History of the World: Birth of the Akatara Dynasty

In the twilight of night surrendering to the light of dawn, as the chill began to yield to warmth, Sakti opened his eyes with effort. The flickering warmth of a nearby campfire spread through his weakened body, offering comfort amidst the damp air.

He found himself inside a cave, its walls reflecting the slow dance of the firelight. Directly in front of him, a young woman, unfamiliar yet captivating, gazed at him from an uncomfortably close distance. Her wet turquoise hair streaked with white hung loose, reflecting the soft glow of the fire, while her enchanting turquoise eyes held his gaze mercilessly.

Sakti couldn’t hide his astonishment as the girl gave a faint smile and teased, “Don’t die just yet, okay?”

Still mesmerized, Sakti found himself unable to look away from the girl whose turquoise hair exuded an unusual allure. Yet his wariness quickly surged; his body tensed instinctively, as if bracing for danger. But a sharp pain in his shoulder halted his movements, drawing a soft groan from his lips.

As his hand touched his shoulder, he felt the unfamiliar texture of black fabric wrapped tightly around his neck, shoulder, and chest—heightening his awareness of his fragile state.

The girl gave a small smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re so stubborn,” she teased playfully. She then leaned closer, gently helping him sit in a more comfortable position, as if she instinctively knew how to handle a weary and injured body.

While adjusting Sakti’s posture, she added with a sly tone, “Seeing you all shy like this—what a rare sight.”

Sakti remained silent, his body yielding to the girl’s every movement without resistance. Though his mind was filled with questions, and he had no idea who this person was, her gentle care felt oddly comforting—as if some part of him trusted her without reason.

Finally, Sakti spoke, his voice weak but brimming with curiosity. “Who are you?” he asked briefly, his eyes still watching her with a mix of wariness and intrigue. But before she could answer, the loud growl of his stomach broke the silence between them.

The girl chuckled lightly, her laughter light yet genuinely warm. “You’d better fill that stomach first,” she said kindly, offering him a skewer of meat, its tempting aroma wafting in the air.

Without much thought, Sakti took the skewer and began eating it eagerly. The delicious taste made him forget everything—until he started choking. The girl quickly handed him a simple yet refreshing-looking bottle of drink. “Don’t rush,” she said gently, her small smile radiating calm.

Sakti took the bottle and sipped slowly. After a moment, he took a deep breath and spoke in a tone tinged with sadness, “Well… it’s not like anyone’s waiting for me to come home.” His voice hung in the air of the cave, heavy with profound loneliness.

The girl gave a small smile again, this time with a gaze that was hard to decipher. “Don’t be so sure,” she said lightly, but there was something in her tone that made Sakti pause.

He frowned, studying her more closely. “Have we met before?” he asked, trying to find answers in the labyrinth of his memories.

The girl let out a soft sigh, her gaze shifting to the dancing flames of the campfire. “Who knows,” she replied, her tone teasing yet hiding something. “Maybe you just never noticed I was there.”

Sakti chuckled lightly, though it carried a bitter undertone. “My head has been filled with things I don’t understand since the day I was born,” he said with a hint of sarcasm. “I hope you don’t just barge in and make it explode.”

The girl turned to him, her smile now more serious. “No,” she said calmly but firmly. “Because my presence here is to answer everything that’s been filling your mind.”

Sakti looked at her, his gaze a mixture of confusion and suspicion. “What do you mean?” he asked flatly, trying to grasp the meaning behind her words.

The girl gave a faint smile, her eyes seemingly piercing straight into his soul. “I mean exactly what I said,” she replied enigmatically. “How much do you remember about what happened last night?” She leaned in slightly, her tone shifting to a playful tease. “Sakti…?”

Sakti was startled to hear her say his name, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You even know my name. I’m the one who should be asking first,” he said, striving to remain calm. “How much do you know about me?”

The girl chuckled softly, her tone light yet brimming with confidence. “I could boast about that,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe number one among your Brother & Sister, your father figure, and the friends you’ll come to know someday.”

