Dancing With Cinders  

Sorah stared in awe at the dazzling display of Elder Yanluo's mastery over lightning and storm. The pompous blowhard had certainly earned his boastful reputation if one were to judge solely by the marvellous techniques and impenetrable force fields conjured through intricate Tai Chi gestures using that stunning Lightning Staff.

Another explosive hit detonated in midair from intercepting the hissing Sand Basilisk boulders unleashed by Colonel Dravenik and his Red Sand Titan Avatar. Sorah wondered anxiously how much longer Yanluo could maintain this stellar performance before exhaustion allowed the bombardment to penetrate his Protective Tempest Shell barrier and crush everyone huddling within.

Likely not much longer against the nightmarish horde surrounding them. Sorah observed by the hundreds, now with reloaded pulsars, flame lances and other vicious implements primed for another assault attempt.

Emboldened by his idol's bravery, young Daichi yelled words of encouragement to the lightning Stormweaver across the burning wreckage near their sheltered refuge: "Wow! Elder Yanluo rules! Hey Sand Eaters! Bet your dusty Overlord drools lava dust when he witnesses a true Champion skill instead of hiding like cowardly worms!"

"Well taunted my student!" Sorah managed a weak chuckle despite agonizing ribs. In times of war, bold words renewed courage within unravelling hearts. "Elder Yanluo! We humble folks offer our endless gratitude this day for your peerless heroism! Truly the heavens themselves rally to speed your staff!"

Sorah's praise ignited Yanluo's ego like wildfire. Still deftly twirling his staff to maintain the defensive perimeter, the flamboyant showman blew back imaginary stray hairs in exaggerated fashion before winking towards his youthful audience.

"Naturally! No battlefield nor brawl can overwhelm my Rakshasa Thunder Palace ultimate technique! Now watch closely my children!" Yanluo punctuated this proud exclamation by spinning dramatically and unleashing several blinding thunderbolts from his glowing staff directly into the Red Sand Titan's swirling face. "Behold true ultimate power unrestrained!!!"

KRAK-KOOM!! 

The resounding lightning blast sent enemies reeling in pain, buying precious time for Yanluo to safely reposition himself closer to Master Sorah's crumpled body. The grim prognosis wrenched his normally boisterous heart - no medicine nor magic could mend such grievous wounds quickly enough before the relentless Sand Colonel resumed their onslaught. Yanluo crossed both arms solemnly before his comrade's bloodied chest then bowed with genuine humility towards courageous Sorah who had battled fiercely despite lacking any elemental powers or Avatar companion.

"Elder Sorah... this day I honour your peerless warrior spirit for protecting our cherished Cloud Hamlet from these savage ingrates!" Yanluo then gently helped Sorah lean up against some rubble into a sitting position to witness the next climactic moments. He leaned over closely and whispered: "Worry not my friend, our story weaves towards triumphant victory this hour! Notice our allies emerging?"

The lightning Stormweaver subtly directed attention past their barrier towards several squadrons of Cloud Hamlet Sky Patrol cavalry galloping through smoke-filled skies astride their elegant Cloud Dragon steeds. Many riders wielded bows energized by glowing blue Aether Steam while expertly unleashing arrays of ethereal arrows that exploded enemy forces on contact. Alongside soared a dozen Cyclonus-class Air Titan Avatar allies summoning gale-force winds that redirected the worst of approaching shrapnel and Sand Basilisk salvos away from the populated square where trapped citizens huddled.

Sorah instantly recognized the distinguished silver battle armour adorning lead Sky Officer Captain Oriole, whom he had petitioned unsuccessfully for months requesting combat drills following Yanosuke's expulsion and increased tensions with Terravolt Kingdom. If only the stubborn Elders Council had heeded his warnings when relations first soured instead of boasting false security roosting so high in the impregnable skies! Now an entire generation of precious culture faced extinction by these savage raiders. So many families and laughter scattered like dandelion seeds towards uncaring winds.

With Yanluo's blessed interception having delayed calamity barely long enough for their trained Avatar Guard to rally suitable reinforcements, hope, however frail, now flickered amidst the roaring flames. Sorah offered a silent prayer towards his beloved ancestral spirits many generations removed. How long before salvation gave way again to bloodshed?

Peering upwards from his protected vantage point, Elder Sorah quickly noted the Sky Patrol Titan Avatars consisted mostly of lower-level Aetherlings or mid-range Cyclonus Adepts. Likely reserving the ultra-rare Primodial Ancestrals and Overlord Maestros as the last line sentry guarding the palace stronghold should these windy walls fall. None possessed skills matching Yanluo's flashing masterpiece performance.

The Sand Devils and Pyro Warriors had also regrouped during this brief reprieve. Sorah glanced warily as dozens more elite warriors poured through a forest portal opening, many riding intimidating Lava Beast juggernauts or charging forward within Mobile Battleframes crackling with searing plasma energy. Leading this imposing death squad marched three evil-looking Generals marked by characteristics of the Ignis Kingdom insignias - the family crest of a shrieking Phoenix with wings ablaze.

Colonel Dravenik also glared venomously up towards the swirling clouds that had denied him smug victory over now useless hostages. His impatience yearned to bathe his hands in elderly blood for too long. These long-range attacks merely postponed inevitable suffering!

"Accursed Zephyr loyalists!! Your fragile Floating Leaf foundations built on lies and complacency now crumble beneath our boots! No more spewing feeble lightning sparks or gusts of wind can halt the inferno that Lord Viz Durak himself will unleash this dawn!" As if to demonstrate this boast, Dravenik drew his fiery Vayrukumer and slashed the air, instantly dispersing Yanluo's glittering perimeter shield before it could fully recharge another lightning blast.

