I yawned, stretching out on the rocky ground, my wings snapping back into place behind me like they were auditioning for the world's most dramatic entrance.
Don't even give me that look. Yeah, I sleep with my wings out. It's a Celestianite thing. Saves gold on blankets, alright? Practical AF.
The cave was buzzing with the sound of everyone waking up—and of course, Olsen couldn't just quietly rouse like a normal dude. Nah, my boy yawned so loud the whole cave basically shook like an earthquake.
I shot him a deadpan glare. "For real? You had to do that?"
He just shrugged, casually shifting back into his bulky Ankylosaurus form. "Earthnites gotta Earthnite, man."
I peeked outside. The sun was already cooking the sky into that weird red-orange soup again. The heat felt like someone cranked the world's oven to 'molten lava' setting, and the volcanoes rumbled like they were pissed they hadn't had their coffee.
Out there, a bunch of Vexes (skinny four legged beasts with large heads that were curved back and sharp at the tip, no eyes, no nose, just teeth and head) were prowling around like they owned the place.
I grinned. "Guess they're more active when the sun's up. Great."
The squad gathered, bleary-eyed but ready. First mission: escape this molten nightmare and head to the next island.
"Where to?" I asked, pulling out the map and tracing a finger through the chaos.
"South," Olsen said, already squinting at the horizon.
Then—twotwoot! My dragon ears twitched twice.
That's bad news. Real bad.
"You guys hear that?" I asked, eyes scanning the smoky horizon.
They all shook their heads. Paranoia levels: maximum.
Then again—twotwoot!—and this time I caught it: some ugly screech-roar hybrid noise. Like if a cat and a T-Rex had a screaming contest.
I spun around, tail wagging before I even realized it. "We gotta check this out!"
We trekked across Scarletsville's endless scorched valleys, lava dripping like the world's worst faucet, air thick with smoke and regret.
At the bottom of a steep hill, standing like the final boss in a video game, was a glowing blue figure. Electricity crackled off him in bolts, eyes glowing like twin lightning storms. He cracked his knuckles like he owned the place—which, honestly, he kinda did.
Prince squinted. "Who's the electrified dude?"
My brain lit up like fireworks.
That. Is. Power Zenith.
THE Power Zenith.
The legend behind the creation of the Power Gems.
I didn't hesitate.
Grabbed a flat rock like it was a hoverboard and launched down the hill, drifting side to side, kicking up ash like a pro. I backflipped off at the bottom, tossing the board in the air like a boss.
Power turned, smiled, and said, "Well, well. If it isn't Don. Remember me?"
My soul practically exploded. No. Freaking. Way.
POWER Z. The OG hero, the GOAT of Avangard.
I practically tackled him, shaking his hand like I'd found the last slice of pizza.
"It's an honor! I'm your biggest fan! Seriously, you're here—"
Power laughed, scratching his head. "Slow down, kid. Love the energy, but let's keep it PG with the grabbing."
My face went tomato-red. "Right, sorry! Just super hyped."
Olsen snorted from the hill. "Fanboy alert."
Archie raised an eyebrow. "So this guy's the number one hero? You're really into him?"
My tail wagged like a puppy. "Dude saved over a hundred people in the Leviathan raid. Literal GOAT."
Demaurion rolled his eyes. "Cool story, but we've got a prophecy to fulfill."
I sighed, smoke puffing from my nostrils. "True. Let's get to it before more bad guys show up."
Prince studied the map. "Next stop: Gadian Sea. And we're not even close."
"We're south of Scarletsville, near the Pyramids of Markilao," I said, pointing. "That water's our direction."
Back at the cave, Power finally got serious.
"So," I said, "Celestianites and Lunaranites are beefing over the Lost Key. Lunaranites want domination; Celestianites want peace. And we—me, Olsen, Prince, Archie, Demaurion—are supposed to save the world?"
Power nodded. "Yep. It's gonna be a long, nasty fight. No vacation."
He smirked, eyes gleaming. "But I think you kids can handle it."
FIVE MINUTES LATER
For hours.
We trained. No joke. We trained hard—muscles screaming, sweat pouring like rivers, and laughs slipping through the cracks like accidental relief from the apocalypse's weight.
Archie was trying to breathe fire without torching his own eyebrows off. Spoiler: he looked like a crispy chicken nugget by the end.
Olsen was grunting like a grizzly bear with a grudge, slamming boulders into the dirt like the world owed him something.
Prince? Dude was basically a human bullet, zipping around so fast even his own shadow struggled to keep up.
