“Erm…”
Sorah drifted in and out of consciousness; his broken body was barely clinging to life. Through swollen eyelids, he glimpsed the scarred sneer of Colonel Dravenik hovering over him, twin Vad’aaki Blades raised mockingly to deliver the killing stroke. Somewhere beyond the encroaching footsteps, Breeze Plume’s agonized wailing pleaded on behalf of the beloved master who had nurtured the Butterfly since it was a vulnerable larvae.
Had fate deemed Sorah unfit to protect Cloud Hamlet despite tireless decades cultivating compassion alongside disciplined fists? What cruel joke or lesson were the ancestors attempting by allowing such gentle spirits to suffer alongside a stubborn fool who had pushed away even his own community? Elder Liu was right to withhold trust in training their village youth when outdated traditions rooted in isolation cultivated weakness unable to stand firm against the gathering storm, as Colonel Dravenik continued mocking amidst the roaring flames.
“Eh, perish you old fool!”
Whoosh!
The executioner’s glowing blades began their artistic descent towards Sorah’s exposed neck. At long last the winds of destiny would shred his weathered sails into the abyssal currents...
“ENOUGH!!” bellowed an authoritative voice that rattled the very clouds above.
Colonel Dravenik’s lunge was knocked violently aside by a brilliant azure flash followed instantly by a piercing clap of thunder. BOOM! The stray energy blast had been deflected barely inches from Sorah’s nose by a spinning Light-Chi staff wielded by another Elder Air Elemental Master hurtling from the smoke-filled skies.
Sorah squinted upwards and his heart leapt recognizing annoying Elder Yanluo astride his magnificent Cloud Dragon steed. That pompous blowhard constantly mocked Sorah’s Titan-less skills at village gatherings, yet the dojo master had never felt more elated witnessing someone’s arrival.
Yanluo’s signature techniques involved shaping ambient static charges through Tai Chi movements into defensive barriers or destructive lightning arcs using the elegant Light-Chi Staff engraved with runes. It was rumoured he maintained a secret mountain lair where illegal Thunder Lotus flowers were cultivated to enhance his powers. Many students had petitioned training under Yanluo’s notoriety but the selective master accepted only those demonstrating exceptional innate Air affinity that could withstand his intense rituals.
“Curse you Yanluo!” Colonel Dravenik hollered viciously while recalling his Red Sand Cyclonus Titan Avatar to guard against looming thunderheads now gathering above. “Why must the Zephyr Council’s elite hunting hounds vex our victory at every pivotal strike?”
Elder Yanluo ignored the threats and deftly dismounted alongside his battle-worn Cloud Dragon. The majestic breed’s scales shimmered like pearl, and metallic horns crackling with energy could pierce most armour when diving from the clouds. Yanluo’s own ostentatious attire of cerulean and silver robes marked by the Twin Lightning Insignia of Isle Sanctum’s royal court only reinforced the outrageous boasts of unmatched storm-weaving skills. Yet Sorah had never felt more grateful at this abrasive showboat’s theatricality.
“How... how did you find… no why did you save me, Elder?” Sorah barely wheezed out the question that felt his final utterance clinging at death’s door.
“Silence and preserve your strength, Sorah!” Yanluo commanded while twirling his glowing staff casually towards approaching threats. “Our blessed Cloud Dragons are drawn unerringly towards sounds of injustice!”
The airborne cavalry had bought precious time, yet Sorah grimaced as he tallied the obstacles between survival and annihilation. He glanced over towards courageous Breeze Plume who lay pinned grievously near rubble, its left wings shredded by shrapnel from blocking the children earlier. Closer lurked Dravenik’s elite mech suits recharging shoulder-mounted pulsars. Sorah’s precious students huddled behind the Cloud Butterfly’s trembling frame as it valiantly continued shielding their escape. But Elder Yanluo would surely prioritize decimating the largest threats before assessing critical wounds.
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As if reading Sorah’s mind, Yanluo’s weathered hand gently squeezed the fallen master’s shoulder in reassurance. “Worry not, Sorah. You must believe others heard your butterfly’s cries and even now rally to our blessed Hamlet. Focus on preserving your strength old friend!”
