Biochemical Catastrophe (“Bone-Eroding Fungal Tide”): Spores from an unknown fungus, code-named “Bone-Eater,” have erupted across the globe, infecting most humans and animals. The infected undergo rapid mutations, becoming mindless, highly aggressive monsters known as “Fungal Corpses.” They take many forms, and some mutate a second time into more powerful “Aberrants” due to their environment or physical constitution. Scratches and bites from Fungal Corpses carry an extremely high risk of infection.
Environmental Cataclysm (“Duststorm Era”): The catastrophe also triggered drastic geological and climatic changes worldwide. The sky is permanently shrouded by gray-yellow clouds of dust and haze, sunlight is scarce, acid rain is frequent, and the temperature swings between day and night are extreme. Plants have died off on a massive scale or mutated, and most of the land has become a wasteland rife with radiation, toxins, or spores. Drinkable water, uncontaminated land, and traditional energy sources have become the most precious resources.
After the catastrophe, the genes of a tiny fraction of survivors mutated unstably, giving them the potential to unlock the “gene lock.”
