Infinity

The Infinity (百万世界, Hyakuman Sekai, Million Worlds) is the term used to describe the collection of infinite parallel worlds that link the Suikoden series together following Suikoden V, though references to the concept have existed since Suikoden II. It is a key plot point in Suikoden Tierkreis and Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki.

Information
The Infinity is described as the infinite number of parallel worlds that exist in the overall cosmology. The worlds can both be extremely similar when compared to one another or incredibly disparate. Overall, there can be said to be no universal recurring element.

Even the similarly infinite concept of the One King did not reach every world in the Infinity simultaneously, although if left unimpeded, would have been his ultimate goal. Meanwhile, the 108 Stars, a seemingly universal concept, has not been seen in a handful of worlds, though this may be due to a lack of hard information. Humans are also exceedingly common, but not universal.

Contact between worlds of the Infinity is extremely rare. In the World of Suikoden I-V, the Gate Rune seemed to have this ability. Dragons can also seemingly open paths to their own world in extreme circumstances. Powerful magicians such as Warlock and Simeon also could open doors to other worlds given enough time and equipment.

In other branches of the Infinity, Gateways and Corridors existed, maintained and used by the Wanderers. This made travel between Gateways in other worlds a mostly trivial matter. However, this was apparently tied intrinsically to the power of the One King and was rendered inoperable after his defeat.

Infinity as Causality Paradox Resolution
Zephon uses the Infinity to explain the purpose and effects of time travel to the hero and Myra. As traveling back in time to change the present removes the very impetus to travel back in time in the first place (e.g. traveling in time to save someone's life in the past means they were always alive, so you had no reason to travel back to save their life, which means they would have died, which means you would travel back, which means etc.), Zephon posits that changing the past results in worlds of the Infinity splitting further in order to preserve causality.

In this scenario, the Era Trees are presented as branches of the Infinity itself, with the True Era Tree being the actual Infinity. With the power of the 108 Stars, causality is also severed between the three time periods linked by the Era Trees, allowing each era to develop on its own path without interfering with the other at all.

Worlds of the Infinity
Compared to the concept of infinity, the number of worlds within the Infinity we have seen is quite low. However, there has still been several examples of parallel worlds in the series.


 * World of Suikoden I-V A world seemingly unique in having its existence tied to runes, with the 27 True Runes being regarded as the source of all things in the world with wars often breaking out over their fearsome power.


 * World of Wings and Scales This is the world that dragons originate from. Although dragons are seen in other worlds, this world appears to be their origin point. Nash Latkje and Futch would briefly glimpse this world during an adventure in Harmonia.


 * Yohn's World (ョーンの住む世界, Yōn no sumu sekai) Yohn was a humanoid of a race not seen in the World of Suikoden I-V who was brought from her world, alongside the Giant Tree, by Warlock's experiments in Middleport.


 * World of Suikoden Tierkreis This world is one of many that holds a True Chronicle and also one of many that was subjected to world fusion as part of the designs of the One King. 12 other worlds of the Infinity were fused to it.


 * Marcia?'s World A world highly similar to the World of Suikoden Tierkreis that also dealt with the 12 world fusions of the One King. It had limited contact with other worlds thanks to the use of Gateways. Named after Marica?, the Tenkai Star of that world.


 * Atrie's World A world not dissimilar to the World of Suikoden Tierkreis that also dealt with the 12 world fusions of the One King. It had limited contact with other worlds thanks to the use of Gateways. Named after Atrie, the Tenkai Star of that world.


 * World of Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki Another isolated world of the Infinity. This world was dominated by the threat of the Teras Pharma and the oppressive Holy Empire of Ionia.

Former Worlds of the Infinity
Alongside those worlds already noted above, the worlds that were the victims of world fusion, destroyed and fused to another world in turn, were once their own world of the Infinity. We know of 12 of these worlds, fused to the World of Suikoden Tierkreis.

Many of these worlds in turn had world fusions performed upon them, especially those who had analogues to the Order of the One True Way operating on them.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Tatau Council The home world of the Scribe people and the 1st world fusion to occur on the World of Suikoden Tierkreis.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Ancient Covenant The home world of what would become the Magedom of Janam.


 * World of the Chronicle of Fierce Regalia The home world of what would become the United Kingdom of Ritterschild.


 * World of the Chronicle of Noble Steel The home world of the Auster Folk.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Cerulean Flux The home world of the Porpos-kin.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Sacred Twin Blades The home world of what would become the Kingdom of Astrasia.


 * World of the Chronicle of Endless Travels The home world of the Wanderers.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Shining Legacy The home world of the hero and the 8th world fusion to occur. This world was shown in more detail in the visual novel Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Hoshikuzu no Shiro.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Furious Roar The home world of the Furious Roar and the 9th world fusion to occur.


 * World of the Chronicle of Boundless Amber The 10th world fusion to occur, which created the Janam Desert.


 * World of the Chronicle of Resonant Horror The 11th world fusion to occur, which created the region of Rarohenga.


 * World of the Chronicle of the Peaceful End The 12th world fusion to occur, which brought the coming of the One King.

Other Worlds of the Infinity
The multiplayer option in Suikoden Tierkreis, wherein you can send members of your force away to perform unique missions in other players games, and receive them in turn, implies an infinite number of worlds in near synchrony with the World of Suikoden Tierkreis.