Story Background
Last updated
Last updated
The story begins with the mysterious black fog that started emanating from an underwater volcano one day. Neither the raging waves nor the howling winds could stop its spread. However, at first, no one paid much attention to it and simply regarded it as a natural phenomenon. It wasn't until the first person was swallowed and killed by the black fog that people began to panic. The black fog slowly crept towards the city, and after exhausting all options, people turned to building underground cities and living below ground. However, everyone knew that the black fog would eventually permeate the underground city. This was the beginning of the Era of the Black Fog.
Children born during the Era of the Black Fog could only live in the dark, artificial light-lit underground cities, and could only see the sunny world through old video recordings. Their only friends were their old toys. Although the real world was shrouded in a black, poisonous fog, the imaginary world was colorful and boundless. In the children's imagination, the toys had come to life, waving their weapons and conquering every corner of this small world. Their wishes converged into the will of a planet, and thus, in the crevices of time and space, a new universe - the Arcadia Universe - was born.
Dr. Oliver was originally a little boy's toy in the human world. Despite being somewhat worn, he remained the little boy's most beloved treasure. The little boy's dream was to see the sunny world with his own eyes, though it was a bit extravagant. However, due to the influence of the black fog, he became seriously ill from a young age and was unable to see that beautiful world even until he passed away. After the little boy's funeral, his heartbroken parents buried Oliver under an apple tree not far from the boy's grave. If nothing unexpected happened, as the years passed, Oliver would also turn into dust and become a part of the earth. However, when he became conscious and woke up from his long slumber, he found himself in a new world - the Arcadia continent, where many other toys like him lived.
With his outstanding intelligence, Dr. Oliver quickly gained the respect of other toys. They explored and built together on this continent full of endless possibilities. One day, while mining in Mount Mentos, Oliver discovered a special dark red ore that emitted a wonderful luster - Obsidian. After research, he discovered that obsidian was a crystallization of the planet's energy, containing the energy of life. Therefore, Oliver began to use obsidian to conduct an experiment that should have been forbidden - the toy development experiment. By injecting energy extracted from obsidian into the core, the first prototype toy - Frank - was soon born. After the experiment succeeded, Oliver began mass-producing toy people, assigning them to different areas and positions. Soon, the first city - Grandia - was born. Toys all regarded Oliver as their creator and respectfully called him "Doctor".
As the first prototype toy ever created, Frank was quickly abandoned due to a defect in his thinking. Additionally, because he was defined as flawed, Frank was discriminated against by the other toys from the moment of his birth. Soon, he, along with other toys with defects like him, was sent to Mount Mentos to mine. However, he did not give up hope. In his heart, he believed that if he worked hard enough, one day the Doctor would discover the spark within him. So, he worked diligently every day, but his efforts ultimately brought him no reward, only a recycling notice. He would soon be recycled. Fearing for his life, he quickly fled Grandia and took refuge in the underground ruins of a discarded toy parts recycling station. In the darkness, he received inspiration from an unknown source and successfully created the first synthetoy using obsidian and the ancient spar, naming it Onion.
After extensive research and experimentation, Frank finally mastered the technique of mass-producing synthetoys. Unlike ordinary toys, these synthetoy possessed more advanced and independent thinking. Frank regarded them as his own family and friends. Meanwhile, the synthetoy began to infiltrate Grandia. Due to their similarities in appearance with ordinary toys, they settled in and lived ordinary lives there. However, one day, Dr. Oliver noticed something strange. He captured several synthetoys and discovered the existence of another creator.
Through the Anti-Synthetoy Movement, countless synthetoys were captured and eliminated. From their mouths, Dr. Oliver learned that the other creator was none other than the first prototype toy he had abandoned before: Frank. Frank's base was soon exposed, and Frank was captured by Dr. Oliver's army.
To save Frank, Onion and several other synthetoys formed a rescue team and went to Grandia. In the underground prison of Dr. Oliver's mansion, they found and rescued Frank. However, Frank had his own ideas. He decided to take the risk and sneak into the toy factory to find more refined obsidian. Unfortunately, his plan was quickly discovered by Dr. Oliver.
