SOUL RESONANCE Prologue

In the recesses of my mind, an echoing, melancholic whisper reverberated.

"It all began 1.11.6000BU (Before Unification), 2000 years ago, when Earth reached out to the seven planets surrounding it.

Initially hostile toward one another, they soon started exchanging information about the truths of the universe. They learned to harness the power of soul and mana, derived from The Sun, unraveling its potent energy. Furthermore, they shared advancements in technology.

Before humans made contact, these planets communicated amongst themselves through soul communion and other means facilitated by soul connections. Their inability to connect with humans stemmed from the Earth's low soul manifestation.

Most significantly, they uncovered the existence of beings known as Aghori—vicious creatures that plundered souls and laid waste to entire planets. In their initial encounters, they struggled to defend against the Aghori, resulting in countless victims."

They united under the banner of seven planets known as "DEXTERS," each harboring distinct and formidable inhabitants:

Demons: These creatures embodied mythological strength, with appearances to match. They stood as indomitable figures within the union.

Elves: Despite their small stature, Elves wielded omnipotent spirits and forged strong soul bonds.They initiated the first contact among all species.

Xiaos: Residing on the largest planet in the universe, Xiaos resembled monkeys with wings.Their unique appearance set them apart.

Titans: The brilliant minds behind this unification, Titans boasted both towering stature and unparalleled intelligence.

Earthlings: Humans played a pivotal role, providing weaponry to their allies and contributing advanced technologies crucial for defeating the Aghori.

The Aghori refrained from engaging Earth until humanity established contact with other civilizations, as the Aghori's unique sensory perception relied on the intricate energy patterns emitted by beings in their surroundings; thus, Earth appeared dormant to them until the awakening of mankind's presence.

Rabisus: Though prone to hostility due to their nature as vampires, humans engineered artificial molecular cells similar to those of the Rabisus. This initiative quelled their aggression to some extent.

Stihians: Ferocious dragons, functioning as frontline attackers in the war, added another layer of might to the coalition.

Their ultimate adversary was the Aghori—a common nemesis shared among the eight planets. These beings possessed power and intelligence surpassing the combined might of the DEXTERS planets.

After an agonizing span of 800 years, marked by a brutal conflict that claimed over 2.5 billion lives and nearly drove the planets to the brink of destruction, the DEXTERS succeeded in eradicating the Aghori.

Thus, on 1.1.0001AU (After Unification), they believed they had restored peace—though challenges may yet lie beyond the horizon.

After the conclusion of the great war, tranquility enveloped their realm for the next 200 years.

During this era of peace, they diligently constructed their civilizations, fostering mutual support. While this period witnessed sporadic internal power struggles, the principle of majority vote effectively averted any descent into conflict.

This era also saw the amalgamation of species, as they began to coexist harmoniously.

In the midst of these serene years, diligent researchers embarked on a quest to establish communication beyond the confines of their universe.

Despite their efforts, no response materialized thus far. Simultaneously, the art of martial combat, which had been lost in the throes of war, underwent a resurgence. Additionally, numerous truths concerning their ancestral lineage and histories were unearthed and investigated. This was made possible through the establishment of new research enterprises like Advanced Soul Search and Ancient Link Technology (ASSALT).

To nurture the potential of forthcoming generations, training academies like Soul Academy (SA) were instituted, shaping cadets into adept individuals ready to face the future.

Two hundred years after the conclusion of the war, precisely on 1.1.0200 AU—the day the Aghori fell—a strange phenomenon began to plague those with weaker souls.

Gradually, day by day, their vitality dwindled, as if being stolen away. Initially, they attributed this to a deficiency in mana, the vital energy drawn from the sun to power their abilities. In response, they devised mana stones, strategically placed to fortify the soul. Initially effective, their solution seemed to stave off the decline.

However, as time passed, the severity of the issue became apparent. Millions succumbed to the ailment, falling into states of illness. Eventually, they transformed into mindless entities, moving about like dolls. Some lapsed into comas, while others met their demise. After a span, even individuals possessing average soul mana began to exhibit symptoms, confounding them further. Lacking an explanation or remedy, they resorted to an unprecedented decision—to send those afflicted underground for refuge.

Yet, an unsettling fate awaited those who descended. Within days, their forms withered, crumbled, and transformed into dust.

A singular realization surfaced—the manner in which their bodies disintegrated mirrored the fate of the Aghori upon death. This revelation urged them to confront the very planet they had been avoiding. This desolate world, shrouded in Aghori dust, stood as a toxic realm where breathing was an impossibility. To traverse this hostile terrain, they employed advanced technology, donning soul masks for protection.

For years, they combed the surface until the discovery of an underground cave revealed the truth of the Aghori. This knowledge unravelled the enigma behind their transition to dust. The Aghori existed without a physical structure, relying solely on their soul and surrounding mana to assume a corporeal form. Yet, this explanation failed to illuminate the affliction afflicting the DEXTERS.

Amid this turmoil, a transformation occurred. Those afflicted by the mysterious ailment morphed into mindless marionettes, resembling wild beasts and echoing the very essence of the Aghori. Faced with no alternative, they resorted to distancing themselves from the afflicted and retreated underground in search of the underlying cause. Even their research outpost on the Aghori planet succumbed to the affliction, transmitting their secrets and the reason for their crisis before fading into dust.

In the heart of the cosmos, the Sun held its central dominion while eight planets orbited it—a celestial dance orchestrated by cosmic forces. Proximate to the Sun resided the Aghori, followed by the sequential order of Elves, Earth, Demons, Xiaos, Titans, Rabisus, and, finally, Stihians.

