At Foreshade
The wind howled through the shattered windows of the castle, carrying a ghostly chill. Overbrawl stepped inside, head bowed, each footstep echoing like a funeral march on the cracked marble floor.
He raised his head slowly—his gaze locking with Dreadixz's. Eyes dull and exhausted, he stared into the soul of the dark king like a beast that had crawled back from war. His tattered scarf whipped in the wind, the frayed ends fluttering like battle flags.
"I'm back…" he muttered, voice hollow.
On his throne of obsidian and bones, Dreadixz gripped the armrests with clawed fingers and rose with calculated slowness. His eyes narrowed as he studied Overbrawl, who was bloodied, limping, and barely holding himself together—one arm hanging uselessly, nearly severed.
"Ah… finally," Dreadixz sneered, lacing his fingers behind his back. "My 'finest' soldier returns... looking like a chewed-up carcass."
He descended the stairs of the throne platform with deliberate calm, his voice dripping with venom. Then, in a flash of lunar light, his body expanded and twisted—limbs stretching, scales spreading, horns jutting skyward—as he transformed into his Lunaranite Dragon form.
The roar that erupted from his throat shattered the eerie wind's whispers and echoed across the entire region of Foreshade like a war drum.
"And to think," he snarled, walking slowly toward Overbrawl, "you were so confident in killing the Chosen Ones."
He stopped just inches away, grabbed Overbrawl by the jaw, and yanked his face upward.
"Yet all I see… is failure."
His voice was quiet, but it rang with a dark, ancient malice. He released Overbrawl, letting the wounded warrior stumble back. Dreadixz slithered away, his jet-black tail sweeping ominously behind him.
"How dare you disrupt my plans—"
Knock knock.
A sudden bang echoed through the chamber. Dreadixz turned toward the massive iron portcullis at the front of the hall, a scowl spreading across his draconic features.
"…Enter."
The gates groaned open, smoke and shadows billowing in like a living storm. From the fog emerged a new figure—tall, hulking, and wrapped in shifting black shadows. He looked eerily similar to Overbrawl, but twisted. His body was cloaked in a deep obsidian hue, with red eyes glowing like twin hells. Dark energy flared around him like crackling black fire.
Dreadixz's scorn morphed into something closer to satisfaction—not because of Overbrawl, but because of him.
"Well, well," he said in a smooth, deadly tone. "Took you long enough to show your face."
The figure clenched his fists. "I'm not here to serve. I'm here to pave my own path."
His voice was calm, confident, cold.
"I don't play nice with others, and I sure as hell don't sign alliances with strangers I barely remember. But you, Dreadixz… King or not, I'm here to challenge the narrative."
Dreadixz turned away, shifting back into his humanoid form with a flicker of lunar energy. He strolled back to his throne and reclined with the air of a warlord savoring a storm.
"Incarceration…" he said with a wicked smile. "The traitor of the Zeniths. The power-hungry fool who abandoned the Heavenly Spot of Celestia after a 'minor disagreement'… Tell me, where's your little pet?"
The pet he referred to was no ordinary beast—it was a nightmare forged in darkness, a creature made to devour hope and burn legends to ash.
Incarceration's smile was slow and dangerous. Black fire danced along his knuckles as he crossed two fingers and touched them to his forehead.
"Homicide," he whispered.
His eyes snapped open, flashing crimson.
Dark magic exploded from his arms, spiraling into the air in tendrils of screaming shadow. The energy twisted, coiled, and then—formed. A massive shape emerged: a nine-headed Hydra, black-scaled and scarred with white gashes, eyes glowing a menacing violet. Each of its heads swayed like cobras preparing to strike. Its claws gleamed obsidian-sharp, and a jagged purple sail ran from its spines down its monstrous tail.
Dreadixz chuckled, watching the beast take shape with gleeful approval.
"Ah yes… I nearly forgot you wield the Nightmare Element. Able to summon any creature—real or imagined. Even ones that shouldn't exist."
