Extraordinary Characteristics

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Extraordinary Characteristics (非凡特性)
Alias(es)	Beyonder Characteristics
Status	Finite and indestructible; they can be transferred, reorganized, aggregated, or split rather than created or destroyed. 91 731 750
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Laws of Extraordinary Characteristics

Law / Principle	Effect
Indestructibility	Extraordinary Characteristics cannot truly be destroyed; apparent destruction instead produces reorganization or later re-condensation. 731 750
Conservation	The total number in the world neither increases nor decreases. This scarcity makes every Beyonder a potential target for other factions. 91 241
Aggregation	Characteristics of the same or related pathways are drawn together. Higher-Sequence Characteristics possess a stronger aggregating tendency. 59 731
Splitting	After sufficient aggregation, Characteristics develop a tendency to separate. The First One's “Extraordinary Splitting” rule was apparently intended to counter the madness and distortion caused by excessive aggregation. 622 731 750

Nature

Extraordinary Characteristics are the mystical substance that allows Beyonders, Mystical Items, and certain Sealed Artifacts to wield Extraordinary Abilities. A wearer can access abilities corresponding to a Characteristic carried by an item, while a Beyonder can use Characteristics as Potion materials for advancement. 55 101

They are not ordinary matter. After considering their ability to violate physical laws, Hobart concludes that their essence is “Mysticism.” 680

Each owner leaves behind spiritual residue within a Characteristic. This accumulated residue gives Characteristics a degree of “warmth” and makes them more capable of resonating with living creatures, but it can also preserve pollution, curses, personality traces, and lingering hatred. 624 658

Formation and Precipitation

After a Beyonder's Death

Extraordinary Characteristics normally precipitate from a Beyonder's corpse after death. The process may be slow—particularly for Sequence 9 Beyonders—or accelerate under unusual circumstances. 36 540

• A Secret Supplicant's Characteristic manifested as black paste accompanied by the sound of many whispers. 36
• A Barbarian Characteristic appeared as a palm-sized, black-light-emitting cherry after its owner's violent death. 46
• The corpse of a high-Sequence Beyonder can retain Characteristic-bearing flesh before full precipitation; such remains may form a Sealed Artifact. 540
• Angel-level corpses and Characteristics are especially dangerous: if not handled promptly, their persistent spirit and Spiritual Body can readily form an evil spirit. 624

Other Means of Extraction

High-level powers can force Characteristics out of a living vessel or accelerate their condensation.

• Hobart extracted a Sequence 1 Kingslayer Prince Characteristic from Tamara by temporarily using King of Angels-level status. 729
• Deprivation can temporarily strip a target of their Characteristics or throw them into chaos, potentially reducing the target to an ordinary person or causing self-destruction. 764
• Hobart used Utilization to hasten the formation of Eris's Duke of Entropy Characteristic after destroying his body. 680

Reorganization and Purification

Shattering and Re-condensation

Sequence 2 Angels can shatter Extraordinary Characteristics, allowing them to re-condense with some pollution or curses removed. 114

• The Country of Disorder's Chaos Power successfully shattered a Barbarian Characteristic and re-condensed it into separate Barbarian and Lawyer Characteristics. 114
• A damaged Werewolf Characteristic divided into three parts and began re-condensing, while retaining influence from the Desire Mother Tree. 179
• Shattering does not necessarily erase lingering spiritual remnants, especially from Angel-level Characteristics. 624

Cleansing Contamination

Characteristics may carry curses, spiritual imprints, or corruption from gods and Outer Deities.

• Hobart used the Power of Order to cleanse curses from a batch of Characteristics marked by black threads. 397
• The Clock of Order could disinfect certain contaminated items, but a severely contaminated Characteristic had to be destroyed. 372
• The Creator removed the Fallen Mother Goddess's contamination from a Sea God Characteristic; ordinary Ancient Ones could only transfer such contamination elsewhere. 760

Stability and Containment

Low- and Middle-Sequence Characteristics are generally stable unless they retain unusually strong spiritual remnants. 621

Demigod-level Characteristics are substantially less stable. If stored in ordinary containers for long periods, they may fuse with their container and become Sealed Artifacts with severe negative effects. 621

• Special gray stone compartments can inhibit fusion with stored Characteristics. 621
• A Sealed Artifact may itself be shattered back into Extraordinary Characteristics, as happened to the original “0-76.” 746

Relationship to Pathways

A Characteristic can contain portions from lower Sequences of the same pathway. Consuming such a Characteristic strengthens the corresponding abilities, but may increase spiritual pressure and complicate Potion digestion. 101 114

The Country of Disorder acts as a “giant magnet” for Characteristics of the Lawyer and Arbiter pathways, drawing them toward Hobart. 59

Some pathways are linked to the starry sky:

• Prisoner and Criminal Characteristics originate from the Desire Mother Tree. 731
• Lawyer and Arbiter Characteristics originate from the Child of Chaos. 731
• Cultivator and Moon are likewise identified as pathways recently gathered from the starry sky. 731

Origins

The dominant belief among the seven major churches is that Extraordinary Characteristics originated from the First Creator, who transformed into all things. The Sanguine similarly hold that accumulated Characteristics gave rise to ancient gods. 731

Other theories describe them as projections from the Absolute Rational World, or as stabilized forms of earlier “extraordinary elements” that Beyonder creatures repeatedly devoured, shattered, and recombined during the Second Epoch. 658 731

The First One is said to be in a state of aggregation. Upon awakening, He may gather further Characteristics from the starry sky. 731

Use and Value

Potion Advancement

Characteristics can replace or supplement conventional Potion materials. A Beyonder who consumes an appropriate Characteristic gains the basis for advancement, though excess lower-Sequence portions can burden their spirituality. 101 114

Mystical and Sealed Items

Characteristics can be made into Mystical Items that preserve selected abilities.

• Hobart planned to use a Gatekeeper Characteristic for Spirituality Connection, a Traveler Characteristic for Travel, and a Living Corpse Characteristic for steel-like skin. 274
• A ring containing Pugilist or Combat Scholar Characteristics grants its wearer corresponding combat abilities. 55

Trade, Warfare, and Merit

Extraordinary Characteristics are among the most valuable resources in the Beyonder world.

• Most gatherings trade them privately, while the Mercenary Club openly buys and sells them. 218
• A Sequence 7 Interrogator Characteristic sold at auction for 8,000 Gold Lire, approximately 6,500 pounds. 482
• Hobart's Official Extraordinary teams exchange battle spoils for merit, then use merit to obtain Characteristics needed for advancement. 496
• Because Beyonders are effectively “walking Extraordinary Characteristics,” refusal or weakness can make them targets for organizations seeking to harvest them. 241

Documented Manifestations

• Secret Supplicant — black paste that seems to whisper with many voices. 36
• Barbarian — a black-glowing object resembling a large cherry. 46
• Miracle Worker — a crystal heart. 707
• Kingslayer Prince — an illusory black sphere of light that appears both real and unreal. 667
• Mind Dragon — a pale-gold eye-like crystal with a moving golden light inside. 735