Ambush In The Skies  

Master Sorah clung tightly atop loyal Breeze Plume as the Butterfly's massive wings beat furiously as it struggled to gain altitude and distance themselves from the flaming ruins now engulfing Cloud Hamlet below.

Choking pillars of smoke obscured much visibility, but Sorah could spot at least five other lumbering Titan Avatars flanking the central volcanic juggernaut that continued spewing magma across hapless structures. Each rival beast exhibited signature traits of Terravolt (Earth) or Ignis (Fire) Kingdoms - the embodiment of living magma, whirlwinds of embers and metallic shards.

This coordinated strike was clearly premeditated to circumvent their island barriers and defensive advantages. Sorah's heart burned imagining these war-mongers secretly infiltrating and mapping their boundaries for who knows how long, waiting to ambush some sacred cultural event to catch citizens unprepared. What cruel fates had befallen Sorah's fellow villager elders now buried or burned alive beneath the chaos?

"M-master... did Yanosuke really set this all up as payback?" whimpered Mari between sobs. Having lost sight of her family amidst the focal flames, the shock overwhelmed her senses.

Sorah shook his head adamantly, "No Mari, this devastation is far beyond one exile's capabilities, though his treachery could have exposed vulnerabilities in our barriers which may have enabled it indirectly."

"Why then??" cried Meili, her usual timid nature momentarily overridden by anger and mourning as Breeze Plume circled higher searching for survivors.

Master Sorah scanned the horizons pensively. "I fear the Terravolt and Ignis Kingdoms have united specifically to target our Floating Leaf resources for warfare. Their strength grows ever-boundless while dwindling supplies provoke desperation in leadership."

He pointed towards the largest rival Titan Avatar wreathed in dark metallic armour, its monstrous fists were viciously pounding the earth, triggering quakes and stone eruptions.

"Behold the living embodiment of Terravolt excellence; the revered Quar'ellix appears crafted from raw iron and stone. Its reputed impenetrable carapace shields bonded masters against counter-attacks."

The three teens followed Sorah's gaze towards several spearmen perched atop the Quar'ellix Iron Goliath raining projectiles upon fleeing villagers. Cascades of sharpened minerals and molten drippings pierced bodies, tree trunks, and even stone architecture built to weather most brute collisions.

"Only the legendary Glass Mountains of Terravolt could forge such an intimidating Avatar warrior," noted Daichi. Having hailed from a proud line of Ignis Elementalists, tales of rival kingdoms' prowess always held his interest, whether in allegiance or conquest.

Sorah spied several more squadrons of spear-wielding Sand Devils and elite Pyro Warriors charging up the hillside, effortlessly conjuring walls of flames that pushed back waves of his people towards the cliff bottoms. Just behind them lumbered a dozen more advanced Titan Avatars of varying magnitudes, already beginning to fan out and isolate key structural targets across his homeland. How long could their Sky Patrol guards even delay until reinforcements arrived?

As Sorah analysed the invading Titan Avatars ransacking his village, he mentally noted the progression stages each creature had achieved. Through arduous training and Aether Steam devouring, a master could evolve their Titan through several forms over the years:

Zephyrkin Aspirants or Aetherlings stood between 5 to 10 metres tall. Novice summoners often started bonding to these diminutive companions when first awakening abilities. Their childlike forms required less spiritual pressure/Aether Steam to manifest for long periods, allowing leisurely elemental skill practice without overexertion.

The next benchmark evolution was the Cyclonus Adept, ranging from 10 to 30 meters in height. These exhibited enhanced durability and abilities, reflecting accumulated battle experience. Sorah observed several of the rival Titans corresponded to this evolution that the invading masters likely trained extensively to unlock.

Next up, Primordial Ancestrals. With potent Aether Steam infusion, they undergo an ancient metamorphosis into a towering 30-70 meter Titan. These colossal titans channel the primal fury of elemental forces, able to reshape terrain and command powerful move-sets.

Finally, the pinnacle of ambition manifested as colossal 100+ metres Apex Avatars or Overlord Maestros reserved only for the legendary Elemental Masters. Extremely taxing to invoke and maintain, the raw devastation rivalling natural disasters made them prohibitive in smaller skirmishes. Sorah prayed none crossed the skies today, as many lives balanced precariously enough against the Cyclonus battalions.

With this foundational knowledge etched mentally, Sorah steeled himself to somehow endure the ongoing battle. He silently prayed for help to arrive soon from the neighbouring isles, lest Cloud Hamlet be reduced to ashen memories alongside its people.

Whoosh!

At the northern perimeter, Sorah spotted a friendly Cyclonus Adept Air Titan blowing back a flaming projectile assault using mighty fans crafted from solidified wind. Squinting closer, Sorah recognized the Titan's vigilant master astride its shoulder -

"Elder Liu!" Sorah exclaimed to his students' surprise. "If the town Elder battles alongside warriors, the hour must be dire indeed! I shall deposit you students by his side momentarily."

