On Inferno Prime, a planet engulfed in seas of lava and ever-rumbling volcanoes, Astrodog was born into an ordinary family. From an early age, he displayed extraordinary courage and a knightly spirit that set him apart from other children of his kind. His desire to become a warrior grew stronger until one day, he decided to enlist as a young soldier in the Canine Kingdom.
As a low-ranking soldier, Astrodog underwent harsh and dangerous training. However, his talent and determination caught the attention of War General Lumix, a legendary warrior who had led the kingdom to many victories. Lumix saw immense potential in Astrodog and chose to personally train him without hesitation.
Under Lumix's guidance, Astrodog rapidly grew in strength. He became not only a formidable fighter but also a respected leader. In a short time, he rose to the rank of Captain and was eventually appointed as the Vice General, accompanying Lumix on many critical missions.
The Journey to the Soulflare Artifact
One day, King Zenith issued a direct order to Lumix and Astrodog. They were tasked with investigating the emergence of the Soulflare artifact, detected for the first time at the peak of Inferno Prime's tallest volcano. A grand expedition was formed, led by Lumix and accompanied by Astrodog and the kingdom's elite forces.
As they reached the mountainous region, the sky burned crimson, and from the mountain's summit, a mysterious light shot into the sky, marking the artifact's presence. Lumix unfolded an ancient map, pointing to the marked location before giving the order to advance.
However, the journey was anything but easy. From fissures of molten rock, living wax-like fire monsters emerged, obstructing their path. A fierce battle ensued. The creatures ignited the ground around them, trapping many soldiers in blazing infernos. Half of the force perished in the brutal skirmish, but the survivors pressed on toward the mountain.
As they reached the slopes, an even greater challenge awaited. From the volcano's crater, a colossal figure emerged—Vora, a towering golem with an inferno blazing from its back. The creature roared, shaking the ground beneath them. One by one, the remaining soldiers fell beneath its massive fists and fiery breath, until only Lumix and Astrodog remained.
With the last of their strength, they faced Vora in a final confrontation. Lumix wielded his glowing red axe while Astrodog drew his sword with unwavering determination. They attacked in unison—Lumix's axe sliced through the air, striking Vora's legs, while Astrodog leaped onto the golem's back, driving his sword into its blazing core.
Vora roared, its body melting from their combined assault. In one last mighty strike, Lumix shattered the golem's head with his full strength, reducing the monster to scattered embers. However, their victory came at a cost—they now had to face the final trial, the guardian of the Soulflare artifact.
The Sacrifice of General Lumix
As they stepped beyond the stone gates into the artifact's core chamber, a colossal fire dragon awaited them. Its eyes burned like molten embers, its body cloaked in flames hotter than the lava surrounding them.
"Astrodog, we have no choice… We must fight!" Lumix called out, despite their exhaustion.
They battled fiercely, but the dragon's power was overwhelming. In mere moments, they were on the brink of defeat. Realizing the dire situation, Lumix made his final decision.
"Astrodog, you must leave! I will hold the dragon back!" Lumix shouted, handing his axe to Astrodog.
"No! I won't leave you, General!" Astrodog protested, his eyes filled with emotion.
But Lumix left him no choice. With a powerful push, he sent Astrodog tumbling to the edge of the abyss. At that moment, the dragon unleashed a massive torrent of fire, engulfing Lumix in an all-consuming blaze. With one final, determined look, Lumix smiled before his body vanished within the inferno.
Astrodog, hurled into the depths below, believed his fate was sealed. But at the last moment, a portal unexpectedly opened beneath him.
Meeting Azrak
When Astrodog regained consciousness, he found himself back at the entrance to the artifact's chamber. Before him stood a mysterious figure—Azrak.
"I saved you," Azrak said calmly. "I opened a dimensional portal to bring you back."
Still in shock, Astrodog asked who he was. Azrak merely smirked and replied, "I am just a traveler… who also seeks the Soulflare artifact."
With a shattered heart, Astrodog returned to the kingdom, his steps unbearably heavy. Every moment, Lumix's final smile before vanishing in the flames haunted his mind. He felt like a failure—not only as a soldier but as a friend who should have fought to the very end.
Upon arriving before King Zenith, the castle was eerily silent, as if the entire kingdom mourned in unison. The remaining soldiers bowed their heads, knowing that their legendary general was gone. Kneeling before the king, Astrodog presented Lumix's axe. "General Lumix is no more," his voice trembled, as if each word was a dagger piercing his own heart.
