The dragons soared through a storm of wild rain and thunder, lightning cracking across the midnight sky.
The heavens above were drowned in shifting grays, pouring down in sheets that pelted the forest below. Trees swayed.
The ground churned into mud. Every drop echoed like footsteps of chaos. High above, Starla and Scorch beat their wings against the storm, weaving through the rain as flashes of light lit their path. They were fleeing—fast. After that last attack, they knew Dreadixz would be coming for them.
It was only a matter of time. Starla's ears twitched. She looked down through the curtain of rain and thick leaves. "Let's hide in the forest," she called to Scorch over the roar of thunder. "They won't find us there." Without hesitation, they dove toward the trees. The wind clawed at them as they sliced through the canopy, landing in the thick, muddy underbrush. They checked their surroundings quickly, scanning the shadows for danger. "I think we're good,"
Starla said. "I'll shift into human form." Her body shimmered with glowing light as she morphed. The beast form faded, revealing her base form—more humanlike, but still holding key features. Her wings remained, smaller now, still elegant. Her tail twitched behind her. Her horns curled slightly over her blond hair, now streaked with indigo markings. The only thing that changed completely... was her eyes. Once golden, now a piercing sky-blue. Scorch gave her a side-glance, his expression silently asking, What now? Starla adjusted her violet and navy jacket, stepping cautiously through the brush. Then she froze. "You hear that?" she whispered, eyes narrowing. A sound echoed through the forest—low, guttural, not human. A scream, almost... but not quite. Something more primal. Scorch instantly stepped in front of her, fire simmering in his throat. He growled, ready to ignite anything that moved. The scream rang out again. Without exchanging a word, the two pushed forward through branches and soaked leaves, following the sound. The forest began to thin out as they arrived at the Rufty Mountains. Towering peaks loomed around them, walls of jagged gray stone stretching into the stormy sky. The mountains stood like ancient giants, silent and cold. Between them was a wide canyon floor littered with broken rocks, stubborn plants, and old leaves swirling in the wind. Then the scream echoed again—closer. They ran toward the center of the pass. But suddenly, something sharp whistled through the air. Thwip! A dagger hurtled toward them. Scorch's reflexes kicked in. He snatched the blade between his jaws and dropped it to the ground with a metallic clang. They looked down at it. A steel dagger, double-edged, coated in flickering violet energy that shimmered with celestial power. Blood stained its handle—dark brown, dried in streaks. Not much. Whoever used it had done most of the damage with fists, not blades. But before they could speak— Starla looked up. Her eyes went wide. Lying at the base of one of the mountains... was a body. A massive one. A Drake—the legendary beast of Rufty Mountain. Dead. Its body was stone-like, rocky scales cracked and stained with blood. Its jagged tail curled lifelessly around it. Sharp horns jutted from its head. No teeth in its mouth, but its stone jaws had triangular ridges sharp enough to bite through steel. A dagger was still embedded in its neck, driven deep through the thick stone armor. Blood gushed around it. Another spear, made of hardened earth, pierced clean through its throat and stood anchored into the ground. Starla covered her mouth, stumbling back in horror. Even at twelve... this was too much. "I—I think it's time we go," she whispered, her voice shaking. But just as they turned— Snap. Dark indigo chains burst from the air and wrapped around them, yanking both into the sky. Celestial bindings twisted around their limbs, suspending them midair. Scorch roared, flailing and snarling, his tail whipping wildly. Fire poured from his mouth uncontrollably. He was going feral. Then—someone dropped from the sky. A figure landed on the ground with a heavy thud, mud splashing around his boots. Starla strained to get a better look. He wore a dark, battle-ravaged suit—once a hero's uniform, now torn and stained with blood and dirt. His dragon-like mask was cracked, crooked, nearly falling off. A fresh wound leaked blood from beneath it, trickling from his right eye. His left eye burned with dark purple celestial energy. One of his wings was completely gone. The other—barely functional—dragged behind him, riddled with scars. A tattered, dark violet cape hung from his shoulders, swaying with each step. His gloves were shredded, resembling claws more than fabric. His boots were falling apart. In the center of his chest, etched in bold black ink, were two letters in Trade Winds: KX. "HEY! What's the big idea?!" Starla snapped, struggling against the chains. The figure didn't speak. He just