"…An endless sky. Stars glittering. Somewhere in the infinite universe… what year is it? What time? Who knows?*
*Is the Earth still spinning?*
*Is it still alive?*
*Years ago, when humanity gazed at the sky… at that beautiful "star"... No one could have guessed…*
*That this FALLING "STAR" was not a star at all.*
*It came to be known as the APOCALYPSE.*
*A powerful object called the Sacred Sphere crashed into Earth long ago. Two-thirds of the world was destroyed.*
*Humanity was ruined… and then reborn.*
*Known nations, civilizations—all vanished. The Earth was divided into new states…*
*Dragon, Taka, and the Underground Dynasty emerged as the most powerful, the most prominent among them.*
*Those who remained on the surface abandoned empires. A new Government took hold, ruled by a select few.*
*Those who fled belowground were deceived. And so, the underground fell into the grasp of a single royal family.*
*The Sacred Sphere shattered, scattering across this ruined "Hell"…*
*From its fragments, four primal forces were born—*
*Helios, Tharyanos, Satellite, and… Otto*
*Each of these forces empowered ten lesser fragments. To wield their full power, one had to possess all eleven pieces: one core, and ten subordinate fragments…*
*Few fragments fell into the underground.*
*But the surface governments began researching them.*
*The newly reborn world needed energy. So, they began developing artificial alternatives…*
*And thus, the energy now known as "Macu" was created…"*
——————
*The tolling bell seemed to pierce the air… Then, abruptly, it stopped. Someone strode forward with sharp, deliberate steps.*
*All eyes were on him.*
*He paused—almost deliberately—as if relishing the crowd's anticipation.*
*But the wait didn't last long. He parted his lips and spoke:*
*"The Death Tournament's group stages have concluded, honored spectators! As you already know, today marks the first day of the elimination matches… This year's tournament is special. After a years-long hiatus, we return—and the prize is greater than ever! As you're aware, a fragment of the Sacred Sphere was recently discovered. Unlike previous fragments, it showed no reaction… Yet that does not diminish its immeasurable value! The champion of this tournament will be rewarded with this magnificent fragment!"*
*The crowd erupted. How strange. They cheered as if the fragment would be handed to them—as if this weren't just another way of saying, "Our apologies, we couldn't make it work, so we're giving it to you… but if it *does* work, we'll take it back."*
*Then, the battle bell rang.*
*Two figures stepped slowly into the arena.*
*One was a man with a scarred eye, a tooth jutting from his mouth, and iron blades strapped to his hands like claws. He stood calmly, waiting for his opponent.*
*And then—what's this?*
*His rival stepped forward: a young man dressed in light attire, unarmed, his hair styled with effortless cool. He looked too young—maybe not even twenty. Yet he'd made it this far. Did that mean he shouldn't be underestimated? Or was it pure luck?*
*At that very moment… the bell tolled, signaling the start of the fight."*
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File #001
Macu Archives
Macu energy is an artificial power source developed by humanity in the post-Apocalyptic era. It is most commonly recognized in its **green liquid form**, though it can manifest in other states. In its purest form, it is **highly toxic to ordinary humans**.
Applications:
1. **Reanimated Soldiers** – Corpses are injected with Macu, transforming them into combatants.
2. **Voluntary Enhancements** – Some individuals willingly undergo Macu infusion to become enhanced soldiers, retaining their consciousness.
3. **Synthetic Entities** – In rare cases, pure Macu energy can be forged into living weapons or other… *unnatural* creations.