Legacy of Travas

by MetalFox2013

Travas Starfox, the older brother of future Solarfox/Extinctioners members Scarlet and Erica, has been given a second chance thanks to Nosgoth's Legendary vampire, Janos Audron. His new life, however, hasn't been easy on him, ranging from enemy encounters to visions of the future. Will he be able to live his new life and create a new legacy, or will the dangers get the best of him?

31. Let the Games Begin

Legacy of Travas

Chapter 31: Let the Games Begin

Wedding bells continue to chime, the sun shines throughout Nosgoth, and the breeze is as cool as a typical air conditioning unit. Many of the wedding attendees cheer for the marriage of two Vampuric individuals, Umah and Travas, as they walk towards the hover bike. As they get on, Travas places the keys to the ignition, starting it before driving out of the city of Meridian. Driving on the roads of Nosgoth, the sound of cans beating on the road can be heard while tied to the 'Just Married' sign on the rear side of the vehicle. Within a matter of moments, they arrive upon the shores of the Great Southern Lake, parking the vehicle nearby a tree as Travas grabs a towel and places it onto the sandy ground before him.

"How does it feel to be married, hon", Travas asked, lying down onto the towel as Umah lies next to her vulpin husband.

"I have to admit that it's rather… 'Foxy' if you catch my drift", Umah answered, giggling briefly before planting a kiss onto her husband's muzzle.

"And it's only gonna get even more 'Foxy' throughout our lives", Travas replied, rolling over until he was on top of her, thus planting a kiss onto her lips in return. "And out of everything that's happened since my resurrection as a living vampire… this is one of the best things that's happened to me in my life", he continued softly, but with a more romantic gesture as he lies back down on his back. Then, Umah gently rolls to her side while placing her right hand onto her womb.

"Tell me, Travas… have you had the time to come up with any name ideas for our child", Umah asked curiously as Travas turns to face her once again.

'Well… to be honest, I was so focused on getting the wedding set up, I didn't even have any time to think of any", Travas answered with a somewhat sheepish tone while rubbing the back of his head with slight shy-fullness.

"Of course", Umah replied while chuckling to herself. "It doesn't surprise me even the slightest. However, are you open for any suggestions?"

"I am", Travas answered. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well… if we were to have a son, I was thinking about naming him after you", Umah answered, blushing in response.

"I see… just like the family tradition I had while I was a normal vulpin on Alopex", Travas claimed, chuckling in response. "If we were to have a son, I thought of naming him either my close buddy, Johnny, or after my sister's future boyfriend, Redford", he admitted while chuckling before facing his wife once again. "What about if we were to have a daughter", he asked, noticing his wife blush.

"Well… if we were to have a girl… I have thought about naming her after the place where I kissed you for the first time", Umah replied, blushing slightly heavier than before.

"You wish to name her Serenity?" Travas asked, tilting his head slightly away from her in thought. But soon, he begins smiling and turns to face her again. "You know, Umah… I like it", he said, placing his hand-paw on her cheek.

"Then, if we have a daughter, do you wish to name her that", Umah asked, slightly nervous about his answer.

"Of course, hon… I'm glad you've thought of it", Travas answered, kissing his wife's lips once again. "And I couldn't have asked for a better woman".

"Travas…" Umah spoke softly, wrapping her arms around his torso and resting her chin on his shoulder. "I love you so much…"

"I love you, too, Umah" Travas replied, holding onto his beloved wife and kissing her forehead. And as he held onto her, it felt like an eternity to the male vulpin, stroking her luxurious black hair and back like a person that hasn't seen their loved ones in ages. And that didn't matter to the vulpin, he has his wife in his arms and he could continue for all eternity if he could.

But just like any good memory or dream, they merely fade within a blink of an eye. And when the vulpin opens his eyes, he discovers that he was in his room, the dark cloudy morning skies shining through the windows to his right. He then looks to his left to see the spot his wife once occupied empty as if it were never taken in years. He sighs slightly heavily and turns to the right, getting out of bed, dressed in only a black tank top and gray pair of pajama pants while walking towards the window. His bangs reached just a bit passed his muzzle as the sides and back part of his hair ran down to his shoulders and upper part of his back. All Travas could see outside was the dark clouds occupying the skies above before tilting his head downward in isolation.

"It was just a dream…" Travas spoke softly, sighing heavily before closing the curtains and turning on the lamp located towards the dresser on the left. He turns his sights to the closet near the bathroom and opens it, looking around the various clothing he has. But within a matter of seconds, he decides to grab a pair of black skintight jeans, a solid cool gray slim fitting T-shirt, gray tank top, and his black motorcycle boots tucked into the leg openings. Before he leaves the room, the vulpin throws the dirty clothes towards the dirty laundry basket near the bedroom door.

After he got changed into the articles of clothing, he begins walking towards the door, placing his right hand-paw onto the knob. But before he turns it, he hears a soft knock on his door, opening it to see who was knocking on his door. And as he opens it, he looks down to discover that it was his own two year old daughter knocking on his door, with long orange fur matching hair and black bangs leaning towards the right side of her face. She also wore a pair of black pajama pants with pink hearts on them and a sky blue colored T-shirt with a teddy bear on the front of it. However, the vulpin notices that her face was tear-stained; assuming that she either hadn't been sleeping well or possibly might've had a nightmare. Thus, he kneels down in front of her and picks her up, carrying her with his arms by means of comforting his daughter.

"Serenity, what's the matter", Travas asked comfortingly as Serenity begins wiping the tears off of her face.

"Daddy… I had a bad dream last night and I couldn't sleep", Serenity answered, burying her face into her father's shoulder as he pats the back of her head gently, trying to comfort her as much as possible.

"Hey… it's alright, sweetheart", Travas spoke softly with a comforting tone, taking her out of his room and starts walking towards the Main Chambers. "What was the dream about?"

"It… it was about something bad happening to you… and I'm scared that you might not come back", Serenity answered, holding onto her father while sobbing on his shoulder.

"Serenity, it's gonna be okay. Nothing bad is gonna happen to me" Travas reassured, causing his daughter to look at him in the eyes. "And if something does happen, I'll make sure I come back from whatever situation is alive, alright", he continued, causing his daughter to hug him in response. "Tell you what, how about I take you around Nosgoth on the hover bike and get some fresh air. Sound good?"

"Really, Daddy", Serenity asked with a slight cheerful tone, wiping the tears away with her arm as her father begins to chuckle.

"You're always cheerful every time I mention anything about taking you around in the hover bike", Travas said, smiling towards his daughter while his eyes were shut. "But first, you gotta get into a pair of clean clothes before we go anywhere", he continued, setting his daughter down in front of her bedroom door. "I'll wait for you out here. Once you get changed, then we'll drive around Nosgoth".

"Okie doke, Daddy", Serenity replied, entering her own bedroom and shutting the door before her father.

While his daughter was getting changed, the vulpin leans back against the wall next to the door and tilts his head towards the ceiling somewhat. But within a few minutes later, Serenity exits her bedroom while wearing a pair of black boot-cut jeans, a white T-shirt with a purple heart in the middle, and her black/white converse shoes. She runs towards her father as he picks her up, placing her over his shoulders as Serenity holds onto her father's head.

"Alright, Serenity, ready to go for a drive around Nosgoth", Travas asked as he began walking towards the underground chamber.

"Yes, Daddy", Serenity replied with a cheerful tone, holding onto her father's head while he continues to walk towards the Underground Chamber.

After about a few minute walk down the stairs, the vulpin family arrives to the entrance of the Underground Chamber, entering inside only to see the hover bike parked about ten feet from their position. Travas grabs the keys off of the hook next to the entrance and walks towards his prized hover bike close by. When he gets to the bike, he sets Serenity in the side car and buckles her in. Next, he gets onto the bike and places the keys into the ignition, turning it towards the front turns the engine on, hearing it roar with maximum horsepower. But before he presses on the pedal, he turns to face the entrance once again, discovering that Janos, wearing black pajama pants and a dark burgundy colored sleeping robe, was standing at the entrance of the chamber itself.

"Travas, where are you going at this hour?" Janos asked curiously.

"I'm gonna take my daughter around Nosgoth on the hover bike. We'll be back in about an hour or two", Travas answered, placing his left foot-paw on the gas pedal.

"Wait, Travas", Janos spoke, grabbing the vulpin's attention again as the vulpin turns to face him curiously.

"Yes, Janos", Travas asked, looking towards the winged vampire curiously.

"Drive carefully", this was all Janos could say as Travas nods in response. Once again, the vulpin places his foot on the gas pedal and presses it a few times just as Serenity turns to face Janos.

"Bye, Bye, Grandpa Janos!" Serenity yelled cheerfully, waving at him before turning around. Then, Travas presses on the gas and drives towards the chamber exit, leaving Janos behind as he teleports out of the chamber as well. He teleports into the Main Chambers upstairs and begins walking towards the Balcony outside. At the edge, he saw Travas and his daughter driving towards the southern part of Nosgoth, assuming they were driving for Meridian or some other town within the south.

"I think having Travas take Serenity around Nosgoth may be the best thing for him to do at this time…" Janos thought before turning to face the Main Chambers entrance once again. "He hasn't really been the same ever since Umah's death… but I still can't believe two years could fly by at such a-" he tried to think until something suddenly hit him on the back of his head. When he turns around, he saw nobody there but a strange scroll lying on the ground. "My word… what is this…? And where did it come from", he wondered, picking the scroll up from the ground and tearing it open. As he was reading it, Vorador, dressed in his usual attire, enters the Balcony and walks towards his sire.

"Janos, is everything alright", Vorador asked just as he notices the scroll in his sire's hands. "What is it that you're holding in your hand? Who is it for?"

"It just came out of the skies and hit me on the back of the head just a few moments ago", Janos answered while reading the scroll. "And it appears to be for Travas".

"Travas… why him", Vorador asked curiously until he saw his sire's eyes narrow at a particular part curiously.

"I do not know why…" Janos answered. "But according to the scroll, it seems he has been invited to partake in some sort of tournament in the skies above… yet I have never heard of such a thing until this very moment", he claimed, looking down towards the bottom of the paper to see who it was from. But then, he cocks a brow out of confusion and curiosity as Vorador catches this.

