| ā | Love all you want, my son. Everything you love... will be a feast I've prepared. | ā |
Kali is one of the four primeval gods, and patron of the 1st month. She is the mother of Yuta and disappeared sometime after her son's birth; her attribute has become Nil as a result.
Appearance
She has dark hair and blue-green eyes, and she usually displays a malicious smile. Her hair is worn in a ponytail. She wore a black top and blue shorts the last time Yuta saw her. Her legs and arms were covered with black fabric, but her gloves and upper part of her arms had grey fabric with fur. [2] In another flashback, she is seen wearing the Hide of Bondage.[3] Yet another flashback shows her naked, lounging on a throne made of skulls.[4]
.png "2-39 silhouette - Kali (detail).png (107 KB)")
Personality
Kali is aggressive and dark, yet she surprisingly shows a strong (yet unfortunately warped) mother instinct towards her son Yuta. She is extremely cunning and eloquent, capable of persuading others to follow her will of their own accord.
Among both astikas and nastikas, she is well-known as a liar about her insight. She is reluctant to let others know the contents of her visions, so she usually lies about them.
Skills and Abilities
As with the other gods, she is able to use insight, although her insight has been said to be special and capable of discerning the true nature of a being.[5]
Kali can use Taraka eyes which block the use of all magic and transcendentals. She could also exclude selected people from the range of her eyes.[6]
She is capable of disguising herself as another person, as she did when she pretended to be Visnu in order to make deals.[7] She has the authority to manage names and as such is able to give them out to the creations of the universe.[8]
She possesses the power of persuasion, an unfair skill which allows her to force out one's inner desires and places all sin upon the one who gets persuaded.[9]
Kali is able to move the consciousness of a willing person back through time into their body from an earlier time. Kali used this skill to transport Leez seven years back. While Visnu existed, he was able to stop this skill.[10]
Kali has created a special machine on Konchez which allows one to travel to all the water channels in the universe. This machine can distort not only space, but also time, thus allowing travel to other dimensions and even to return back in time.[11]
Notes
- There are a few historic records about her, but almost none of them are of a positive nature.
- Unlike the other primevals, Kali does not contribute to the creation and maintenance of the universe. She can be regarded as the god who occupies the chaos after extinction and before creation.[12]
- It is unclear if Kali's powers can still be borrowed by humans, other than the silent magic used by Teo Rakan.[13]
- She refers to her son Yuta as her masterpiece.[2]
- Rumor has it that she let the Sword of Return fall on purpose, because the sword nullifies even the owner's regenerative abilities. To date, every sura or god who has wielded the sword has met an untimely end.[14]
- Kalibloom, the location of the Temple of Chaos on Willarv, was partly named for Kali.
- The largest Temple of Chaos in the universe was located on Konchez and this is where Kali's body is located.[15]
- There is much that Kali considers evil. She specifically named: Visnu, the world, the creatures of that world, their values, ideals, justice, honor, pride, relationships, and love.[16]
- In the printed volumes, there is a panel where Garuda is giving a flower to a smiling and pregnant Kali.[17]
Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
History
Kali is one of the four primeval gods, the other being Visnu, Shiva, and Brahma. They all have the right to manage names[18] and they themselves possess names that are superior, free from the chains of cause and effect. Due to this, they have existed for the duration of multiple universes.[8]
A primeval challenging Kali to do her best to destroy the universe
Kali was said to have won in previous universes. In the universe preceding the current one, she achieved victory by killing all creatures more powerful than herself and allying with ancient humans.[4]
The current universe too was created by the four primeval gods. At the beginning Visnu handed out names to the new creations, alternating between names of astikas and nastikas. Kali was wary of having her creations overpower her, so she created her own clan with the remaining names, which were dangerous and defective.[18]
Kali has been actively plotting to destroy the universe, and for this, she has been sealed over a hundred times.[19] However, since she has infinite opportunities, she has no doubt she will succeed eventually and all possibilities will end up in her clutches.[4][20]
She attempted to kill Shiva with an item she created, this plan, however failed.[21] She also threw a wrench into Visnu's original plans by making a deal with Menaka[20] and later agreed to a deal with god Kubera which should allow her to see a more entertaining ending to this universe.[4]
Kali and her newborn son
Several centuries ago, Kali had a son with Garuda, but had to leave while Yuta was still very young. Not wanting to leave her son on his own, she created a stand-in mother for him and implanted her own memories and beauty in her creation. Kali then disappeared, her attribute became Nil, and Yuta became the king of the Taraka clan in her place, although Taraka was left as a decoy.[2][22]
Kali's plan allegedly includes having Ananta get resurrected at the same time as Yuta dies. Then Yuta would return to life, forget everything he had been taught, and consume everything in his way until he swallows the universe itself.[23]
Season 1
Chapter 6: The Past I Yearn For
Kali trying to kill Shiva
(7) Long ago, Kali created a special sword with the intention of killing primeval god Shiva. Although the Sword of Re can inhibit the regenerative abilities of gods and suras, it proved ineffective against Shiva and Kali threw it away in disappointment. It landed on Willarv and many people rushed to claim it; however, only the person who could draw it from the ground would become its owner. After the owner dies, the sword returns to the spot it had landed in Willarv. The Temple of Chaos was built around the sword.
