Auxiliary Chapter: Welcome to the Chaos — A Guide to the World and Its Magic
"If you're confused, overwhelmed, or screaming into a pillow... congratulations. You're now officially a resident of this multiversal mess."
— A grumpy note scrawled by Iode de Pandavatton, somewhere between dimensions
---
THE WORLD(S) OF TENSIONBORN
At first glance, Earth might seem familiar—cities, humans, social media trolls. But look closer. Beneath the surface (and sometimes right on top), there are:
Vampires: Elegant, powerful, politically fractured bloodsuckers who've formed factions like Crimson Tide, Varkyn, and Noctis. Yes, they wear cloaks. No, not all of them sparkle.
Werewolves: Beastly warriors with dual leadership and ritual fights for dominance. They live in a place called Lupine Crags and aren't too fond of humans—or vampires.
Mystic Hunters: Think secret agents with ancient runes, silver weapons, and too much time on their hands. They hunt anything that disrupts "balance," including our main character.
The Hollowed: A twisted group of once-human horrors sealed away in Hollowed Confinement. You don't want to meet them... but you will.
Celestials and Demons: Ancient cosmic beings, often with their own agendas. Some like to meddle. Some like to destroy. Others, like the Celestial of Perpetration and Sabotage, just enjoy making things complicated.
Springscent Island: The chaotic epicenter where it all collides. Vampires, werewolves, mystic cults, and a coffee shop that's probably cursed.
Oh, and did we mention Iode is from another world entirely?
---
MAGIC 101: MANA, STARS, AND YOU
In Iode's original world, magic is powered by Mana—a mysterious, life-force-like energy absorbed at birth or later in life. When someone first absorbs mana, they develop:
Mana Pool: How much energy you can store. Like a magical gas tank.
Mana Vessel: The internal container. Some are cracked. Some are overpowered.
Mana Channels: Vein-like paths through which mana flows. Crucial for swordsmen and combat specialists.
Wizard Rankings (Because of course we have rankings)
Wizards are ranked by stars (because numbers are boring):
1–3 Stars: Beginner—congrats, you might accidentally light your shoes on fire.
4–6 Stars: Intermediate—now you can light someone else's shoes on fire.
7–9 Stars: Advanced—you start choosing a specialization here (elemental, illusion, summoning, etc.).
10–11 Stars: Master-tier. People write legends about you.
12 Stars: Legendary. Only a few ever reach this point. Iode? He's been called worse... and better.
---
Bonus: What Makes Iode So Special?
He's a parahuman (a human with evolved magical traits).
He inherited a curse—and raw celestial energy—from a cosmic contract signed generations ago.
He's an all-rounder: unlike most mages, Iode can master every magical discipline, due to a rare recessive bloodline connected to Momus, the god who sees flaws.
Also, he's stuck babysitting two devilish teenagers who think destroying vending machines is a valid hobby.
---
Final Warning
This world is big. It's messy. It's chaotic. But for Iode, there's only one goal:
Get home. Save what remains. And try not to punch a werewolf in the middle of a peace treaty.