Storm the gate.

If the two halves of the island below were different lays of Hell, then now you stand in the center of Heaven. At least, that's how it appears. A wave of relieve falls over the entire party as it's no longer scorching hot or freezing cold, but perfect. The grass is short and soft, and flowers of all colours grow around the perimeter. There are a few different buildings, seemingly made from marble, though one stands out as larger than the rest--two storeys, and illuminated outside by large braziers roaring with unnaturally dark flames. You can even hear the divine giggle of cherubs around splashing water. There's a large pool nearby, decorated by a stone woman spraying water from her lips out to hit the middle with a ripple across an otherwise calm body of water.

Though the laughter isn't from angels. There are at least a dozen beautiful women present wearing a variety of eye-grabbing swimwear. Their bodies, however, look to be made from condensed rain clouds, or dark fog. They're elemental beings of some sort. One by one, they notice your presence, and the sound fades to an eerie stop.

"This whole island... is going to fall!" Vyzia screams. Her eyes burst to flames as she unleashes a mighty hurl of her magic spear. It shatters the feminine statue to chunks, and the storm-women scream and flee in different directions.

"Careful," says Amara. "We do not know if the girls are here willingly or not. We should not hurt them."

"They're servants of the Stormqueen," mutters Xue.

You draw your blade. "He's gotta be around here somewhere," you say. "And I bet he's in that larger building. Niki? Why don't you knock on the front door--"

Though before she can smash, a voice comes from the left.

"You'd be wrong," it says with a snarl and a snort. "I was taking a fuckin' shit." And emerging from one of the smallest structures is a stout, burly man, half naked and all together furious. He's wearing a pair of dark red swim trunks, though much of his body is still covered by a bushy black beard. His moustache curls out crooked and asymmetrical, and his nose looks like it's been shattered more than once in the past. He glares at his trespassers through squinted eyes. A flash of light and spark of lightning comes from between his lids, and when he opens his mouth and clenches his teeth, you can see a few have been replaced by solid gold. The hair atop his head is just as messy, and it's parting in the center, while the skin you can see past his bard is marked by years of scarring.

Vyzia brings back her hand, pulling the spear right back into her grasp. Her eyes widen, and her body shakes with rage. "It's him," she says under her breath. "Thunderbeard."

The dwarf grumbles and clenches his fists. But then he grins wide. A current crackles down over his beard, and flares off to singe the flowers near his feet to a charred crisp. "This is my home," he shouts, and his voice carries far. "And I don't know the lot of you. So unless you got business and I just forgot, get the fuck away. I got important business to get done, if you catch my drift."

"Do you not even remember me?" Vyzia asks. "You held those people prisoner. Crashed your ship into my spine. And through you crawled away, beaten but alive, you look into my eyes and claim not to know? Then maybe this will remind you!"

She thrusts the spear deep into the ground, lowers herself down to all fours, and tears the grass up into her clawed hands. Magic engulf her figure, changing her shape. She's tall in humanoid form, though as a dragon, she's terrifying. Her roar echoes across the sky, and though her wings may be broken, the span is mighty, and her red scales shine under the bright midday sun. Her teeth clench like an armoury of swords. Her nails pierce even more than her spear. And for a moment, it looks as if she's going to take flight, but instead a mighty burst of wind carries over the entire courtyard, knocking even her own party members back. The buxom beauties all fly up towards the sky, and begin making circles over the party's heads like vultures waiting to feast.

But Thunderbeard doesn't react. He watches closely, and when she's finally done, he steps forward. "I've done it all before, so what's the difference? Cargo is cargo, and dragons are dragons. I don't give a shit who you are. Do I remember? Of course I do. I just don't see how it matters. You'll be dead all the same. I'll even beat you in no more than my trunks. Hell, I'd kill you with my cock out, and a smile on my face."

"God this guy sucks!" Niki yells out. She rolls her head back and sighs. "This is what a character arc does to you. If this was me a few months ago, I'd have already charged at him, and I wouldn't have had to hear all that. Should I regress, Kyle?"

"... No. That's not the right message to take from this," you answer.

