The Lost Kingdom | Nova Terra Chronicles

The arena crackled with heat and static.

Mars and Pluto were gone. Solira's body laid still.

But Pyrelux, Veltra, Lysa, and a staggering Orin stood their ground against three of the most powerful divine beings to ever grace the sands: Juno, Neptune, and Jupiter.

Jupiter's shield glowed with divine radiance, arcs of lightning crawling over it like wild serpents. With a thunderous yell, he charged up another bolt, divine wrath building in the skies above. His eyes locked on Pyrelux, determined to end the flame-born warrior once and for all.

Pyrelux began to run, instincts flaring, the energy in his legs propelling him to the side. But it wasn't enough.

The bolt flew in a direct line. It was like a death sentence.

But before it could reach its mark--

Orin stepped in.

With a warcry that echoed across the arena, the worn-out tank slammed his shield into the sand, and it grew--doubling in size, light erupting from its frame. He yelled louder, forcing everything he had left into one final stand.

The lightning hit.

It punched through the shield, through Orin, and still burned through the air behind him.

His knees buckled. And with that, the great defender fell.

"...go get them, Branty..." he whispered with a ghost of a smile, collapsing with a loud thud.

Pyrelux's eyes narrowed.

The flame in his chest blazed hotter.

He took off, boots shattering the ground behind him. Lysa followed--but not as fast--her twin pistols locked and ready. Veltra surged behind them both, determination boiling behind her teary eyes.

Ahead, Juno stepped forward, pulling from her pocket-void a gleaming spear and shield, radiant with divine craftsmanship.

She met them halfway.

Veltra gritted her teeth. "She's mine."

Pyrelux nodded and veered off toward Jupiter.

But Neptune, catching Pyrelux's path, slashed with his trident to intercept him.

RATATATATAT!

Lysa unleashed a storm of bullets toward Neptune, forcing him to summon walls of high-pressure water to slow and absorb the barrage. He cursed under his breath, retreating to avoid being overwhelmed.

Veltra's staff spun like a cyclone, slamming into Juno's shield with bone-cracking force. The divine warrior skidded backward, sandals digging trenches into the arena floor.

But then--

Lightning cracked again.

Jupiter's bolt flew--not toward Pyrelux, but toward Lysa.

It struck her through the stomach, yellow lightning bursting out of her back. She stopped with her breath caught as her pistols fell from her hands.

"...L-Lysa?" Veltra gasped, one eye twitching.

Yellow sparks exploded from her left eye.

"NOT AGAIN!" Veltra screamed, clutching her face. "Why am I still not strong enough?!"

Pyrelux turned mid-step, startled--as something has changed.

Veltra's staff glowed. No longer the modest weapon of a battle mage, it lengthened, the runes along it pulsing with ancient flame.

Her hair flared behind her like a banner of war.

Her armor morphed--gold and crimson weaving across her limbs, layered like divine armor and silk. The bright aura around her made even Pyrelux feel like he was standing in front of a the sun.

"RUN WITH ME, PYRE!" she roared.

Together, they charged.

Veltra spun her new staff once--one great, sweeping arc--and the force behind it flung Juno and Neptune backward like ragdolls, crashing into the arena walls with seismic shockwaves.

Jupiter, unfazed, raised his shield and charged his final bolt, but this one was massive, buzzing like a god's wrath incarnate.

He released it.

Veltra didn't flinch. With a single, flaming swing, she batted the divine lightning aside, splitting it into two arcs that scorched the sky.

In that brief moment--

Pyrelux appeared behind Jupiter.

"Forrrr!! Solira!!!"

His blade ignited brighter than the sun.

One clean cut through Jupiter's back. Out his chest and fire following the trail like a burning thread.

Jupiter gasped--then dropped to his knees, then onto his face. His shield hitting the ground with a final, ringing clang.

The arena fell still.

The crowd, stunned into silence, erupted.

FLAMMA had won.

Orin's body lay still, smiling in the dirt.

Solira's name glowed on the Flamebound Blade, as Pyrelux's Vow to redeem her had been fulfilled.

And as the flames crackled across the sand, Pyrelux lowered his sword and walked toward Lysa, whose eyes opened weakly.

"Did we... win?" she asked.

"...Yeah," Pyrelux said, kneeling beside her. "We did."

Veltra stood behind them, bloodied and breathless, with tears in her eyes.

Round Two had just begun.

And FLAMMA had burned brighter than any star.

As Veltra, had become Enlightened... as The Great Sage.