looked at her—tilted his head—and snapped his fingers. The chains vanished. They hit the ground hard, coughing, but free. Scorch growled, stepping forward, flames simmering again—but Starla held out a hand. "Wait…" She stared at the figure. Something about him… was familiar. "What's your name? And… did you kill that beast?" The boy coughed once, voice low and tired. "I'm Don," he said. "But I guess... I'll be Scourge Don forever now." He turned away and began to walk, dragging his steps through the mud. Before he got far, he side-eyed Starla with a glare that could kill. "Who do you claim to be?" Starla held her ground. "I'm Starla. Princess of Celestia. And you're Don, right? One of the Chosen Ones? I heard about you. I just… didn't expect you to be like this." Don shrugged. "Whatever." He kept walking, the darkness seeming to follow him. Starla watched him fade into the storm. Something stirred in her chest—something confusing, something… strange. She didn't understand it yet. But she knew one thing: That might've been the first… and last time she'd ever see one of the Chosen Ones again. And he was nothing like she imagined. Daysni zipped through the air in her ghost form, phasing through hanging rocks and dripping stalactites while Lonnie Mae gazed silently out the cave entrance. The storm outside flashed white-hot lightning across the sky. Meanwhile, Keyler dangled upside down from the ceiling, lazily swaying by his spider-silk threads. Everyone else stayed tucked deep inside the cave, tense and quiet. Hiding. From what? From Dark Don. From Incarceration. From Dreadixz. From whatever the Lunaranites decided to throw at them next. It was only a matter of time before one of those monsters sniffed them out. And worse—worse than all of that—were The Illegals. Unstoppable. Unmatched. And lately... unleashed. "Why were the Illegals even released?" someone finally asked. Sophia stood slowly, casting a glance around the dim firelit chamber. The small flame in the corner flickered under the draft of thunder outside. She eyed the cave's mouth—storm clouds thick and angry. "They're the Illegals," she muttered. "They shouldn't even be in this war." "They're supposed to stay locked in Foreshade. That forest is forbidden for a reason…" Her voice trailed off as her thoughts spiraled. Ella had told her about Incarceration's twisted grip on Don. But something about it didn't sit right anymore. What if it wasn't just about breaking him? "What if Incarceration doesn't just want to manipulate Don?" Sophia said aloud. "What if he needs him for something bigger... something beyond just taking over Avangard?" The group fell silent, blinking at her. Then suddenly—laughter. "Bro, what?" Keyler cackled, falling from his web and landing in a giggling heap. "He already broke Don. What more do you think he wants? That guy is the Lunaranites!" Anhia scoffed. "Let him keep Don. Not like we need him anymore." Silence. The laughter cut like a snapped string. Everyone turned to Anhia with that same deadpan "Seriously?" stare. "What?!" she snapped. "Am I the only one thinking straight? Daysni, back me up?" Daysni shook her head, smirking. "Nah. If Don's gone, who else am I gonna annoy besides Olsen?" Then—click. The sound of a gun cocking. William had his white Valorent blaster aimed dead center at Anhia's cheek. "Yup. I say we shoot her." "WHOA WHOA WHOA!" Javier yelled, throwing his hands up. "Let's not start murdering people. That's—like—super illegal. And violent! And messed up!" Kwa'asja raised a paw. "Anyone got leaves? Or vines? I'm starving." Lonnie Mae sighed and summoned a thick green vine from the cave floor. One as wide as a fridge. It swayed like it had a mind of its own. Kwa'asja morphed into her armadillo form and chomped it like it was a burrito. Meanwhile, Kai the Hric was pacing frantically, wings twitching. His friend—his other half—had turned against them under Incarceration's influence. He slumped to the floor, head down. Emely gently patted his shoulder. "He'll come back," she said. "I know he will." Sophia exhaled and clapped her hands once. "Alright. Focus up. Hear me out." "Incarceration isn't just trying to use Don—he's trying to betray the Lunaranites. Just like he did with the Zeniths." Fedjina raised an eyebrow, wings stretching wide. "So what, he's gonna argue with King Dreadixz and dip?" "No," said Angel, his owl-form feathers glinting violet and blue. "I think Sophia means something deeper than that." Sophia nodded, fists clenched. "Exactly. What if Incarceration wants to rule Avangard—not for Dreadixz. For himself. Maybe not even all of Avangard... maybe just Foreshade." Her eyes burned with certainty now. "Think about it. He doesn't serve anyone. Never has. When he tricked Don into turning into coal, where was Dreadixz then? When Don killed the Hydra, it didn't even come back. You think Dreadixz signed off on that? No. That was Incarceration's move. This was his