Plot
On Christmas Eve, 2029, the unidentified "Apocalypse Virus" spreads and plunges Japan into a state of emergency in a chaos known as the "Lost Christmas" incident. An international organization known as the GHQ intervenes with martial law and restores order to Japan at the cost of its independence.
Ten years later in 2039, Shu Ouma, a 17-year-old high school student who keeps to himself in school, meets Inori Yuzuriha, the lead singer for Egoist, while visiting one of his favorite places on his way home from school. Shu is a big fan of Inori, a singer who has taken the Internet world by storm. However, he also discovers the other side of her, which is that she is a member of "Undertakers", a resistance group that aims to liberate Japan from the GHQ. Shu starts taking part in the actions of "Undertaker" and the "king's mark" appears on his right hand after the Void Genome in his pocket was shot by a GHQ Endlave. This "mark" bestows on him the power to reach inside another person's body and extract and materialize a weapon from it.Terminology
- Apocalypse Virus
- A newly discovered deadly virus that crystallizes its victims. Originated from a meteorite crash in Japan, the transmission mechanisms are currently not understood but upon infection, the host's body will begin to show various stages of symptoms where a crystalline substance forms on their body and the victim shows signs of insanity. There is a vaccine to prevent infection where regular inoculations are required.
- The "Lost Christmas" incident
- On December 24, 2029, an outbreak of the Apocalypse Virus appeared in Roppongi, Tokyo leading to a chaotic turmoil in the country. Unable to contain it, the Japanese government asked for international help. The series latter reveals the outbreak was caused by the Ouma siblings. Mana, the first person infected with the virus and turning insane, offer her brother Shu to marry her and start a new race together. However, scared on what became of his sister, Shu rejected her offer and called her a monster. His rejection hurt Mana's feelings and made her berserk which the virus evolved and trigger the Apocalypse outbreak spreading over Tokyo.
- GHQ
- A multinational military force backed by the United Nations to help Japan contain the Apocalypse Virus during the "Lost Christmas" incident. After containing the outbreak and restoring order, Japan gave its administrative duties to the GHQ where it became the official interim government of Japan with the GHQ forces policing the country under martial law. The GHQ headquarters is located at Area 24, a mega-structure constructed on Odaiba, Tokyo Bay.
- Anti Bodies
- Officially known as the Special Virus Countermeasure Force, the Anti Bodies are the GHQ epidemic control unit. An independent military unit, the Anti Bodies are an elite force that have access to special equipment and resources to combat the spread of the Apocalypse Virus. They have the authority to detain and quarantine suspected Apocalypse carriers and if necessary, use deadly force to contain any outbreaks.
- Undertakers (Funeral Parlour)
- A resistance group/terrorist organization that aims to free Japan from the GHQ. Their headquarters is located in Roppongi at a building called Roppongi Fort.
- Endlave
- Humanoid battle mechs. Pilots operate the Endlaves via a remote cockpit where they control its movement using their brains. Because they also experience any damage that is happening to their Endlaves, the pilot must disconnect themselves before their Endlave is destroyed or they will suffer a backlash.
- Void Genome
- Known as the "Power of Kings", it is a genetic weapon that has the ability to extract "Voids" from individuals under the age of 17. A Void is the physical form of the personality of a person and is unique to the individual. Eye contact is necessary to extract a Void. The person from whom the Void is extracted remembers nothing of the incident due to shock and the Void is returned to the original owner after use. There are three users who possess the Void Genome; Shu Ouma, the protagonist of Guilty Crown, Yuu, an antagonist allied with Anti Bodies and Scrooge, the main character in the visual novel, Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas. After the 2nd Apocalypse outbreak, Shu's powers evolved, allowing him to extract Voids while maintaining the conscience from the person from whom the Void is extracted.
- Sephirah Genomics
- A multinational pharmaceutical company with close ties to the GHQ and Anti Bodies. Sephirah Genomics is responsible of creating the Apocalypse Virus vaccine, the Void Genome, and is currently researching for a cure for the Apocalypse Virus.