His grin widened.
"I'm impressed."
He stood, eyes flickering with deadly intent. "Now go. Find the Chosen Ones. I want their bodies at my feet. And one of their heads—gone."
The Hydra let out a thunderous roar that shook the walls. Incarceration turned to it, his voice low, dark, and loyal.
"Yes… master."
The skies of Avangard were clear and blue, stretching endlessly above us like an infinite canvas. I was in my dragon form, soaring through the clouds with my wings wide open, basking in the freedom of flight. Puffy white clouds drifted around us, and birds chirped in the breeze as they flew by. A few Griffins joined us for a bit, then peeled off toward their homes in the mountains.
I twirled mid-air and dove through the fluffiest cloud I could find, feeling it burst around me like cotton candy. The others were flying with me too—Ella, Angel, and Olsen were riding on my back. Prince zipped beside us in his Lightning Bird form, flapping his wings with little thunder booms and streaks of electricity trailing behind him like party lights. Archie flew through the clouds in his blazing Phoenix form, burning holes through the mist like a tiny meteor on fire. Demaurion, in his Leviathan form, glided through the sky with serious sea serpent energy.
Where were we headed? Across Thunderstark, past Naria and the Sand Dunes—we were making our way to Musicia, a place we'd never been to before.
"I heard it's just one giant non-stop party!" Prince shouted, his voice crackling with static as he bolted ahead.
"Eh, I doubt it," Olsen replied. "But I know there's tons of music there. I mean, the name kinda gives it away."
I glanced down and nearly choked. We were high. Like, "see the curvature of the planet" high. Below us were entire oceans, waves crashing into each other with blue chaos. I could even spot the Land of Hearts from way up here.
The wind was warm against my scales, and the air smelled like pure freedom. Then Prince lightning-dashed above me.
"Alright! We're close!" he said, beak pointing downward. "Musicia's right there!"
I followed his gaze and caught a shimmer of lights in the distance.
"You're right! I can see it!" Ella shouted with a grin.
Olsen gave me a playful punch on the back. "Well then, let's go defeat the next beast! Come on, Don—you're about to be a Celestianite leader and a Hero of Avangard!"
I smiled wide. "Yeah, alright. Let's get down there and BECOME HEROES!"
We dove through the foggy clouds like shooting stars and landed gracefully on the glowing streets of Musicia. Olsen and Ella hopped off my back, and I slowly shifted back into my regular form. Everyone else followed suit, transforming back one by one.
The sight before us was insane. The city shimmered under the sun's rays in glowing yellows and sparkling pinks. Towering buildings of gold and rose quartz twisted upward in chaotic harmony. Glitter literally erupted from rooftops, drifting lazily through the air. It was like stepping into a living music video.
Crowds of people filled the sidewalks, weaving through the pulsing city. Music echoed from all directions, and the air buzzed with excitement.
"THIS IS INSANE!" Prince shouted, wide-eyed with joy.
"I know right? They've got music playing from everywhere! Come on!" I said, grabbing his wing as we took off running through the neon-lit streets.
The sun hovered above us while the sky shifted to soft orange. Cars zoomed by with slick style, and honestly? This place had everything. Olsen looked like he was about to ascend to a higher plane.
"I think I'm having the best time of my life," he said.
Ella smiled as the breeze caught her hair. "Guess this is what a new adventure feels like."
We wandered deeper into the city—until my ears twitched. Hard. Like "danger radar" twitch.
Angel paused and looked at me. "Don? Your ears are doing the weird twitch thing again. Should I be worried? Do you need, like, a Celestianite doctor?"
"No, I'm good," I said, eyes scanning the sky. "It's just what happens when I hear something coming… or someone flying at full speed ri—OOF!"
I got tackled. Hard. Whatever hit me felt like a tiger with revenge in its heart. I hit the ground with a thud.
