Hyklopian

## Hykoplians

The very species of our protagonist Kamuki, **Hykoplians** are human-like people unique to Project Zertos.

## Overview

Hykoplians are, for all intents and purposes, the same as as a Human. Varied in appearances, be it the color of skin, hair, eyes, their height, their gender or etcetera, Hykoplians are incredibly similar in their diversity to their homo sapiens counterparts. Despite this, they do sport their own, more unique features, special to them.

Firstly, and most evidently, are their ears. As an odd, entirely cosmetic mutation caused by their intake of Zerto, Hykoplians have uniquely sharp, pointed ears that mirror elves of various fictional verses. Second is their height, as most Hykoplians are noticeably shorter than Humans, ranging between the lower end of 5ft. While using Zerto, a Hykoplian's eyes will glow brightly and neon, with the color depending on their elemental affix (for example, Kamuki's eyes turn a green hue, while Kyoko's eyes turn a blue hue)

Hykoplians are also more physically powerful than the average human, shown with how Kamuki and Oyaji are able to, in fighting, destroy a small field between themselves. This strength also comes with greater speed and durability, both seen during Kamuki's debut fight with a Koplian.

Hykoplians also feature a slowed aging when compared to humans. Though not granting them real immortality, Hykoplians can live far longer than their human counterparts, remaining in their prime for much longer as a result and, as a result of that, being able to continue to improve and hone themselves for far longer.

## History

Hykoplians are the result of the two gods' feud coming to an end, their ichor bleeding into the soil of Planet Zertos and enriching the world as a whole. When the world had begun to grow with life and blossom thanks to it, special sects of younger humans would go out and explore the more dense regions of the world's foliage, finding strange flowers which glowed brilliantly. Evidently, they had consumed these strange plants and, after gruelling generations of evolution, integrated that "glow" into their own biology: creating Hykoplians, who inherited the plant's own natural affixation for Zerto.

Due to naturally taking in Zerto over the course of generations, the Hykoplians had mutated on an anatomic level, changing fundamentally to best suit their new abilities. These changes had led to them being ostracized by their former own kind, being forced to take refuge away from humanity, rather than amongst them. Despite this, the Hykoplians seemed to flourish in their own isolation, taking up the task of building a new civilization that only they ruled in. Decades would pass as the species worked in unity, building great structures in their own name and in the name of the gods who made their existences possible, eventually all culminating in the great metropolis of Hyklopia.

After this, years would pass as the Hykoplian people would grow in number and in power. Their surprising rate of expansion had scared the other intelligent peoples of Zertos, prompting them to try and unite together to ensure that the new, uncannily strong threat wouldn't become too strong. Their beliefs and fears would only be compounded as a subsect of Hykoplians: Akuplians, who unnaturally attained aspects of Zeratos' energy; began raids on the other nations and even their own former one. Though pushed back, this act of violence only made the other groups turn their blades on the Hykoplians more, much to the chagrin of the race.

Decades later, as tensions continue to grow in the face of ever-growing fear towards the potential of Hykoplian kind, our story begins, following Kamuki and Oyaji: two who live far from Hykoplia, near a more welcoming village.

## Abilities

### Physical

Hykoplians are a cut above humans in almost every way, including their physical skills. Stronger, tougher and faster than even Olympic athletes, Hykoplians are more capable and more agile than adult humans even when young, with this disparity only seeing itself grow as the Hykoplian ages. When amplified even further by using Zerto, a Hykoplian's abilities can be seen blossoming to incredible heights, allowing them feats of strength and speed that can allow even a young teen to take down beasts like the Koplian who attacked Duona Village.

### Zerto

Uniquely from humans though is a Hykoplian's connection to Zerto. Due to evolving with it over the course of generations, the Hykoplian's biology is naturally designed for use of Zerto, allowing them to weaponize it in ways that artificially-acquired Zerto used by humans can not achieve. Hykoplians are one in the same with their Zerto, with their element usually having prevalence to who they are as a person, such as Kamuki's fiery eagerness to fight and win transitioning into his quite literal fiery power. These unique factors can take on even fundamental levels beyond just the element, such as pigment or the ferocity of their element, with Kamuki's flames being the obvious example in their strange green tint. Hykoplians also have the ability to hold the greatest amount of Zerto, thanks to their Zerto Cores being larger than most other races.