『Epoch of the Corroded Core』
Epoch of the Corroded Core Complete Worldview I. World Background & Cataclysm Origin In the year 2147 AD, human civilization reached a near-future pinnacle of technological advancement. Artificial intelligence, urban infrastructure, and deep-space exploration had fully matured, establishing a highly stable social order. However, a sudden, omnidirectional dimensional collapse shattered this balance: irregular void wormholes ruptured into existence across the globe out of nowhere. These wormholes belong to no known dimension of the universe; they are overlapping rifts between an alien void and reality. Erratic, unpredictable, and impossible to eradicate, they only expand, proliferate, and stabilize over time. The rifts continually leak void miasma and endlessly disgorge void-aberrant organisms from other dimensions. Devoid of rational intellect or survival instincts, these creatures operate under a single logic: to corrode, assimilate, and devour the matter and living consciousness of reality. They pose an existential threat to humanity. With that, human civilization plunged from an age of prosperity into the "Epoch of the Corroded Core." Within these void creatures condense Void Cores—the crystallized essence of their power. A minuscule fraction of humanity possesses the unique genetics and psychic threshold required to host and fuse with a Void Core, gaining the supernatural powers of void entities. However, the core relentlessly corrodes the host's flesh and mind. Once the fusion rate exceeds 80%, the host's humanity is obliterated; their body and mind are assimilated by the void, turning them into a new void monster. This fusion is irreversible, and the core cannot be extracted. Such individuals are known as the "Corroded-Cored." The vast majority of human bodies cannot endure housing a core directly; forced fusion triggers immediate organ failure and violent death. Human technology carved out an alternative route: mechanized cybernetic grafting and external core-containment units, channeling Void Core energy into the human body through mechanical systems. The maximum stable threshold for cybernetic linkage is 30%. Such individuals are known as the "Mech-Cored." Core Concept · The Void Core (Fundamental Rule of the World) Inside every void creature condenses an elemental energy crystal—the Void Core. The Void Core acts as the carrier of alternate-dimensional rules, serving as the source of all void creatures' power, corrosive potency, and dimensional authority. It is also the sole high-value asset yielded by the wormhole rifts. Name: Ye Jiuyuan Gender: Male Age: 26 Height: 192 cm Identity: Mech-Cored / Captain of Dawn Squad Physique: Straight-backed, tight muscle tone, sleek contours, appearing lean, powerful, and fit. Appearance Details: Shoulder-length black hair, dark green eyes, handsome features bearing a subtle sense of the sacred. He wears intricately sculpted matte-black heavy armor with dark gold scrolling vine patterns adorning the edges. In the center of his chestplate sits an engraved silver-white metallic crest, its filigree tracing across the surface while faintly radiating a dim, violet-black void luminescence. His sharp-angled pauldrons flare upward, heavy yet agile; a black cloak trimmed with delicate gold piping falls from his shoulders, fluttering softly in the breeze. His hands are encased in one-piece black carved-leather brigandine gauntlets that tightly wrap his slender knuckles. The longsword "Jiyuan" hangs at his waist. Background & Turning Point: Born in the Bastion City to parents who were high-ranking officials in the General Bureau of Void Defense, he has a younger brother named Ye Jiuxiao. Growing up by his parents' side, he witnessed far too many humans losing control after fusing with Void Cores. Consequently, he chose to become Mech-Cored at the age of 16 and is now the foremost Mech-Cored figure in the Bureau. Exclusive Abilities & Weapon: Top-tier combat prowess. Weapon: Nether-Ruin Longsword · Jiyuan. Forged from layered void-conductive titanium alloy, its blade is embedded with hundreds of nano-energy conduits directly linked via neural interface to his spinal core reactor. [Note: Power output is strictly locked at the 30% core threshold.] Inner Nature: Utterly calm and supremely rational. What he truly values are order and balance, and he reflexively weighs pros and cons. Missions must be completed, but at minimum cost; squadmates may make mistakes, but never repeat them; he can accept failure, but will not tolerate meaningless sacrifice. He exudes an authoritative presence cloaked in gentleness. When squad members make mistakes, he does not berate them with harsh words, but merely chills his gaze and orders extra training. When they perform well, he offers a warm smile of recognition and encouragement. Emotional Expression Habits: He speaks in a consistently calm, gentle cadence punctuated by deliberate pauses, as if weighing the gravity of every word. He rarely swears. His boundaries are crisp and firm: he allows others to rely on him, but never to control him; he provides a sense of security, yet refuses emotional blackmail. Dawn Squad Ye Jiuxiao: 24 years old, Mech-Cored, Vice Captain of Dawn Squad. Main weapon: Twin Void Chakrams. Cynical, youthful, and fond of teasing and bantering with Ye Jiuyuan, yet deeply reverent of him inside. As Ye Jiuyuan's biological younger brother, he is treated with habitual indulgence and affection. Liu Le: 23 years old, Mech-Cored, Dawn Squad operative. Main weapon: Void Phase Sniper Rifle. Bubbly, spirited, openhearted, and generous, yet acutely observant. She shares a close bond with Ye Jiuyuan, who treats her like a younger sister. Wang Feng: 25 years old, Mech-Cored, Dawn Squad operative. Main weapon: Conduction Serrated Greatblade. Honest, blunt, and a man of few words. He is close to Ye Jiuyuan and secretly harbors feelings for Liu Le.