It happened fifteen years ago when a meteor from deep space crashed into the planet. Upon impact, it release an unknown substance into the air. Briefly, it seemed the whole world became overcast.

Torrential rains soon followed along with other disasters. Earthquakes, flash floods, wild fires, it was as though the world itself was in panic. As though it were the only one who knew what was coming and was trying to warn the people who were too ignorant to understand.

As the disasters died down, societies around the world began to repair the damage and care for the injured. Then, the symptoms began. People began demonstrating odd mutations and transformations.

These individuals were quarantined and the most logical conclusion people initially came to was that it was some sort of extraterrestrial virus brought to their world by the meteor. Attempts to 'cure the disease' were soon brought to a stop, however, as humans were not the only ones 'infected' but all life.

Plants demonstrated similar changes, but animals received the worst of it. Transforming into horrible monsters, human civilization found themselves besieged. Though not helpless, the suddenness of the attacks and number caused immense panic and confusion. World leaders found themselves hard-pressed to react to all these happenings.

Three years after the meteor struck was when a ray of light first appeared. One of the 'infected' demonstrated strange powers and vanquished an attacking monster. When military forces arrived and found the scene. They brought the individual in for study. Similar such cases then began appearing around the world.

Five years after the meteor hit, progress was made in understanding the 'disease'. During this time, governments had switched some focus from military and law enforcement to combat the monsters back to researching the cause of all this. What was discovered was that something had been added to the world's atmosphere.

Studies of the original meteor proved impossible due to how inhospitable the area around it had become. Due to the disasters and monster attacks, people did not have time to invest in investigating it. By the time they could try, the surrounding area had proven too hazardous. The electromagnetic field around the meteor was in disarray - causing severe weather, technological failures, and other phenomenon. Furthermore, the surrounding lifeforms demonstrated extreme mutations that filled the area with monsters far more dangerous than any other.

However, the oddities surrounding the meteor themself proved to support the theory that the meteor was the source and cause of everything. It had seemingly released something into the atmosphere that also infected all living things on the planet. Study of what exactly this was proved difficult but through observation of those with abilities, some progress was made.

Labeling it as 'EX Particles', science determined that these microscopic anomalies attached themselves to organic matter and brought about great changes in them. Plants - though susceptible - demonstrated limited mutations while animals seemed to have a much higher 'affinity' with the particles that led to much more extreme mutations into EX-beasts.

Humans, however, had the most unique reactions. Studying the differences between an Ability Holder - or EX-human - and an EX-beast led to the conclusion that the particles had some sort of psychic element. This was used to explain the limited mutations in plant life and the more 'controlled' mutations in humans. Plants had no mind and humans were capable of sentient thought. Animals may have had intelligence, but they lacked conscious thought which led to the same power now possessed by humans to instead turn them into berserk monsters.

What made humans so different from EX-beasts was that they demonstrated the ability to control EX particles either internally or externally - sometimes both. Study into the different ways these abilities took form led to the creation of a method to categorize these abilities. There were three areas of classification. Whether they controlled EX particles within their own body (internal), outside their own body (external), or both (dual). Whether the ability was a physical part of their body (parasite), granted them some form of control of something around them (infection), or manifested as a separate entity they could control (subordinate). And whether the inherent 'nature' of the ability was to attack those with EX particles (predator), track EX particles (stalker), or enhance the effect of EX particles (support).

This newfound understanding into the nature of the changes brought upon the world led to humans moving back toward regaining control of it. It was not all smooth sailing, however. There was some degree of societal collapse. Fear, hatred, rejection, panic, loss, and other negative emotions led to some areas ostracizing Ability Holders. Other areas embraced and celebrated them as heroes who fought back against the new adversities the world faced.

Ten years since the meteor hit, the world had begun to stabilize once again.

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Even five years later, tension between humans and EX-humans could still run high in some areas. The southern United States were among those. It became part of their culture to wear revealing clothes. This was due to how the powers of these Ability Holders had some manner of external representation. Leaving as much skin exposed as possible served as a means of proving you were human and covering up often led to suspicion, discrimination, and abuse.

Matt Levison was no exception in this. If anything, he wore as little as possible to present himself as human almost to the point of paranoia. Typically only wearing a small pair of shorts and gloves, he was physically fit and generally well-liked. However, his friendly and kind personality hid the scared and genuinely paranoid man he really was.

Matt was ten-years-old when the rain cited as being the initial distribution of EX particles fifteen years ago occurred. He can still remember watching the rain from inside his house and curiously putting his hand out into it. He still remembers how his hand began to tingle and burn before pulling it out of the rain. In the following days, his skin began to peel off - revealing a metallic layer underneath. His parents took him to a hospital, and soon after, he was quarantined along with the other 'infected'.

Things remained that way for four years. Matt's parents were still able to visit him and the state made sure he was educated and healthy when not poking and prodding him. Once the discovery of EX particles became known and his mutation was studied, he was allowed to go home.

Unfortunately, the family's happy reunion was short lived. His home town had suffered at the hands of monsters and the people he once considered family were not welcoming to let 'a monster in the form of someone they use to know' anywhere near them. His parents refused to get rid of him or let them harm him, and that led to their deaths.

Pursued by the angry mob, Matt fled. He did not know what direction he was going, he just needed to get away. Due to his glaring golden metallic hand and crimson finger tips, others were just as unwilling to help him or even hostile. Eventually stealing some cloth to cover his hand, he was able to hitchhike his way to a city in another state. Using a convenient story of losing his family to monsters - or EX-beasts -, he was able to receive support and get his feet on the ground.

