Aberrant

Biodata

Power Progression

Aberrants advance through the same tier system used by Awakened and Calamities. These are documented examples, not a fixed progression shared by every Aberrant 9.

Background

Aberrants retain a human origin but wield Calamity-sequence powers. Some, including Jiang Mian, can live among Awakened while concealing their condition. Their abilities can alter both body and mind, and advancement carries a risk of losing control or undergoing Calamity Transformation 15 53 106 198.

Suppressors, also called Inhibitors, help Aberrants manage their condition, but external aid cannot guarantee control of the Will of Calamity during advancement to the Sixth-tier. Jiang Mian obtains supplies through black-market contacts; an Independent Regiment of selected Aberrants receives Suppressors and wears armor designed to lock its joints if the wearer goes berserk or attacks allies 47 56 347 366.

Appearance

Aberrant traits vary by individual and path; they do not follow one uniform appearance 367.

• [Cataclysm] traits: Jiang Mian can display dragon horns, a tail, scales near her eyes, and altered eyes 356 426 428.
• [Chaos] traits: Aberrants on this path may develop distorted flesh or tentacles, though Ye Chenyang draws notice while posing as one because he retains an ordinary human appearance 367.
• Concealed traits: Jiang Mian initially has no visible abnormality beyond changes to her heart, allowing her to hide her condition 15.

Abilities & Skills

Sequence abilities

An Aberrant's skills depend on their sequence and tier. Advancement can strengthen an existing skill and grant a new one 9 16.

• Jiang Mian's early fire skill lets her mark a target as fuel; its upgraded form has greater range and controllable flames 6 16.
• Sequence 63, [Mist Concealment], suppresses the user's detectable aura and gains its core mistification skill at the Third-tier 73.
• Liu Mu uses [Shadow Rope] to restrain targets and [Shadow Mist] to isolate them 31.

Elemental power

High-ranking Elemental-path abilities can draw on surrounding elements. Emotional extremes may trigger a powerful but difficult-to-control Elemental Burst; the context distinguishes Aberrants' difficulty with such power from Calamities' natural capacity to withstand it 17.

Mutation and transformation

Abilities can gradually change an Aberrant's body and self-perception. Calamity Transformation may follow a loss of control or a failed advancement, as with the Bone Manipulator who becomes a Head Spider and Xu Qing's husband, who transforms while advancing to the Sixth-tier 56 106 179 450.

Equipment / Items

• Suppressors / Inhibitors — supplies used to help manage an Aberrant's condition; they do not guarantee safety during advancement 47 56 366.
• Mutated or Aberrant remains — weapons and tools made from Calamity-derived materials, including Sluggish Shadow and Chaos Curtain 83.
• Independent Regiment powered armor — improves mobility and protection but can immobilize a wearer who goes berserk or attacks allied troops 347.

Society and Treatment

• Mutual aid: Xu Qing's Patients' Mutual Aid Society manages Aberrants and helps guard a city's underground pipelines against infiltrating Calamities. In return, authorities provide a channel for support, including free Suppressors 450.
• Military service: An Independent Regiment recruits high-sequence Aberrants and talented criminals. Members can earn honorary ranks and favorable treatment through service 347.
• Exploitation: The Black Bone Gang traffics Aberrant organs for use as Calamity-material substitutes or in dangerous transplant experiments 360.
• Discrimination: Hostility persists even where authorities recognize Aberrants as citizens. Commander Hu Zhihui advocates purging them and targets those in District 171 426 427 428.