The Catalyst

In the year 2032, the Large Hadron Collider beneath the France–Switzerland border suffered a catastrophic malfunction during an experimental high-energy collision test. The resulting anomaly triggered a massive global EMP wave, simultaneously disabling all electronic devices and causing dormant nuclear silos worldwide to detonate in an unprecedented chain reaction. This event was come to known as "The Catalyst". The nuclear apocalypse that followed obliterated entire cities, reshaped continents, and plunged the Earth into darkness. The radioactive fallout transformed the natural world, mutating flora and fauna into twisted, dangerous versions of their former selves. Humans, too, were not spared; survivors found themselves afflicted by grotesque mutations, with some gaining extraordinary, volatile abilities while others devolved into monstrous beings.