#magma updraft

[th3-0bjectivist]

“Magma Updraft” - Animated painting

[azzayofchaos]

As an exercise in creature design and in the interest on developing my dreaming-verse/general world building lore, i thought these guys would be fun to do!

More lore / transcript:

THE STRIDER:

Peaceful lava walkers and grazers, they’re often breed and domesticated for both their use as transportation across the lava lakes and for various materials.

While not certainly an acquired taste to an overworlder, strider meat is not an uncommon food source. String and membranes from their opalescent sensory organs and hide are also valuable resources.

The membranes are heat management, courting displays, and gathering sensory input as they are near-blind.

Strider's eyes are largely vestigial, the sensory organs picking up on heat signatures exclusively.

They have spiracles for breathing along their sides and tails.

When wading through lava, their limbs are able to stretch out, this process requires the high temperature and results in the brighter, redder coloration of their skin as the heated fluids move under it. When not on lava, this fluid cools resulting in a duller coloration.

A subspecies of strider can be found in regions of the deep Neth that are blue in color.

They are long lived and migratory creatures, lichens and fungi often growing on their harder outer plates to spread across lava lakes. These are not an incident the striders, though magma barnacles, the stationary stage of a Nether-local insectoid species are considered pests.

Adolescent striders are a few meters tall, though they can grow considerably larger.

When being ridden, a lantern full of the phosphorescent warped mushrooms that Striders prefer. This lantern has the bonus effect of glowing when passing across sections of land. While Striders prefer to graze on fungi, they also spend significant amounts of time filtering minerals from the lava lakes.

Flags are displayed to help make visible where the rider and the strider are coming from and what the point of travel for the rider is.

THE GHAST:

Territorial and aggressive animals that use the updrafts of lava lakes to remain afloat in the the atriums of the Neath.

Ghats contain organs able to solidify and fire out explosive charges, when about to fire, the organ will light up, an illusion of a demonic face appearing through their spiracles and semi-transparent bodies.

They feed on minerals and airborne biological matter that filters out of the biomes in the upper-regions of the Neth with their oral arms.

The ghast tear is an organ in their center arm.

Adult ghasts release their own spores into the air to help with genetic exchange, otherwise growing young ghast on their bodies that eventually split off in a sort of mitosis.

the gelatinous bodies of ghasts are used primarily in construction and fuel, but parts of their innards, explosive organs not included, are commonly eaten.

[asktheritochampion]

Are you aware of pinecones and their uses?

Have you any idea how often someone attempts to compare my legendary skills in artfully creating an updraft to the flammable nature of a pinecone?

First and foremost - updrafts exist within nature anyway. We Rito live in the icelands because when cracks form in the lower crust beneath the ice where ancient magma still flows, the temperature change creates updrafts which can lift us.

Secondly, the burst of hot air created by throwing a pinecone into a fire is only useful if you are planning to carry around firewood and create a camp fire each time you need to ascend. Frankly with the time that takes, you may as well simply climb a tree and take off from there.

I am the only Rito alive asidesTulin to have mastered the art of creating an updraft from nothing - using my connection to the wind to mould the airflow to my will. Meaning that I can take off from anywhere, at any time, with no preparation needed - and can keep myself airborne infinitely.

A pinecone cannot do that.

[rosescore245]

re: descriptive ship names for fs ships…. i fucking LOVE using colour combinations to refer to them. magenta for redvio. teal for glue. indigo for viblue. “gred” is really funny to me so i haven’t come up with a good combo for them, but i associate them with bloodstained or burning (red) grass or wheat stalks (green). similarly, “bludow” is a really fun name for them, but i Love the “deep sea” idea you floated (pun intended). reddow could be shaded embers….

AAAAAAA. FS SHIPS. MY FAVORITE.

I absolutely love the color-combos you brought up, and might I propose Red Caladium for Green/Red?

Idk it feels very Them-Core

I honestly like using more elemental-based names for their ships, and I shall now dump the main ones HERE:

(Pagebreak because it got long)

Magma / Lava: Red/Vio - Since the difference between the two names is just if it's on top of or beneath the earth's crust, I'd probably use one or the other depending on who I want to portray as the Head of the relationship (if there IS a head, sometimes it's clear NEITHER of them have their lives together lol)

Steam: Red/Blue - Since water, when it hits its boiling point, turns into steam, I think that when these two are really feeling in-synch, it's obvious that Blue is more energized/less burdened by a LOT, and Red is happy to make Blue happy <3

Updraft: Red/Green - Red is the ultimate hype-man, and since air rises when it's warmer, I think it's really sweet to name their relationship as such since it shows how much Red helps with Green's self-esteem! Uplifting king.

Sunset: Red/Shadow - When the sun dips below the horizon, warm sunlight and shadows begin the mingle. I am certain that once they get over that odd "Uuuuuhhhh sorry I was evil" thing, they'd be very, VERY comfortable around each other. Like Shadow feels safe enough to drop his guard and sleep with Red in the room comfortable (the last time that happened Vio nearly killed him)

Trench: Vio/Blue - Mostly thinking of the Mariana Trench here, this could also triple as a poly ship with Shadow tbh,,,hmmmmmmm

Dust: Vio/Green - When Dirt is kicked up it forms Dust in the Air. Fairly simple, tbh. Green pushes Vio to do more than he's used to, and Vio follows along and has a bit of lighthearted fun along the way, even if he wasn't sure at first.

Cavern: Vio/Shadow - Their relationship started off mostly empty, but if they decide to venture into its vast depths, they'd find a vast array of treasures and life within it <3 they just need to take that step and reconcile.

Fog: Blue/Green - Fog is the result of concentrated moisture in the air, reducing visibility and making the air feel stuffy. I personally subscribe to the idea that Blue is actually kind of clingy, though he would usually never admit it. Definitely a very post-canon dynamic for them, Blue would need to get over his odd jealousy of Green being the "Most Link", THEN he'd be able to feel safe/allowed to reach out/cling.

Deep Sea: Blue/Shadow - You brought it up again, but I want to elaborate on my reasoning further! I think that they'd have a hard time getting close since they both think they'd hurt each other, and the pressure of the others forming bonds with Shadow would definitely make both of them feel obligated to try and talk. The more they interact and learn about each other, the more they realize they BOTH have a few screws loose and end up being a solace to one another. Blue can show his stranger sides, and Shadow can make jokes he feels too uptight to say around the others (who he sees as pristine/clean, and he doesn't want to dirty them, in a way. Blue's more like a work-towel, for lack of better words-often clean, but definitely stained and willing to get messy.). The Deep Sea is full of creepy crawlies, and I think they'd bond over their own darker aspects eventually. (Can you tell I love these two and want to write them more??? So few fics about them on Ao3, and the main ones I could find were either like. Torture-porn. Which is NOT my vibe. Or not updated since 2015. I should write them more I love them)

Stormcloud: Green/Shadow - I think these two would be at-odds a lot of the time, but they'd find their middle-ground. Just because Green understands that Shadow has done good things doesn't mean he can overlook literally everything else. It would take a while, but I think they'd eventually be comfortable enough to open up about their internal conflicts and come to a conclusion that makes them both happy (kissing sloppy-style lol)

Kaleidescope: All of them at ONCE - I love to associate these losers with butterflies, and fun fact! A Kaleidoscope, while yes is a toy full of colorful knickknacks that makes cool patterns when you twist them, is also the proper name for a Group of Butterflies. Their metamorphosis throughout their stories and into their future is so intriguing and they're delicate yet so resilient and AUGH. I LOVE THEM. 99% of what I write is this ship EVENTUALLY, if I make multiple pairs of them kiss then I would definitely make them all kiss each other. It's common sense.

Lmao sorry for the MASSIVE dump X3

Tysm for the ask AND the follow, and have a good day!

[the-eternal-quest-for-balance]

Yellowstone Drilling Accident Unleashes 150-Foot Lava Geyser

Casper Planet — April 27, 2025

Emergency crews and scientists are scrambling this morning after a drilling operation in Yellowstone National Park accidentally struck a vein of magma late yesterday afternoon, unleashing a violent lava geyser that continues to shoot over 150 feet into the air.

According to park officials, the drill rig — part of an experimental geothermal research project — punctured a pressurized magma pocket believed to be directly connected to the park’s main caldera system. Within seconds of the breach, a fiery column of molten rock erupted, melting the multi-million-dollar drilling rig in under two minutes and setting a nearby observation platform ablaze.

“We knew there were risks,” said Dr. Leonard Marks, lead geologist for the operation. “But we didn’t expect to tap into a live vein connected straight to the caldera’s heart. It’s… a lot more active than we thought.”

Attempts to contain or plug the eruption have so far been unsuccessful. Engineers brought in heavy concrete slurry trucks overnight, but the intense heat has made it impossible for crews to get within 500 yards of the breach. Drones equipped with infrared sensors are currently being used to monitor the site, but even they are struggling against the superheated updraft.

National Park Service representatives are urging visitors to avoid the western section of the park, noting that the situation remains “fluid and unpredictable.” Local seismic activity around Yellowstone Lake has also increased slightly since the eruption, though officials stressed that “there is no immediate cause for panic.”

When asked if the lava geyser could trigger a larger eruption from the Yellowstone supervolcano, Dr. Marks hesitated before answering, “Let’s just say we’re reviewing all our options — including praying.”

Casper Planet will continue to provide updates as this story develops.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Update 05/03/2025

Drilling Rig Magma Hit

There is no factual evidence to support the claim that a drilling rig has hit magma in Yellowstone National Park. A social media post claiming a drilling accident unleashed a 150-foot lava geyser was identified as satire from the "Casper Planet" page, which is known for parody content.3

Drilling into Yellowstone's magma reservoir is considered highly impractical and potentially dangerous. The magma reservoirs are complex systems, not simple caverns of liquid magma, and consist mostly of solid rock with only 2 to 15 percent molten lava.62 Drilling into such a system could actually increase the likelihood of an eruption by causing pressure changes that could lead to explosive volcanic activity.26

Furthermore, Yellowstone National Park is protected from geothermal resource development, and any drilling would likely face significant regulatory hurdles.24

In summary, drilling into Yellowstone's magma reservoir is not feasible and could have unintended negative consequences.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My bad, should have checked yesterday before the original post.

