HERA

"Alright, fine, I'll teach you about sigmas in the same order I learned about them in school," Hera said.

"How long ago was that."

"Shut up, I'm not that old. We'll start with the three basic concepts for any sigma.

"All sigmas have what's known as a sigma grade. These are denoted by the color of the light core that makes the sigma's crystal skeleton truly vibrant. The Grades, in order from least to most powerful, are Standard, Basic, Elementary, Decent, Grand, and Magnum, with their respective colors being: Gray, Black, Green, Blue, Magenta, and Gold. Got that?"

"I think so, although that's a lot of memorization," Zeta said.

"Maybe for a simpleton like yourself."

"Back in Greenwich, I picked up an orange cored sigma. What's that about?"

"There is one other special sigma grade, Modifications. Modifications aren't grouped with the other grades due to there permanent nature. The sigma embeds and alters the user's body, and thus the sigma cannot be released by any means unless the user dies. The upside is that the sigma does not have a Divinity requirement and can be used instantly."

"Divinity?"

"Oh, lord...All in due time, okay?"

Hera continued. "The second element all sigmas possess is a sigma score. This is a numeric value that represents an idea behind the strength of a specific sigma. Everyone in the world also has a sigma score, even if it's a flat zero, like yours. When a user employs sigma, the value of the sigma's score is added to the user's, making user scores a cumulative value of all they sigmas they have employed."

"What's your score?" Zeta asked.

She smiled wickedly. "I'm not telling, and no amount of pressure can force me to do so. If you care, figure it out yourself."

"From what I gather, a sigma score sounds like a power level. Who has the highest."

Hera shrugged. "I'm not sure. I have a few ideas of who might have it, but they can range from anywhere between a million and a billion for all I know. Sigma scores are connected to grades in one way. For each grade above Standard, an extra digit is added to the range. Standard sigma range from 1-9, for example, while Basics run from 10-99, Elementary from 100-999, and so on. As you can tell, especially with higher grade sigma users, those numbers can get really large really quickly."

"Scores are an objective measurement, then. One person can receive several thousand points from a single sigma, but he or she may still be incredibly weak," Zeta pointed out.

"You're correct. Never underestimate an opponent." She whispered beneath her breath. "Like I did with you. That being said, it's common sense to not challenge someone with a several league's larger score than yours. While not a perfect measurement, scores are an accurate indicator of strength."

She continued. "The final element to any sigma is its Type, or Types if there are multiple. Types are declared on a sigma's display, although they serve little purpose other than to classify the realm in which a sigma power resides. We are the ones who developed the concept of a focus, which means mostly employing sigmas of the same Type as often as possible. Take me for example. I'm a Mind focus. Although I only have two Mind sigmas, I have a fear type sigma as well. You aren't limited to a type, although it's practical since sigmas of the same type boost the rate of Divinity accumulation for each other."

"Huh."

"That's all you can say? I swear if you ask me about this again..."

"Don't worry. Continue."

"Ugh. Lastly, there is a specific type that does serve a purpose. Dormant. It's not really a type per se, but a classification of the way a sigma activates. Most sigmas require a vocal command of their name, as well as a gesture, in order to activate. However, Dormant sigmas require neither, as the nature of their use requires the user to be in a situation where such commands are impractical. Take Neural Fighter for instance. It's Dormant, so I don't have to scream 'Neural Fighter' every time I want to use it with a hit. I just hit, and with force of will, it works."

"So, if I were dying, a sigma that keeps me alive would have to be Dormant?"

She praised the sky. "Yes! You got something on the first try!"

"Really?"

"Shut it. I'm still talking." Hera calmed herself. "That's all the average person knows about sigmas. There function is easy to understand. It's their origins that are an absolute mystery. It baffles historians to this day."

"I see..."

Appendophobia - Fear: User can transform any single section of their body, usually a limb, into a related section of a creature or object the target fears deeply. (676)

(A) Simply outstretch the limb the user wishes to transform and wait. Has varied effects depending on the limb and the creature. Ex: Transformations of the head are much more terrifying than those of the arms or legs. Should not intentionally provide adverse effects to the user, however, this is not a guarantee. (!) May not work on a target if they do not have a tangible phobia.