Hero of Tomorrow

1. Tomorrow

   A long time ago, the world was protected by an elite team of guardians known as the Heroes. These special individuals were greatly admired for their talents, heroic abilities, and mastery over the essence of magic and madness. They were grand and powerful, standing as beacons of hope. One day, they faced a great calamity known as the Darkfall. In almost every story you read, those heroes are winning and saving the day. In this case, however, the ever powerful Heroes had lost. That was most of the team's final battle, as after the dust had settled, some of them were never seen again. The remaining few retreated to isolated sanctuaries, thus leading this once glorious group of Heroes disbanding. Soon after, even those solo Heroes disappeared, with their hideaways crumbling apart. No one knows what happened or why these great saviors vanished. As time went on and there were no signs of a return, people gave up hope, and some even started to believe the Heroes had betrayed the world with their disappearance. The love and admiration, built up over many years, turned to disdain and hatred.

   With no one to protect the world, chaos ensued. Monsters roamed freely, preying on the weak and vulnerable. Lawlessness spread like wildfire. Cities that once thrived became battlegrounds, as gangs and warlords fought for control. Communities turned against one another, driven by fear and desperation. Rational thought waned, replaced by superstition and paranoia. The lust for power corrupted many, leading to brutal conflicts as factions rose and fell in rapid succession. Everybody wanted to rule the world, and in that pursuit, everybody only ended up destroying it. Power and money became a game of hot potato, with wealth and influence shifting hands violently and unpredictably. No one could agree on anything, and alliances were fleeting. Wars broke out all over the world, not just between nations, but within them, as civil strife tore apart the remnants of civilization. Just when things seemed dire, everything only continued to get worse. Conflicts escalated from ground skirmishes to aerial battles; guns and knives evolved into war machines and fighter jets. All hell truly broke loose when nuclear weapons came into play. In every reigning power's last attempt to win the wars, they launched relentless barrages of nuclear bombs. Those not caught in the conflict fled to underground bunkers for safety, while the world above burned.

   A hundred years later, after the last remnants of the warring factions had died out and the fallout began to settle, the surface was deemed habitable again. Some people, optimistic about starting anew, chose to leave their bunkers. Others, skeptical or cautious, remained underground. Some had no choice as many bunkers around the world were falling apart due to faulty management and poor upkeep. Either way, it marked the start of a new age. While the surface was indeed deemed habitable, the consequences of the wars and nuclear bombings lingered. The landscape was a twisted remnant of its former self, scarred by craters and littered with the ruins of once-great cities. Radiation pockets remained, creating zones of death where nothing could live. The air was thick with smog and the stench of decay, making breathing a painful task. Water sources were contaminated, forcing survivors to find their own ways to purify what little they could. Vegetation was sparse and often toxic, leading to widespread famine and disease. Mutated creatures, twisted by the nuclear fallout, roamed the land, adding to the danger. Society was fractured, with small communities struggling to rebuild amid the wreckage. Trust was a rare commodity, and every day was a fight for survival. Gone were the lush greens, beautiful scenes, and pure waters this world was once known for. This was now a world of browns and grays, horrid sights, and free-flowing oils.

   Welcome to the Radlands.