A New Norm

A year had passed since Earth's transformation, since the storm of Evolution had swept across the globe, altering not only the land but the very fabric of existence. Life had resumed, yes, but with an undeniable difference—an edge, a sense of ever-present danger and possibility. The continents had reshaped, stretching further into the seas, mountains towering higher, forests deepening, and plains expanding to accommodate the new, more mystical reality.

Mythical beasts now roamed these lands—creatures from legends that humans had once considered mere stories. Massive wyverns with scales that shimmered like polished steel soared above mountains, while beasts of shadow and flame prowled forests and deserts alike. In the cities, large signs warned of potential portal gates appearing without notice, spitting out monsters of all varieties. These portals, wild and unpredictable, often brought chaos to bustling areas, their monstrous inhabitants hungry for destruction and life. Society had learned to live with the uncertainty, a new form of caution woven into daily routines.

In the early days of the Evolution, the governments had struggled, overwhelmed by the speed of change. Leaders and officials who had once held power found themselves irrelevant as the world was redefined, forced to confront challenges beyond any military or political tool. Order was slow to return; in its absence, chaos reigned. But from the ruins of the old systems, a new order had emerged—one centered around those gifted by the System itself, those who could wield its power and harness the raw mana that now permeated the air.

Mana, this invisible energy woven into every breath, had redefined life on Earth. Like oxygen, it flowed through the atmosphere, allowing each creature to thrive within the System's rules. Those who had awakened to their new abilities—now called "Hunters"—could sense it, feel it course through their bodies, growing stronger with each monster they felled, each challenge they overcame. With mana running through the veins of the world, the mundane had become magical, each person awakening with a potential unique to their life and spirit.

To protect society from the dangers that now lurked at every corner, guilds quickly formed. These guilds, initially small, soon grew in strength and influence, fueled by the need to contain the portals and the creatures they birthed. At the forefront of this new order was the Hunter's Association, a global alliance built by the strongest of each country's Hunters. The Association had one mission: to safeguard humanity, to establish a new law and structure within this unpredictable landscape. Hunters now had ranks, responsibilities, and an intricate network to coordinate their efforts against the influx of monsters and the random appearance of portals.

Among the Hunters, classes were divided by rarity, each with a distinct color that marked their grade:

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Common (White):

Description: The most basic abilities, accessible to nearly anyone who survived a portal encounter and leveled up through persistence and training. These Hunters generally possess foundational skills and are often new to the System. Capabilities: Basic combat techniques, minor weapon enchantments, and low-level mana manipulation. Role: Support roles in battles, ideal for low-threat missions and entry-level guild tasks.

Uncommon (Yellow):

Description: Stronger than Common, these Hunters have enhanced abilities and can take on more powerful beasts. They're vital contributors to guild operations and are often the backbone of larger combat efforts. Capabilities: Moderate skill in weapon enhancement, basic elemental abilities, and improved mana control. Role: Tactical combatants in guild efforts, often assisting Rare Hunters.

Rare (Red):

Description: The elites of society, these Hunters possess extraordinary skills, allowing them to lead battles, close mid-level portals, and command significant authority within guilds. Capabilities: Advanced elemental abilities, powerful weapon enchantments, and increased physical or magical prowess. Role: Leaders and commanders within guilds, handling high-threat monsters and mid-level portals.

Epic (Blue):

Description: A new, high-caliber class rare even among seasoned Hunters. Epic Hunters have powerful specialized skills and are capable of closing higher-level portals independently or in small teams. Capabilities: Strong proficiency in multiple elemental or arcane disciplines, adept in rare mana manipulations, and abilities that can alter the battlefield on a large scale. Role: Strategists and field commanders, handling advanced missions and taking on high-level portals.

Mythic (Green):

Description: These Hunters are practically legendary, exhibiting abilities bordering on the miraculous. Mythic Hunters are few, possessing rare, ancient talents and powers tied to primordial elements or unique spells that set them apart. Capabilities: Mastery of complex, high-mana abilities, such as teleportation, advanced alchemy, and long-range elemental manipulation. Their presence can enhance or stabilize mana storms. Role: Independent operatives for the highest-stakes missions, resolving crises and taking on the rarest and most formidable monsters.

Legendary (Orange):

Description: Hunters of near-mythical renown, possessing abilities that defy the laws of nature, with skills rooted in the most ancient or arcane forms of mana. They can control vast areas of influence and wield unique abilities that affect entire battlefields.

Capabilities: Immense mana reserves, area-wide control abilities, summoning of mythical creatures, and manipulation of space-time on a localized scale. Role: Guardians of significant regions, often called in for world-threatening events, legendary for their ability to turn tides in the most hopeless battles.

Special (Violet):

Description: The rarest and most powerful of all, these twelve Hunters possess abilities that are unique and irreplicable. Their powers are beyond any standard measure, capable of shifting the course of global conflicts or stabilizing the mana within entire regions. Capabilities: Singular, unparalleled abilities such as reality alteration, high-level spectral or celestial control, or the ability to influence the System itself. Their mana control is absolute. Role: World protectors and arbiters, with their actions and alliances shaping the Hunter's Association and the future of the System on Earth. They are the ultimate authority within the System Universe.

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These twelve Special Hunters formed the core of the Hunter's Association, responsible for confronting the deadliest threats and leading efforts to adapt to the new world. Each was gifted with extraordinary abilities that set them apart, and each became a symbol of hope and fear, their names known across the globe. They were revered as saviors, feared as warriors, and respected as the pillars of the new order.

With mana storms—massive, unpredictable hurricanes of raw magical energy—sweeping the globe at irregular intervals, these Hunters and their guilds became the last line of defense against the terrors that emerged from them. The mana storms were a phenomenon unique to this new Earth, powerful forces of mana surging through the sky, tearing open new portals or strengthening existing ones. Hunters had quickly learned to recognize their signs, to brace themselves for the chaos they heralded.

The world had transformed into a place where ancient and modern fused, where the mystical was routine, and where the promise of power rested in the hands of those willing to fight for it. Cities had built fortifications and mana sensors to detect incoming portals. Schools, once institutions of conventional knowledge, now taught combat basics and mana control, alongside subjects like history and mathematics. Alchemists, blacksmiths, and enchanters became respected professions, as essential as doctors and engineers, using mana-infused techniques to craft weapons, potions, and armor that Hunters relied upon in their deadly work.

In this new world, power lay in the ability to survive, to adapt, and to overcome the threats that emerged from the shadows and across realms. People had grown accustomed to seeing Hunters walking the streets, armored and weaponized, alert for any sign of danger. Their presence reminded the populace that survival now depended on strength and bravery, on those who had embraced the evolution and risen above the ordinary.