"Who was it from, sire", Vorador asked curiously, but with slight suspicions on what it might be.

"I don't believe I have met this person… but it says here he goes by the name of Aerocrothe", Janos answered, catching Vorador's attention as he walks next to his sire. He grabs the scroll and begins reading it word to word. And just within fifteen seconds of reading it, he looks upon the name that causes his eyes to widen as Janos looked upon him curiously. "Do you happen to know that name, Vorador?"

"As a matter of fact, I do", Vorador replied. "Aerocrothe is the one that currently hosts the tournament you speak about… but not just any tournament, sire, but one that has been known for just over a century now", he explained while Janos continued to pay close attention to the other vampire. "It is dubbed: 'The Tournament of Sacred Skies', or you may call it the Sacred Skies Tournament… and that event is held every ten years".

"'The Tournament of Sacred Skies'…?" Janos asked in a confused, dumbfounded manner.

"Yes. It's a tournament in which those with gifted flight compete against each other for the championship of the tournament", Vorador explained. "However, no one has ever managed to defeat the champion of the Tournament himself, who is the one that hosts the tournament himself".

"Hold on for a moment… are you telling me that Aerocrothe, the current host of the event, is the champion of the Sacred Skies Tournament", Janos asked.

"Exactly", Vorador answered. "Nearly one hundred years before Kain would awaken from his slumber; I entered the Sacred Skies Tournament and tried to compete for championship of the entire event. But I was defeated by Aerocrothe and he soon slaughters the original host and became the new and current champion. But not only did he become that, but he also became the new host in the process", he continued as he began rereading the letter once more, only to discover the rest of the information he needed to know. "That's what I have expected! It's not just an invitation, but a requirement as well".

"Hold on… are you saying that he's required to attend the tournament", Janos asked.

"Yes… or otherwise, according to this, something will happen to him or to the place of his origin", Vorador answered, looking towards his sire with a serious expression on his face. "It may be wise to 'Whisper' Travas and tell him about the scroll".

"I understand", Janos replied. "I will call him back here and we'll tell him when he arrives", he continued, closing his eyes and clearing his mind from everything around him. All he could do in that moment was to focus his mind on Travas' and tell him about the mysterious scroll before it was too late.

*At the diner in Ziegsturhl*

Just shortly after Janos received the scroll from another being named Aerocrothe, Travas and Serenity were waiting for their food at a Diner in Ziegsturhl. And within about a few minutes of waiting, a familiar kitsune waiter arrives with their food, setting the pancake platters onto their table. And as she did, Travas looks up to her and immediately recognizes who she was.

"Eve! It's been a long time since I've seen you", Travas said as the arctic kitsune waitress looked towards him, recognizing who he was as well.

"Travas", Eve replied cheerfully before hugging the vampuric vulpin eagerly. "It's been ages since I've seen you at your wedding a couple years ago", she continued as Travas' smile shifts towards a more saddened expression, causing him to turn away from her slightly.

"Yeah… it has been", Travas replied softly with a slight depressed tone while he was cutting up his daughter's pancake platter. He then hands Serenity the cut up platter and the vixen child begins eating joyfully.

"Um… I'm sorry, Travas… I shouldn't have brought it up", Eve spoke, placing her left hand-paw onto his shoulder, thus causing him to look towards her in response.

"It's alright, Eve…" Travas claimed while continuing to eat his platter. As he was eating, Eve turns to face Serenity, who was smiling to herself as a response to the breakfast meal she's eating.

"And I believe this is your daughter", Eve asked, smiling towards Serenity as she smiles back towards the kitsune waitress.

"Mhm", Serenity replied while finishing the remaining bits of her platter. "Thank you for bringing me and Daddy some of your wonderful pancakes".

"You're welcome, sweetie, glad to serve you and your father anytime", Eve said while smiling towards her.

"Thanks again, Eve", Travas thanked as he began to move out of his seat, but before he stands up, he began to sense some sort of presence coming into his mind. He shuts his eyes and begins to focus on the presence journeying towards his mind. "Who's there", he spoke within the 'Whisper', trying to pinpoint who is trying to communicate to him.

"Travas, where are you and Serenity located", Janos asked within Travas' mind.

"I'm at the diner located in Ziegsturhl", Travas answered within the 'Whisper'. "Janos, what's going on?"

"I cannot explain this well right now, but it seems you have a mandatory invitation to a tournament located within the skies above", Janos answered within the vulpin's mind, causing Travas to cock a brow in response.

"Tournament…? Who's hosting it", Travas asked curiously.

"It seems the tournament is being hosted by another warrior named Aerocrothe, but I cannot explain anything further. You must finish and return to the Citadel at once", Janos spoke within Travas' mind as the vulpin and his daughter got out of their seats and began walking towards the counter.

"Alright, we'll see you at the Citadel shortly. I have to take care of the bill before we go", Travas replied.

"I understand… but try to make it fast. I have a bad feeling about this tournament Aerocrothe is getting you in", Janos spoke within the vulpin's mind once more before disconnecting the link to the 'Whisper'.

After the link was disconnected, Travas grabs his card and uses his Meridian Banking Card out of his wallet and pays for the breakfast they've had. Once he finishes paying for the food, he picks his daughter up and walks outside to the parked hover bike outside. He buckles Serenity into the side compartment and gets onto the hover bike itself. He places the keys into the ignition and turns the engine on. But before pressing on the gas, however, he notices something within the hover bike's mailbox system and looks at it closely.

"What the hell…?" Travas thought before pressing onto the message that was sent by Aerocrothe himself. At the instant he touches it, a holographic projection of Aerocrothe, seeing as an orange kitsune with dark brown hair and containing nine tails. He also wore a long, black kimono with a blood red colored robe containing gold threading on it. His physical appearance looks as if he were in his mid-thirties, although Travas could sense that he was much older than what he was seeing. But within the next moment, the holographic projection of Aerocrothe soon turned to face him face to face.

"Greetings, Mr. Starfox", Aerocrothe greeted, bowing respectfully towards the vulpin. "You might have already been notified by the scroll at this time. But if you have not, then I shall tell you everything you need to know about the tournament that is coming soon." He continued as he turns to his left and began pacing back and forth slowly. "I am hosting a tournament from the skies above known as 'The Tournament of Sacred Skies', but it is also known as the Sacred Skies Tournament for short. And I am here to tell you that you have been invited to partake in this glorious event where other unique warriors gifted with flight compete for the Sacred Skies Championships", he explained while smirking towards the vulpin.

"Thanks for the offer, but I'm not interested", Travas replied while placing his hand-paws back onto the hover bike handles and placing his foot onto the gas.

"Very well then… since you do not wish to compete in the tournament, then you leave me with no choice but to destroy your home world back on Alopex", Aerocrothe said, smirking towards him as Travas' eyes widen and looks towards him with surprise.

"Wait, what", Travas replied with a shocked tone in his voice.

"Although the competitors are invited to compete in the tournament that does not necessarily mean that they have the right to refuse my offer", Aerocrothe claimed, causing the vulpin's eyes to slightly widen more in shock than before. "In fact, I had to destroy countless number of worlds because various numbers of competitors kept on refusing to do my bidding", he claimed with a smirk on his face. But soon, he loses his smirk and looks at him rather calmly. "Your ride will arrive to the Citadel in about an hour from now, so I suggest you begin making preparations at once. Or otherwise, your home world along with Nosgoth will perish under the palms of my hands", the kitsune continued as the holographic projector turns off, causing Travas to shake his head in disbelief.

"You've gotta be fucking joking…" Travas cursed within his mind, slowly shaking his head back and forth before giving out a heavy sigh.

"Daddy… who was that man and what was he talking about?" Serenity asked in a worried tone as her father gives out a sigh of reluctance.

"He's the one that's hosting the tournament, sweetie", Travas answered before turning to face his daughter. "But apparently, it seems I have no choice to enter the tournament", he continued as Serenity's eyes widen with shock and slight sadness.

"Daddy, please don't go", Serenity pleaded. However, Travas lets out another sigh of reluctance before turning to face the road.

"I don't have a choice, Serenity", Travas replied. "I can't have anything happen to the people of Nosgoth or you for that matter", he continued as he presses on the gas and begins driving towards the Citadel. "I also can't let anything happen to my siblings or family back on Alopex", he thought, pressing down onto the gas pedal and began driving faster towards the Citadel, with Janos and the other vampires waiting eagerly for them to arrive back home.

*Upon the Balcony of the Vampire Citadel*

Within a moment after Janos had disconnected the 'Whisper' from Travas, he began to look upon the direction in which Ziegsturhl was located, hoping he could spot Travas and his daughter. But within a matter of a few minutes, he spots them arriving towards the Underground Chamber below. Thus, and upon short notice, he teleports towards the chamber just as they pull in, walking towards them as Travas parks the hover bike near his location.

"Travas, there is a scroll for you regarding a tournament Aerocrothe is holding", Janos spoke while handing him the scroll, allowing the vulpin to read it as well.

"I'm aware, Janos. I've just got a message from him not too long ago", Travas replied while Janos looks towards him curiously.

"Wait, how did you find out", Janos asked.

"I found the message inside the hover bike's holographic mail box system before we left the diner", Travas answered while unbuckling Serenity out of her seat, allowing her to step out of the side car and walk next to her father. "Apparently, he claimed to have destroyed various worlds of competitors that refused to compete in the tournament. And that's something I can't let happen to either Nosgoth or Alopex", he added. "Not to mention planet Alden as well…"

"Are you trying to tell me that you intend on competing in this tournament?" Janos asked just as Vorador entered the chamber. "We have to find another way to handle the-"

"If this concerns the tournament, then there is nothing we can do to stop it. He will just have to compete and defeat the champion like any other competitor before him", Vorador interrupted, causing the others to look towards him with surprise in their eyes.

"Wait… how do you know about this, Vorador", Travas asked while looking towards the veteran vampire with curiosity.