Chapter 12: Lies for You
Kali gives farewell to Yuta
(8) In a flashback, Kali says farewell to her little son, Yuta, as she must leave. However, she will not leave Yuta on his own, since he is her valuable masterpiece. She creates a stand-in mother for him, one who will do anything for him, always put him first, and always return to him even after a thousand deaths. Even if Kali is unable to see Yuta, he will be able to see his mother regardless of his wishes.
This fake mother is Taraka. She was implanted Kali's memories of being the queen of the Taraka clan, of having a son with Garuda, and of being a great beauty, but none of that was true. Tarakas's true form was that of a monster and only Yuta could see her beauty. She was also granted immortality and the ability of insight.
(9) Upon the creation of Taraka, Garuda commented that she was truly a mother created for her son alone and he concluded that he was given permission to leave. He expresses gratitude for the first, last, and only consideration Kali has shown to him, even if his voice cannot reach her anymore.
(10) Whenever Taraka would realize her lot, she would beg Yuta to kill her and he would comply. Each time, she would forget and return to Yuta smiling as if nothing happened. Except for this time. In N15, Taraka chooses to live and promises to try to keep Yuta from suffering.
Shiva, Brahma, Visnu, and Kali
(11) At the beginning of the universe, the primeval god Visnu handed out names of power to the new creations, alternating between names of astikas and nastikas. Of the four primeval gods, all had the right to govern names, but they disagreed in their goals, with Kali especially causing dissent. Kali took possession of the remaining names of nastikas, however, only those which were dangerous or flawed remained. Among them was the name of the chaos clan, which Kali took, making herself both a primeval and a nastika.
Season 2
Chapter 13: Lost
The Hide of Bondage
(4) Kali's item, the Hide of Bondage, can capture even a human form nastika.
Chapter 16: Caution
(3) According to legends, Kali could discern the true nature of created beings and that is why the waters of the Lake of Reflection reflect a being's true nature. The insight of Visnu and Kali was not ordinary.
Chapter 18: The Test of the Sword
Evil smile
(6) The Sword of Return negates the regenerative abilities of not only the one it is used against, but also the user. All gods and suras who held the sword met untimely ends, save for Kali herself. People suspect that Kali made it so on purpose.
Chapter 20: Grudge/Enmity
(7) It is surprising that Teo Rakan can use chaos-attribute silent magic since it should have disappeared along with Kali.
Chapter 31: Your Justice and Mine
Kali allowed the alteration of the Hide of Bondage
(4) Lutz Sairofe uses Kali's Hide of Bondage to alter Yuta's scarf. Since the divinity of a primeval god is the highest of all, and an alteration using Goddess Kali's item as material could not possibly happen without her consent, Lutz surmises that Yuta must be Kali's blood relative. He explains that Kali had disappeared with many of Visnu's discarded nastika names, and that she could have given herself one of the names to become a nastika herself, and if she had a son, he would be a rakshasa with possible god traits.
Season 3
Chapter 37: Threat
(5) When Gandharva attempts to convince Maruna not to use the Eye of Perishment, an item of Kali used for suras to develop, he claims that the purpose of all of Kali's items is to destroy the person who uses them. Kali loathes the universe itself and she was sealed away more than a hundred times for plotting to destroy it.
Chapter 39: The Value of a Life
Kali's god-level items
(7)(8) Kaz Lehn warns Maruna about using the Eye of Perishment, stating that of all of Kali's items, it is the one that breaks the laws of the universe the most, and the price for using it is terrible. Failing to convince Maruna, Kaz demonstrates how to use the item.
In order to use the Eye, one must put their palm on the Eye, call Kali, and say the first thing they want to do after they obtain greater power, however, it must be something possible and something they sincerely wish.