These planets drew sustenance from the Sun's radiant energies, absorbing its mana to vitalize their souls, flora, fauna, and even their armaments. The ebb and flow of mana underpinned the intricate tapestry of their existence.

Data gleaned from the Aghori Research Unit unveiled a revelation—an elaborate cosmic mechanism at play. The Sun embarked on a celestial journey, tracing a cyclical path through the expanse of space, completing a full rotation every 200 million years. With each revolution, the very essence of life was transformed. According to Aghori lore, as the Sun completed its maiden revolution, the various species initiated a remarkable evolution. Intelligence burgeoned, followed by the evolution of communication and mutual understanding.

After a span of 90 million years, the knowledge to harness the power of the soul and absorb mana dawned upon them.

As the Sun marked the halfway point of its cycle, an unsettling metamorphosis consumed the Aghori. Their minds deteriorated, their very souls succumbing to an enigmatic vacuum. In this state of turmoil, they turned malevolent, launching assaults upon neighboring planets.

Astonishingly, these once thought to be barren worlds harbored hidden enclaves—the Aghori were concealed beneath the surface in subterranean chambers, evading the Sun's ominous transformation.

Extrapolating from the Aghori's records, a hypothesis emerged that designated them as pioneers in mana manipulation. Inhabiting a proximity to the Sun that nurtured their prowess, the Aghori were likely among the first to harness the latent mana, an accomplishment achieved within a span of 50 million years.

Through the lens of Aghori documentation, a vivid tapestry of their civilization emerged—weapons, martial arts, culture all intertwined. This unveiling of their civilization's intricacies enriched the understanding of the broader cosmic continuum, transcending epochs and realms.

The mystery of the Aghori's transformation and the enigmatic affliction continued to elude them over the passage of a hundred years. The veil of uncertainty hung heavily upon them. Then, on the date 1.12.0300 AU, a disconcerting phenomenon emerged—Aghori-like entities manifested upon the surfaces of each planet.

With concerted effort, the origin was traced back to the Sun itself. A resolute battle ensued against these newly appearing creatures. They exhibited signs of being less formidable than the original Aghori, yet their onslaught resulted in the loss of around one hundred thousand lives. However, the ominous tide of these creatures soon swept over the Aghori planet as well, albeit in a significantly weakened state compared to their previous appearance.

As years advanced, another anomaly manifested—irregular fluctuations in the Sun's radiance. Despite exhaustive research, no answers emerged; even the Aghori's accumulated data remained silent on this matter.

Then, on the date 11.04.0312, an unprecedented event unfolded—a cacophony of screams echoing from the Sun, resonating throughout the universe.

A chilling voice reverberated, proclaiming, "Everything belongs to me." Days later, another chilling utterance pierced the void, "Become fuel to me quietly."

Dread swept over all, a collective shiver at the notion that the Sun itself was communicating with them. Some took it as a foretold prophecy, intertwining their destiny with the Sun's insatiable appetite. As swiftly as these eerie pronouncements began, they ceased, leaving the universe in an uneasy hush.

On the date 23.06.0372, a half-century following the last ominous prophecy, a transformative event transpired.

The sun, once a radiant orb, transformed into an incandescent crimson hue. Accompanied by a deafening roar, the atmosphere itself seemed to tremble. Fears took root, plunging many into unconsciousness, a combination of overwhelming terror and depletion of mana. Those who withstood this cataclysmic display with their wits intact were forever etched as Royal Families and Legends, bestowed with the reverence akin to gods in the present era.

The sun's transformation wasn't mere spectacle; it heralded a dire occurrence. Over a million Aghori-like entities were dispatched from the sun to descend upon the DEXTERS planet. Outnumbered and pressed to their limits, they valiantly combated this formidable incursion, an engagement etched into history as "The Sun's Wrath."

Days stretched into nights as the struggle raged, eventually leading to a hard-won victory. The aftermath of this clash bore the scars of valor and loss, shaping their world.

However, the sun's hostility ceased as abruptly as it had commenced. The subsequent years witnessed a shift in focus. They began to analyze and study the species captured during the recent invasion, these beings mirroring the Aghori.

Intriguingly, certain creatures held fragments of DEXTERS planets' souls, a revelation that set forth an understanding—the power of these Aghori-like entities was drawn from the stolen souls of their realm. In response, they engineered dome-like constructs that facilitated mana circulation, mitigating the flow's speed, yet powerless to halt the sun's voracious absorption.

Years of laborious research and scrutiny of both Aghori technology and their own plight yielded a momentous insight—Aghori and their sun-evolved counterparts differed. They coined the voice that had spoken the foreboding prophecies as "Abaddon," the harbinger of destruction. Their moniker for the Aghori-like entities shifted to "Voids."

With resolute determination, they forged a path to the sun akin to the Aghori creatures traversing from their celestial home. This journey, however, was undertaken not through their corporeal forms, but their souls.

Mining Aghori data, they uncovered novel methodologies for traversing and fighting, including the technology to capture and harness the Voids' powers. This mechanism, dubbed "Soul Resonance," enabled them to channel the strengths of their adversaries. This breakthrough marked a turning point, an opportunity to level the asymmetrical conflict and safeguard their universe from the looming threat of Abaddon and the Voids.

For over 900 years, the relentless struggle against Abaddon and the Voids has persisted within the sun's fiery depths. Every passing day becomes a stride towards unraveling the enigma, the elusive truth that holds the promise of restoring stolen souls to their rightful place within the bodies of DEXTERS inhabitants. The fervent hope endures—that they shall one day undo the injustice, reinstating their people to their former essence and reclaiming the stolen fragments of their very souls.