Phantom Beast
Beast Master: Hatching a Holy Dragon from the StartBiodata
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Phantom Beast |
| Alias(es) | Phantasmal Beast |
| Species/Race | Broad category of supernatural creatures encompassing beast, mechanical, ghost, undead, dream, plant, and other types |
| Status | Extant; the Federation's illustrated handbook records 803,596 discovered species, while many more remain unknown 15 |
Classification
| System | Details |
|---|---|
| Rank | Phantom Beasts are ranked from Black Iron through higher tiers up to Divine. Beast Masters generally command Phantom Beasts below their own rank 5. |
| Bloodline Rarity | Common, Elite, Overlord, King, Legendary, and Mythic, in ascending order. Bloodline rarity represents growth potential 3. |
| Type | A Phantom Beast may possess multiple type classifications, such as Mechanical/Stealth, Ghost/Curse, Space/Mirage, or Dream/Fantasy 4 37 221 439. |
| Evolution Count | Some attribute panels record the number of evolutions a Phantom Beast has undergone; evolutions may change its form, abilities, and bloodline 319 341. |
Growth and Evolution
A species' bloodline and natural development determine its usual adult limit. For example, an ordinary Wind Wolf normally reaches no higher than Black Iron Tier 3, while a Field King Frog can mature between Gold and Platinum Rank 7 111.
| Method | Effect |
|---|---|
| Evolution resources | A Phantom Beast may consume special resources and transform into a different Phantom Beast, raising its potential beyond its original species limit 7. |
| Spirit Herbs and Spirit Fruits | These resources accelerate growth, shorten the path to adulthood, and can help a Phantom Beast surpass its normal average level 141. |
| Combat | Battles allow Phantom Beasts to improve their levels 141. |
| Practicing innate functions | Repeated use of a species' natural role can aid growth; Broom Imps can improve by sweeping 141. |
| Fear, resentment, or souls | Certain Ghost- and Legendary Story-type Phantom Beasts feed on fear, resentment, or souls to grow and may evolve through this process 90 433 557. |
The evolutionary requirements of Mythic-grade Phantom Beasts are unknown, as no one in the Federation is known to possess one 251.
Abilities and Traits
Innate Skills
Phantom Beasts possess species-specific innate skills rather than a universal ability set.
- Healing and dispelling — The Holy Light Dragon can heal injuries and dispel negative status effects 3.
- Stealth and assassination — Shadow Gamma can conceal itself in shadows during both day and night, then strike with high speed 4.
- Mental interference — Terror Scare Buzz frightens targets through terrifying sounds, potentially causing mental derangement or a vegetative state 221.
- Spatial movement — Spatial Mirage Spiders can escape and leap through space, create mirages, and store items in an internal space 37.
- Possession — Evil Ghost-type Phantom Beasts can possess humans or other Phantom Beasts and force them to attack allies 468 557.
- Combination — Skyfiend Flymen can merge into a single king-form Phantom Beast 690 692.
Intelligence
Intelligence varies widely. Some Phantom Beasts are gentle or cooperative, while exceptionally intelligent individuals can understand human behavior, manipulate people, and deliberately cause disasters 15 349.
- Field Frogs may help humans catch insects, while cleaner-type Phantom Beasts may sweep streets 15.
- Some intelligent Phantom Beasts are hostile because they understand the conflict between humans and their kind 349.
- Legendary Story-type Ghost Phantom Beasts are particularly feared for feeding on human fear and resentment and for their powerful area-of-effect abilities 90.
Relationship with Humans
Humans known as Beast Masters contract Phantom Beasts and command them in combat, labor, transport, and other roles. Contracted Phantom Beasts may temporarily follow another person's commands when their original master authorizes it 5 796.
- Beast Masters can use contracted Phantom Beasts to protect settlements from invasions 19 44.
- A higher bloodline can suppress weaker Phantom Beasts through instinctive fear; even low-ranked cubs may terrify stronger creatures if their bloodline is sufficiently superior 135.
- Forcefully plundered Phantom Beasts cannot be fully controlled, making such collections unstable 259.
- Some Phantom Beasts are inherently impossible to tame, including the Yin-Yang Bridge Guardian Soul Soldiers and mental-illusion entities of the Yin-Yang Bridge 772 776.
Notable Variations
| Variation | Distinguishing characteristics |
|---|---|
| Legendary Story-type | Formed from folklore, imagination, or human obsession; often possess unusual domains, fear-based growth, or reality-distorting abilities 67 90 187. |
| Ghost and Evil Ghost-type | Frequently use fear, curses, possession, or soul-devouring abilities; many originate from the Fengdu Ghost Domain 490 501. |
| Dream-type | Can move between reality and dreams, create dream domains, and transform targets within Dreamland 427 443. |
| Mechanical-type | May specialize in stealth, combat, armament, or fusion with Beast Masters 4 159. |
| Armed-type | Attach to a Beast Master as defensive armor; stronger specimens provide greater bodily coverage 66. |
| Archaeological or Ancient-type | Some descend from ancient eras and possess exceptional strength, unusual bloodlines, or specialized elemental powers 280 440. |