BROKEN WORLD

Damian Denver was the kind of person people would be friends with just because he was naturally a funny human being.

He was genuinely a person with a good soul, incapable of hatred and dismay. He was one to help his enemies in their time of need. A bad trait to have in Kowareta Sekai, indeed. A worse trait to have in a war clan, as well.

Damian's kind nature is a true phenomenon in Kowareta Sekai. Not only because of how the town's people were molded and toughened to the ever-crazy occurrences, but also because of Damian's bloodline.

Damian's mother, Alessia Ramona Adkins-Denver, comes from a long line of Denver women who have been in Kowareta Sekai since the Mana Era, the era from which Strand came. The Twelfth Century.

The Twelfth Century, specifically the year 1177, is the year when Scythe Strand's wife, Isabella Strand passed away, seventy years after they married. They got married when Strand was twenty-one years old, in the year 1107.

This was the century of some of history's greatest and most significant events, for instance The Crusades, the Rise of the Gothic architecture, and the growth of universities in Europe.

It would also be the century that gave birth to the infamous Scythe Strand the Second. After the death of his wife, Strand's brewed resentment and unending rage exploded onto the Earth.

In 1179, while Genghis Khan just began his empire in Central Asia, Strand destroyed and massacred many different areas in South America, releasing famines and diseases due to his immortal, evil energy, amplified by his wrath and anger.

Within two days, in March of the year 1179, Strand murdered three-hundred thousand people, both directly and indirectly. Then, he went silent for a while.

Now, why am I mentioning Strand? Well, you see. Albeit Strand's immortality prohibits him from having a significant other, as represented by his deceased wife, Strand could still produce offspring.

And as luck would have it, unbeknownst to him, after having an eventful night with a young lady three years after the South American Massacre, in 1182, this young lady bore a child, a daughter with the blood of Strand in her veins. Her name was Delilah Denver.

So, that child ultimately had children of her own and they had children of their own. Generations and generations passed until this present generation. Generation Omicron, the generation believed to be the generation who will remove the veil from Kowareta Sekai Island and disclose it to the rest of the world.

And the Denver Bloodline now lives with Damian Denver. He was the only male child ever produced by the Denver bloodline, in existence.

He possesses the DNA of the world's greatest criminal and maniac, Scythe Strand the Second. However, although he inherits Strand's blood, he did not inherit Strand's evil nature in the slightest.

Nevertheless, because of Strand's immortality, when a child is produced from him, that child will be a half-breed, retaining 51% of Strand's DNA. 

Furthermore, when that child has children of their own, all of them will contain 51% of Strand's DNA. Therefore, Damian possesses 51% of Strand's biological imprint.

Strand does not know of this bloodline of Strand half-breeds, nor does Damian know his ancestry. However, somehow, someway, this information was recorded in the book currently owned by Felix Fletcher.

Felix has read it but chooses to keep the information to himself.

Now, even if Damian is a descendant of Scythe Strand, immortality cannot be passed down through means of reproduction. Nevertheless, Strand's innate ability of Strand Creation and Manipulation and every other ability originally used by the massacred Strand Clan are abilities that Damian is capable of learning and mastering.

However…

Michaelis put up his guard and his hands. Regardless, Damian's speed was greater than his and a solid right-hook touched down on Michaelis' jaw and he was stunned.

Damian immediately took the opportunity to kick him in the midsection, aiming to crack or shatter his ribs. Unfortunately, Michaelis' strength significantly outmatched Damian's and he caught his leg.

Damian could feel Michaelis' grip on his shin tightening more and more and he struggled to break free.

"Who are you and what in the name of Miller made you think attacking me on my soil without warning was a good idea?" Michaelis demanded answers from Damian, his eyes piercing Damian's as if they were swords and they pierced deep.

Fear settled into Damian, and out of panic, he attempted to kick Michaelis in the face using his other leg. The kick connected, allowing Damian to break free of Michaelis' grip. Damian immediately did three backflips to create some distance between them.