Kaz voices a wish not to lose any more friends and says "Idha Etu Kali." The item disappears. It is later revealed that Kaz used it on his cat, which began showing odd behavior immediately after.[4]
Chapter 40: Twisted Bird
Yuta will be reborn as a true monster
(7) Leez Haias explains that the Taraka suras are weak because of Yuta's sacrifice. Yuta is the King of the Taraka clan, who took the position after Kali's disappearance hundreds of years ago, Taraka herself was only a decoy. Tarakas on Willarv so far were sightless and fought clumsily because Yuta removed his own eyes and bound himself. Since Yuta is unable to change the will of Kali which causes the clan's madness, he struggles instead to reduce the damage they cause. Should Yuta be killed, he would lose his positive memories and become the true monster that Kali intended.
Chapter 42: Crossroads
(2) According to Chandra, Kali was capable of excluding targets from the range of her Taraka eyes. She would allow the use of transcendentals to those who followed her will and sit back to watch the fights that arose.
Kali impersonating Visnu
(6) In times long past, Kali disguised as Visnu approached the nastika Menaka, who was weeping because she was sad about the future Visnu planned out, as it would include the deaths of many, Gandharva included. Kali offered a deal to her: Menaka's future in exchange for the power to persuade Gandharva to change his wicked ways. Moreover, she was to carry Gandharva's sins so that he does not get killed by Paradisial Flare before she succeeds. Menaka agrees without hesitation.
She later learns that she was in fact approached by Kali in disguise and by accepting the deal, she destroyed Visnu's optimal future. What is more, she would not even be able to reform Gandharva before she dies because of the extent of time Kali took from her. She was to do her best to change him so that Gandharva could eventually take the role she was supposed to have and enable the primevals to defeat Kali.
When asked, Visnu claims that the situation with the second best possible future is getting worse and worse because the more Kali does, the more every possibility in the universe darkens and in the distant future all futures except the best possible future will be in Kali's clutches.
Time to pay up
When Menaka passes away in the year D675, Kali comes to collect the price for her deal. She tells Menaka that she will now have to work for her, perform work that only someone with a noble soul, yet bearing the heaviest of sins can fulfill - she would become the mother to Kali's son. Menaka takes on the shape of Taraka.
(7) In the present, the gods on Willarv conduct a fragment experiment in hopes that they can learn how to defeat Kali's Taraka clan. The experiment goes haywire when the human test subject takes sura form, a Tarakafied version of Shakuntala. She is eventually killed, though only after communicating her wishes to have faith in Gandharva to god Agni. Yuta states that his mother has noticed something.
Chapter 43: The Point of Your Sword
(1) Yuta is certain that his mother was watching from nearby. He searches the ruins of the largest Temple of Chaos on Konchez, where the entrance to every water channel in the universe was located. He is certain that his mother would have passed through there. But he finds a door in his way that will not allow him to pass.
Chapter 44: The Meaning of Revenge
(6) Yuta thinks back to his mother, telling him to love as much as he wants, for everything he loves is a feast she had prepared for him.
(7) Yuta reveals that when he felt the activity of a major node-level entity, Shakuntala, in the human realm, he separated its connection. However, Kali noticed, got angered, and sent Taraka clan suras through the lake of reflection in retaliation. She would not be happy about Yuta taking action, however, she is currently unable to use her full strength.
An expedition gets put together to head out to Konchez, hoping to find clues about Kali.
Chapter 45: Crime and Punishment
(1) When Yuta was very little, Kali told him stories about events that came to pass long before he was born. In one of these stories, she told him about the friendship she maintained with the strongest gods representing the attributes of fire, water, and earth.
Kubera suggests an amusing plan to Kali
(2) Kubera was frustrated that most of the gods were unwilling to take action against Gandharva, who was slaughtering humans left and right, and so he personally approached Kali, who was sitting naked on a throne made of skulls, and respectfully asked her to give the power to annihilate souls to Gandharva. Kali is able to give skills because the name that can annihilate souls was among the many dangerous and forbidden names she possesses.
Kubera mentions that having crossed over from the previous universe, he is aware that Kali won last time by killing everyone stronger than herself, which will prove difficult in this universe. What he suggests will offer Kali a more amusing way to end the universe. Kali smirks and agrees.
Although gods care little about the deaths of humans, the destruction of souls did get them riled up. However, they could not agree whether to change the soul system in a way that would move souls directly to the underworld upon death, making it impossible to annihilate them for Gandharva. This is also connected to the fact that the hoti visnu spell used to be able to restore a resurrected person's original soul.
