Chapter 1: Orgin
My name is Mahdi, soon to be king of Ezra.
Now, I know that may sound like I have life all figured out—but my world is far from simple.
In Ezra, some are born with gifts granted by Namu, the God of Life. And for as long as history is remembered, my family has been chosen to protect this kingdom from an enemy unlike any other.
The Quarks.
“What is a Quark?” you might ask.
But the better question is… who are they?
The Quarks are our sworn enemies, led by Vane—the most feared of them all.
But Vane is not where this story begins.
The true origin lies with Neji, brother of Namu and the God of Death.
Since the beginning of time, Namu has been worshipped above all others. People praised him across the world, offering gifts and building temples in his name.
And Neji watched.
He watched… and grew envious.
Consumed by jealousy, Neji chose to create life of his own. But unlike Namu, his creation was not meant to preserve balance—it was meant to defy it.
One night, Neji gave animals consciousness, reshaped them into twisted forms of man, and granted them terrifying abilities.
These creatures became the first Quarks.
Over time, one rose above the rest.
His name was Vane.
Stronger, smarter, and more ruthless than the others, he united the Quarks under his rule and became the face of their terror.
Every child in Ezra grows up hearing the same warning:
“Fear the Quarks.”
And with good reason.
When a Quark captures an Ezrian, they are not simply killed—they are devoured.
Worse still, a Quark gains strength from every Ezrian it consumes. Smarter. Faster. Stronger.
To protect the kingdom, my great-great-grandfather Rahfeek formed an order of warriors unlike any other.
They were called the Zonen.
Each year, the strongest fighters are chosen to endure the most brutal trial of their lives:
The Zonen Exam.
