Location: Tequemecan Valley, Natlan
Current Form: Human
Status: Fireproof, criticizing the local graffiti, hunting for hot sauce
The border between the Sumeru Desert and Natlan was distinct. The sand stopped, replaced by jagged red canyons, bubbling magma pools, and air so hot it shimmered.
Aether was sweating buckets. Paimon looked like a melted marshmallow.
Raiden was wearing a thick black coat (made of his own scales) and didn't have a drop of sweat on him.
[Thermal Fluctuation Nullification].
"It's... so... hot..." Paimon wheezed. "How are you wearing that coat?!"
"I'm internally regulating my temperature to absolute zero," Raiden explained, biting into a Candlecap Mushroom he found. "Also, this place smells amazing. Sulfur, ash, and... war."
He looked at the towering cliffs painted with vibrant, glowing graffiti.
"And art," Raiden noted. "Though the style is a bit... chaotic. Needs more shading."
They heard a commotion down in the canyon. A small girl with animal ears and a giant drill was fighting a group of Geo Slimes.
Kachina. A warrior of the Children of Echoes.
"Take this!" Kachina shouted, riding her spinning top vehicle (Turbo Twirly).
She smashed two slimes, but a massive Rockbreaker Axemitachurl leaped from the cliffs, aiming to crush her.
"Look out!" Aether summoned his sword, preparing to jump.
"Hold my drink," Raiden handed Paimon a bottle of water.
BOOM.
Raiden landed between Kachina and the Mitachurl. The ground cracked, creating a shockwave that knocked Kachina's top off balance.
The Mitachurl swung its massive axe.
Raiden caught the blade with one finger.
"Excuse me," Raiden said politely. "Do you have a permit for that axe?"
The Mitachurl roared in confusion.
Raiden flicked his finger.
SNAP.
The axe shattered into pebbles. Raiden followed up with a light tap to the Mitachurl's chest. The monster flew backward, embedding itself fifty feet deep into the canyon wall.
Kachina stared, her mouth open. Her drill-top slowed to a halt.
"Woah..." Kachina whispered. "That was... amazing! Are you a hero from the Stadium?"
"I'm a tourist," Raiden dusted his hands. "Name's Raiden. This is the Traveler. We're looking for the nearest restaurant."
Before Kachina could answer, a pixelated, green glitchy dragon floated out from behind a rock, followed by a stoic young man with a claymore.
Kinich and K'uhul Ajaw.
"Hahaha! Behold!" the pixel dragon laughed maniacally. "A mere mortal displaying brute strength! How quaint! I, the Almighty Dragon Lord K'uhul Ajaw, am unimpressed!"
Kinich sighed. "Ajaw. Shut up."
"Don't tell me to shut up, servant!" Ajaw floated towards Raiden. "Hey, you! Big guy! You think you're tough? You have the stench of a lizard about you. Are you some kind of Vishap-man?"
Raiden looked at the 8-bit floating dragon.
"Great Sage. Analysis."
"Subject: K'uhul Ajaw. Composition: Ancient Dragon Spirit sealed in a pixelated construct. Threat Level: Annoying. Nutritional Value: Low (Data)."
"A Dragon Lord, huh?" Raiden leaned in, his eyes shifting to vertical slits.
He let a tiny fraction of his [True Dragon Aura] leak out. Not enough to kill, just enough to establish the food chain.
Ajaw froze. His pixelated eyes widened. His sprite glitched, turning static for a second.
"Eek!" Ajaw squeaked. "Wait... that pressure... that's not a Vishap... that's..."
Raiden opened his mouth slightly, revealing shark-like teeth.
"You look like a lime-flavored gummy bear," Raiden whispered.
Ajaw screamed. "KINICH! SAVE ME! HE'S GOING TO EAT ME!"
Ajaw flew behind Kinich, trembling.
Kinich looked at Raiden, unfazed. "Sorry about him. He has a big mouth. I'm Kinich. Of the Scions of the Canopy."
"Raiden," Raiden shook Kinich's hand. "You have a lot of patience carrying that thing around."
"It's a curse," Kinich admitted. "So, you're heading to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame?"
"Is there food there?"
"Yes. And the Pilgrimage. The tournament to select the warriors who fight the Abyss."
"Tournament," Raiden's ears perked up. "Fighting. Food. Sounds like my kind of vacation."
They traveled together toward the main city. On the way, they encountered a pool of glowing orange liquid.