"Get up, slowpoke," a sassy, familiar voice said.
I teleported a few feet away, making whoever-it-was faceplant into the street. I turned to look—and yep, I knew that voice. Sophia.
She looked up from the ground with a frown. "Hey!"
I rolled my eyes. "Well hello, Sophia. Just casually tackling me out of the sky again?"
She had transformed into her tiger form—a yellow tiger with pink stripes. But she quickly shifted back into her base form, tail swishing. "Yeah yeah, laugh it up, dragon boy. I thought you were a Lunaranite at first. Forgot you're a Crystallized Celestianite now."
I smirked. "Anyone else part of your surprise attack?"
That's when Javier popped out from behind a building, sighing like this was just another Tuesday. He strolled toward us, hands in his pockets. Blue coat, blue jeans, side-swept hair. The most innocent being in all of Avangard, and I trust him with my life.
Sophia crossed her arms as she looked at the rest of the crew. "Long time no see! We came for the festival!"
"Wait—what festival?" Ella asked.
"The Musicia Festival!" Sophia beamed. "You don't know? It's the biggest celebration for all Soundanites. Music, lights, performances—it's a whole vibe. And it starts in a few hours!"
We all exchanged looks. Glances. Smirks. The classic "are we doing this?" face.
I turned back to her. "We're in," I said, shaking her hand.
"WOO! PARTY TIME!" Prince roared.
But Sophia suddenly gagged and covered her nose. "Okay, but y'all gotta change. How long have you been wearing those outfits?"
"Hmm," I said, counting on my fingers. "One… two… maybe eleven days?"
"ELEVEN DAYS?!" she screeched. "Boy, you need to touch soap and fabric softener immediately. Lucky for you, I own a place here."
Power raised an eyebrow. "Where?"
She grinned and pointed ahead. "Follow me."
We followed her through the chaotic hum of the city until we reached a house that was both small and somehow huge. It was bubblegum pink with warm yellow light glowing from inside—straight out of a fantasy catalog from Iris Town. She opened the door and waved us in.
And inside? Absolute madness—in the best way.
Four different couches were chillin' on the right side of the living room, surrounding a red-and-white patterned carpet. The lighting was soft yellow, and the walls were painted white with brown wooden paneling going halfway up like they were wearing fancy belts. A TV sat on a stone-white stand in front of the couches, surrounded by vases of flowers that made the whole setup feel oddly elegant.
To the left was a wooden door in the distance, and right beside it—spiraling stairs leading upward like something magical was waiting at the top. We all plopped down on the couches, and that's when Sophia dropped the bomb.
She pulled out a bag bursting with clothes. "I got your hero suits ready. Just don't ruin them, alright?"
"HERO SUITS?! This just got even better!" Prince practically screamed, bouncing like a kid in a candy store. My eyes sparked with Celestial energy as I looked at the bag. "Heroes… it's suiting time."
And just like that, the trial began.
We took turns showering upstairs—though let's be real, Demaurion hogged the bathroom like it was a throne room. I'm not joking—it was so annoying. Prince accidentally zapped the lights off with his electricity, and poor Javier had to get them back on like some unpaid maintenance man.
After I was done, I made sure to lather up with "Scale Smoother~"—the lotion that makes your dragon scales look fierce, sleek, and extra shiny. Gotta keep the aesthetic on point.
Then I hit the training room near the bathroom. Worked up a sweat, powered up my celestial skills, and even learned a fresh new move: Insane Celestial Flick. It's where I flick my fingers charged with Celestial energy and cause a shockwave strong enough to obliterate literally anything. I was also getting better at bouncing off walls like a pinball at a rave. This new speed boost? Oh yeah—my final move's gonna hit like a whole meteor strike now.
Once we were all cleaned up and powered up—it was time.
HERO. SUIT. TIME.
Cue the music. Cue the montage.
