Ether

Ether
神髄
Shinzui
Holou held her physical Ether
Information
Type	Conceptual Lifeform
Purpose	Defined whether that thing(god) is real or actual
Debut
Light Novel	Volume 6 (mentioned) Volume 9 (elucidated)

What is a god? What is ether? A concept that has gained an identity. A law with will. Something that could not exist; something that should not exist.

Ether (神髄(しんずい), Shinzui, or alternatively translated as the Essence/Divine Essence/Quintessence) is a materialized concept, the embodiment of a god's existence.

An ether is essentially the personification of a will or the anthropomorphization of a concept, arising due to an imbalance of power or the flow from intelligent sentient beings, or even from organic and inorganic matter. For instance, the concept of games was anthropomorphized by Riku’s imagination, while the embodiment of war emerged from collective desire for war. And thus, if the flow or the strength of feelings toward the Divine reaches a sufficient level, it becomes possible for concepts to manifest into reality, taking physical form thanks to the Spirit Circuits.

An ether’s power depends on the strength of the belief, conviction, or prayers directed toward it. If people cease to believe in an ether, it can become inactive. A notable example is the ether of the Doubt God, whose existence nearly vanished—not only did no one believe in her, but she herself began to doubt her own existence, and leading to self-negation.

Appearance

Ether exists in two distinct forms: physical ether and metaphysical ether. Physical ether takes on various forms based on how sentient beings define it. For example, Holou's physical ether manifested as a quill pen and an ink bottle, while Ocain's took the shape of the great forge of Hardenfell. Additionally, physical ether can generate its own puppet or avatar. On the other hand, metaphysical ether represents the true essence of the Old Deus. According to Einzig, it exists in a higher dimension, while Holou claims that her Ether exists in $13 + i\mathbb{R}$ variable dimensions.

It is essential to note that physical ether can be perceived by humans because it exists physically, but metaphysical ether is beyond human perception and understanding, existing only as a metaphysical concept or idea in higher complex dimensions.

List of Known Ether

Identity	Abstractly	Physically	Avatar	Name
God of War (戦神, Ikusagami) & God of Strongest/Strength (最強の神, Saikyou no Kami)	Concept of War (戦の概念, Sen no Gainen) & Concept of Strongest (最強の概念, Saikyou no Gainen)	N/A		Artosh
God of Forge (鍛神, Kajishin)	Concept of Forging (鍛の概念, Kaji no Gainen)	N/A	N/A	Ocain
God of Forest (森神, Morigami)	Concept of Nature (自然の概念, Shizen no Gainen)	N/A	N/A	Kainath
God of Play (遊戯の神, Yūgi no Kami) or God of Games (ゲームの神も, Gēmu no Kami)	Concept of Games (ゲームの概念, Gēmu no Gainen)	N/A		Tet
One True God (唯一神, Yuiitsushin) or Omnipotent and Omniscient God (全知全能の神, Zenchi Zen'nō no Kami)	Concept of Omnipotence, Omniscience (全知全能の概念, Zenchi Zen'nō no Gainen) & Concept of Absolute Supremacy (絶対支配権の概念, Zettai Shihai-ken no Gainen)	Dodecahedron-shaped device		Suniaster
God of Wisdom (誇戯おもいかねの神, Omoikane no Kami), God of Doubt (狐疑(こぎ)の神, Kogi no Kami), & God of Trust (請希(こぎ)の神, Kogi no Kami)	Concept of Doubt (狐疑の概念, Kogi no Gainen)	Quill Pen & Ink Bottle		Holou
God of Love (愛神, Aishin)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Alram
God of the Moon (月神, Tsukigami)	N/A	N/A		Xenaths

Trivia

• In Light Novel Volume 10, False ether or essence refers to the inactive ether that has been reactivated and manipulated using Spirit Arms
• Suniaster is an ether without ego. It is a physical manifestation of the concept of omnipotence, omniscience, and absolute dominion.

References