Chaka's Destiny, a Fight Between Shadow and Light

Here is an emblematic figure of Cross The Ages. She is at the origin of the Blast (with Faust), which forever froze in time, the fight of the heroes of Cross The Ages. It is clear that we do not miss such a personality. You guessed it, it is about Chaka.

Chaka, a misunderstood legend, is trapped in the memories of a troubled and complicated past, between destruction and hope. She is the victim of a painful history, which is responsible for many insecurities. She hides this barely perceptible vulnerability, well concealed behind her power and a semblance of cruelty, coldness, even imperviousness.

She chose to become a genetically enhanced Warrior thanks to Mantris and its high technology. Her destiny is intimately linked to the Blast, the mysterious phenomenon that disrupted the balance of Artellium. It completely destroyed Solon and replaced him with the gaping scar that is the Rift. But would he have also left a mark on Chaka?!

One thing is certain, it inevitably marks its passage towards the Invermonde, where shadow and light merge...

How can one not be moved by discovering the poignant nature of Chaka?

It's hard not to be fascinated by her power and need for control, even in the midst of chaos. Let's enjoy these two Special Rare cards together, rich in detail and symbolism. They reveal the many facets of Chaka and her story.

In this map  standard, Chaka is immersed in a dark and enigmatic environment, in which black and gray hues set the scene and constitute swirling wisps. The atmosphere is oppressive, as if the world around Chaka is disappearing. Moreover, part of her body, in this case her legs, also disappear. Chaka desperately reaches out her right hand with her fingers spread out forward, as if she were trying to grab a person or something that feels irretrievably leaving.

The expression on her face is a heartbreaking mixture of sadness and resignation. Her attentive, tearful eyes seem to fix precisely on the cause of this profound grief. Seeing Chaka in the grip of such emotions is intriguing and fascinating. This reflection raises a myriad of questions.

What could possibly be making Chaka cry? What is this strange phenomenon surrounding her? Is she the source? Or the victim? What if she really was sucked into this strange vortex? Is she going to the underworld? Will she come back? What awaits her there?

The light emanating from her gaze and the purity and clarity of her tears contrast with the surrounding darkness, like a last glimmer of humanity, as she sinks into this endless abyss. Chaka is recognizable by her outfit. She wears black baggy pants, wider at the bottom, and more fitted at the waist, which she marks with a belt with a Logo as a buckle. This logo also raises questions, certainly it is the acronym of a Mantri company.

As a top, a simple white strip of fabric is wrapped around his chest and forearms. As for his skin, it is almost completely covered in fine reptilian scales.

Other, larger, green scales more clearly resembling crocodile skin grow on her shoulders, forearms, and ribs. This reptile skin is the result of the famous hybridization with the crocodile genome that she underwent in Mantris.

On the other hand, there's no sign of her iconic crocodile-jaw swords. They usually accompany her everywhere, unless this time Chaka doesn't need them... She doesn't seem combative at all. 

Is Chaka safe? Is Chaka on home turf? Are the shifting, distorted shadows real? Are they a shadow rift? Perhaps a remnant of the blast she and Faust created? 

Everything seems to fade or withdraw around Chaka as if this scene were ephemeral...as if it marked the passage to another dimension.

In the alternative version from this SR Card, we find the Chaka that we know.

Combative, determined, powerful, she is depicted here in full action. The dynamic is striking! Everything in this card testifies to the importance of this moment, which will remain forever frozen in time. A true enigma of the past, the heart of a legendary scene, except perhaps for Chaka.

She charges forward, holding her two sharp, razor-sharp weapons firmly in her hand, ready to fight, to cleave the air or her opponent. Her stance is that of a furious warrior, her attack cry frightening, even through the card's illustration.

Her face distorted by emotion and this rage that takes hold of her guts, and the strength of this moment contrast with the version of the standard card where she is so calm and vulnerable.

Chaka seems focused on her goal and nothing and no one will distract her.

Around her, chaos is absolute!

The most solid rocks explode under the pressure of this cataclysm. Entire blocks are thrown into the air. These explosions cause incandescent orange-amber shards to burst from the earth, illuminating the scene. This material is so precious and so difficult to find. A material that is commonly hidden deep within shadowy faults, so perilously that very few people manage to reach it.

The setting literally seems to shatter, as if reality itself were cracking under the effect of the Blast. The suspended fragments, which suggest the pieces of a shattered mirror, symbolize the passage between two dimensions and the collapse of the current laws of this world.

An energy from elsewhere invades the space. It is swirling, and concentrated in the upper left corner of the map. This further reinforces the idea of a portal to the Inverworld opening under the combined power of Chaka and her legendary enemy Faust.

Both Special Rare Cards this week juggle two sides of Chaka.

First, the standard version reveals Chaka's vulnerability, a vulnerability we didn't know she had. She gives the impression of having to face an inexorably difficult destiny. Second, the alternative version captivates us with Chaka's incomparable power in the midst of chaos.

These two cards highlight Chaka's crucial role in the creation of the Rift and its passage to the Underworld, which has sparked much speculation among Cross The Ages fans about the repercussions and outcome of these events.

This captivating mix of emotion, intensity and mystery that envelops Chaka only confirms her iconic status within the Cross The Ages universe.

These cards, which are true works of art, make us wonder about Chaka's destiny: Is she captive to a past that torments her, or is she the architect of a future that is still elusive?