Olsen stepped out first: rocking an earthy green metallic suit with rugged brown shoulder pads. His helmet looked like a thick green-and-black beak, and his gloves? Straight-up stone. He wore black leather pants, green-and-black boots, and a green baldric that carried his signature Hammer of Earth.
Prince's suit was electric (literally). Blue with lightning-yellow streaks zipping across the fabric. Yellow pants. Slim-fit blue hoodie. Black gloves. And some wild blue cybernetic shoes that let him bolt at top speed. His back had a sleek electric sail running along his spine.
Demaurion's suit was cyber-oceanic. Blue with shark vibes. He wore blue gauntlets, darker gloves, and Aqua Jets—massive knee-high boots with fins and leg-thrusters for wild speed in water and air. He also had a water helmet, so yeah, he was ready to go full Leviatham.
Archie looked like a full-on mech phoenix. Red cyber-suit with orange flame streaks on the chest. Metallic wings flared on his back, red mixed with orange like fire dancing in motion. His helmet? A flaming phoenix head with black and yellow accents. His eyes glowed with unhinged fury. His legs were encased in gray metallic armor, and his jet-boots looked like they were ready to explode on command. His gloves were such a dark red they almost didn't look red anymore.
Ella wore a sandy-brown jumpsuit with a visor dusted from the dunes. Tight black pants, rounded brown gauntlets, and dune-colored boots with claws that could pierce steel. She looked fierce.
Angel's suit was full-on vortex-blue, a high-tech cyborg look with a glowing hexagon in the middle of his chest.
Sophia kept it simple but iconic—jacket, headphones, and a pink cannon locked onto her right arm like a DJ ready for war.
And then—me.
I stepped out in a full-body purple jumpsuit with a bold black X slashing across the chest. Gold rings shimmered around my wrists, paired with white gloves traced with green patterns. My purple hiking shoes matched my hoodie, which was styled to look like a dragon's head—yeah, no joke. I had a yellow metallic belt strapped around my waist, black pants with yellow knee-pads, and a long black scarf whipping behind me like I was already flying into battle.
After the glam-up, we all crashed back onto the couches, feeling like the baddest crew in town. Sophia was casually brushing her hair with a pink brush, completely unfazed.
"So," I asked, turning to her, "when are we heading out? And where's this festival even happening?"
Sophia didn't even blink. "Still got a few hours. You idiots can just chill for now."
"Gee, thanks," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I stared at the TV. Nothing was even on. Just a blank screen and a mind full of too much.
Because when you're chosen for a prophecy this huge, you start thinking. Can I really pull this off?
I mean, if Olsen hadn't saved me back there, I'd be toast. But here I am. Still breathing. Still questioning.
The prophecy? Ella? Blueberries?? My brain was doing backflips.
I looked out the window.
The sky was bleeding colors—shades of blue, orange, and gold, like the sunset itself was painting the end of the day by hand. Birds flew across the horizon. Cars beeped. People talked. Golden skyscrapers sparkled with pink glitter floating through the air like stardust. And those last sunbeams hit my face through the window.
I turned back to the TV, lost in thought.
Is this prophecy really that important?
I want to be a warrior, yeah… but that feeling's starting to blur.
Maybe there's something deeper here.
Something I'm missing.
"Hey Don, you alright? You look like you've been staring into space!" Sophia said.
"I'm alright," I replied. "Just thinking. I wanna become a hero to prove to everyone that I'm not a weak, embarrassing, or stupid mess. But I know there's a deeper message—I'm just not seeing it."
Sophia sighed and set down her brush.
"Look, I wanna become a hero too! For fame, because I wanna be popular! I wanted to be like my idol, Power."
"POWER IS YOUR IDOL?!" I hollered.
Sophia laughed.
"Of course he is, I got like, a million pictures of this guy in my room. Don't tell anyone though."
She leaned in a bit, suddenly serious.
"Look Don, maybe the message is being like a hero. You know, save everyone, protect them from danger, stop evil. Like that."
