Human DNA is 99.9% identical from person to person, spread across roughly 3.2 billion base pairs. Yet within that remaining **0.1%—about three million genetic differences—lies the reason every human being is unique.

  From those few million variations come trillions of possible genetic combinations that shape who we are. Even identical twins, who share the same DNA, grow into different people as their environments influence them over time. Small biological differences still appear—fingerprints, subtle traits, tiny mutations.

  It’s strange to think that something so small can shape a life.

  Maybe that’s what pushed me toward danger. Toward curiosity. Toward wanting to see what was beyond the safe boundaries everyone else accepted.

  I wanted to see the other side.

  The other side of what?

  Well… that will take some time to explain.

  But first, you need some background.

  Over four hundred years ago, the world changed.

  At first the reports sounded like myths—stories passed between sailors and travelers who claimed to have seen impossible things. Creatures from legends began appearing across the globe. Some resembled beings from ancient folklore, while others were entirely new, behaving in ways no one had ever witnessed before.

  Among humans, strange abilities began to appear as well.

  Some people could transform into animals, much like the werewolves described in old tales. Others possessed extraordinary resilience, able to regenerate damaged limbs and survive injuries that would kill any normal person. Some developed heightened senses so powerful they could detect the smallest changes in their surroundings.

  Then came individuals capable of manipulating the world around them.

  Men and women appeared who could control wind, water, fire, or stone as if the elements themselves obeyed them. They could move objects without touching them, bend energy, and perform feats that once belonged only in stories of wizards and witches.

  Others displayed powers that seemed to come directly from within their bodies. Some possessed superhuman strength. Some could ignite themselves in flame, freeze the air around them, or unleash bursts of energy that defied explanation.

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  But humans were not the only newcomers.

  Creatures began appearing across the world as well—animals thought to exist only in legends. Unicorns were spotted in remote forests. Massive minotaurs were reported wandering isolated mountain ranges. Griffins were seen soaring above distant cliffs.

  Alongside them came even stranger beings, creatures never mentioned in any myth or story.

  Not all of them were friendly.

  Humanity was unprepared for the chaos that followed. Entire regions suffered devastating losses as nations struggled to understand how to defend themselves against threats that seemed to break the laws of nature.

  Eventually, governments turned to the very people who possessed these strange abilities for help.

  Those people would come to be known as Irregulars.

  With the help of irregulars, humanity slowly regained control. Over time the world stabilized, though it would never truly return to the way it once was.

  Eventually, irregulars began integrating back into society. They lived among ordinary people, often indistinguishable from them—except for the abilities they carried.

  As the years passed, scientists and governments began categorizing these powers.

  Those who possessed overwhelming physical strength or abilities that manifested directly from their bodies were classified as Ultras, sometimes called Ult-Humans.

  Individuals capable of controlling elements or manipulating objects through supernatural forces became known as Mages.

  Those able to reshape their bodies or transform into animals—or even objects—were called Polymorphics, more commonly referred to as Morphers.

  Then there were those whose bodies displayed extraordinary durability and regeneration. These individuals could regrow limbs, withstand severe injuries, and possessed senses far beyond normal human limits. On average, they lived nearly 150 years, aging far slower than ordinary people.

  Their official classification became Invulnerables.

  But most people—including themselves—simply called them Immortals.

  Despite all this understanding, one question remained unanswered for centuries:

  Where did these creatures and powers come from?

  The answer was discovered during an expedition by French explorer Jean-Fran?ois de Galaup.

  During one of his voyages mapping the world’s coastlines, his ship encountered a massive serpent-like creature nearly half the length of the vessel itself. After a brutal battle, the crew managed to kill the beast.

  While investigating the shoreline nearby, Galaup noticed something unusual.

  A perfectly circular black void hovered just above the water near the coast. From it, strange fish and unfamiliar creatures occasionally slipped through into the ocean.

  After studying the phenomenon, Galaup concluded that this strange opening was not natural. It appeared to be some form of gateway—a passage connecting two different worlds.

  He named it “passerelle,” the French word for passageway.

  Today, it is simply called a Passeway.

  Over the centuries, more of these passageway were discovered scattered across the planet.

  With advancements in science, medicine, and engineering, humanity eventually learned how to manage the dangers they posed.

  But secrecy became necessary.

  Although irregulars still exist throughout society, their presence is largely hidden from the public eye.

  To most people, the supernatural is a distant reality they think is half way across the world.

  But beneath the surface of modern world society…

  It’s very real.

  And sooner or later, everyone connected to it chooses a side of the passageway.

  Including me.