All five of us landed on the jagged ground, shaking off the impact as we stood. I glanced around, taking in the strange surroundings. It wasn't until a long steel dagger suddenly fell from the sky, its pointed tip embedding itself into the earth, that I realized how unusual this place truly was. Slowly, I approached the dagger for a closer inspection.
It was a double-edged blade, entirely made of steel, with a light purple hue and curving edges. The top had jagged, sharp points, and celestial energy flowed through the center. I picked it up carefully. Before I could fully process what I was holding, another dagger fell from the sky. I grabbed that one too, tucking both into my pocket.
The sky above was a sickly red and orange, with the sun barely peeking through. Jagged rock formations, black, orange, and crimson, stretched across the valley, molten magma carving fiery veins through the landscape. Turning around, I spotted a cliff in the distance. I ran toward the edge and looked down to find a glowing, steaming river of lava flowing below.
A massive canyon stretched as far as I could see. It was colossal—around 10,598 feet long. I quickly ran to the other edges of the cliffs, scanning the horizon. The canyon stretched endlessly, a massive, chaotic landscape. The rocks were hard, dusty, and dark crimson, with cracks from which molten lava flowed slowly. The scene was one of devastation—burnt trees, lava waterfalls, and flames devouring everything in sight. Towering mountains loomed over the entire canyon.
The air was thick with smoke and a hazy fog. The temperature was scorching, pushing at least 95°F. The flames crackled loudly, their sounds so intense they could be heard from miles away. The river of lava hissed and popped as it moved. And then, a realization hit me.
Welcome to Scarletsville—the first stage of our journey.
Turning to the others, I ran toward them, sweat beginning to bead down my face. They were all silently observing the eerie landscape, their expressions filled with uncertainty. Truth be told, I wasn't feeling great about being here either.
This place had once been a grand kingdom, but now it stood as a chaotic, desolate wasteland.
The howling wind added to the ambiance, carrying the smoky air with it, scorching the land in its wake.
Olsen blinked a few times and turned to me. "What happened here? And why are we even here?"
Demaurion drew his Water Trident, eyeing the area suspiciously. "I don't know, but it looks pretty deserted."
I walked on, my boots making clicking noises against the ground, then stopped at the cliff's edge to survey the canyon below. The sky turned deeper shades of orange, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.
We all sat in silence, taking in the grim beauty of Scarletsville. I stared out at the vast, chaotic landscape and asked, "Does anyone know why we're here?"
Archie, pulling out his Flaming Daggers, glanced at me. "The prophecy…"
The others turned their gazes toward me, their faces filled with confusion. They gathered around, and I pulled out the scroll that had fallen from the sky.
"I think Dark Don gave this to us when we entered the portal. I'm not sure why, but I have a feeling it's important. The prophecy probably has something to do with us."
Prince, electricity crackling around him, raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
I slowly unfurled the scroll and began to read aloud:
"Celestial's Fight, Earth's Might, Lightning's Surge, Water's Merge, Flame's Burns.
Five must find the Lost Key, for it is the only thing known for defeating the Lunaranites.
The five must travel across all Elemental Continents, defeat their worst enemies, and grow stronger as they journey on.
If they do not find it, the Celestianites will fall. And if the Celestianites fall, the Lunaranites will prevail, and the world of Avangard will crumble to dust."
"See? It's talking about us. We have to fight the worst enemies in each continent, and if we don't find the Lost Key together, Avangard will be doomed."
I flipped the scroll over, revealing a map labeled "The Map of Avangard." There was a red dot marking our location—right in the northwestern region of Scarletsville. I noticed a small flap under "Celestial's Fight" and opened it. A sentence inside read, "Fight all of the beasts in Avangard, including Dreadixz, to become the next leader of the Celestianites."
I stared at the map, piecing things together. "This prophecy isn't just about finding the Lost Key—it's about completing individual side quests for each Element. And after each quest, we have to find the Lost Key. I get it now."
