It was a freezing, blistering night as we pushed up the mountain through an ice storm. Icicles rained from the sky like daggers, snapping and shattering on impact. The sky loomed dark and stormy, thick with gray clouds.
I was draped over Olsen's back, my body still encased in a shell of blackened coal. Jocabed led the way, hauling three bags—red, blue, and pink—each one packed with Power Gems. Ella carried Kai close to her chest.
The storm pelted us with ice so fast it seemed to fall at the speed of light. Every step up the steep, snowy slope was a battle. The cold was too intense for Angel to open a portal to the summit.
The ice cracked as it hit my coal-hardened skin, turning to water and slipping away. Thunder rolled across the sky, followed by bursts of lightning that stabbed the earth. Somehow, no one was hurt—yet.
"Hurry! We just need to reach the cave at the top—then we're at Mechamio for good!" Jocabed's voice cut through the storm.
Olsen turned to Archie, who was limping beside him. "You alright? Can you fly?"
Archie shook his head. "Still busted. Lightning took it out last time." He gestured to the white bandage wrapped around his singed wing—damage from our last run-in with the Lunaranites.
Jocabed looked back. "Everyone okay? Do we have everything?!"
"The storm's getting worse—I can feel it," she warned.
She wasn't wrong. The wind picked up, clouds racing, lightning bursting wildly across the sky.
"Is Don gonna be alright?" Ella asked, worry clear in her voice.
"He'll be fine," Jocabed replied. "The ice should crack the coal shell and free him."
We pressed forward through the blinding snow and bitter wind until we reached a shallow cave in the mountainside. Jagged barbs jutted from the walls, and a large circular stone blocked the far end.
Olsen set me down. Emely stepped forward, conjuring icicles and slamming them into my coal-covered body. Blow after blow—until the coal cracked.
Finally, I burst free, stretching out my arms. "About time! Thought I'd be coal forever."
Emely laughed. "You had to make an entrance. The prophecy waits for no one."
"No time for speeches!" Sophia snapped. "Get that rock out of the way—we move now."
"Got it!" I nodded.
But just as we turned to leave, I heard the sound of wings slicing through the storm. I looked up.
An army of Lunaranites soared through the sky.
I froze, then whipped around. "STELLAR'S BUNS! WE GOTTA MOVE—NOW!"
A massive Lunaranite spotted us and dove with a roar.
"SHOOT!" Archie yelled. "OLSEN, MOVE!"
More followed, firing shadow beams down from the sky. One hit the mountaintop, rocking the earth. Ice and stone shattered and flew in all directions.
"OLSEN, FASTER!" Javier shouted.
"I'M TRYING!" Olsen grunted, straining against the boulder.
A beam blasted the cave, hurling everyone back. Prince slammed into the wall with a loud THUMP and crumpled to the ground.
The Lunaranites closed in.
"I'LL TAKE THEM ON!" Archie roared, eyes blazing with red and orange flames.
"No—ARCHIE, WAIT!" I shouted, but he was already gone, a fiery trail streaking behind him.
He slammed into Dreadixz, gripping the creature's horns, trying to steer it. But Dreadixz roared, caught Archie in his jaws, and hurled him from the mountain.
"ARCHIE!!!" I screamed, racing to the edge.
Then, like a bolt to my skull—Incarceration's voice pierced my mind.
JOIN ME.
I snapped my head to the side, resisting the call. Celestial energy flared in my arms. I glared at Dreadixz, fury burning through my chest.
"COME AT ME, DREADIXZ!" I bellowed, louder than the storm.
I launched into the sky, fists glowing with celestial power. I slammed into Dreadixz with a punch so hard it echoed across the peaks.
The shockwave threw me back into the cave. I crashed beside Olsen and the rock—just in time.
Dreadixz shrieked in pain, a purple burn glowing along his jaw.
Before he could recover, Archie came out of nowhere—engulfed in flame.
"TAKE THIS, YOU PIECE OF MONSTROSITY!" he roared, punching Dreadixz square in the cheek.
The blast sent the beast spiraling through the storm like a flaming comet. His fall scattered the remaining Lunaranites like leaves in a whirlwind.
The explosion's shockwave cracked the boulder clean in half.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Olsen muttered.
Behind the broken stone—an exit. Mechamio awaited.
Blue skies. Calm winds. Peace.
"MOVE!" Demaurion shouted.
We rushed through the opening—and dropped.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Wind roared past our ears as we plummeted. We crashed onto cold metal just as the gates slammed shut above us.
FIVE HOURS LATER
I stirred, blinking at my surroundings.
We made it.
The sounds of ticking gears and shifting machinery filled the air. That old metallic scent was everywhere. We were in Mechamio—a sprawling mechanical metropolis of chrome and copper.
The sky above was blue, but everything else was gears, pipes, and pistons. Towering clock towers loomed above rusty buildings. Some gleamed silver. Others groaned with rust.
I realized I was standing on top of everyone else—still knocked out from the fall. I jumped off, landing on a metal bridge.
"So... time to fight the next beast," I muttered, adjusting my gloves.
But something bothered me. Dark Don's transformation—his black and purple scales replaced by moon-colored silver. According to the Lunaranite legends, only one could evolve into a Crystallized Lunaranite Dragon.
That one was him.
But why me? Why target me in the last battle?
And Incarceration… why did he whisper for me to kill my friends?
Back in Eclitsic, I didn't just think about it—it felt like I wanted to. Not an intrusive thought. Something deeper. Something darker.
What if it was all a trick? What if those memories and nightmares weren't real?
A soft hand landed on my shoulder. I turned. Power.
"Finally woke up?" he said.
I smiled. "Guess so. Everyone alright?"
"Yeah. You and Archie against Dreadixz? That was insane," Angel said, brushing off his hero suit.
"We're just that good," I shrugged. "Now we find the next beast, then it's on to the Grolian Forest. Then Rufty Mountains. Then Celestia. Then Foreshade."
Javier's back spikes flared. "Let's do this!"
Everyone began waking up and we crossed a long, silver bridge into the city.
Air hissed. Metal clanged. Mechamio never slept.
As we walked, a large, rusty sign caught my eye.
AVANGARD BATTLES CHAMPIONSHIP: CELESTIANITES VS MECHANITES!
STARTS 9:00 AM – ENDS 5:30 PM
I paused. Could the next beast be hiding in that arena?
"Hey, guys!" I called. "What if we enter the Avangard Battles? Maybe our next beast is in there!"
Prince zipped over, unimpressed. "Pointless."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'NO POINT'?!" I snapped.
"Obvious. Celestianites are stomping the Mechanites."
I scowled. "We're not here to watch—we're here to fight, you feather-brained idiot!"
Olsen chimed in. "Well, if we're watching, we should grab some of that 'bada bap ba baa'... I'm lovin' it."
"Olsen, stop. You already had rocks for breakfast," Archie muttered.
Suddenly, the bridge shook violently.
"What was that?!" I shouted, grabbing the rails.
The rumble grew louder. Then it appeared.
A colossal titan made entirely of stone. Covered in moss, horns of jagged rock, blocky limbs, glowing white eyes, and a spiked stone tail.
It stomped forward. The bridge groaned, then buckled.
"HOLD ON!" I screamed.
The titan roared again—and stomped.
The bridge cracked.
SNAP!
I lost my grip and fell.
"DON!" my crew shouted.
We all plummeted. The citizens below gasped.
But I wasn't done.
I fired celestial chains from my hands, snagging the edge of the snapped bridge. The crowd erupted in cheers—but the question still loomed.
How do we get down?
The titan peered over the edge, triumphant.
"ME KAYSON!!!" it bellowed.