In the year 2067, the world governments collapsed as the Earth's resources started to run dry. Everything we took for granted (water, spices etc.) started to become scarce and difficult to obtain. Rich corporations started monopolizing on these resources for their own benefit despite the needs of the common people. Human lives started to plummet due to the lack of resources needed to sustain the population. Surviving humans started to pray to the gods for help to overcome this crisis.
And the gods have gathered to answer their prayers.
"They must be punished for their insolence" one god said. "They have brought this upon themselves. Let's just kill them and be done with it"
"They have been misguided from the beginning" a second god said. "They should be guided down the proper path"
"But will they learn their lesson?" A third god asked. "This race is violent and is filled with conflict. Won't things remain the same after an eon or two?"
"Then we balance the scales" a fourth god said.
"What do you propose?" A goddess asked
"I propose this" the fourth god replied. "We grant them another chance by restarting the world as it once was. However, we remind them of the consequences that arose here. Their greed and hubris led to this minor hiccup. So why not let the children bond with them in this new world?"
"I believe that is a better solution that total annihilation" the goddess said looking at the first god.
"Second that proposal" the second god replied
"I still think we should just wipe the slate clean" the first god said.
A fifth god spoke with his voice raised as if to decide the verdict. "All in favor?" Of the thirteen gods present, nine hands were raised. "Then it is settled. The world will restart and the mythical beasts will bond with the humans to remind them the consequences of their hubris."
Thus with that, the gods went to work.