"Man is a Tool using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all "– Thomas Carlyle
Monsters, they lurk around every corner, some even wear the mask of a human. Here in Alterra humanity has fought these monsters with our lives on the line for their very existence. Monsters as large as a castle roamed these lands, unchallenged, before the humans came along. With their soul bound weapons and intricate application of magic they repelled these vile creatures. Faced with the rapid expansion of humans, the monsters responded in kind.
Rivers of blood ran on both sides until Roderick Thunder discovered Soulram, an enchanted version of wolfram, with these nigh indestructible weapons that elevated even normal knights into the mystic realm humanity regained its advantage pushing further into the unknown. But they could not know that when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back. As tougher monsters appeared, humans had to continuously evolve, they could not rely on their inherent magic as their sole offense.
With their bonded weapons after slaying many monsters some humans began awakening the soul that bound them to their chosen weapon for life. From mundane steel swords to ornate soulram claymores and spears, each weapon began to awaken its soul pushing humans towards the Apex of the foodchain.
These Apex knights are the elite of humanity, a one-man army. Some strove for power that was even beyond the Apex, diving too deep into the infernal forest. Many early apex knights were lost to this mad lust for power but the few that emerged victorious reached the true peak of humanity as they fused with the soul of their weapon. These were the first Zenith knights who stood at the pinnacle of humanity.
With their immense power peace soon came over the human world as they were oblivious to the extinction class monsters that slumbered awaiting the world to be flooded with arcane mana so that they may rise again. Roderick established the Thunder dynasty with its power firmly established in the central region. Since he had kept the secret of soulram for himself, no one opposed him as he declared himself emperor of the human race and established his own set of laws.
The other prominent zenith users each setup their clans as well. The Flamesouls were masters of the forge, their skills unmatched. The Quake family boasted the firmest defence along with a voracious spirit for construction. The Lightveils became a pillar of hope for the unfortunate and sick with their powers of healing and firm belief in a guardian deity of Humanity. The Kage clan almost seemed to vanish overnight, no one knew where they were or if they even existed. The iceshrouds prepared their walls in the north for only they were brave enough to face the cold harsh snow to protect the northern borders.
The Typhoon clan settled in the west; a mainly commercial zone due to which their battle prowess started to decline. For a moment in time, it seemed as if the world was free of its nightmare, little did they know that it was only the prelude to destruction.