Sakti let out a heavy sigh, feeling even more lost in the conversation. “Your words only make me more confused,” he muttered, his voice betraying his mounting frustration.

He fell silent, his body stiff but his mind racing. “It’s a bad memory,” he murmured, beginning a story that felt like a wound barely healed. “I don’t think I have the strength to tell it.”

The girl nodded slightly, her expression full of sympathy. “I understand that,” she said gently. “But don’t you want to let out all that sadness? After all, you’re still deserving enough to cry.”

Sakti let out a small laugh, his tone bitter. “That’s what makes it unbearable,” he replied, the pain he tried to hide evident in every word. “I didn’t feel sad enough when I found out that Sukma and Kamala were gone.”

The girl’s turquoise eyes regarded him with deep attention. “Do you hate them for dying and leaving questions unanswered?” she asked slowly

Sakti shook his head lightly. “I’m not worthy enough to hate them,” he said, his tone bitter. “Because I didn’t love enough about them. To be honest, Kung’s death—my fox buddy—was the only true sadness I felt recently. After that, I chased his killer, and along the way, I witnessed other sorrows I should’ve cried for.”

The girl was silent for a moment before asking again, her voice calm yet piercing. “During that time, did your Brother & Sister tell you everything?”

“Everything?” Sakti repeated, his brows furrowing.

“Yes,” the girl answered without hesitation. “About who you truly are, why you were exiled to that canyon, what caused Sukma to change so drastically, why Yeon-Jin suddenly disappeared from your life and returned as a completely different person, and, of course, the blood curse creature known as the cran-...”

Sakti cut her off, his voice trembling slightly but sharp. “Those are exactly all the things running through my mind. You’re giving me chills. But what makes you think I can trust everything you’re about to explain?”

The girl gave a faint smile, a blend of certainty and irony evident in it. “Because I’m the only one you can trust right now,” she said with a tone of unwavering conviction. “You could leave this place and try to find answers elsewhere. But...”

She leaned her face closer to Sakti, the distance between them narrowing further. Sakti didn’t move, merely watching her in silence, trying to decipher the meaning behind her words.

“But, Sakti,” the girl continued, her tone lower but resolute, “those red eyes and hair of yours won’t make you welcome in most places in this world. Just like the eyes you see in front of you now.”

Confusion flashed across Sakti’s face. “What do you mean?” he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

The girl gave a small nod toward the cup Sakti held. Slowly, Sakti lowered his head and gazed at the surface of the water inside the cup.

What he saw froze him. The reflection in the water didn’t lie—his red hair looked wild, like fire blazing in the darkness. His sharp red eyes burned brightly, like two glowing embers.

Sakti was silent, his heart full of a mix of shock and confusion. The girl simply watched him, saying nothing more, as if giving him time to process the reality he had just come to realize.

Sakti stared at his reflection in the water. A deep confusion appeared in his eyes, as though he no longer recognized himself. "This... isn't how I look," he whispered, his voice full of disbelief, almost like an acknowledgment that was hard to accept.

The girl sat directly in front of him, so close that their bodies almost touched. Her gaze remained calm, as if she was unbothered by the confusion surrounding Sakti. "But this is your true self," she said softly yet firmly, as if affirming a truth that was hard for Sakti to accept.

Sakti, his eyes still locked on the reflection of his blood-red hair, tried to understand. "This appearance... it must have something to do with the chaos I caused last night," he said, his voice barely audible, as though admitting that he was trapped in a situation he couldn’t control.

The girl remained seated in front of him, so close that Sakti could feel her presence, even the gentle vibrations of her breath. "I give up," Sakti said, his voice weary and almost despairing. "Let time decide. Whatever your intentions are, I’ll just listen."

The girl then stood up, turned, and stared at the cave wall.

"Even time doesn’t need to meddle in this matter, Sakti," she said, her voice soft but filled with emphasis.

