We slammed face-first into the dirt—hard, rough, jagged. It felt like getting body-slammed by the Earth itself.
"Ugh..." I groaned, pushing myself up slowly. My body ached like I just got uppercutted by a mountain.
I blinked, squinting at the eerie landscape around us. Red rocks. Blistering heat. A burnt orange sky swirling with clouds that half-blocked the sun. The air felt dry and angry. I stumbled forward toward a nearby cliff, dust kicking up with each step. Then I skidded to a halt.
My eyes widened.
Below, glowing molten rivers of lava hissed and bubbled like they were hungry. The whole valley pulsed with heat.
"…Where the hell are we?" I muttered.
Then it hit me like a slap: Dark Don. That edgy menace with the smug attitude and chaos energy had launched me here. Something-something prophecy. I didn't get it at the time, but now… I was starting to.
Behind me, someone groaned.
Olsen was the first to rise, dust clinging to his green hoodie. He rubbed his head and looked around, frowning. "Okay, what in the actual crusty volcano pit is this place?"
Prince zipped in next, followed by Demaurion and Archie, all of them dazed.
Demaurion, of course, was the first to scream.
"YO WHERE THE HELL DID DARK DON SEND US?! THIS LOOKS LIKE SATAN'S BACKYARD!"
"DUMBASS, THIS IS SCARLETSVILLE!" Archie shouted back, hair whipping in the wind, wings twitching with chaos.
Olsen put his hands on his hips like some concerned soccer dad. "Cool. So, we're in a lava-soaked wasteland. Great. What now? And who the heck was that Don lookalike?"
I sat down near the edge of the cliff, staring at the lava river like it had answers. "I don't know… He wasn't in any of the Celestianite war records. We only moved to Iris Town recently. I didn't even see the frontlines of the war until I was ten."
I paused, thinking. "But… he said he was from another universe. If that's true…"
Prince suddenly appeared beside me, plopping down and casually watching the fantasy birds—orange Uragas—fly across the sky. "Hey, at least this place is metal. I mean, it literally is. Hot metal. Lava. Cool vibes."
"Now's not the time," Olsen said, arms crossed, full seriousness mode activated.
"Okay, hold up…" I stood, dusting myself off, pacing. My brain raced back to everything that happened at Insane Middle School—teachers screaming, cops and heroes rushing in, Dark Don kicking my butt like I was built out of marshmallows… and that scroll. That freakin' scroll.
Mr. Bassi's words came back to me.
Five chosen ones. Five epic quests. One Lost Key. And the first challenge… Celestial's Fight.
My eyes widened. I slowly looked at my friends, then crossed my arms with a smirk.
"The prophecy."
They all blinked at me like I'd just grown a second pair of wings.
"…Excuse me, what?" Prince tilted his head.
"The prophecy," I repeated, stepping forward. "Celestial's Fight. Earth's Might. Lightning's Surge. Water's Murge. Flame's Burns."
I took a breath. "One of us is supposed to complete each challenge. I've got the Celestial Element… which means I'm up first."
The group looked at each other, slowly nodding like their brains were catching up.
"Ohhhhhhhhhh," they said in unison.
Demaurion deadpanned, "Okay, prophecy stuff aside, how do we get out of this burning hellhole before I straight up evaporate?"
I grinned. "C'mon, Leviathan Boy, isn't it obvious?"
I reached into my hoodie pocket and pulled out the Map of Avangard—yeah, I brought it to school. I'm built different.
"'Celestial's Fight' means I gotta go toe-to-toe with the deadliest beasts in Avangard. Then we fight King Dreadixz."
I paused.
And then it hit me.
"WAIT. FIGHT KING DREADIXZ?!?!?!"
I instantly spiraled. Arms flailing. Pacing in panicked circles.
"WE'RE COOKED! TOASTED! FRIED! WHO THE HELL FIGHTS DREADIXZ ON A TUESDAY?!"
Prince just leaned back with the biggest smirk. "Well, well, well. Guess the big bad dragon doesn't have the balls of titanium after all."
I glared, wings flaring up in irritation. "SAYS THE SHORTER ONE BUILT LIKE A THREE-BY-ONE LEGO PIECE ON LIGHTNING JUICE!"
