Anima

Lore & Background

Anima is a rare and deeply personal power that sets its users apart from other Regulars, as it relies on a living partnership rather than pure Shinsu manipulation. The bond between an Anima and their creature is often forged through intense, sometimes harrowing training or a natural affinity that feels like a second heartbeat. Some users can control multiple beasts at once, orchestrating them like a living symphony of fangs and scales. This ability is particularly prominent in certain Great Families, such as the Ha Family, where it is passed down through bloodlines like a cherished heirloom, though it can also awaken in others through rare, often perilous circumstances—a chance encounter with a Shinhueh, a moment of desperate survival, or a whisper from the Tower itself.

In Their Own Story

In the dim light of the Floor of Tests, a young Regular named Hwaryun watched as her Anima companion—a sleek, shadowy beast with eyes like twin coals—paced a slow circle around a group of hostile Regulars. The creature's growl was a low rumble that vibrated through the stone floor, and with a mere thought, she commanded it to strike. It moved like spilled ink, claws tearing through the air with a sound like tearing silk. The Regulars scattered, shouting in panic, but Hwaryun barely noticed. She felt the beast's hunger, its joy in the hunt, pulsing through her own veins. This was only a taste of the power that lay ahead—a bond that would grow stronger, stranger, and more intimate as she climbed the Tower, facing enemies that would make these petty thugs seem like children's stories.

Reader's Guide

Anima is a specialized ability that allows a user to form a mental and emotional link with a creature, often a Shinhueh native to the Tower's floors. The bond enables the user to issue commands, share senses, and even draw on the creature's strength, making it a versatile tool in combat and exploration. Anima users typically train to strengthen this connection through hours of silent meditation, shared hunts, or even dangerous rituals that test the limits of trust. A weak bond can lead to disobedience—or worse, a creature turning on its master when its wild instincts flare. Wielding Anima effectively requires patience and empathy, as the creature is a living being with its own will, its own fears, and its own pride. Some users, like those in the Ha Family, are born with a natural affinity, the bond humming in their blood from childhood. Others must undergo rigorous trials—facing a beast in single combat, earning its respect through pain and perseverance. In battle, Anima users often act as support, using their creatures to scout ahead through dark corridors, distract enemies with feints and howls, or deliver devastating attacks that leave opponents reeling. But the bond is a double-edged sword: if the creature is harmed or killed, the user may suffer mental or physical backlash—a phantom wound, a scream in the mind, or a hollow ache that lingers for days.

Did You Know?

• Anima users are sometimes called 'Beast Tamers' by Regulars who misunderstand the depth of their bond.
• The Ha Family is known for producing powerful Anima users, with some able to control legendary beasts from the Tower's deepest floors.
• Not all creatures bonded via Anima are aggressive; some are used for healing, transportation, or even communication.
• The exact origin of Anima is unknown, but it is believed to be tied to the Tower's ancient Shinsu flows.