They called it the Dawn of the Rifts—the day that shattered everything humanity thought they knew.

Across every continent, at random, shimmering portals began to appear, each a window into a place that defied all reason. Within those rifts lay worlds unlike Earth, teeming with grotesque monsters and elusive treasures, powerful artifacts buried in the depths, waiting to be claimed. At first, humanity panicked. But in time, they adapted, like they always did, and a new era began.

The rifts were dangerous, unpredictable; they would tear open, pouring creatures into cities and towns. Entire populations were at risk, yet those who ventured into the rifts soon discovered that they could come back with…something more. Power, in a word. Skills, honed through the thrill and danger of combat, that made them stronger, faster, sharper. Humanity, once ordinary, found itself transformed, capable of battling the beasts that had once seemed unbeatable.

In response, societies reshaped themselves around this new frontier. From the remnants of ancient traditions and modern necessity, the Guardian Guilds emerged. The Guardians became heroes, charged with defending the cities and exploring the rifts. Some sought fame; others, fortune. But no matter their reasons, they were humanity’s first line of defense, and their courage and sacrifice kept the world from plunging into chaos.

For those who sought to join their ranks, academies like Astraea were founded—a place to train and cultivate the next generation of Guardians. Young men and women with budding powers arrived from all over the world, ready to be molded into warriors, scholars, and strategists. Astraea Academy was known to be ruthless; its instructors demanded only the best, preparing their students to face the unpredictable horrors lurking within the rifts. But for those who could endure, the rewards were worth it: the strength to protect, the power to change their fates, and the chance to uncover mysteries hidden within the rifts.

The rifts were said to grow stronger with each generation, and so did humanity’s abilities. Some speculated it was a natural evolution, while others whispered that humanity was simply a mirror to the monsters, that their powers were as unnatural as the rifts themselves. But most students didn’t dwell on these theories. They came to Astraea with one purpose: to become Guardians, to seize their destiny in a world that demanded strength.

Beneath the academy’s high stone walls, new initiates gathered, eyes bright with hope and fear. They’d come to Astraea seeking power, perhaps even fame, though the academy was quick to remind them that few graduates made it to the ranks of the Guardian Guilds. Yet every student here knew the stakes—no one would cower from the challenge.

In the silence of the academy grounds, there lingered an understanding: the rifts were opening more frequently. The threats were multiplying. And while humanity had grown stronger, so too had the monsters waiting beyond the portals. As long as the rifts existed, the battle would never end.

And so, with every new student, every rift conquered, and every Guardian born, humanity held the line against the unknown—pushing forward, step by dangerous step, into a future both terrifying and extraordinary.