The ritual thundered toward completion.
Raw elemental force whipped through the chamber, converging into the void at the center of the floor—an absence of light shaped like a snare, a vortex engineered to imprison creation itself. Lightning spiraled through it. Water froze on its edges. Shadows curled inside like hungry serpents.
And in the heart of this formation hung Mira, suspended by storm chains that hummed with Tempestron's arrogance.
She watched the Lords complete their circle, each one feeding power into the trap, each caught in the glow—or the illusion—of their own ego.
Tempestron raised both arms.
"Lords of the Elements," he declared, "for too long we have been bound by rules forged in the age of origin. For too long we have relied on sigils—mute, immovable relics of creation—to fuel our rightful dominion."
Lightning crawled up his sleeves. His ring glowed so brightly it left afterimages.
"But today, we take the first step toward liberation. Toward sovereignty."
Pyronyx slammed a fist into her palm, flames erupting. "Finally."
Terragorn inclined his head solemnly. "Let the realms tremble."
Myrraline remained tense, waves rippling with unease.
Aetherion floated higher, eyes unfocused, as though tracing the threads of a thousand futures all fraying toward the same point.
Umbrakrell smiled faintly—an expression barely there, but unmistakably anticipating the hunt.
And Solmara…
Solmara's expression did not match the others.
She watched Tempestron closely, arms folded, mind grinding through logic so fast her eyes shimmered with data.
Tempestron continued, pacing along the circle.
"The Golden Dragon is our solution. A creature of infinite regenerative creation. The last of its kind. A power that never diminishes—only resets, replenishes, rebirths."
He gestured to the dormant sigil stones embedded in the chamber walls.
"These relics no longer surge with what they once held. They have slumbered for ages—because the lineage of creation has diminished."
He turned sharply toward Mira.
"Until now."
Mira bared her teeth. "Danny will destroy you."
Tempestron stepped toward her, each footfall a crackle of stormfire.
"Oh, I hope he tries," he whispered. "But he will not be fighting to win. He will be fighting to reach you."
The storm chains vibrated as Mira strained against them. Sparks snapped across her fur.
Solmara stepped closer—not to free her, but to observe.
"Tempestron," she said quietly, "your plan assumes a Golden Dragon can be contained. Even in our combined power, that is… uncertain."
Tempestron turned, smirking. "Solmara, wise as ever… yet blind to opportunity."
"I see opportunity," she replied evenly. "I do not see wisdom in hubris."
Pyronyx scoffed. "She's afraid."
Solmara didn't blink. "Fear is a tool for calculation. Something you lack."
"ENOUGH," Tempestron barked.
The storm overhead crackled.
He turned to address all of them.
"The Golden Dragon will soon arrive. And when he does, our combined rings will bind him. His flame will feed the dormant sigils. His essence will become our source of eternal might."
Terragorn raised a massive hand.
"And if he breaks free?"
Tempestron's grin was feral. "He won't."
Aetherion's brows knit, the first hint of concern crossing his usually distant features.
"The pattern… frays at the edges," he murmured. "There are outcomes… branches… that burn too bright to track."
"Then focus elsewhere," Tempestron snapped.
Myrraline stepped forward now, waves rippling harder. "This is a dangerous path. Even Bones warned that creation cannot be chained."
Solmara stiffened. "Bones warned you?"
Tempestron lifted his chin. "He warned, yes. But he also provided the means—the rings, the designs, the plans."
Solmara felt something cold drag its fingers down her spine. Bones was not a being to trust. Ever.
But the others didn't see it.
Or didn't care.
Pyronyx cracked her knuckles. "Let creation tremble."
Aetherion spoke without turning. "Let destiny rewrite."
Umbrakrell whispered, "Let the shadows feast."
Terragorn bowed his head. "Let the cosmos shift."
Tempestron smiled triumphantly. "Let the Golden Dragon fall."
Only Solmara hesitated.
Her ring shone, but her eyes dimmed in doubt.
Inside the lattice, Mira felt a scream trying to claw its way out of her throat.
"Danny," she whispered, voice trembling, "don't walk into this. Don't—"
Her chains tightened, cutting off the plea.
Tempestron returned to his throne.
"Bring the trap to full power."
The entire chamber darkened except for the swirling vortex in the center, which pulsed like a black sun.
The Lords raised their hands in unison, rings glowing brighter than supernovas.
Mira felt it—everything being pulled toward this moment.
And then—
She felt something else.
A pulse.
Distant.
But unmistakable.
Danny.
His heart.
His fire.
His presence.
It washed through her chest—faint, trembling, alive.
Umbrakrell's head snapped toward her. "He feels her."
Tempestron smiled wickedly. "Good."
CUT TO HQ
Danny jerked upright, almost collapsing against the containment chamber wall. His hand slammed over his heart.
Shadeclaw snapped around. "What? What is it?!"
Danny's eyes burned molten gold.
"I felt her."
Swift's tablet chimed violently, warning symbols flooding the screen.
"Danny—your empathic link just spiked. That means—"
"She's alive," Danny breathed.
Shadeclaw's knees buckled with relief and rage. "Where?"
Danny's jaw clenched.
"Somewhere in the Elemental Domain. But… she's scared. No—she's warning me."
Jake stared, pale. "Warning us? About what?"
Danny stepped toward the central display, fire flickering behind his eyes.
"They're preparing something. Something massive. Something meant for me."
Shadeclaw growled, "Then we go now—"
Danny shook his head. "We go smart."
Soren entered the chamber with Jimmy at his side. Jimmy was already holding paperwork, war documents, and an empty waffle plate.
He sighed deeply. "Of course. Someone is using a Golden Dragon as bait. Again. This is why I need three more assistants."
Danny turned to them both.
"We need to split up."
Soren crossed his arms. "Explain."
Danny breathed in slow, steady.
"Team Alpha—me, Swift, Jake. We follow the sigil trail. It leads to the weakened structures in the Elemental Domain."
Shadeclaw snarled, "What about Mira?"
Danny's gaze hardened.
"Team Bravo—you and Jade. You track her directly. You can follow her tether. Your senses are the sharpest among us. The sigil stone won't confuse you."
Shadeclaw opened his mouth to argue—
Stopped.
And nodded.
Jade cracked his knuckles. "Hell yeah. Time to hunt storm gods."
Jimmy clapped once. "Perfect! Two squads. Twice the paperwork. I love it."
Soren ignored the paperwork remark and turned to Danny.
"Dragon. Your team leaves immediately."
Danny nodded.
Shadeclaw stepped close to him, claws flexing.
"You find the Lords," he growled. "I find Mira."
Danny looked him dead in the eyes.
"We finish this together."
Shadeclaw touched his forehead to Danny's for one breath—wolf and dragon—and then turned away, fury sharpening into purpose.
The teams split across the chamber.
The sigil stone pulsed faintly in its cradle.
Far away, Mira felt Danny moving toward her.
And Tempestron smiled at the convergence.