plan the whole time—and we played into it." She took a breath. "When me, Ella, Olsen, and Javier were in hiding… we saw it. Don and the fliers got ambushed by Lunaranites. But I saw a shadow—someone perched on one of the Lunaranites. I ignored it… thought it was a trick of the light. But it wasn't." She looked at each of them, voice trembling. "Incarceration jumped off that Lunaranite's back. Punched Don straight into the dirt. Sent him flying." "And when Don landed in Eclitsic—he thought he helped people. Jocabed and Emely even said he did. But it wasn't real. It was a dream." "Incarceration made him sleep with the Nightmare Element. He crafted a dream to make Don think he was winning. But he wasn't. It was all fake." She paused, letting it all settle. "Incarceration's playing a long game. And when he's full of pride? He'll burn the Lunaranites down to take the throne himself." Mason—silent till now—stood up slowly, dropping his half-eaten doughnut to the cave floor. "Then we find him." His voice sharpened with resolve. "And we bring Don back. No matter what." Sophia stepped out of the cave, the storm welcoming her with a roar. Rain poured down in curtains. Lightning streaked across the sky. Thunder cracked like a war drum. And for the first time in a while… someone finally moved with purpose. Lightning split the sky as rain hammered the battlefield deep in the heart of Grolian Forest. Thunder cracked overhead, echoing the ferocity of the battle below. Claws slashed, metal clanged, and screams pierced the storm. Ella leapt onto Rusty's back, her claws ripping through his hide as he roared beneath her. Nearby, Olsen tore into Dark Olsen's reinforced legs, biting and striking with primal rage. High above them, the sky became a battleground of its own. Prince and Dark Prince—also known as King—raced through the storm like twin bolts of lightning. Rain poured as they zigzagged across the clouds, each one a blur of elemental power. Prince's feathers sparked with live current, his speed unmatched, but Dark Prince trailed arcs of magnetic electricity behind him, like a comet of pure voltage. They collided in midair with a deafening boom, shockwaves tearing through the stormclouds. Lightning danced around them as Prince streaked forward, slamming into King with a crushing beak-strike, then diving toward the earth like a meteor. Their impact lit up the forest in a massive electrical explosion that knocked over trees and split the ground. Both warriors morphed back to their regular forms. Prince rose first, spun, and landed a blinding punch to King's jaw. Blood flew from King's mouth as he stumbled back, snarling. Prince launched forward, punching King's gut with a charged attack that hurled him across the forest floor. King flipped and skidded, then locked eyes with Prince. He began charging up, magnetic electricity crackling and coiling around him like a snake. He lifted his arms, shouting, "TAKE THIS!" and fired bolts of magnetism from his fingers, faster than bullets. Prince was caught in the blast, electricity dancing across his body. King blitzed him from all angles, appearing and vanishing with each strike, his fists a blur. With a final, monstrous punch, he sent Prince flying through trees and brush. As King prepared to finish it, his magnetic energy dragged the battlefield behind him—trees, vines, debris all following his motion like possessed objects. Prince saw it all coming. He clenched his fists. "Magnetic surge, huh? Do better." Electricity surged through him. His hair lit up, a blue glow spreading across his body as his form began to shift. Electricity spiraled around him in tighter and tighter coils until he erupted in a flash of raw power. Prince wasn't just glowing—he was electricity now. He had become something else. Something more. He had become Voltron. His fists crackled with energy. His eyes glowed with intensity. A V etched into his left eye, a P in the right. Voltron Prince had arrived. "You know what's funny?" he smirked. "Let's take this to the next level." King roared, electricity bursting from him as he matched the transformation. "If there's a Voltron, there's a Xoltron. COME ON, BABY!" They clashed, lightning streaking from the impact, their shockwaves shaking the very earth. The battle became a blur of fists, sparks, and fury. They punched, dodged, soared through the storm, clashing like titans. Voltron soared up, then dove, catching King in tendrils of lightning. Spinning into a vortex, he launched him into the ground with a move called, "50 THUNDEROUS SEASONS!" The explosion shook the forest, a geyser of light and energy erupting into the stormy sky. Voltron landed beside the smoldering crater and struck again with a crackling uppercut. "VOLTRON'S PROMISE!" King rocketed into the air. Voltron followed with a punch to the gut so powerful it shattered the air. Then, in a blur of motion, Voltron vanished and reappeared around King, striking