"As I have told Janos, I competed in the Sacred Skies Tournament, the same tournament you speak about, nearly a century before Kain's awakening", Vorador answered while walking towards him. "During the tournament, I have fought various number of strong warriors gifted with flight and triumphed over all of them. However, there was one man that I could not defeat at the tournament, thus losing the championship match against him, and he is the same one that is not only the champion, but also the host of the tournament itself".

"I see" Travas replied. "Although I'm not fond of entering the tournament, I have to gather some of my things since my ride will arrive in less than an hour", he continued as he picks Serenity up and places her on his shoulders.

"Do what you have to do, Travas… and do everything you can to defeat him while you're there", Vorador added, walking towards Janos as the vulpin leaves the chamber and heads for his room.

"Do you think he'll make it out of this alive", Janos asked.

"I wouldn't doubt that, sire… we know him well enough. He could get himself out of anything, regardless of how severe the battle is", Vorador replied while placing his left hand on his sire's right shoulder. "Have faith in him, Sire. He's had military training back on his home world along with training here in Nosgoth", he continued before removing his hand and walking towards the chamber exit, with Janos following him from behind.

Upstairs, Travas enters his bedroom and places Serenity on the leather roller chair near his Macintosh computer as he grabs a duffle bag from his closet and began gathering some of his training clothing. He also packs a couple pairs of his skintight jeans, some solid black and dark gray colored T-shirts among other items. Once he manages to gather everything together, he places the duffle bag on his bag with the strap and goes to his daughter, picking her up while carrying her with his left arm. Serenity grabs a hold of her father's shoulder and hold onto him as he continues to walk towards the Main Chambers. But on the way, however, he notices Raziel walking towards the Training chamber in a white tank top and black Gi pants.

"Heading for the Training Room, I assume?" Travas asked as Raziel brushes his slightly longer bangs back a bit before they return to the coordinating sides.

"Of course… and I take it that you're about to depart for the Sacred Skies Tournament", Raziel replied as Travas looked towards him with calm surprise. "Vorador and Janos told me while you were gathering your things. And apparently, there's a kitsune waiting for you at the Balcony upstairs", he continued as the bony demon departs for the Training Room, but stops after taking a few steps down. "I wish you the best of luck, Travas", he continued as he continues on towards the Training Room below. All the vulpin could do was shake his head briefly before continuing to walk towards the Main Chambers upstairs.

When he arrives to the Main Chambers, Travas sets his daughter down onto the sofa and notices the nine-tailed kitsune, dressed like someone working for the F.B.I., looking towards him with curiosity. The kitsune enters the Main Chambers and looks towards him with a soft smirk on his face, making the vulpin uncomfortable with his gesture. Serenity scoots off of the couch and hides behind her father's right leg, unknown of what might happen next.

"Ah yes, if it isn't the legendary Travas Starfox of both Alopex and Nosgoth. It is an honor to meet you", the kitsune greeted, bowing respectfully towards the vulpin as Travas looks at him oddly.

"Likewise…" Travas replied calmly, but with a slight uncomfortable remark before shaking his hand-paw. "I can assume you're the one that's picking me up and taking me to the tournament?"

"Yes", the kitsune answered. "The jet is waiting outside and we must depart from this place at once" he continued as Travas let out a calm sigh of reluctance.

"Very well… let's get this over with", Travas reluctantly agreed. But before he was able to start walking towards the Balcony, he felt his leg being tugged by his daughter, causing him to turn and see her tear-filled eyes. "Serenity, what's wrong?"

"Daddy…" Serenity started before chocking back a sob. "I don't want you to go", she continued before burying her face into his leg. However, Travas kneels down to her and pulls her into a hug, softly shushing her while gently patting the back of her head on a comforting manner.

"Serenity, it's gonna be alright. Daddy has to compete in order for me to keep you and everyone on Alopex and Nosgoth safe", Travas claimed softly as she turns to face her father. "I'll be home as soon as I finish the tournament. When I return, I'll make sure we hang out a lot more often than how long I normally do", he continued as Serenity began wiping away some of the tears in her eyes.

"Really", Serenity asked while sobbing softly.

"I promise, sweetheart", Travas answered before planting a kiss on his daughters forehead. "I gotta go, Serenity. I don't want to be late for the tournament", he continued. And within a moment, Janos and Vorador arrive from Janos' chambers as Travas looks towards them both. "Would you both take care of my daughter while I'm at the tournament?"

"Of course", Janos replied while nodding towards the vulpin as Travas nods in a thankful manner and turns to face his daughter.

"I gotta go, Serenity… but I promise I'll be home soon", Travas said before planting one more kiss on his daughter's forehead. Then, he adjusts the duffle bag strap slightly and walks towards the kitsune waiting near the entrance of the Balcony.

When they walk outside, Travas notices the silver private Jet hovering next to the Balcony edge and walks towards it, seeing that it could carry about twenty other passengers in it. As soon as he enters the Jet, he discovers two other kitsune executives sitting near the middle part along with two more arctic kitsune flight attendants, well within their early twenties, and the pilot himself. When Travas buckles himself in, the pilot instantly raises the jet up into the air, managing to hover just above the Citadel before taking off towards the Sacred Sky Tournament within the east. And there, standing on the Balcony was Serenity, looking towards the direction in which the Jet departed from the Citadel with tear filed eyes. However, Janos picks the saddened vixen toddler up and holds her as she sat on his left arm.

"It will be alright, Serenity… I've fought alongside your father for about seven years." Janos spoke comfortingly as Serenity wraps her arms around his neck. "He will win the tournament and return home soon… I promise", he reassured before turning around and facing the Main Chambers entrance nearby. But as they walk, Serenity could only continue looking towards the eastern direction where her father departed for the Tournament.

"Daddy… please come back home soon", Serenity thought within her mind before chocking back a soft sob. All she could do now at that point was wipe away her tears with her sleeve while Janos carried her back inside, hoping her father would be able to return home as soon as she wanted him to.

*Within the Jet, about a few hours later*

As the pilot continues to fly towards the tournament, the small amount of passengers continued to rest upon the seats within the Jet. Travas continued to look out through the window to his right, seeing the vast amount of clouds they continue to fly by. But within a matter of a few moments, one of the female kitsune flight attendants arrive towards his seat with a roller cart full of beverages and small snacking items.

"Hello, Mr. Starfox, would you like something to eat or drink?" the female kitsune flight attendant asked as Travas shakes his head slightly.

"Oh, no thank you", Travas replied while grabbing the flask of fresh blood out of the duffle bag. "I got my own beverage right here", he continued while opening the flask and drinking a bit of the dark red beverage before closing it and placing it back into the duffle bag.

"Alrighty… just let me know when you get hungry", the female kitsune flight attendant said, winking towards the vulpin with a slight flirtatious manner before walking towards the others in the back. At that moment, Travas reclines onto his chair and tries to get whatever rest he could get before they arrived to the tournament. But just within a few minutes of resting, the intercom began to make a loud noise, grabbing the attention of Travas and the other executives and attendants.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts; we will be landing at the Sky Island shortly", the pilot said over the intercom, causing the others to follow what he had instructed them to do.

Within a matter of a few minutes, Travas sees the floating Island for the first time, looking towards the luxurious forest like fields along with ancient, post-modern, and almost futuristic architecture shown below. However, the pilot flies the passengers to the ancient Temple located within the forest near a massive sized Dome. When the pilot lands onto the docks, he parks the Jet near the entrance of the Temple itself. Within a moment, the passengers, along with the pilot, step out of the Jet and walk towards the Temple, noticing about thirty-four other warriors already on the Island. And there, standing upon the altar of the Temple some fifty feet above ground was the host and Champion of the Tournament itself, Aerocrothe.

"Greetings, fellow warriors", Aerocrothe greeted, looking down upon the various numbers of warriors that attended the tournament. "You all may be wondering why I have summoned you all to this floating land in the skies. Why you may ask? Well, it has come to me that you all have proven to be warriors not just gifted with the ability to fly at will, but that has also shown such talents that have gone beyond your excellence. And because of that, I summoned you all to partake in this glorious event of mine: The Sacred Skies Tournament", he continued while looking towards a familiar warrior he spoke to a few hours earlier. "And alas, one of Nosgoth's and Alopex's finest warriors stands here before us as we speak… the legendary Travas Starfox himself", the kitsune champion continued, pointing towards the vampuric vulpin himself as the other competitors look towards him with calm curiosity.

While the other competitors looked towards the vampuric vulpin, Travas looks towards the others with curious eyes, building slight nervousness as a result from him becoming the center of attention. However, his calm nervousness faded when he catches a glimpse of someone watching over him from a distance at another part of the Temple. Although he notices the black colored feathers on the mysterious warrior, he couldn't make out on who he was. So instead of trying to find out who the mysterious avian was, he shakes his head slightly and turns to face the kitsune host towards the altar above.

"Now then, let us get settled into the temple at once. And tomorrow, we will begin the tournament at the strike of dawn, and all of the rules shall be explained to you all", Aerocrothe spoke, turning around to face the red colored wooden twin doors before him. "Until dawn, I suggest you all train well and get enough rest. I promise you will all need your strength for what's to come", he continued, walking towards his shrine and entering before the door began to close behind him and his guards. But down below, many of the competitors, including Travas himself, began looking towards one another before one of the kitsune hostesses bangs on the gong, grabbing their attention as a response.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, if you all would follow me, I will lead you all to your assigned dorms at once", the female kitsune hostess shouted calmly, giving a soft smile towards the competitors before turning to face the mansion sized Dorm Shrine about seven hundred yards away. In that moment, she began walking towards the location as the others began following her as a response.

As they continue walking towards the dorms, Travas surveys his surroundings along with examining some of the other competitors around him. But within a few minutes of walking, they arrive to the entrance of the Dorm Shrine, where two other female kitsune hostesses began opening the shrine doors. But before the competitors could enter, the same kitsune hostess turns to face them after reaching the top of the stairs.

"As Master Aerocrothe said to you all, train hard and get as much sleep as you can tonight, for you will need it for what is to come tomorrow", the kitsune hostess said before walking towards the side of the Shrine, allowing the others to enter within a calm fashion. Inside, they could see the golden-amber colored marble floor along with dark red colored pillars holding the Shrine together from top to bottom. Within a few moments, a few other kitsune hostesses start to split the group into various smaller ones, thus leading them to the other wings of the Shrine.

