Ren, Sakayanagi, Shigan, Kaelen, and Raidon settled into the journey. Though their destination was the Thunder Skies, the crew had time to breathe, something they hadn't truly done since their quest began.
As they drifted through the sky, Shigan leaned against the ship's railing, watching the endless blue stretch before them. "Feels weird, doesn't it?" he muttered.
"What does?" Sakayanagi asked, flipping a small blue flame between her fingers.
"This whole adventure. We've been running, fighting, nearly dying… but we never just existed, y'know?"
Ren remained quiet, staring at the horizon. Deep down, he knew what Shigan meant. His entire life had been about moving forward, surviving, getting stronger. But what happens when you pause?
Kaelen, ever the realist, cut in. "Well, enjoy it while it lasts. We don't know what's ahead, but I doubt it's anything easy."
Raidon smirked. "That's the spirit. But don't get too comfortable. The skies are vast, and not everything in them is friendly."
As if on cue, the ship jolted.
"What was that?" Ren snapped his head up, scanning the sky.
A deep rumbling noise echoed around them, followed by an unnatural silence. Then— BOOM! A massive gust of wind slammed into the ship from above, nearly knocking everyone off balance.
"Something's up there!" Raidon shouted, gripping the ship's controls.
From the swirling clouds above, a colossal sky serpent slithered out, its long, ethereal body shimmering like mist and lightning combined.
"The Storm Warden," Kaelen whispered. "A guardian of the skies… They say it only appears to those who disturb the balance."
Sakayanagi's flames flickered erratically. "So what, did we do something wrong?"
Ren's eyes locked onto the creature's piercing silver gaze. It wasn't attacking—at least, not yet. Instead, it circled them, watching, waiting.
Then, a voice—ancient, commanding—spoke into their minds.
"Travelers… you seek the Thunder Skies. You are unworthy."
Shigan clenched his fists. "Oh yeah? Who decides that? You?"
The Storm Warden roared, sending another violent gust of wind crashing into them.
"Prove yourselves. Or be cast down from the heavens."
The ship shook violently as storm clouds gathered around them, signaling the beginning of an aerial trial unlike anything they had faced before…
—To be continued…