The Sky Tombs – Graves of the Asarti
The floating ruins of the Sky Tombs loomed ahead, jagged obsidian spires piercing storm clouds that crackled with bioluminescent lightning. The air reeked of ozone and ancient blood, the ground littered with fossilized Idol cores—failed vessels from Umvelina's earliest experiments. Miss Wolo led the group, her lava torch casting long shadows over murals depicting Asarti warships devouring planets.
Sophia (goat pupils narrowing):
"This isn't a tomb. It's a laboratory. They refined their juju here… on us."
Tamara (kicking a skull fused with Idol crystal):
"Charming vacation spot. Remind me why we're here again?"
Miss Wolo (grim):
"The Priestess's Convergence ritual requires Umvelina's original ship. We destroy it before she completes the Eclipse."
Kente's petrified arm twitched, veins of void energy pulsing up to his shoulder. The Idol's voice hissed:
"Too late. She's already begun."
The Ivory Vanguard – A Kingdom's Blade
A squad in gilded armor descended from the storm—Ivory Vanguard, elite Sturmgards from the northern kingdom. Their leader, Oseze, wielded a Forgeborn halberd humming with gravitational juju.
Oseze (voice metallic behind her mask):
"By order of King Jabari, this relic is property of the Ivory Kingdom. Stand down."
Miss Wolo (lava flaring):
"This isn't your kingdom's history to plunder, girl."
Oseze (halberd crackling):
"Predator Technique #44: Starfall Rend!"
A gravity wave crushed the ground beneath them. Kente countered:
"Prey Technique #9: Tortoise Shell!"
The barrier held but splintered, shards of light embedding in his petrified arm.
Kente (grinning savagely):
"Nice trick. Let me show you mine."
Idol's Requiem – The Petrified Chains
Kente's palm-eye blazed. The petrified arm moved, jagged cracks spreading as he recited:
"Idol's Chains – Modified!"
Serpentine tendrils of petrified void erupted, ensnaring Oseze's halberd. The weapon corroded, its gravitational juju unraveling.
Oseze (stumbling back):
"What are you?!"
Idol's Voice (echoing through Kente):
"Heretic. Usurper. Prey."
The chains lashed again, but Oseze teleported—a flicker of spacetime juju—leaving her squad to crumble into ash.
Miss Wolo (grabbing Kente's shoulder):
"Rein it in. That arm's killing you."
Kente (coldly):
"It's buying us time."
The Priestess's Ritual – Anya's Chrysalis
Deep within the central spire, they found it—Umvelina's ship, now a pulsating mass of organic metal fused with the Eclipse's energy. Suspended above it was Anya, encased in a chrysalis of light, her silver eyes wide with terror.
Anya (voice echoing):
"Kente… she's inside me. I can't… I can't hold her—"
Priestess Nailah (emerging from shadows):
"Predator Technique #88: Eclipse Brand!"
A sigil burned into Kente's chest, sapping his Idol's energy. Miss Wolo roared, lava surging:
"Predator Technique #33: Magma Tomb!"
The clash of lava and shadow shook the spire. Tamara lunged at the chrysalis, daggers glowing:
"Sorry, Princess. This'll sting."
Sophia (yanking her back):
"Cut that thing, and you unleash Umvelina early!"
WanLaden's Interlude – The Thief of Divinity
From a spacetime rift, WanLaden watched, dreadlocks swaying. Beside him, Adam analyzed the fray, goggles flickering.
Adam: "Anya's synchronization at 97%. Extraction viable."
WanLaden (smirking):
"Patience. Let the Priestess think she's won… then we steal her prize."
He vanished, reappearing beside Anya's chrysalis. A temporal blade sliced through its binds.
WanLaden (to Kente):
"You'll thank me later, survivor."
He vanished with Anya, leaving the spire collapsing.
The Spire's Collapse – A Pact Forged in Void
The ship's core destabilized, spewing corrupted Idol energy. Kente's petrified arm reacted, void veins spreading to his chest.
Idol's Voice (resigned):
"Use me. One last time."
Kente slammed his palm into the core:
"Idol's Requiem!"
The blast vaporized the ship, but the backlash shattered his arm completely—leaving only a jagged stump of voidstone.
Miss Wolo (hauling him away):
"You fool! You'll die before the Eclipse!"
Kente (laughing weakly):
"Then… I'll take her with me."
Cliffhanger – The Eclipse Convergence
As they fled, the sky fractured. The Eclipse split into four eyes—each aligned with a Priestess. Anya's voice echoed across the land:
"Mother… is hungry."