After conquering Zenus's planet, Hacora and the other leaders returned to Planticia, hoping to celebrate their victory. However, upon arrival, they were met with a harrowing sight. Zenus, in his relentless pursuit of vengeance, had sent his army to Planticia during their absence. With most of the defenders away, only a few soldiers and no leaders were left to protect their home.
The devastation was immense. The once vibrant and peaceful lands of Planticia were now marred with destruction. Bodies of Plantonians and their allies—Arcturans, Aerians, Verdans, Crystalians, Lumerians, Aquarins, and Terradons—lay scattered across the ground. Zenus's army had ruthlessly killed more than half of the inhabitants.
Hacora and the other leaders stood in shock and sorrow, their hearts heavy with grief. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the cries of the survivors echoed through the ruins.
Elyssia, Calypso, and the other celestials tried to console the mourning families, but their own hearts were breaking.
As the leaders gathered to perform the rituals for the fallen, each species honored their dead in their unique ways:
- **Plantonians**: They placed the bodies in the roots of their sacred trees, believing that their spirits would become part of Planticia's life force.
- **Arcturans**: They built pyres and sent their dead into the stars, symbolizing their return to the cosmic essence.
- **Aerians**: They performed a sky burial, allowing the winds to carry the souls of the deceased to the heavens.
- **Verdans**: They buried their dead in the fertile soil, planting a seed with each body to signify new life.
- **Crystalians**: They encased their fallen in crystal sarcophagi, preserving their bodies as eternal guardians.
- **Lumerians**: They created light sculptures, representing the souls of the dead ascending to the afterlife.
- **Aquarins**: They released the bodies into the deep waters, where the currents would carry them to their final resting place.
- **Terradons**: They buried their dead beneath the earth, marking the graves with stones carved with their names and deeds.
After the rituals were over, Hacora stood alone on the shore of the sea, gazing at the two suns of Planticia as they set, casting a melancholic glow over the devastated land. The weight of his sorrow and anger was almost unbearable.
Calypso approached him, sensing his friend's turmoil. "Hacora, what are you thinking, my friend?" he asked gently.
Hacora turned to him, his eyes filled with a mix of grief and determination. "We were a happy and peaceful species, Calypso. We never fought with anyone or created problems with any of our fellow Plantonians. We never disturbed any other species and always welcomed everyone who came to visit us. Then why did Zenus hate us? We never said anything to him. All of this would never have happened if Zenus had once come to us and told us his problems. We would have been more than happy to include him in our gatherings, and we would have had perfect lives. Why did he do all of this?"
Calypso sighed, his expression somber. "There are some individuals who hate others for no reason, Hacora. We cannot always understand the darkness in their hearts."
"But this is too much," Hacora said, his voice trembling with emotion. "First, he separated us, then destroyed our planet and gathering tree, then Nova, and now half of our people. I am not going to leave him alive, Calypso. I promise you, I will avenge their deaths."
Calypso placed a reassuring hand on Hacora's shoulder. "We will stand by you, Hacora. Together, we will make sure Zenus pays for his crimes. We will fight for our fallen, for our future, and for the peace we once knew."
YOU ARE READING
"The Rise of Planticia: A Celestial Saga"
Narrativa generaleThere was a planet named Planticia with its inhabitants known as Plantonians. Zenus, a dark celestial, hated them and wanted to destroy their existence. Plantonians embark on a new journey to save themselves and take revenge.