The first nine members of the group were taken to the upper-left wing of the Shrine, which includes warriors that came from the corresponding quadrant of both the world and universe. The next eight people were bumped into the upper-right wing of the Shrine, among which was the one that Travas was assigned to. He adjusts his duffle bag and walks towards the northern dorms as the last eighteen warriors were evenly divided and assigned to both the lower left and right wings.

As the eight competitors enter, Travas looks towards the training room window on his left, noticing the same black feathered avian he saw earlier punching the punching bag fiercely, thus discovering that he was a phoenix. The winged avian was wearing a pair of dark red colored Gi pants and martial arts hand wraps wrapped around his forearms. Though his feathers were mostly black, they also contained some red ones located on his wings, shoulders, and bangs. Like portions of his feathers, the mysterious avian also contained red colored eyes, giving them a look that seemed intimidating to some of the other warriors. However, what caught his attention was the red gem located in the middle of his chest, causing the vulpin to look towards the phoenix with a sense of familiarity within him.

"Wait a second… haven't I seen this avian from somewhere before", Travas thought curiously while walking towards the dorm rooms and turning away from the phoenix after a few seconds later. However, the avian turns to face the vulpin with serious, but curious eyes just after catching a glimpse of Travas turning away from him.

"Who is he… and why was he staring at me like that…? It's almost as if he knew me…" the phoenix thought curiously before turning back to face the punching bag in front of him. But as the avian continues to train, the vulpin arrives to his dorm room, entering the luxury hotel sized room with a bunk bed, two dresser cabinets, a Ping-Pong table, and a bathroom.

"Humph… talk about something that literally came out of a luxury hotel or something like it", Travas thought while setting his duffle bag down on the bottom bunk of his bed. But before he was able to open one of the duffle bag compartments, he hears the sound of the door opening and turns to face the room entrance, only to discover a Sarafan warrior well within his mid-twenties entering the room. But this one was different from the others, however, for he bore a thirty degree tilted cross shaped scar on his left cheek. His hair was a luxurious black color and was tied back by a blood red colored cloth. The warrior also wore armored pants similar to any other Sarafan guard, but instead of wearing any on the torso, he wore was a gray colored T-shirt with the duffle bag strapped onto his back.

"I assume you must be the legendary Travas Starfox many of the Meridian Townsfolk speak of, am I right?" the Sarafan warrior asked, walking towards the bunk bed and placing his duffle bag onto the top bunk.

"Yes… that is me", Travas answered calmly. "What about you, what's your name?" he asked while unpacking some of his belongings and placing them onto the Ping-Pong table.

"My name is Asher, and I'm one of the Sarafan knights that watch over the Wharves in Meridian. I was also trained under Miles Sullivan's fighting class for about five years now" Asher answered while unpacking some of his items as well. "And if I'm not mistaken, you're one of his sparring partners, aren't you?"

"Yes, and I knew him for almost seven years now", Travas replied while placing some of his clothes down. "Though we had a rocky start when we first met, he's been a good help to me while I was training at the north-western mountains near Coorhagen. If it wasn't for him, then I honestly don't know where I would be today", he admitted while zipping his duffle bag up and placing it onto the wall next to the bottom bunk.

"I see…" Asher spoke, looking towards the vulpin with curiosity just before climbing towards the top bunk of the bunk bed. "Don't you think we should begin our training at this time?"

"Probably might be a good idea, Ash", Travas answered while getting into his meditating position, crossing his legs and connecting his fingers together until they made a circular shape. "The best thing we need right now in order to keep up with the others around here is to maintain our focus. That way, we could have a better chance of winning the tournament and getting the hell out of here".

"Yeah, I couldn't agree with you more, partner", Asher replied, also getting into meditating position and closing his eyes. But despite the quiet mood they now feel within the room, Travas began to focus on not just meditating, but on something else that began to bother him earlier that day.

"Why can't I think of the identity of the phoenix I saw moments ago…? I could've sworn I've seen him from somewhere before… but where?" Travas wondered, trying to focus on his meditation and pinpointing the identity of the mysterious avian. But nevertheless, his gives out a soft sigh and continues with his meditation, allowing him to relieve himself from his curiousness and focus on the tournament itself.

*Inside the Vampire Citadel, Nosgoth, close to midnight*

The night sky dominates over the land of Nosgoth as many people continued to rest within their homes. But within the Vampire Citadel, Janos walks outside towards the Balcony and began looking towards the eastern part of the sky, the same direction in which Travas departed for the tournament. But as he was looking towards the skies, he began to hear the sound of soft footsteps coming from the Main Chambers. In that instant, he turns to face the Main Chambers exit only to see a tired, but saddened Serenity, dressed in purple pajama pants and a white T-shirt, walking towards the winged vampire.

"Serenity, what ails you at this hour?" Janos asked while kneeling down and facing the saddened vixen toddler.

"Janos, I had a bad dream about Daddy", Serenity answered just before choking back a sob. "Something is gonna happen to him and I know it. He's not gonna make it back home", she continued as she began crying, where Janos goes to pick her up and hold the toddler in his arms.

"There, there, Serenity… It's going to be alright", Janos spoke soothingly while patting the back of her head gently. "He will return home soon once he wins the tournament", he continued, causing Serenity to look towards him while drying her tears.

"Do you think so", Serenity asked while choking back a soft sob and wiping away her tears.

"I know so, Serenity", Janos answered. "Now c'mon, let's get you back to bed. We all have a lot to do ahead of us tomorrow morning", he spoke softly while taking the slowly sleeping vixen toddler back to her room. But before re-entering the Main Chambers, he turns back towards the eastern skies with slight suspicion in his eyes. "However, I do sense a dark presence at the very place Travas now resides… and something tells me that it is not of this world", he thought before turning back towards the Main Chambers and continued walking Serenity back into her room. Upon entering her room, he sets the toddler onto the bed gently and pulls the covers towards Serenity's shoulders. Then finally, he begins walking towards his own chambers, switching the night light on for Serenity before silently closing the door as he left, allowing the vixen child to sleep peacefully in her bedroom.

*Inside one of the Upper-right Dorm Rooms*

Night continues to course through the sky Island as many of the tournament competitors sleep before the break of dawn. Although many of the dorm rooms are as silent as the night sky itself, there was, in fact, one warrior remaining awake on one of the top floor rooms. The mysterious phoenix was sitting on one of the windows of the dorm room and looking out of the window, setting his eyes on the fill moon shining through. However, his anthromorphic wolf competitor awakens from his slumber only to see the avian looking out the window. But before he could speak, the avian faces the other roommate and holds his feathery hand upward, stopping him from speaking.

"You needn't speak, Ace. You need to get some rest in order to perform at your best", the avian spoke as the wolf rubs his eyes after waking up.

"What about you, Avian? Do you plan to stay up all night?" Ace asked while yawning. "And what makes of your Identity, avian?"

"No… but I will remain awake for a little while longer", the Phoenix answered, turning to face back to the window and looking towards the moon. "As for who I am, I shall tell you in due time", he continued before turning away from the weary wolf. Although he still wanted to find out who the phoenix was, he shrugs it off and reclines onto the top bunk once again

"Very well, suit yourself" Ace said before yawning once again and reclining back onto the bottom bunk. But despite this, the avian continues to look through the window like a mirror, shifting his sights towards the massively sized Dome that could be seen over the horizon.

"I don't know who the mysterious vulpin was… but I will ensure that he falls before my hand" the avian thought while looking towards the Dome, but then shifts his sights towards himself, placing his hands over the spot where his heart lies. "And after I win this blasted tournament, I shall continue the search for you, my one and true love", he continued thinking before shifting his sights towards the night sky, looking at the stars with suspiciously narrow, but calm eyes nonetheless.

*Inside Travas' dorm, dawn*

The sun has begun to rise from the eastern horizon of the floating Island, partially shining through the window as Travas begins to awaken from his slumber. His partner, Asher, was already dressed in his Sarafan armored pants, boots, and dark gray colored T-shirt and manages to finish packing his things together. However, he also walked towards the vulpin and hands him a lean egg, sausage, and veggie omelet he prepared moments ago. Travas takes the omelet and begins eating it slowly, taking his time to enjoy breakfast before the Tournament began.

"This is wonderful, Asher. Thanks", Travas said while finishing the omelet within a few second's notice. But when he got up to begin packing his things, the intercom began making a loud beeping and futuristic warp noise, causing them to turn to face the holographic projection of Aerocrothe himself.

"Greetings, fellow warriors, I assume that you've all had your rest" Aerocrothe asked calmly as Travas and Asher nodded in response. "Excellent. There is a hover craft that is about to take you all to the dome in just a few moments. I suggest you gather your belongings and make haste to the Dorm entrance at once. Your transportation and I will be waiting", he continued before the hologram dissipated in front of them. In that moment, Travas continues to finish gathering his things together and placing them into his duffle bag. Upon finishing, he places the strap around his torso and began walking towards the Dorm entrance with his partner.

As they walk towards the Dorm Shrine exit, the duo notice the other competitors walking towards the same half football field sized hover craft parked at the bottom the stairs. There, on the platform hover craft stood Aerocrothe, dressed in the same clothing from the previous day, waiting on the stage while watching the competitors step onto the ship. Once everyone was on, the pilot presses the switch next to him, lifting the hover craft off of the ground and flying about two hundred yards above the ground, setting their sights towards the dome seen over the horizon. However, the kitsune host turned to face his competitors while walking towards the microphone stand in front of him, clearing his throat before he begins to speak.

"Fellow competitors, I am about to tell you what the rules for the tournament are. But listen to me carefully, for I am going to explain this just once", Aerocrothe said calmly, staring towards the competitive crowd standing before him. "This tournament is based upon the art of survival techniques. In other words, you will not be fighting inside an arena like any other tournament, but within an environmental setting. Some of you may die in this tournament and others may either forfeit the tournament, or be disqualified depending on the situation. But the main goal of this is to find and defeat me within the Tower, which lies at the very heart of the Dome itself", he explained while slowly smirking towards the warriors below. "However, not only will you have to kill your competitors and other creatures during your journey, but you will also find that I am not such an easy challenge that many of you might think", the kitsune host claimed, turning to face the pilot while walking towards him slowly.

