cluster of Extinction Saurva.