When he turned his head to look up at Michaelis, he froze. Michaelis had already made his way to Damian, mere inches away. Damian's gaze was fixed on Michaelis' abdomen, too afraid to stand up fully.

"Now I remember you. You're Fletcher's friend. The one who was knocked unconscious by flying debris in our last battle. You must have some balls to come here and challenge me head-on, without any form of planning. I see that you have gotten stronger. You may have grown, but I possess power far beyond your understanding. You are but a child in the world of KAN-Energy and a baby in the universe of physical, mental and KAN regulation. So, tell me, what good is power… if you cannot use it properly?" Michaelis bared his teeth menacingly, his eyes glowing a soft yellow, faintly visible through the strands of hair that obscured them.

A drop of sweat from Damian's chin dropping onto the petal of a tulip, before the sweat droplet came to rest upon the petal, Michaelis' fist was buried in Damian's face. Teeth shooting out of his mouth and his body making instantaneous contact with the ground.

Michaelis towered over Damian, the difference in strength blindingly visible, the difference in stature even greater. Michaelis taunted him, absolutely certain that Damian could not hurt him, not even one bit.

Damian slowly opened his eyes, laying on the grass, his head spinning and his nose bleeding. He saw Michaelis' taunting and boasting and could not understand the idea of pride, much less the embodiment of it standing over him.

And only his best friend came to mind. The one who he saw as the humblest of all the citizens of Kowareta Sekai.

Felix Elijah Fletcher and Damian Denver met six years ago, in the year 2091. During this time, Felix's Father, Frederick Elliot Fletcher Sr., was still in the town and was a prominent figure in politics.

Fred's objective was to become the ruler of Kowareta Sekai but was quickly thwarted by Raegan Rodrigo.

President Raegan Rodrigo ruled over the world since the age of 20. He is now twenty-eight years old. That being said, becoming the president of Kowareta Sekai was much more of a process and a hassle than the rest of the world.

Because Kowareta Sekai is isolated from the rest of the world, democracy was not the system it ran by. War Clans ruled different sectors, and every single issue was settled through battle and war.

Raegan Rodrigo came with a different alternative. After partnering with the Dark Authority Unit, Rodrigo introduced a system of which both the citizens and the War Clans would be happy. A system called Semi-Monarch Dictation.

Through this system, Rodrigo ensured that attacks on citizens would be reduced by forty-eight percent and that wars between clans worked through the D.A.U. This not only allowed clans to prepare for ensuing battles, but also choose the location and time of said battles.

Hence, because of this system, all of Kowareta Sekai unanimously agreed that Raegan Rodrigo would be deemed the President over their land.

Two years after Rodrigo officially became the President of Kowareta Sekai, because he did partially rule over certain districts through partnering with a few clans, Fred Fletcher disappeared.

His disappearance was blamed on Felix Fletcher, who did attack his father one late night, believing that an intruder had infiltrated their 'humble' abode.

However, because Fred's body was never found and lack of evidence indicting first-degree murder or even manslaughter, Felix was set free after spending three years in the Juvenile Correctional Center.

Fred Fletcher's disappearance invoked a hatred within Felix. An absolute hatred for humanity, making him a misanthrope.

Damian was the only one who showed Felix that humanity is flawed, yes, but there is always beauty in imperfection.

Damian knew this. He was the only one who could get Felix to his senses when he spiraled out of control. So… HE HAD TO FIGHT.

As Michaelis pummeled, bruised and beat a weak Damian, using him as his personal punching bag, Damian had an epiphany, a sudden realization that he NEEDED to survive.

Unbeknownst to himself, Michaelis' prideful and evil nature sparked an AWAKENING within Damian.

A blast of energy sent Michaelis flying across the field, a bright, radiant purple light emanated from Damian, enveloping every inch of his body, illuminating a quarter of the city.

The light was so magnificent, it rose everyone who was in that quarter of the city from their slumber, including the Fletchers.

Unfortunately, during this time, Heath was in the hospital, recovering from his tiff with Skully Silver. By his hospital bedside, sat his adoptive grandfather and role model in a wheelchair, Benjamin Bloom, age seventy-two.