"So the tournament is survival based, huh…" Travas thought while looking towards some of the other warriors around him. "Looks like things might get interesting around here", he continued thinking while looking towards Aerocrothe speaking with the pilot fifty feet away from him. However, he began to sense someone watching over him from the distance, causing him to turn to his left and examine his watcher. And there, standing just five yards away from him was the same avian he saw in the Training Room back at the Dorm Shrine. But within the next moment, the same avian began to approach the vulpin as he turns completely around to face him. But before either one of them could utter a word, Aerocrothe returns to the microphone and began to clear his throat, grabbing the attention of every warrior on the platform hover craft.

"We are almost at the Arena, fellow warriors. But before I teleport you all at separate locations, there is one more rule I must tell you all since I forgot to mention this from the start", Aerocrothe spoke, causing every single warrior to pay close attention to what he was about to say. "Although this may be a survival based tournament, not a single warrior is permitted to use any solid weapon, such as swords, guns, knives, etc., to kill your opponent, but only with either your hands, energy based weapons, or your energy blasts", he explained before smirking and turning around, seeing the glass Dome only within a couple of miles range. Thus he turns and prepares some sort of sky blue colored aura around his body. "Now that we have arrived, let the Sacred Skies Tournament begin" the kitsune champion yelled calmly, raising his arms into the air as he and the others were teleported towards the Dome nearby. And within a blink of an eye, Travas and Asher found themselves in the sky above a luscious forest, falling down towards the ground below. But before the impact, the vulpin and Sarafan warrior stop themselves by using their flying capabilities, allowing them to land softly onto the grassy ground below.

"Whoa, talk about all of the sudden", Travas said while dusting off his black skintight leather pants. "Are you alright, Asher?"

"Never better", Asher replied, stretching his arms forward and backwards before reclining them back to his sides. "Shall we begin our search for the tower?"

"Yeah… but keep your eyes peeled. I sense that someone else is not too far from where we're at", Travas spoke calmly, moving his eyes towards various directions while remaining on ground level. Asher merely nods and began to survey their surroundings, walking towards the faint dirt trail before them. But when they got to a clearer part of the forest just a few minutes later, they saw some of the other floating islands in the sky, with some being slightly higher than the one they reside on.

"Now I know why we need to use our flying capabilities", Travas claimed, staring at the floating islands above and in front of them.

"Bloody hell…" Asher spoke with astonishment with the sight. "What kind of dome are we inside of?"

"Honestly… I'm not one hundred percent sure. But if I'm correct, we're in some sort of dimensional based one", Travas answered theoretically. "However, I think it's time we start flying to the next island, don't you think?"

"Yeah, let's go", Asher agreed, using his flying capability to fly towards the sky Island above, with the vampuric vulpin following behind. But when they got halfway to the Island, a sudden energetic blast was thrown towards the duo from the west. Travas wasn't easily fooled, however, for he manages to deflect the attack towards the Island they were previously on, only exploding a chunk of it off as a result. And when he and Asher faced their attacker, they discovered that it was none other than the avian's partner, Ace, hovering in the sky alone.

"Well, well, if it isn't the legendary Travas Starfox himself, how nice of me to finally find you at last", Ace spoke with a smirk on his face, looking towards the vulpin as Travas looks towards him with serious, almost cold eyes.

"And how nice is for you to finally reveal yourself to us at last, Ace!" Asher exclaimed, preparing energetic blasts within the palms of his hands. "Now then, where the hell is your partner?" he yelled as the wolf unsheathes his blade-like claws from within his hand-paws.

"It is rather unfortunate that he had other matters to handle", Ace replied before preparing his claws for the attack. "But that doesn't matter! Now step forth and fight me!" he shouted, flying towards the duo with haste. But Asher manages to teleport behind him and hands a vicious punch on his back, sending him down towards one of the lower islands below. Travas instantly teleports in front of the plummeting wolf and manages to jab him in the stomach, taking the breath out of him as a result.

"Not having a good start, Ace?" Travas asked slightly mockingly, but the wolf manages to quickly recover and began using a bright flash attack, blinding the vulpin as he covers his eyes in response. And within a few brief moments, Travas' vision recovers only to see the wolf flying towards him with his claws. He manages to dodge the attack hastily, although the wolf managed to rip part of his gray tank top, leaving a long diagonal hole at the front. After the attack, the vulpin prepares his own claws and began to strike towards Ace with swift speed. However, the wolf effortlessly dodges the attacks and prepares to strike again, causing Travas to cease his rampage and look towards him suspiciously.

"Nah, everything's working according to my plans", Ace answered while smirking towards the vulpin almost heavily, raising both of his hand-paws into the air and began forming a massive, dark-maroon colored energy sphere just a few feet above him. "Let's see if you can avoid this little trick of mine, you vulpine bastard!" he yelled before throwing the massive, two and a half yard diameter attack towards the vulpin. But when it got close to him about half a second later, Travas deflects the attack effortlessly with his left hand-paw, hurling it towards one of the smaller islands and exploding it like an atomic bomb.

"Jesus Christ", Travas thought within his mind before looking towards the wolf, gritting his teeth and growling angrily towards him. But before he could fly towards him, his partner raises his hand and stops the vulpin from progressing any further. "Asher…?"

"Let me handle this", Asher replied before turning his sights towards his lupine opponent. "Besides, I have a score to settle with this bastard", he continued, flying towards the wolf hastily as Ace does the same to his human opponent. And within a mere second, the two opposing forces collided with such sudden force, that it was capable of blowing Travas about a few miles away from their position. However, the vulpin manages to react quickly enough to where he would remain at the same spot, watching both warriors clash against each other with such force. Thus, the vulpin watches the battle with astonish-filled eyes.

"Holy shit…" Travas thought. "I knew he trained under Miles back in Nosgoth… but I didn't realize how intense his energy signal is", he continued, turning his astonished expression with a more confident, proud one while smirking towards his partner. "If we both get out of here alive, I know that he'd be an excellent sparring partner back home", the vulpin added, crossing his arms and watching the fight from a good distance.

As the fight continues on, Asher continues to strike his opponent with fierce strength while Ace does the same towards him. But with every punch, kick, or energy blast they fire, they continued to cancel each other out as if they were almost equal in strength. But the tide began to turn when Asher teleported behind him and put his lupine opponent in head-lock position, holding onto him tightly as Ace did whatever he could to break free from his opponent's grasp.

"What's the matter? Having trouble trying to break free?" Asher asked almost mockingly while tightening his grip on the anthromorphic wolf. But before Ace could respond, the Sarafan warrior hurls him towards the Island that he and Travas had set out to journey through. And within seconds, the wolf crashes onto one of the pine trees within the forest, hitting each branch violently before plummeting onto the ground. But while he tries to recover, Travas and Ace land directly in front of him and within a couple of feet from his position. Then, when the wolf looks up, he spots a red energetic sphere in Asher's right hand, looking towards his human and vulpine opponent with disgust and hate filled eyes.

"Ha! Do you really think that something as simple as that could stop me?! Think again", Ace shouted, flying backwards a bit and summons forth the same attack. But despite the intensity of his attack, the wolf began to notice that something was wrong as a response to seeing the confident look on his face.

"Something wrong, Ace", Asher mocked while smirking towards the wolf, thus causing him to growl as a response. In that instant, and out of anger, Ace throws the intense sphere of energy towards the Sarafan warrior. But when the intense sphere reached about halfway to its target, the Sarafan warrior throws the red sphere-like projectile towards the opposing attack, dissipating it with ease while continuing towards its target.

"This can't be! How could such a projectile cut my attack in half like a-" Ace tried to speak until the red projectile suddenly strikes him, stripping his body of his ragged flesh into bloodstained bone. The body of the former lupin warrior topples onto the grassy dirt surface below, leaving nothing but a pile of bones in the spot where Ace once stood. And within a mere moment, Travas and Asher land just within a few feet ahead of the pile of bones.

"It's been a while since I've seen that trick", Travas claimed while softly smirking towards the Sarafan warrior next to him. "It's a shame… good blood gone bad…" he added, causing him and Asher to chuckle jokingly to the comment.

"You vampires never really change much, do you", Asher replied before changing his soft smile into a more serious expression. "However, we must continue our search for the tower and destroy Aerocrothe at once".

"Understood, and let's hope that we both manage to get out of here alive", Travas agreed, turning his sights towards the path just up ahead of him. "I don't know what it is… but I've got a bad feeling about this", he thought while following the Sarafan warrior through the trail, entering the forest that hopefully lead to their desired destination.

*Somewhere at another part of the Dimensional Dome*

While Travas and Asher continue onward towards the Tower, another battle continues to rage on within another area of the Dimensional Dome. The same black feather avian Travas saw a day earlier was battling against a male elf warrior named Lant, who was covered in his own blood. The phoenix, however, did not have a single scratch on him since he had proven to be much stronger than his opponent. Then, he began to summon forth a bright, fiery like attack that began to engulf his scaly hands, aiming them towards the fallen elf below. However, Lant, too, had begun to summon forth another green energy sphere, turning it into an aura based blade before holding it with both of his hands.

"Any last words before you die", the phoenix asked with a smirk on his face, intensifying his fiery attack with his feathery hands.

"If you think you're going to kill me that easily, think again!" Lant shouted, gripping the aura-like blade heft with both of his hands. "Now step forth and die!" he shouted, flying towards the avian with haste. But as he did, the phoenix aimed his attack towards the elf, causing it to intensify more than what it already was.

"Solar Strike!" the phoenix shouted, firing the attack towards the approaching elf and engulfing him into the solar based attack. As a result, the warrior was burned until there was nothing left of him but ashes that blew through the current. But within short notice, he turns to face the direction in which the battle between Travas, Asher, and his partner took place. "Where is Ace…? I cannot sense his energy signal anywhere", he thought, turning to face the direction where his partner once was. "Something tells me that he was rather defeated quickly… looks like I'm gonna have to investigate what happened to him" the avian thought as he began flying towards the South-eastern part of the massively sized Dome, searching for clues upon what happened to his tournament companion.

