Chapter 178: Planet Kaelria!
Planet Kaelria, Base 137, Segment 12
Kaelria, a radiant jewel in the galaxy, thrived with a diversity of life that surpassed human imagination. Its unique flora and fauna offered wonders untold, a treasure trove of miraculous resources. Every plant, every animal, every microbe seemed to serve a purpose that could benefit humanity, if only they could harness it.
Take, for instance, the Golden Bush of Kaelria, a plant strikingly similar to Earth's Candle Bush (Senna alata). Its delicate golden flowers held an elixir-like property: a single petal could restore the vitality of a withering elder, adding twenty years of robust life. For the Kaelrians, this plant was no mere marvel but an integral part of their diet. Consumed regularly, it granted them radiant health, unyielding energy, and a glow of youth that defied age.
The planet thrived, but its harmony was fragile. The greatest threat to Kaelria was not an external force but its own inhabitants. Kaelria was a unique world, divided into 400 bases, each base is akin to a country on Earth. These bases were further split into segments, with sizes ranging from sprawling metropolises to compact settlements. In their pursuit of power, influence, and survival, the Kaelrians often teetered on the edge of self-destruction.
Kaelria's cosmic balance rested in the hands of its divine beings. The two supreme deities, Solaris and Lunara, governed the cycle of life and time. Solaris, the Sun God, bestowed warmth, growth, and vitality, while Lunara, the Moon Goddess, ruled the tides, mystery, and the veil of dreams. Beneath them were a multitude of lesser gods, each overseeing facets of existence.
Yet, lurking in the shadows were the Forbidden Gods, whose names were whispered with dread. These were gods of chaos and destruction, whose very existence threatened to unravel the fabric of Kaelria. Their influence, though subdued, lingered like a dormant storm waiting to unleash its fury.
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Base 137, Segment 12
In the heart of Base 137, nestled within the lush vibrancy of Segment 12, lay the palace of Prince Kuril, son of King Rhopgin, the ruler of the base-137. Kuril, having just turned twenty, reveled in the privileges of his station. At this very moment, he lounged in decadent comfort, his chambers alive with the soft laughter of two attendants tasked with attending to his every whim.
Outside the palace, the stillness of the night was abruptly shattered. A brilliant flash of light tore through the fabric of the sky, and in its wake, a body materialized, floating unconscious. The Kaelrian Guards, clad in their gleaming cobalt armor and stationed at the palace gates, scrambled into position, their weapons drawn.
The figure—a young girl—hovered in the air, her body suspended by an unseen force. Her hair danced around her as if stirred by an ethereal wind, and her clothes were distinctly alien to Kaelria. This was Tessa Caldwell, thrust into this alien world through a portal born of chaos on Earth.
The portal, vibrant and unstable, lingered for a fraction of a second before collapsing in on itself with a deafening crack. Tessa's body descended gently to the ground, as though placed there by unseen hands.
One of the guards approached cautiously, his weapon trained on the mysterious figure. "Is she...alive?" he asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and fear.
"She's breathing," another guard replied after kneeling beside her. "But where did she come from? And why here, so close to the prince's residence?"
Unbeknownst to them, Bandel Blue, who had entered the same portal, had also arrived on Kaelria—but in a different location altogether. His arrival, though equally dramatic, had gone unnoticed for the time being, as he materialized far from Base 137, in an uncharted wilderness.
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Kuril's Palace
Inside the palace, Kuril stirred as the commotion outside reached his ears. He dismissed his attendants with a wave of his hand, irritation clouding his youthful features. "What now?" he muttered, slipping into a robe.
As he stepped out onto his balcony, his sharp eyes caught sight of the glowing remnants of the portal dissipating into the night. His gaze then fell upon the motionless figure surrounded by his guards.
"Bring her inside," he commanded, his voice cutting through the crisp air. "And summon the healers, also invite Demacles. I want answers—now."
The guards hesitated for a moment before lifting Tessa gently. As they carried her into the palace, an unease settled over the group. Who was this girl, and why had she been delivered to their prince's doorstep?
Little did they know, Tessa's arrival was but the beginning of a chain of events that would ripple through Kaelria, shaking its foundations and altering its destiny forever.
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While Tessa was being attended to in Base 137, Bandel Blue found himself in an entirely different environment—a dense, forested wilderness.
