Synopsis: Blazing Zero

Earth is no longer what is was. Tens of millions of years from now the constant wars of humankind have devestated their planet. No longer does it even have a name. A world of desert and badlands, humanities only hope for survival are the Labs. Massive machine factories that can produce anything needed for survival, at a price.

The land is divided into the Five Sovereignties, five lands, each ruled by a governor. Although much of this so called government is corrupt and the people are left in fear of outlaws, bandits and beasts.

At the lowest echelons are the normal people, those who cannot, or will not take up arms, then come the gunslingers and swordsmen. Humans who have taken up mundane weapons for whatever reason. Above them all are the spellslingers, using the ancient technology and arcana of the Caster and a knowledge of magic and alchemy they create shells that can create amazing feats of power when fired.

This tale of the nameless world begins when a Landmass Train is attacked by a gang calling itself the Black Scorpions, led by a scoundrel known as Bane Crawford. However his attempt to rob the gold soveriegns on board the train is foiled by a caster named Alan Young. Bane is summarily arrested and sentenced to hang.

After dying Bane meets with the Grim Reaper. As many do in an attempt to save their own lives, Bane challenges Grim to a duel. And loses. In a desperate attempt to save himself he hurls his gun, and accidentally a pendant he had kept for many years, at Grim. Something about this pendant forces Grim to split into two beings, Death. The more human side that wishes all lives to be lived to their full allowance. And Lord Reaper, who wished only to bring all of life under his dominion.

Ressurecting Bane, Lord Reaper grants him a Caster of his own and a G-Shell, or Guardian Shell (powerful shells that summon a mighty force to battle) with some of Reaper's own power inside. Bane seeking revenge challenges Alan to a second duel. Once again he loses, and so dissapears into hiding.

Something about the split of Death into two beings throws off the balance and the dead begin to rise all across the land. From these someone recruits the strongest to their cause.

Forty years pass and Alan now leads the New Justice, until the day he hears rumours of a new and powerful gang calling themselves the Black Lords. Taking along a small group, including his apprentice and pupil Storm Crawford, Alan goes to put an end to this new and violent gang. Upon arriving at the town of Ashford he finds himself beset on all sides by the undead.

Just as he begins to free himself from their masses he is confronted by a black clothed man and challenged to a battle. As they battle the man is revealed to be Bane. Just when it seems as though Alan is about to defeat Bane a third time, he is distracted by Storm being captured. As he saves Storm he is killed by Bane.

This drives Bane to great anger, as he feels robbed of his rightful victory, and so he spares Storm, telling him to grow strong and come for revenge. With that he leaves for the Spire to wait. Storm immediately resigns his commision in the New Justice and heads off to find a new mentor. He finds one in Brent "Fortune" Palmer, a retired spellslinger. As he tries and fails to learn the construction of the thirteenth shell, Void, he grows frustrated and leaves once more.

Now his true journey begins, aided by the Princess, the Swordsman and a young female spellslinger, and Death himself. He must find his path in the lawless world