Demaurion was over there summoning water with all the finesse of a kid who just learned to pour a glass—accidentally dousing Olsen's face more times than anyone could count.
And me? I was chasing my celestial energy like it was a hyperactive cat hiding in a tree—sometimes I caught it, sometimes I faceplanted, and sometimes I just looked like I was doing an interpretive dance of defeat.
Power watched from a distance, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. Finally, he walked over, voice booming but calm.
"Alright, Don. Let's talk daggers."
My eyes lit up like I'd just won a free pizza. "Daggers? You mean these?" I brandished the pair of sleek, humming Celestial Daggers Power had forged himself.
"Yup. They're your new best friends."
I grinned, imagining myself slicing through enemies like a shadow ninja.
Power's smirk twisted. "But here's the catch: daggers aren't about brute force. It's speed, precision, and control. You've got the speed part down, but your precision? Not so much."
Oof. That hit like a cold bucket of water.
"Okay, wise guy, what do I do then?"
He clapped his hands, and suddenly the clearing filled with glowing blue figures—short, flickering shapes that looked like holograms of some kind.
"Meet the Patriot Shadows. They're tough, fast, and relentless—perfect practice dummies. Your job: slash them all down in 30 seconds."
I stared, heart pounding. Thirty seconds? That was like, zero time.
Power's eyes gleamed. "Ready? Go."
I lunged, daggers flashing, but the Shadows darted and spun like smoke. My strikes were wild and unfocused. I missed more than I hit. Time slipped by, the timer in my head ticking down mercilessly.
Thirty seconds ended. Fail.
Power shook his head. "Again."
Thirty seconds later: fail again.
"Don't get sloppy. Calm your mind, focus your strikes. Precision."
Third time, I started to find a rhythm—daggers slicing through two Shadows, then a quick pivot to hit a third. My strikes grew cleaner, movements tighter.
Power nodded, impressed. "Better."
We ran the drill again and again. The shadows blinked out faster each time. My arms ached, sweat stung my eyes, but I got it. Precision wasn't about raw power; it was about dance, about moving like you owned the space.
"See," Power said, eyes sharp, "daggers demand agility. You've got to be light on your feet, fluid like water."
Agility. That word echoed in my mind.
I thought back to the move I'd loved as a kid—the Wing Jump. Using my wings to boost my jump height, launching myself higher than I should've been able to.
"Show me your Wing Jump," Power said suddenly.
I hesitated, then spread my wings, crouched low, and pushed off the ground. My wings unfurled just right, and I soared higher than I ever had before, feeling power surging through my veins. My body was stronger now, forged by hours of grueling training.
Power nodded approvingly. "Good. Combine that with your dagger work. Speed, precision, and agility all fused."
I grinned, panting but pumped. "So... daggers and flying ninja moves? I'm basically unstoppable now, right?"
Power chuckled. "Slow your roll, kid. You're just getting started."
Hours rolled on like this—me practicing dagger strikes, dodging, weaving, slashing Patriot Shadows, jumping higher and moving faster.
I was falling, failing, laughing, sweating, but every time I got up, I was sharper, quicker, better.
And the best part? I knew this was just the beginning.
We all went back into the cave mid-day. Training had drained every last drop of sweat and fire from our bodies, but none of us dared relax—not yet.
I stared down at my hands, swirling thoughts locking in place. Why are they fighting over one thing?
Olsen shot me a look like I'd lost it. "You serious? Lunaranites want to take over Avangard!"
"No, I mean... why though? What even started all this?"
Power's confident grin faded. He glanced down, voice dipping into something darker. "Alright, time for a little history lesson."
The Rise of Dreadixz
Dreadixz was never meant for ordinary. From the jump, this guy's hunger for power was like a black hole—pulling everything around him into doubt and fear. Before anyone even knew his name, he was throwing down with every Lunaranite he met, pushing his unawakened Lunar Element to the edge, craving more strength, more dominance.
They said the Lunar Element could level cities even when dormant—but for Dreadixz, that wasn't enough.
His envy for King Vigilzante was a beast living inside him. Vigilzante had it all: respect, worship, the golden throne of Celestia, and the power to command the entire world.
Dreadixz couldn't stand to be in the same room as him—each second in Vigilzante's shadow hammered home the fact that no matter how strong he got, he was just a miner, crawling through dirt while Vigilzante sat on high.
One day, after a meeting where Vigilzante dismissed him like a fly, Dreadixz stormed out, teeth clenched, rage boiling over. That's when he saw it.
The Lost Key.
Just sitting there on a polished table, like some forgotten ornament.
His heart stopped. Every legend he'd heard flooded back—the wish-granting relic, the source of all Elements.