*On the South-Eastern Sky Island, inside the Dome*

After the battle between Ace and the duo ceased, Travas and Asher continue to walk towards the trail they had discovered earlier that day. While they walked through the trail, they kept their eyes peeled for any threats that lay within the woods. Suddenly, however, clouds began to dominate the skies as rain began to pour heavily, causing the duo to run for the nearest cave on the Island.

"Shit!" Asher exclaimed while he and Travas began sprinting towards the empty cave up ahead. As soon as they enter, the vulpin walks about a few feet away from the Sarafan warrior before shaking his body like a dog, drying some of the water off as Asher turns his head away and raises his arms like a barrier. "Whoa! Easy, Travas", he shouted due to some of the water hitting parts of his face and armor, but lowers them and softly smiles towards his partner. "I can tell that this was something you did before coming to Nosgoth".

"It's what we canines usually do before drying ourselves off with a towel", Travas answered while grabbing two towels out of his duffle bag, throwing one of them to the other warrior as Asher started drying himself off. "How long do you think the rain will last?"

"I'm not entirely sure… but since it's pouring down on us heavily, I my best estimate is that it might last up to several hours", Asher replied before sitting on the rocky dirt floor. "Until it clears up, I might recommend that we meditate and redeem our focus".

"Agreed", Travas spoke, looking towards the rainy, but partially sunny skies while sitting onto the floor in a meditation gesture. "At least we can see the sun shining through some of the clouds".

"Of course", Asher replied before shutting his eyes, allowing him to lose focus from his surroundings and focus within himself. "But I sense that danger awaits us all soon… yet I do not know whom at the moment", he thought while clearing his head of every single thought that coursed within his mind. All the two could do now listen to the sounds of raindrops hitting some of the boulder sized stones, waiting for their chance to continue onward towards their journey.

*Near the Battle Site, the South-eastern Sky Island*

The rain continues to pour down onto the South-eastern Island heavily with no signs of it stopping anytime soon. However, the black feathered phoenix lands on the wet grassy surface of the Island, surveying his surroundings in search for his partner. But due to the weather circumstances, he sighs in frustration and begins to search the area for his partner and for clues on what happened.

"I suspected much..." the phoenix concluded. "He's been defeated by a couple of the other competitors… but by whom" he thought while continuing his investigation. Then within a moment, he turns his head towards his right and spots a trail leading into the woods. But before he could walk towards the trail, he notices a large, fiery, circular barrier forming around the field, with a large group of demons arriving onto the scene. "I don't remember Aerocrothe mentioning about any creatures being added to the mix. Now mind telling me who or what the fuck you fiends are", the phoenix asked with calm aggression in his tone while getting into his battle stance.

"And what makes of you, avian? You certainly appear to not have originated from this world, or perhaps even from this dimension", the first fiery demon replied as the demon and the others prepared for battle.

"Who or what I am is of no concern to you, vile fiends", the avian spoke intimidatingly, also preparing to battle against demons in front of him. "Either get out of my way this instant or suffer the consequences of your own actions!" he shouted, preparing a familiar solar attack within the palms of his scaly hands.

"Do you really think you can defeat all of us with ease, avian? Think again", the fiery demonic leader replied while smirking towards him before sprinting towards him hastily. But when the demon fired a countless number of fireballs towards him, the avian swiftly teleports away from them with ease, causing the demonic leader to look at his former spot with shock. As a response, he began to survey the area for the avian, unable to sense the current location of him. And within a moment, one of the other demons spots something up in the sky, thus realizing that it was the same phoenix that teleported away from the demonic leader.

"Master, WATCH OUT!" the second demon shouted, causing the leader to look behind him. But by the time the demon turns its head about halfway, it was unexpectedly met with a ferocious fire blast on its back, sending the demon hurling towards the barrier hastily. Within a fraction of a second, the leading demon crashes violently upon the barrier as the black and red feathered avian lands just within a few feet behind him.

"You lack the ability to sense other energy signals, fiend", the phoenix spoke calmly while raising his feathery right arm, aiming his scaly hand towards the fallen demon and forming a solar based energy blast in his hand. "And that, my friend, will be your undoing", he added before firing the attack towards the fallen demon, engulfing it with his solar attack and burning the demon until there was nothing left. Once the demon was turned to ash, the avian turns to face the other demons and began smirking towards them as they get into their battle positions.

"You're not going anywhere, you god damned avian!" one of the demons shouted as the entire group began preparing fireballs in the palm of their hands.

"Do you really think you fools could defeat me the same way your master tried? Think again", the phoenix shouted as the demons began sprinting towards him with haste. But when they began throwing their fiery projectiles, the avian jumps upward into the air and dodged them with ease.

As the battle continues to progress, the demons continue to fire their fiery attacks towards the phoenix. However, the demonic army began to become weary as a result from overusing their energy as an attempt to injure or kill the flying avian. Upon seeing this, the phoenix takes this as an opportunity to summon forth his solar based energy attack within the palm of his hands. At the moment the attack finalizes, he aims the solar attack towards the small demonic legion and looks upon them with fierce eyes.

"SOLAR STRIKE" the avian shouted, firing the solar beam towards the demonic legion and engulfing them with the intense attack. In fact, the blast itself was so intense, that every one of them burns into nothing but ashes that quickly wash away from the rain's influence. But despite the victory he claimed, he begins to grunt angrily due to the rain pouring down heavier than what he had expected it to. "Damn…! I cannot remain outside any longer. I must return to my sanctuary in the southwest and wait there until the rain subsides", he spoke before summoning forth his teleportation energy, departing from the place he once stood and towards the designated Sky Island.

Within a second's notice, the phoenix arrives to the Island and walks towards his hideout about fifty feet in front of him. But when he walked about halfway there, he senses a couple of other energy signals to his left and turns towards that direction. And there, standing about ten meters away from him were two other competitors. The first one was an anthromorphic timber wolf with brown and white fur, standing about six feet four inches in height. The wolf was also sporting a loincloth covering his mid-section along with a sacred necklace around his neck. The second was a light blue colored, muscular dragon that stood about seven feet in height. He was also sporting a chin goatee while wearing a gray tank top tucked into his black Gi pants. In that instant, both warriors look towards the Phoenix, seeing him giving them a calm, confident look while smirking at the two fighters in front of him.

"Ah yes, if it isn't Keith and Vernon from the Gardens of Eden. I find it rather fortunate to see I'm not the only one from the Gardens that's competing in the tournament", the phoenix claimed, chuckling towards the timber wolf while getting into battle position. "Now then, I believe you, me, and your partner have some unfinished business to take care of".

"I couldn't agree with you more, you vile bastard! You're days of Tyranny are about to come to an end", Keith shouted before he and Vernon got into battle position. "You ready to give this bastard a taste of his own medicine?"

"I am! And let us not hesitate, but give this avian a run for his money", Vernon replied as the two turned their heads to face each other, nodding before facing the Avian one again. And within the next moment, both warriors started flying towards the phoenix in front of him, causing the avian to do the same with them as a response. Thus, the two began to engage in battle against each other, leaving an unknown path of who the victor might be.

*Inside the Cave*

The rain continues to pour down upon the Sky Islands heavily like fully automatic gunfire shooting towards the ground with each passing hour. But inside the cave, the two warriors continue to meditate throughout the day, waiting for the rain to subside before they could continue. Although Asher continues to meditate peacefully, Travas' focus began to shift within his mind, causing him to softly grunt within his meditation. But it was not due to him having a lack of patience, but rather something going on within the depths of his mind. It was then, that something began to play within his head, unknown if it was some sort of vision of the future or that of a dream he had sometime in the recent past.

*Within Travas' Mind*

At first, Travas was inside a cave within the forest of the South-eastern Sky Island at the Sacred Skies Tournament, but has now found himself inside yet another temple, perhaps a kingdom of some sort. His sight wanders the halls until he got to the second floor part of the 'King's' throne, where he hid behind one of the pillars on the right side of the throne. The vulpin turns a bit to the left see the same black/red feathered avian he saw at the tournament sitting on the throne on the first floor. He also notices him looking towards the four other people standing before him: one being a wolf similar to Infernum, but with the distinction of only wearing a loincloth; The others were a black panther with tentacles on his back, a unicorn wearing a white roman empire like cape over his spandex uniform, and a serpent warrior. All of them were looking down in disgrace as the phoenix clenches onto his wineglass and throws it towards the four ignominious individuals in front of him.

"Idiots…! Imbeciles" the phoenix shouted angrily as the wineglass crashes and shatters onto the tile floor near the four failed individuals. "I ask for you all to do one simple task and you all fail. I give you land to rule, I take care of your underhanded matters and all I ask of you is to protect this realm from intruders and you fail miserably!" he continued shouting angrily, causing the others to look down miserably. However, the panther with the tentacles on his back finally had enough and looks towards his master with an angered look on his face.

"The displacers never asked anything from you, avian! We managed well enough before your arrival here! We don't need your favors!" the panther yelled angrily, causing the phoenix to look towards him with a calm, but angered and serious tone as he pointed the finger towards the panther.

"Is that so?" the avian asked with a doubtful, yet slightly mockingly tone just before he began summoning his solar based energy attack onto his right scaly hand. "Then allow me to take back my favor of allowing you to live. SOLAR STRIKE!" the phoenix yelled while firing his attack towards the angered panther, obliterating him until his body was turned to ash. All the others could do at that moment was watch in total disbelief, unknown on how to take in such a sudden event. But before either one of them could utter a word, a blue skinned being with a devil-like tail, bird beak, and perhaps a set of kangaroo like ears opens the Throne Room door and tilts her head inside.

At the moment the woman began talking to the avian on the first floor, the vulpin's eyes to turn towards the wall as his hearing shifts towards the feminine creature's voice. But despite his efforts, he could not hear a single word she was saying, causing him to turn away from her and looks down upon himself.

"That doesn't make any sense… what is she trying to tell the avian", Travas thought within his mind, turning his head towards the female creature once again. "Why can't I hear her voice? And what is the avian's name?" he thought with a slight aggravated tone, turning away from the woman and facing the phoenix once again.