The light dimmed down, and silence settled on the Field of Flowers. Michaelis was astonished and in awe, for he had just witnessed the Artesian transformation of Damian Denver.

Damian stood still, his irises a deep indigo and his sclera completely black, his teeth had grown sharp like a wolf's and his waist had become slimmer, but his arms were larger than Michaelis', his nails grew long, black and sharp, his hair was now purple and more spikey, his gaze was dead-set on Michaelis.

Suddenly, a scream which sounded more like a roar bellowed from Damian's diaphragm. The roar was deafening and Michaelis clenched his teeth.

Damian breathed, inhaling and exhaling, and the only word that came from his lips were…

"Bleed."

Once he said that singular word, fear sunk into Michaelis' heart, for he knew that Damian had become an animal. An untamable beast whose instinct now was only to devour Michaelis.

"I WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS!!" Michaelis shouted at the top of his lungs.

Before he could utter another letter, his jaw was dislocated from his skull with but a single punch from Damian, who had moved at a speed far surpassing the speed of sound.

That punch sent Michaelis flying once more, however, Damian stopped him mid-air as he began dishing out what Michaelis had given to him prior to his transformation.

A PUMMELING OF GRAND PROPORTIONS.

"Bleed! Bleed, bleed, bleed, bleed, bleed!!!" Damian repeated over and over as he unendingly punched Michaelis' face into the ground, digging a hole with Michaelis' head.

He was beating Michaelis so rapidly, Michaelis could not think or move or breathe. All he could do was take Damian's blows.

In the Fletcher Residence, Freddy rushed to Felix because of the immense power that woke him from his sleep. Felix was standing in the center of the garage, his body shaking and eyes tearing with an overwhelming sense of joy and fear within him.

"Brother? Is that..?" Freddy stood behind him, worried about his brother who worried about his best friend.

His best friend who had just surpassed him in power.

"Damian. I need to go." Felix opened the garage door and immediately sprinted out of their base, chasing after Damian's energy.

In Kowareta Sekai Hospital, in Room 453, Heath arose from his unconscious state, feeling Damian's energy.

"That son of a…" Heath groaned, his spine in pain, more his neck than anything. He turned his head to see his grandfather asleep in his wheelchair, his head rested on his arms on Heath's bed.

Heath smiled and placed his hand on his guardian's head.

"You should be at home, Old Man."

All across the Island of Kowareta Sekai, every major clan leader and powerful being could feel Damian's energy growing and growing at an incredible rate.

"That feels… like my energy…" Strand stood outside his cave home, sweat sliding down his cheek, his heart drawn to this KAN.

"OH??? A negative power. Smells delicious." A young child sat in a scrapyard, just outside of Kowareta Sekai City. The scrapyard was filled with the city's metal waste; however, this boy had created a home in this field of death. He sat in a throne-like seat he had made from the bodies of broken vehicles. His name was Slatem Parcs.

"Stefan! Denver just turned into a monster. He's destroying The Easter Bunny. Pick up the damn phone!" Jacob attempted to get a hold of his brother-in-arms through telephonic means, but to no avail. He had been spying on the Remastered Fletcher Clan for about two-weeks now and also followed Damian when he went after Michaelis.

Jacob was stunned, removing his mask to see clearer and breathe better.

"What in the hell is that?" Jackson jumped up on instinct after feeling this newly awakened Artesian Stage.

"That was power greater than anything I have felt before in the history of living in this forest and moving through the Island. Well, second to that phenom, The REAPER. Still an incredible presence." Buff Guy smiled, his face positively lighting up at the boy who has transcended his own limits.

"He needs training. His energy is too wild and uncontrolled." Tuff Guy commented, a fish in his mouth.

"Master. Do you feel this power?" A servant of the Bloom Clan leader bowed before his king.

"Yeah, I do. Seems like we may have visitors soon." Only green eyes could be seen on the throne made of plant-life and these green eyes chuckled sadistically. The leader of the Bloom Clan, The Reaper, Harold Hellbourne.