As a result of Kubera's actions, Agni, already intent on killing Gandharva, redoubled his efforts, and Varuna too became set on the nastika's death. When asked, Kali claimed that Gandharva stole the power to annihilate souls from her, just like he stole the name Gandharva at the beginning of the universe. The gods believed her. And those who were most set on killing Gandharva gathered on Konchez, where the largest temple of Chaos was located.
| ā | She knew her actions were bad, but she didn't think that what was bad wasn't right. | ā |
– Yuta about Kali[4]
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How dare you use that name
(7) Leez Haias gets warned about the power of persuasion, an unfair skill that forces out one's inner desires and places all sin upon the one who gets persuaded.
In the present, Kali possesses the body of Yuta's double, currently on Konchez. Leez steps out to approach him, calling Yuta by his name. Kali glares, angry at Leez for changing the name of her son, and she strikes Leez with a transcendental.
(8) Kali attacks Leez with a transcendental, then proceeds to cuts off Leez's hand with the golden knight bracelet, claiming that a worm like her has no use for such thing.
Kali watching Leez die
(9) Leez is cut apart to the extent that only her torso remains. Kali voices admiration that Leez did not let out a single scream. She comments that Leez should be able to regenerate thanks to the bracelet and kills Leez so that the bracelet's transcendental activates. She mentions that "he" really made something useless.
Once Leez wakes up, Kali comments that the bracelet is useless in battle since it takes such a long time to regenerate. Kali activates her Taraka eyes and taunts Leez to try running away. If she gets caught, Kali will grind her up along with that bracelet.
Leez attempts to flee. Kali grasps the sword of Re and follows, asking her son to observe how the human he trusted runs, leaving him in her clutches. A rock gives way under Leez's feet and she ends up on the ground. Kali slashes her with the sword and bites into her neck, claiming that this is Leez's fate, pain she cannot escape, and offering to kill her painlessly should she so desire.
Leez stabs Kali with Shiva's dagger
Suddenly, Leez stabs Kali in the neck with the red dagger, leaving Kali paralyzed as Leez stumbles away. Kali reprimands herself for making such a mistake and imagines how Visnu would laugh if he could see her. As she watches Leez stagger, she comments that Leez has no chance of getting away with those wounds and should stop trying.
Kali reads the thoughts of the fleeing Leez with insight and to her surprise, the reason she was trying to run was because she does not want Yuta to fault himself should she die here. She does not want to become a painful memory for him. As Leez passes out, her last thought is the wish that Yuta does not blame himself.
Leez slowly wakes up, she must have been dreaming because she tells Yuta to let her sleep. Kali immediately threatens her not to use that name. Leez jumps up, holding up the sword of Re, ready to face Kali. Kali is holding the red dagger in her hand, casually leaning against a rock, and voicing surprise that Leez still has the strength to glare. By now Leez should know that Kali is not someone Leez can point that sword at.
| ā | You run, fall, bleed. Countless times, you are pierced, torn apart, eaten. This is your fate, Kubera Leez. You cannot escape this pain while you live. | ā |
– Kali to Leez[24]
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(10) Leez hesitantly lowers her sword. Kali is impressed that Leez would not give up for her own sake, but rather out of worry for Yuta. She voices irritation that Leez is hiding her thoughts to some extent, even if not properly, and notes that any ordinary god would be fooled. She seems intrigued when Leez claims she was not hiding her thoughts on purpose.
Kali asks Leez what she thinks of her
Leez asks why Kali would even need to read her thoughts. Would it not be enough to trust her answers? To test Leez's honesty, Kali inquires what Leez's impression of her is. Leez answers that Kali is childish, petty, arrogant, and cruel. Kali is surprised and notes she will have to be truly patient if she is not to murder Leez during their conversation.
Leez attempts to ask if Kali could stop possessing Yuta's body, arguing that Yuta would surely want to speak to Kali as well. Kali refuses, bringing up that Yuta would certainly not want to see her since he remembers all the abuse she put him through.
Kali suggests Leez is in no position to worry about Yuta and asks her to stop using that name of no power. She explains that Yuta acknowledged the name to the extent that it has started to eat away at his true name. Though this was a choice he made only because he was unable to use his own in order for Taraka not to find him. She suggests that Yuta not having revealed his true name to Leez yet must mean he does not trust her. His reason for existence is to destroy anything Kali considers evil and he can never break away from that purpose.
Love is evil
When Leez asks what Kali defines as evil, Kali names Visnu, the world, the creatures of that world, their values, ideals, justice, honor, pride, relationships, and love. Upon Leez's surprised expression, Kali mocks her for believing love would be possible for her when Yuta tries to eat her at every chance. She continues that life without love is a blessing, a lesson she has learned herself. Yuta can never love Leez or anyone else, not in this world and not in any other. He will be forever alone. Kali claims that Leez has moved her and so she will give her a prize before killing her.
| ā | A life without love is the greatest blessing... I know too well the harms of love and I wanted my son to be freed from it. | ā |
– Kali about Yuta[16]
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(11) Kali explains that the prize Leez will receive is the opportunity to achieve her goal from 8 years ago. However, Leez claims that this goal, revenge, is now meaningless because the people in her village did not die by the hand of Maruna.
