Primal Substance

On an unmarked island, a volcano erupted, spewing a substance capable of changing humanity's fate. Sensing the immense life force on the surface, it tried to absorb the life force of the entire world. People later named this substance the Calamity. It could spread by continually possessing humans and other living creatures. The Calamity also brought a special power to the world: Primordial Energy, a force created by overflowing life force. Primordial Energy began to stir across the globe, and some people gained superpowers. These abilities were called Arts. People could awaken an ability at birth or by coming close to vast amounts of Primordial Energy. An ability was determined by the person's inner wish or by what they came into contact with when it awakened. On November 21, the Calamity reached the mainland. Just as the entire world was on the verge of falling, an explosion occurred at the point where it had landed, and the Calamity disappeared without a trace. The world's environment became unstable, causing the continents to converge and bringing massive earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. Human civilization was nearly destroyed, and technology regressed to ancient levels. Governments collapsed, and the law ceased to exist. Human nature was laid bare, displaying every side of humanity imaginable. Monsters roamed everywhere. With the Calamity no longer serving as a vessel for overflowing life force, Primordial Energy and Arts emerged. Not only humans but also animals were transformed. The animals mutated, becoming creatures that could almost be called monsters. After the core was destroyed, the Calamity's life force could no longer be contained, causing a massive explosion. When it ended, a global earthquake struck. The landmasses drew together, wiping out nearly all traces of modern human homes and life. After the world grew stable again, only about three hundred million humans remained.