"Micah. Please send Penguin to bring my sons and their friends. The time has come for us to meet once again." Harold commanded of his servant, his grin greater than the stars above.

"Yes, master."  Micah heeded Harold's command earnestly, rising and moving to complete said duty.

At the absolute epicenter of the Island of Kowareta Sekai laid a large, glowing, yellow meteor within a small crater and directly adjacent to this meteor was the Rodrigo Residence, and on the highest floor, in the largest, grandest room, stood President Raegen Rodrigo, staring at the night sky, experiencing a sense of novalunosis.

Although, with this tranquility came a feeling of sorrow. For he already saw the outcome of Michaelis and Damian's battle.

"Why do these kids always act so damn impulsively? It doesn't matter. Guess I cannot control everything after all." Rodrigo spoke to himself, sighing and loosening the tie around his neck.

And as he turned around to move to his desk, in his room, on the other side of his desk stood a man with a paper bag over his head.

Rodrigo, however, remained calm and simply stared at this odd person, before him.

"You were never in control, Raegan." The man with the paper bag mask spoke, his voice echoing within Rodrigo's head.

Rodrigo flinched from the man's reverberating vocalization and closed his eyes for a split second. When he opened his eyes again, the man had vanished, as though he was never there to begin with.

The odd thing about this interaction, is the fact that Rodrigo could not sense a shred of energy from this being.

Rodrigo was astounded by the words he uttered. For you see, the President always had control-issues. Hence why, he chose to become the ruler of the Earth.

Damian's knuckles whitened as he clamped onto Michaelis's collar.

"Bleed, bleed..." he hissed, his voice a low, menacing growl. Michaelis, his face a canvas of crimson, retaliated with a sudden burst of violence. A glob of blood flew into Damian's eye, and a powerful kick sent him reeling backward.

Nevertheless, it was simply not enough, Damian was already next to him. But then, it had finally hit Michaelis…

Damian was in a state of complete rage and was only, until thus far, acting and reacting on pure instinct, an instinct that was animalistic. And Michaelis still had a trick up his sleeve.

Before Damian could maul him once more without rest, Michaelis whispered the name…

"Felix… FLETCHER…" 

He whispered it weakly and pathetically, as if he had no more fight left. Nonetheless, the name of his best friend somehow brought Damian to a halt for roughly six whole seconds.

Within this short time frame, Michaelis transformed, shifting his power from Artesian Stage: Level 01, to Artesian Stage: Level 03.

Unlike every other person who can attain or possesses Artesian Stage, Michaelis Orion Miller is the only one who remains in that state all the time, without end.

This allowed him to achieve absolute mastery over the form and state of Artesian. Since Damian's Artesian Stage at Level One was so significantly superior to Michaelis's, Michaelis was obliged to advance his own level by two, reaching Artesian Stage: Level 03 - CONQUERING CRUSH.

His KAN burst reached every Emo-Jin Clan Officer and Member within Kowareta Sekai. To them, this could only mean that somebody troublesome has attacked their leader. Nevertheless, they had zero fear that their idol would lose to anyone.

Michaelis sprinted forth, ready to crush every bone and cell in Damian's body to cosmic dust, and he would have succeeded.

If Damian did not undergo a secondary transformation. After feeling the presence of Michaelis's third level of Artesian, Damian's drive and will to live alone pushed him past the limits of Artesian Stage to a stage only categorized as Unknown Stage.

 INTERRUPTION…

VERY WELL, THEN. LET US DELVE INTO THE DEPTHS OF KAN.

THERE ARE SEVERAL STAGES OF KAN, EACH OFFERING VARYING DEGREES OF POWER AND POTENTIAL. THESE STAGES, WHICH YOU IDIOTS SHOULD HAVE GRASPED ALREADY, ARE AS FOLLOWS:

MOBEIOTIC STAGE: A FOUNDATIONAL STAGE, OFTEN OVERLOOKED BUT ESSENTIAL.

