Damage Mechanics
In this world, damage is categorized into two fundamental types: Physical and Magical.
Physical Damage affects the body directly, relying on a target's Physical Defense to mitigate its impact.
Magical Damage targets the soul, and its effectiveness depends on Magical Defense.
The amount of damage sustained varies depending on the target's defense. Higher defense reduces the impact of incoming attacks, and in extreme cases, it can even reflect damage if the defensive power surpasses the attack's force.
Damage Conversion: Physical ↔ Magical
Damage can be exchanged between Physical and Magical sources under specific conditions.
If a target sustains Physical Damage, they can use magic to heal their body and redirect the damage to their soul, effectively converting it into Magical Damage instead.
Likewise, Magical Damage can be transferred into Physical Damage, allowing the body to endure more external strain while sparing the soul.
However, this damage exchange ability is not passive—it requires:
Magic – The individual must possess and control magic.
Access to their soul – The person must be capable of channeling their energy effectively.
Stamina – The ability is active, meaning it consumes energy to use.
For those with Determination Souls or high LV, mastering this exchange is crucial for survival when HP is critically low. Genocidal fighters and warriors driven by Determination often use this ability to reduce incoming damage, maintaining a threatening posture in battle while fueling fear in their enemies.
Frisk & The Vessel's Weaknesses
Frisk, as a Determination Soul, possesses high resistance to Magical Damage, making their soul incredibly resilient.
However, their physical body is fragile, making them highly susceptible to Physical Damage, forcing them to rely on their Determination to compensate.
Differences Between Humans & Monsters
Monsters
Naturally attuned to magic, allowing them to excel in Magical Defense and Magic Damage output.
Their bodies are weak, making them vulnerable to Physical Attacks.
Humans
Primarily physical beings, capable of building superior Physical Defense and delivering greater Physical Damage.
Their souls are naturally resistant, but without magic, they have no access to additional defensive benefits.
However, certain special abilities and traits can bypass standard defenses entirely.
Karma (KRM) – The Defense Breaker
Karma is a rare and devastating ability that ignores both Physical and Magical Defense, making it one of the deadliest forms of damage.
It targets the dust that supports the structure of a monster's body, igniting a corrosive effect that continuously damages them over time.
It also pierces the soul, increasing the burden of LV and inflicting deep, unavoidable wounds.
Because Karma's effects are ongoing, it prevents full damage exchange, ensuring that the target continuously suffers regardless of their defenses.
Determination & Its Influence
Determination is a complex force, acting as both a magical enhancement and a catalyst for evolution.
It naturally boosts Magical Defense, Physical Damage, and Physical Defense.
All humans possess Determination, but it remains dormant until they awaken magic—either through external influence or internal realization.
Human Traits & Determination's Evolution
Each human trait is magically influenced, meaning none function independently from magic—not even Determination.
Once a human unlocks their magic, their soul begins to evolve.
With enough exposure to Determination, a slow transformation occurs, where the original soul trait begins to change.
This transformation leads to one of two distinct Determination paths:
1. "If You Can, You Have To" (Genocide Determination)
This type of Determination is associated with warriors and destroyers.
The soul undergoes a complete erasure and rebirth, forcibly removing all previous traits.
This change can occur through soul trauma, high LV, magic exposure, or prolonged battle experience.
Grants significant increases in Physical/Magical Damage and Defense, making the user a near-perfect combatant.
However, this transformation destroys emotional depth, turning the individual into a single-minded killing machine, unable to hesitate or empathize.
2. "Despite Everything, It's Still You" (Pacifist Determination)
This type of Determination is associated with those who retain their identity and moral compass.
Unlike the Genocide path, this Determination does not increase combat abilities but instead allows for:
True Refusal – The ability to reject a determined fate.
Connection to True Determination – A state where the soul remains unbreakable.
Over time, a pure Determination soul can awaken True Determination, leading to a dramatic transformation:
The soul's outer layer shatters, revealing a radiant core of pure energy.
Traits, Damage, and Defense are doubled.
Instead of LV, the soul adopts a Determination Level (DL), maintaining strength without succumbing to genocide's corruption.
Determination's Effect on Monsters
Monsters cannot naturally obtain Determination, as it is toxic to their magical essence.
Unlike humans, their bodies are entirely composed of magic, making them extremely vulnerable to Determination's instability.
If a monster absorbs Determination, it initially boosts their abilities, but the energy is too unstable, causing a chemical reaction that corrodes their magic.
This reaction results in:
Dissolution (death).
Amalgamation (twisted fusion with others).
The only exception occurs when Determination is generated naturally or carefully controlled, preventing the reaction.
UltSans – The Apex Scientist
UltSans surpasses Alphys and Gaster in intelligence, but the extent of his superiority varies depending on resources and knowledge.
Compared to Alphys, he is 200x more advanced in scientific understanding and application.
Thanks to his lab equipment and vast knowledge, he is 500x more efficient than Alphys overall.
In comparison to Gaster, however, his superiority is situational:
Due to Gaster's limited resources and knowledge gaps, UltSans outmatches him by 150x.
However, if Gaster had access to the same level of technology and equipment, he would easily surpass UltSans.
This advantage makes UltSans the foremost authority in the realm of scientific experimentation and magical research, surpassing even the greatest minds before him—unless they were given the same tools.
In the Pacifist route, UltSans will be like any fanon version, against Frisk with doubt at first.
In the Genocide route, UltSans will be the Canon-Fanon version, instantly ally of Chara, but deciding on it's way what he does.