[P.S: This is going to be a very long novel, filled with twists and turns, so brace yourselves. The true journey of our protagonist begins in the later chapters, likely around the fifth volume, specifically chapters 80 to 100. For all those who stick around, I promise you won't regret it].
The Terium Nexus
A facility created to contain soon-to-be frontier, a potential gem in the ongoing war.
...
It all began a few decades ago. Back then, Earth was no longer habitable. Climate change had ravaged the planet, the ozone layer was completely depleted, and the most basic necessity—oxygen—was in short supply. With the ozone layer destroyed, plants and trees withered away, either burning up in the relentless heat or drying out due to the lack of moisture.
Oxygen became a precious commodity, accessible only to the wealthy. The Earth's population began to dwindle at an alarming rate. Though not directly affected, the governments of various nations across multiple continents united to find a solution. At the current rate, humanity faced extinction.
During an exploration of Mars as a potential habitat, humans stumbled upon something extraordinary: technology far beyond their understanding. This discovery fueled rumors of intelligent alien beings at the top of the cosmic food chain. However, further exploration yielded no trace of these beings.
Had they vanished? Or, like the dinosaurs, had they once existed?
These questions only intensified humanity's thirst for knowledge. Over time, researchers analyzed the device's true purpose: an atomic molecular duplication tool. Unlike a portal that transports a person from one place to another, this device could break down a subject's structure at the molecular level and replicate that data in another location.
After numerous trials and errors, they determined that the device had a fixed location—presumably its true origin. A year of further research culminated in a group of explorers volunteering as test subjects for the sake of humanity. The AMD (Atomic Molecular Duplicator) was employed on them.
Initially apprehensive, they wondered what awaited them on the other side. Yet, upon arrival, they were astonished to find an entirely new planet, strikingly similar to Earth—or at least, that's how it appeared. They survived on this planet for a month and a half, confirming its habitability. The essentials for human existence were present: an intact ozone layer, oxygen, seemingly edible fruits, and, most importantly, water. On Earth, water had evaporated to such an extent that it was now as valuable as gold.
Delighted by this discovery, they returned to Earth bearing good news. Humanity was ecstatic at the prospect of a new world without threats. It felt almost too good to be true—and indeed, it was. Despite this apparent paradise, one question loomed: who had created this technology? It couldn't have appeared out of nowhere; there had to be an origin, a mastermind behind it.
But time was of the essence. Humanity was on its last straw. More than half the world's population had disappeared, and there was no time to waste. It was either venture forth and confront whatever challenges lay ahead or perish here, as even the affluent class found survival increasingly difficult.
Within a year, what remained of humanity migrated to the new world to start anew. Initially, there seemed to be no threats they couldn't handle. However, over time, monstrous beings that defied the laws of nature began to emerge—creatures that should only exist in the pages of fantasy books. The horror of these encounters made it clear that conventional weapons, including nuclear arms, were useless against these beasts. Desperation set in.
Were they truly facing extinction once again?
One day, a man named Rayan Trennel discovered creatures known as elves. This revelation shocked humanity, considering that no one ever believed these fictional beings could exist. However, Rayan's encounter with the elves was the only one humans had during their stay. Were the elves merely elusive, or was there something more sinister at play?
The elf named Yemen taught Rayan the rules of this new world, including how to awaken an affinity to an element. With this newfound power, humanity began to see a glimmer of hope. Ten years passed in a blur, and by then, the manipulation of mana had become commonplace; in fact, it was considered strange for someone not to use it. With this power, humanity once again rose to the top of the food chain.
However, this newfound ascendancy came with a terrible revelation: they were merely being bred to be slaughtered. A terrifyingly powerful being kept the elves hidden for years. One day, Yemen vanished without a trace. No one knew where he had gone or how to find him. His only message to humanity was to be prepared; they were yet to face the worst.
As it turned out, the elves were the ones who left the device on Mars. It was all an elaborate scheme to lure humans to this planet, as they themselves were losing the battle against unknown creatures. Intentionally, they placed the receiver in a remote corner of the planet, hidden until they deemed humans worthy. Now that magic had become commonplace, that time had come.
The elves' intentions remained unclear until humanity encountered the creatures known as Tradaqs. These beings had humanoid-like forms but were unlike anything humans had ever encountered. Covered in a distinct type of scale akin to armor, they were either white or dark gray, rendering them nearly impenetrable. They lacked discernible eyes, and their mouths were filled with teeth resembling a vortex, while their limbs ended in three terrifyingly sharp claws. They were a threat straight out of a horror movie script.