from every direction like a barrage of thunderbolts. Then came the final strike. A scream cut through the storm: "THE THIRD CHOSEN ONE!" The world exploded with light. Dark Prince slammed into the ground, bleeding and broken. Voltron stood above him, triumphant. "Ooh," he said with a cocky grin. "I thought things were about to get wild. What happened?" King struggled to his feet, smirking through blood. Prince's expression hardened. "You know," he said, walking forward slowly, "I used to wonder what kind of world we'd live in if none of this ever happened. If we were just... normal. But this—this is what we were chosen for. I get it now." Suddenly, the forest grew quiet. A slow, rhythmic clanking echoed through the rain-drenched battlefield. Everyone froze. Prince turned. Emerging from the trees was a figure bathed in violet aura. A Zenith. His body shimmered like an animated silhouette, glowing eyes locked onto Prince. In his hand: all the Power Gems. On his arm: a futuristic, steel-armored watch pulsing with power. The Zenith dropped the Gems and smirked. "Well," he said coolly, "if it isn't the lovely heroic crew." He turned to the Illegals, who had also stopped fighting. "You guys can go on. I'll take care of them." Prince clenched his fists, eyes darting toward the mysterious figure standing beneath the dark sky. "Who the heck are you?!" The figure tilted his head, smug. "I don't know… maybe you'll find out." He snapped his fingers. Suddenly, eleven Lunaranites burst from the trees like shadows made flesh. The storm above slowly faded, the rain easing to a misty drizzle—but the clouds still churned, black and menacing. The crew instinctively backed into a tight formation, tension spiking. The Lunaranites surrounded them with cold precision, weapons drawn, locking every angle. There was no way out. The figure stood calmly in the middle, purple energy crackling and pulsing around a floating orb at his hands. It whirred like a charged motor, glowing in deep violet hues. He didn't even touch it—the orb just spun and hovered, dancing between his fingers like it was alive. He smirked, baring razor-sharp teeth that gleamed under the silver light of the moon. Everyone was sweating bullets. Olsen could barely keep upright. "Oh, awesome! Lunaranites in every corner! Perfect! Just what I needed after getting slammed by a metal brachiosaurus tail!" Archie glared. "WHO EVEN ARE YOU?!" The figure raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… you're thinking about running, huh." The crew froze. Because that's exactly what they were thinking. The figure's voice dropped into a teasing growl. "The little Earth guy's even thinking about eating rocks." "HEY! YOU CAN'T JUST—THAT'S A VIOLATION OF PRIVACY!" Olsen snapped, wide-eyed. The figure shrugged. "Oh well." He clenched the orb tightly in one hand. The Power Gems suddenly lit up with a dark violet glow and started to levitate. Ella gasped, looking up. "What are you doing?! Leave them alone!" From the earth, glowing purple chains erupted like snakes and wrapped around the crew—fast. They bound arms, legs, even torsos. Some dropped to their knees, others struggled to stay standing. Demaurion went feral, roaring like a true Leviathan. He thrashed, bit down on the chains with his fangs, but nothing gave. Everyone fought to break free—but it was no use. The figure laughed, deep and cold. "You're all hopeless. Take 'em in, boys." He glanced up. "Power Gems… scatter." The gems shot into the sky like missiles, reaching the clouds—then suddenly split off, vanishing in all directions like stars flung from a dying sun. "No—NO!" Prince yelled, straining against the chains. "NOT THE POWER GEMS!" Lunaranites soared through the air, diving back to the ground like deadly hawks with spears raised. They landed with eerie silence, weapons aimed straight at the crew's hearts. Eli didn't speak. He just kept struggling against the chains, silent and furious. Then—Vironos turned to the figure, grinning. "Thanks for your part. Now finish the job. We're heading to Phase Two." The Illegals sprinted off, leaving the crew trapped with the stranger. And then—boom. Something heavy touched down. At all costs. A towering shadow stepped forward. It was him. "DREADIXZ!" the entire crew roared in unison, voices filled with horror. They were surrounded. Eleven Lunaranites. Chains. A mysterious figure. And now… Dreadixz himself, wings folded behind his back like a fallen god. His grin was monstrous. "You know, Krane," Dreadixz said, turning to the orb-wielding figure, "there's a reason I hired you. And you delivered." Demaurion thrashed harder. "LET US GO BEFORE I RIP YOUR HEAD OFF, YOU SON OF A—!" Dreadixz raised a hand casually. "Woah, woah, woah. No need to get hasty, my friend. We're just taking you to a little place called… Foreshade." His voice oozed menace. And in that moment—just from that name alone—the crew knew... They were already doomed.