Since then, Matt had lived his life. The only thing he had to be careful of was to keep his hand covered. Besides being a little tougher than actual skin and claws slightly sharper than normal nails, it did not seem to possess any particular ability. This was natural. The powers of Ability Holders did not activate on their own but seemed to need to be awakened through some sort of basic action that tied into its innate nature. Once awakened, the power could then continue to evolve and grow by continuing this action. In this way, Ability Holders were divided into different levels of power based on how evolved their power was.

Matt had no idea what it would take to awaken his ability and he did not want to know. If it awakened it would be harder or even impossible to hide. He just wanted to live a normal life. But, like everything else in his life, it was not to be.

The government had tested his ability before letting him go. There was a record of it. And two years ago, there was a break-in where some files relating to Ability Holders were stolen. It was the work of an anti-EX hate group - borderline terrorist group - calling themselves Anti-EX who effectively swore death upon anything having to do with EX particles. EX-beasts, EX-humans, sciences relating to the particles, etc. Do to how broad their goals were, the group found themselves mixed or affiliated with other hate groups.

This led to now as Matt was maneuvering his way around a parking garage on the run from an Anti-EX member. The group had distributed copies of the files to its members as basically a 'if you see these people, kill them' list. And unfortunately, he was among them. So, when this seemingly normal businessman saw Matt walking down the street, he immediately followed him.

People like Matt were the easiest prey for Anti-EX members for one simple fact. Not only were they typically weak, all they had to do was threaten to expose them and they would go along with anything. Namely, agree to follow someone who was clearly planning their murder to an isolated location.

"Come out, freak!"

To Matt's benefit, his pursuer did not have any sort of weapon on him due to the spur of the moment decision to lead him here. He tried to find something on the way here he could use but was unsuccessful. A tie? A belt? This was all he had on him. Still, he was doing what he viewed as a public service and would not be deterred. This was why he spent every other day except Sunday at the gym after work. He would use his bare hands if he had to.

Conversely, Matt was not in a good position. Sandals did not make good running away shoes. Furthermore, his tanned, muscular physique may have given the impression of a strong fighter, but he actively avoided conflict. Anytime it seemed things would get physical or even just a heated argument, his hand started burning. He was not sure what it meant, but he would always take it as a sign he needed to find a way out.

"There you are," the businessman - Xavier Trails - shouted as he spotted Matt's short, dirty blonde hair and green eyes poke out from behind a sedan.

Seeing Xavier running towards him, Matt ran deeper into the parking garage.

Eventually, Matt reached the roof. No where to run, he turned to face his pursuer. "Why are you doing this? I'm just trying to live my life!"

"You freaks shouldn't have a life! If it weren't for you none of this would have ever happened!"

"How is any of this our fault!? We're victims of the EX particles like everyone else."

"Shut up! It's because of you freaks my parents were killed. Its because of you my friends were killed. All you EXs are just carriers of a disease. You'll wind up taking us out if we don't take you out first."

Matt opened his mouth to try continuing to reason with Xavier, but the man rushed at him. Surprised, Matt was unable to react as Xavier tackled him to the ground. Throwing punch after punch, Matt tried to shield his head but this left the rest of his body exposed.

"Please! Listen to me!" Matt tried to grab Xavier's arms to stop the barrage - slightly struggling to hold him.

"You have nothing I want to hear!" Pulling his arm back, Xavier yanked his arm out of Matt's grasp. Taking the opportunity as Matt was caught off guard, Xavier threw a punch at Matt's head - disorienting him. Xavier was then able to pull his other arm free and resume beating at Matt's now unguarded head.

Injured and unable to focus, Matt lashed out and tried to push Xavier off him. However, the hand he tried to push with was the same one he tried to keep covered. Having always avoided conflict, Matt did not know but the tips of his fingers could become more claw-like if needed. His sudden action triggered just such a reaction in it as his fingertips shifted - becoming longer, sharper and cutting through the thin glove covering them.

In the ensuing struggle of Matt trying to push Xavier off of him and Xavier forcing his 'dirty freak' hand away from him. Matt's newfound claws accidentally cut Xavier's neck. The sudden pain caused Xavier to pause and cover the injury. However, Matt did not notice this, only that Xavier had paused his assault. Seeing it as his chance to try and slip away, he swiped his hand at the other man. Unfortunately, unaware of his claws, his attack did more than anticipated.

Matt inadvertently clawed off a portion of Xavier's face. A small ejection of blood from the sudden injury splashed onto Matt's face. The wet sensation and iron taste from some of it getting in his mouth caused him to stop and realize what he had done.

Blood running down his face, Xavier stopped. He raised his hand from his neck to his face in some attempt to check the damage, but soon fell over unconscious.

Matt scurried out and away from the other man. Moving back until he hit a wall, Matt stared horrified at what he had done. Paralyzed by fear and panic, he could only watch as a small pool of blood formed around Xavier's head.

He did not know how long he spent staring at his assailant, but once Matt collected himself - though still battered and panicked over what to do - he started moving closer to check on Xavier. Seeing that he did not seem to be breathing, Matt reached out to him.

"Aaahg!" Suddenly, Matt's metallic hand began to burn. Pulling himself back from Xavier, he cradled his hand. He then felt as though he could hear a voice in his head.

"Host has successfully taken another life. Begin awakening."

Matt looked at his hand and his eyes widened in horror. His skin seemed to be peeling off as the gold, metallic flesh of his hand inched upward from his wrist to half way up his forearm. His red fingertips changed into permanent razor claws. From his knuckles, metallic, red spikes jutted out through the golden flesh.

"Designation [Murder Hand] is now online."