My eyes widened as I continued to examine the map. "Wait a second… this isn't good."
"What's wrong?" Olsen asked, taking out his Hammer of Earth.
I tapped my finger on our location. "We're in the NORTHWESTERN REGION OF SCARLETVILLE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?!" I shouted.
The others looked confused at first, then their eyes widened in realization.
"OH, SHOOT!" Archie yelled. "WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!"
But it was too late. The ground began to rumble, the sound of quaking earth drawing nearer. Lava spurted into the air, and a massive explosion echoed in the distance, loud enough to be heard in Iris Town.
Then came the stampede. A horde of Magma Golems and Phoenixes charged toward us, shaking the ground with each step. Lava spilled from their bodies as they moved.
My dragon ears twitched, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. My instincts kicked in just in time as a figure dashed toward me, sword raised.
I dodged the attack, sliding back across the ground, and found myself facing none other than King Scar.
Clad in shiny, scarlet knight armor with jagged edges and towering spikes, he was an imposing sight. His blazing orange eyes burned through the face shield, and his sword—black and red, glowing with flames—sizzled in the air. His footsteps were heavy, like thunder with each movement.
He looked me over and sneered. "Why are you wandering through my wasteland? This place is meant for the beasts that rule it… not for your kind."
"I'm Lens Don, a Celestianite, and part of the Lost Key Prophecy," I said with a smirk. "I'm here to defeat the most dangerous enemy of Scarletville and fulfill the prophecy."
King Scar glanced down, then back at me, a grim smile creeping across his face. "Right…"
"Well, come on, kid," he said, his voice cold.
Confused, I stood my ground. "What do you mean?"
He sighed and snarled. "I'm the most dangerous enemy."
"WAIT, WHAT?!" Olsen shouted from behind.
Scar didn't waste any time. He threw a dagger at Olsen's arm. It struck, and blood poured from the wound.
"OLSEN!" I shouted.
The others were quick to react, preparing to fight. I faced the stampeding beasts, then turned back to Scar. Determined, I called to my team, "We need to hurry—if we don't stop him, we'll be nothing but dust!"
Scar rushed at me, swinging his flaming sword. I barely managed to backpedal, pulling out my Celestial Daggers in response. We clashed, his sword meeting my blades in a shower of sparks. But Scar was relentless, swinging again.
I dodged, flipping over him just as he fired a "FLAME BURST!" that sent me flying. I hit the ground hard but wasn't finished yet.
Channeling celestial energy, I shot toward him, moving at blinding speed. I slashed him repeatedly with my daggers, leaving red marks on his armor.
Finally, I stopped, and Scar staggered, clearly wounded. I charged forward again, more celestial energy crackling around me, and transformed into pure energy to uppercut him with all my might.
The others leapt into the fray. Olsen slammed his Hammer into Scar, sending him flying. Archie launched himself toward the sky, using fiery explosions to propel him higher. He then dove down, tackling Scar to the ground. But Scar was ready, pinning Archie down and preparing to punch him.
That was when Demaurion unleashed a massive tsunami of water, dragging Scar away. Prince, now in his Lightning Bird form, zoomed toward the king, electrifying the air with every dive. Finally, as the water from the tsunami receded, Scar was left vulnerable.
Prince slammed into him, sending a shockwave of electricity that knocked everyone back. I dashed behind Scar, landing quick celestial slashes that he blocked. Olsen took his chance, delivering a massive punch to Scar's back, and I finished with a celestial sidekick to his face, sending him flying.
Scar quickly regained his footing, but Prince was above him, firing electrifying bullets. Scar blocked with his arm, but Olsen tackled him, and they both rolled down a steep hill. The slope led directly into the Lava River.
"WATCH OUT, OLSEN!" I shouted as the two of them tumbled uncontrollably.
They crashed into rocks, flying off the hill. Olsen quickly summoned an earth pillar and sent it crashing into Scar, sending him plummeting into the molten lava below.
