Fractured Dimension

A Fractured Dimension (分史世界) is a term in Tales of Xillia 2. It represents a world with an alternate history as contrasted with the Prime Dimension (正史世界). At the core of a fractured dimension is a Divergence Catalyst.

Description
A fractured dimension is a world whose history differs from the prime dimension in some key way. The thing that differs the most about a world is a divergence catalyst, and it can be anything, from an item to a monster or even a person. In theory, the existence of a fractured dimension is harmless, but the truth is that the amount of soul energy, a necessary component of life, is fixed across all dimensions. For each fractured dimension that is created, soul energy disperses and leaves each world closer to destruction as spirits grow weaker. Additionally, there is only one Land of Canaan in all the worlds and thus only one of Origin to handle the cycle of reincarnation, so the more dimensions there are, the greater the strain on Origin. In the face of a slow death, Spirius Corporation directs its resources, in particular its Department of Dimensional Affairs, toward destroying fractured dimensions as they appear. To do so, they use the chromatus granted to the blood of the Kresnik clan to enter these dimensions and destroy the divergence catalyst, which will in turn destroy that dimension.

The truth behind the existence of fractured dimension is far more sinister. A fractured dimension is created when a chromatus bearer overuses their chromatus powers, slowly and painfully turning into a catalyst. When the transformation is complete, the chromatus bearer is taken to new fractured dimension, which represents the world they wished for the most, and lose their memories of their previous life. The divergence catalyst does not have to be the chromatus bearer, however, and as the fractured dimension changes, so too can the catalyst.

Fractured dimensions can be measured in terms of depth and deviation, where depth represents how far the dimension is from the prime and ranges from 0 to 255, while deviation is how much differs between the two, measured from 0 to 1. Entering a dimension also requires a rift, and knowing the three allows a chromatus bearer along with whoever they chose to enter the fractured dimension. Once a fractured dimension is entered, however, it cannot be exited unless the dimension itself is destroyed.

There are also a few rules to the coexistence of prime and fractured versions of the same object or person. Inside a fractured dimension, there is no issue, but inside of the prime dimension, priority is given to the prime version. If the prime version of something does not exists in the prime dimension, then the fractured version can take its place without issue. If the prime version is only temporarily away from the prime dimension, the fractured version can exist in the prime dimension, but the prime version is barred from entering the prime dimension until the fractured version leaves. In the final case where both exist in the prime dimension and then meet, the fractured version will be ejected into the abyss between dimensions. For non-living objects, this is not an issue, but for living creatures, this fate spells death in short order.

If Ludger Will Kresnik and Elle Mel Marta complete Origin's Trial, they end up using their wish to destroy all of the fractured dimensions.