"Remember this, all of you", the phoenix started, clenching his right scaly hand as smoke forms as a result of the sudden solar attack. "You're continued existence is purely due to my continued grace. Fail me again and you will meet that fool's fate. If you'll excuse me, my-"

"Travas, wake up", Asher spoke, gently shaking the vulpin's shoulder while waking him from his trance. Upon awakening, he realizes that he was back in the tournament and turns to face his partner standing next to him. "It's been several hours and the rain subsided. We must continue our journey towards the Tower right away" he said calmly as Travas gives a nod in response. The duo head for their items located just a few yards away from them and began gathering their belongings. And as they were gathering their things, Asher notices a troubled expression on his face, causing him to tap his shoulder to get his attention. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah…" Travas answered before looking down towards himself. "I still don't know who the phoenix is or where he came from. But now is not the time to think about it", he thought while putting the duffle bag strap over his shoulders and looking towards the Sarafan warrior next to him. "Alright, let's go", he said as Asher nods in response. And in that moment, the two put the fire out and walk out of the cave, leaving nothing behind but the burned wood that once provided light to the two warriors.

After departing, the duo continues on towards the trail they had discovered in the forest, continuing their journey towards the Tower within the Dome and eager to confront the kitsune champion within. Inside the forest, they could see various pine trees scattered all over the region. However, they noticed various traps constrained onto them while seeing about a sixth of the competitors either lying dead on the ground or pinned to the trees.

"My god… what the hell happened here?" Asher asked, looking around the small, but very bloody seen they bestowed upon.

"It seems Aerocrothe was quite thorough with setting up the tournament, especially with where and how he set up the traps", Travas replied calmly, looking towards the partially mutilated bodies of the six fallen competitors. "C'mon, let's keep going", he continued as Asher nodded in response, thus continuing to walk the path leading to the tower. But before they were able to progress any further, a green, aura like barrier suddenly forms and encircles the two. Along with this, however, several green bladed and maroon gas-like demons appear before them, causing the duo to get into their battle positions.

"Great, how many more of these demons do we have to deal with now?!" Asher exclaimed while listening to the demonic laughter of the other demons.

"Did you really think that you both could evade us that easily? Think again", the first electrical demon spoke before teleporting in front of the Sarafan warrior. But the warrior wasn't startled at all, for he manages to effortlessly dodge the vicious attack the demon tried to make. Asher instantly took this as an opportunity and strikes the demon fiercely, causing the demon to crash on some of the trees nearby. Almost immediately, some of the others started sprinting towards the vampuric while the rest sprint towards the Sarafan warrior.

"You think you vile bastards can catch me?! We'll see about that", Asher shouted while preparing bright blue energy blasts within the palms of his hands. But before he could throw them towards the other demons, the first one teleports behind him and summons an electrical based bomb in his hand.

"There's no escape for you, young man! Take this", the first electrical demon shouted before hurling the electrical bomb towards Asher. However, the Sarafan warrior manages to avoid the attack with ease, causing the other demons to take the damage instead of him. "Oh shit, what have I done?! God Damnit!" the demon shouted furiously with slight regret after seeing his attack obliterate the majority of his own army. And within a moment, he gathers his composure and looks towards the human with pure hatred, growling in response to what had happened to his comrades.

"I'm assuming everything's not going according to your plans, demon?" Asher asked mockingly as the demon growls towards him in response.

"You're gonna pay for what you've done to my comrades, you son of a bitch!" the electrical demon shouted while teleporting towards him. Asher merely smirks at the moment the demon teleports in front of him, engaging and locking into battle as Travas watched the fight from the ground level.

"Amazing…" Travas thought, looking towards the battle with such admiration that he was completely speechless. "He's just like a human version of me… with this burning ambition to fight and protect those he cherishes", he continued before smirking towards the two warriors locking into battle. But before he could utter another thought, his smirk fades and senses another demonic presence not too far from his position, causing him to turn towards his left. And there, standing just about several meters from his position stood a green bladed demon, though injured, prepares to fight the Sarafan warrior in the skies.

"The warrior thinks he could defeat my master with ease? Ha! That damned fool doesn't stand a chance against him", the green bladed demon thought before preparing to attack Asher from the ground level. "Especially with my involvement in his death", he continued before jumping towards the Sarafan warrior. But about halfway there, Travas teleports in front of the demon and fiercely strikes it on the face with his fist.

"You have no right to interfere with their battle, demon", Travas exclaimed before getting into battle position. "However, if you want to engage in battle, then fight me instead", he continued while smirking towards the annoyed demon in front of him.

"Very well then", the green bladed demon spoke with an annoyed tone. "If that's what you wish, then let us commence the battle at once", the demon continued, jumping backwards about fifteen meters away from the vulpin, who was also landing onto the ground below.

Then, the demon hastily teleports towards the vampuric vulpin, with its blades ready to strike. And within a sudden moment, the two opposing forces locked in battle as their energy signals intensified greatly, sending shockwaves All over the Island. In fact, the intensity was so great, that everyone else that was on the Island couldn't comprehend the true power between the two opposing forces.

*Inside the Tower*

The room was dark and the only light source was merely a few well lit candles, which encircled a sacred water bowl located at the heart of the chamber. Inside the room, an orange kitsune watches the battle between the demons and Travas' team from within the bowl itself, seeing the vulpin and his Sarafan partner winning against the demonic duo. But within a few moments, he hears a knock and turns to face the room door within short notice.

"Come in", Aerocrothe said as a female kitsune opens the chamber door and enters. "What is it do you wish to discuss with me? And speak quickly, for I am busy watching the progression of my competitors", he continued as the female kitsune nods quickly in response.

"Sir Aerocrothe, it's about the demons' interference with the tournament. They've slaughtered most of the competitors using the traps they set up within the forests", the female kitsune explained, causing the kitsune champion to turn and face her with a calm, but serious expression on his face.

"I am aware of the current situation, my lady", Aerocrothe replied. "But despite the bloody mess they left behind, I have to admit that I find this… entertaining, you should say, he continued, with the female kitsune looking towards him with a curious look on his face. Although she was beginning to have questionable thoughts regarding his words, she closes her eyes and gives a simple nod.

"I understand", the female kitsune spoke, seeing her master nod in response. "There is one more thing I would like to ask, my lord".

"Very well… ask away, my lady", Aerocrothe replied calmly.

"What makes of the identity and origins of the phoenix?" the female kitsune asked. "It is rather clear that he's not of this world… or even of this dimension".

"Yes… I can tell", Aerocrothe answered while raising his right arm slightly over the sacred water bowl, moving the arm towards the right side. As he did, the water shifts towards the right as well, shifting from Travas and Asher's battle against the demons to the phoenix's battle against Keith and Vernon. "And something tells me there's something more significant about him than what we realize", he continued, watching the fight being displayed inside the sacred water bowl as the female kitsune looks towards him curiously.

"What do you mean, Aerocrothe?" the female kitsune asked.

"What I mean is that, if my observations are accurate, then the phoenix we see battling against two of the other competitors is merely only half of what he originally was", Aerocrothe answered while turning to face the female kitsune a few feet away from him. "In other words, he's merely one half of another person. And I can sense within him that he is in search for the other half of the puzzle, the other phoenix".

"And what does he plan to do when he finds the other phoenix", the female kitsune asked.

"I am unsure about his intentions", Aerocrothe answered. "However, there's a strong possibility he may try to unite the other half and become one with the other once he finds him", he suggested before turning to face the bowl once again. Although the female kitsune was curious about his theory, she merely nods and turns to face the door.

"I have to get going. It appears I am required elsewhere", the female kitsune said before walking hastily towards the door, exiting the room and leaving the kitsune champion to continue watching both battles within.

"There's something odd about this avian", Aerocrothe thought calmly, looking towards the battling avian through the image inside the sacred water bowl. "I don't know who is he and what are his intentions in the tournament…" he wondered before standing onto his feet-paws, but continued to look down towards the sacred water bowl below. "… But I'll be keeping an eye on him… very closely".

*Within the South-western Island*

Rain continues to pour heavily on the ground, giving the Island a calm, but fierce mood. But as it did, the phoenix continues to battle against his two opponents, Keith and Vernon, since its start several hours ago. The phoenix seems to have barely used any energy against his opponents, smirking towards them in their injured states. Keith and Vernon, on the other hand, used almost everything they've had in order to survive despite the damage they both received. Then, within a mere moment, the avian unfolds his wings and flies into the air, looking down upon his opponents while smirking in delight.

"Well, I have to admit that both of you fought valiantly against me in this battle", the phoenix said while smirking, but his soft grin soon faded into a more serious one. "But it seems that your efforts weren't enough to stop me. How unfortunate", he continued while summoning two solar based energy spheres within the palm of his scaly hands.

"If you think we're out of the game, think again!" Keith shouted before summoning forth two bright blue colored energetic spheres within the palms of his hand-paws. "Take this, you heartless son of a bitch", he continued before throwing the two energetic projectiles towards the phoenix above. But as he threw them, the avian raises his arms upward and prepares to fire the solar attack in his hands.

"SOLAR STRIKE!" the avian shouted while firing the solar blast towards his opponent's projectiles. But instead of destroying the blasts, they manage to stop the solar attack from progressing any further than the phoenix planned on. In fact, the two projectiles were so powerful, that he literally had to push his solar blast towards them in order to stop them from getting any closer.

"C'mon… just a little longer", Keith thought while pushing the blasts towards the avian's solar blast. Although he was powerful enough to keep the attack from destroying them, he couldn't continue to hold the attack off for long. In fact, the solar attack began to overcome the wolf's fierce attacks, sending shock towards Vernon, who watched horrifically as his partner's attack was dissipated by the avian's solar blast.

"Oh no… Keith, your attack's been dissipated!" Vernon shouted as Keith turns his head to face him with a calm expression, but softly smiled towards him.

"I know…" Keith replied before closing his eyes. "But at least I know we've done everything we could to defeat the avian… even if it meant the end of us", he continued before turning to face the oncoming attack. And within a mere second, the blast strikes the two warriors and hurls them towards some nearby pine trees, crashing onto the in a violent manner. But shortly after crashing, the avian descends onto the ground below, landing about ten feet away from his opponents.

