2️⃣Species - 5 Kromans
Long, long ago, Humans lived on Earth. It was once full of joy and wonder, and Humans enjoyed every bit of their lives with family and friends. The forests were evergreen, and the air and water were clean. They had all they needed and wanted nothing more.
However, Humans’ peace did not last long. The population grew and some of them got greedy. They fought over resources like food and water, and some even polluted the water on purpose.
After a long time of fighting and making a mess, some Humans had to leave Earth because it was not safe anymore. Forced to leave their home behind, they journeyed through galaxies and stars, searching for new places to live. After drifting for years, they felt tired and lost. Until one day, they saw a bright green light in the dark galaxy. They followed it, hoping it would take them to a new, safe place to live.
But when they arrived, the air was different and hard to breathe. They gasped for air, struggling to stay alive. Each breath felt like a battle against suffocation, and their chests heaving as they fought to fill their lungs with the unfamiliar atmosphere of this new universe.
Just as things seemed hopeless, they heard strange mechanical noises and saw towering figures in metal suits approaching. Terrified and confused, they watched as the shadowy figures drew nearer.
Desperate, the Humans picked up the stones from the ground and threw them at a group of strangers. But the stones bounced off the rather sturdy metal suits, and the creatures continued to approach one step at a time.
Those strangers later introduced themselves as the Riders. Riders were tiny animals that had undergone remarkable transformations. They acquired knowledge and intelligence by absorbing the mysterious energy in this universe. With their newfound brainpower and mechanical skills, they constructed impressive robot rides to help themselves zip around the universe.
Upon analyzing the situation, the Riders knew that the Humans were not powerful enough to hurt them at all. Acting swiftly, they provided the struggling Humans with gas masks.
Humans immediately put on the masks and dropped the stones.
“Thank you for saving us!” said the Human leader. “But where exactly are we?”
“You’re in the Kroma Creative Universe,” replied the Riders. “It’s a universe fueled by Kroma Energy, where anything can happen. Follow us.”
The Humans hesitated, unsure if they should trust the Riders. However, with no choice, they reluctantly followed. After hours of walking in the empty fields, they finally reached a building forest filled with heavy machinery and smoking chimneys.
“What’s happening here?” Humans asked, eyeing the shiny parts and the bright fire inside the factory.
As one of the Riders began to explain, their leader stepped in, choosing to keep their secrets hidden. The Human leader felt the hesitation and wanted to ask more.
But before they could finish, there was a loud explosion nearby. Smoke quickly filled the air, blocking the view. The Humans and Riders exchanged surprised glances at each other and hurried to see what had just happened.
In the arena’s waiting area, a nervous De-trom stood by his father. His mane-like hair bristled with anxiety.
“I’m nervous, Dad,” he confessed, “I don’t want to fight against my friends, especially not with my bare claws.”
His father, a strong De-trom leader, placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Hey, son. No one’s ever really ready,” he said gently. “But you have to do this. It’s a tradition.”
“I just don’t understand why we have to battle against each other to decide our social hierarchy here. There are so many other ways to prove ourselves.”
“We, De-troms, value power above all else. It is a belief passed down from our ancestors. Everyone has to show they are ready to fight for their clan. I’ve been where you are, and I earned the respect of our clan. You will too.”
Reluctantly, the young De-trom nodded, taking a deep breath before heading out to the arena. Today was a big day for the De-troms. When De-trom youth reached the age of 17, they had officially become adults and had proved themselves in the arena.
The De-troms are a species that have lived on this planet for a long time. They had settled in a crater, a bowl-shaped pit likely formed by explosions caused by Kroma energy activities. Serving as a symbol of power, the arena was built around the crater, one of the largest sources of Kroma Energy. The green fire-like figure in the center of the arena showed the everlasting power De-Troms sought. They became notorious for excessively extracting this energy to craft and refine their weapons. Other species residing in the KCU were worried that they might use up all the energy resources.
As the young De-trom made his way through the crowd, his heart racing with anticipation, an unexpected sight stopped him in his tracks — a yellow, glowing creature floating in the air before him. The young De-trom cautiously looked at the creature. It was like little clusters of pixels, like the characters you might see in video games. Yet he could not figure out its origin or intention.
“Who are you really?” the young De-trom asked in suspicion.
“Easy there, buddy. I am one of the Virtual Intelligence and I come from the digital world,” the pixelated entity replied vaguely. “But I assure you, I’m not here to cause harm. I can sense you‘re not thrilled about today’s event. And guess what? I’ve got an idea that might just put an end to the ceremony immediately. You just have to follow my lead,” it added with a playful yet devilish giggle. It extended its hand, offering him a shiny rock, Ore.
The Ore glimmered with a captivating green glow, unlike any rock the young De-trom had seen before. Taking it from the V.I., he felt its powerful energy pulsating through him immediately. Gripping the Ore tightly, he absorbed its strength as if tapping into the essence of nature itself. In that transformative moment, his inner truth stirred from its slumber, awakening a primal urge for action. No longer bound by hesitation, he embraced a newfound courage, ready to venture into uncharted territory.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the arena, the gray-skinned Harmons observed the De-troms’ activities from their hidden spot in the ancient trees. Gifted with long limbs, the Harmons moved swiftly between the branches. They considered themselves the guides of the KCU and strongly disapproved of the De-troms’ excessive use of Kroma energy.
“I have warned the De-troms countless times,” muttered the Harmon chief, her long ears twitching with intuition. “Their behaviors disrupt the peace and upset the balance in the KCU.” With a worried look, she added, “Their weapons, made from too much Kroma energy, could harm our universe’s harmony.”
Her fellow Harmons nodded in agreement, “We cannot just sit still, Chief! We must stop them!”
“Just do what we have rehearsed,” the Harmon chief ordered. The Harmons quietly made their way towards the arena without anyone noticing.
The event was about to start, and the crowds in the arena started to yell. The ground of the entire arena seemed to tremble due to the cheers and shouts of the crowd. Suddenly, even before his opponent was introduced to the state, the young De-trom dashed onto the arena floor, holding the Ore that V.I. had given him earlier. Without hesitation, he fixed his gaze on the blazing Kroma energy at the center of the floor and kept running. The audience watched in confusion, unsure of what he was planning to do.
Outside the arena, the V.I. observed the scene with amusement, and it knew that things were about to get interesting. At the same time, the young De-trom tossed the Ore into the roaring flames. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
The Ore exploded upon contact with the Kroma energy in a flash of light and a deafening roar. The arena lit up like a dazzling fireworks display, filling the air with a brilliant glow. A thunderous boom echoed through the space, shaking the foundations of the arena. It was as if time stood still for a moment, with everyone frozen in wonder. The explosion left everyone wide-eyed, especially the De-trom leader, who now understood the power of the reaction between Ore and Kroma energy.
A few miles away, the Humans and Riders hurried toward the explosion site. They wondered what caused it, unaware of the surprises ahead. So they marched.
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