[orions-shiny-belt]

Here are nether things because I really like it there

-Ghats are big birds. They have translucent eyelids to keep the dust particles from getting in their eyes, large wingspans and a big droopy feathery tail. Can also breath fireballs at you because they hate you

-The Nether is hot and had a lot of updrafts. Ghats mostly use that to float around and use their tails as directions

-Piglins literally just have a whole society like for real they just. They’re recovering from some disaster event as most of their buildings are in shambles but they’re a society nonetheless

-Wither skeletons are the undead of other people who used to live there and got got from like constant close proximity to soulsand. Sand made of souls literally cannot be healthy for you—

-Those people were most likely a society that relied heavily on potions making. They had been able to contain the blazes and harness their power without much problems. They even made the spawners!

-Magma cubes are like slimes but more drippy and also terrible I hate them

-Hoglins are the piglin equivalent of like a bobcat or a bear. If you leave each other alone it’s fine but also sometimes they won’t leave you alone and you gotta get em before they like eat your small dog

-It’s humid as FUCK in there

-Soulsand valleys are cooler than the rest of the nether but the wind is so still it’s hardly better

-The fossils you find there? No one’s found out what they belong to yet! Not many paleontologists down there

-Warped forests are nice because only endermen are in there but they’re unsettling. They’re quiet and still and it smells so much like mushroom and after-rain-worms. Nasty

-Crimson forests are hotter and dryer

-Soulsand is what’s keeping the zombie piglins going. They’re fucking creepy though and no one likes them. Especially not alive piglins

-Netherite has elements in it that are harmful to piglins but alright for humans, so they’re all buried to keep them away

-Basalt delta is DUSTY AS HELL you gotta bring like a dust mask and goggles and some shit with you when you go. You’ll be tracking basalt dust all over the house

[froggyspots]

Finally!!! I am FINALLY done with part of the big project I’ve been working on! I still have 5-6 more ocs to do, and they’ll be in the part 2 (Found right here!) ! These are all the heroes / heroes to be I have so far in my list of BNHA OCs! :D Going from left to right:

- Makoto Toyama, aka “Mime”. Quirk: Mute. They can stop soundwaves in a certain radius around them

- Yasu Shima, aka “Multiplicity”. Quirk: Clones. She’s able to make clones of herself, up to 5, each one taking an aspect of her personality for the time it’s active. 

- Norio Kawakami. Quirk: Blueprint. Anything he touches he’s able to create a mental blueprint of to break it down, including creating floor plans of buildings. 

- Fumio Watanabe, aka “Boost”. Quirk: Boost. His quirk powers up other people’s quirks so long as he’s within proximity of them, or it can negate drawbacks of a person’s quirks. 

- Takara Watanabe. Quirk: Discord. Depending on their emotions, they will manifest a different elemental quirk, though it’s consistent. Fatigue is a quirk that intensifies gravity, excitement is electricity, happiness is wind, anger is fire, fear is ice, sadness is water, etc. 

- Danielle Fisher, aka “Updraft”. Quirk: Aero kinesis. She’s able to manipulate the air around her with incredible precision, typically using it to fly or to lift things she physically wouldn’t have been able to

- Max Fisher, aka “Igneo”. Quirk: Magma Blood. His quirk makes his blood magma-like, and hardens the skin around the activated areas to a tough rocky texture. However in order to move with his quirk activated he has to heat up the area, leading to him radiating heat and not being able to be touched by someone non-resistent to heat. Cooling down limits his mobility. Damage taken with his quirk activated leaves scars in the pattern of the magma trails. 

- Mai Kanemoto, aka “Monarch”. Quirk: Monarch Butterfly. She has the wings of a monarch butterfly, and they’re able to produce a neurotoxin powder that paralyzes those who inhale it.

[rhnuzlocke]

Chapter Eight: Rock and a Hard Place

Dewford Island was smaller than Ren expected, and the walk from town on the southeast end to Granite Cave on the northwest end only took about three hours. It was lovely; all pale sand and rolling dunes dotted with flowers. Rounded granite marched up through the middle of the island, obscuring the other side. Panahi floated on the breeze, a fond smile on her face as she listened to the calls of the Wingull colony on the far side of the rocky hills. Māia tumbled and dipped above them, reveling in the updraft while Tāraki dashed up and down the beach chasing the waves and Iki skimmed over the shallows. Akahana and Hakeka walked just beyond the reach of the sea where the damp sand was a little firmer, and Ren took off her boots to walk barefoot beside them.

A sign by the cave entrance declared: Only one pokemon per person. All sound-based, concussive, and earthshaking moves are strictly forbidden. So Ren withdrew all but Akahana before she went in. The covert nature of their mission meant that Ren didn’t know where exactly the Champion would be, so they would rely on Akahana’s nose to guide them. She snuffled around the entrance for a minute or so before following the freshest scent trail deeper in.

The tunnels, or at least the main ones, were lit by strings of soft electric lamps powered by a solar panel outside. The light was made all the warmer by the pink hue of the granite walls, and the air sighed like a breath. It felt homey and lived in. She was welcome here.

They turned down a side tunnel and descended. Aron and Zubat peeked out from the shadows but let them pass without challenge. Geodude remained still as statues, Abra teleported away in a blink, Makuhita and Mawile shuffled off, and a Sableye feeding on a crystalline deposit fixed them with its uncanny gem-like eyes before loping into the darkness.

“Just ahead,” said Akahana.

A vertical shaft opened up, and beyond it, the tunnel started to drop off precipitously. The chamber wasn't far across and, at first inspection, unoccupied. But Akahana nudged Ren’s leg and pointed up with her snout. The ceiling was far above them, and a whiff of sea air suggested at least some part of the shaft went all the way to the surface. But before that, a young man in spelunking gear hung from the wall, headlamp bathing a section of the overall dimness in bright illumination. As she watched, he chipped away gently with a small pick, sending tiny pebbles pinging to the floor beside her. He then returned the pick to his belt and grabbed a brush. The light of his headlamp gleamed off his safety goggles as he leaned in to carefully brush some dust away. It floated gently down, glittering softly.

Akahana nudged her again. Right! She should probably announce herself.

“Hello!”

He looked down at her with a friendly smile. “Hello down there!”

“Are you Steven Stone?”

“Yes I am! I’ll be down in just a moment.”

He stowed his equipment and pushed off the wall, repelling down in one graceful arc. He unhooked himself and pushed up his goggles before removing his helmet. He ran his fingers through his hair and shook it out so that it was no longer plastered to his head. It settled like a silver cloud, soft, irregular, and weightless. It played wonderfully against the warm brown of his skin. His brows and lashes were pale as polished sterling, and his eyes were a bright and vivid turquoise.

He was absurdly gorgeous. Ren already knew this. She'd seen pictures of him. She'd looked him up right before coming here just to make sure she'd recognize him. She'd known all about his perfect nose and elegant jawline. But she hadn't expected to be affected by it. That was… that was new.

“Do we really need this part? Maybe we could skip ahead a little?” Given the current circumstances, I believe your relationship with Steven is quite relevant. “Fiiiine.”

“I’m Ren Kosugi.”

His smile became even more radiant, if that were possible. “A pleasure to meet you, Ren.” He extended a hand, and she took it. “So, are you a fan of cave paintings or did you need me for something?”

Ren paused for a moment before answering, but despite the mental preparation, her tongue still betrayed her. “I needed you—” If she wasn't blushing before, she certainly was now. She could feel the heat welling up from her chest and radiating from her face. “I didn’t even know there were cave paintings here. Your father asked me to deliver a package.” Ren dove into her bag to stop looking at him for a moment, and he thanked her as handed him the parcel.

“He didn't even let me know you were coming,” Steven murmured, almost to himself. He sighed. “Well, trouble always comes in twos. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Sorry to be the Yamikarasu before the storm.”

He blinked back to the moment. “Not at all. I don't know how much my father told you, but this is extremely important. Thank you again for agreeing to deliver it.”

“It was no trouble. I'm glad I came to Dewford.”

“It is quite lovely. Though admittedly, I don't spend much time on the island aboveground. Will you challenge the gym while you're here?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent. Brawley won't be easy, but it should be a fun battle.”

“Māia will be glad to hear that.” Ren somehow hadn’t expected him to be this nice and friendly. But then again, there was a good chance he felt obligated to be. Maybe she should give him an out. “Where are the cave paintings you mentioned?”

“I’ll take you. It’s the least I can do.” Well, obligation or no, she wasn’t going to refuse the offer. “Actually, hang on a moment.” He picked his bag off the floor and rummaged through it. “You have a Taillow, don’t you?”

Right. They all knew her already. “I do.”

Steven smiled, and then his face suddenly grew taught and his lips retreated into his mouth, like he'd said to much.

“Don't worry, Roxanne already spilled about the group chat.”

“Thank Arceus!” He sagged in relief before snapping back to attention. “Wait, did she really?” Ren nodded, and his face wrinkled in fiendish delight. “I can never properly repay you for this invaluable intelligence! I'm saving this for the next time she thinks she can correct my Anorith claw identification!” Ren felt a little bad for tattling on her, but that light in his eyes was hard to resist. He gave a somewhat sheepish little chuckle. “We’re friends, I swear.” He took a calming breath and relaxed a little, though he was still near bubbling with mischief. It was a pleasant change from his subdued worrying over the prototype.

She was even more curious about it now, but didn’t want to bring the mood back down by asking. Besides, the fact that he hadn’t volunteered any more on his own suggested he wouldn’t tell her either way.

He pulled a TM out of a case in his bag and held it out to her. “Anyway, please accept this. It’s Steel Wing, my favorite move.”

Ren almost turned it down—TMs were very expensive—but between Steven's hopeful expression and how angry Māia would be if she heard that Ren had refused it, that wasn't much of an option. “Thank you.”

He stowed the package in his vapor box and stripped off his climbing harness, folding it neatly with the rest of his things before gesturing down the tunnel.