"Such a shame to see admirable talents go to waste", the avian spoke while looking down upon the two opponents. Although he discovers Vernon being dead, he discovers that Keith managed to survive, despite the injuries he suffered as a result of the blast. But despite this discovery, he merely smirks as Keith manages to lean upward a little and face his avian opponent. "Keith, you surprise me! I was expecting you to die in the blast, and here you are on the ground still alive", he mocked before his smirk fades and raises his right arm, aiming towards the fallen wolf. "But that's about to change, my friend. And that, I promise you", the phoenix claimed while summoning forth a solar based energy sphere within the palm of his scaly hand.

"Damnit…. I can't move my arms or legs", Keith thought before turning to face the lifeless, bloodied body of his longtime friend and partner, Vernon. "I'm sorry, Vernon… I failed you", he thought again before collapsing onto the ground once again, but manages to remain conscious as the phoenix prepares to strike the fallen warrior. But just as the avian was about to fire the blast, an explosion suddenly goes off, grabbing the attention of both warriors as they turn towards the direction where the South-eastern Island lies. Within a few seconds, however, the phoenix turns to face the injured wolf and growls towards him angrily.

"Today's your lucky day, Keith…" the phoenix distastefully said, before slightly narrowing his eyes on the wolf with disgust. "But I promise you the next time we meet; your luck and your life will finally run its course", the avian claimed before turning towards the direction of the South-eastern Island, instantly jumping about twenty-five feet into the air and flying towards his destination with haste. Thus, Keith was left alone on the South-western Island as he began crawling towards one of the trees nearby, pulling himself up and holding one of the branches with whatever strength he could muster.

"That was a close one… I thought I'd be dead by now" Keith thought before turning to face his now deceased companion, looking towards Vernon's corpse with sadness so overwhelming, that it almost immediately turns into a calm sense of rage. "Vernon… I can't tell you how deeply sorry I am… for not being able to save you", he continued thinking before turning his head away from his body, closing his eyes as a result for being at the brink of tears. "But I promise you will be avenged", the wolf thought before opening his eyes, containing nothing but hatred and vengeance within them. "Whether it's by me… or some other warrior powerful enough to defeat him", the wolf continued thinking, turning to face his dead companion and walking towards the corpse, fulfilling one final act before he could continue his journey towards the heart of the Sky Dome.

*Upon the South-eastern Sky Island*

Silence fills the air and smoke hovers around the entire area after a sudden explosion some time ago. As it began to clear, Travas and Asher were shown to have defeated their demonic enemies, standing within the heart of the bloodied mess. Just after they finish slaying the demons, Travas began to dust his clothing off before readjusting his duffle bag. But as he did, he began to notice an investigative look onto the Sarafan warrior's face, causing the vulpin to walk towards him curiously. However, the vulpin manages to figure out what the warrior was wondering about regarding the demons

"You're wondering about how the demons were able to get here, aren't you", Travas asked, causing Asher to turn and face his partner.

"Yes", Asher answered while nodding slightly. "Aerocrothe never mentioned anything about the demons being a part of the tournament. So either Aerocrothe never mentioned anything about it in order to surprise us…"

"Or perhaps he may have not been aware of the situation until it becomes apparent to him", Travas added.

"Maybe…" Asher replied, stroking his chin in a thinking gesture, wondering how the demons were able to teleport into such a sacred place in order to pursue them. But before the Sarafan warrior could add anything else, he and Travas began to sense another presence coming somewhere from the western part of the dimensional dome. "But it looks like we've got company", he continued while he and Travas turn to face the western direction. And within a few moments, the black and partially red colored avian arrives onto the scene, noticing the two warriors on the ground along with various corpses of the demons scattered across the area they occupied.

"Well now, so you're the ones responsible for causing the explosion", the phoenix assumed, crossing his arms and looking down upon them with serious eyes.

"And what of it, avian", Asher asked, looking towards the phoenix with a similar expression on his face. "Aren't you aware of the current situation regarding the demons lurking about Aerocrothe's board unexpectedly and killing the other competitors? Or have your ambitions blinded you to your current surroundings or what the hell's going on?" he continued while looking towards the avian in the skies above. However, he turns to face the vulpin, looking towards him with a curious look as Travas was looking towards the avian with serious eyes.

"Damnit…!" Travas exclaimed within his mind. "I've seen him from somewhere before… but where", he continued while clenching his fists. But within a few seconds notice, the Sarafan warrior began walking towards him with curious eyes, causing the vulpin to look towards him curiously.

"Travas…?" Asher started. "Do you know this guy?"

"Not exactly… but I- ARGH", Travas tried to finish until he felt a sudden jolt of pain flow through his head, knowing well what was about to happen in his mind.

*Vision*

Nightfall dominate the skies on an unknown land far away. Yet within the skies, however, a battle is being fought fiercely between what appears to be two phoenixes. One of them, however, was that of a female, bearing mostly red colored feathers and some yellow feathers as well. She also wore what seems to be a black skintight battle suit, sleeveless and showing a bit of cleavage with it. However, she began to summon a massive, solar based attack within her right hand, aiming it towards the black feathered phoenix and wrapped him in constraints.

"Why, why couldn't you have just left me alone?!" the female phoenix shouted while tightening the constraints that bound the other phoenix, preventing him from trying to break free.

"Because it was out destiny to find one another, to love one another, to be one with one another", the black feathered phoenix claimed. "Alone, you would have never become a complete phoenix. You were created differently, without the combined knowledge, experience, and instincts, or all the phoenixes that preceded us, because in truth you are only half of what you should be", he explained while trying to struggle and get free. "I'm only half… but now that we have joined, we both have all the knowledge we had been denied apart", he admitted, causing the female phoenix to look towards him with an even more disgusted, angered look.

"But how did you know that's what I wanted?" the female phoenix asked angrily. "I liked me the way I was! I didn't need all that knowledge to know who I am, I like me just the way I was!" she continued. Although she uttered something else, Travas could not hear her saying the male phoenix's name. But he did notice how her beak moved in correspondence with the other avian's name. "And frankly, the sight of you makes me sick!" she yelled, summoning forth another attack that was so great, that it forms a giant phoenix shaped aura around her.

"Wait a minute… I… I've seen this vision before…! And the female avian is Phenix, the one who would become the leader of the Extinctioners several years from now", Travas thought as the vision continued to play within his mind.

"So consider yourself dumped! Phoenix Gate", Phenix shouted, raising her arms upward while opening another dimensional portal behind the male avian. "Don't let the dimensional door hit ya where the maker split ya", she mocked, aiming her arms towards the other phoenix and pushing him towards the dimensional portal behind him. However, the male avian manages to grab a hold of the ends of the portal with his hands and talons, holding onto it as Phenix continued to fire towards him with her solar attack.

"NO! I will not be dismissed so easily. I searched galaxies for you. I had to go through time and space itself to find your location", the male phoenix claimed, causing Phenix's eyes to widen with shock. But then, she looked towards him with such outrage, finally knowing the truth behind all that's happened in her past.

"That's it! That wormhole I saw", Phenix said, remembering a familiar event regarding something that happened in her recent past. "You're responsible for opening that! You're responsible for the humans finding Alden! All that's happened your fault!" she shouted angrily reaching her arms towards the male phoenix by means of intensifying her attack. But despite being pushed back a bit, the male avian continues to hold onto the edges of the portal, yet aims his left arm towards the female phoenix.

"Phenix, together you have nothing to fear from the humans! They're nothing to us. Together, we could destroy them with a mere thought," the male phoenix claimed, using his raised arm to grab a hold of the opposite edge of the circular portal. "Don't do this! Think, we're phoenixes… we outlive any mortal we come into contact with! Do you really want to live a life of watching those you care for die in front of you when you can have someone to love all your live?!" the avian asked just before he was hit with a sonic blast from above. "Argh, Sonics!" he yelled, noticing the blue skinned beings just above him.

As the blue skinned females continue to use their blasts against the male avian, Travas continues to look towards the girls' lip gestures within the vision. This time, however, the name began to become faintly louder than what it was, but couldn't make out what it was. And soon, the girls began to overpower the avian as they managed to push him off of the edges of the portal with their sonic blasts.

"NOOOO!" the male avian shouted in agony as he watched them laugh upon him, seeing them say something that Travas could not hear. However, the male phoenix narrows his eyes onto the girls and manages to think of one last trick to pull, thus summoning his solar-telekinetic energy within his hands. "If I go treacherous wenches, I won't be going alone!" the phoenix claimed, pulling the blue skinned beaked girls towards him as they began to scream with shock. And within a fatal moment, he pulls them into the portal with them just as it closes, leaving nothing but a bright light that dissipates into the night sky.

*Vision end*

"Travas, are you alright?!" Asher asked worryingly, shaking his shoulders by means of snapping him out of his trance. But when Travas manages to recover, he begins to narrow his eyes and look towards the phoenix up in the sky.

"Yeah… just had a familiar vision", Travas answered calmly, but then becomes enraged at the sight of the avian up above. "And I remember who he is".

"Wait… you remembered his name", Asher asked, causing Travas to turn and face the Sarafan warrior next to him, nodding in response. "Who is he then", he asked curiously just as the vulpin turns to face the avian up above. In that moment, all thoughts began to fade away within Travas' mind, leaving behind nothing but the one name that he alone could utter.

"Xenif…"

---

A/N:

Two years have passed since Nexus attacked Nosgoth, and the death of Umah. And during this time, Travas was forced to raise his daughter, Serenity, as a single parent, despite the help he received from the others. However, it appears the Sacred Skies Tournament has begun. But that's not the only thing, however, for it seems future Extinctioners enemy, Xenif, has joined the fight. Will Travas and Asher be able to defeat the powerful phoenix, or will they fall to their doom? Find out in the next installment of the 'Legacy of Travas'.

Travas, Xenif, Phenix, and Xenif's Servants, along with exerpts from Extinctioners Issues #8 and #10 © Shawntae Howard

Umah, Janos, Raziel, and Vorador © Edios/Crystal Dynamics/Silicon Knights/Square Enix Europe

Story and other Characters © me