Sakti felt something unavoidable, a tension binding them in such close proximity. "The past, the present, and the future—there will never be a situation where I mean harm to you," the girl continued, then turned to face Sakti. Her eyes never left his, giving the impression that she knew everything.

Sakti stared at her, his confusion deepening. "You... you’ve been speaking not just about what has happened, or what is happening," his voice trembled, his body feeling rigid. "I fear... do you really know what will happen?"

“It's related to what I'm going to tell you,” she said, her voice becoming a little heavier. "Where should I begin? Do you have a question you most want to know?"

"Hate," Sakti said slowly, his hoarse voice almost sounding desperate. "It all stems from a hatred I still don’t understand. What sin did my ancestors really commit?"

The girl smiled faintly, as if holding back something larger she was about to reveal. "It’s not just your ancestors, Sakti," she replied meaningfully, her voice hanging in the air. "But our ancestors."

Sakti gazed at her more intently, feeling that there was something much bigger behind what she was about to explain. "Are we bound by family ties?" Sakti asked, filled with curiosity, though confusion still clouded his thoughts.

The girl nodded slowly, her gaze fixed on Sakti as if measuring the weight of the words she was about to speak. Her voice was soft, but filled with mystery that hung in the air.

Girl: "Yes... but that was a very, very long time ago, in a past nearly forgotten. You, I, Yeon-Jin, and those you will meet later—all of us come from one lineage. The Akatara lineage. Our story began more than 1500 years ago, a tale with many versions... depending on who tells it."

Sakti absorbed her words, but it was as if the girl’s words pierced deep into his mind, leaving many unanswered questions. She continued her story, her voice lowering, as if the tale she was about to reveal was heavy. "The story begins about 1500 years ago," she added with emphasis, as though recalling every detail of a history long forgotten.

Sakti, still confused, tried to absorb every word the girl spoke. Everything he heard felt like a puzzle slowly forming a bigger picture, yet still too vague. He wanted to know, to dive deeper, and hoped to find the answers to all that had filled his mind.

The girl gazed at Sakti, her voice changing to a more serious tone, with a narrative power that stirred his heart.

Girl: "It all began with a great disaster that shook the earth 1,500 years ago. A tremendous flood consumed everything—mountains that once reached the sky were left with only their peaks, barely visible. All life was on the brink of extinction, and the world was nearly destroyed."

She paused for a moment, allowing her words to sink in.

"But hope came from the sky. Two cosmic entities with mystical powers descended to the earth, bringing a glimmer of light to rebuild civilization. They were known as Akatara and Cora—revered as Gods and feared as Devils in the newly reborn world."

The girl's eyes glowed with a deep, enigmatic silence as she continued, her tone growing heavier.

"They did'nt have a physical form like we know. Akatara was light, while Cora was darkness. They could become anything on earth. Yet, they chose to appear as humanoid figures, with no face, no color in their skin, eyes, or hair. Only bright white light and deep blackness that resembled human anatomy. A secret that was never fully revealed."

Sakti listened intently, each word from the girl felt like a key to unlocking the grand mystery that had long been tormenting his mind.

"This long story has been passed down through generations in various versions. There is the version from the side of Akatara, then from the human perspective, and finally, from the side that suddenly emerged a thousand years after Akatara's arrival—the Ajina Dala. They are the ones who changed Akatara's history forever. I will tell you each version, one by one, in order. We begin with the emergence of our ancestors, their dynasty's rise and fall, and finally, the appearance of the blood curse creatures that have now become a terrifying figure for life in this world."

The girl paused for a moment, as if making sure that Sakti was absorbing every word she spoke.

"In Akatara's version, they are depicted as cosmic explorers who discovered the earth in a dying state. When they first arrived, all life on earth had been extinguished. The lost souls floated aimlessly above the waters that covered the world."

Her voice grew deeper, as if to convey the enormity of the destruction.

"Akatara and Cora, with their combined powers, attempted to resurrect the half-life that could still be saved. However, during this resurrection process, they touched the human subconscious and glimpsed into its dark history. They learned that this great disaster was the result of humanity's own sins."