I turned away, thinking about her words. Maybe she was right. I could save people. I could protect them. I could stop evil.
Maybe... I was already a hero.
I stayed on the couch for a few hours, then eventually drifted off to sleep. When I finally woke up, everyone was standing right in front of me.
"What the—we're already going?" I asked, groggy and surprised.
Olsen smirked. "Yup, come on, we got a few minutes left."
I jumped up from the couch and we bolted outside.
We burst through the door, entering the glowing night city. Lights shimmered everywhere. The stars twinkled above us, and the moon beamed down like a spotlight on our crew. We walked through the city, weaving through traffic, until we reached a huge pink casino covered in colorful blinking lights. It towered over us like a neon castle.
"Woah, so THIS is where we're going?!" Prince shouted in excitement.
"Yup, and you're gonna love it," Sophia said, her eyes gleaming.
"WHOO HOO PARTY TIME!!!!" Javier yelled.
We pushed through the glitzy pink doors, and BAM—instant party overload.
There was a massive stage at the back, a giant white rug, tons of pink tables, and a packed crowd. Music thumped through the room as a live band jammed on trumpets, drums, and electric guitars. The whole place was gold and pink, with flickering red and blue lights that danced across the walls and floor like fireworks.
Demaurion clenched his fists.
"This place is HUGE, and I'm ANGRY ABOUT IT!"
There were water fountains, a sleek black car on display, and even a fish tank with a shark and an eel just chilling like party VIPs.
I stared around in awe. The music was wild, totally unlike anything I'd heard before. And for some reason, people were just... casually spilling juice. For fun?
Archie lit his hands on fire.
"I'm gonna go do the Fireball Game over there. Demaurion, you coming?"
Demaurion kept his eyes locked on the fish tank.
"I'll hang out with the fish."
Olsen wandered off to the Knockout Arena with Power, and Ella headed for the Ball of Yarn Spot (don't ask).
I stood there next to Sophia, feeling totally lost.
"Ya got any suggestions? I don't really got any ideas," I asked.
"Are you serious? You can try singing on stage. I'll get the others," she said.
My eyes widened.
"WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH! Singing ON STAGE?! Sophia, you KNOW I got stage fright!"
She smirked.
"You're about to become a hero, so just try facing your fears."
I backed up.
"No no no no no, I don't think you know what I mean. Remember what happened LAST TIME I went on stage?"
"Yeah, but at least you didn't slip and fall on a banana peel," she smiled.
My face went deadpan.
"I slipped and fell on a banana peel."
"You'll be fine, just get on stage!" she exclaimed.
I looked to my right and saw the backstage door near the Fireball Game. I hesitated. But… Sophia was right. If I wanted to be a Hero of Avangard, I had to face my fears.
I gulped and started walking. I pushed through the crowd, weaving between people.
Then, out of nowhere—
"DANCE! I WANT TO SEE YOU DANCE!" a voice shouted.
I turned. It was an old man with a brown bird on his shoulder. He wore a beanie, a scarf, and a worn-out jacket.
I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off by pulling out a Valorant gun.
"DANCE OR DIE! I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE FROM THE PROPHECY DANCE IN MY LIFE! IT'S EITHER I GET MY ENTERTAINMENT OR YOU GET YOUR SOUL TAKEN!"
I was 99% sure this guy was drunk, and yeah—pointing a gun at a prophecy kid should be illegal. But I wasn't in the mood to die, so...
"You want me to uh, d-dance right? I'll show you one!"
I did a few sidesteps to the beat, pushing myself back and repeating it. He still didn't look impressed. I sighed.
"Ugh, fine, I'll do it."
I busted out the slick-back dance toward the door. The guy cheered, still waving the gun.
"THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO SEE!"
