Concept: Esoteric Transformation
Esoteric Transformation is the universal term for "power-up" systems held by the various races of Risers, boosts that can help turn the tide of battle against their opponents. As they are systems, are not meant to be singular in stage, and can have successive stages to them.
It operates differently from the attributes, such that while attributes are innate to the wielder's nature, Esoteric Transformations are "external", in a way that they are unlocked mainly through training and external relics. With this in mind, they do not change the main Battlesuit the way the Semi-Unique, Unique and Transcendent Attributes do, merely changing either their external armour, or the shape and colour of their aura, or both. This is not the complete rule, however, and there are exceptions. Some Esoteric Transformations are capable of bestowing Attributes anyways.
Below are the various types of Esoteric Transformations, in alphabetic order:
Dark Aura: This esoteric transformation bestows the wielder with the ability to access multiple levels of "Dark Forms". Fittingly, this Dark Aura is used mainly by deities with strong ties to darkness, and the pre-requisites to release such a form is to possess firm ruthlessness against their foes.
Nightmare Aura: An evolution to Dark Aura, combining the Dark Aura with the Potential Unleashed transformations. It is naturally immensely more powerful than either of them combined, and gives a miasma of pure dread every time it is released.
Eight Gates: Mainly used by the Principles. This esoteric transformation involves the wielder removing innate limiters (the aforementioned "gates") within their bodies, boosting their raw energy and strength at the expense of stamina. Contrasting the Superstate which might be hereditary, anyone can use the Eight Gates as long as they are trained to handle the strain of releasing the gates. Each successive gate released further increases power at further risk of self-injury and stamina drain. It is said that the first gate releases physical limiters, the second gate unleashes one's full mental awareness, while the third gate unleashes one's full vitality.
Heavy Metal: An esoteric transformation revolving around encasing one's 'skin' in metal, or in the case of a Riser, filling a thin sheet of metal over their Battlesuits and armour, drastically improving their power and durability. The type of metal used can vary, and some of them are more powerful and durable than others. Commonly, regular metals are the weakest, while valuable metals like gold or platinum are more powerful.
Gemstone: An evolution to Heavy Metal. Instead of a metallic "skin", users encase themselves in a sheet of gem/mineral over their Battlesuits and armour. By default, the mineral skins grant more durability and power than a decent number of metallic skins. Just like its predecessor, the type of mineral used for the skin can vary, ranging from diamond to ruby, from amethyst to emerald.
Iridescent Aura: This Esoteric Transformation bestows the wielder with the ability to access "Colour Forms", forms associated with the colours of the rainbow. The power of the forms vary between colours, but it is universally agreed that the weakest of these forms is Red, while the most powerful is naturally Rainbow. Wielders of this transformation are also naturally gifted with the Crimson Awakening attribute. This type of Esoteric Transformation is unlocked through training in Aura Control, particularly Aura Concealment.
Sacred Flame Release: An evolution to the Iridescent Aura. It infuses the Iridescent Aura with flames, giving them a more flame-like form, and an improvement to their general properties.
Perfection's Edge: This Esoteric Transformation encompasses wielders who undergo multiple "imperfect" phases, before they are able to achieve their ideal, "perfect" form, like a twisted metamorphosis. Their evolution to a higher phase is unleashed mainly by the absorption of a specific entity or object. Once they have obtained that state, the data of said state can be subsequently safeguarded, still existing even after the absorbed entities or objects have been expelled.
Potential Unleashed: An Esoteric Transformation revolving around awakening one's own latent potential. Contrary to what is believed, awakening one's full potential does not necessitate that there is no more growth or potential in one's life. As potential, all-new paths of growth, can frequently grow with training, perhaps more so than the main evolution itself, potential can be perpetually re-unleashed at various points of one's life. Therefore, as with other Esoteric Transformations, this comes with multiple stages. It is oddly most potent when the wielder is a hybrid between two races.
Superstate: The most commonly-used Esoteric Transformation, a basic power-up that boosts one's raw energy and strength exponentially. Said Superstate's output can also be raised further and further, at the potential expense of stamina (unless trained). The number of stages to the Superstate can potentially be infinite. Wielders of this power-up are sometimes given the honorific of "Super" in their names.
Titan Phase Shift: Mainly used by the Elder Titans and Primordials. Normally more of mode changes than true power-ups, its normal modes include the likes of the Attack Mode (the all-rounder), the Beast Mode (prioritising range), the Armoured Mode (prioritising defense), amongst a few others. However, it does have a trump card in the form of the Founding Mode, that unites all other forms into one, on top of the power to dominate the wills of lesser Titans.
Wings-Times Release: A transformation system mainly used by higher-ranking Angels and their fallen counterparts. This transformation system involves them releasing more of their stored wings, which enhances their power and speed. By permanently sacrificing said wings, they can obtain an even further burst of power. Some Angels are known to be able to release up to 10,000 wings, possibly even a million.