The Immortals of Notoriouslandia
Chapter Twelve: Trial at the Gate
The fire was almost out.
Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows over the battered but breathing forms of the Unbound Team. They had survived another night. Barely.
But Descentedrain didn't sit with them. He was already gathering tools—herbs, glowing leaves, filtered toxin extract, and crystal dust.
Healing.
The Doctor's Hands
Sapphire stirred and watched as he wrapped Mr. Shonk's arm in a glowing compress, gently realigning the microfractures with telekinetic precision.
"Since when do you do medicine?" Shonk asked between bites of his mango bar.
"Before I knew what I was," Descentedrain said quietly, "I was a doctor. Small settlement. Healers were scarce. People came in pieces. I put them back together."
Kukranchunlikryting grunted as Descentedrain worked on sealing a burn left by dark energy.
"Explains your precision. You fight like someone who knows where all the weak spots are."
Descentedrain just gave a faint nod.
Then he turned to Sapphire.
She was already smirking.
"Your bedside manner's improved," she said, lying back on her bedroll.
He knelt beside her, examining a bruised rib and a scorched shoulder. Her armor shimmered, fading away to reveal pale skin beneath.
"Try not to flirt while I'm cleaning second-degree burns," he muttered.
She grinned wider.
"Try not to be charming while applying pressure with those hands."
He flushed, just slightly—but said nothing.
Wrapped the burn. Reset the rib. Focused only on the work.
"Focus," he thought. "Ignore the warmth. Ignore the heartbeat."
Sapphire, however, didn't miss the way his hands lingered for a second longer than they needed to.
The Next Morning – The Vision
Dawn cracked the sky in hues of violet and rust.
The bird called softly. Time to move.
But Descentedrain paused mid-step—eyes glazing with that familiar pull. The Immortals returned.
He stood again beneath stars. Three figures emerged, flickering, distant, eternal.
Arthur spoke first:
"You are close now. But power must be proven, not just wielded."
Technical added:
"At the gates of Notoriouslandia lies a test. Forged by our hands. Guarded by something ancient."
Lux's voice echoed through cosmic wind:
"Only the worthy may walk our land. Face the guardian. Or turn back empty."
Then silence.
Descentedrain blinked back into reality, jaw clenched.
The Gate of Notoriouslandia
It was a towering structure—part ruin, part monument. Vines crawled across it, yet it stood untouched by erosion. Two monolithic statues flanked the entrance—depictions of the Immortals themselves, hands extended as if weighing judgment.
The sky above was darker now, almost reverent.
The celestial bird perched atop the archway, cawing a single note.
"This is it," Descentedrain said. "The Immortals made one final test. They told me a guardian waits."
Mr. Shonk cracked his neck.
"You had me at 'gate guardian.' Let's wreck something mythological."
Sapphire adjusted her armor, giving Descentedrain a sidelong glance.
"Guess we'll find out if we're worthy... or if they just like being dramatic."
Kukranchunlikryting hissed.
"Something's coming. I smell wet thunder."
The Arrival of the Guardian
The ground trembled.
Then split.
From beneath the gate rose a serpent. But not just any serpent—
The Legendary Hydroporelectricity.
Its ninety-nine heads hissed in harmony, each one glowing with a different spectrum of elemental light. Its body surged with charged water, constantly splitting, recombining, and rechanneling itself.
It was a living circuit of nature's rage.
Spawned by Arthur's storm, Technical's energy, and Lux's dimensional biology, it had only one purpose:
To guard the gates of Notoriouslandia from the unworthy.
Its center head opened a mouth that crackled with cascading lightning.
And spoke.
"Prove yourself... or drown in failure."
Descentedrain stepped forward.
His team stood beside him.
"We're not turning back."
And the monster struck.