I slick-backed all the way to the backstage door, opened it quickly, and made sure no one saw me go in. Inside, a yellow light shined down, and there was a narrow staircase leading up. I climbed it and found another door at the top. I opened it—and boom. I was backstage.
The black curtains were just in front of me, and a microphone stand sat under a spotlight. I grabbed the mic, keeping it off to avoid making a scene.
That was when the door slammed open behind me, and the other four stormed in—with Sophia.
"Oh, you're doing it too?" Archie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I guess," I mumbled, staring at the mic.
Olsen stepped in.
"Okay look, I mean, it simply can't be that hard, right? RIGHT?!"
"I don't have stage fright," Demaurion said, tiny drops of water dripping onto the floor, "I just don't feel like going on stage."
Sophia clapped her hands together.
"Alright guys, now get out there and show them who you are!"
She PUSHED us. Literally pushed ALL of us.
ON. STAGE.
In front of EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IN THE CASINO.
I stood there, hands shaking, praying no one would notice us. And for a second... no one did.
Until someone RUINED THAT.
"Alright uh, are the next people the Chosen Ones?" the announcer shouted through the mic.
Every head in the building turned to us. Silence dropped like a nuke. The music stopped. The room froze.
My eyes twitched. I started to sweat. My hands were clammy. The only sound was crickets.
My heart thumped like a drumline. What do I say? What do I do? Think, Don, THINK! What could I possibly sing right now?
After a few seconds of straight panic, I had it.
The announcer leaned in, smiling.
"Alright Don, get us started!"
I cleared my throat like I was about to drop the greatest vocal moment of the century. "You are… my fire…"
I shot Olsen a look. The boy didn't need a second cue. He opened his mouth like destiny itself summoned him.
"The one… desire…"
Archie whipped his head around. "Prince!!"
Prince, with zero hesitation: "Believe when I saaay…"
Archie threw his hands in the air like he was conducting the dang universe. "Come on, Demaurion!!"
Demaurion (already way too into it): "I want it THAT WAYYYYY—"
Archie, now screaming like his life depended on it: "TELL ME WHY?!"
ALL OF US, IN PERFECT SYNC: "Ain't nothin' but a heartache!"
Archie again, louder: "TELL ME WHY?!"
IN SYNC, AGAIN: "Ain't nothin' but a mistaaaake!"
Archie pointed like he was summoning the final boss: "Archie say 'I'—"
Archie: "I never wanna hear you saaay—"
Archie, FINALE MODE: "COME ONNNNN!"
EVERYONE IN HARMONIZED PERFECTION: "I WANT IT THAT WAAAAAY!"
...Silence.
Like dead, funeral, pin-drop silence.
We stood there, thinking we just ruined everything. But then—CLAP. CLAP. CLAP.
The crowd straight up ERUPTED.
Screaming. Cheers. People were throwing roses. Someone cried. Someone fainted. WE DID IT. WE LEGIT DID IT. I was already feeling like a pop star when a mic came flying out of nowhere. I caught it like a boss, dropped the other one like I was in a concert, and some dude yelled:
"SING US ANOTHER SONG!"
I exhaled like an overworked celebrity. "Oh boy…"
I was about to belt out Bye Bye Bye like my life was a 2000s boyband comeback tour—but then…
BANG.
I paused. Something slammed onto the roof. Real hard.
"Probs nothing," I thought. Until it happened again.
BOOM. Louder. Closer. This time, the crowd heard it too—heads turned, whispers grew. Then—
CRASH!
The casino doors BLEW OPEN like they got hit by a meteor. People screamed, chairs flipped, drinks flew. From the shadowy entrance stepped pure, prehistoric nightmare fuel.
The Hydra.
Nine dripping, snarling heads. Each one gnashing like it was starving. Thunder screamed overhead. Rain poured like a broken faucet in the sky. Lightning lit the beast like some demonic statue.
And then… it snarled.
EVERYONE FROZE. Then—PANIC.
