[I wanted to write an auxiliary chapter with some essential information about the story, such as the power system and the construction of the world. That way, when you start reading, you'll be a little more familiar with the world. However, this may contain minor spoilers.
If you want to read without knowing anything, don't worry, as all of this will be explained throughout the chapters.]
—General Information:
❖ The Asteroid Impact.
In the past, an asteroid of unknown composition but with a lot of accumulated energy struck the planet Earth. The few humans who survived the impact were infected with the Psychological Virus. In turn, the asteroid brought with it creatures known as Aberrations and Dimensional Portals.
❖ Psychological Virus.
A disease generated by the energy that the asteroid spread across the planet, which was deadly in the past. Upon healing, the vestiges of the virus give the user a power based on the emotion that dominates the heart.
❖ Aberrations.
Creatures that appeared during the early days of the impact. Like humans with the Psychological Virus, they also possess similar and varied powers. Many of these creatures became the planet's new fauna.
❖ Dimensional Portals.
Space-time connections in the form of ethereal portals that, according to humans who investigated this phenomenon, connect to other dimensions.
❖ Factions.
Government-funded organizations with the goal of maintaining world security. They recruit Empaths to fight against the catastrophe.
❖ Empath.
An Empath is someone who fights against the Aberrations. Empaths use their Spectrum to increase their power and control of Calem Energy to manipulate the physical and conceptual laws of the planet.
❖ Calem Energy.
Thanks to the presence of the asteroid on the ancient continent of America, Calem Energy exists throughout the planet. It is a malleable source of energy. Only those born with the talent can use it to create "magic," although no one in the world calls it that.
Even those who cannot manipulate it feel its influence: machines and people run on it.
—Emotional Spectrum:
Emotions are the root of the soul. When the Psychological Virus mutated into power, it did so by shaping energy according to what most defined each heart: its predominant emotion.
This is the classification of the eight emotional branches of human beings; emotions that often decide which path the power of an Empath and people in general will take. Each branch has three Spectrums:
❖ Ecstasy -> Joy -> Serenity.
Mostly focused on enhancing Spectrums, both one's own and those of others.
❖ Admiration -> Trust -> Acceptance.
Mostly focused on healing and accelerated regeneration.
❖ Terror -> Fear -> Apprehension.
Mostly focused on creating illusions and mental manipulation.
❖ Amazement -> Surprise -> Distraction.
Mostly focused on applying status effects and debuffs.
❖ Grief -> Sadness -> Pensiveness.
Mostly focused on protecting oneself and others.
❖ Loathing -> Disgust -> Boredom.
Mostly focused on rejecting and nullifying Spectrum abilities.
❖ Rage -> Anger -> Annoyance.
Mostly focused on enhancing one's own physical stats.
❖ Vigilance -> Anticipation -> Interest.
Mostly focused on heightened perception and senses.
There are also intermediate emotions that arise from the combination of two emotions, such as Love, Disappointment, or Submission, etc.
Each emotion has its own usefulness, but that does not mean that the person is limited to their emotion. Hence the control of energy, which allows for expanding horizons and possibilities in combat and in everyday life. Although there are certainly people who have more than one Spectrum.
That's right. There are two things to keep in mind. Both the Ecstasy branch and the Loathing branch are extremely rare. Very few people manage to develop this Spectrum because it is extremely rare for someone to feel these emotions in the first decade of their life.
The second thing is this. During the first decade of a human's life, they will be born with the Psychological Virus. The virus itself is no longer deadly, so children often develop their Spectrum at a very early age without the consequences of the past.
—Classification and roles of Empaths:
❖ Classification:
Empaths measure their level of usefulness in levels. The Tenth Level is the weakest, as this level includes normal people who are not Empaths as such.
The levels follow a sequence until reaching the First Level. First Level Empaths are capable of defending a national catastrophe on their own. However, there are those who surpass First Level Empaths, and those are the Feelers, who transcend any type of classification.
❖ Roles:
Roles are the most important part of Empaths.
There are healing supports, empowerment supports, and sensors. There are also tanks, assassins, fighters, and throwers. Each complements the other, so Empaths almost always work as a team.
—Asteroid and Dimensional Portal Aberrations by Category.
❖ Category 10, Minor Threat: These do not usually pose a threat to ordinary people. Even a child could defeat a Category 10. They are usually small deformations of Calem energy.
❖ Category 9, Local Threat: They still do not pose a very big threat. An average adult is required to defeat them. They are treated as annoying pests, but with very little chance of mortality.
❖ Category 8, Regular Threat: They usually have the strength to break walls with great effort. They have minor powers that are usually easily countered by low-level Empaths.
❖ Category 7, Urban Threat: They can develop dangerous abilities that could destroy entire buildings. They are extremely dangerous to civilians, but not to low-level Empaths.
❖ Category 6, Destroyer: They possess mystical powers close to those of Empaths. They are capable of endangering an entire village.
❖ Category 5, Titan: Monsters that threaten the peace of an entire city. They are so dangerous that Elite Empaths are required to defeat them.
❖ Category 4, Scourge: Beings that threaten the lives of numerous cities. Only the strongest Elite Empaths can stand against them.
❖ Category 3, Nemesis: When an Aberration reaches this category, it means that it has transcended the abilities of Elite Empaths. They are capable of threatening an entire country with their power. Only Feelers can defeat them.
❖ Category 2, Calamity: Beings that threaten the peace of the Calem continent. Extremely dangerous. A small group of Feelers is required to defeat them.
❖ Category 1, Apocalyptic: Beings with powers beyond human knowledge. They endanger the entire planet. An Aberration of this category has never been seen.
❖ Category 0, Mythical: Those who transcend planetary destruction. Although it is unlikely that such an aberration exists, there would be no salvation from such a threat...
—Planet Terra:
Divided into five continents, Terra has changed significantly since the impact.
❖ Calem
The largest continent in the world, full of mountain ranges; large mountain chains that stretch like rings across the land. Formerly known as America, Calem is the place with the most Dimensional Portals and Impact Aberrations, because being around the asteroid that is now a huge mountain, the possibility of singularities is higher.
❖ New Europe.
After separating from the continent of Asia during the apocalypse, Europe was reformed, becoming the continent closest to Calem. It is now the industrial continent, dark and built of metal.
❖ Yamara
The eastern, peaceful continent, with ancient temples in the mountains surrounded by fog; the place where great masters of martial arts and energy control were born. It is the continent furthest from Calem, as well as being the smallest of the three main continents.
❖ The Eternal Islands
During the impact, Africa suffered great damage. It broke into pieces and became a large chain of islands and immense archipelagos. Today it is known as one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world.
❖ The Dark Islands
The most dangerous place in the world. It is a small continent plagued by the most powerful Aberrations known to humankind, where night is eternal.
[That's all for now. This is all I can reveal without giving away any major spoilers. Thank you for reading!]