Kali suggests that a sin does not depend solely on the result of one's actions and emotional resentment is justification enough. She brings up that if she were to kill Leez and offer to give Maruna a chance to develop, he would not hesitate to accept. She is offering the deal to Leez first and that is why it is a prize. She will be killing off her pawn to grant Leez's wish.
Asha in Kali's hypothetical scenarios
To convince Leez, Kali tells two stories about what Asha Rahiro did to Rao Leez, without suggesting which, if either, is true.
In one story, Asha planned to kill Rao but found herself hesitating. She attempted to remove the traps she set and save him, but despite her efforts Rao died.
In the other story Asha tried to kill Rao without any hesitation but Rao survived, given strength by his desire to see his daughter again.
In which of the stories did Asha commit a greater sin? Which deserves a harsher punishment?
Without hesitation, Leez answers that the second one. Although the second Asha did not kill Rao, her intentions and actions were worse. The fact that the attacker failed does not exonerate him.
Kali then extends this logic to Maruna. He too fully intended to kill the villagers and it is of no credit to him that the village was empty. If Leez would forgive him for this alone, it means she does not wish to punish his malicious intent but only cares about the harm she herself suffered. Maruna killed people in many other villages and those are no longer able to take revenge. But Leez is in a position to do it for them. Would she refuse only because she herself took no damage?
Kali claims that there is no need to fear failure because she would create a situation in which Leez can defeat Maruna with her own hands even if he were to take sura form. She quells Leez's worries that Yuta could resent her for killing his brother by suggesting she kills him at a time when she was not yet aware.
Kali taking Leez's consciousness back in time
Kali embraces Leez and asks if she knows why a universe without Visnu is doomed to fall. Without waiting for an answer, she continues: It is because no one is around to stop this power of hers.
Kali transports Leez seven years back in time, to a situation where some magicians and fighters, Asha among them, are hiding from a nearby Maruna and discussing whether to attack him. Whispering into Leez's ear, Kali states that this is her most precious power with limited uses. She warns Leez that she can only kill one person and her choice will result in widely different consequences.
| ā | Do you know why a universe without Visnu is doomed to fall? It is because... no one is around to stop this power of mine. | ā |
– Kali about her time travel ability[10]
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Leez is back in N16
(12) Asha fails to convince the fighters to give up and retreat, and so she asks Leez to get out of their with her. In Leez's head, Kali's voice whispers that Leez must know why Asha is trying to get Leez to leave and that it is not out of caring.
Out loud, Leez asks why leave if she now has the chance to take revenge. To Asha's surprise, Leez summons the sword of Re to her hand. Leez suddenly switches to third person and asks why Asha would stop this girl. She suggests that this is because should Leez succeed, Asha would no longer have an excuse to use her. To Asha's question who she is, Leez answers that she is someone who wishes for this child's happiness and respects the path she has chosen, no matter if victory is impossible. It is better to die than live only to get used. Leez uses a transcendental of the sword to attack the place where Maruna is at.
In Leez's mind, Kali expresses surprise at Leez's lack of hesitation. She hopes Leez did not make her choice out of despair since that would make Leez boring.
Kali creates an isolated space for Leez and Asha to talk so that the other humans do not get involved. Asha proclaims that Leez must be someone else if she is capable of such a feat. She first assumes Leez must be god Kubera and chastises him for contacting Leez again, just like when he gave the bracelet to Leez.
Kali telling Leez what to do
Kali says it is a shame Asha's personality gets in the way of her intelligence but suggests that Leez can use this opportunity. She should go along and pretend she is the person Asha suspects.
Leez asks if she should not be meeting this child. Asha affirms this, stating that he must be on her side, that is why she is walking this path. His cooperation is necessary for the last step. Then she suddenly pauses and asks if the person before her is actually Visnu possessing a human body.
On Kali's advice, Leez nods her head. Asha starts getting angry, asking if Leez still has a higher chance of winning than her and that is why Visnu has changed his mind. Or if she was perhaps his chosen candidate since the beginning. She further expands this theory, claiming that this was why things went wrong for her ever since meeting Leez. Visnu should have told her all of the important things. He must have been lying to her, using her only as a guide for Leez, making use of the guilt she felt for Rao.