People ran in every direction. Some fell. Some screamed. Some tried to hide under chairs like those would do anything. Then—
FWOOOOOM!!
One of the heads charged up and fired a fire beam that TORCHED half the room. Explosions lit up the casino like a war zone. Tables went flying. People were incinerated or hurled into walls like ragdolls. The Hydra went absolutely feral, wrecking everything in sight.
But then… its nine eyes locked onto me.
Game time.
I roared and transformed into my Celestianite dragon form, light purple energy flaring off my scales like lightning. I sprinted toward the beast, wings tucked tight. I was tiny compared to this dinosaur-from-Hell, but I didn't care—I LEAPT onto its back.
It bucked like a rodeo monster, slamming into walls and pillars, shaking so hard the chandeliers crashed down in a rain of sparks and shattered glass. I dug my claws in, slashing at its thick scales, trying to blind one of the heads. It ROARED in pain—then snatched my tail and FLUNG me like a skipping rock into the stage.
CRASHHHH!! I blew through speakers, light rigs, and pyrotechnics that accidentally went off, sending fireworks into the chaos. I shook it off, growled, and faced the beast again.
Round 2.
I launched forward, roaring with the force of a collapsing galaxy. It roared back, and we charged like freight trains. BOOM. We collided, and I TACKLED that thing so hard the floor cracked beneath us. One of its heads yanked me by the horn and SLAMMED me across three poker tables.
I flipped up, bleeding but furious. I ran at it again, jumped, and CHOMPED one of its throats. I tried to drag it down, but it was thrashing like crazy. I slashed one of its eyes—direct hit. The head screeched, but the Hydra swung me around and LAUNCHED me into a wall of slot machines.
Coins rained like confetti.
I roared again. It roared louder.
But I wasn't done.
I sprinted back, rage and energy crackling around me, and SMACKED one of its heads with my tail like a celestial baseball bat.
The impact sent that ugly lizard flying into a roulette table, breaking it in two.
And we weren't even CLOSE to done yet.
He crashed through the casino walls like a meteor, tumbling into the open. I roared, my jaws stretching wider than ever, and launched myself at him in a brutal pounce. Mid-air, I latched onto one of his necks, and we both slammed into the ground, rolling through the thunder-charged chaos of the night.
I sprang to my feet, just as he lunged at me with snapping jaws. I jerked my head back and clawed his face twice, deep and fast. One of his heads belched a torrent of fire, but I dodged to the side, sprinting with wild speed before leaping again. I clung to his back, teeth sinking in. My tail whipped violently side to side as he thrashed beneath me.
I dropped back to the ground, circling him with calculated fury, then lunged at his leg, biting down hard. He let out a guttural roar and smacked me away like a ragdoll. I smashed into a nearby building, crashing through walls and shattering light fixtures.
Before I could recover, he was already airborne, jaws clamping around my neck. He shot into the sky at breakneck speed, and we burst through the roof. At the peak, he let go—and I plummeted like a meteor.
But nah, I wasn't done.
With a blast of celestial energy, my wings flared and I rocketed back into the air. I blitzed past him, teeth raking across his flesh, then spun mid-air to clash with him again. My claws slashed his face, and my tail came around in a savage arc—snap!—his neck cracked.
Thunder BOOMED.
Lightning tore the sky in half.
Blood spilled from both our necks as we tore into each other, claws flashing in the storm. I tail-whacked him so hard he spiraled toward the ground like a broken plane. I dove after him, grabbed one of his necks mid-flight, and bit down hard—trying to finish it—but the beast just wouldn't die.
He flailed and flung me off, but I twisted mid-air, spinning with light-speed intensity, celestial energy sparking around me like a storm incarnate. I slammed into the ground like a vortex bomb, the shockwave launching him backward.
He retaliated instantly—slamming into me, dragging me down. We rolled through the wreckage. He clawed my chest, grabbed my neck with one of his jaws, lifted me, and SPLAT—slammed me down with bone-shattering force.
