Seven years ago, the world stood still. Beneath the vast black canvas of the night sky, an asteroid of incomprehensible size hurtled toward Earth. Its mass dwarfed any celestial body humanity had ever observed up close, promising certain doom if it made contact with the planet. Across every continent, fear rippled like a tidal wave. Governments scrambled, scientists worked frantically, and ordinary citizens watched in helpless anticipation as the countdown to impact began.
In a desperate attempt to save humanity, every nation pooled their resources. The most advanced rockets, machinery, and weaponry were aimed skyward. It was a marvel of human collaboration and ingenuity. On the day of the asteroid's arrival, billions held their breath as the sky was filled with fiery trails of missiles and energy beams striking the colossal rock. After hours of bombardment, the asteroid shattered into countless fragments.
A global cheer erupted. The crisis seemed averted. Little did humanity know, the nightmare had only begun.
When the asteroid broke apart, it released a stunning spectacle. The fragments were unlike anything anyone had expected. Instead of cold, lifeless stone, the asteroid's interior was a massive crystalline structure glowing with an eerie blue luminescence. The fragments rained down, lighting up the skies like shooting stars.
At first, people marveled at the beauty. The crystalline shards were mesmerizing, scattered across every corner of the planet. Some landed in oceans, some in deserts, and others embedded themselves deep in forests and mountains. As days passed, celebrations filled the streets. Humanity believed it had narrowly escaped extinction.
But the beauty concealed horror. The crystalline fragments contained an energy unlike anything known to science—wild, untamed, and volatile. It didn't take long for nature to respond. Animals that ingested even the tiniest shards began to mutate. Birds grew to monstrous sizes with razor-sharp wings; predators became larger, faster, and more vicious; even harmless herbivores turned into grotesque abominations of muscle and teeth.
Entire ecosystems were thrown into chaos. Forests became hunting grounds for monstrosities, cities were attacked by giant beasts, and oceans churned with horrors from the deep. Humanity's survival was no longer assured.
Faced with this unprecedented threat, humanity turned its attention to the source of the chaos: the blue crystals. Initially, scientists attempted to study the fragments, but their efforts were met with disaster. Raw crystals were unstable, and attempts to harness their energy often resulted in violent explosions. Worse still, when humans consumed the crystals in their natural state, their bodies couldn't handle the surge of wild energy. They either perished instantly or were torn apart from within.
It seemed hopeless—until a breakthrough was made. By refining the raw crystals into a more stable form, scientists discovered they could create "crystal pills." These pills contained just enough energy to interact safely with human physiology. When consumed, they unlocked latent potential within the human body, granting extraordinary abilities.
The process was unpredictable. Each individual reacted differently to the crystal pills. Some gained superhuman strength, others developed heightened senses, while a rare few could manipulate elements like fire or water. A comprehensive list of powers was compiled, and soon, humanity had a new class of individuals: Warriors.
The emergence of warriors turned the tide of the battle against the mutated beasts. Armed with their newfound powers, these individuals fought back, reclaiming territory and protecting human settlements. But the war was far from over.
Despite their progress, humanity faced a grim reality. The sheer volume of blue crystals scattered across the Earth meant that there would always be more beasts. While warriors could grow stronger by consuming more refined pills, the crystals themselves were a finite resource.
Wariors were dispatched to track down and collect the fragments. These Wariors discovered something shocking: the beasts that consumed the crystals often carried fragments within their bodies. By killing these creatures and extracting the crystals, humans could recycle the resource. This revelation sparked a brutal cycle of violence—humans hunted beasts for their crystals, and in turn, beasts hunted humans.
However, not all crystals were equal. Larger shards contained far more energy, and the creatures that consumed them became unimaginably powerful. These "apex beasts" were nearly invincible, even to the most experienced warriors. For humanity, these creatures represented both a threat and an opportunity. If a warrior could kill an apex beast and claim its crystal, they would gain a massive boost in power and become strong beyond comprehension.
The emergence of crystal pills also led to the rise of a new economy. Governments took control of the refining process, ensuring that the production and distribution of pills were tightly regulated. Warriors were compensated for their efforts through a reward system: the stronger the beast they killed, the greater their payout in pills.
This system ensured a steady supply of warriors but also created a bottleneck. Crystals were incredibly expensive to refine, and not every fragment was suitable for human use. To make matters worse, the demand for crystals extended beyond warriors. Scientists had discovered that the energy within the fragments could be harnessed for other purposes.
Crystals became a replacement for traditional fuels, powering vehicles, weapons, and even entire cities. The same energy that mutated beasts and strengthened warriors now drove humanity's technological advancements. This dual use created fierce competition. While warriors demanded more pills to grow stronger, governments prioritized infrastructure and weaponry, leaving only a fraction of the crystals for refinement.
Seven years passed, and the war against the beasts showed no signs of ending. Each year, more warriors were recruited to join the fight. Training academies were established, and annual warrior exams became a global event. Young men and women from all walks of life aspired to become warriors, driven by a mixture of patriotism, desperation, and the promise of power.
Among the hopefuls was Astral, a young man determined to rise above his circumstances. For Astral, this year's warrior exam was not just an opportunity—it was his only chance to change his life.
As he gazed at the distant horizon, where the remnants of the shattered asteroid still glowed faintly in the sky, Astral clenched his fists. The world was harsh, brutal, and unforgiving, but he had made up his mind. He would become a warrior, no matter the cost.