"Akatara and Cora did'nt come to conquer or judge humanity. They were merely helpers, not conquerors. They wanted humanity to regain its history. However, there was one thing they could not ignore: they did'nt want such destruction to happen again, at least not in the near future."

Sakti listened attentively, his mind filled with this extraordinary story that felt both unfamiliar and like an answer to the questions that had haunted him for so long.

The girl continued her tale, her voice filled with bitterness and wonder, as if she had personally witnessed everything.

Girl: "In the end, Akatara and Cora made a decision that would change the fate of the earth forever. They resurrected humanity—the most intelligent beings among all who had ever lived on earth—as blank vessels. At that time, humans were no more than primitive creatures, not much different from monkeys in the wild."

"Akatara and Cora started everything from scratch. They taught language and writing, the art of hunting and farming, how to reproduce healthily, and even created technology to support daily life. With their guidance, humans began to understand civilization."

“Three hundred years passed. By then, humanity had reached their level of normalcy that we know today. They were capable of thinking, understanding, and creating. But there was one thing that no living being could avoid: conflict."

The atmosphere grew even quieter, as if time itself had paused to listen to her words.

"Their conflicts were no longer like wild animals. Humans had learned something deeper—they understood how to insult, betray, steal, and even kill with intent."

Akatara and Cora understood that such conflicts could not be avoided. It was a part of life that would repeat itself. At first, Cora had an idea... a shortcut."

She paused for a moment, gazing at Sakti with a serious expression.

"Cora suggested that they control the thoughts of humans—erase the seeds of conflict before they could even grow. That way, the world could remain peaceful, without flaw. But Akatara opposed this."

"Akatara believed that such an action would stray from their original purpose. They came to Earth not to imprison humanity in a false peace. If humans were restricted, they would only become empty vessels, never finding their own meaning in life."

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"The purpose of Akatara and Cora was merely to help humanity reclaim their history, not to change the way they lived. However, reality spoke otherwise. The short lives of humans led Akatara and Cora, who lived far longer, to be worshipped as gods."

Sakti’s expression showed shock, but the girl continued to speak.

"Religion had not been created at that time, but the reverence for Akatara and Cora grew like an unstoppable fire. The humans who survived the great destruction saw them as saviors, as sacred beings who could not be replaced."

"Akatara and Cora realized that humans in the past had many religions and diverse beliefs. Yet, they had not reintroduced the concept. They knew that introducing religion in this era would spark a new division, shattering the unity they had built."

"Eventually, they chose to let humanity believe in one thing—one god, one ruler. Because they knew that premature religious diversity would only lead to destruction."

"However, Akatara's wisdom was put to the test. Disagreements, which had started as small debates, turned into bloody conflicts. Sharp weapons, created to assist life, became tools of death."

"Even so, Akatara remained steadfast in its principles. They did'nt wish to intervene directly or stain their hands. But the frequency of these disputes continued to rise, and eventually, Akatara took drastic measures."

She leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping lower, yet still clear.

"On the 500th year since their arrival, Akatara decided to create a mediator. Someone who could guide humanity while also judging them. But Akatara did'nt create this figure directly. Instead, Akatara chose to bless nine women from among humanity."

"The nine women were chosen with great care. They came from various cultures, skin colors, hair, eyes, languages, and ways of life. The goal was clear—to ensure all human races felt equal, with none considering themselves superior or inferior."

"Each of them gave birth to one daughter, a child already blessed with the miracles of Akatara. The nine daughters grew up with different kinds of miracles, each representing one of the nine powers of Akatara."

"When these girls reached adulthood, they were married to men from pure human lineage. And from this union, the nine clans were born. Each clan was named after one of the nine colors of the rainbow."

She looked at Sakti, her eyes holding another great secret.

"This is how our dynasty began... a legacy filled with power, responsibility, and ultimately... tragedy."

"Of the nine clans that were formed, each was blessed with a unique power, one that not only represented their color but also the essence of their being."