I barely stood before he spun and tail-whipped me so violently I heard my neck pop. Still, I lunged back, jaws wide, clamping onto a neck—but he bit back, and the two of us were locked in this mutual, brutal chompfest.
Then he flung me like a toy, bashing his skull into mine mid-air. Blood sprayed from my face. I went flying into a museum, crashing through glass and walls, bones and ancient relics tumbling around me.
Now we were surrounded by fossilized giants.
The Hydra charged, eyes glowing an evil purple, and fired a beam of fire. I dodged hard to the right, skimming low. On all fours, I sprinted and launched myself onto his head, biting down with primal force.
He roared and slammed me into a T. rex fossil—bones exploded everywhere.
He flew again, grabbed me mid-air with another jaw, and body-slammed me into the wall—dust bursting out in a cloud. I leapt back onto his back, dashed along his spine, and clamped down with my jaws again, trying to take control. He thrashed like a maniac, crashing into every fossil in the room, until I slashed one of his eyes.
He flipped, launching me off. I landed hard into a triceratops fossil. Pain exploded through my body.
I growled and charged again, slamming into him sideways. He staggered—but caught my tail, spun me around like a ragdoll, and YEETED me across the museum. Glass shattered around me as I skidded to a stop.
Slowly, I got up—bruised, bloodied, but burning with rage.
He stalked toward me, bleeding and battered, spikes and bones embedded in his scales. I roared, primal and defiant.
He roared back.
We CLASHED.
He opened fire with rapid blasts—I juked left and right at max speed, bullets grazing past me. I pounced straight at his face, spinning, tail-whacking him mid-air—sending him crashing through a row of ancient armor.
He grabbed my neck and slammed me into another glass wall, but I rebounded and clawed his face, sparks flying as thunder shook the heavens again.
I unleashed a celestial fire beam right in his face—BOOM. The explosion sent him flying into the back of the museum, through layers of history and wreckage. I roared louder than ever, charging forward, firing more celestial blasts.
Each beam lit the place up, shaking the very walls.
He thrashed wildly, knocking over relics and getting caught in beams of light.
Then I rolled into a celestial ball, energy crackling as I spun faster, faster—then launched.
Mid-air, I burst from the ball form, screamed, and fired one last massive celestial beam—exploding the entire chamber in a radiant blast.
He got up slowly. Blood pouring. Bones impaled. Glass in his hide.
He was dying—but still standing.
We locked eyes.
Then—BAM! Outta nowhere, Ella, in her Desert Cat form (way bigger than expected btw), pounced from above, tearing into his back with claws and fangs. "Leave him alone!" she shouted, feral.
Olsen dropped in next in full Rockslide Ankylosaurus mode, chomping down on the Hydra's neck and slamming him to the floor.
Sophia, in her Musical Tiger form, joined Ella, double-teaming with a barrage of slashes and roars.
Prince zapped the monster mid-air, a blinding bolt of lightning striking him in the chest.
Archie dove in next. Then Angel. Then Power. One by one, everyone dropped from the sky like heroes in a final boss fight.
They all piled on, beating the beast into the floor.
And that's when I knew.
This was it.
With one final surge of strength, I dashed forward, jaws glowing with celestial fury. I bit down on one of the Hydra's necks—and RIPPED IT CLEAN OFF.
Blood sprayed everywhere. The head didn't grow back.
I dropped it.
It was over.
I shifted back to my regular form, panting, trembling. One by one, everyone else morphed back too.
I stared at the fallen beast. "What the heck was that?"
Prince, still sparking with electricity, shook his head. "I don't know, but whatever it was… it was definitely from the Lunaranites. I mean, look at it!"
And then—fwump fwump fwump—the sound of wings.
I looked up.
A full Lunaranite army soared through the storm clouds, spears raised, scanning the city.
I pulled my daggers free.
"We gotta get outta here. Now."