Olsen stepped between us, doing his best peacemaker impression. "Alright, let's chill. Look, all Don's gotta do is beat the beast. Simple."
"We're inexperienced," Demaurion muttered.
"But we've got guts," Archie said, cracking his knuckles. "That counts."
"Facts," I nodded. "We might not have weapons, but we've got fists, elements, and pure adrenaline. I've fought worse in gym class."
Archie flared his phoenix wings, eyes on the fading sun. "Let's make this quick. I don't do midnight brawls."
That's when it happened.
The metallic shhhhink of a sword being drawn echoed through the canyon.
We froze.
A figure stepped out from behind a massive jagged boulder—armor gleaming red and scarred, the air around him shimmering from the heat.
His voice was low, cold, dripping with menace.
"Well, well. Kids playing prophecy."
I stepped forward, violet energy crackling across my arms. "Too early for this crap…"
His armor clanked with every step, scarlet plates dented from ancient battles. His shoulder was lined with jagged spikes, a tattered crimson cape flowing behind him. His sword burned orange and silver, fire swirling around its blade like a living flame.
Through the slits in his mask, his eyes blazed.
"King Scar," I said through gritted teeth. "Leader of the Flamenites. Veteran of the Triple Tryple War."
He raised his sword, flames flaring. "Trespassers will burn."
Demaurion cracked his neck with a grin. Olsen stayed silent. Prince and Archie were both trying hard to look badass.
King Scar twirled his sword and sneered, "Isn't it a pleasure to see you? Part of my prophecy... is to kill you all."
His malicious chuckle grew louder, breaking through the howling wind.
"Little innocent kids, dragged here by force... No weapons, barely any experience... You came to fight me? What a joke."
I tried to act tough, but I was sweating bullets inside. My eyes stayed locked on him like I had a plan — but honestly? I had nothing.
Then I remembered why I was here. Why I was chosen to lead. Not just because of who I wanted to be — but all the insecurities, the doubts.
Is this what being a hero feels like? I mean, I'm not a hero yet, but maybe this is what they go through.
Suddenly, confidence snapped into place, puzzle pieces clicking. Celestial energy crackled all over me as I stared down King Scar.
"You... are nothing to me."
Everyone gasped behind me, but when they saw my face, they knew I meant it.
Scar pointed his sword at me. "You just signed your contract to heaven, mister."
I cracked my knuckles, whispering, "And you're about to get sent from Scarletsville to Get-Your-Ass-Kicked-ville."
He slashed the air and charged.
"Mock me all you want, but it won't be easy when this blade sinks into you."
Olsen clapped his hands, earth energy surging through his body, ready to fight. Archie conjured fireballs, Demaurion summoned swirling water, and Prince crackled with electricity.
Scar lunged, I ducked, then uppercut him straight into the air. He staggered back.
Prince flashed behind him, swinging a strike — but Scar spun instantly, sword slicing, sending Prince flying.
Scar turned to attack Olsen, but Olsen caught his blade with both hands, then blasted him with fists sparking metal shards into the air.
Archie shot into the sky, flames swirling as he rained fireballs on Scar. Explosions shook the ground, smoke billowing everywhere.
Then it was Prince and my turn. He zipped past, striking Scar's face quick as lightning. I followed, matching his speed and strikes. Flash, strike. Flash, strike. Again and again, faster every time.
When we passed each other on either side of Scar, he grabbed Prince, spun him around, and slammed him into me. We crashed hard onto the ground.
Scar rushed me, sword swinging wildly. I dodged every strike like I was dancing to a beat.
Suddenly, lightning flashed as Prince blasted past Scar again, punching his face so hard it sent him tumbling through the air, crashing to the ground.
Archie, in full Phoenix form, soared above — orange feathers and flames swirling, eyes blazing — diving toward Scar.
Scar raised his sword, charging a flame beam.
CLANG! Olsen tackled him down with raw strength.
As they traded blows, Archie slammed into Scar, causing a massive explosion that nearly shattered the ground.