“Shall we?”

They headed off with Akahana trailing behind, and Steven pointed out various mineral deposits and formations as they went along. The most dramatic of which was a section of tunnel through black stone rather than mottled pink.

“Now this,” Steven paused to gesture grandly, “is why the caverns exist in the first place. It's a dolerite intrusion.”

“That's when magma pushes through an older rock?” The specific terminology was pushing the bounds of her Anglic mastery, but she had taken geology as one of her science electives, so she could at least take a crack at the words she wasn’t sure of.

“Exactly so!” A smile broke across his face, and suddenly Ren felt unreasonably proud of her guess. Steven’s fingers brushed gently across the rough black stone as if it were velvet. “This particular dolerite is exceptionally rich in iron, which is how an island this small can maintain such a robust Aron population.”

She glanced around and suddenly the regular grooves in the concave walls became obvious as claw and horn marks. “I saw a few on my way in, but I didn't know they excavated this.”

He turned slowly, giving her a moment to fall in step beside him before continuing. “It's not terribly common knowledge outside of the locals and some rock hunters like myself, but my Aggron grew up here. She's out foraging and catching up with friends, but she'll be along.”

“No wonder you’re such an expert on this place.” Compliments like that always flowed easily off Ren’s tongue, and a cheeky smile accompanied it as naturally as anything, but this time it made her feel pleasantly warm.

Steven hummed. “Gilchrist knows these tunnels as well as her armor.” His eyes flickered over her face and his lip turned upward at whatever he found there. “If you don't mind a detour, there's a siltstone deposit down this way with some truly spectacular stromatolites.”

“I don't mind at all!” She bounced on the balls of her feet. “Only, what is a stromatolite?”

“They are columns formed by almost innumerable layers of cyanobacteria growing atop one another to reach the sun,” he explained with a poetic folding and upturning of his hands. “Thus given the right conditions, the layers can form organic patters in the rock, much the way pattern welding shows the many folds that went into the steel when polished just so.”

“Now that I've heard of. It's so pretty! And I had no idea bacteria could be responsible for rock formations.”

“Not only that, but stromatolites are the oldest fossils we have and an invaluable window into ancient life on the planet!”

The stromatolites turned out to be quite striking, and there was so much to know about them. Steven explained it all quite thoroughly, with the detailed information accompanied by dramatic gestures and an infectious enthusiasm in his tone.

He reminded her of Kai just a little—except that he left little pauses for clarification and to gage her interest, whereas she usually had to tap Kai to get a word in edgewise. Ren wasn’t sure what exactly she’d been expecting, but Steven was definatly a surprise. Certainly a far cry from the intimidating force of nature who was the current Sekiei League Champion. He was, well, a huge dork really, but a charming one.

After many turnings, rock facts, and stories Steven’s Aggron had told him about her ancestors, they emerged into a large oblong chamber covered in murals. There were no clear divisions between the different sections; instead, the images marched seamlessly along through different scenes, all spilling forth from a giant central painting of what must be two gods. They looked vaguely familiar. Maybe her father had once told her stories about them.

“These paintings were made by the Draconid people approximately twenty-five hundred years ago. It contains most of their history. The central mural depicts the formation of Hoenn and the surrounding islands as a battle between the climate gods Groudon and Kyogre.”

Yes, she did know them, though hazily. But what she had at first thought were rolling clouds above them was actually a great serpentine god she didn’t know at all.

“The part that draws most scholars is the portrayal of the climate gods. Their forms are quite unlike all other depictions of them. Once, most historians simply wrote it off to artistic license, but in recent years, many have theorized that this is meant to represent their mega evolutions. But they appear to draw their power from deep in the earth rather than from humans or mega stones.” Steven gestured to the lines that swept up from the floor of the cavern and into the core of each god. “Draconid elders say that this represents their primal forms, as they were when Arcues first created them, distinct from their more current forms but also not mega evolutions. I tend to think that story is closest to the truth since it was their ancestors who made the paintings. But the debate wages on.”

“Masaka,” Ren murmured appreciatively. “I can’t believe I never heard about this. I guess Johto has its own mysteries to focus on. Thanks for showing me. This is unbelievably cool.”

“I wish I could tell you more about the rest, but ancient studies aren’t exactly my area of expertise.”

Akahana growled low, and they both whipped around. Whatever had set her off wasn’t in sight yet, or in Ren’s hearing. “Six humans, more pokemon.”

“Trainers?” Ren asked.

Akahana nodded. “I don’t like their footfalls.”

Ren looked over at Steven. His expression had hardened, and a hand hovered over the pokeballs at his belt. “Magma.”

“You sure?”

“Go.” He pointed. “There’s a tunnel just down there.”

“Wait, I’m not just gonna leave you to fight six trainers by yourself!”

“The last thing we need is for them to see you in connection with the prototype again. Three instances is no longer a coincidence.” She couldn't argue with that, but it didn't make leaving him okay. He took her shoulder and met her eyes. “I'll be fine.” He had that tone that made him easy to believe, just like his father. “I’ll call for you if I need help, I promise.”

Ren patted his arm in return before hurrying into the side tunnel with Akahana. They stopped as soon as they were out of sight and not a moment too soon. There were footsteps, shouts, wingbeats, and then a pregnant pause.

“Hand over the prototype!” A woman's voice. There was something unsettling about it. A ragged edge that that grated her nerves.

“Dr. Courtney Kagari!” Steven answered. “I almost didn't recognize you. It's been so long. I'm glad to see you've pursued that interest in training, though I must admit I'm a little disappointed Dr. Matsuda didn't come himself.”

“Enough! We're business people. Let's complete this transaction.”

“That's our parents, not us. We chose different careers for ourselves. I don't think I've ever had the chance to tell you, but I really do admire what you've accomplished with their fortune.”

Ren hadn't detected any sarcasm in his tone, but Courtney snarled. “Give me the parts!”

“I assume you must be after a Devon project? Then I’m afraid I must disappoint you. I don’t have it.”

Shrill cackling pierced Ren’s ears and echoed through the caverns, growing deeper as it went, like the stone itself was laughing.

“Do you really think it wise to take on the League Champion?” They must have been advancing on him.

“No one’s invulnerable, Stone.”

“True,” Steven answered. There wasn't even a hint of fear in it. The easy confidence remained unshaken. There was only amusement and excitement. “But some of us are a little closer than others.”

Flashes of red played across the tunnel entrance, commands jumbled together, and a deep metallic cry rang out above the roars, shrieks, and snarls as pokemon rushed into battle. Ren and Akahana stayed out of sight around the corner, trying to make sense of the sounds of moves flying and bodies connecting. Dr. Kagari and her cohort shouted attacks, but Ren didn’t hear Steven’s voice again until the glare of flames lit the rock across from her.

“MIND THE MURALS!” he thundered. “Those paintings are over two thousand years old!”

The ground beneath Ren’s feet trembled and Akahana whipped around, hackles on end and bristling. A flood of Zubat crashed over them like water, too fast for Ren to do anything but throw her arms in front of her face. Hundreds of wings buffeted her from all sides, and she tottered as their high shrieks cleaved her skull. The world spun around her—Supersonic.

“Look out!”

Ren peered out from behind an arm and swiveled in time to see the tattered image of something barreling towards her. She staggered, and a moment later, a flash of electricity punched a hole in the flow of Zubat around her, giving her an unobstructed view. Akahana’s blinding teeth sank into a the arm of a Makuhita and before Ren could move or force her tongue to form a warning, the wild socked Akahana in the gut with a glowing fist, launching her into the rock. She hit with horrible thud that struck Ren’s ears above the din, and tumbled down the wall’s curvature to sprawl limply across the floor. This time she did not roll back to her feet.

No! No! No!

Ren took a step towards the Makuhita as it rounded on her, then froze as white hot pain roared up her arm. Her other hand snapped to her belt, and she sent out Tāraki. The wild charged him, but he leapt over it and slammed it in the back of the head with his tail. That was enough to down it, but Tāraki climbed atop it just to be sure. Ren rifled through her bag, shaking her head as if that would clear it any faster. She sprayed a potion over Akahana with trembling hands as the last of the Zubat flew out above them.

“Just hang in there! We’ll get you to the Center soon, I promise.”

Ren watched Akahana’s side, but the everything was still moving too much to tell if she was breathing. She put her hands on Akahana but couldn’t feel her heartbeat over a rumble rising up through the floor. Tāraki planted himself in front of them as a Lairon loomed out of the darkness. It roared and charged right for them. Ren wasn’t sure what she yelled as Tāraki ran to meet it, but suddenly energy was flooding out of her and into him. He evolved in a flash as bright as lightning, sending a ripple through the surrounding air. He threw all of his newfound power into a single slash that knocked the Lairon off course. Its head bumped the wall and left a gouge before it swung back to center and stormed out of the tunnel.

Ren let out a deep sigh. Her body felt heavy. Tāraki returned to her side, and she stroked Akahana gently, watching for the slight rise and fall of her shallow breathing. She felt callused hands on her face that weren’t there trying to pull her eyes away, her father’s voice saying words she couldn’t hear. There was only blood, the prone pokemon before her, and shuddering, gasping breaths that would gutter out to stillness.

Ren hadn’t noticed the sounds of battle stop, but suddenly Steven was there, gripping her shoulder to bring her back. “What happened?”

Red seeped back into her memories. There were no gaping wounds—though internal bleeding was probable. She was still breathing. “A wild attacked us. My Poochyena…”

“I’ll get you to the Pokemon Center. Come.”

Ren returned Akahana to her ball, but wouldn’t let go even to stow it. Steven pulled her along by her other hand to the surface, then helped her aboard his Skarmory. They flew fast and low along the coast and ran up to the intake counter. Trainers weren’t allowed in the ICU, so Ren collapsed on one of the waiting room couches.

She didn't ask Steven to stay, but he did. He probably felt responsible, as Ren would have felt in his place, but it was Ren who hadn't withdrawn Akahana when she had the chance, who had taken too long to send out Taraki. All she could see was the button of Akahana’s pokeball blinking red over and over until it went black.