BETA-STAGE: A STEPPING STONE, A TRANSITIONAL PHASE.

ARTESIAN STAGE: A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE, WHERE TRUE POWER BEGINS TO MANIFEST.

BUFF STAGE: A PHYSICAL AUGMENTATION, A BRUTE FORCE APPROACH TO POWER.

UNKNOWN STAGE: A MYSTERIOUS REALM, A DANGEROUS GAMBLE, AND A POTENTIAL PATHWAY TO ULTIMATE POWER… OR UTTER DESTRUCTION.

AS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ACHIEVED UNKNOWN STAGE, THEY ARE A PECULIAR LOT:

1. HAROLD "THE REAPER" HELLBOURNE: A SELF-PROCLAIMED MASTER OF DEATH, WHO CAN SUSTAIN UNKNOWN STAGE DUE TO HIS CLAN'S UNIQUE HEALING ABILITY.

BUFF GUY: A MUSCLE-BOUND IMBECILE, CONSUMED BY HIS OWN STRENGTH. HE CAN SUSTAIN UNKNOWN STAGE DUE TO HIS EXTRATERRESTRIAL PHYSIOLOGY.

KING PENGUIN: A CREATURE OF ICE, LACKING BOTH HUMANITY AND PURPOSE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT KING PENGUIN'S UNIQUE BIOLOGY ALLOWS IT TO WITHSTAND THE DEMANDS OF UNKNOWN STAGE.

SCYTHE STRAND II: A RELIC OF A BYGONE ERA, DESPERATELY GRASPING AT RELEVANCE. HIS CONNECTION TO THE IMMORTAL POOL GRANTS HIM THE ABILITY TO SUSTAIN UNKNOWN STAGE.

UNKNOWN STAGE IS A PERILOUS PATH, A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD THAT CAN GRANT IMMENSE POWER OR CONSUME ITS WIELDER. IT IS A GAMBLE WITH ONE'S VERY EXISTENCE. FEW HAVE DARED TO TREAD THIS PATH, AND EVEN FEWER HAVE SURVIVED… WELL, ONLY FOUR HAVE SURVIVED.

NOW, IF YOU'LL EXCUSE ME, I HAVE FAR MORE IMPORTANT TASKS TO ATTEND TO. PLEASE, DO NOT DISTURB ME AGAIN WITH YOUR INCESSANT QUESTIONS AND STUPIDITY.

SHATTER REMNANTS.

 INTERRUPTION ENDS…

Michaelis could not fathom the power surging within Damian. He realized with a growing dread that Damian was slowly returning to his senses, his body morphing back to its original form. His hair, once spiky, was now a striking crimson.

Panic seized Michaelis, driven by a primal instinct. He lunged at the transforming Damian, who was on the brink of a power surge beyond Michaelis's comprehension, a power that could rival even the most formidable citizens of Kowareta Sekai.

Without hesitation, Michaelis unleashed his ultimate move. His hand, a weapon of destruction, pierced Damian's chest like a knife through butter, tearing out his heart.

"Conquering Crush." He roared, his voice echoing through the still air.

Felix arrived at the scene of the horrific act. Right before him, his best friend's life extinguished. Shock and despair washed over him as he witnessed the aftermath.

"Damian!" He cried, tears streaming down his face. From a distance, he could sense Damian's life force fading, an evanescent memory. The two stood at the precipice of a cliff, the Bloom River yawning below.

Damian, despite his mortal wound, locked eyes with Felix and offered a weak smile. Blood gushed from his chest, staining his body and Michaelis's arm.

Michaelis had witnessed the birth and the death of a terrifying power.

"Hey, buddy. It's okay. You... You'll be... okay. Don't worry... about me. I'll see you... soon... Brother." Even in his final moments, Damian's concern for Felix's well-being surpassed his own survival.

Felix, overcome with grief, sank to his knees, his sobs echoing through the air.

"Ugh, you fools and your sentiments."  Michaelis scoffed, withdrawing his arm from the gaping wound.

