Zepharos stood before them, his golden lightning-infused armor humming with power. His piercing silver eyes locked onto Raidon, then flicked to Ren, observing him carefully.
"You've got a habit of showing up unannounced, Raidon," Zepharos said, his voice deep and commanding.
Raidon smirked. "What can I say? I missed you."
Zepharos crossed his arms. "Doubtful." He turned to Ren. "And you… you're not from here, are you?"
Ren clenched his fists. "No. But that doesn't matter. We're here for a reason."
Zepharos studied him for a moment, then motioned for them to follow. "Come with me. If you've come to the Thunder Skies, you need to understand where you are."
A Glimpse into the Thunder Skies
Zepharos led them through the grand halls of the Thunder Tower, its walls lined with ancient murals that crackled with energy. Each depicted a different event—storms raging, warriors wielding lightning, and battles fought in the skies.
Ren's gaze stopped on one image in particular: a colossal storm serpent coiling around a city in the clouds. It looked strangely familiar.
Raidon noticed and smirked. "Recognize him?"
Ren frowned. "Is that… the serpent outside?"
Zepharos nodded. "The Storm Warden. The guardian of the Thunder Skies."
Ren looked at Raidon. "You knew him, didn't you?"
Raidon chuckled. "Yeah. But that's a story for another time."
Zepharos stopped at a large balcony overlooking the entire city. The storm clouds rolled beneath them, lightning striking the pylons that held Stratos Haven in place.
"The Thunder Skies aren't just another place to visit," Zepharos said. "This realm is different from the others. The storms here are alive. The energy in the air? It's not just weather—it's power, constantly shifting, always testing those who enter."
He turned to them, his expression serious. "You're looking for something, aren't you?"
Ren nodded. "The Thunder Stone."
Zepharos exhaled, shaking his head. "Of course. The stones always bring people like you here."
Raidon raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Zepharos leaned against the railing. "Every few decades, someone comes searching for the Thunder Stone. Every time, they think they're strong enough to claim it."
He looked at them, his gaze sharp. "They never are."
Ren clenched his fists. "We're not just 'someone.' We've already found other stones."
Zepharos tilted his head. "And yet you still don't understand what they truly are, do you?"
Ren hesitated.
Zepharos smirked. "Thought so. You should leave while you still can."
Ren stepped forward. "Not happening. We're not leaving without that stone."
Zepharos chuckled. "Brave. Or stupid." He turned to Raidon. "So what do you want from me?"
Raidon shrugged. "Just some… guidance. Maybe a little help."
Zepharos smirked. "I don't help people who don't understand what they're dealing with."
He tapped his fingers against the railing, then sighed. "But I won't stop you either. If you want to die chasing the stone, that's your choice."
He turned back toward the tower. "Go. Explore. Learn. When you're ready to face the truth, you'll know where to find me."
Without another word, he disappeared into the tower, leaving Ren and Raidon standing on the balcony.
Ren exhaled, frustrated. "He's hiding something."
Raidon nodded. "Yeah. But that's just how he is."
Ren looked out over the stormy horizon. "Fine. We'll figure it out on our own."
Raidon smirked. "That's the spirit."
Back with the Others
Meanwhile, back in Stratos Haven, the others had gathered supplies.
Sakayanagi leaned against a food stall, eating something called Stormfruit, a glowing blue fruit that sparked when bitten. "So, how did it go?"
Ren sighed. "Zepharos isn't going to help us. He thinks we don't know what we're dealing with."
Kaelen folded his arms. "Do we?"
Ren hesitated. "…We'll figure it out."
Shigan clapped his hands together. "Alright then! If we're gonna stay here for a bit, we might as well make the most of it!"
Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow. "You have something in mind?"
Shigan grinned. "Of course. We've been through hell getting here. It's about time we have some fun."
Ren smirked. "What do you suggest?"
Shigan pointed down the street, where a large arena-like structure stood.
"How about we enter a tournament?"
To be continued…