Then there was a flash of silver. Ren blinked. It was the rings on Steven’s hand, palm up before her. She took it, a little more roughly than she intended, and he squeezed her gently back.

“She'll be alright.”

Ren wanted to believe him. The calm assurance in his voice made it easier. Maybe she would pull through. Akahana was nothing if not resilient. But even if she did survive, it wouldn't be alright. Ren knew that as surely as she knew her arm would always ache, as sure as it throbbed right now with her pulse. But if she lived, at least Ren would have a chance to make it better somehow. She really wanted a chance this time.

[iamthekaijuking]

Rodan

Finally

Okay so after taking a quick look through Rodan’s monarch file, here’s the important things to note.

1) internal combustion system of magma

2) rock-like scales that act as geothermal armor

3) skeletal structure similar to that of a Pteranodon

4) wingspan big enough to create a sonic thunderclap capable of leveling entire cities as it flies overhead

5) skin is not made of rock, but does have an outer dermis of sharp volcanic sediment collected from centuries of dormancy

6) vulcanized appearance of its skin may be an evolutionary trait developed as a form of camouflage against mountain or large rock formations

Okay so obviously what we’re dealing with is a rock bird with a magma jet engine that has wings big enough to level cities.

In all seriousness though, it seems like Rodan’s species is adapted to hibernate in volcanically active areas and stockpile geothermal energy, and then quickly fly to new feeding grounds when volcanic activity stops. Alternately, Rodan might have bacterial colonies that can process elements found in volcanoes and produce organic compounds as waste, like creatures living near hydrothermal vents. It’s camouflage would help it hide from other kaiju in the area whilst hibernating, and it might have relied on volcanic sediment to build up on its body for extra protection. It’s also stated that the sediment is sharp, which means that there could be an extreme buildup of obsidian. Obsidian is the sharpest naturally occurring thing on the planet, which would be useful in cutting through the tough skin of other kaiju. Rodan’s skin is tough, and is a good protective barrier between his softer flesh and literal molten rock.

I’m no expert on aerodynamics and extremely weird physics, so I can’t really say anything about the whole leveling cities thing other than the fact that Rodan is definitely flying at least above Mach 1.

The internal jet is interesting. It seems weird and even counter intuitive to use magma, which is liquid rock, as a means of achieving flight, but I digress. Rodan must have some kind of organ that can store all of it. I’m also a little skeptical of the whole internal jet engine thing. Magma can be seen leaking out of the back ends of his wings, so Rodan’s species might be using it to heat up the air and create updrafts to make flying easier.

And then there’s Rodan’s skeleton. It’s said to resemble a Pteranodon’s so it would seem pretty cut and dry that he’s a pterosaur, right?

No not necessarily.

He’s definitely related, yes, but I don’t think he’s a pterosaur. His legs are located directly underneath his body. Rodan’s feet are also exactly like those of a bird of prey, i.e. a theropod dinosaur. From what I’ve seen of the screenshots and toy models, Rodan’s fourth finger looks less like a finger and more like a big styliform.

All of these are pretty strong evidence that suggests that Rodan’s kind are actually kaiju scansoriopterygids related to, if not descended from the genus Yi.

Since volcanic activity was pretty normal in the Tiaojishan Formation (where Yi was discovered) and responsible for the fossilization and death of the ecosystem Yi is from, I propose that the ancestors of Rodan were a different species of Yi that evolved to survive near the harsh conditions of a volcano (closer than most other life in its ecosystem) and were able to survive the volcanic eruptions that killed off their sister species qi. And then from there they continued to evolve into volcanic organisms.

[sullivantwissarcana]

Newest Grimm Idea

Alright then, I’d like to introduce the newest Grimm idea that me and my friend @chuckles-the-jester (who generously made the art of it, like several other Grimm ideas I came up with) have created called the Velgeroc. Named after the “Hraesvelgr” of Norse mythology and the Roc bird of myth.

This eagle-like Grimm is a creature I picture being larger than the Giant Nevermore seen in Volume 1. It has feathers that are like hardened magma, the wings can generate intense heat to allow for updrafts, can extend its neck to attack easier with its beak, and has a very powerful attack unique to it. The Velgeroc can breathe hot ash that is capable of burning landscapes and can spread quickly with powerful gusts of wind from it flapping its wings. When using this “ash breath” attack, the gaps in the magma-like skin on its neck begins to glow, which is a signal Huntsmen notice and can prepare themselves for.

The Velgeroc prefers to live around mountains and canyons, but you can see where it’s been previously by the burned landscapes. If you see torched areas with plenty of fresh ash on the ground, it’s a sign that a Velgeroc has been nearby. A dangerous enemy because of its size, ash breath, and strength, fighters have to be careful when facing off against this titan of a beast. One main weakness of the Grimm is that the size of it prevents it from being agile. Mobile airships and fighters have an advantage by being able to corner better than the eagle-like monster, leading them into traps. Other weaknesses of the Grimm include being able to affect its magma-like body by using Dust to affect it (such as Water or Ice Dust to inflict pain on its heated body) or even attacking the Grimm while it prepares its ash breath. By unleashing an attack while it inhales, the monster won’t be able to send the ash out and it will damage the Grimm from the inside.

[th3-0bjectivist]

“Magma Updraft” - Acrylic paint on canvas

[guardiansofnosgoth]

Chapter Four: Raziel is Chosen

Raziel awoke in agony, blood and bile sour on his tongue and caked on his lips. His shoulders ached, dislocated from being dragged along his knees as dead weight. When he looked over his shoulder he retched, afflicted by the sight of his boneless, bloody wings shuffling across the ground. Weakly, he twisted his gaze toward his captors.

On his right he saw his younger brother, Turel, Kain’s second born. His other brother, Dumah, pulled him by his left, eyes forward. Melchiah, Zephon, and Rahab marched behind them, silent. Kain led the grim procession. Raziel recognized the well worn path decorated with flags. They were taking him to die.

He tried to pull himself up. His body was in such pain, more than Kain had ever prepared him for, yet he knew worse would come. He could not die like this. "Turel, Dumah... please, help me stand..."

His brothers ignored him. Desperate, he looked to Kain, his creator and father. He could not see his face. The black, empty eyes of the Soul Reaver mocked all his hopes.

"Why are you doing this? What have I done? Kain? Kain!? Please, stop this! Sire, look at me! Look at me you fucking bast-!" He wheezed, cut off by Turel’s swift kick.

Recovering himself, Raziel glared at Turel, but his rage died when he noticed the figure walking before his brother. The wraith looked just as he had in Vorador's manor; a dessicated facsimile of Raziel's former self, deprived of nearly all his trappings and even more abhorrent. Behind him, the corrupted Pillars of Nosgoth rose over the mountains and falls, black as if scorched by fire, and the wind carried a distant wailing. Raziel’s stomach entered his throat. Was he dreaming again?

The wraith looked down at Raziel with his pinprick eyes. He tapped his skull with one claw and pointed. It’s all in your mind.

At that moment the waters of the Abyss hissed and exploded into fire. Raziel yelped. The air singed his throat with molten steel. Black smoke burst from the pit of the falls and churned above the lake like volcanic ash. Roaring, roiling flames leapt from rivers of magma, belching hot, dry embers into the sky. He tried to dig his claws into the earth, but the stone platform had turned to smooth metal without purchase. His brothers twisted his arms as he thrashed, ignoring his screams, until he complied. Kain stepped aside to allow them to pass. He never looked at Raziel. Not a glance.

They reached the edge of the platform. His brothers stopped, allowing him a moment to gaze into his future grave. The bottom of the Lake of the Dead had become a gigantic forge. He squinted, eyes burned by the intensity of the flames.

Visible only to Raziel, the wraith stood in front of his brothers on the precipice, hands at his sides, stringy wings floating in the hot updraft. The wraith turned to him. He held up his fist with thumb pointed out to the side, as if to give a command to the victor of a coliseum match. He pointed his thumb down. Raziel trembled.

Behind them, out of sight, Kain said, "Cast them in."

And then Raziel was falling.

Tendrils of hot air lashed across his face and broken wings. He threw up his arms to protect himself as he burst through the first wave of ash.

Wailing voices joined him in the inferno. Had Kain cast his brothers into the pit, too? No, these screams were too shrill, too pitiful to belong to his proud brothers.

In his home Raziel employed an army of semi-feral cats to cull the rodent population and prevent plague among the slaves. He happily allowed the tamer ones to lounge about his palace. One night he heard a shrill cry coming from a storage closet and rushed in to find two palace slaves holding one of his cats by the tail and beating it viciously. These screams sounded like that. He forced himself to look.

Seven shadowy figures plummeted through the fire. They looked so far away. No, not far away, they were only much smaller than him. He tried to reach out to the nearest - a young girl - but his arm burst into flame. He screamed, tumbling head over feet. The flames gnashed their white hot teeth, tearing flesh from bone in impossible agony, and devoured them alive.

Raziel jolted awake. The touch of Kain’s sheets touch felt icy and unreal, tainted by ash. Clutching at his head, he curled into a ball, face pressed between knees, shaking all over and breathing in hard, shallow gasps.

Even as a young vampire he rarely had nightmares. Since coming back from the dead he had been having vivid dreams whenever he closed his eyes to sleep, always leaving him with a disturbing sense of dread. The Sanctuary must have addled his mind. Perhaps he should avoid sleep for a while now that he felt stronger.

Gradually, the sickness subsided. He unfolded himself, catching his breath. "Dear god…”

As he said this he became aware of a conversation taking place outside. He went to investigate.

Two Turelim stood in the hall, Nogah and another. Their conversation abruptly ended as he poked his head through the door. The stranger turned to him, fangs awkwardly sticking from his mouth, sniffed and let out a wet snort. That seemed churlish. Nogah glanced his way, ears down. “Kain is here.”

Raziel narrowed his eyes. History taught him to be wary of unusual coincidences, especially where they related to Kain.

“Are you all right?” she asked as she escorted him down the hall. Kain was waiting for him in the throne room, at the Pillars.

“Just nerves.”

