THE INVASION BEFORE THE SYSTEM

Long before Eldrin's world had the guidance of AI systems like Layla, Earth was a planet thriving in its natural course. Humans lived their lives unaware of the larger cosmos that existed beyond their comprehension. But then, in a cataclysmic event that no one could have predicted, the veil between dimensions thinned, and the first wave of monsters found their way to Earth.

It began subtly, with whispers in the night and fleeting shadows that darted through the peripheral vision of those who claimed to have seen something strange. These early incursions were dismissed as nightmares or figments of the imagination. But soon, the monsters started to manifest more tangibly, leaving traces of their presence—clawed marks on walls, strange, unnatural footprints in the wilderness, and livestock that disappeared without a trace.

The true terror began when the first monstrous beings emerged fully into the world. They came through rifts, tears in the fabric of reality, which opened in remote areas—deep forests, abandoned mines, and the ocean's darkest depths. These rifts acted as gateways from another dimension, a place of chaos and darkness where the monsters originated.

The monsters were diverse in form and ability, each more terrifying than the last. Some were colossal, with armored hides and roaring mouths that spewed fire or acid. Others were smaller but faster, their bodies twisted in grotesque shapes with claws and fangs that could tear through steel. There were those that could blend into their surroundings, becoming invisible until it was too late for their prey to react. These creatures were not just beasts; they were nightmares made flesh.

The rifts seemed to multiply over time, spreading across the globe. The initial encounters with these monsters left humanity in a state of fear and confusion. Governments and militaries scrambled to respond, deploying soldiers and weapons to combat the threat. But conventional weapons were often ineffective against the monsters' otherworldly resilience.

The world was on the brink of chaos, cities were fortified, and people lived in fear of the next attack. But no one knew how to close the rifts or why they had appeared in the first place. Scientists and mystics alike searched for answers, studying the rifts and the creatures that emerged from them, but the mystery remained unsolved.

Just when it seemed like humanity might be overrun, a new player entered the scene—an advanced alien civilization. These aliens had been observing Earth for some time, aware of the dimensional instability that had allowed the monsters to enter. They called themselves the **Divinites**, a race that had long ago transcended their physical forms and now existed as beings of pure energy and knowledge.

The Divinites recognized that humanity, with its current technology and understanding, stood no chance against the invasion. But they also saw potential in humans—their adaptability, resilience, and will to survive. The Divinites decided to intervene, but not directly. Instead, they offered humanity a tool that could give them a fighting chance: the **System**.

The System was a digital framework that interfaced with the human mind, granting individuals abilities and attributes beyond their natural limits. It was designed to help humanity level the playing field against the monsters by turning ordinary people into warriors, strategists, and defenders capable of standing against the invaders.

The introduction of the System was both a gift and a test. Each person who received the System could gain experience (EXP) through battles, complete missions, and increase their attributes. As they leveled up, they could access new skills, strengths, and even knowledge about the monsters and the rifts. Some of the more advanced users could learn to close rifts, preventing new monsters from entering and slowing the invasion.

With the System in place, humanity slowly began to push back against the monstrous tide. Heroes emerged, people who were able to harness the System to its fullest potential. They became the vanguard in the war against the monsters, using their newfound powers to defend cities, destroy the creatures, and seek out the rifts to close them.

But the battle was far from over. The rifts continued to appear, and the monsters evolved, adapting to the new threat that humanity posed. The Divinites watched from afar, their motives still unclear. Was this a trial, a way to see if humanity could rise to the challenge? Or was there a darker purpose behind their intervention?

As the war raged on, the System became an integral part of human society. It was a lifeline in a world where monsters roamed, a tool that allowed humanity to fight back and survive. And in the midst of this struggle, people like Eldrin began to emerge—individuals who would play a crucial role in humanity's future, shaped by the System and the challenges it presented.

The arrival of the System marked the beginning of a new era, one where the battle for Earth's survival was fought not just with weapons, but with the very essence of what it meant to be human, enhanced by the power of the Divinites.