The Skylands' main city—Nimbus Crown—was even more overwhelming than when Aru first crash-landed into it screaming like a falling potato. Now, walking through it with the Cloud Council's guards escorting him, he felt like a… slightly more dignified potato. At least he wasn't screaming anymore.
Floating walkways swirled like ribbons between cloud-sculpted towers. Drifting creatures—sky rays, cloud jellyfish, and glowing wind-foxes—floated through the air like lazy balloons.
Tiko whispered, "If I fall again, just bury me where I land."
Zara replied, "There's no ground here."
Tiko gasped. "THEN JUST… JUST DO SOMETHING!"
Rella patted Tiko sympathetically. "We'll toss you into a cloud hole. It's basically the same."
Aru tried not to laugh. "Guys… be respectful. This is an important meeting."
Bolo puffed out his chest. "YES. A meeting of great honor. And snacks, maybe?"
"Bolo," Zara groaned, "not everything is about snacks."
Bolo gasped dramatically. "Then what is the point of life!?"
Before Aru could answer, the guards halted at a massive structure made entirely of swirling cloudstone. Its pillars moved gently like breathing lungs, and runes of glowing sky-blue energy floated around it.
A Skyland elder drifted forward—quite literally drifted. Her robe billowed, her whiskers sparkled, and her feet didn't touch the ground.
She smiled warmly at Aru.
"Welcome, Golden Runner."
Aru's soul left his body.
"GOLDEN RUNNER? Me!?" he squeaked.
Tiko whispered, "This is why you never get cool titles. You scream."
Rella nodded. "Yes. Very scream-prone."
Aru glared at them and tried to act dignified. It lasted four seconds.
The elder gestured them inside.The chamber was enormous, with cloud platforms floating at different heights. Each held a representative of a Skyland tribe—wind serpents, cloud goats, sky otters, storm parrots, and even a stern-looking cloud badger wearing tiny glasses.
Aru whispered, "Okay, okay… I got this… I think…"
Zara nudged him. "Just breathe."
But Aru couldn't breathe.
Because the center platform rose—and on it stood someone familiar.
Storm General Galeon.The Skylander warrior who had saved them earlier… and also yelled at Aru for "falling like an unripe tomato."
Galeon stepped forward, serious as a storm.
"Aru of the Forest Realm. The Skylands summons you."
Aru muttered, "I'm going to faint."
Zara caught him. "No fainting!"
The Skylands' Crisis
Elder Iridia raised her staff.
A glowing projection materialized—a swirling storm at the edge of the Skylands.
Thunder crackled violet.
Cloud-creatures fled.
Something enormous moved inside the storm.
Something with eyes.
Aru whispered, "What… is that?"
Galeon's voice darkened."The Voidbreaker."
Tiko squeaked, "That name is illegal."
Bolo agreed. "Void… breaking… things… NO THANK YOU."
Iridia continued:"It has already consumed three Sky-islands. If it reaches Nimbus Crown, all of Skylands may fall."
Aru felt a chill."So… what does this have to do with me?"
Every Skylander turned toward him.
Galeon spoke:"Because it is hunting you."
Aru's ears shot up. "ME!? I didn't do anything! Except accidentally fall here and maybe break a table—BUT THAT'S NOT RELATED!"
Zara grabbed his shoulder. "Aru. Look at me. Breathe. We'll face this together."
His heart steadied.
Iridia added gently:"Your golden energy—the Flow Light—has awakened. The Voidbreaker senses it… and hungers for it."
Aru felt his legs wobble.
"So… I'm a walking snack to a giant sky monster?"
Tiko nodded solemnly. "Basically, yes."
Rella glared. "TIKO."
"What!? He asked!"
Galeon cleared his throat."We did not summon you to die. We summoned you because… only the Golden Runner can outrun the storm itself."
Aru blinked."Me? Outrun THAT!?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"NO."
Iridia held up her hands."Please. Both of you."
A Plan So Crazy It Might Work
Iridia waved her staff, and a new projection formed: an aerial map of the floating islands.
"Our plan is simple," she said.
"No," Tiko muttered. "If it was simple, she wouldn't say that."
Iridia ignored him.
"The Voidbreaker cannot be destroyed—but it can be lured."
Zara frowned. "Lured… where?"
Galeon answered,"To the Skyforge. The only place strong enough to contain it."
Aru blinked. "And who's supposed to lure it?"
Everyone stared directly at him again.
Aru pointed at his chest. "Me!? AGAIN!? Why is it always me?"
Rella shrugged. "Main character problems."
Tiko added, "I warned you the moment you got a title."
Bolo said proudly, "I believe in you, Aru! If you die I will cry by eating snacks in your honor!"
Aru groaned. "That… does not help."
Iridia approached him gently.
"Aru. You do not face this alone. You have your companions. You have the Skylands. You have the Flow."
Galeon placed a hand on Aru's shoulder.
"And… you have me."
Zara instantly arched a brow."Oh? And what exactly does that mean?"
Galeon stuttered, "I mean—uh—combat support!"
Aru whispered, "Zara… he's a Sky General. He wasn't flirting."
Zara whispered back, "He better not."
Tiko whispered to Bolo, "Ooooh drama."
Bolo munched a cloud-snack. "Delicious drama."
Iridia raised her staff again.
"Aru of the Forest. Will you accept this responsibility?"
Aru looked at:
Zara's determined eyes.Tiko's nervous tail.Rella's calm confidence.Bolo's absolute faith in snacks and friendship.And the Skylands watching.
He took a deep breath.
His fear trembled.His legs steadied.
A spark of gold flickered beneath his hooves.
Aru nodded.
"I accept."
Iridia smiled.Galeon bowed.Zara let out a breath she'd been holding.
Then the sky trembled with thunder.
A distant roar echoed across the Skylands.
Aru shivered.
The Voidbreaker had begun to move.
And it was coming for him.