Prologue
It all started eight years ago… People were peacefully living their lives when out of nowhere a giant black hole appeared in the north. A tear between space and time that soon proved to be a colossal disaster for humanity. Time and the heavens distorted and the underworld emerged into the land of man. A great demon rose from its gap and plunged the land into an age of calamity.
As the shadows, soul-devouring monstrosities, started pouring into the human world and began devouring everything in their way, a secret organization called 'The Shifters' dared to face them. These warriors had banded together to purge demons and other forces of darkness for centuries. But even they had not seen an invasion like this before.
Even though the north had a small group of Shifters, it was quickly overwhelmed and, choosing to cut their losses, the northern villages were abandoned. Most Shifters and survivors left to defend the three cities in the centre, the important city Midgar in particular. After abandonment, a rapid annihilation of the northern villages followed before they were completely wiped from existence.
A lot was destroyed in those ten grueling days. The Slayers fought tooth and nail against the demon and its army; they barely succeeded in their mission to save humanity. People, however, learned from the great conflict and they started preparing for the shadows. Just to make sure that the event, now known as 'the Big Rift', would never occur again. With the help of the Shifters, magic barriers were built around the cities and villages. And with the organization now completely out of hiding, every village and city around the land now has a Shifter base.
Though these magic barriers now protect humanity, there are still many dangerous shadows roaming the earth. And if one were to leave these safe havens unprepared, he or she would either be very foolish or very brave. For you will have to fight for your life the minute you step outside.