“I heard you crying in your sleep.”

“It was nothing, just a bad dream,” he said tersely.

Nogah stopped outside the large double-doors. She knew he intended to leave soon, whether or not he convinced Kain to allow it. “I’ll be waiting here. Good luck, Raziel.”

Every night since his awakening Raziel had practiced flight for hours. When his chest muscles burned for peace and his wings lost all ability to lift Nogah happily kept him company on the ground. She became the only thread connecting him to the Sanctuary. Now he did not know what to say to her. All his words felt too great or too little. He inhaled slowly and deeply.

As he pushed apart the heavy doors his shoulders pinched and his wings curled into his back. Just deja vu, he told himself. He stepped onto the Pillars’ foundation, a stone platform engraved with golden runes written across concentric circles, and approached Kain. This will be the end of it.

Kain waited for him beside the Pillar of Balance, the hilt of the Soul Reaver visible over his shoulder. He knew Kain did not intend to use the sword against him again yet seeing it on his person still made him uneasy, as if he and the sword had unfinished business. Kain ran his claws across the polished white stone in a gesture Raziel found almost perverse. He turned and smiled. “Welcome, Raziel! You have no idea how pleased I am to see you again.”

“That’s a first.”

Kain chuckled, “Don’t be disingenuous. Without you none of this would be possible. I confess, in spite of all my machinations, I doubted we would ever see the Pillars restored in our time. Nosgoth is indebted to you.”

Maybe he should be happy. He would like to feel something apart from exhaustion. “So… it really is over.”

“The hard part is. With their purification I can now sense the other members of the Circle. We must collect them before they learn to fear us. Until such time as these new guardians can be turned Nosgoth is still vulnerable.”

“What makes you think I want any part in this?”

“You have as much stake in Nosgoth’s future as I.”

“My part in prophecy is finished. Now that I have fulfilled my obligation to Nosgoth, I will be going my own way.”

Kain started to frown. “You are my right hand.”

The memory burned like acid. “I was dying, Kain. It was different. I wanted to settle accounts before I died but now I am suffocating under the weight of your sins. Please, if my sacrifice means anything to you, grant my request. I do not think freedom is too much to ask.”

Kain walked toward him. Raziel tensed, half-expecting a fight. To his surprise Kain seemed almost sympathetic. “You must know it’s not that simple. The Pillars brought you back for a purpose.”

Of course, Raziel did consider that possibility. It was not something he enjoyed thinking about. Fate destroyed him, obliterated everyone and everything he held dear, necessitated giving up his very soul, and still demanded more? Raziel looked away. He never admitted defeat before. It tasted like bile.

“You’re exhausting me.”

“That is irrelevant. You are too important to be risking your life as a vagrant of the wastes. Or have you not realized? The Pillars chose you the way they chose me.”

Raziel looked at him with gritting disgust. “Am I a joke to you?”

“I’m not laughing. I saw the truth of it the moment I found you lying in this chamber - you are a Pillar guardian, the Pillars remade you as such.”

In all his centuries he never knew Kain to lie. He omitted truths or kept silent. Besides, if that was a lie it was a terribly poor one.

No, it could not be true.

“How then? You would not need to curse human guardians if the Pillars could summon vampires out of thin air!”

“Your soul was the catalyst for this,” Kain said, gesturing at the Pillars jutting above the shattered throne room. “Using that I created you from nothing more than bones and dust. Why should the Pillars have any difficulty? I may not be omniscient, Raziel, but I will not deny the truth as it stands before me. You disappoint me. I actually thought the Pillars chose well making you Time Streamer.”

Kain’s words stuck him like a blow to the chest. His entire being shuddered in rejection of Moebius’ former title. Seeing the conviction in Kain’s eyes, could he still call him a liar?

It made sense. The Pillars required vampire guardians to maintain the delicate Binding protecting Nosgoth from the corrupting influence of the other realms. His soul, disembodied yet tantalizingly infused with vampiric essence, happened to appear in the one place and time they could conceivably make use of it. When he thought of it that way Kain's conclusion became inevitable.

Did his dreams have something to do with this?

He staggered backward, stumbling over his own feet. His body insisted that he needed air. When he tried to breathe his chest seemed to turn to stone. Still it insisted - breathe, you need air!

“Compose yourself, Raziel!”

Just as he thought he would collapse Kain’s command snapped him back to reality. As he struggled to collect himself the weight of Kain’s eyes felt like the only real thing in the room. Kain watched over him thoughtfully. “Come with me. There is something I need to show you.”

Raziel blinked. “What now? Another layer of hell?”

Kain raised an eyebrow. “I assume you would like to see one of the fruits of your labor. I have the Nature Guardian.”

…

They arrived in one of the guest rooms in the clans’ wing of the Sanctuary. Raziel recognized the woman as Sweetblood, the slave from the bath; a questionable choice for the Nature Guardian’s wet nurse. At Kain’s request, she lifted a bundle out of an open drawer and handed it to him. Rarely did Kain handle an object with such care. Nestled within the furs Raziel saw a tiny human face, sleeping peacefully. Nogah leaned over Raziel’s shoulder, sniffing and listening to the child’s soft breathing with intrigue.

Raziel was not sure what he expected. Kain’s tales described Bane the Druid as a mountain of a man, savagely dressed in hide and bone, with the power to bend earth and beasts to his will. This child was hardly bigger than a kitten.

As lord of his clan, Raziel took no interest in humans until they reached an age where they could work in his palace, fight in the coliseum, or showed potential for the dark gift. In fact, he had killed children as young as this during the war without a second thought, under Kain’s orders no less. When he thought of how Janos would react at the sight of this child, and what he would say had he known the horrible actions of Raziel’s past, he felt guilty.

If only Janos could see her. When the Sarafan flaunted their kills a mere stone’s throw from his window, Janos had been forgiving, seeing ignorance where all others saw only malice. He had given Raziel unwavering faith no matter how many times he failed him. His patience and compassion made him a far better candidate to guide the new guardians. It should have been him standing here. He deserved it more.

Kain made a warm introduction. “Callisto, the first Nature Guardian in nearly two millennia. Hold out your arms, Raziel.”

“Kain, no -”

Kain passed the infant into his protesting arms regardless. He froze in terror as Kain manipulated his arms until he was holding her according to his terms. If left to his own devices he would have tried to hold her like a cat, his only frame of reference. Satisfied, Kain backed away, leaving him adrift with Callisto. It was like holding a damned bomb.

The child wriggled weakly in his arms with a mewing sound. Thankfully, she did not stir more than that. She felt unusually warm, more so than an adult human, and her swaddling smelled of Nosgoth’s dry wastes. Callisto had a peculiar scent of her own. She smelled startlingly sweet.

“Recall how you felt when you beheld Nosgoth’s natural splendor for the first time. Callisto is the seed of that forgotten world. With her the empire shall be reborn into a golden era of vitality, perhaps even greater than what came before. This is what your sacrifice was for. It is our legacy.”

Kain had a brilliant way with words. It was one of the reasons Raziel remained so fervently loyal to him, up until the end.

This poor child had no concept of the trials ahead. In some ways he valued the upbringing Kain gave him as a vampire, yet for all the strength and courage Kain instilled into his soul, he also filled his life with brutality, distrust and ultimately, agony. Kain built him up with one hand and tore him down with the other in a relentless cycle. He would do the same to her.

Janos would want him to stay. Recalling how Janos buried countless centuries of misery and loneliness to guard the Reaver for him, ultimately giving up his life to protect him, how could he rightfully refuse? Yet surely Janos would also agree he deserved a period of respite.

Kain smiled, quietly pleased. “Now you understand. I knew Callisto would show you the way.”

Raziel’s head throbbed. He was about to say something when Callisto hiccuped and started to cry, which abruptly grew to a piercing wail. A flame sparked at the forefront of Raziel’s mind. It was that horrible cat scream.

Sweetblood carried Callisto away, trying to calm her, meanwhile Raziel experienced a break in reality. The floor fell out from under him and the flames of the Abyss lashed at his feet. He saw Kain coming toward him, that terrible look in his eyes, reaching out to rip the bones from his wings and leapt back blindly, striking his elbow against the door and tripping over Nogah as he staggered into the hall. Kain’s talons caught his shoulder like hooks.

Everything went red. For a moment after the haze cleared he saw Kain standing less than a meter away, hand clutched to one side of his face, a thick red line dripping over the bridge of his nose. The injury was negligible. The rage in Kain’s eye was not.

Raziel crashed through an adjacent door. The force of the throw bounced him off the stone floor. He rolled a few feet, the suddenness and violence of the attack too great to recover from.

Just as he had gathered his bearings his ribs exploded in pain. Kain was upon him, kicking him viciously. Raziel curled into a ball, limbs tight against his body, wings tightest of all. Knowing only submission would satisfy, he surrendered to the thrashing until the blows subsided. Kain wrenched him up by his elbow and shoved him, stumbling into the center of the room.

This room was also part of the clans’ wing. Unlike Callisto’s room, it was barren.

“Now,” Kain growled, gruffly composing himself, “you will tell me what happened.”

Hunched over, clutching his arm, Raziel seethed. “You - “

“I know! Tell me what you saw.”

He clenched his jaw and straightened. Kain was right, it was pointless to chastise him. Worse, it might earn him a second beating. “That girl is in peril. I think the other guardians may be as well.”

“What peril?”

The words crumpled on his tongue. He stepped back. “I… I don’t know. When she started to cry I suddenly realized I knew her. She came from a nightmare. There were others too, seven children wailing and plummeting into a lake of fire - and I among them. We all burned up in the flames. And the Pillars… my god, the Pillars…”

He trailed off. Kain’s umbrage died, simply died like an insect. The change in Kain’s demeanor frightened him more than his wrath ever could. A long silence settled between them.

“What are we to do?”

“I…” What should he say? That Kain cast his fellow guardians into the fire? Raziel pushed his claws through his hair, gripping his head. “Kain, I… I do not know how to interpret these visions. You unraveled the riddle of my fate before. How do I understand?”