"D-Damn you, Easter Bunny. You... replaced my heart with an Easter egg." Damian, with a final, mirthful laugh, succumbed to the inevitable. His spirit departed, his body falling lifeless into the river below.

"Jokester." Michaelis muttered, reverting to his base form and wiping the blood from his blazer. He felt the lingering effects of Damian's attack, the bruises, cuts, and internal injuries. A bitter smile crept across his lips.

A heart-wrenching scream pierced the silence, a cry of anguish from a devastated Felix. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

Michaelis turned to the fallen figure, devoid of empathy.

"I shall take you to your home, Fletcher. We have three days left before our impending war. Wouldn't want you to back out now." He lifted Felix's unconscious form and carried him back to the Fletcher Residence.

Within the Strand Sector, Skully encountered a woman radiating a seductive aura. Her long blonde hair was tipped with vibrant pink, matching the lipstick adorning her lips. Clad in a tight, black special forces jumpsuit, she carried a sword on her hip and a sniper rifle slung across her back. Her petite frame exuded an air of confidence as she stood with a hand on her hip, Skully's gaze fixed on the blood staining her boots.

Exhausted, Skully sighed.

"Hey, Pretty Boy." She teased, her gaze shifting to his.

She giggled and licked her lips.

Skully sighed again, yawning.

"I haven't walked this much since I was nine. What is it you wanted to talk about, Valentine? As you know, an unauthorized battle just erupted at The Emo-Jin Empire. Let's not waste time. I need to get back to work and make some arrests." Skully stood, weary, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets.

Valentine pouted. "Aww, still holding a grudge, Pretty Boy? Just business, nothing personal, right?" She winked suggestively, eliciting an eye roll from Skully.

"Why would I hold a grudge? My backup plan worked, and now The Dark Authority Unit serves Jake and me. Besides, I'm not surprised. You're not a businesswoman, Vi. You're an assassin, and you're damn good at it. So, stick to that, okay?" Skully yawned again, digging in his ear with his pinky.

"Hmm, you're probably right. Anyway, I found the one who put the bounty on the Fletcher kid. And I'm taking that bounty myself. A girl's gotta earn a living, you know?"  Valentine placed her hands on her hips, retrieving a rolled-up page from her utility belt and handing it to Skully.

Skully unfolded the page, reading it. It was a formal declaration of war from The Global Assassination Society against the Skull Crew, commencing on Friday, June 17th, in the year 2099. The declaration was signed by Director of G.A.S., Violet Valentine.

Skully erupted in laughter, wiping his eyes.

 "Aww, still holding a grudge, Vi? You couldn't take over my organization, so you went after the next best thing."  He removed his other hand from his pocket and tucked the declaration into his pants.

"Touché, Pretty Boy. The old geezers in the Society were fading fast, so I was voted in as Director. And my first order of business? Destroying you, your boyfriend, and everything you've built." Violet smiled blissfully, licking her lips once more.

"Guess I'll see you in two years then, Vi. Goodbye." Skully waved and turned to leave the Strand Sector, heading home.

Valentine giggled softly. "I'll see you, Stefan." Her voice was barely audible.

Michaelis arrived at the Fletcher Residence, where Freddy and Natalie stood waiting for Felix and Damian's return.

When Freddy saw Felix in Michaelis's arms, he instantly raised his palm, metal encasing his forearm and transforming into a massive bazooka. Nakajima's eyes widened in surprise at Freddy's sudden aggression, for he was usually timid.

"Calm down, Young Fletcher. He is merely unconscious, unharmed." Michaelis announced, his voice weary.

Freddy lowered his arm, and the metal evaporated from his arm.

He gently placed Felix in front of Freddy, who maintained unwavering eye contact with Michaelis. Michaelis felt a stronger sense of murderous intent emanating from Freddy than he had ever felt from Damian.

