It was upon a desolate field of ruin, amidst the ash and cries of the fallen, that Blackcurst, the Puaka King, bellowed his defiance. His voice, deep and guttural, echoed like the groaning of ancient mountains.
"This is not the end, Celestrias!" He thundered as the dark shakti writhed about him in turbulent waves.
"I shall return, and the stars themselves shall bow to me!"
Then, with a final roar, he was consumed by the swirling abyss, leaving behind naught but shattered lives and the bitter taste of vengeance unfulfilled.
Long had the elder seers foretold this age, a force that would rise to consume the light of the galaxy, a darkness born from dead evil souls.
As the galaxy teems with life, a vibrant tapestry woven from countless threads, this prophecy now unfolds before their very eyes.
Among the most prominent are the Celestrias, beings of peace and tranquility who dwell in the skies above. They command advanced technology and wield a power known as shakti—an ethereal force that flows through all living things, granting strength, resilience, and the potential for unique abilities.
Beneath their celestial domains lived the Atman, the children of living planets. Humans are but one kind of Atman, for on countless worlds across the galaxy, other forms thrive, each with their own unique appearances and names.
On a frigid planet in the far north, where icy forests blanket snow-covered landscapes like a frozen emerald ocean, dwell the Albien. Their scales shimmer, reflecting the icy blues and whites of their surroundings as they move seamlessly between land and water, their thick hides protecting them from the biting cold.
Adorned with elegant, swirling horns, the Albien are a serene and contemplative people, known for their deep connection to nature. Masters of meditation and herbalism, they possess a profound understanding of the living world and enjoy the longest lifespans among the Atman, their lives stretching long like the slow growth of the ancient ice trees.
To the south, on a world of stark beauty and technological marvels, where metallic cities pierce the clouds like glittering daggers, reside the Menxtrok. With sleek, metallic limbs and cratered, azure skin, they are the most intelligent of the Atman.
Their faces, devoid of mouths or noses, are dominated by large, black eyes that convey a profound understanding of the universe, windows to a mind that never sleeps. From their heads sprout whispering antennae, allowing them to communicate through intricate patterns of thought.
The desolate, windswept world on the western fringes of the galaxy is home to the Weregron. These hulking creatures, with their thick fur and mosaic of animal features, are perfectly adapted to their harsh environment. As skilled hunters and warriors, they navigate the towering mountains and unforgiving terrain with ease.
The Atman, oblivious to the spark within, wanders through life, unaware of the power that courses through their veins.
The Celestrias, however, have mastered the art of harnessing this inner energy. Through rigorous training and meditative practices, they unlock their potential, transforming it into extraordinary abilities.
Yet, a shadow lurks amidst this diversity. Born from the nefarious energies of deceased Atman souls, the Darkseed are a terrifying perversion of life, a twisted reflection of the good power.
Like the Celestrias, they possess the ability to manipulate shakti, but they twist it into a force of darkness and destruction. Driven by a thirst for conquest, the Darkseed plot to seize control of the planets within their respective regions.
The Puaka, a formidable Darkseed species from the Eastern region, are the first to initiate this malevolent campaign. Their king, Blackcurst, harbors an even greater ambition: to become the supreme ruler of all Darkseed and plunge the entire galaxy into eternal darkness, extinguishing the light of civilization like a snuffed candle.
In stark contrast, the Bunian, mystical entities, weave vibrant realms within alternate dimensions. Within these realms, the rules of the universe bend, and shakti, the lifeblood of so many beings, holds no sway.
It is a place where power, both light and dark, is rendered inert, leaving only the essence of existence. They offer sanctuary to the lost, existing in harmony, untouched by the conflicts that rage beyond their borders.
The Bunian choose neutrality, embodying balance in a universe teetering on the brink of war, a still point in a turning world.
King Awan, ruler of the Eastern Celestrias, stands as a bulwark against the Puaka's insidious schemes to corrupt human minds and seize their world.
A cataclysmic battle erupts on Earth, leaving a gruesome scar upon the land. Craters mar the once-fertile earth, the air thick with the stench of decay and lingering dark orbs. Silence descends, a heavy blanket stifling the cries of the wounded and dying.
Aided by Kshatriya, an elite warrior diversion, Awan vanquishes the Darkseed and decimates the Puaka forces. But victory comes at a heavy cost. Thousands of Celestrias warriors perish, and Awan himself suffers grievous wounds.
To compound the tragedy, Blackcurst, a cunning and ruthless leader, escapes with his generals, Dir Nuzam and Guranba, vowing to return and engulf the galaxy in darkness.
Fearing the corrupting influence of the lingering dark energies, Awan commanded that the cursed land be sundered from the Earth and lifted into their celestial domain, shielding the world below. In its stead, a vast ocean forms, a swirling sapphire expanse offering sustenance and resources to the burgeoning human empires.
The air crackles with energy as a Skyrea, a majestic Celestrias airship, descends towards Langit Station, carrying the survivors of the war back to their home—a floating region nestled between the third and fourth skies above Earth.
Their arrival ignites jubilation amongst the Aurenian people, who hail them as heroes. This conflict, forever etched in history as The Great War, the joy of victory is tempered by the grief of those who lost loved ones, a void that no amount of reparations can truly fill.
While celebrations and mourning continue, Awan, still grappling with his injuries, retreats to the Realm of the King to seek healing.
He tasks Kshatriya with the critical mission of investigating the remaining Puaka on Earth and searching for Blackcurst's hideout. To aid in this endeavor, Awan appoints his trusted secretary, Ria—a former Kshatriya herself—as his eyes and ears.
"Let none of the Puaka's movements go unnoticed," the king's weary yet resolute voice echoes in Ria's mind through the floating mirror embedded in his royal crown.
"The darkness lingers. We must act swiftly."
"It will be done, my king," Ria assures him, her mind already strategizing.
In response to Awan's command, Ria relays the instructions to Purba, the leader of the Kshatriyas. Purba carefully selects a team of six Kshatriyas from the thirteen available for this perilous mission.
Among those chosen are Purnama and Suria, the Celestial Twins, renowned for their complementary skills and unwavering bond.
And so, with hearts burdened by foreboding and courage tempered by fire, they prepare to embark into a dark and uncertain dawn, where destiny awaited in the shadowed corners of the cosmos…