u/Gunkill9999

I've been developing a manga concept called Spectralbound, and recently I've been trying to flesh out its power system more seriously.

The main source of power is Shin. Certain people can form a bond with beings called Spectres, essentially giving two souls one body.

Depending on how the Spectre manifests, an Occultist belongs to one of four main classes:

Slayer – The Spectre manifests as a weapon.
Magician – The Spectre doesn't physically manifest and the user directly performs techniques.
Outer – The Spectre manifests as a separate humanoid entity that fights alongside the user.
Feral – The user transforms into a creature based on their Spectre.

Every Spectre also has an Affinity. These start relatively simple but can evolve into more abstract concepts at higher tiers.

For example:

Darkness → Void
Space → Multiverse
Gravity → Mass
Blood → Life
Chaos → Entropy
Impossible → Paradox

The part I've been working on most recently is something called Royal Artifacts.

Every Royal Artifact exists only once and disappears after being used. It has a predetermined gift and price, and touching one tells an Occultist exactly what they would gain and lose before they decide whether to use it.

Using one also causes the user and their Spectre to permanently fuse, creating a completely unique class outside the normal four.

One example is an elixir that grants two instant tier increases and immunity to Shin Pressure, but takes away the user's humanity. The resulting fusion becomes a class called Gargoyle.

Another artifact guarantees that the user's greatest wish will eventually be fulfilled, but someone else has to be the person who fulfills it.

I'm trying to make the system increasingly conceptual at higher levels without reaching the point where every ability can just do anything.

Does this feel distinct enough from other battle manga power systems? And which part would you want explained more?

I finished planning the first 90 chapters of my manga, but I can't draw

I've been developing a battle manga called Spectralbound. I recently finished outlining the entire first major saga, which ended up being around 90 chapters.

The power system revolves around humans bonding with beings called Spectres. Depending on the bond, an Occultist becomes one of four types: Slayer, Magician, Outer or Feral.

I've gotten way more invested in this project than I originally expected, and I'd genuinely love to turn it into an actual manga someday.

The problem is: I can't draw.

I'm not expecting someone to magically volunteer to draw 90 chapters for free. I'm mainly looking for artists who might be interested in the concept, feedback on how I should approach finding a collaborator, or potentially someone interested in trying a few pages/character concepts together first.

If anyone is interested, I can share the story premise, characters, power system and some of the fights I've planned in detail.

I got recommended to create a short pitch about my manga idea, so here it is:

Spectralbound is a battle shonen set in Yggdrasil, an afterlife where humans are reborn with only fragments of their memories. There, people can form soul bonds with dangerous creatures called Spectres, allowing them to wield Shin, an energy born from determination.

The story follows four teenagers who are forced by a dictatorship to hunt Spectres, but instead earn their trust and bond with them. From there, they begin fighting against the regime while slowly uncovering the truth about Yggdrasil, the origin of Shin, and the ancient forces that shaped the world.

The main focus is on strategic battles, evolving powers, the relationships between humans and their Spectres, and the idea of creating a better world for future generations.

Hi everyone! I'm a 16-year-old writer working on a long-term battle shonen called Spectralbound. I'd love to hear honest feedback on the concept.

The Premise

When humans die, they don't disappear. Instead, they awaken in a massive afterlife world called Yggdrasil, remembering only their best memories ,worst memories, and the way they died.

Yggdrasil isn't heaven or hell. It's a living world similar to ours divided into seven increasingly dangerous layers, where a spiritual force called Shin Pressure grows stronger the farther you travel.

The Power System

Humans can form a soul bond with intelligent creatures called Spectres. Once bonded, two souls share one body, allowing the human to use Shin, a spiritual energy fueled by determination.

There are four main combat styles:

Slayer – fights using their Spectre as a living weapon, specializing in duels, mobility and mounted combat.

Magician – channels almost all Shin directly into powerful spells and restoration magic.

Outer – manifests their Spectre beside them as a humanoid partner, fighting together.

Feral – transforms into their Spectre, becoming a powerful beast with incredible physical abilities.

Each Spectre also has an elemental affinity (Fire, Water, Blood, Time, Gravity, etc.), which evolves into stronger forms as the user grows.

The Story

For now i only have one mega arc,

The story follows four strangers who got reincarnated in Yggdrasil and are forced to hunt Spectres by a brutal dictatorship. Refusing to kill them, they instead earn the Spectres' trust and form soul bonds. After that they team up to overthrow the regime to save the first layer.

I'm still developing the characters and refining the story, so I'd really appreciate any honest criticism or suggestions!

Thanks for reading!