"Liquid Phlogiston," Kachina warned. "Don't touch it! It burns hotter than magma!"
"Hotter than magma?" Raiden stopped.
He knelt down. He dipped a cup into the liquid fire.
"Hey!" Kinich warned. "That will melt the cup!"
Raiden coated the cup in Haki. He lifted the glowing orange liquid to his lips.
Slurp.
Kachina covered her eyes. Paimon screamed.
Raiden swallowed. Steam shot out of his ears. His skin glowed bright orange for a second before fading back to normal.
"Spicy," Raiden smacked his lips. "Tastes like... concentrated Red Bull and chilies. High energy content."
"System Report. Consumed: Liquid Phlogiston. Fire Energy assimilated. [Starfire Breath] intensity increased by 5%."
"He drank it..." Kachina peeked through her fingers. "He drank the earth blood..."
Ajaw peeked out from behind Kinich. "He's a monster! A monster, I tell you! We should kill him before he consumes the world!"
"Be quiet, Ajaw," Kinich said. "If he can drink Phlogiston, he can definitely eat you."
They arrived at the capital. It was a massive stadium-city, bustling with warriors, saurians, and vendors. The energy was electric.
"This is the vibe," Raiden nodded, buying a skewer of grilled Saurian meat (don't tell the locals).
Suddenly, the crowd went silent.
At the top of the stadium stairs, a woman appeared. She wore black leather, fiery red hair, and sunglasses. She radiated an aura of pure, unadulterated combat prowess.
Mavuika. The Pyro Archon.
She wasn't sitting on a throne. She was leaning on a railing, looking down at the new arrivals.
Her eyes locked onto Raiden immediately.
Unlike Furina (fear) or Nahida (curiosity) or Ei (confusion), Mavuika smiled. It was a competitive smile.
"Interesting," Mavuika's voice amplified over the plaza. "A guest with a fire in his belly that rivals the Sacred Flame itself."
She jumped.
She fell fifty feet and landed in a superhero crouch right in front of Raiden. The pavement cracked.
She stood up, towering with confidence. She took off her sunglasses.
"I am Mavuika," she held out a hand. "Welcome to Natlan, Dragon."
Raiden wiped the BBQ sauce off his lip. He shook her hand. His grip was iron; hers was steel.
"Raiden Ragnvaldr," he replied. "Nice entrance. A bit showy, but I respect the knees."
"I sensed you crossing the border," Mavuika grinned. "You ate the Narwhal. You fought the Shogun. And now you're here. Are you here to save us? Or to fight us?"
"I'm here for lunch," Raiden said. "But if a fight breaks out, I won't say no."
"Hah!" Mavuika laughed, slapping his back. "I like you! You're direct! But be warned, Raiden. Natlan is at war. The Abyss - the Night Kingdom - is encroaching. If you want to eat, you have to earn your keep."
"Speaking of guests," Raiden looked past Mavuika, toward the VIP box of the stadium.
Standing in the shadows, arms crossed, was a massive figure clad in a mask and heavy coat. The sheer pressure emanating from him distorted the air around the box.
Il Capitano. The Captain. The 1st Harbinger.
Capitano was staring directly at Raiden.
Raiden waved.
Capitano didn't wave back. He simply nodded, a slow, acknowledging gesture of a warrior recognizing a worthy opponent.
"He's waiting for you," Mavuika noted. "The Captain wants the Gnosis. He wants to save Natlan his way. By force."
"And you?" Raiden asked.
"I intend to save it my way," Mavuika's eyes burned. "By resurrection. By sacrifice. But... having a wild card like you might change the odds."
"The Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame starts tomorrow," Mavuika announced. "Teams will compete. The winners go to the Night Kingdom to fight the Abyss."
"Fighting the Abyss?" Raiden grinned. "That sounds like an all-you-can-eat buffet."
"Join a team," Mavuika challenged. "Show me what the Gluttonous Sovereign can do."
She walked away, the crowd parting for her.
Raiden turned to Aether, Kachina, and Kinich.
"Alright, team," Raiden cracked his knuckles. "We're entering the tournament."
"We are?" Paimon asked.
"Yes. And our team name is 'The Buffet Brawlers'."
"That's a terrible name," Kinich deadpanned.
"I like it!" Kachina cheered.
"I refuse to be associated with this!" Ajaw screamed.
Raiden grabbed Ajaw out of the air.
"You're the mascot, gummy bear. Now, let's go find a hotel. I saw a place serving 'Volcano Tacos' and I need to test my fire resistance."