Amara stands beside you with her staff planted firmly on the ground. "What would I have done?"

"Oh you're as sweet as always, Amara. Maybe you'd have just fallen to your knees a lot faster."

"That is embarrassing to hear."

Eva cackles as she hurries up to join your other side. She points her wand towards the dwarf. "And I'm the same too. Just as strong as beautiful as the day you met me."

"I'm pretty sure you'd have found a way to somehow disrobe yourself," you say.

"That is not true!"

Bekram squeezes the shaft of his maul and trembles, though not with fear. "Kyle... We're like brothers you and I. And I gotta tell you, I can't hold back any longer. You'll have to restrain me if I don't have my weapon up his ass in the next minute."

Thunderbeard frowns. "Well now I know I didn't forget any meeting or something like that, because I'd never have asked for a circus. The only entertainment I'd order to my island is one of sexy ladies, not whatever the fuck is going on here." He then holds a hand to the side. The doors of his main fortress fly open, and from there darts a magic weapon straight into his grasp.

It's a trident, crackling with dark violet energy, which he wields in two hands.

Captain Silver stands nearby with her weapon drawn as well. Everybody has drawn what's needed. "On your mark, Captain Warren. The sea will be a safer place after he's gone."

"... After I'm gone?" Thunderbeard sneers. "You may have brought a whole group of fools to my home, but I can take you all on. I won't even have to wake up her."

You step forwards, twirling your short blade without an eye on your hand. Your fingers move with deft precision, as do your feet as you make meaningful strides to subtly close the gap between the two of you. While his weapon may surge with dangerous power, the blade of Lauo shines pink and ready, and you can feel the strength of your allies at your back. "I don't give a fuck about your stupid pact. People aren't cargo, and you hurt Vyzia and the others. Conjure whatever bullshit you want. You know who I have here? The lucky hero, Rabbit's Foot. Niki, the strongest warrior around and winner of the Golden Sword. The beautiful, powerful sorceress Eva Beela. Amara, divine priestess and protector. Bekram here is ten times the dwarf you'll ever be, and if I don't hurry it up, he'll make true on the words he spoke before.

"Lynx here is a master spy with all sorts of tricks at her disposal. And Snow is the best archer I've ever bet. There's Fava, a pixie intelligent enough to create fully functional bodies. There is no alchemist more talented than Dixby here. Stax the goblin is quick and nimble, and deadly with a blade. And then two dragons stand behind me. Malakae, golden and illustrious, and Vyzia, crimson-scaled and full of rage. Not to mention, you've also got the great Captain Silver to deal with, and her first-made Xue."

Thunderbeard moves as well. He makes the occasional step to the side, as if to strafe along with you, as he watches closely. "You really have the gall," he growls under his breath, and then he shouts, "People like you piss me off! Kicking down my door, acting all high and mighty. You really think I want to hear all that?"

"Not at all. I don't care what you want. I just know what they do."

"And who even are you? Some kind of adventurer?"

"I'm Hero King Kyle Warren of Castle Phoenix, and I'm going to make sure that both you and your storm-mommy crash into the sea."

The back of your neck tingles. With a shape inhale, your eyes widen and you pull yourself to the side. Thanks to your Kitty Sense, you're narrowly saved from what would have definitely hurt. Contrary to his bulk and stature, Thunderbeard is quick, and he hurls his trident with the crack of thunder. As he does, electricity curls down through his hair, his beard, and to the tips of his moustache, and this time it lingers like a storm cloud forming around his head. The trident explodes out like a bolt of lightning, past you, over Malakae's wing, and off into the distance. A shockwave rumbles over your party.

Then with a jerk of his elbow, the weapon reappears in his hand, yet again with the sound of a thunderstrike.

All the lovely ladies previously flying in the sky vanish into plumes of smoke. Their swimsuits rain down over the idea in a colourful display.

Both you and Thunderbeard lock eyes for what feels like forever, though is only a matter of seconds. Then suddenly, a bright yellow slingshot bikini falls directly between the two of you, and the moment soon as it does, you both lunge towards each other, and the battle begins.