starting point

In a hidden galaxy, a colossal planet turns in silence; so vast that Earth would be a blueberry beside its watermelon bulk. Titans roam its surface, creatures so immense and powerful that even the bravest explorers tread lightly. Much of the land remains untouched, not by choice, but by fear. On this world, weakness is a death sentence.

Humanity survives on a single island, though calling it an island is generous. It spans the size of ancient Earth's Pangea. Here, humans cling to unity, for standing out invites predators that multiply with every step. Strength is the only currency. Worth must be proven through fire.

Deep within the forest canopy lives a tribe that builds its homes among the trees. In one such treetop dwelling, a young boy named Zill studies the sky with bright, curious eyes. Seven years old, short hair, lean muscles, and a mind full of restless imagination he dreams of the world beyond the branches.

His mother, Fern, lands beside him with the grace of a falling leaf. Long dark hair, brown eyes, and a calm that hides a dangerous profession.

"Zill," she says, brushing his hair. "I have an important assignment. I need you at your best. No trouble while I'm gone."

"I always give my best," he mutters.

She raises an eyebrow. He quickly hugs her. "Be careful. I know your work is dangerous… even if you don't say it."

She sighs, kisses his forehead, and nods. "The chief will watch over you. Tell him if anything happens."

Then she drops from the treetop—four stories down—landing without a sound.

Her squad waits below:

- Ti, a mountain of muscle
- Re, sharp‑eyed and sharper‑minded
- Yi, the intellectual with piercing yellow eyes
- Gs, the terrain expert

Fern nods. In the blink of an eye, they vanish into the forest, moving at 55 miles per hour toward their objective: a suspiciously strong group reported in a nearby town.

Yi confirms four individuals inside a house made of hardened earth. No other life detected.

Inside, four figures sit around a table. At its center rests a box carved with ancient symbols. The leader—a man with brown eyes and a scar cutting across his cheek—raises his hand above it. The others follow.

Light spirals around the box. It levitates.

"The emperor of old sealed this world," the scarred man intones. "But a new emperor will rise. We, the Calamity, will make it so."

A pulse erupts from the box—passing through the house, the squad outside, and the entire continent. Something ancient breaks.

The earth convulses.

The squad staggers, shaken to their core.

Footsteps echo through the darkness—soft at first, then growing heavier.

The scarred man steps outside. "Unexpected guests. To whom do I owe the honor?"

Fern and her squad step into the moonlight.

She freezes.

Her breath catches.

Because the man standing before her—the one who survived the uncharted lands—is someone she never expected to see again.

Her little brother.