Leez asks if someone made Asha kill Rao, if she had a choice. Kali whispers that Leez should not have said that and concludes that it is unnecessary for her to further watch, she will return ahead of Leez. She tells Leez to watch the end she wanted and leaves, dissolving the separate space around the two girls.
Unexpected opportunity
Kali is surprised by the decision to respect one's past self who knew nothing. She contemplates that she clearly still has much to learn about human beings and considers whether to give Leez the chance to choose again. This choice costs Kali too much. She looks in the direction of Gandharva who is crying over Teo Rakan's dead body.
| ā | A decision which respects her past self, who knew nothing? How difficult. I thought I understood human beings, but I see now I still have a long way to go. | ā |
– Kali on Leez's decision[25]
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Hura tells Gandhanrva there is a way to resurrect Teo
(13) Gandharva gets approached by Hura who suggests that there is a way to revive Teo, but it will not come for free. "If you gain something, you have to lose something. And if you have sinned, you have to be punished. Is that not the way of the world?"
When Kali returns to the present, Leez is already waiting for her and suspicious why Kali took longer when she said she would be returning ahead of her. Kali ignores the question and instead asks how it feels to return without killing Maruna. Leez accuses Kali of knowing she would fail and suggests that this series of events was what led to Yuta's development to third stage, which Kali desired.
Kali reveals that Yuta would have developed no matter what Leez would have chosen. When Yuta appeared before Maruna, Leez's conscience made her lose her intent to kill. Losing the justification of the given chance led to her getting separated from her past. The sequence of events that followed was the real past that led to the current universe.
The possibility in which Yuta protects Asha
But if Leez had attacked Asha, nothing would have blunted her intent to kill. Yuta would have interfered and attempted to convince Leez to stop, but upon her refusal, he would assume that Leez must be an enemy planted by his mother to hinder Visnu and everything he has seen of Leez was merely an act. He would develop to protect Asha and end up killing Leez.
Kali suggests that this misguided belief of Yuta was caused by the education of Shuri, who spent centuries teaching him that Visnu is right. She mentions that this outcome would have been preferable since Yuta would have developed and the obstacle that Leez presents would be gone. She further explains that the fact that Asha is Visnu's candidate matters not because upon Leez's death the Ananta clan could immediately go forward with the resurrection of Ananta.
And her ultimate goal is for Ananta to get resurrected and for Yuta to die at the same time. Then Yuta would return to life, forget everything he had been taught, and consume everything in his way until he swallows the universe itself. This was the fastest route to the destruction of the universe but it is now just an unfulfilled possibility.
The possibility in which Samphati makes Yuta suffer
When Leez questions if this can even be called a prize if this was what Kali intended, Kali claims that an early death that spares her of suffering is nothing but a prize. Of course, since the events that truly took place led to Leez's current being, that can also be considered a prize.
To Leez's question of what would come to pass had the prize not been given, Kali answers that Yuta would not have developed, Samphati would have used Leez to make Yuta suffer, and eventually kill him. This path too would lead to the resurrection of Ananta and Yuta coming back to life to devour the universe. The current universe is actually the most bothersome for Kali.
Leez inquires why not kill her then. Kali retorts why even create the universe. It owes its existence to sloppiness, not precision. To chaos, not to order. A machine that gives predictable answers has no value and nothing was created out of necessity.
Leez asks if this means Kali is leaving her alive because she is unpredictable. Kali states that she is half right. She continues that it is sometimes better to be used by choice and that she intends to give Leez an extremely powerful name.
| ā | Why create the universe at all? Why go to all that trouble? The universe owes its existence not to precision, but to sloppiness... Not to order, but to chaos. A machine that gives predictable answers has no value. Nothing was created because of its necessity. | ā |
– Kali about the universe[23]
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The names Kali possesses
(14) Kali explains that she has the right as a primeval god to manage the many names in her possession, consisting of those of nastikas, astikas, and ancient humans. Surely it would be worth it for Leez if she could stand at the top and have her revenge before the universe is over. To Kali's surprise, Leez declines the offer, saying that it does not appeal to her.
Leez points out that if Yuta's true name was lessened since he acknowledged Leez's name for him, then the name Kali offers would be pointless if she refused to acknowledge it. Leez finds the offer suspicious because there would surely be solutions to Leez being weak that do not involve names. Also, if the name is so great, why does Kali not take it herself?
Kali responds that the names of primeval gods are superior, free from the chains of cause and effect. Leez suggests that Kali must have taken on a nastika name in order to give birth to Yuta because gods and suras cannot have offspring between them. There is a flashback where Kali seems to be holding a baby Yuta amidst a battlefield.
