*The Asteroid Impact and the Age of Ethi-19*
In 2027, a colossal asteroid, its rugged, coal-black surface glinting in sunlight, hurtled toward Earth at alarming speeds. NAASA, the world's unified space agency, joined forces to deflect the impending doom, managing to destroy only half of the behemoth. The remaining half inexorably bore down on South America.
As the asteroid struck, a deafening sonic boom shook the atmosphere, seismic waves trembled the ground, and destruction ravaged the continent. The world watched in horror, praying for survival. The asteroid brought not only devastation but also Ethi-19, a mysterious virus that spread globally.
*The Pandemic's Grip*
Ethi-19 manifested as severe cold and fever, escalating to violent blood boiling, organ failure, and bodily disintegration within 4-5 weeks. Victims suffered mind-shattering pain, their bodies bursting into corrosive, crimson puddles. Humanity was morally confounded, uncertain how to respond.
*The Guardian Angel: Ethios*
Then came Ethios, a divine substance accompanying the asteroid. Scientists harnessed Ethios to develop the Ethi-38 vaccine, eradicating Ethi-19 by 2035. The vaccine became compulsory for newborns and free for all, as Ethios spread globally.
*A New World Order*
Six influential families – Heiselberg, Montmorency, Mandela, Iqbal, Yarkiy, and Yadav – dominated Ethi-38 distribution, eventually ruling the world:
Despite initial peace; jealousy, envy, and greed fueled wars among the lineages, redividing the world. Yet, the lineages proved benevolent rulers, prioritizing their people's rights and benevolence.
This was now the new World Order:
- North America: Montmorency Lineage
- Europe: Heiselberg Lineage
- Africa: Mandela Lineage
- Middle East: Iqbal Lineage
- Russia/Asia: Yarkiy Lineage
- India: Yadav Lineage
*The Cathedrals*
On a bright and sunny morning, the air cold as ice, the sun shining white, appeared seven black cathedrals. They had materialized simultaneously in major cities worldwide: Seoul, New York, London, Moscow, Abuja, Mumbai, Dubai. This phenomenon shocked people globally.
It was discovered that these Cathedrals were connected to each other and leaded to an other dimension.
The Cathedrals act as one, meaning if two people entered different cathedrals, They would end up at the same place, in the Aether Dimension.
The Cathedral consists of a 1000 floors, each floor consisting of:
▪︎ Normal civilizations
▪︎ Varied environments (eg: forests, deserts, beaches, etc.)
▪︎Small tameable monsters.
But the main part is the dungeon.
The dungeon is like a separate dimension. Once the dungeon is entered, Awakened are transported to an other dimension, where there could be any kind of environment.
Forests, Deserts, Seas, Swamps, anything. It consists of several monsters and one single boss monster. When all of the monsters are defeated, the door to the boss room where the boss monster stays will be unlocked. When it is killed, the door to the next floor of the Cathedral unlocks.
*Mirage Gates*
Mirage gates are magical gates that spawn when a floor of the Cathedral is not cleared within 10 days of it being unlocked.
So, for example, When a floor of the Cathedral has not been cleared within 10 days of it being unlocked, the monsters and the boss monster of the floor appear in the outside world using a magical gate which automatically gets generated after the 10 day time limit.
But the worst part about it is.....
Ethi-19.
Once a mirage gate appears, the monsters and the boss monster inside it come out. They contain a special version of Ethi-19 which can infect anybody, even the people who have been vaccinated.
Due to this ability of mirage gates, they are incredibly hard to deal with, which leads to a huge number of infected people in the area a Mirage gate appears.
*A Status*
A status is considered to be the key to the Cain system. They are considered to be a gift from God after the Cathedrals appeared. Only some can achieve this though. Once a status is unlocked, a human becomes an ' Awakened '.
But to fully become an Awakened, you need first clear the tutorial dungeon after you get your status.
*The Awakened*
The Awakened are people who have been gifted a status and cleared the tutorial dungeon and then gained access to the Cain System. They possess special powers and the ability to enter the Cathedral.
*The Cain System*
A magical interface which can be unlocked by saying the phrase ' status open '. The Cain system is unlocked upon receiving a status and then defeating the tutorial dungeon.
Through the Cain system, People gain access to special powers, which can be upgraded, for ex; Strength, Stamina, Intelligence, Mana(Magical Power), Speed, etc. People can also view their normal and innate abilities and their level.
*more information in later chapters. Sorry!*
*Soul Relics*
Soul relics are weapons, armor or accessories which are specifically crafted by the remains of a dead boss monster. Soul Relics can even drop into your inventory when you kill a boss monster.
(more information on inventory and status in later chapters)
*Ranking of Soul Relics*
● Vanguard
● Renegade
● Paragon
● Sentinel
● Apocalypse
These weapons are ranked from ascending order, so vanguard soul relics would be the weakest soul relics and the strongest soul relics would be the apocalypse soul relics.
*The Cathedral Monopoly*
Once the Cathedrals appeared and the Aether dimension was unlocked, people were confused what to do about it. The Seven Lineages gathered together and decided to explore what was inside of it.
They then found about the 1000 floors of the Cathedral and also about Mirage gates.
They decided to form seven guilds, each guild representing a Lineage.
Montmorency Lineage- Montmorency Guild.
Heiselberg Lineage- Heiselberg Guild.
Mandela Lineage- Mandela Guild.
Iqbal Lineage- Iqbal Guild.
Yarkiy Lineage- Yarkiy Guild.
Yadav Lineage- Yadav Guild.
These 6 guilds formed an alliance to climb the Tower and promised never wage war against each other.
**********************
In the outskirts of Seoul City, 14 year old Aster eked out a solitary existence. Abandoned by his dad at 4 years old, his mom a cancer patient.
Aster's daily routine consisted of crafting handmade dolls, selling them on the street from his small house-turned shop. He would also go to a local martial arts dojo in the evening and then visit his mother.
However his life was further complicated by a terminal illness. Whenever he exhausted himself, his heart would start racing uncontrollably, triggering painful mini heart attacks that left him helpless.
Aster had only 2 goals in his life:
1) To save his dying mother.
2) To become an Awakened.
But then, The worst that could happen.....happened.
His Mother died.
During her last words, She told Aster to go and look inside a blue box in their house's basement, a box that Aster did not know about.
When he did find the box, He found.....