The Solaris Empire

The group trudged through the desolate terrain as they passed the jagged rocks which stretched endlessly in every direction. The sky cast a dim, oppressive light over the barren landscape. Renjiro wiped the stinging sweat from his brow, his eyes scanning the desolate landscape for anything familiar, but the eerie silence only deepened his unease.

“This is the place, right?” he asked, glancing toward Emi.

Emi nodded, “Rona’s directions were clear. It’s supposed to be here… somewhere.”

Kairro muttered under his breath. “Great. So now we’re just standing around in the middle of nowhere. With no way back to Azeron and the red clan are unto us.”

"We might be lost, but at least we still have some food and supplies left." Emi sighed, trying to stay optimistic.

The faint sound of munching interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head sharply to see Taro sitting with his legs crossed. Crumbs were scattered around him and his hands were deep in an empty bag.

"Taro!" she shrieked,  "Are you serious right now?"

Taro froze, a half-eaten biscuit dangling from his lips. "Uh... I was hungry."

Emi stomped over, her voice rising. "You ate everything? We left the sanctuary yesterday! How did you even—" She threw her hands up, exasperated. "You're such an idiot!"

Taro shrugged, rubbing his stomach. "I don’t know, I just... lost track. They were good biscuits, though."

Emi’s eye twitched. Before Taro could say another word, her fist shot forward, catching him square in the chest. Taro went flying, crashing into the rocks with a thud.

"You absolute moron!" Emi shouted, shaking her fist. "Do you realize what you’ve done? We’re stuck out here with nothing because of you!"

Taro groaned, slowly peeling himself off the rocks. "Oy... you didn’t have to hit me so hard."

Yumeru scanned the horizon,  “Something doesn’t feel right. Keep your guard up.”

Suddenly, a sound pierced the air, growing louder with each passing second. Renjiro’s eyes widened. “Move!” he shouted, diving to the side as a streak of yellow Lumina energy crashed into the ground where they had been standing. The blast sent debris flying in all directions, forcing the group to shield their faces.

Four figures descended from the sky, their forms outlined by glowing yellow Lumina trails beneath their boots. Without a word, they opened fire. yellow energy blasts erupt from strange devices on their hands.

“What the hell is going on?” Kairro yelled, dodging another blast. “Who are these guys?”

“They’re not asking questions, so why should we?” Yumeru replied, rushing forward. She grabbed a nearby rock, hurling it at one of the figures.

Renjiro summoned a lumina barrier as a blast struck him head-on. “Wait, don’t hurt them! We don’t even know who they are!”

Taro's fists were infused with blue lumina as he darted behind a boulder. “Maybe they should’ve thought of that before trying to kill us!” 

He stepped out, hurling a Lumina blast at the nearest attacker. The yellow-clad figure dodged, retaliating with his shot from his device that grazed Taro’s shoulder, forcing him to retreat with a grunt.

Renjiro charged forward, shouting, “Stop! We’re not here to fight!” His voice was drowned out by another volley of blasts, one narrowly missing his leg. “They’re not listening!”

Yumeru sprinted past an attacker, narrowly avoiding their aim. She launched herself into the air, spinning to deliver a sharp kick. The figure blocked with their forearm, their glowing boots pushing them back to maintain balance.

“Wait!” Emi’s voice cut through the chaos as she ducked behind cover. “We need to stop this!”

Renjiro took a deep breath, then raised his hands, stepping out of cover. “Wait! Please, we’re not your enemies!” he shouted as his voice echoed across the rocky terrain.

The attackers halted, hovering in place as they aimed their devices directly at him. One figure, their voice sharp and mechanical through their helmet, barked, “State your purpose, or be eliminated.”

Renjiro’s hands stayed up as he carefully replied, “We’re here looking for the Yellow Clan—the Solaris Empire. We mean no harm.”

The figures exchanged glances, their stances still rigid. “How do we know you’re not spies?” one asked.

Emi stepped forward cautiously, “We’re from the and the Blue Clan. You're the yellow clan, right? We need your help. Please, hear us out.”

After a tense pause, the leader of the group nodded. “Follow us. Do not attempt anything foolish.”

Before the group could respond, a massive shadow fell over them, and a deep, resonant hum filled the air. Renjiro’s jaw dropped as an enormous aircraft descended from the clouds. The sleek, metallic ship was marked with the Yellow Clan’s insignia.

The ramp extended, and the group hesitated, exchanging wary glances.

“Come,” the lead figure ordered, motioning them forward. “You’ll see what you’re looking for soon enough.”

Kairro frowned with hesitation. “I don’t know about this. Getting on some flying fortress doesn’t exactly scream ‘good idea.’”

“Do we have a choice?” Emi asked quietly.

Renjiro looked to the others, then back at the looming ship. “We’re here for answers. Let’s go.”

Reluctantly, the group stepped onto the ramp as the faint hum of Lumina energy vibrated beneath their feet. As the ramp retracted, the ship ascended higher into the sky. The barren terrain below shrank until it disappeared entirely.

Above them, suspended in the sky was a massive structure glowing with yellow energy. Towers and spires jutted upward, interconnected by bridges and platforms, all floating in the air as if defying gravity. Beneath the entire city, streams of yellow Lumina coursed like rivers, holding the immense structure in the air.

As the ship moved closer, more details of the Solaris Empire came into view. The air buzzed with activity as Luminarians piloted sleek vehicles that hovered effortlessly, weaving between the towering spires. In the center of the city stood an enormous energy structure composed entirely of pulsating yellow Lumina. It radiated a steady, golden glow that flowed outward in streams connecting to every corner of the city. The very heart of the Solaris Empire’s operations.

“This… this is the Solaris Empire,” Yumeru whispered with awe flickering in her voice.

The aircraft descended at a landing bay, and the ramp extended once more. Stepping out onto a platform, they found themselves surrounded by busy activity: figures in yellow moved around, maintaining vehicles, directing traffic, and tending to luminous machinery that pulsed with energy. The whole city seemed alive; every part of it hummed with the power of the Yellow Clan's Lumina technology.

One of the guards gestured for them to follow. “You’ll be escorted to the Council of Engineers. They’ll determine what to do with you.”

Renjiro exchanged a glance with his friends, each of them feeling a mix of curiosity and unease. As they walked deeper into the floating city, they couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible ingenuity of the Solaris Empire.