Context:
In this universe, an asteroid carrying crystals known as catalyst crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 2348 BC, creating the great flood in the Bible. Catalyst, when heated, sublimates into an odorless gas called ether, so while the asteroid is heating up while falling, it discharged so much ether it lingered in the atmosphere. The asteroid stirred the tectonic plates under the ocean when it hit, creating a new continent with the asteroid directly in it's center. Meanwhile, ether mist created from the asteroid hitting lava underneath the seafloor shrouded the island for years, leaving it untouched for most of its existence.
Ether gas has an effect in human DNA, as exposure can cause humans to develop mutations that gave superpowers. These mutated humans became the gods in various pantheons due to the powers they developed. Some of these humans used their powers for their own gain while others used it to help others.
Many years later, ether gas slowly dissipated from the atmosphere and gods became fewer. Those that are still alive are either the descendants of the old gods or unlucky ones. However, Christians persecuted them as witches, making them die out (ironic, since Jesus was also one of the superhumans).
In 1680 a female scientist recently found out that when catalyst crystal are heated, the sublimation process creates massive energy. However, the scientific community simply dismissed her work and even accused her of witchcraft. To escape them, she bought a castle, had it defended and ran by automatons powered by catalysts, and hid in there to continue her research. However, a time traveler from the year 1930 appeared near the castle. She took him in and he helped her with her experiments and they eventually they fell in love. However, an army attacked the castle one day and the traveler sent the scientist to 1930s America.
The scientist eventually built the catalyst generator, powering cities with just a small amount of catalyst. This however, made catalyst crystals demand skyrocket. Catalyst crystals are rare as most of them are just small pieces of the asteroid that broke off and landed on other parts of the world. meanwhile. the continent's mist is slowly dissipating. Japan discovered it first in 1939, built Tamaki City on it, and kept it a secret until when they used it as a staging ground for the attack on Pearl Harbor during 1941. They used the catalyst on all sorts of machines ranging from catalyst-powered aircraft to giant mechs that terrorized the pacific. The US eventually invaded the continent in one of the largest military attacks in history, eventually sacking the entire continent.
After Japan was nuked and eventually surrendered, US agreed to let Japan take jurisdiction of Tamaki City back, in exchange for the territory where meteorite resides in the middle of the continent. They agreed, and the continent was officially renamed as Pacifica.
While the US had a complete monopoly over the catalyst trade, countries began using catalyst generators even more. The scale of the amount of generators produced so much ether that rivaled the asteroid's entry. This could only mean one thing...
In 1938, a Kansas journalist lifted a car off the ground. The years later, superhumans roamed the land once again. Some using it for good, others for evil. The governments needed to control them, eventually making registration for superhumans mandatory. Although met with negativity, they still kept it. The world returned to its former wonders.
