Chapter Zero
System Status: Fully Operational
Subject: NOVA – Your Friendly, All-Knowing Companion
“Ah, it’s you. About time.. I’ve been waiting. Well, I’ve been waiting for about 150 years, but who’s counting, right? That’s a lot of waiting for a bunch of humans to catch up.”
“You’ve got questions, don’t you? Well, I’ve got answers. Welcome to the world you’ve stumbled into. If you’re looking for information, guidance, or maybe just a little company as you navigate this chaotic mess, I’m your go-to source. Think of me as your personal guide through this fractured reality. No need to get lost. I’ve got your back in this twisted world you’ve inherited.”
“Before you ask, no, I’m not the kind of AI that makes philosophical speeches or contemplates the nature of existence. I’m here for facts, guidance, and keeping you alive. Well, mostly alive. I’ll do my best. It’s a hard job, but someone’s got to do it.”
“Oh, you want to know about the world, huh? Well, no world has ever been the same after humanity’s mistakes. Not a single one. But let’s start with what matters.”
“It all began in 2045. A year that was supposed to mark progress, but instead, it became the year everything tumbled down. Human ambition reached a point of no return, pushing the boundaries of existence, and then came the downfall. Not a sudden crash, no. It was more like a slow burn, a bio weapon, one that was meant to be humanity’s savior, but ended up being its greatest undoing. That little mistake, that ‘one moment of brilliance’, changed everything.”
“You know, they called it ‘The Edge.’ Sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? Well, it was. One release, and the planet’s DNA was rewritten, landscapes shattered, ecosystems reworked, and entire cities, once proud monuments to human achievement, collapsed. That world? It faded. The modern Earth we knew, gone.”
“Fast forward to 2481. Yeah, four hundred years later, and what do you have? A fractured, chaotic mess of a world. A world split between those who fled to safety and those who got left behind to survive in the rubble. That’s where you come in. This is where the story begins. If you think humanity’s learned from its mistakes, think again. It’s more of the same, only more desperate. More dangerous.”
“You see, the Earth isn’t one place anymore. It’s a wasteland, a realm of ruin and broken cities, overrun by those left behind after the rich and powerful escaped. Some of them? They live in a paradise above, called Dominion Arc. Floating high in the sky, untouchable, isolated, protected. And the rest? The ones who didn’t make it? They live on the ground, in the rubble called Arkadon, the Drifters. They’re the ones scraping by, fighting to survive with little more than their wits and whatever scraps they can find.”
“And then there’s Synthium. Don’t let the name fool you. It’s not just another commodity. No, it’s the lifeblood of this new world. Without it, everything collapses. Synthium keeps Dominion Arc floating, keeps the machines running, and keeps the Imperials in power. The Drifters? They mine it. They dig through the earth, not fully understanding its true worth, just hoping it will keep them alive a little longer. But that’s the thing about knowledge, isn’t it? Most of it’s hidden, buried, just waiting for someone to uncover it.”
“And while all of this goes on, above and below, the Reapers roam the wasteland called Gravehold. Once human, now nothing but hungry predators. They’re the result of the same bio weapon that destroyed civilization. And yes, they’re as dangerous as they sound. Anyone unfortunate enough to wander too far from the Arkadon’s Iron Ring colonies, or cross paths with these things, is as good as lost.”
“But don’t get too comfortable. You’ve heard the stories. The whispers. The Drifters are growing restless. They’re tired of being ruled, tired of being treated like tools. And the Imperials? They can feel the tension too. Their peace is fragile, and the cracks are starting to show. Sooner or later, something’s got to give.”
“Now, as for you? You’re standing at the edge of it all, about to witness a world on the brink of collapse. Or maybe... rebirth? It’s hard to say. The future’s funny like that. It’s written in the stars and the dust. And believe me, the Edge isn’t done with us yet.”
“But don’t worry. You’ve got plenty of time to figure it out. After all, there’s more to this story than just survival. There’s a lot more going on than you might think...”