A gift for Leez
Kali gives up on giving Leez a name and instead suggests giving Leez an item connected to her true name.
Leez and Kali enter underground caves full of piles of gold. After shortly rummaging around, Kali picks up a pair of boots, which increase regeneration and defense, as long as they stay in contact with the earth. She claims that God Kubera used them in a previous universe, so there would be no negative effects to her true name, and the gods on Willarv can verify that.
Leez is surprised why Kali would help her and indirectly asks if she is perhaps Kali's pawn, since that is what everyone in the sura realm seemed to think, because of all the Kali items Leez wears and the sins that get shifted to her.
Kali recalls a long-past conversation with a sparkling being who tells her to try her best, because even though she thinks that standing against them is justice, the creatures of a dying universe will only consider her to be evil.
Ran sees Kali's naked body
Kali tells Leez to try her best and hopes she will not regret passing up the chance to get a strong name. Ran Sairofe suddenly appears at the cave entrance along with Maruna, and calls out Leez's and Yuta's names. He asks them why they never came up to look for them, and excitedly tells her that they found Kali's body, only that he and Maruna saw completely different things; he then explains that Maruna saw tattered rags while he saw a completely naked Kali.
Kali grits her teeth.
| ā | Give it your all, Kali. You think it is justice to stand against us, but to the creatures of a dying universe you are nothing more than evil. | ā |
– Glowing figure to Kali[8]
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Kali posing as Yuta
(15) Leez starts to apologize to Kali, and Ran gets surprised why she suddenly addresses Yuta so formally. Leez stammers as she tries to explain, but Kali, perfectly imitating Yuta, interrupts, telling Leez that he thought she resolved her feelings about Maruna, but she is once again putting distance between them. Kali claims he only wanted to give Leez an item so that she wouldn't get hurt. While Leez looks gobsmacked, Ran quickly starts defending Yuta and pitying him. Leez concedes, saying that she just felt like Yuta was not the Yuta she knows that day.
Ran suggests that they go back up for Kali's body, but Kali tells him that there is no longer a reason for that since the situation has changed. His mother's body has deteriorated significantly which must mean she gave up on regenerating and used up her strength for something else. Ran expresses disbelief, so Kali tells him to go check again.
Kali's body is a lump of flesh
When the group returns to the surface, both Ran, Maruna, and Leez see a disfigured red and black puddle in the place of what was once Kali's body. Kali says that Yuta's mother must have used powers that drained her and it will take several hundred years for her to regenerate, which means she will not be able to affect their reality in her condition. She must have believed using her power would allow her to achieve her goal, likely leading to the destruction of the universe.
Earlier, before Kali took over Yuta's body, Ran, Maruna, and Leez all got caught up in a mental transcendental. Now Kali suggests that this must have been a diversion while trouble was brewing on Willarv. Several months have passed since the group has left. Ran starts freaking out and yelling Rana's name. Maruna, who could not hear or see Kali/Yuta, asks to be filled in, but Ran rushes them to the water channel.
Leez stays behind and asks Kali if she plans on permanently controlling Yuta's body. Kali reminds her that this is not even Yuta's real body, it is in the sura realm and Kali is unable to take over that one. Since she has used up her strength now, her connection to this double will also soon get severed and Yuta's connection will resume.
Leez gets agitated because she cannot comprehend why Kali went out of her way to help her even it was not to Kali's benefit. Kali refuses to answer, amused by Leez's weakness to the goodwill of others but she advises Leez to make haste to Willarv.
| ā | How troubled you will be if I do not give you an answer... so I will not. | ā |
– Kali trolling Leez[26]
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(16) Ran and Maruna shortly return to Leez and Kali after recalling that there should be a way to return more quickly through a path connected to all water channels in the universe that is supposed to be located in the temple of chaos. Kali confirms this and further explains. The water channels were created by Brahma, but there is a limit to what one can do with the power of order and creation, Brahma can distort space but not time. This path, however, was created by Kali and it is an item on a higher dimension.
Kali operating the machine
Kali instructs Leez, Ran, and Maruna to step onto a platform. When they comply, she operates a machine and they find themselves surrounded by outer space. Kali proceeds to track Willarv's present and warns the group not to fall, also mentioning that his mother taught Yuta as much as possible so that he could follow in her footsteps.
The surroundings change and a cluster of broken rocks appear in view. Kali explains to the confused group that Willarv has been destroyed, the gods have returned to their realm and all other creatures are dead. They must have sacrificed the planet to prevent a greater threat.
