The year 2037 marked the beginning of a new era, one that would forever alter the course of human history. It was the year the first spatial crack appeared. At first, these cracks were small and seemingly harmless, appearing randomly across the globe without any discernible pattern or purpose. Scientists, as they often do, scrambled to explain the phenomenon. Some speculated that these cracks were the result of advanced quantum experiments gone awry, while others believed they were natural anomalies in the fabric of spacetime. Yet, there were those who saw them as something far more ominous—divine retribution for the sins of mankind, a punishment from a higher power for humanity's evil doings and disregard for the natural order.
Initially, the cracks were dismissed as mere curiosities, strange but ultimately harmless. However, as time passed, they began to expand, growing larger and more unstable. What were once small fissures in the air soon transformed into gaping rifts in space itself. These rifts emitted an eerie, otherworldly glow, and their presence filled the air with a palpable sense of unease. This marked the beginning of the first wave of the apocalypse.
From these rifts emerged creatures unlike anything humanity had ever encountered. These were not the monsters of fantasy like goblins, orcs, or golems, but true abominations, beings that defied comprehension. Their forms were grotesque and alien, designed to strike primal terror into the hearts of anyone who laid eyes on them. These creatures possessed unimaginable power, capable of laying waste to entire cities with minimal effort. Mankind's most advanced weapons nuclear missiles, lasers, and even experimental energy weapons proved utterly ineffective against them. The world was plunged into chaos as governments collapsed, civilizations crumbled, and humanity teetered on the brink of extinction.
But amidst the despair, a glimmer of hope emerged. The same spatial rifts that had brought forth the monsters also began to emit a strange energy. This energy, while initially destructive, had an unexpected side effect: it awakened latent abilities in certain individuals. These awakened humans found themselves gifted with extraordinary powers superhuman strength, the ability to manipulate elements, and even control over time and space. These powers, though varied, shared a common origin: the energy from the rifts. For the first time, humanity had a means to fight back.
The awakened beings, as they came to be known, banded together to form the first line of defense against the monsters. Their battles were fierce and unrelenting, spanning nearly a century. Cities became battlegrounds, and the earth itself bore the scars of their struggles. Slowly but surely, humanity began to reclaim its lost territories. The monsters, once thought invincible, were driven back, their numbers dwindling until they were finally eradicated. The war had been won, but the cost was staggering. The earth was left in ruins, its population decimated, and its ecosystems irreparably damaged.
In the aftermath of the war, humanity faced a new challenge ensuring that such a catastrophe could never happen again. To this end, the World Generator was constructed. This monumental device, a marvel of engineering and science, encased the entire planet in a spatial lock. The spatial rifts, once symbols of despair, were sealed shut, preventing any further incursions from otherworldly beings. With the immediate threat neutralized, humanity turned its attention to rebuilding.
The post-war era saw unprecedented advancements in medicine, architecture, and technology. The energy from the rifts, once a source of destruction, was harnessed and repurposed to fuel humanity's progress. Cities were rebuilt with materials that could withstand the harshest conditions, and new technologies emerged that seemed almost magical in their capabilities. For a time, it seemed as though humanity had finally achieved a lasting peace.
But the world had changed in ways that could not be undone. The residual energy emitted by the rifts had saturated the earth's atmosphere, altering the very fabric of the planet. Over the course of a hundred years, this energy brought about terrifying changes. Weather patterns became erratic and unpredictable, with storms of unimaginable intensity ravaging the land. Natural disasters earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions became common. The planet's flora and fauna underwent drastic mutations, giving rise to new species that were both beautiful and deadly. Diseases, long thought eradicated, reemerged in more enhanced forms, spreading rapidly through the population.
These changes reshaped the earth's landscape, rendering some regions uninhabitable and forcing humanity to adapt once again. Cities were abandoned, and new settlements were built in safer, more stable areas. The human population, already decimated by the war, was further reduced by the harsh conditions. Yet, humanity endured. Contingency plans were put in place, and new technologies were developed to mitigate the effects of the changing environment.
In this new world, stability was maintained by the leadership of seven powerful families. These families, each with their own unique strengths and resources, established a world order that brought a semblance of peace to the fractured population. Under their guidance, an eight-tier ranking system was introduced to evaluate the abilities of the awakened individuals. The ranks Soldier, Knight, Viscount, Count, Duke, King, Saint, and Divine—were based on the level of foreign energy an individual possessed and their mastery over it. This system not only provided a framework for organizing humanity's defenses but also created a hierarchy that ensured order in a world that had known only chaos.