"The first clan, your own clan, The Red Akatara, is the blessed with the power over Force. They control everything related to the attraction and repulsion forces of this world. This clan can manipulate gravity, control magnetic fields, and even create kinetic explosions with a mere hand gesture. They can stop a landslide simply by reversing the gravitational force. They can accelerate or slow down the movement of nearby objects by manipulating the forces acting upon them. They also have the ability to control gravitational force, reducing or increasing the weight of objects at will. In battle, they can send enemies flying through the air by altering the gravitational force around them or add weight to their enemies, making them crash to the ground."

"The second clan, The Orange Akatara, is blessed with the power over Matter, allowing them to control the structure and properties of things around them. For example, a member of this clan can break through walls by altering their structure. They can also change the color of objects, making metal shine like gold to deceive enemies. Additionally, they have the ability to make iron rust in an instant, damaging weapons or equipment of their foes without directly touching them. Their most notable ability is to duplicate themselves physically, creating solid, independent copies of themselves, giving them a strategic advantage in battle."

"The third clan, The Yellow Akatara, masters Space, granting them the ability to transcend the physical boundaries of this world. They can create teleportation portals in an instant, moving themselves or their group to any location they desire. One of their most incredible abilities is to fold space, bringing distant locations together so that a journey of thousands of kilometers can be accomplished with just a small step."

"And the fourth clan, The Green Akatara, possesses dominion over the Biological. They can modify, enhance, heal, or even accelerate biological processes in living creatures. This clan are capable of growing plants from barren soil within seconds, healing fatal wounds with a mere touch, and even strengthening their own bodies beyond the normal human limits. In history, a member of this clan once saved a village from famine by growing a wheat field overnight."

"Then there is the fifth clan, The Turquoise Akatara, my own clan. Blessed with the power over Time. This clan has the ability to manipulate the flow of time around them, a very rare and powerful ability. They can speed up or slow down time in a certain area, making the entire environment feel faster or slower than real time. For example, in battle, they can accelerate time around themselves, allowing them to move as if faster than the enemy, or conversely, they can slow down time to avoid attacks that come too quickly. They can also repeat brief moments, creating a 'time loop' that gives them a second chance, providing them with a strategic advantage in critical situations."

"Next is the Blue Akatara, which has power over Energy, allowing them to absorb and transform energy from the surrounding environment into usable power. They can absorb electrical energy, heat, or kinetic energy and convert it into attacks or defenses. For instance, they can draw electricity from devices or lightning and use it to enhance their body or attack enemies. Additionally, they can absorb energy from physical attacks and convert it into energy to protect themselves or reverse the attack."

"The main difference from Red Akatara is that, while Red Akatara controls physical forces like gravity or thrust to manipulate objects, Blue Akatara focuses on absorbing and changing the form of the energy around them to enhance their powers."

"The Indigo Akatara, the seventh clan. is blessed with the power over the Mind, with the ability to manipulate thoughts, emotions, and the consciousness of others. They can enter someone's mind to read memories or even change the way a person thinks. For example, they can force someone to reveal hidden secrets or erase certain memories in that person's mind. They can also peek into someone's past memories, seeing events that have happened without having to experience or witness them firsthand."

"Additionally, this clan can create mental illusions that affect perception, making people see things that aren't there or hear sounds that aren't real. This mental power gives them an advantage in interacting with opponents, whether to infiltrate their minds or maintain control over a situation."

"And the last one, The Magenta Akatara. blessed with the power over the Elements, which gives them the ability to control and manipulate the natural elements such as fire, water, air, and earth. They can create and control these elements at will, using them for attacking, defending, or manipulating their surroundings. this clan could control fire to launch fireballs, turn water into sharp weapons, or even shake the earth to cause an earthquake."

"The fundamental difference between The Magenta Akatara and The Orange Akatara is that Orange Akatara focuses more on Matter and the ability to change the properties and structure of physical objects. They can transform materials like walls into gas, damage metals, or even create physical copies of themselves. Meanwhile, Magenta Akatara is more focused on the Elements, giving them the ability to manipulate natural forces and larger physical elements, not just the structure of objects. The Orange clan changes the properties of objects in a more microscopic way and focuses on inanimate objects, whereas Magenta controls natural elements that can influence their entire environment."