"Be assured that Fletcher is prepared for our battle in three days. The other one is dead. He challenged me illegally and was on the verge of attaining dangerous power, one that could consume its wielder. I saved your clan from the wrath of the Dark Authority Unit and the red-headed one from a painful demise. Mourn him if you wish. Just ensure this one is ready in three days. I must depart. Farewell, Young Fletcher." Michaelis turned and walked away, returning to the Emo-Jin Empire.

Freddy scooped up his brother and carried him inside the garage, watched by Nakajima. He laid Felix on the couch, covered him with a blanket, and then returned to his room.

His silence signaled to Natalie that it was time for her to leave. And so she did.

Within the Kowareta Sekai Forest, Buff Guy quenched his thirst with the cool river water.

Jackson and Tuff Guy, however, had to part ways with each other and Buff Guy. Jackson had been urgently summoned by his organization, while Tuff Guy yearned for further refinement of his skills, his desire to confront his older brother still burning bright.

As Buff Guy raised his gaze, a lifeless form surfaced from the river, coming to rest on the riverbank.

Puzzled, Buff Guy approached the body, noticing a gaping wound in its chest. Though his eyes confirmed its lifeless state, a faint flicker of energy seemed to linger within the corpse.

Buff Guy carefully lifted the body and carried it back to a cave he calls home.

 INTERRUPTION…

YES, IT IS I, AGAIN. SUCK IT UP. IT'S TIME TO ADDRESS SOME QUESTIONS I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN PONDERING, AS YOUR KIND SEEMS TO LACK BASIC COMMON SENSE. (EXCEPT FOR RODRIGO, OF COURSE.)

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO NOTE:

WHY CAN STRAND, RODRIGO, JACKSON, BUFF GUY, TUFF GUY, AND VALENTINE COME AND GO FROM THE ISLAND AS THEY PLEASE?

TO UNDERSTAND THIS, WE MUST FIRST EXAMINE THE ORIGIN OF KAN.

K.A.N., OR MORE ACCURATELY "KEINO," IS AN ENERGY SOURCE PRODUCED BY THE METEOR AT THE CENTER OF THE CITY. THIS METEOR ERUPTS WITH A PRECISE AMOUNT OF KAN, WHICH SPREADS ACROSS THE ENTIRE ISLAND, BLANKETING EVERYTHING WITHIN WITH PURE KAN. KAN IS INVISIBLE. (THIS SHOULD BE OBVIOUS, AS IT IS PURE AND UNUSED.)

ONCE KAN ENTERS OR EXISTS WITHIN A BODY, IT BECOMES VISIBLE AS IT TRANSFORMS INTO A SUBSTANCE UNIQUE TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

THE METEOR CONTAINS AN UNKNOWN ELEMENT THAT PRODUCES KAN.

NOW, FOR THE REASONS WHY EACH OF THESE INDIVIDUALS CAN LEAVE THE ISLAND:

SCYTHE STRAND II:

STRAND CAN LEAVE KOWARETA SEKAI BECAUSE HE WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN THE METEOR CRASHED ON THE ISLAND AND WAS NOT BORN AFTER THE IMPACT.

THOSE BORN ON THE ISLAND AFTER THE METEOR'S ARRIVAL CANNOT LEAVE AND ARE BORN WITH KAN, AS THEIR PARENTS PASS ON KAN THROUGH THEIR GENETIC IMPRINT, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE PARENTS THEMSELVES CAN UTILIZE KAN.

PURE KAN CAN ALTER ONE'S GENETIC CODE SIMPLY THROUGH INHALATION ALONE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER METHODS, THOUGH.

THE AMOUNT OF KAN EXPELLED BY THE METEOR IS HARMLESS, BUT SUFFICIENT TO GRANT INDIVIDUALS POWER.

STRAND'S KAN ORIGINATES FROM THE POOL OF IMMORTALITY.

PRESIDENT RAEGAN RODRIGO:

PRESIDENT RAEGAN RODRIGO WAS BORN IN PORTUGAL IN 2069. HE WAS NOT BIRTHED IN KOWARETA SEKAI.

