Transcendence (Saga of the Skolian empire)
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Transcendence refers to the elevated sense of ecstasy experienced by Aristos by causing pain to psions with high KAB ratings in the Saga of the Skolian Empire books by Catherine Asaro.
Because of the Rhon experiments, the Aristos have the need to cause pain to strong psions. The experiments removed their ability to feel compassion and replaced it with an anti-empathic desire. This transcendence is considered normal and appropriate among Aristos, highest upper class of Eubian society, while the Skolians see this aspect as horrific and akin to torture, as the psion must suffer significantly for the Aristo to experience pleasure.