Olsen stepped back, and Scar grabbed Archie, hurling him across the battlefield. Archie crashed through a jagged red wall, tumbling hard.
Scar rose, sword blazing fury, and dashed toward me. He grabbed my neck and slammed me against a rocky wall. Pain shot through my spine.
I almost screamed, but Scar silenced me, grabbing my head and smashing it into the wall again.
He whispered coldly, "See? Told you... weak as hell."
"WEAK AS HELL, ALRIGHT!" Celestial energy crackled violently around me, my eyes blazing with violet fire. I charged forward, my fist glowing with pure power, and slammed a single celestial punch straight into King Scar's face. The impact sent a violet shockwave tearing through the air, and he slid backward across the scorched ground, finally collapsing far away from me. I pushed off the wall, stepping forward slowly, my eyes burning with fierce determination, my expression deadly serious for once.
Celestial energy surged even stronger, more violently than ever before. This was new—unlike anything I'd felt. If this was what power felt like, then yeah… I was powerful. Everyone else was down, but I stood tall, eyes locked on Scar, who was near the bubbling lava. A flare shot from my eyes as I muttered, "Huh… guess my Element really upgraded. Let's finish this." I sprinted toward him, celestial energy rushing through my veins, arm cocked for a devastating Celestial Uppercut—ready to launch him into the air. Scar dove down toward the lava just as I swung. A loud PLOP! echoed, followed by a scream of agony. Then his furious shout pierced the air: "I'LL GET YOU KIDS!!! YOU LITTLE—BRATS!!!" I exhaled, letting the celestial energy fade away. Turning to my crew, I asked, "Is everyone okay?" They slowly stood up, battered but breathing—just a few bruises and scratches. Olsen gave a thumbs up, and the others nodded their agreement.
"Well," I said, facing them, "guess we keep moving." We pressed onward through the Scarletsville canyon. The heat was relentless, but the wind had finally died down to a bearable breeze. Above us, the sky burned deep red and orange—as if the sunset itself had frozen in time. The valley was flat and cracked beneath our feet, barren and broken. Massive red mountains loomed, rugged and streaked with veins of molten lava. The river we crossed was nothing but blackened, coal-covered rocks sliding beneath our boots. Molten waterfalls poured from the cliffs like the earth was weeping molten tears. The whole place was a surreal mix of devastation and haunting beauty, frozen in perpetual ruin.
We moved through what was once the Kingdom of Scarletsville—the ruins whispering stories of a proud realm reduced to smoldering ash. Charred debris still burned faintly, some turned to solid black coal by endless flames. A ring of lava marked the boundary between the kingdom's past and this wasteland's present. As the sun dipped below the horizon, shadows stretched long across the land. The fiery sky faded to darkness, and the first stars blinked awake—distant memories scattered across the night.
The crescent moon hung low, casting an eerie silver glow over the desolation. Night swallowed everything, bringing a silence so thick it felt like the earth itself was holding its breath. "I'm starting to think this place is even scarier when the sun's gone," Archie muttered, breaking the quiet. Squinting into the darkness, he added, "It's late, and I'm beat.
How about we find a spot to crash? We can push on fresh tomorrow and tackle the next part of the prophecy." I nodded slowly. "Sounds good. Rest first, then move on." Olsen, always thinking ahead, spotted a small cave nestled into a rocky hillside. Perfect shelter. The cave was pitch black, darker than the night outside. Everyone shifted into their magical beast forms, taking up spots in the cool shadows. I sat at the entrance, folding my wings like a blanket around me. From here, the sky stretched endlessly—a canvas of twinkling stars.
The crescent moon hung like a silent guardian, bathing the world in soft silver light. Olsen, now a massive Rockslide Ankylosaurus, lay on his belly, filling much of the cave's floor. He turned his head toward me, a thoughtful smirk playing on his lips. "You ever notice how Scarletsville looks kinda beautiful at night, but during the day… it's a whole different story?" "Yeah," I replied. "Like two different worlds. We'll probably find out why tomorrow." I leaned back, wrapping my wings tighter around myself. My tail curled around my waist, warmth radiating as I nestled into the folds. One last glance at the moonlit sky… then sleep took me.