From as far back as they can tell Atsyn always held a mystical nature to it, having mana within everything that helps you tap into that mystical side. They would soon call this system 'Way of The World'. Those connected to the world were called many things. Witches, Mages, and recently, Benders. Eventually they learned their mistake, realizing it was two systems and not one. The second one is named 'Way of The Creature'.
'Way of The World' is a system where you gain the ability to learn from the world and tap into its power. Bending it to your will as you become a part of it. Many people do the first step of becoming a bender by creating Mana Core in the right side of their chest. Not too hard and painful when done slow. The last step is when you merge your Mana Core and Heart together forming a Mana Heart to become a Bender. The pain is what few could survive for there's no doing it slowly. For this system you must start with the basics to gradually learn and adapt your body so it's capable of handling other advanced Bendings.
From the start you are a Novice with the study of Waves. Nowadays it takes approximately 3 months each to get a grasp of the basics. There are 4 different waves, and they are,
Seismic, the waves that travel through land.
Aquatic, the waves that travel through water or liquids.
Sonic, the waves that travel through air.
Lastly,
Psionic, the waves that travel through realms. Often seen as the spiritual and magical nature wave.
Next is the Basics, The study of Bending. This is also where they get their modern term Benders. Most Benders stop at the basics to only help serve their modern living. The Basics hold 4 more studies only which 3 you can pick from. Each one takes about 8 months to gain the basics of. Trying to study more than you should leads to dire consequences as well as studying more than one at a time. This is the study of solid, liquid, gas, and plasma which primarily takes the form of electricity, and is known as such.
After Basic is Intermediate, The study of Control. With 4 more paths only 2 of which can be chosen. Each one takes 4 years to grasp the basics of. These 4 are Volcano, Glacier, Clouds (also known as Shadows), and Veil (also known as Phasing).
The Intermediate is not so simple as choosing what you want to study, it's something you must know beforehand. Depending on which bending you decided may limit your options.
For the study of Veil, you must have sufficient control over your Psionic Waves.
For the study of Clouds, you must have Gas and Liquid bending.
For the study of Volcano, Gas and Solid bending.
Lastly,
For the study of Glacier, Solid and Liquid bending.
After Intermediate is Advance with 3 options but only 1 to choose from. Similar to Intermediate, depending on what you choose may limit your options. Taking 6 years to grasp the basics of. These options are,
Beast, requiring the study of Shadows.
Nature, requiring the studies of both Volcano and Glacier.
Lastly,
Spirits, requiring the study of Phasing.
After advance is Master with 4 for options and 2 of which they can be selected each of which taking 10 years to grasp the basics of. Coming in pairs these are Life & Death, Space & Gravity, Mortal & Spirit, lastly Order & Chaos.
And that is the system of 'Way of The World', next I will explain 'Way of The Creature'. This one affects all living beings, granting them skills that need to be activated by thought or speech for the unfocused. The premise was quite simple, if you want to do something better or at all… then keep doing it, crave it even.
If you want a skill to help you jump, then keep jumping. Want to jump, feel and think about what it means to jump. The more you do it, the stronger your desire, the more likely you'll gain the skill. Even a simple jumping skill could be unique to others. Even a cripple can gain the skill to stand with enough effort. Some played with fire so much and got burned by it just as often, they gained a skill to conjure the flames themselves.
A skill used enough while understanding it has a chance to evolve into a trait. Something that will become second nature. In the early years of the first calendar, in the early 1000s B.A, (Before the Arrival). 'Way of The Creature' undergoes its first mutation. This mutation had a chance to turn traits into Bloodline Traits. It's when you gain so much knowledge, efficiency and use it so frequently it begins to engrave into your DNA. Bloodline Traits have a chance to be passed down to your offspring.
This sparked a new era of selective breeding. The rise of dynasties returned slightly different. Countless dynasties were formed, large and small alike. Their purpose was selecting and preserving their bloodlines. Most dynasties held multiple families within it under one banner like the Blood Dynasty Esmeralda and Marcellus were in. Although some were held by only one family like their arch enemy the Dragon Dynasty and the World Government. Dynasties slowly took over once more, finding their way into the royal courts. Although most dynasties had groups of families and bloodlines working together to survive on the land with each family taking on a different role according to their blood.
In the early 2000s B.A, the planet shook for the first time. The cause originated from the center of the universe. Yet is still unknown to the people of Atsyn, but the side effect was. This caused the second mutation to happen. This mutation created Mutants. Those gaining Bloodline Traits seemingly at random, even being born with them. The Mutants soon also went by 'Those Touched by Fate'. Some call this 'Fate's Mutation'. Through studies it was found Mutants often gain Bloodline Traits from traits they have or would have. As well as do or will desire or need to survive. As if the past, present and future had aligned, and a piece of the future came back.