With trembling hands, he grabbed it, voice barely a whisper:
"I wish to become a king—powerful enough to dethrone Vigilzante forever."
Light exploded, burning his vision white. He thought he was ascending, claiming his destiny.
Then—nothing.
The Key vanished from his grip like a ghost.
At first, he thought it was a trick. But the hunger inside warped into something uglier, an obsession that twisted his soul.
He began preaching he was already greater than Vigilzante, more powerful than the Zeniths, even gods themselves. His voice shook Celestia with his madness.
Eventually, Vigilzante had enough. With a cold decree, he banished Dreadixz from the kingdom forever.
Exiled and humiliated, Dreadixz fled to Foreshade, but he didn't break. He grew more dangerous—rallying Lunaranites under a banner of revenge and liberation.
He spread rumors that Vigilzante had stolen the Lost Key, denying them power that should have been theirs.
Riots turned into uprisings. Uprisings into war.
And finally, Dreadixz declared himself king.
Years later, in chaos and blood, he did the unthinkable: he killed Vigilzante with his own hands.
Standing over the fallen king, he learned the truth.
The Lost Key wasn't gone. It was waiting—hidden until five Chosen Ones rose to claim it again.
That knowledge burned a new fire inside him—hotter, crueler than before.
One night, beneath the twin moons, Dreadixz raised his hand and vowed:
"I will find that Key again. I will kill the Chosen Ones before they can touch it. And then... I finish what I started."
Madness gleamed in his eyes, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
"Because the boss said so."
Power's voice dropped as he finished. "That's why Dreadixz and the Lunaranites want the Key. Vengeance. Power. Control."
I lowered my gaze. "Dang... I get it now."
Suddenly, the cave trembled. The ground groaned beneath our feet. Rocks rattled and fell around us.
We bolted out, adrenaline snapping through our veins.
From the depths of the canyon, something stirred.
The wind screamed. The earth cracked and split.
"WATCH OUT!" I yelled, leaping back.
Everyone scattered as the ground ruptured, revealing a river of glowing lava below.
Then—oh no.
From the molten river rose a massive lava golem, its rocky body veined with molten orange fire. Its eyes blazed with fury as it let out a monstrous roar—a terrifying blend of T-Rex and Leviathan.
I drew my daggers, heart pounding.
"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!" Olsen shouted.
I narrowed my eyes.
"That's Scar. Thought we killed him. Guess we forgot—he can evolve."
The titan loomed over us, bigger than any skyscraper in New York, a living volcano of rage and molten power.
Celestial energy sparked across my skin, crackling like lightning in a storm.
"Let's just hope we survive this fight..." I muttered.
"FIGHT? DON, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" Olsen screeched. "That thing is massive! And we're nowhere near full power!"
I turned, fire blazing in my eyes.
"Olsen... we're the Five Chosen Ones. That means we do whatever it takes to fulfill the prophecy. All of it. If we die, we die. But I'm not backing down. We beat this guy... or we die trying."
Olsen blinked, then smirked. "Then let's kick some magma butt."
Without hesitation, we all launched ourselves at Scar. I whipped out my Celestial Daggers, adrenaline pumping through my veins.
The monster let out a roar so loud it cracked the skies. Then—BOOM—he fired a lava beam straight at us.
I screamed into the wind, determination in every breath. We charged forward—
And just as we reached his arms, he slammed them down like thunder.
But Power was already on it. He flew above me like a meteor and punched the lava right out of Scar's arm! Rocks exploded in every direction. He then zipped to Scar's face like a bullet and landed two massive punches right into his skull. The beast roared in pain.
I launched into the air, wings spread wide, dodging magma blasts like some kind of galactic fly. Olsen slammed his hammer into the ground, triggering a quake.
"NICE ONE!" I shouted from above. But then—WHAM!—Scar grabbed me in one of his massive, crusty lava hands and flung me toward a blazing mountain.
Before I could even yell, Power zoomed in, grabbed me mid-air, spun around, and yeeted me like a celestial cannonball.
"GO GET 'EM, BOY!" he yelled.
I landed hard on Scar's arm, the heat nearly cooking me alive. The rocks were huge and hot, and he was about to squash me with the other arm—until Prince flew in, lightning crackling off his wings.
He snagged me with electric tendrils and hurled me toward the beast's face.
I charged up every ounce of energy I had.
"CELESTIAL DEVASTATION!!"
I crashed my fists into Scar's face, unleashing a massive celestial shockwave that made the skies ripple.
Falling fast, I braced for impact—until Archie, in his full Phoenix Beast form, swooped in and caught me on his back.