"Orange Akatara focuses more on altering the objects around them, while Magenta Akatara controls greater natural forces that have a direct impact on the environment and the elements surrounding them."

"Within every Akatara bloodline, there is a group of individuals with a greater destiny. They are destined to become the leaders of the clan, known as Rulers. Each Akatara clan has one Ruler, whose blood is considered more special compared to other members. The Ruler inherits immense power, not just one, but up to three abilities related to their clan's strength. The Ruler has the ability to control more than one aspect of the power held by their clan, like the Red Akatara Ruler, who can control Gravity, Electricity, and Magnetism. With these abilities, the Ruler possesses extraordinary power and can do things unimaginable to ordinary clan members."

"Unlike the Ruler, a Master is a clan member who possesses one special power inherited to them, and they only have one ability throughout their lifetime. They are descendants of Akatara limited to just one aspect of power, unlike the Ruler who can master more than one ability within their clan's power scope. Masters play an important role in the clan, but their abilities are limited and more focused on a single type of power."

"The Rulers also have the ability to take possession of the powers held by the Masters within the same clan, effectively turning the Masters into ordinary humans."

"The inheritance of the Ruler title cannot be chosen or planned. This title is passed on randomly, based on fate, and only continued when the previous Ruler has passed away. It serves as a symbol that, although Akatara blood runs through their veins, fate remains the determinant of who will lead and guide the clan toward a new path. Despite their immense power, the Ruler must still face the reality that they are part of the mortal world, and fate, as well as the greater laws of nature, cannot be avoided."

"After three generations had passed, Akatara decided to test their direct descendants. They were given a great responsibility to manage the lands granted by Akatara, as a way to test their ability to build and manage a new civilization. Each descendant given a territory was tasked with leading their own land and developing the civilization that had been started by Akatara and Cora."

"The efforts and hard work of the first seven generations paid off. The territories, initially small villages, grew into kingdoms full of progress. Each kingdom functioned as part of a large network that interacted and supported one another. Their achievements became more apparent as the lands, scattered throughout the earth, were finally united under a greater power, with all its accomplishments and wisdom."

"In 608, the Akatara Dynasty was formed, an entity that united the nine great kingdoms under one name. This dynasty not only symbolized the success of the long struggle and trials of the Akatara descendants, but also became the starting point for a new era where the human world and Akatara united, building a civilization more advanced than ever before. The Akatara Dynasty became the center of power, knowledge, and influence, guiding humanity toward a higher path of progress."

"Akatara, with full conviction, decided to entrust the important role of managing this world to the descendants of the nine daughters born to the chosen women. This decision was made with the hope that Akatara and Cora would no longer need to intervene in human affairs, allowing them to walk their own path. Akatara believed that these descendants, with the extraordinary abilities passed down to them, could lead and maintain peace in the world."

"However, Cora had a different perspective. To Cora, Akatara’s actions were a mistake that could be dangerous for the balance of the world. Cora saw that granting absolute freedom to human descendants without oversight or control was a reckless move. The calm and wise Akatara then explained that this was part of the test for humanity, an experiment to see how far they could maintain peace without the interference of a higher entity."

"Akatara promised Cora that, if the descendants of Akatara or humanity once again failed the earth and caused great destruction, Cora would be granted the right to annihilate them all, returning the earth to its original state, with animals and plants as the absolute owners of this planet."

"With the promise now reaffirmed, Cora felt respected but could no longer reconcile with Akatara’s view. Cora then chose to distance himself. He secluded himself in a hidden place, at the center of the world, where no one could find him. This place became like a legend, a realm locked tight in time. Cora’s existence was eventually forgotten as time passed, but the promise once made still shook the very foundation of the world, as though it were a threat that never truly disappeared."