Without waiting for a pained reply, the Stormweaver swept his crackling staff in a wide flourish while bellowing “Storm-sense Mimicry Squall!” Bolts of sizzling electricity began arcing wildly between Yanluo’s outstretched fingers faster than eyes could track. Having dedicated years unravelling the mysteries of Lightning Release and Redirection from hidden Storm Scriptures, Yanluo could warp violent tempests to his will with graceful poise that awed the Cloud Hamlet children who gawked behind their shelter even as fiery ruin engulfed their entire village.
Within seconds, dozens of self-orbiting lightning spheres materialized around Elder Yanluo, perpetually absorbing and redirecting tremendous amounts of energy. Their cyclonic rotation reached critical velocity until finally releasing everything towards Dravenik’s dual mech suits in a single concentrated discharge!
ZAP!! Waa-BOOOOM!!
“Huh! Devastating.” Sorah shielded his face as the world exploded lighter than midday.
Colonel Dravenik’s howls promised agonizing retribution over the fried circuits and molten armour plating raining down. But Yanluo had already twirled his staff again with fluid finesse, redirecting excess voltage streamers through hand gestures alone until arcs bent sideways unnaturally... then curved backwards 180 degrees into his own staff crystal to recharge for the next onslaught!
Even Master Sorah secretly marvelled at this surreal feat bordering on time manipulation. Yanluo often boasted his Rakshasa Thunder Palace technique could devastate entire garrisons before a single soldier reached melee range. Today’s demonstration supported those legends as the formation launched continuous lightning strikes to harass approaching Sand Devils and their Cinder Hound mounts.
Colonel Dravenik barely restrained his fury. “You shall pay dearly for dishonouring Lord Viz Durak’s mechanized warriors, Yanluo! I swear upon the smouldering Carrion Pits holding your ancestors that oblivion awaits! Sand Basilisks... bury these insects!!”
The Sand Colonel waved his crackling Vad’aaki Blades and the Red Sand Titan leaned forward expelling an ear-splitting hiss towards Yanluo and Sorah. Four rotating clusters resembling fused reptilian eggs launched simultaneously from indentations along the Titan’s spine plates. Sorah’s decades of experience instantly recognized this living artillery rarely witnessed outside Dune Empire precipitation rites. Sand Basilisk projectiles rapidly hardened into stone mid-flight while targeting foes, utilizing the same mineral compounds that birthed their Terravolt Kingdom allies lumbering nearby. Being crushed under a landslide of petrifying serpents ranked among the most excruciating deaths on sand-swept battlegrounds.
Yet the sadistic attack met only thunderous defiance from the brash lightning Elementalist, Yanluo. “You disgrace true warriors clinging desperately to Titan privileges like frightened ostrich-horses! Now witness powers residing only within the supreme storm monastery disciples capable of commanding the heavens themselves!!”
Elder Yanluo anchored himself firmly while manipulating the Lightning Staff into circular motions reminiscent of the Floating Leaf’s cultural fan dances. Each twirl and spin created intricate energetic boundaries that overloaded upon contact with the encroaching Sand Basilisks. Blinding explosions detonated in midair safely away from civilians, assaulting enemies with bone-rattling force.
Undeterred, Colonel Dravenik continued chanting loudly with his palms directing the rolling bombardment. “Overwhelm them! Render Yanluo’s cursed lightning barriers to dust!!” The Red Sand Titan swept its swirling forelimbs in unison, condensing ambient silicates into new artillery boulders without pause. Hundreds of hissing meteor-like spheres soon blotted the skies seeking to penetrate the defensive perimeter.
Yanluo forged on undaunted, his glimmering staff was conducting the relentless lightning streams until it achieved a resonating harmony against the bombardment perfectly attuned to their offence rhythm. Where Dravenik’s soldiers perceived only random devastation, the enlightened Illuminati beheld profound poetry manifesting. Power bloomed not through brute force - but finessed brilliance broadcast across hastily prepared energy boundaries!
How long could Yanluo maintain this stellar performance before fatigue swops in, Sorah wondered briefly before agony lanced through his spine from attempted movement. Likely not much longer against the nightmarish horde surrounding them with weapons recharged for another assault attempt.
As if sensing Sorah’s doubts magnifying their already unfavourable odds, Yanluo spared his wounded comrade a sideways glance filled with reassurance rather than usual pompousness. The legendary Stormweaver had trained relentlessly for this moment destined by clouds Above when Floating Leaf faced its most desperate hour with countless innocent souls hanging by silken threads. None may claim Yanluo as a friend, but none could deny his peerless dedication in defending their home.