Some thought it was a blessing while others thought it was a curse. Not all had a graceful appearance after they mutated. Even worse, many gained a Bloodline that felt opposite they're very personality. A nurse getting the ability to kill and torture with a single touch if they wanted to. This was also the rise of heroes and villains.
Studies also say it may affect the affinities you have to the elements as well. The higher the affinity, the easier and more natural it feels controlling, manipulating, and switching between the elements when casting spells and using magic. Especially switching between handling opposite elements. While having Mana Heart makes it all second nature. Not recurring deep focus and just understanding. The basic elements being, Earth, Air, Water, Fire, Electricity, Psionic, Holy, Demonic, Light, Shadow, and Dark. Complex elements being lava, iron, sand, and etc. Even without a Mana Core everyone could learn to do basic magic. Mana Cores being extremely rare and even a myth at times but over the years it became more of a standard to gain Mana Core, even taught in schools.
There is also Chaos Mana, World Mana, and Neutral Mana. World Mana is what's within everything, taking the color of a slight dark blue. It follows rules, which is the opposite of chaos. Great power at devastating costs, Taking the color of a slight dark orange. Neutral is white. All Mana start white before turning other colors.
There is a birth defect that causes a person's mana to be neutral. It's wonderful for wanting to cast spells and change between affinities easily but can cause permanent effects. Turning your hair, eyes, or skin color white, although it can be other colors depending on your affinities. If you already had Mana Core and gained a personal color Mana, such as red. You have a greater chance to turn your hair and/or skin color a shade of red. Over the years people intentionally try to get neutral mana rather for easier casting and bending or to simply change their natural skin color.
And that is the two systems Atsyn began with. In the early 3000s that would change. 3079A.A. (After the Arrival) to be exact. The year the planet shook for the second time more violently than the last. This event was so destructive and massive that collectively every Atsynian decided on resetting the calendar to mark the day where everything arrived. Portals appeared with monsters and creatures pouring out. Riffs to the demon realm opened up starting the endless war. Angels came down from heaven, even the appearance of a few gods. The veil to the spirit realm ripped and was for all to see. Vampires and werewolves came out of hiding to help defend the planet from the invaders and became crucial players in the survival of Atsyn.
The gods created a new system that would eventually be called 'Towers of Evolution'. Dungeons begin appearing all around the world holding just as many treasures as monsters. In the beginning the gods deemed everybody worthy to connect with the system with no limits for the survival of mankind. The more you killed monsters and demons, The stronger you became by leveling up and gaining points to distribute. The gods even issued quests through floating screens appearing for each individual's face. Hidden from others unless you mentally allow it.
Gaining rewards and more level points to further increase your strength. Although killing wasn't the only way to level up, a baker can get just that strong by continuing their profession as Baker. You can also further control the screens with your thoughts or tapping on the floating screen to do a lot of things. Buying, selling, grouping up with others to share experience, and much more.
With each level you got five points to allocate. You could place it into,
Strength, increasing your physical damage and how much you can carry. If you allow it to increase your muscle mass, you will gain an extra bonus to your natural strength.
You could put it into Defense, reducing your physical damage taken and increasing your overall density.
Into Vitality, increasing your overall health. Improving your body functions and natural resistances as well as prolong your Dying State. Allowing you to cling to life a little longer for a last stand or until you can be healed.
Then you have Agility, increasing your reaction speed, flexibility, accuracy, balance, and overall proprioception. Allowing you to better know where your body is within space.
You also have Intelligence, increasing your mental processing speed, memory, psionic abilities, shields, as well as further increasing resistances from mental attacks.
Lastly,
You have Perception, increasing your overall senses, spirit efficiency, and magic. Magic is the broad term for all of your Skills, Traits, Bendings, and Mana efficiency.
Once more, you have Strength, Defense, Vitality, Agility, Intelligence, and Perception.
After the arrival and the start of the endless war the population quickly began to drop by the billions. Nearly 27 billion dropped down to a little over 5 billion that is known. The demons took a permanent home to the east on the main continent. 8 known sanctuaries were built. Little to no communication between them outside of the main two sanctuaries that reside in the North and South of the main continent. Each of which holds approximately 1 billion each.
The sanctuaries are built with giant dome barriers around them to repel the most dangerous of beasts and monsters from aimlessly wandering in. Sanctuaries are built in a circle as two rings. The outer ring is populated with farmers and forests along with preserved wildlife. They tend to build more outwards. The inner walls are where the majority resides. They tend to build upwards.
Through hundreds of years, they slowly built the sanctuaries. As humanity's survival looked more promising the Angels slowly left, the spirits slowly vanished inside as the veil was repaired. The werewolves migrated up north while the vampires primarily stayed down south. Although they returned to hiding, they were no longer mere legends. A lot of the dungeons were destroyed. The few dungeons that survived are the ones sanctuaries were built around.