As Scar struggled to stay afloat, he shouted, "OH, I'M COMING BACK, YOU KIDS!"
We watched as he sank into the lava, his last breath bubbling through the molten liquid.
I turned to Olsen, who was climbing up the hill. "You okay?" I reached out, helping Olsen to his feet as he brushed off the dust from his hoodie.
"I didn't know we were that powerful," he muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Neither did I," I replied, glancing back at the aftermath of our battle. The beast stampede was nothing more than a memory now. "But since we just took down the most 'dangerous' enemy in the area, I think it's safe to say we're ready for the next challenge."
"This prophecy's gonna be a breeze!" Archie chimed in, his usual grin stretching across his face. The wind howled around us, whipping through the air, and the distant sound of lava bubbling sounded more like a thick, sluggish sludge. The ground had finally stopped rumbling beneath our feet.
I took a slow step back toward the top of the hill. The chaos was gone, and there was no sign of any more creatures charging at us.
"Well," I said, turning back to face the group, "I guess we should get moving."
We began walking, the journey continuing through the canyon of Scarletsville. The heat was unrelenting, but the wind had slowed to a more bearable pace. The sky above us was painted in hues of deep red and orange, as if the sunset itself had decided to stay suspended in time. The valley we walked through was flat and barren, the ground cracked and uneven beneath our boots.
We passed by massive hills, each one towering with rugged red mountains streaked with veins of molten lava. The river we crossed was nothing but a coal-covered rockslide, the blackened stones slipping underfoot. Everywhere we looked, molten waterfalls poured from the mountains like the earth itself was weeping. The entire landscape was a surreal mix of destruction and beauty, as though it had been frozen in a state of perpetual devastation.
We made our way through what used to be the Kingdom of Scarletsville. The ruins told a story of what was once a proud kingdom, now reduced to smoldering ashes. House debris still burned, some of it long turned to coal, blackened and solidified by the endless flames. The ruins were surrounded by a ring of lava, a barrier that marked the boundary between what had been and what was now nothing but a wasteland.
As we pressed on, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the landscape in shadows. The vibrant red sky faded into darkness, and the first stars began to twinkle, scattered across the heavens like distant memories. The moon hung low, casting an eerie silver light over the desolation.
Everything around us was swallowed by night, the kind of darkness you'd expect to find in the desert at midnight. The silence that fell over the group felt heavy, as though the earth itself was holding its breath.
"I'm starting to think this place is even scarier when the sun's gone," Archie said, breaking the quiet. He looked around, squinting into the darkness. "It's getting late, and I'm seriously starting to feel the exhaustion. How about we find a place to crash for the night? We can hit the road again tomorrow, fresh and ready to tackle the next part of the prophecy."
I turned to him, nodding slowly. "Sounds good. We'll rest, then move on."
As we continued walking, Olsen—ever the one to think ahead—spotted a small cave nestled into the side of a rocky hill. It was a perfect fit for all of us.
The cave was pitch black, darker than the night outside. Everyone shifted into their magical beast forms, each of us taking up a spot in the cool, dark space. I sat at the entrance, my wings folded around me like a blanket. From here, I could still see the sky above, a canvas of stars stretching endlessly across the heavens. The crescent-shaped moon hung like a guardian in the sky, bathing the world in its soft glow.
Olsen, now in his Rockslide Ankylosaurus form, lay down on his belly, his massive frame taking up a good portion of the cave. He turned his head to me, a thoughtful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You ever notice how Scarletsville looks kind of beautiful at night, but in the day… well, it's a whole different story?"
"Yeah, it's like two different worlds. We'll probably find out more about that tomorrow." I leaned back, wrapping my wings around myself, feeling the warmth of my own body radiate as I snuggled into the folds of my wings. My tail curled around my waist, and with a final glance at the moonlit sky, I closed my eyes and let sleep claim me.