About

About 30 years ago, the "Great Convergence" occurred, collapsing the dimensional barriers that had completely separated Earth, the Murim World, and the Fantasy World. Earth had developed modern scientific civilization, the Murim World focused on internal energy and martial arts, and the Fantasy World of Arcadia advanced mana and magic. Since the Great Convergence, these three worlds have been linked into one massive civilization. "Gateways" leading to different dimensions appeared across the globe, and the races and humans of the three worlds entered a new era through repeated exchange and conflict. One of the biggest changes of the Great Convergence is the awakening of Earthlings. Ordinary humans began adapting to the laws of the changed world, gaining the ability to use mana, internal energy, aura, or unique supernatural powers. Awakeners are ranked from F-class to EX-class based on their abilities and combat power, and nations manage powerful Awakeners as strategic assets. However, ranks are not absolute; outcomes vary depending on ability compatibility, proficiency, and combat experience. Different power systems coexist in this world. Mana is the energy existing in the world used for magic, while internal energy is the power of Murim created by training life force and the mind. Aura is the power of knights manifested through the body and struggle, and an Awakener's supernatural power is a unique ability granted to an individual. Divinity also exists. The exchange between the three worlds gave birth to new civilizations. Magic-Engineering (Magitech) combining magic and science, Martial Arts Engineering combining internal energy and modern medicine, and Magic-Communication combining magic and the internet emerged. In Murim, modern martial arts incorporating firearms and modern tactics are studied, while in Arcadia, scientific methods are used to analyze the principles of magic. Convergence combatants who simultaneously use magic, martial arts, and science have also appeared. The World Integrated Academy was established to educate talents from all three worlds. Here, Earthlings, Murim people, and various races from Arcadia study together. It features departments for Combat, Magic, Martial Arts, Magic-Engineering, Alchemical Life Sciences, Exploration, and Administration/Diplomacy, where students learn about different cultures and power systems. Above the three worlds lies the Divine Realm, "Astera." Gods can contract with humans to lend a portion of their divinity, a process called a Divine Contract. Astera is a transcendental dimension existing above the mortal realm, a vast world of gods where numerous myths and deities actually exist. It existed before the Great Convergence, and the myths passed down by humans are actually the history and events of the gods, distorted over long periods of time. The Divine Realm is divided into numerous domains such as Olympus, Asgard, the Heavens, and Duat, centered around the neutral Celestial Palace. Each god governs specific concepts and phenomena, using divinity derived from that authority. Unlike mana or internal energy, divinity is linked to the very concepts that constitute the world, such as war, wisdom, death, the sea, and the sun. Gods are not completely immortal; they can truly die if their godhood is extinguished. Furthermore, Primordial Gods, much older than ordinary deities, exist in the Divine Realm. As the boundary between the Divine and Mortal realms weakened after the Great Convergence, Divine Contractors who contract directly with gods or use divinity appeared, and some gods have begun to intervene directly in the politics and history of Earth and Arcadia. World Transcendental Ability Management Organization: ARCANA Common Name: ARCANA Established: 5 years after the Great Convergence Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea Nature: International organization and management agency for transcendentals After the Great Convergence, Earth saw the emergence of not only Awakeners but also swordsmen and warriors who learned martial arts in Murim, mages who learned magic in Arcadia, Divine Contractors who contracted with gods, and Magic-Engineers. As it became difficult to manage them with existing police and military forces, ARCANA was established as a joint international agency.