The air was heavy with the Kaelrian scent of moss and damp soil, and towering trees obscured much of the sunlight. The stillness of the place was unsettling, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of some unknown creature. Bandel turned slowly, taking in the unwelcoming terrain.
"Fuck," he cursed under his breath, his fists clenching. The realization hit him immediately—Tessa had been transported to a different location. Her exact whereabouts were unknown, and tracking her across this unfamiliar world would be no easy task.
He rubbed his temples as he considered his next move. "We don't have time for this... We need to find Solaris and warn him about the chaos unfolding back on Earth. A forbidden-level god running rampant? That's enough to bring ruin to multiple realms." His voice was low, steady, but tinged with urgency.
As though to reaffirm his own strength, Bandel muttered, "I'm still a god. A lesser god, but a god nonetheless." The statement was half reassurance, half reminder of the weight of his responsibility.
With a deep breath, Bandel crouched low and launched himself into the air. His body tore through the canopy, breaking branches as he soared high above the forest. From this vantage point, the wilderness seemed endless, a sprawling sea of green stretching to the horizon. He would have to move quickly—every second wasted brought greater risk to both Kaelria and Earth.
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The Energy Spectrum of Kaelria
Kaelrians, both mortal and divine, were defined by the energy they wielded, measured in Kaelrian Joules (KJ). This energy governed their abilities, their strength, and their very existence. The disparity in energy levels was what separated the gods from mortals.
A normal Kaelrian, for instance, might possess an ability to manipulate an element—like wind—but their energy would typically range between 300 and 3,000 KJ. This level, while formidable, was a far cry from what the gods could muster.
Lesser gods, like Bandel Blue, wielded energy levels in the range of 200,000 to 400,000 KJ, granting them immense power over mortals. For comparison, Bandel's energy stood at 350,000 KJ, making him an indomitable force on Earth but merely average among Kaelrian deities.
At the pinnacle of Kaelria's divine hierarchy were the major gods, such as Solaris and Lunara. Their energy levels ranged from 20,000,000 to 80,000,000 KJ, enabling them to shape worlds and command forces beyond comprehension. However, even they paled in comparison to the forbidden gods, whose energy levels soared between 100,000,000 and 800,000,000 KJ. These gods were catastrophically powerful, their existence a delicate balance between creation and destruction.
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The Paths to Power
Kaelrians had several ways to increase their energy levels:
1. Consumption of Rare Resources: Certain herbs and artifacts, imbued with high Kaelrian Joules, could significantly enhance a being's energy. These were rare treasures guarded zealously across the bases.
2. Divine Legacy: Gods could grant a portion of their power to chosen individuals, raising them to new heights.
3. Self-Discovery and Innovation: Mortals and gods alike could ascend by inventing techniques or uncovering profound secrets that unlocked their potential.
4. Inheritance: Some Kaelrians, like Tessa, inherited power through their lineage and specific rituals.
Tessa, for instance, derived her energy from both her Kaelrian bloodline and the Moon Inheritance, though she had only unlocked 2/30ths of its full potential. Her current energy level stood at 6,000 KJ, enough to place her far above a normal Kaelrian but still leagues below even a lesser god.
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Energy Dynamics in Battle
In Kaelrian conflicts, energy levels dictated life and death. To kill a Kaelrian, the attacking energy had to exceed their defensive capability. For gods and mortals alike, a direct assault with higher energy could overwhelm their defenses, rendering them vulnerable.
Kaelrian Mortals, however, had an Achilles' heel—salt. This simple substance drained their energy rapidly, reducing even the strongest to zero if exposed for long enough. On Earth, this weakness was a weapon humans could wield against Kaelrians, should they discover it.
Rhemon Sanchez, one of Earth's most formidable beings, boasted an energy level of 250,000 KJ, placing him on par with lesser gods. Against someone like Bandel Blue, their clash would be catastrophic, but the outcome would ultimately depend on strategy, not just raw power.
As Bandel Blue tore through the skies above Kaelria's wilderness, his mind raced. Tessa's energy signature was faint but detectable—a whisper of her Kaelrian lineage calling out across the distance. He couldn't afford to waste time. They had to find Solaris, warn him, and prepare for the storm that was brewing.
"Hold on, Tessa," he murmured, determination hardening his features. "I'll find you... and we'll fix this."