3️⃣The Birth of Agora

After the explosion, everything was a mess. Debris was everywhere, and smoke filled the air. everyone rushed their way out of the arena, screaming in confusion and fear. The De-trom ceremony was canceled.

Only one De-trom stood still in the middle of the chaos. De-trom Leader slowly surveyed the aftermath, and his eyes sparkled with excitement. “That explosion was incredible! The power of the magical stone is amazing! I must find its pieces before anyone else does,” he muttered to himself, excited by the new power. “Ah, here come the others…”

The Harmons approached cautiously, casting nervous glances, while the De-trom Leader hid his excitement behind a concerned look. The arrival of the Riders, followed by the mysterious Humans, made the situation even more tense. Suspicion hung heavy in the air as the Harmon Chief eyed the Humans with distrust.

Sensing the tension, the Human Leader stepped forward, speaking calmly. “We come from the Earth, fleeing wars that drove us from our home. We seek peace here and need these masks to survive,” he explained, pointing to the gas mask on his face. “By showing our weakness, we hope to earn your trust.”

The Harmon Chief looked at the Rider Leader for reassurance. The Rider Leader nodded, his voice robotic, “Yes, they are telling the truth.”

The De-trom Leader pretended to know nothing, shrugged his shoulders, and avoided everyone’s eyes while secretly trying to scan the ground for any remains of the Ore fragments.

The Harmon Chief spoke again, her tone serious, “The imbalance caused by using too much Kroma energy is becoming more dangerous. We need someone to regulate this universe to prevent such things from happening.”

“Then that must be our species! We are the strongest in this universe. Only the strongest have the power to rule!” the De-trom Leader said proudly.

Meanwhile, the Rider Leader, not interested in the power struggle, looked around in boredom. Suddenly, he saw a tiny, shiny stone — an Ore fragment among the debris. Knowing it might be important, he quickly picked it up, trying to be unnoticed.

As the species argued about who should rule the KCU, the Human Leader stepped forward and said, “Friends, we come from a place where decisions were made together, where everyone had a say. We called it Agora. Maybe we can do something like that here, making sure each species has a voice and protecting the energy you mentioned.”

The suggestion caused mixed reactions. The De-trom Leader disagreed, believing only the strongest should decide. The Harmon Chief, however, nodded thoughtfully, seeing the benefits of such a system in restoring balance to the universe.

“As much as I don’t like outsiders interfering in our affairs,” the Harmon Chief said, “I must admit that the Humans’ idea of the Agora has value. We cannot ignore the need for unity and cooperation in these troubled times.”

The De-trom Leader scoffed, clearly distrusting the Humans. Also, he wanted to rule the KCU. “Wait, wait, wait! What if these outsiders use this chance to do what they want? We still don’t know if they can be trusted! We cannot let them decide the fate of the KCU.”

The air grew heavy with suspicion as everyone thought about the possible hidden motives of each species. The reminder of the Humans as outsiders made many mistrust them even more.

Suddenly, a mysterious glowing object appeared, casting a mystical light that captured everyone’s attention.

Suddenly, a shimmering Virtual Intelligence (V.I.) appeared, glowing with an ethereal light. With a hint of sarcasm, it fixed its gaze on the De-trom Leader. “Seems like you’re the one eyeing all the Kroma energy for yourself, huh?! Worried someone might disrupt your plans to get it all-paha?” V.I. turned to the Human Leader. “I say yes to the suggestion from… what’s your name again? Hudson?”

The De-trom Leader turned red, embarrassed as V.I. read his thoughts. He reached out, trying to stop V.I. from saying more.

The Rider Leader stepped in, redirecting the focus. “Let’s put aside past issues. The Agora offers a chance for all species to unite and move forward together. It’s not a bad idea. We just need to find a fair way to share power.”

The Human Leader chimed in, outlining the Agora’s potential. “In our experience, the Agora ensures every species has a voice. By helping the KCU grow, each species earns influence and resources. The more you help, the more influence you get.”

Intrigued, the Rider Leader asked, “How?”

With a smile, the Human Leader explained, “It’s a merit-based system. Those who contribute most to the KCU’s well-being earn greater influence in decision-making. It’s about rewarding dedication.”

The Harmon Chief nodded in agreement, seeing the potential for balance. “I support this. It ensures those invested in the universe’s future guide its path.”

The Rider Leader echoed the sentiment. “‘It encourages innovation and teamwork. I’m on board.”

Excitedly, V.I. joined in. “Sounds like fun! I’ve seen something similar on the Earth through the computer monitor! Count me in! Paha!”

As the leaders discussed the details, the De-trom Leader’s mind raced. He knew he had to play along, at least for now. “I agree,” he said calmly. “Let’s give the Agora a chance.”

V.I., always quick to notice things, noticed the hesitation in the De-trom Leader’s tone. “This is going to be interesting, paha!” it said, floating closer to the group.

Meanwhile, the De-trom Leader’s thoughts were already elsewhere. He had no intention of giving up his quest for power. He would pretend to support the Agora while secretly planning his next move.

The Rider Leader spoke to the group. “We have a lot of work ahead, but together, we can create a balanced and prosperous KCU. Let’s stay in touch and work towards our common goals.”

V.I. agreed. “This is just the start. The Agora will need constant effort and attention from all of us, pa-ha!”

The Harmon Chief wrapped up, “Let’s meet again in a week to review our progress near the Gate. We must stay united in our mission.” Every leader agreed.

As the meeting ended, the Rider Leader approached the Harmon Chief, whispering, “Chief, I believe I found something related to the explosion. I hope you will come with me to the Factory…” He discreetly showed the Chief the shiny sparkle of the Ore fragment.

“What…?” The Chief was shocked and couldn’t believe what she saw.

“Sorry to interrupt! But I’m having trouble breathing!” The Human Leader’s voice broke the tension.

“Ah… It looks like the Kroma energy in your gas masks is almost depleted. You need to come with us back to the Factory and bring some new masks for your people!” The Rider Leader shot a glance at the Harmon Chief, signaling her to join them.

Meanwhile, the De-trom Leader had already slipped away, standing behind a giant tree far from the arena. He held V.I. firmly in his grasp, his voice low and menacing. “Tell me where I can get more of that Ore, or I’ll pay a visit to your family and friends!”

V.I. nodded reluctantly. “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you everything!”

The De-trom Leader’s eyes gleamed with determination. The formation of the Agora was just a step in his quest for control. While the other species focused on unity and teamwork, he would prepare for the moment to seize power

As the KCU leaders began this new chapter, the stage was set for future alliances, conflicts, and hidden agendas. The journey of the Agora had just begun, and the fate of the KCU hung in the balance.