A shadow on the sun

Prologue

In the vast and intricate tapestry of existence, energy is the fundamental force that binds and shapes all things. It flows through every living being, every object, and every breath of air, manifesting as either positive or negative currents. While energy is often mistaken for elemental power, it is something far deeper and more profound—a cosmic essence that defines the very nature of the universe.

Every object in the world, whether stone or star, contains a perfect balance of positive and negative energy, a neutral harmony that ensures its stability. But living beings are different. Their actions and choices tip the scales, aligning them more toward one energy or the other. The righteous and benevolent accumulate positive energy, while the cruel and malevolent amass negative energy. For most, these energies remain within the bounds of their mortal lives, but for some, they unlock extraordinary abilities.

Energy users are divided into several categories, each defined by the extent of their power and mastery:
* Simple Users(Bruisers): Those who can channel energy into their physical actions, enhancing their strength or resilience. They possess no special techniques, their power limited to basic augmentation.
* Technique Users: A step above simple users, these individuals have refined their control over energy, allowing them to perform specific techniques. Rarely, some may even master more than one.
* Inheritors: Individuals who carry fragments of the power once held by the Primes. They can access limited aspects of the godlike abilities the Primes wielded, though never the full extent.
* Primes: Reincarnations of ancient gods, the Primes are beings of immense potential. However, the human body is too frail to contain such power all at once. To unlock their full abilities, a Prime must undergo ascensions, a process where they gradually feed their aura—a mystic force that thrives on intense emotions such as happiness, anger, or despair. The aura, if starved, can drive its host to experience traumatic or euphoric events, forcing them to ascend.

However, energy is not without its dangers. When one accidentally channels an equal amount of positive and negative energy simultaneously, a phenomenon known as energy clog occurs. This results in the creation of a small amount of neutral energy. While this neutral energy is not enough to corrupt a person into a Nertal—a being lost to the corruption of neutral energy—it can temporarily block the flow of energy within the user, rendering them powerless for a brief period.

Across the world, these powers have shaped civilizations and conflicts, but no place is more defined by its relationship with energy than the land of Enerexia. Spanning what was once known as Russia, China, and other eastern parts of Asia, Enerexia is a nation born from rebellion. In the year 43 of the new era, its founders rejected the global acceptance of energy, viewing it as a corrupting influence that must be eradicated. Their defiance led them to the discovery of hexfoil—a rare mineral that fell to Earth from meteors long ago.

Hexfoil, in its purest form, possesses the unique ability to negate all forms of energy, rendering even the most powerful abilities useless. It became the cornerstone of Enerexia's power, used to create weapons and tools designed to suppress and eliminate energy users. However, over the millennia, the original deposits of hexfoil were exhausted, and the mineral was ground into dust from overuse. Today, hexfoil with a purity of 60% is considered high-grade, a shadow of its former potency. Yet, it remains a critical tool in Enerexia's arsenal, as the nation continues its crusade against those who wield energy.

However, during the 1700s, a professor named Vladimir Starkovich found a way to synthesize 100% pure hexfoil. Even after numerous attempts in 1846, 1862, 1868 and up until the last attempt in 2007, nobody managed to steal or replicate that recipe, leaving enerexians as the only people able to create hexfoil.

Enerexia's campaign evolved into a twisted religion between the years 700 and 1200, fueled by the belief that purging the world of energy users would prevent the emergence of dangerous Domains—pockets of reality created by massive concentrations of energy. These Domains are gateways to parallel dimensions, filled with deadly beasts and powerful artifacts. In rare cases they can escape into the world, wreaking havoc.

Generations of exposure to hexfoil have left the people of Enerexia with abnormally low levels of energy. Though never entirely null, their connection to energy is weakened, an oath to the profound promise they made against energy.

Amidst this complex world, where energy defines fate, there exist beings known as angels. These are not the heavenly messengers of human religion, but a species from a parallel dimension. The name "angel" was given to them by humans, inspired by their pure white hair and unparalleled mastery over energy. These beings are ruled by a pantheon of gods, echoing the myths of ancient Greece, and their mission on Earth is singular: to prevent the world from collapsing under the weight of its own power.

Despite their otherworldly origins, angels are deeply intertwined with humanity. Their unique biology allows them to interbreed with humans, resulting in half-blood descendants who still carry the dominant angelic traits. A half-blood can pass on these traits through generations, ensuring that the power of the angels remains potent, even diluted. However, both humans and angels regard interbreeding as something to look down upon and is even seen as traitorous behavior in certain situations. Of course, nobody dares to say any of that out loud thanks to Michael.

Michael is the strongest of the angels, a being of immense power who commands the North America Domain Raiding Association(NADRA). His presence alone is enough to keep the balance of power in check, and his lineage—two sons and two daughters—are a proof of the enduring might of the angels.