"Thanks for the lift!" I shouted. He nodded and zoomed past Scar, unloading fireballs like a blazing machine gun.
I stood on his back. "GO!" Archie called. I jumped off and soared with my wings again, landing on Scar's raised arm.
I stabbed my daggers in and started skiing down his arm like a legend. Lava burst from his wounds like soda from a shaken bottle. I reached his shoulder and leapt into the air, daggers crossed, celestial energy flaring.
"TAKE THIS!" I slashed through his face like a cosmic shooting star.
Landing on his other arm, I started skiing backwards this time, pulling off a slick drift. "Huh, guess you're not that powerful after all," I smirked.
Then somehow, the beast flung me off into the air. I was now falling, flailing my arms as I looked down from the sky.
Then I remembered the chains.
"CELESTIAL CHAINS, ACTIVATE!" I yelled mid-air.
Nothing. I was falling fast, clothes flapping, energy tendrils whipping in the wind.
"JUST AIM AT SOMETHING!" Power shouted.
"HOW DO I AIM?!" I yelled back.
"DUNNO—JUST POINT!"
So I pointed at a mountain. The chains fired like missiles and dragged me to the top. Scar tried swiping at me, but I was too fast.
Standing on the summit, I turned to Scar and—yes—I started dancing.
"Come on, Scarry Scar! You want this?! Shake that tail!"
Scar was NOT amused. He screamed, slapped the mountain, and lava exploded everywhere. I went flying into the air with chunks of molten rock chasing me.
"HELP!" I shouted.
Scar caught me midair and slammed me through a whole mountain.
I tumbled with the collapsing rocks, pain ripping through every bone.
"DON!" Prince yelled.
Olsen rushed over, pulling boulders off me. I was out cold.
Blood everywhere. My tail dimmed to deep blue.
I gasped, "We're in trouble…"
Scar began charging a lava beam at us. A glowing sphere formed in his hands.
"We might as well lose now…"
"WHAT?!" Olsen shouted. "NO! WE'RE NOT GIVING UP!"
He grabbed my shoulder, shaking me.
"Remember what you said?! 'It's do or die!' Well, Don—you promised do, not die. You've lost again and again—and you still stand up! Why? Because you're YOU! You're the Chosen One! You have the most powerful element! The most insane skills! You are Lens Don Theagene!!!"
I smiled faintly.
"…Right."
Archie lowered me to the ground. I forced myself up, gripping my arm. Energy began to crackle…
I drew my Celestial Daggers tight, took a deep breath, and locked eyes with Scar.
No flashy transformation. Just pure focus and grit.
I charged.
Dodging molten rocks, I danced around his massive claws. My daggers flashed, slicing through cracks in his lava armor. I jabbed and stabbed, weaving through his fiery strikes.
Then I saw my moment.
I leapt up and plunged my dagger deep into his molten face.
Scar screamed—then lost his balance.
With a final push, I sent him plunging into the lava river below.
A huge plume of steam and flame shot up, lighting the sky.
The heat rolled over us like a wave.
I dropped to my knees, exhausted but victorious.
My friends gathered around, mouths agape.
Archie finally broke the silence.
"Don… that was… amazing."
I threw my hands up, grinning wide.
"YEAH, I KNOW RIGHT?! I TOOK DOWN MY FIRST ENEMY!"
My tail glowed yellow and wagged like crazy.
"I GOT MY FIRST WIN! I GOT MY FIRST WIN! OH-OH-AH! OH-OH-AH!"
I started dancing like an idiot.
"Doo doo do do do dooo—GOT MY FIRST WIN, YEAH!!"
Olsen smacked his forehead.
"Dude. You almost got cooked."
Power stepped up, arms crossed, shaking his head but impressed.
"How did you manage all that without a transformation? Those moves—where'd they come from? Everyone else is still in Beast Form."
I scratched the back of my head, grinning sheepishly.
"Well… back in my 5th year at Celestia Elementary, I did a ton of prep. Intense training. I didn't think I had that kind of power yet—I just wanted to look cool. Also, my old teacher called it the KX Transformation, but I don't really use it. It kinda hurts when I do."
Demaurion squinted.
"Man, that sounds like a stretch."
I laughed.
"I'm serious! It just happened 'cause I was feeling it."
Prince whistled.
"Okay okay, I ain't gonna lie… that was some anime protagonist stuff, bro."
Archie pulled out the map.
"We're just a few hours from the Gadian Sea Kingdom. Better move before a lava shark shows up."
I raised my fists.
"GADIAN SEA KINGDOM, LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!!"