Hi everyone.
Before we jump into the story, let's talk about the world for a bit. Some of this might contain minor spoilers, so if you want to go in completely blind, feel free to skip this. But if you're the type who likes to understand the rules before the game starts, this is for you.
I'll keep it simple. No complicated terminology. Just the basics you need to know.
•°THE WORLD•°
So, here's the situation. About three hundred years ago, dimensional rifts started opening up all over Earth. No warning. No explanation. Just tears in reality that let something through.
The Swarm.
That's what people call them. Alien creatures that came through those rifts and decided humanity looked like a good snack. They're not mindless monsters, though. They're organized. They adapt. They learn. And they nearly wiped humans out.
Keyword: nearly.
Humanity survived, but just barely. Most of the planet is uninhabitable now. The areas between the cities, the places where the Swarm hit hardest, became known as the Outlands. Corrupted wasteland where nothing normal can survive.
What's left of humanity lives in fortress cities called Bastions.
•°BASTIONS•°
Think of Bastions as humanity's last stand. Massive walled cities, each one built to withstand Swarm attacks. Walls a hundred feet high. Defensive grids powered by Spark reactors. Military checkpoints at every gate.
There are currently twelve Bastions scattered across what used to be different continents. Each one houses anywhere from a few hundred thousand to several million people, depending on size and resources.
Life inside the Bastions is... complicated. You've got the inner districts where the wealthy and powerful live. Clean streets. Reliable electricity. All the comforts you'd expect from civilization.
Then you've got the outer districts. That's where most people live. Cramped. Rationed resources. You make do with what you can get.
And outside the walls? That's the Outlands. You don't go out there unless you're Awakened, desperate, or stupid. Sometimes all three.
•°THE POWER SYSTEM: SPARKS•°
Here's where it gets interesting.
After the Swarm invasion, some people started developing abilities. Superhuman powers that let them fight back. Nobody knows exactly why it happens, but the leading theory is that exposure to the dimensional rifts triggered something in human biology.
These abilities are called Sparks.
Not everyone can awaken a Spark. It's maybe five percent of the population. And even among those who do awaken, there's a massive difference in power levels.
That's where Generations come in.
Think of Generations like tiers in a video game. They're not about bloodline or family heritage. They're about what kind of ability you have and how it manifests.
•°First Generation Awakened:•°
This is the most common type. About sixty percent of all Awakened fall into this category.
First Gens have a single, straightforward ability. Fire manipulation. Enhanced strength. Ice generation. You get the idea. One power. Clean and simple.
They're effective, but limited. A First Gen fire user can throw fireballs and create flames. That's it. They can't do anything else with their Spark.
•°Second Generation Awakened:•°
About thirty percent of Awakened are Second Gen.
Second Gens have two abilities that work together. Usually a primary power and a secondary enhancement. For example, fire manipulation plus enhanced speed. Or ice generation plus increased durability.
The two abilities complement each other, making Second Gens more versatile than First Gens. They can adapt to different situations better.
•°Third Generation Awakened:•°
Now we're getting into the rare stuff. Only about nine percent of Awakened are Third Gen.
Third Gens don't just have two abilities. They have something unique. Either a fusion of multiple powers into something entirely new, or an ability that doesn't fit normal classifications.
Think of it like this: a First Gen has fire. A Second Gen has fire plus something else. But a Third Gen might have plasma, which is fire and electricity fused together into something beyond either one.
These are your heavy hitters. Your Srank heroes. The people who make a real difference in major battles.
•°Fourth Generation Awakened:•°
Less than one percent. So rare that most people don't even believe they exist.
Fourth Gens are... different. They don't follow the normal rules. Their abilities work on entirely different principles. Sometimes they have systems or interfaces that other Awakened don't. Sometimes their powers are so unique that they can't be properly classified.
Our main character? He's Fourth Gen.
•°BEASTS VS SWARM•°
Quick clarification because people mix these up.
•°The Swarm:•° The aliens that came through the rifts. Organized. Intelligent. They build nests, coordinate attacks, and actively try to wipe out humanity. They're the main threat.
•°Mutated Beasts:•° Earth animals that were changed by exposure to the Swarm's presence or the dimensional energy from the rifts. Things like wolves with chitinous armor or bears with metallike fur. They're dangerous, but they're not trying to exterminate humanity. They're just animals trying to survive in a world that's gone wrong.
Hunters go after mutated beasts because they drop valuable materials. Beast cores, pelts, claws. Stuff that can be sold in the cities for good money.
The Swarm? You only fight the Swarm if you're military, part of a Hero Guild, or you've got a death wish.
•°FINAL NOTES•°
That's the basics. The world is dangerous. Humanity is hanging on by its fingernails. Power matters more than almost anything else.
And somewhere in this world, our main character just woke up in a body that wasn't supposed to matter.
With a system that shouldn't exist.
In a world he created but can no longer fully control.
This is going to be fun.
Welcome to the AUTHOR'S POV.
Let's see how this plays out.