Alden sat at his desk, scrolling through the digital archives on his holo-screen. Despite living in this world for months now, he hadn't taken the time to properly reflect on its history.
It was time to fix that.
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The Fall of the Old World
This world had not always been one of swords and magic.
Once, it had been just like Earth—a world of technology, science, and modern civilization. Cities thrived, people lived ordinary lives, and the concept of mana and magic was nothing but fiction.
Then came the sky cracks.
One day, massive fractures appeared in the sky, stretching across the heavens like wounds in reality itself.
From these cracks, mana poured into the world.
At first, humanity didn't understand what was happening. Scientists studied the phenomenon, governments tried to maintain order, but then came the real disaster.
With the arrival of mana, the world's ecosystem began to change.
Animals mutated. Creatures that were once harmless became monstrous, their bodies adapting to the sudden surge of mana.
Dungeons appeared. Strange, otherworldly portals manifested across the land, unleashing creatures never seen before.
Modern weapons failed. Guns and explosives, once humanity's greatest tools of war, proved ineffective against these new threats.
Within a single decade, 50% of humanity was wiped out.
The governments collapsed. The world fell into chaos.
But then, a miracle happened.
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The Rise of the Awakened
With mana's arrival, humans began to change.
Certain individuals started displaying inhuman abilities—strength, speed, elemental control, and even magic. They were the first Awakened.
At first, they were rare, scattered among the surviving remnants of humanity.
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But as time passed, more began to emerge.
These Awakened warriors became humanity's last hope.
They fought back against the monsters.
They cleared dungeons and secured new territories.
They reclaimed the world.
With the guidance of these powerful individuals, humanity adapted. Cities were rebuilt, barriers were raised, and weapons infused with mana were created.
The era of science and technology merged with magic, creating a new age of civilization.
But just as humanity began to recover…
The Other Races appeared.
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The Age of Racial Wars
When mana flooded the world, it didn't just affect humans.
It also revived ancient beings, races that had long been slumbering or sealed away.
Elves emerged from deep forests, wielding unmatched nature magic.
Dwarves reclaimed the mountains, their forges igniting once more.
Beastkin roamed the wilds, their instincts and strength making them formidable warriors.
Orcs and other monstrous races claimed new territories, their tribes growing in number.
These races had once ruled parts of the world before mana had disappeared.
Now that it had returned, they wanted their lands back.
Thus, the First Racial War began.
Humans, still recovering from their own near extinction, now faced a war against the other intelligent species.
For decades, battles raged. Borders shifted, cities burned, alliances formed and shattered.
Then came the Second Racial War, a continuation of the first, but deadlier.
It seemed like humanity was doomed to fight forever.
Until the demons appeared.
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The Demon Invasion & The Great Alliance
A century ago, the sky cracked once more.
But this time, what emerged was not just mana…
It was war.
From the abyss beyond the cracks, the Demons descended upon the world.
They came not as invaders, but as a plague, seeking to corrupt and consume everything.
They twisted creatures into abominations.
They infiltrated societies, whispering temptation to the weak-willed.
They tore apart the land, leaving behind only ruin.
For the first time in history, all races put aside their hatred and joined forces.
The Great Alliance was formed—humans, elves, dwarves, beastkin, and even orcs united against the demons.
It took decades of war, but the united forces of the world finally pushed the demons back.
However, the battle was far from over.
Demons could not be truly killed, only sealed or banished.
Knowing that the threat would return, the strongest warriors of every race created an empire.
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The Birth of the Empire & The Noble Houses
200 years ago, the most powerful Awakened in the world gathered to form a single empire.
They were no longer just warriors—they became rulers.
The Empire of Eldoria was born, with the strongest Awakened at its helm.
To maintain order, they established noble houses, granting power and authority to the greatest warriors and mages.
The world was divided into territories ruled by these noble families, each responsible for protecting the lands from demons and other threats.
While humans had their empire, other races formed their own kingdoms, maintaining fragile peace.
This marked the beginning of the current era.
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Awakening & The Role of Academies
For an individual to use mana, they must Awaken—a process where their body and soul synchronize with mana, granting them power.
However, natural Awakening is rare.
Only a few are born with the ability to Awaken on their own.
Most Awaken through noble bloodlines. Noble families have a higher chance of Awakening due to generations of mana refinement.
Artificial Awakening is possible but requires vast resources. Only the wealthy can afford it.
To train the next generation, academies were established.
These academies were designed to train Awakened individuals, preparing them for battle against monsters, rogue factions, and the ever-present threat of demons.
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The Threat of Demon Worshippers
Not everyone is born with power.
Some crave it but lack talent.
These individuals turn to demonic contracts, making pacts with demons in exchange for strength.
Such people are called Demon Worshippers.
They sacrifice their humanity, offering their souls for forbidden power.
Their presence is a constant danger to the world. They infiltrate kingdoms, spread chaos, and weaken society from within, all in service of their demonic masters.
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The Hidden Powers That Move in the Shadows
Apart from the empire and the noble houses, there exist independent organizations that do not serve any nation.
These groups hold power comparable to noble houses, but they operate in secrecy, pursuing their own agendas.
Some seek wealth.
Some seek knowledge.
Some seek to destroy the empire itself.
Their goals remain unknown.
But one thing is certain.
The world is far more dangerous than it seems.
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Alden's Thoughts: The Hard Mode Reality
As Alden read through the history files, his expression darkened.
This world was already a brutal place.
But now, with the changes he had seen, it was even worse.
In the game, the world followed a predictable course.
Now?
Stronger monsters than expected.
More threats appearing earlier.
This wasn't the normal game.
This was Hard Mode.
And in Hard Mode…
The world was doomed.
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Alden leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.
If things continued as they were, everything would collapse before the main story even truly began.
He needed to act.
He needed to make the main cast stronger, faster.
Because if he didn't…
Then nothing would be left to save.