“I saw only what Moebius allowed me to see. The rest I pieced together on my own through centuries of study into Nosgoth’s past. I never predicted the future,” Kain replied solemnly, eyes downcast. He looked at Raziel after a pause. “This is your Pillar. Think carefully. Do not rush.”

Raziel’s mind drew a blank. Each time he tried to analyze his dream his mind flashed back to the scene of his execution and dissolved his progress in a whirlpool of nausea. Only violence seemed certain, violence and betrayal and death. There had to be some way to make the picture clearer. If only he could escape this den of bitter memories.

An idea came to him. “I need to go to the Oracle’s Cave. If I am who you say I am then perhaps something there will elucidate my dream.”

Kain folded his arms pensively. His brow furrowed. “That may not be possible for some time. I have much to attend to and cannot spare any of my guards to accompany you. You’ll just have to find another way.”

As if protecting him was Kain’s first priority. “Very well, I’m perfectly capable of flying alone.”

“Denied. You’re too weak for such a long flight.”

“The winds are strong this time of year. If I start from a high place I can ride them all the way to the mountains with hardly any effort on my part.”

“And you shall find yourself stranded in a cold wasteland dry of blood with miles of Zillahim and Dumahim remnant between yourself and Sanctuary. The flight is arduous even in bat form, I know, I’ve done it dozens of times, you not once. You must stay here where it is safe.”

“Safe?” Raziel almost laughed. “You barely restrained from breaking my ribs. This place is prison.”

“If you were my prisoner, you would know it.”

“I suppose you’d lock me underground, perhaps slice off my wings for good measure. I’d leave Nosgoth to burn out of spite for you.”

Kain only scowled. Perhaps he regretted teaching Raziel to resist torture in preparation for Nosgoth’s conquest so many centuries ago. Emboldened, Raziel pressed, “How much time do you suppose we have? A few days, a month? These portents may come true within the hour for all anyone could say!”

There came no snappy reply this time. He looked like someone trying to swallow a small caltrop. When he did speak every word felt like a barricade against his rage. “You still have no idea how much Nosgoth has changed. These walls are all that protect us from the ten thousand bloodthirsty maws of this shattered empire yet our continued existence depends upon the Rahabim and Zephonim. My only bargaining chips for slaves and trade are the sharpness of my blade and the hope of the Pillar guardians. That includes you. If either of us makes a fatal error it all falls apart. The Circle will never form, Nosgoth will never heal, and it shall be as you saw.”

“I assure you this vision was not born from one of my mistakes, Kain.”

“This is no longer up for debate!”

“Because you would have to kill me to stop me.”

It was too late to take back his words. Kain advanced upon him, stopping just inches from his face. “Is that how you see it? After all I’ve done for you… Fine. Go. You have five days, starting now. If you have not returned by sundown on the fifth day I will find you and I will drag you back here bloody and broken. Pray you bring answers.”

Raziel held his tongue. He remained steadfast until Kain left the room. Now he wondered how he ever imagined they could part ways peacefully. Sadly, this caustic separation was only temporary. With the Nature Guardian already in Kain’s possession Raziel did not doubt his claim to sense the locations of the other Circle members.

He found Nogah standing alone in the hall, looking worn and defeated. His sire had taken out words on her, too. “Kain wishes me to escort you to the armory. You do not need to do this. If you give him time, he may cool down.”

“What’s done is done. I want to leave while he’s given me the chance.”

[beowulf22121]

Thinking about the Last Airbender timeline.

Imagine the ocean based earthbender prison break if Katara was late game power levels. Is there a firebender in the world that would even look at her sideways in the middle of the ocean?

Now imagine the prison break if it was Toph and Sokka right after the swordsman gave him self worth. You want to take a bunch of prisoners on a metal island, with metal boats, and stop the metal bender from freeing everyone?

Boiling rock? Same thing. If they ended up there sooner the entire crew would have gone. Toph would have diverted the magma tunnels by bending new tunnels away from the center of the volcano. Katara would have been blasting guards with steam. Aang would have ridden an updraft to the moon and spent the episode trying to get back down.

I want an Avatar videogame where you can take late game powers and redo early game plotlines.

[pokedexunit-c281a]

Gigantamax!

GIGANTAMAX MEOWTH

HEIGHT: over 108'3″

It has an elongated body and a giant, shiny coin

Gigantamaxing has caused Meowth’s body to stretch to astounding lengths, and the coin on its head has also become massive. The giant coin can emit a torrent of Gigantamax power, filling the surrounding area with a powerful golden gleam.

It can cause tremendous damage when it sharpens its claws

Meowth loves shiny objects, and when it sees skyscrapers lined with glass, it won’t be able to resist the urge to sharpen its claws on them. This behavior can cause considerable damage, such as wearing down the exterior walls and breaking windows.

The G-Max Move G-Max Gold Rush

Normal-type attacks used by Gigantamax Meowth will change to G-Max Gold Rush. G-Max Gold Rush deals damage to opponents, of course, but that’s not all! It will also scatter coins all over the area, giving you a considerable in-game cash bonus after the battle!

---

GIGANTAMAX DREDNAW

You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy!

HEIGHT: over 78'9"

It crushes opponents with its massive body

The power of Gigantamaxing has allowed it to stand on its hind legs and become bipedal! From its standing position, it can come crashing down on opposing Pokémon and crush them with its massive body!

It has the strength to punch holes through rocky mountains

Drednaw normally keeps its neck retracted within its shell, but when it attacks, it can rapidly shoot its neck out. Its jaws are also incredibly strong, capable of easily biting through huge metal towers. The strength of its jaws combined with the force of its neck gives Drednaw the power to punch a hole through a rocky mountain in a single strike.

G-Max Move: G-Max Stonesurge

Water-type moves used by Gigantamax Drednaw will change to G-Max Stonesurge. G-Max Stonesurge doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent—it will scatter sharp rocks around the opponent and cause Pokémon entering the battlefield to take damage!

---

GIGANTAMAX CORVIKNIGHT

HEIGHT: over 45'11"

Reinforced body armor

Corviknight uses its massive wings to catch updrafts created by Gigantamax energy to hover in the air while it battles. The armor on its body has been reinforced, so attacks from Pokémon on the ground barely have any effect on it!

Independently flying blade birds

Gigantamax energy has caused the armor covering Corviknight’s wings to separate and become blade birds, capable of flying independently. Corviknight launches these blade birds at the target, using them to slash its opponents.

G-Max Move: G-Max Wind Rage

Flying-type moves used by Gigantamax Corviknight will change to G-Max Wind Rage. G-Max Wind Rage deals damage to an opponent, but that’s not all—it will also remove any effects of moves like Reflect, Light Screen, Spikes, and Electric Terrain that the opponents may have!

--

GIGANTAMAX ALCREMIE

You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy.

HEIGHT: over 98'5"

Its creamy body is resistant to shock

The cream pouring out of its body hardens when subjected to impacts—the stronger the impact, the harder it becomes. This gives Alcremie a truly impressive resistance to physical attacks. Additionally, the giant “Berry” decorations on Alcremie’s body are as hard as diamonds, and it’s said that most attacks won’t even be able to leave a scratch.

Super high-calorie missiles

Alcremie will launch high-calorie cream missiles around itself to attack its opponents. Any Pokémon that touches this cream will be filled with energy and euphoria but at the same time will fall into a state of complete confusion.

G-Max Move: G-Max Finale

Fairy-type moves used by Gigantamax Alcremie will change to G-Max Finale. G-Max Finale will heal all Pokémon on Alcremie’s side while dealing damage to an opponent!

--

GIGANTAMAX PIKACHU

HEIGHT: over 68'11"

Its tail stores electricity and is super powerful

All the electricity it generates in the sacs in its cheeks is stored in its tail. In battle, it will strike opponents with its tail and send a jolt of electricity through them as great as any lightning strike!

It can generate far more electricity than before

It’s become so powerful that now it can produce enough electricity to rival a power plant! However, using this electricity to help power people’s homes seems difficult, as Pikachu can only remain Gigantamaxed for a short time.

The G-Max Move G-Max Volt Crash

Electric-type moves used by Gigantamax Pikachu will change to G-Max Volt Crash. G-Max Volt Crash not only deals damage but also paralyzes all opponents!

--

GIGANTAMAX EEVEE

HEIGHT: over 59'1"

Its luscious fur will enamor its opponents

The fur around its neck has become extra fluffy and luxurious thanks to Gigantamax power. Any opponent caught in this fur becomes enamored with Eevee and loses the will to fight.

Truly overwhelming playfulness

Gigantamaxing has caused Eevee to become more rambunctious than ever, and it will attempt to play with any opponent. However, it often ends up crushing its opponent due to its massive size.

The G-Max Move G-Max Cuddle

Normal-type attacks used by Gigantamax Eevee will change to G-Max Cuddle. G-Max Cuddle doesn’t only deal damage when it hits—any opponent that is the opposite gender of Eevee will become infatuated!

--

GIGANTAMAX CHARIZARD

You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy!

HEIGHT: over 91'10"

It has a blazing fire inside its body

The flames inside its body have become stronger, and now fire erupts from its mouth and horns in addition to its tail. It seems that the strength of the flames increases when Charizard roars.

Its flaming wings sear any opponent

Charizard’s flames have become enhanced with Gigantamax power and now form wings on its back. These wings are hotter than magma, and Charizard can fire them off to scorch its opponents!

The G-Max Move G-Max Wildfire

Fire-type attacks used by Gigantamax Charizard will change to G-Max Wildfire. G-Max Wildfire doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent when it hits—it will also continue to deal damage for four turns to any Pokémon that isn’t Fire type!

--

GIGANTAMAX BUTTERFREE

HEIGHT: over 55'9"

Its scales release a blinding light

Its most notable feature is its blinding wings, which have grown to gigantic proportions. The light of its wings comes from their scales, which can inflict paralysis, poisoning, or sleep on its opponents. These scales are Butterfree’s most effective weapons!

Its massive wings can generate tremendous winds

Butterfree’s vast wings can stir up a wind strong enough to lift a 10-ton truck, just by flapping. This wind also scatters poisonous scales around the area, so simply being near this Pokémon is very dangerous.