"What? No, Master!" the teens objected loudly, but Sorah had already pulled tightly on Breeze Plume's reins, angling them closer towards the raging skirmish below. Surely Elder Liu would ferry the children to safety via the secret underground river networks while Sorah assisted the dwindled Protectors.

A few seconds from intercept range, a shrill scream pierced the hot-blooded chaos and stopped Sorah's heart cold. That was no battle cry, but the cry of a child! Scanning frantically, Master Sorah spotted three Sand Devil grunts dragging a struggling, familiar teen girl through the wreckage by wrists bound behind her back.

"Akara??" Mari gasped in horror. Indeed, brave Akara thrashed vehemently against her captor's iron grip as they neared a waiting Lava Transport Carriage hitched to a fiery Titan steed.

"Cowards! Unhand her this instant!" bellowed Daichi, shaking his fist. Beside him, timid Meili covered her mouth, struck speechless by the nightmare scene unfolding.

"Change of plans, on my command we dive!" Sorah barked. Gripping his oaken staff tightly, he made a silent prayer that Elder Liu might notice the airborne commotion soon. Sorah knew their chances were slim rescuing the little girl against such numbers, but what true Guardian would abandon their ward?

Master Sorah waited until Breeze Plume circled directly over the kidnapping scene, timing his attack perfectly. "Now my friend! Show them your Gale Burst Fury!"

On cue, Breeze Plume expelled its pressurized air sacs while diving, creating a massive concussive force that staggered everyone below instantly. Sorah leapt deftly from his mount, spinning his staff furiously to rend the very winds itself like a spear cast with all his chi force behind it.

"HAH! FLYING SPEAR PALM!"

[3-Hit Combo!]

The focused shockwave caught Akara's largest captor directly in the chest, catapulting him backwards through a flaming wall. The other two grunts wobbled to their feet, unsure whether to recapture the girl or face the mysterious elder challenger.

"Go my Butterfly, get them away from here!" Sorah commanded. Loyal Breeze Plume dove in again on instinct, its fuzzy legs gently grabbed Akara as it whisked her to safety a small distance with the others. It hovered low, awaiting its Master confidently.

From atop Breeze Plume, Daichi yelled, "Kick their dusty ass, Master Sorah!"

One of the remaining grunts foolishly charged Sorah who parried effortlessly with his staff and countered by sweeping low, fracturing the attacker's front leg bones. "Pathetic! Your stale techniques bore me. Where is your honourable Marshal Commander in this disgraceful assault?"

"Right here, you senile leaf-hugger!" announced a hulking brute covered head to toe in spiky crimson armour as he stepped out of the smoke, flanked by twin Mobile Suit Armour bodyguards. Their wrist gauntlets hummed loudly with laser charge. "Sand Colonel Dravenik does not tolerate wasting time playing pretend sorcerer with our prisoners! Your Butterfly pet and students now belong to the Dune Empire's sovereign, Lord Viz Durak. Surrender them!"

Both parties slowly circled while Elder Liu in the distance desperately carved a safe path for the Floating Leaf citizens wielding his Cyclonus Titan Warrior against the endless waves of Lava Hounds and Cinder Cannoneers.

"Elders... forgive me," Sorah whispered to himself. "I shall carve us a route towards your protective wisdom." He faced his adversaries undaunted, "If you deem an unarmed elder and children such intimidating prizes, I pray your master welcomes another heartbreak when his trophy case remains empty!"

"Humph! I'll Skewer you with my Vas'aaki Vayrukumer!" 

Growling loudly, the Sand Colonel drew twin curved blades that sparked chaotically with each swipe as the arcane steel cycled random elemental enchantments. Even Sorah's honed instincts struggled to anticipate which reciprocal force each impending blow would unleash. It was just like Master Aoi's lessons about the Terravolt Kingdom - creative insanity hiding within brutal orderliness.

Swoosh!

The Vad'aaki Blades sliced violently, unleashing arcs of frigid ice, reverberating soundwaves, even miniature lightning storms against Sorah's defences. His staff soon chipped under the relentless assault. Sorah calmed his aching body and allowed his muscle memory to guide practised evasive footwork learnt across decades of discipline.

"Yes, scurry away pests!" Dravenik growled through a scarred, sneering grin. "No feathers or examples of your 'courage' will remain for you Leaf historians to document after today!"

Colonel Dravenik repeatedly feinted left before suddenly dashing right, utilizing the rocky outcroppings for added momentum. Sorah struggled to match this brute force, his sandaled feet were sliding painfully across jagged gravel and hot wreckage.

[2-Hit Combo Blocked]

[5-Hit Combo Blocked]

[13-Hit Deflected]

Sorah desperately wove intricate deflection patterns with his staff as the erratic elemental blades scraped ever closer each exchange. Unable to safely mount any counter-offence, he instead focused chi breaths into parrying precisely against the Vad'aaki edges to temporarily lock the sparking weapons at bay.

[Defence Successful]

Sorah allowed himself a split-second sigh of relief having defied fate's odds thus far alone. His nerves then flared when he realized that the twin armoured mech suits had repositioned themselves to flank Breeze Plume, threatening his students who clung to its neck.