Year 50 p.a

The aftermath of the apocalypse lasted a couple of decades and by the time it was over, most if not all, of humanity's technology had been lost and many buildings had been destroyed. Humanity's global population had fallen from over 8 billion to just under 500 million.

Most of the Earth's surface became barren and hardly any plants or trees could be found.

Since technology had regressed, communication had become difficult, so it took a while before different countries could communicate with each other.

Over the next few years after humanity resurfaced, people discovered that Russia had broken off from Europe and Europe and Asia had also separated.

The citizens of Russia declared that they were independent enough to be declared a new continent. The Europeans decided to rename themselves, 'New Europa', and although the Asians didn't rename themselves, there were still those who considered themselves 'Liberal Asia'.

There were now 8 continents and over a 100 more islands than before with Madagascar being the biggest island. After the apocalypse, it became an independent island on the ocean somewhere between Africa and Australia.

Some other cities broke off of their original continents and became independent islands on the ocean.

At first people were paranoid. Most of the animals had disappeared and there were hardly any trees. There was almost no means of survival. Houses had been torn down and there wasn't any technology to reconstruct them.

Some people began to regret living, at least until they managed to piece the metal scraps and other broken tech together into makeshift houses. Quite quickly, plants began to regrow and the animals began to resurface. Some said that God was helping humans again and giving them a way to survive and get stronger.

But soon people fell into despair again. Without guns to keep them safe, they couldn't protect themselves from these animals and their houses were not strong enough for safety. And without proper equipment, the trees could not be felled.

People discovered that the animals were a lot different from before, slightly stronger, slightly faster. Even the plants were more resilient than before. Before long, people realized that this was a new world, and the equipment from the old world were simply dregs here.

Axes couldn't even leave a mark on the bark of the trees, and knifes could no longer pierce the hide of animals. Some surviving scientists decided to dig deeper into the reason and they soon found that these animals and plants had absorbed a new substance in the air that innately strengthened their bodies, and that consuming these plants and animals would strengthen their bodies as well.

Pretty soon, their theory was confirmed. Old people began to feel invigorated, lifespans were extended and soon people began to claim that it was a gift from heaven to save man; 'mana' they called it.

Scientists took up the name mana and began to conduct deeper study into it. People everywhere were happy for the time, until they were faced with the harsh reality; animals could also naturally consume this mana, unlike man.

A beast stampede, killed over 300 people in the area that day. The animals were far stronger than those which were killed. Even the new steel knives and daggers, made from the bones of weaker animals, couldn't stab into their skins.

It was then that people realized that animals constantly absorbed mana and would continue to grow stronger. Humanity was once again faced with a new threat.

But humanity persisted, and once again fought to reclaim their position as the top of the food chain. Survivors from the martial arts community came up with countless ideas to absorb mana. They thought of different breathing techniques, most of which seemed futile.

But eventually, a verified technique was released and shared to people, who began to practice more and more. Soon, people began to fight back against the beasts and win. This made them even more confident. Finally, humanity had risen once again.

~~~~~

Year 107 p.a

Over a century since the apocalypse, humanity was once again on the brink of destruction. It was always one test after the other.

New races had suddenly popped up on the map. Some humanoid and some monster species. At this point, humans didn't know what to do.

These new races could perform techniques that could control plants, and move water and create fireballs. People called it magic. And it was magic.

Some people were sacrificed, all for the sake of keeping humans in the loop. They had no idea how it was done. How did these new races create magic? Soon after, they finally got their answer. And soon after, they could finally do magic.

In this new era, teenagers began to display various unique abilities. Those who could use magic and those who were swordsmen, archers, etc.

It was as though humanity had reverted to the medieval times. Cities were already built. Walls made of stone, houses made of wood and large brick houses where the nobility stayed. Well technically, there was no nobility. It was more of a government building. There was only one imperial palace, where the president stayed.

Soon, humans gained information on their enemies. Elves, Dwarves, Spectres, all sorts of creatures began to grow and thrive. The Earth was no longer the humans' territory. It became a battleground.

~~~~~

Year 152 p.a

Humans had developed schools to train children until their teenage years. The teenagers would then awaken a unique ability and get their job potential tested. After which they could become mercenaries, or they could become city guards.

At this time, humanity had once again created a divide between themselves. Commoners, who couldn't unlock unique abilities and had to struggle to make a living. Lower-class, who couldn't awaken any unique abilities, but had the skills to make a living in the world.

Bourgeois, whose unique abilities weren't good enough to keep up with the growth of society and nobles, the rich and powerful who had children with powerful unique abilities, or were families with great heritage.

Amongst the bourgeois, swordsmen, knights and mages were the most common.

Mages were a most welcomed profession as most animals had a certain amount of physical damage resistance. This profession was therefore very well sought.

Mages too had a certain divide amongst them in terms of power. The more common elemental mages were regarded as low class and the more powerful unique elemental mages, were considered as high class.

Humanity at this time, was safe once more. Another crisis averted. Who knew that the real threat to their existence was not what lay out there, but what they had harbored within them. The real beasts lay not in the new environment, but in their hearts..