The G-Max Move G-Max Befuddle

Bug-type attacks used by Gigantamax Butterfree will change to G-Max Befuddle. G-Max Befuddle doesn’t only deal damage—it will also scatter scales around opponents and cause them to become poisoned, become paralyzed, or fall asleep!

--

GIGANTAMAX SNORLAX HAS BEEN DISCOVERED!

We now know that there are special Snorlax among the Snorlax that you can find living in the Galar region. These Snorlax are capable of Gigantamaxing! When Gigantamaxed, these special Snorlax gain a different appearance than regular Dynamax Snorlax, and they can also unleash a G-Max Move called G-Max Replenish.

TYPE: Normal

ABILITYI: mmunity / Thick Fat

HEIGHT: 114'10"+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

It’s grown huge—as have the leftovers of its meals

The Berry seeds and small rocks that were tangled in its belly fur have undergone explosive growth thanks to the power of Gigantamaxing. With a tree sprouting upon its belly, this gigantic form of Snorlax has the majesty of a great mountain.

Unshakeable strength

Whether because of the great weight of its stomach or its unchanged natural disposition, this Gigantamax Pokémon almost never moves. When the time comes to do battle, it lifts its upper body by just a tiny amount and attacks by flailing with its arms and legs. At first glance, you might think it’s not very serious about battling—but these actions pack a tremendous punch. In fact, Gigantamax Snorlax is said to be one of the strongest Dynamax Pokémon discovered.

The G-Max Move G-Max Replenish

When Snorlax is Gigantamaxed, its Normal-type attacks will be transformed into G-Max Replenish. G-Max Replenish doesn’t merely deal damage to targets—it can also restore any Berries that Gigantamax Snorlax’s allies have eaten during the battle!

--

GIGANTAMAX CENTISKORCH

You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy!

TYPE: Fire/Bug

ABILITY: Flash Fire / White Smoke

HEIGHT: 246'1"+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

A hundred legs support its startling speed

The number of segments in Centiskorch’s body increases due to the influx of Gigantamax power, as does the number of its legs—there are now one hundred of them! With these legs, Gigantamax Centiskorch is capable of astounding speeds despite its massive size.

Now it can really turn up the heat

Centiskorch’s firepower has increased significantly. Its internal temperature now exceeds 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough that opponents are burnt from just the heat waves coming off the Pokémon. It seems that the radiant heat from Centiskorch can even disturb air currents so much that it causes storms to form!

The G-Max Move G-Max Centiferno

Fire-type attacks used by Gigantamax Centiskorch will change to G-Max Centiferno. G-Max Centiferno doesn’t only deal damage to opponents when it hits. It will also cause them to be trapped within a firestorm that will deal continuous damage to them every turn for 4 to 5 turns. The firestorm will also prevent opponents from fleeing or being swapped out!

==

GIGANTAMAX SANDACONDA

You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy!

TYPE:Ground

ABILITY: Sand Spit / Shed Skin

HEIGHT: 72'2"+

Like a terrifyingly large tornado

The sand that was once stored up in its sand pouch has overflowed and now forms a ring around Sandaconda’s neck. Together with the additional sand the Pokémon has spun up around it, there is over a million tons of sand now swirling around Gigantamax Sandaconda! To observers, it looks like a terrifyingly large tornado.

High-speed spinning

Gigantamax Sandaconda attacks by spinning its body at high speeds in battle, which causes the sand surrounding it to also spin at extreme speeds. The destructive force of this sharp grit is increased by the rotation and inflicts massive damage on those it touches.

The G-Max Move G-Max Sandblast

Ground-type attacks used by Gigantamax Sandaconda will change to G-Max Sandblast. G-Max Sandblast doesn’t only deal damage to opponents when it hits. It will also cause them to be trapped within a tomb of sand that damages them every turn for 4 to 5 turns. It prevents them from fleeing or being swapped out, too.

--

GIGANTAMAX TOXTRICITY

You can catch Gigantamax Pokémon for your team by participating in Max Raid Battles, but it seems they’re very rare—finding one won’t be easy!

TYPE: Electric/Poison

ABILITY: Punk Rock / Plus / Minus

HEIGHT: 78'9"+

Poisonous liquid

It stores electricity within its body like a thundercloud. It also stores a huge amount of poison, said to be as much as one million liters. Every time Toxtricity moves, poisonous liquid gushes out and pours down on opponents like acid rain.

Its voltage reaches the max

During battle, it attacks by slamming a gigantic mass of electricity down upon an opponent with all its might. This mass is made up of the tremendous amount of electricity Toxtricity has stored up. The momentum involved in the full swing of Toxtricity’s gigantic body—on top of the already-powerful electricity—is great enough to create a huge crater in the ground.

The G-Max Move G-Max Stun Shock

Electric-type moves used by Gigantamax Toxtricity will change to G-Max Stun Shock. G-Max Stun Shock not only deals damage but also poisons or paralyzes all opponents!

--

GIGANTAMAX INTELEON

CATEGORY: Secret Agent Pokémon

TYPE: Water

HEIGHT: 131'3"+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

ABILITY: Torrent

Its towering long tail

Inteleon has gained an extremely long tail thanks to Gigantamaxing. The tail’s length is said to be over 130 feet. While Gigantamaxed, Inteleon will stretch its long tail out and hold it straight to form a pillar, and Inteleon will take up a battle position at the top. This Pokémon has an incredibly sharp mind and calculates the precise effects that gravity will have on the trajectory of its shots, enabling it to be an extremely effective sniper.

Enhanced espionage tools

Inteleon has many hidden tools within its body, and these have also been enhanced due to its Gigantamaxing. The nictitating membranes on its eyes not only allow it to measure the distance to the target—they now let Inteleon detect temperature, air pressure, and even humidity! Inteleon is a skilled sniper as well—easily hitting a Berry that’s rolling around over nine miles away!

G-Max Move: G-Max Hydrosnipe

Water-type attacks used by Gigantamax Inteleon will change to G-Max Hydrosnipe.

G-Max Hydrosnipe is a move with extremely high power. Inteleon will take aim from on top of its towering tail, gathering water at its fingertip before blasting it at the opponent. The water is launched with such force and speed that it causes a huge explosion when it hits and packs a greater punch than other Max Moves! This move also ignores any effects of the target’s Ability.

--

GIGANTAMAX CINDERACE

CATEGORY: Striker Pokémon

TYPE: Fire

HEIGHT: 88'7"+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

ABILITY: Blaze

A gigantic Pyro Ball

The burning ball at Cinderace’s feet has grown to massive proportions thanks to Gigantamax energy. If Gigantamax Cinderace kicks the ball using its well-honed techniques, its fighting spirit will possess the ball and cause the ball to pursue opponents as if it had a mind of its own.

Outstanding leg strength

Gigantamax Cinderace boasts incredible leg strength—in fact, its legs are said to rank among the strongest of all Pokémon! Even without its gigantic Pyro Ball, it can deliver powerful kicking moves that overwhelm other Dynamax Pokémon.

G-Max Move: G-Max Fireball

Fire-type attacks used by Gigantamax Cinderace will change to G-Max Fireball.

G-Max Fireball is an extremely powerful move where Cinderace will use its strong legs to kick a gigantic fireball at the opponent, causing an explosion when the fireball hits! This move is more powerful than other Max Moves and can also ignore any effects of the target’s Ability.

--

GIGANTAMAX RILLABOOM

CATEGORY: Drummer Pokémon

TYPE: Grass

HEIGHT: 91'10"+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

ABILITY: Overgrow

A forest of drums

Rillaboom’s tree-stump drum has grown rapidly—to the point that it now resembles a small forest on its own. Gigantamax Rillaboom has merged with this forest of drums and become even more powerful. It can control its sticks as if they were its own limbs, and it will demonstrate transcendental drumming techniques.

Beats that can cross seas

Gigantamax Rillaboom will focus completely on playing its drums, compelled by the power welling up inside it. The sound can reach across oceans and be heard by those living in other regions. It’s said that those who hear the beat will begin to dance uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a rhythm that surges up from inside them.

G-Max Move: G-Max Drum Solo

Grass-type attacks used by Gigantamax Rillaboom will change to G-Max Drum Solo.

G-Max Drum Solo is an extremely powerful move where Rillaboom strikes up a beat with the sticks on its hands and elegantly controls tree roots with its spectacular drumming skill. It will then make these tree roots erupt from beneath the opponent, dealing massive damage!

This move is more powerful than other Max Moves and can also ignore any effects of the target’s Ability.

--

GIGANTAMAX MELMETAL

TYPE: Steel

HEIGHT: 82’+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

ABILITY: Iron Fist

Hex-nut fists on telescoping arms

Melmetal can use its flexible and elastic liquid-metal body to land punches even when opponents keep their distance. What’s more, it can pack an even bigger punch by bringing the hex nuts in its arms together to make gigantic fists!

Electric beams fired from a hex nut

Melmetal can generate electricity using the flow of liquid metal in its body. That electricity charges up particles that Melmetal then fires from the hole in the hex nut in its abdomen. The resulting electric beam is powerful enough to vaporize an entire hill.

The G-Max Move: G-Max Meltdown

Steel-type attacks used by Gigantamax Melmetal will change to G-Max Meltdown.

G-Max Meltdown is a superpowerful move that slams opponents with shock waves and swirling liquid metal. This move doesn’t only deal damage to opponents—it also prevents them from using the same move consecutively!

--

GIGANTAMAX BLASTOISE

TYPE: Water

HEIGHT: 82'+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

ABILITY: Torrent

An extra-large shell with extra-large water cannons!

Blastoise’s shell has grown to match its body, and it boasts new extra-large water cannons as well. Gigantamax Blastoise can adapt to different situations by using different combinations of its 31 variously sized cannons. In battle, it doesn’t bother to aim. Instead, it fires dynamic, powerful torrents from multiple cannons to overwhelm opponents.

A superpowerful main cannon!

