1 REBORN

On another parallel version of the planet we call the Earth, one would see the planet has "evolved", and finally it had long ago "adapted" to it's dilemma, this planet was called "Serc".

The planet had forcefully been thrown into a different era and had been forced into adaptation without its consent. Many complained to the gods but it had all fallen on deaf ears.

This age was called the "Cosmic era" not only because of the different sorts of planetary devastating calamities it introduced rather rudely to the previous sole inhabitants of the planet, but also due to the cosmically endless myriad of possible experiences, abilities and evolutions it presented.

The "cosmic era" was a period that allowed humans to be pushed into the brink of despair and just a moment before that shine as bright as a new born star.

With this new era monsters were born out of the new energy we called "mana", and these "Ciphers" came quickly, even before we could register that they had been born. Wreaking havoc in their wake, and along their path a devastating outcome, filled with the stench of agony, despair, death and fear like no other.

With these monsters wreaking havoc humanity found a way to fight back by manipulating the mana and using their respective elements to fight the monsters back leading to the birth of the hunters.

The monsters appeared in the fields and oceans, from the raging fire an inferno was born. Dungeons some massive, some average and others small. Then there would be the "Omega" grade dungeons, these existed for the sake of test of will and perseverance.

A weak minded person cannot dream of entering these dungeons, lest they dig their own grave and lay down in the casket, awaiting their inevitable demise.

The dungeons were classified according to their level of difficulty which were Low-grade dungeons were the weakest as the name states, it is classified from grade 1-3, the next would be Mid-grade dungeons classified from 4-6, high grade dungeons were from 7-9 and finally the crème of the crop were Predator grade dungeons.

Let it be understood that "PG" dungeons were not given ranks because these are first of all, the only types of dungeons that spawn in random order meaning these were the only dungeons that could spawn in the middle of a building and two they had to be give their own specifications as a "PG" dungeon representing "Predator grade" dungeon because of the monsters that resides inside them.

All mentioned dungeons were different concerning monsters, that is with few repetitions in some dungeons. Low and mid-grade dungeons or rank 1-6 dungeons were what almost all amateurs and 100% of beginners raided as they knew any more and they would die without knowing how they died or what their killer was.

Rank 7-9 and Carnage dungeons were only hunted by the top class. Clans monopolized as many as they could as fast as they could because for these guilds it was high risk and unfathomable reward. These dungeons gave random chests that "could" yield powerful rewards. Notice the emphasis on "could" as these are "random" chests.

For this sole reason alone, the clans had full confirmation as to why the 8-10 and Carnage grade dungeons should be monopolized as soon as they found one, and should be used to the full and unrestrained benefit of their respective clans.

Ranks were how people were judged in terms of non appraised power. The max Rank reached was SS. Non appraised power simply meant without judging battle experience and actual skill level, as this was the judge separating the incompetent from the competent.

As a person could have low magic capacity but still be able to defeat someone with twice the amount they have by efficiently utilizing their Mana and combat ability to the very Max.

The normal and average hunters were called Monster hunters, the hunters above the benchmark of A rank were known as Carnage predators and the special individuals which were those that were different in many ways and were the black sheep were known as "CP's" Carnage Hunters.

These individuals were known each by every by name, Power, potential and last but not least achievements. They were people that did the job quickly and efficiently and were not pestered by anyone who liked their head on their body. Not that they were tyrannical and would kill anyone that annoys them in the slightest, but that was how society perceived them.

The CP's were the frontline of any nation in a case of emergency, as any and all nations judged the strength of every nation by the sheer number of CP's.

People that were CP's had either been granted a specific power from "Mana" as it is a living being and the planet is just its embodiment, or had a unique fighting style or it could be anything that stood out significantly.

Finally there were Cosmic Companions each person is given one based on their soul itself and had to get its recognition before it became a partner for battle. Keep in mind getting it's recognition did not always mean battle.

Majority of the CP's that were "known" all had Titan - Behemoth class companions, as these companions were usually unknown. The ranks were as followed, from lowest to Highest.

Null (F)

Silver(E)

Gold(D)

Crystal(C)

Cosmic(B)

Behemoth(A)

Ascended(S)

Titan (Only Sam's Monsters)

And so it all lead to that fateful day when everything changed I remember it so well. The voice spoke to us in a nonchalant but serious manner.

~Testing, testing~

~hey!!?, does this thing even work??~

Everyone on the planet called Xoram was in a state I like to call utterly stupendous confusion as many thought it was just some fool joking, trying to prank everyone. Then he continued...

~I am the one above that oversees the myriad cosmos. I am happy to tell you I have grown bored of your actions on the planet.~

~So I decided... why not spice things up a bit ayy. From this moment as we speak a new species have entered your world they are known as Ciphers and they will be your salvation to advancement or extinction, it's your choice... choose wisely.~

~But with despair, you will need a ray of light and that would be three things. This would be "Aether" this is a kind of inexhaustible energy I have made for your sake of survival. Children to be born and those presently alive will awaken an element and a beast companion, Adults too but, talents will vary.~

~A road to power and a test of endurance through sheer will to live, I wish you all good fate.~

At that very moment when he finished talking every person alive and every person born at that moment or to be born had received a ring of ascension on their middle fingers. For a minute in the history of mankind the entire planet was silent and not a single soul could be heard talking.

Immediately after chaos engulfed the planet as it began reforming and reshaping itself and even expanding to become an additional 1/2 of its normal radius several cities were destroyed and new ones, emerged in the aftermath of their downfall.