Prologue

In this universe, humans have come a long—long way. Throughout history, they've had countless conflicts, driven by greed, ideology, and survival.

Their society was plagued by strife over race, gender, and endless divisions.

They fought wars over borders and resources, neglecting the most precious resource of all: Humanity itself."

But fate had other plans. And despite humanity's stubbornness, change came—swift and unstoppable. They called it The Emergence.

The first humans to undergo genetic awakening sensed the presence of mana. Thrilled by its discovery, humanity researched it—though at a slow pace, for old habits, you see, die hard. Even in the face of destiny.

Petty conflicts persisted as humanity clung to its old ways—hoarding land, gold, and natural resources—blinding itself to the transformations unfolding in the wild.

Soon the wild beasts, initially the first subjects of awakening, began evolving under the influence of Mana.

At first, firearms held the line. And all their Nations, for the first time in history, set aside their differences and mobilized against a common enemy.

But evolution cares little for human ingenuity. With each new generation, the beasts grew tougher, smarter, deadlier. Soon they began attacking in coordinated groups.

Eventually bullets failed. Bombs followed. Then came desperation.

During the first hundred years after the Emergence, cities collapsed like dominoes. Nations dissolved into quiet graveyards, overrun by feral beasts. Earth's population plummeted from eight billion to four.

Despite all that humanity endured.

Centuries later, the survivors began fighting back. Slowly, they rebuilt—huddling within fortified megacities, clinging to the last vestiges of civilization.

Learning from their past mistakes, they invested heavily in gene awakening, studying Mana's influence on different organisms. And for a time, peace held.

But peace is always fleeting.

At first, it was just a legend—a whisper in the dark, a tale meant to keep children in line. A shadow in the wild, its name spoken only in hushed tones.

Then the legend became real.

Humanity came to know of the Beast King, Kong. A monstrous force of nature, he united the evolving beasts under his rule. With terrifying intelligence, he led his horde in a relentless siege against the megacities. And one by one, they fell.

In mere decades, humanity's numbers dwindled once more—from four billion to a desperate two.

With humanity teetering on the edge of annihilation, the World Council debated nuclear fire—a suicidal gambit to purge the planet of both monsters and men.

Just as extinction loomed ever closer....hope emerged.

And a warrior arose. Humanity's last hope against the beasts.

Jared Reeds—one of the first to undergo genetic awakening—wielded unfathomable strength, his mastery over the element of space defying all reason.

Where armies fell, a single warrior stood. Where bombs failed, his fists shattered the hordes.

For days, Reeds battled Kong—man against monster, hope against oblivion. He could not kill the Beast King, but he did the impossible: he made it bleed. And with that wound, he bought humanity a second chance. A chance paid for in blood, in sacrifice, in loss.

Learning from the failures of their predecessors, what remained of humanity banded together to forge a new world.

Though nations and borders faded, governance remained. Humanity organized itself into federations—not bound by land, but by shared governance and cooperation. Citizenship was fluid, movement unrestricted, as the remainants banded together for survival and progress.

Not as citizens of nations, but as people—striving for peace, free from war, discrimination, and disease. For the first time in history, humanity was truly united. Not by conquest. Not by necessity. But by choice.

Like any civilization, they had flaws—but their strengths far outweighed their weaknesses.

Millennia after the Emergence, with Mana as their guide, humanity advanced in all fields—science, engineering, computing, biology, and chemistry.

At the peak of their enlightenment, as science and Mana intertwined, humanity reached for the stars—marking the dawn of their interstellar era.

With the advent of hyperspace travel, space exploration and colonization became a reality. They turned their eyes to the stars, swiftly colonizing their immediate solar system before expanding outward. Beginning with the nearest star systems, they ventured deeper into the galaxy.

In a universe of endless possibilities, where dangers lurk in the void and mysteries unfold in the shadows of the stars…

Come, witness the tales of Jack Vales, in this brave new world.