The main cannon on the center of Blastoise's shell is staggeringly powerful. Legend says this cannon has blasted holes into mountains. Gigantamax Blastoise can also move the 12 large cannons surrounding its central cannon independently, letting it orient its attacks in any direction, whether toward the ground or the sky.

The G-Max: Move G-Max Cannonade

Water-type attacks used by Gigantamax Blastoise will change to G-Max Cannonade.

G-Max Cannonade doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent when it hits—it will continue to deal damage for four turns to any Pokémon that isn’t Water type!

--

GIGANTAMAX VENUSAUR

TYPE: Grass/Poison

HEIGHT: 78'9"+

WEIGHT: ????.? lbs.

ABILITY: Overgrow

A massive blossom covers the Pokémon’s body!

The power of Gigantamaxing has made Venusaur’s flower bloom so large that it covers the Pokémon’s body. The flower’s petals are extremely thick and springy enough to repel halfhearted attacks.

During battle, the Pokémon uses these petals as a shield and swings its two thick vines around to attack its target.

Enormous amounts of pollen erupt from its blossom!

The flower on the Pokémon’s back spews so much pollen that it resembles a volcanic eruption. Inhaling the pollen can cause uncontrollable sneezing, and breathing in too much of it can even cause fainting. However, the pollen also stimulates plant growth. Places where the pollen falls are said to grow thick with large plants.

The G-Max Move: G-Max Vine Lash

Grass-type attacks used by Gigantamax Venusaur will change to G-Max Vine Lash.

G-Max Vine Lash doesn’t just deal damage to an opponent when it hits—it will continue to deal damage for four turns to any Pokémon that isn’t Grass type!

--

[rintezukas]

fungus that propagates around lava flows and intentionally traps its spores in magma bubbles as a means of overwintering, the bubbles shattering from the heat during the next lava flow and the trapped spores catching the updraft and scattering everywhere, people carving off and polishing cooled magma bubbles to shatter in bonfires to watch the spores fly up in a huge burst before landing and establishing themselves around the fire

[fabrowrites]

Skyward Chapter 4: Take a Breath of Myth and Mystery

Chapter 3

'We've waited for Cole long enough. I say we go on ourselves.'

Of course, Zane couldn't actually understand the dragon, but he had a feeling his interpretations were accurate. Again he studied the dragon's posture, trying to decipher the various tells of his body language.

"You believe we should move on?" He was rewarded with a fervent nod. The dragon's wings were twitching. Hmm, impatience? He added it to his ever-growing list.

The sky was lightening through the trees, streaks of pale orange coloring the deep blue. The soft twittering of birds merely accented the hushed spell cast over the forest.

So the bellow that shattered the stillness was jarring. Zane whipped around, heartbeat fluttering erratically. Movement caught his eye. He perceived a flash, and then the forest fell dark and silent once more. We must have been closer to the road than I thought, he absently noted. A tap on his shoulder sent his pulse spiking again.

"Jay?" The lightning dragon looked repentant, his wings drooping. "Sorry, you startled me, that's all."

He nodded, wings lifting again as he clawed away fallen needles.

THAT WAS COLE ID RECOGNIZE HIS SCREAM ANYWHERE

"Are you sure?"

The dragon gave him a look, but it was enough to assure Zane. Jay tended to babble when he was doubtful or lying. But that led to another question. Why would Cole turn into a dragon? While he thought, he started towards the road.

The sight that greeted his eyes was one he'd seen before, right before the skeletons vanished to the Underworld. A wrecked vehicle, deep tread marks imprinted into the damp earth. Only this time, there were no tracks leading away from the crash site. He frowned.

"Jay, how did you transform?"

The dragon went to write, but he froze in his movements.

I SPINJITZUED

The pieces clicked together. Zane pursed his lips, feeling a headache coming on.

"And you didn't think to alert me or Cole of that fact?"

I WAS EXCITED OKAY

There was no use in dwelling on the past. Zane focused himself on what was ahead: namely, the temple. "What's done is done. We need to continue to the Fire Temple. Cole will know where to find us."

The temple was a black mass against the morning sky. Low growls echoed from the volcano. As Zane drew near, he picked up the sounds of scratching as well. He turned to Jay.

"I sense that another member of our party might be in your situation."

Jay nodded. He tilted his head back and screeched. His call sounded more like a bird's than anything else, and Zane didn't understand why Cole had been afraid of it. Then again, he didn't understand much about other humans in general.

Thus, why he'd taken to studying body language.

The scratching stopped. There was another call from inside -this one slightly deeper and more throatier- and Jay's ears perked.

ITS KAI

That much was obvious, but Zane decided not to say anything. "How do we reach him?" he asked instead.

Jay and Kai exchanged several more remarks.

HE SAYS THE DOOR IS BLOCKED AND THE ONLY OTHER WAY OUT IS TO FALL DOWN A LAVAFALL

They needed a way in, not a way out. Zane frowned. How does one enter a volcano?

"Jay? Would you ask him if he is able to see any gaps that might lead into a tunnel?"

Evidently, Kai could hear him. The fire ninja's reply came before Jay could ask.

HE CAN

Zane studied the volcano. He had an idea, but he would need to make some adjustments before it would work.

"So you're saying that you've been training as a secret ninja warrior for the past few months, learning an ancient martial art that just so happens to have the side effect of turning you into a dragon?"

Well when you put it that way… Kai snorted, but nodded his head regardless. He perched beside the magma pools, surrounded by the kanji scratches littering the floor and walls. It had taken some thinking to get his sister to trust him, but after he thought to write out his words communication was much simpler.

YEAH BASICALLY

Nya sighed. "Honestly, Kai."

I DIDNT MEAN FOR THE DRAGON PART TO HAPPEN

"You never mean for things to happen!"

THATS TRUE

Nya said something else, but her words were drowned out by the cry from outside. Kai whipped his head around, automatically twisting it to triangulate the sounds. Was that… Jay?

"Kai? Are you in there?"

It was! Kai scrambled to his feet. He bolted towards the temple entrance, skidding to a stop just short of crashing into the rocks.

"Jay! I'm here!"

"Kai? Where are you going? What's that?"

Kai didn't have the time to stop and scratch out a reply. Jay was speaking again, and it took all his concentration to make out the words.

"Oh my gosh, I can't believe I'm a dragon! And you're a dragon too! I finally have someone else who can actually understand me! Wait, how do I get in? I might be too big for the door!"

"Doesn't matter anyways, the door is blocked." Kai groaned, slouching against the wall.

"Is there any other way in?"

"Well, Sensei said there were other ways. That was right before he tumbled over the edge of a river of lava."

"What? Sensei fell into lava? Is he dead? Ohmygosh, he's dead!"

"He's not dead!" Kai said, before Jay could work himself up into even more of a frenzy. "He knew what he was doing. He was on a rock."

"A rock. That's not the most reassuring, Kai!"

"Well sorry!"

There was a pause, and Kai became aware of a second voice from outside.

"Jay? Would you ask him if he is able to see any gaps that might lead into a tunnel?"

Kai glanded around the cavern. Indeed, there were many cracks and dips in the volcano's walls. Some of them looked deep enough to lead outside.

"I can!"

Things feel silent then. Kai turned back to Nya, who watched him with a befuddled expression.

ITS MY TEAMMATES

A look of understanding passed over her face. "They're dragons too?"

I GUESS

Scraping noises came from the walls, followed by the sounds of tapping claws and hissed groans. Then two creatures tumbled into the cavern. They were dusted with a fine red powder. The blue one shook the color off himself and Kai took the opertunity to study his teammates.

The blue one was bigger than him, but that wasn't saying much. Jay only stood a head or two higher than Nya, and Kai himself was nearly on eye level with her. The white one- Zane- was even smaller than Kai, about half a head shorter. Someone was conspicuously absent, however.

"Where's Cole?"

"He, uh, hewenttotheunderworld."

"What Jay means to say is that Cole was unaware that spinjitzuing led to transformation. He attacked skeleton warriors and vanished to the Underworld."

A sickening sense of dread settled in Kai's stomach. First Sensei Wu, and now Cole? "We have to go and rescue them!"

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that? Last I checked, we couldn't even fly-"

"I can, sorta."

"What?"

Kai shrugged. "I can glide across the pools, at least." He took a step back, pushed off, and waited for the thermal updrafts to carry him across the chamber. "Once I'm actually in the air, it's like my body instinctively knows what to do."

"Woah, that's so cool! I wanna try."

Jay's takeoff was shaky, but as soon as he caught the updrafts it was like he was a whole new dragon. He was great all the way up until the landing when he crashed into the wall.

There was a tap at Kai's shoulder. He tuned out Jay's happy chatter and focused on his sister.

"What's the matter?" Nya asked.

Kai had to hand it to her. He couldn't think of anyone else who could be so calm when surrounded by dragons, even if said dragons were your brother and his friends.

WE NEED TO GET TO UNDERWORLD TO SAVE FRIENDS

"Woah, that's your sister?" Jay had come back around the magma pools.

Kai snarled. "Jay!" He whacked him with his tail.

"Aren't dragons able to pass between realms?" Nya said, studiously ignoring the chaos around her.

"She's right," Zane said. "In the legends, dragons were not of one world and therefore could dwell in both of them."

It felt like the temperatures had plummeted. Kai knew the legends, of course. Dragons were hunted for their magical powers and the honor and riches beyond imagining that came with felling one.

Kai had grown up on these stories, often cheering on the valiant warrior who slew the beast. Not he felt sick. Were those dragons people once, too? Was his destiny like theirs, to die at the hands of an unrespectful hunter?

Nya brought him out of his daze. "Kai? Kai! Are you okay?"

He couldn't breathe. He couldn't breathe! He opened his mouth and coughed, each breath warming his throat. Then it was like his body was back to normal, the ache in his chest gone.

IM OKAY

Nya gave him a look.

IM FINE NOW

Honestly, he was! Kai turned to the other two dragons, ignoring their concern. "I think the smoke's affecting my lungs," he said.

Zane didn't press, but Kai thought that he didn't believe him. The white dragon exhaled.

"If speed is the key to entering the Underworld, then we will need to fly."

Chapter 5