"Oh! Looks like this coward grew some scales for once!" Yanluo scoffed indignantly while barely repelling an unexpected follow-up strike using his shorter ceremonial Ru Yi wand.

Colonel Dravenik pressed aggressively, his supernaturally quick Vad'aaki Blades severed each defensive rod cast aside until the lightning Stormweaver held only his treasured staff once more. Steel continuously adaptive to all elements meant no move could be predicted safely or parried cleanly.

Yanluo's deadly Rakshasa Thunder Palace formation had exhausted charges during the siege. Each mystic symbol etched into his glowing staff needed to realign proportional energy equilibrium disrupted by the enemy's earlier devastating ambush. Only three storm spheres remained orbiting Yanluo's shoulders, insufficient protection while also tending to injuries.

Sensing inevitable victory at hand, Colonel Dravenik risked a smug sideways glance towards his superior officers. The decorated Generals nodded approvingly, signalling that the Floating Leaf offensive served its purpose routing these elite home guard protectors from the inner palace. Now phase 2 may commence seizing the real prize!

Gesturing forward with his crackling blades, Colonel Dravenik shouted savagely at his Titan mount: "Mangle Yanluo's wings for your Emperor, then bring me those delicate brats cowering like hatchlings! We shall teach what destinies await those rejecting mighty Terravolt's generous citizenship offers!"

The Red Sand Titan Avatar reared high discharging its signature glass-shattering hiss. Being extensions of their master's living aura bound by oaths blood and sand, the creature reflexively obeyed Colonel Dravenik's command to neutralize threats towards harvesting prime captives. If this unit failed and somehow the students evaded, forty years wandering exiled ever-shifting dunes as forsaken loser awaited. Such was the ownership pact bonding Avatar summoners of the Dune Empire. Better to endure unspeakable agony than return home to certain shameful execution for squandering any advantage over key targets in war.

Loyally the Red Sand Titan slithered forward as a cohesive amalgamation of grit, stone and shells condensed by psychic will into a hundred lethal fangs and claws all seeking Yanluo's mortality. Each grain carried generations of sealed darkness and despairing souls imprisoned and forced into excruciating excavation labour deep below the Terravolt Kingdom's vast network of subterranean colonies. Now this collective torture frenzy focused on a single target - to crush arrogant Yanluo and his resistance troops!

Gasps echoed all around as the crowds witnessed first-hand this elite soldier devolve suddenly into a wild beast of pure loathing. 

Sorah struggled frantically against the paralyzing nerve venom coursing through his veins. That underhanded serpent Dravenik must have laced his Vad'aaki Blades with Yellow Desert Scorpion poison during earlier parries. Yet the crippled dojo master could only watch helplessly as the nightmarish Red Sand Titan hurtled towards courageous Yanluo, who barely raised his Lightning Staff overhead horizontally to intercept the crashing blow.

SkkkrraAA-BOOOM!!

Blinding sparks cascaded wildly in all directions as Yanluo strained furiously ankle-deep in rubble against the Titan's immense strength. Jagged rocky claws grasped eagerly around his glowing weapon seeking any opening to tear his delicate flesh. The Red Sand creature easily massed thirty tons of compacted sediment and shell fragments. Gravity would surely claim another victim this hour!

"Your resistance is... FUTILE!!" Colonel Dravenik spat venomously while marching closer with weapons drawn, flanked by his three decorated Ignis Generals seeking fresh entertainment from Yanluo's imminent demise. "Now whimper farewell like the rest of your pathetic Leaf brood once magnificent Viz Durak razes this diseased nest from the heavens!"

The traitorous villain aimed his twin cursed Vayrukumer at Sorah's nearby students, promising unspoken agony should Yanluo dare invoke any unpredictable lightning techniques too close. Their young lives balanced on razor threads should frail staves collapse.

Boots soaked in blood and tears brought Dravenik within ten feet of helpless Sorah and the frightened children hiding behind loyal Breeze Plume's trembling, tattered frame when suddenly:

Whoosh!! Fwooop!! Waa-BAM!!

A concentrated tornado touched down abruptly between Sorah's party and the advancing Sand Devils led by Dravenik. Visibility instantly blurred into chaos amidst the gale-force winds and debris now scattering everyone. Sorah covered his face while squinting towards two silhouettes that gracefully stepped forth from the calm eye of this magical cyclone.

Could it be...?! Indeed! Planting his staff like tree roots now stood Sorah's old friend - none other than supreme Elder Liu himself! Beside the legendary wind master hovered his long-time battlefield ally from across the terrane mountains - esteemed Avalanche Oracle Kaiya and her graceful Antarctic Swan mount! Its immaculate feathers spanned thrice Yanluo's Cloud Dragon wings.

Sorah's heart swelled with renewed hope! Elder Liu had often boasted of that mysterious Freeze Folk high priestess who sometimes visited during seasonal solstices bringing rare medicinal herbs found only along the Sheercliff Peaks ridge. Her jewelled ice crown and runic Winter Willow staff marked Mistress Kaiya an elite guardian of the Glacial Temple. Local lore spun outrageous tales of Kaiya single-handedly destroying an entire Ignis Navy war squadron when they drifted too close in an attempt to hunt Whale Dragons near her frozen ancestral harbours.

If legends held any truths, salvation may arrive for Sorah's endangered pupils yet! Surely Elder Liu would chastise the rash dojo master later for disobeying academy rules and endangering students outside supervised tournament grounds. Sorah swallowed stubborn pride - he would graciously endure any scolding lecture or punitive chore penalties if only these children avoided cruel chains binding so many conquered souls. Their sweet laughter must persist embracing freely pure mountain winds.