HE ACQUIRED KAN AFTER ENTERING KOWARETA SEKAI ISLAND IN 2089. IN 2091, HE MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD SKULLY AND OFFICIALLY BECAME THE RULER OF KOWARETA SEKAI IN 2094.

AFTER CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON THE ISLAND AND THE METEOR AND LEARNING ALL HE COULD ABOUT THE NATURE OF KAN, RODRIGO CONSUMED A SMALL AMOUNT OF THE SUBSTANCE WITHIN THE CORE OF THE METEOR, APPROXIMATELY 120mg, I ESTIMATE.

THEREFORE, RODRIGO WAS NEITHER BORN WITH KAN NOR BORN ON THE ISLAND.

JACKSON JINX:

JACKSON JINX WAS BORN IN SOUTH AFRICA. STRAND FOUND HIM ORPHANED IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE IN 2079 AND RETURNED WITH HIM TO THE ISLAND.

STRAND BEGAN TRAINING HIM WHEN HE REACHED THE AGE OF TEN.

THE IMMORTALITY WATER THAT STRAND ALLOWED HIM TO DRINK, COMINED WITH SIX YEARS OF INHALING THE KAN-INFUSED AIR OF KOWARETA SEKAI, GRANTED A YOUNG JACKSON HIS KAN.

BUFF GUY & TUFF GUY:

THEY ARE EXTRATERRESTRIAL, SO THEIR ABILITY TO EXIT THE ISLAND IS SELF-EXPLANATORY.

THEY WERE BORN WITH THEIR ENERGY. ON THEIR PLANET, IT IS CALLED "SOMETHING DIFFERENT." YES, LITERALLY.

VIOLET VALENTINE:

VALENTINE WAS BORN IN ITALY. SHE WAS RAISED AND TRAINED BY THE GLOBAL ASSASSINATION SOCIETY. THIS SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED BY A DESCENDANT OF THE EXTINCT SAKAMOTO CLAN AND HAS VARIOUS UNITS.

WHILE THERE ARE A PLETHORA OF DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THIS SOCIETY, ONLY FOUR ARE SIGNIFICANT AND HEAVILY FUNDED: THE ASSASSIN UNIT, THE MERCENARY UNIT, THE SOLDIER UNIT, AND THE ENERGY-SOURCE RESEARCH UNIT.

VIOLET WAS TRAINED IN THE ASSASSIN UNIT FROM THE AGE OF FIVE AND WAS ALSO A SUBJECT OF EXPERIMENTATION FOR THE ENERGY-SOURCE RESEARCH UNIT.

THE CREATOR AND FOUNDER, OF THE G.A.S., SHIORI SAKAMOTO, IS LONG DEAD, BUT SHE PASSED ON ALL HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISLAND OF KOWARETA SEKAI TO THE GENERATIONS WHO CAME AFTER HER.

THE E.S.R. UNIT RESEARCH KAN AND STRIVE TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL, SYNTHETIC SERUM OR DRUG TO ENABLE THOSE BORN WITHOUT KAN TO ACQUIRE THIS ENERGY.

DURING HER FIRST MISSION, WHICH WAS TO ASSASSINATE A SMALL BUSINESS FIGURE WITHIN KOWARETA SEKAI, VALENTINE, WHILE BEING EXPERIMENTED ON, DEVELOPED HER KAN'S POTENTIAL.

THE INSTANT SHE SET FOOT ON THE ISLAND AND INHALED THE AIR, SHE ACQUIRED BETA-STAGE: LEVEL ONE, BYPASSING THE MOBEIOTIC STAGE.

AND NOW YOU KNOW WHY THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE FREE TO MOVE AS THEY PLEASE.

GOODBYE, FOR NOW. I SEE THAT THEY WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO CEASE THESE INTERRUPTIONS. SO, I SUPPOSE I WILL SIMPLY HAVE TO ENDURE YOUR IDIOCY INDEFINITELY.

UNTIL THE NEXT, I GUESS.

SHATTER REMNANTS.

 INTERRUPTION ENDS…

-ARC IV: DAMIAN DENVER END-