Ran starts freaking out and yelling, angry about Yuta's callous tone. Leez attempts to calm him down. Kali tells him that he cannot bring back the dead by shouting, which prompts Ran to curse about Yuta being just like all the other suras.
Kali suggests a way to reverse things and have the group travel to the Willarv of the past and prevent its destruction. Since they have a limited amount of fragments available to power the machine and to avoid the danger of encountering past selves, it would be ideal to return two days after the party left Willarv.
All according to the plan
Three red portals appear before the group, however, before they can go, Kali tells them that they cannot pass at the same time and will need to decide who comes first. Since one person stepping through changes history, adjustments are needed for the next person to follow and they may even be unable to ever meet.
Leez asks Kali who should go first but Kali only cryptically warns her that Kali's goal may be to replace the destruction of Willarv with the destruction of the universe. Not heading Ran's opinions, Leez concludes that it should be her and she walks into the portal and disappears.
Kali smirks.
| ā | Think about it, Leez. I think my mother's goal here would be to replace the destruction of one planet with the destruction of the universe... | ā |
– Kali posing as Yuta[11]
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Chapter 46: Soul
Leez is unable to speak about Willarv's destruction
(4) When Leez returns to the past, she is unable to speak about what befell her. Agni is able to deduce that she must have encountered Kali. Agni admits that he and Kali used to hang out and are certainly not enemies. There are also more players than just Visnu and Kali in the game.
Chapter 47: Words That Never Reached You
Yuta regained control of his doll body
(10) After Ran and Maruna got left behind on Konchez, Yuta regained control over his body. Upon learning what his mother did, he quickly realized that this universe has been abandoned and will quickly collapse. He sent Ran and Maruna to the Willarv that Leez has returned to through a place beyond time as there was not enough energy in the machine for a more direct route.
(17) In the previous universe, the Ancient human race was able to survive by allying themselves to Kali, and so they became the victors of that universe. Kubera, however, did not succumb to her temptations and survived regardless.
Chapter 48: Separation
Kali devising a new plan
(10) A flashback to N16, when Hura told Gandharva of how to ensure that Teo Rakan gets resurrected, reveals Kali and Menaka overlapping with Hura. Kali then grins and tells the soul of Menaka that she exists nowhere.
(25) Yuta reveals that power that violates Visnu's rules relies on Kali's powers, and the more of it one uses, the more they lose control, until they become like the Tarakas. Yuta also confirms that dragons are more immune to Kali's temptations because of their lack of desires.
(27) When Chandra enters the Taraka consciousness, he searches for Kali and finds a puddle in her place. He surmises that she is in no state to move.
Chapter 49: The Golden Knight 2
Siera and Asha talking about Kali and Visnu
(9)(10) Asha Rahiro realizes that the records of time that she and Siera Sies saw were the same, although she was approached by Visnu, whereas Siera assumed the records he saw would have been Kali's as he accessed them through an experiment related to Kali's Taraka clan.
Asha speculates that Kali and Visnu may not actually be hostile towards each other. She believes it is likely that Visnu is one-sidedly helping Kali, if they are not outright on the same side. She thinks Visnu may have changed his mind about protecting the universe and even if that were not the case, considering his lack of empathy for his creations, his idea of "protection" might be questionable.
References
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 71: The Meaning of Revenge (6)
- ā 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kubera,
Season 1 Episode 86: The Power of the Name (3) Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "1-96" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "1-96" defined multiple times with different content - ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 4: Lost (4)
- ā 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 75: Crime and Punishment (2)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 23: Caution (3)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 54: Crossroads (2)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 53: Crossroads (1)
- ā 8.0 8.1 8.2 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 87: Crime and Punishment (14)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 80: Crime and Punishment (7)
- ā 10.0 10.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 84: Crime and Punishment (11)
- ā 11.0 11.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 89: Crime and Punishment (16)
- ā Kubera Volume 4
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 57: Grudge (7)
- ā Kubera, Season 2 Episode 39: The Test of the Sword (6)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 61: The Point of Your Sword (1)
- ā 16.0 16.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 83: Crime and Punishment (10)
- ā Kubera Volume 8
- ā 18.0 18.1 Kubera, Season 1 Episode 99: Lies for You (11)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 18: Threat (5)
- ā 20.0 20.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 58: Crossroads (6)
- ā Kubera, Season 1 Episode 42: The Past I Yearn For (7)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 40: Twisted Bird (7)
- ā 23.0 23.1 Kubera, Season 3 Episode 86: Crime and Punishment (13)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 82: Crime and Punishment (9)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 85: Crime and Punishment (12)
- ā Kubera, Season 3 Episode 88: Crime and Punishment (15)