The dungeons grew stronger as well and turned into Towers. Portals remained popping up everywhere around the world. Due to the power surrounding the sanctuaries much fewer showed up there. Most of the portals that do appear tend to be on the edges of the outer ring, and closer to the center of the sanctuary where the tower resides. The ones that are more of a threat tend to be closer to the tower. Portals also went by the new name Gates. Now they keep the monsters inside until the gate breaks and they pour out. Needing to be constantly maintained or destroying the core within to make the gate disappear.
As the gods left, they changed the system. Every 10 levels you would need to enter the 'Tower of Evolution' and defeat the boss If you wish to continue leveling. You could go up the tower to fight in a group or you can go down the tower and progress alone. Upon gaining the system you can choose a class from the basic selection that can be upgraded later on based on the individual. The starters are Fighter, Defender, Mage, or Support. More might be provided as an option if conditions met. Professions can also be chosen to help level you up without needing to fight monsters. Professions can be gained during selection or just by doing a job. An additional class and profession slot can be chosen every 10 levels as well. Additional class needing you to defeat the boss first.
Over the millennia, the North and South gradually adopted different means of survival. The North prioritized connecting with the Earth. Becoming Benders and efficient skill wielders. The North helped train and work with the animals of the land who also were affected by the arrival. The ability to grow stronger and gain sentience, even evolving with humanoid forms. Due to the cooperation and close proximity, animal and human skills begin to merge. Human copying animals, animals copying each other as well as humans. The North call this 'Natural Evolution', especially when crossbreeding began amongst everyone, blending bloodlines and creating Chimeras. DNA of two or more species combined. Although the humanoid animals prefer the term Chimera as well to better separate from their unevolved counterparts. Sharing the term helped inspire unity which was needed since the North primarily went up the tower to collect its riches and to grow stronger together. They say werewolves hide amongst them in plain sight, but you can never be sure since they could simply be a chimera. It's also where most surviving dynasties reside.
The South took a different approach, prioritizing technology over nature. Blending magic and technology taking a more cybernetic approach. Focusing on harnessing their inherent mana, not trying to bend the world but only to better control the mana itself. Pouring it into technology and letting it create the desired effects. Mana would take the term Battery, for it was one of the main sources if not only source to power the technology. Also used for linking technology to you with your unique battery signature. Creating Mana Heart in the right side of their chest to gradually be able to learn more affinities they're not naturally born with to integrate in their technology. The same way to becoming a bender yet pushing all potential outward instead of inward.
Many often change their bodies with cybernetics to further enhance themselves. Along with cybernetics, drones and androids started becoming more common. Many people from the South grew to despise animals and nature, so they're often seen walking with drones or androids as companions.
This hatred was just one reason that sparked the war between the North and South, although no one dared to say the word. In fear of greater artillery and forcing the higher rankers who primarily served themselves joining that would devastate both sides. Content went constant mid to large battles away from sanctuaries and very small hyper targeted battles within sanctuaries. More afraid of the rankers than the public outcry if civilians got involved.
The hatred between the two countries will not cease in the long-distance foreseeable future. Especially as the south primarily goes down the tower which doesn't allow you to bring anyone else. The act of most people going down the tower helps spread distrust and greed amongst everyone. Countless factions rising and falling every day. Where the only freedom is within the territory you hold or at the mercy of the ruler of the territory, you're in.
Often find drones and androids running shops or patrolling territories. Few places don't allow them since they can get very crowded. It's normal for those who can afford it to bring the least one everywhere with them as a guard, especially when crime tends to be very high. Vampires are known to be around, but nobody knows where. Like the truth no one can prove but everybody knows it's true.
The levels and the Tower form different rankings depending on how strong you are. The first rank is Unawakened or Primal if you're an animal, seen as level 0. The second rank is Sentient, level 1 to 10. You can reach level 1 by entering the tower, a portal, or touching a class stone. When you reach level 1 you become aware of the world screen, unless a special feat was done. The screen helps you view things, receive messages and quest from others, the world, and the gods you worship. Those who are Sentient are often seen as street level threats.
The third rank is Awakened, level 11 to 20, reaching 11 you gain the ability to use your Aura. The act of pushing your will outwards. Often used to sense your surroundings or intimidating others by pouring feelings and power into your aura. Overwhelming power to even crush those too weak to bear it. Awakened people are often seen as city level threats.
The fourth rank is Chosen, level 21 to 30. Gaining the opportunity to learn the basics of a Master level bending without needing to progress through 'Way of The World'. This process leaves you vulnerable for 10 days. Those who are chosen are often seen as state level threats.
The fifth and last known rank is Divinity, level 31 to 40. You gain another opportunity to learn the basics of another Master level bending. Those who are divine are often seen as country level threats.