A deafening scream ripped through the air as Kai was hurled through a swirling smoky force field, his body twisting uncontrollably in the void. The energy around him crackled, distorting space as he spiraled downward.
WHOOSH!
The portal's other end yawned open without warning, spitting him out with brutal force.
THUD!
Kai hit the ground hard, groaning as he sprawled over the cool earth. He lay still for a moment, catching his breath. Miraculously, he was unhurt.
With a grunt, he pushed himself up, dusted off his clothes, and took in his surroundings. A vast emerald-green landscape stretched before him—lush trees swayed gently, vibrant flowers bloomed in every direction, and butterflies flitted in golden sunlight.
Yet... something was wrong.
The air was too still. No chirping birds. No rustling of small creatures. No signs of life beyond the grass and trees.
A heavy silence pressed upon him.
A shiver ran down his spine.
"Where… am I?" he murmured.
Then, a voice.
A deep, dark voice.
"Welcome to the darkest place in the Land of Qush... 'Qumbra'."
The words slithered through the air, filled with venomous weight.
Kai froze. His heart pounded as he slowly turned around.
There, looming before him, was a colossal black dragon.
Its serpentine horns curved like jagged obsidian, its razor-sharp claws glistened with lethal promise. Blood-red eyes blazed through the shadows, piercing straight into Kai's soul.
His breath hitched.
It saw him.
Not just physically—it saw through him.
His body tensed as pure terror rooted him to the spot.
The dragon remained still, watching. Studying.
Then, from above—
FWOOOOOSH!
A second portal tore open in the sky.
---
Elara's descent...
Elara's scream echoed through the void as she tumbled through the smoky vortex, the Dark Orb clutched tightly in her grasp.
Below her, a green landscape rushed into view.
Thinking fast, she extended her fingers. A translucent purple bubble formed around her and the Orb just in time.
BOOM!
The impact shook the ground as she landed, skidding to a stop—right between Kai and the dragon.
A stunned silence followed.
Her eyes darted from Kai's horrified expression to the monstrous being standing before him. The air was thick with tension.
Acting on instinct, she teleported in a quick flicker, appearing beside Kai.
"Kai!" she whispered sharply.
No response.
His eyes were still locked on the dragon, his face pale.
She shook his shoulder. "Kai!"
He snapped back to reality, blinking rapidly. "Y-yeah?"
"What happened?" she demanded, breathless.
Kai swallowed hard. "I... I just... ended up here... and then it appeared."
Elara turned back to the beast.
It wasn't attacking.
Just watching.
A chill crawled down her spine.
Then—
{Hey!}
The Dark Orb chirped cheerfully, materializing into the air.
---
Meeting the Shadow itself...
"You led us into a death trap?!" Elara spat, glaring at the Orb.
{Death trap? Oh, don't be so melodramatic.}
A low hum filled the air as the Orb crackled with purple lightning—almost like it was laughing.
{This is not a 'death trap,' children.}
It floated toward the dragon.
{This is the other me I told you about.}
Kai and Elara exchanged wide-eyed glances.
"Wait, what?"
"A dragon?!"
Then—
The dragon laughed.
No, it didn't just laugh. It whizzed in sync with the Orb, releasing a thunderous rumble that shook the ground beneath them.
{No.}
A pause.
Then, with a voice laced with power, the Orb announced:
{Meet the Shadow itself.}
It drifted into the dragon's chest—
And suddenly, the entire world trembled.
CRACK! Lightning exploded from the dragon's form, shooting into the sky in chaotic streaks of purple. The air thickened as a dense, swirling black mist engulfed the beast.
A horrifying transformation began.
The dragon's body twisted and morphed—its shape collapsing into pure darkness. The mist whirled violently, compressing into a single point.
At its core, a glowing violet sphere pulsed.
Then—
The darkness shifted again.
And standing before them was no longer a dragon.
But a man.
---
A god-like ally....
He wasn't fully human.
His form was smoky, shifting, untethered. His features flickered, barely tangible, as though he existed between realities. His eyes—crimson, ancient—burned with unreadable intensity.
Slowly, he lifted the glowing purple crystal in his palm.
And crushed it.
BOOOOM!
A powerful surge of energy burst from his being, warping the very air around them.
Yet he remained smoke. Shadow. A spectral wraith in human form.
Then, he spoke.
"Finally."
His voice was strong, commanding.
"Now, I can take my revenge on Avan Kingdom. For her. For my people. I will restore the Eresh tribe."
Kai and Elara shared a glance.
Kai clenched his fists. "We seek revenge too."
The Shadow tilted his head.
"I know." His voice deepened. "I know everything about you both… Kai. Elara."
His presence faded, dissolving into the mist—but his voice remained.
Elara's breath hitched. "Her name was Dashara…" she whispered. "She was my mother."
A pause.
Then—
The mist stirred.
It reshaped.
A tall, flickering female figure emerged.
Long hair. A sword in hand. Strong. Proud.
She looked exactly like Elara.
Kai swallowed hard.
"You…" Elara whispered.
The Shadow's voice echoed once more.
"She was my friend. You look just like her."
The mist shifted again, reverting into the dragon's shape.
Elara exhaled slowly, then knelt on one knee.
Kai hesitated—then did the same.
The Shadow's voice rumbled with authority.
"Looks like we we share a lot in common, don't we...Mr Shadow?"
"Yes, we share much in common. And so it shall be… till the end of time."
Kai raised his gaze.
"Where do we begin, my lord?"
The Shadow let out a low chuckle.
"Patience, my boy. Patience. I will show you around first. Rise."
The mist swirled past them as the Shadow retook his human form.
They stood.
Kai turned to Elara, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"And now, we have a god-like ally. We're one step closer to achieving our wildest dreams."
Elara's eyes gleamed.
"It's just a matter of time."
She followed the Shadow forward.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Time to meet the Aerithians I guess 🤔 🫣 😄)