King Zenith gazed at him for a long moment, his wise eyes perceiving the hidden pain beneath Astrodog's warrior facade. In a voice both calm and resolute, he declared, "Lumix chose you to carry on his legacy, Astrodog. You are no longer just a warrior. You are their leader."
Before the entire kingdom, Astrodog was appointed as the new War General. Yet, for him, this honor was not a source of pride, but a burden. A burden to seek vengeance, a burden to ensure Lumix's sacrifice was not in vain. And deep within his heart, a fire began to burn—a fire that would one day lead him down a darker path.
The peace he once enjoyed did not last long. King Zenith mysteriously fell ill, his body weakening rapidly without any clear explanation. The once proud and mighty king now lay helpless in his bed, his wise eyes dimming like a flame on the verge of extinction.
Astrodog stood by his bedside, his fists trembling, his heart heavy with an unbearable sense of anxiety. Royal physicians came and went, but none could explain the cause of the illness consuming the king's body. No wounds, no poison—only a slow, merciless decay.
In his final moments, with trembling hands, King Zenith reached for a piece of parchment and wrote something with the last of his strength. As the final stroke of ink touched the paper, it slipped from his grasp. Astrodog caught it, his breath hitching as he read the words inscribed: "We have been attacked."
A whirlwind of thoughts stormed through Astrodog's mind. Who attacked? When? How? There were no signs of battle, no sounds of war, no visible threats. Yet, in his fading consciousness, the king had perceived something no one else could.
As King Zenith took his final breath, silence filled the room. Astrodog fell to his knees, his clenched fists trembling against the cold floor of the palace. For the second time in his life, he felt an irreparable loss. But this time, he did not just lose a king—he lost a pillar of his existence, the one who believed in him when the world doubted him.
And in that silence, a seed of darkness began to take root within him.
Astrodog immediately ordered an investigation, but no trace of an enemy was found. After the mourning ceremony, he was crowned as the new King of Inferno Prime. He married Stella, the woman he loved, and for the first time, he felt at peace.
However, that happiness was short-lived. Stella soon fell ill with the same symptoms as King Zenith. Her once radiant and lively skin turned pale and fragile. Astrodog watched helplessly as she withered away, just as the king had.
He sought help from every physician, every healing sorcerer, even the ancient temples rumored to hold restorative powers. But no one had an answer. No wounds, no poison—only death creeping closer with each passing day.
Night after night, Astrodog sat by her bedside, holding her increasingly cold hands. "Don't leave me… please," his voice was barely a whisper. But Stella only smiled weakly, her eyes filled with love despite her frailty. "I will always be with you… wherever you are."
And as she took her final breath, Astrodog's world crumbled. For the first time, he did not feel anger, nor the need for vengeance—only emptiness.
Blinded by despair, he wandered aimlessly, lost and broken. Until, in a shadowed alley, a figure emerged before him—Azrak.
"I know the pain you're feeling, Astrodog," Azrak spoke softly. "But I also know someone who can help you."
And with those words, Astrodog's fate changed forever.
The Void's Offer
The Void promised Stella's resurrection—but at a price. Astrodog had to retrieve the Dimension Shard from the planet known as The Void Rift. Clinging to hope, he agreed.
The journey to The Void Rift was like plunging into endless darkness. No stars, no light, only an abyss that seemed to swallow all who dared enter. As they descended into the planet's atmosphere, only one thing stood before them—a colossal black vortex, spiraling into the sky as if bridging different dimensions. The energy emanating from it was overwhelming, creating a whispering wind that sent chills through them.
As they approached, a massive figure emerged from the vortex's shadows, its body formed of thick mist, its eyes glowing like dead stars. The Guardian of Dimensions—an ancient being entrusted with protecting the Dimension Shard, an artifact capable of bending reality itself. Without warning, the entity raised its hand, and instantly, space around them distorted.
Astrodog felt something strange. In an instant, he saw Stella standing before him, alive and smiling. "I'm back… I have always been here with you."
But it was merely an illusion. He realized the guardian was manipulating his mind. Across from him, The Void stood frozen—confronted by visions of his own tormented past, a memory of the starving, powerless creature he had once been. Meanwhile, Azrak saw a shadowy reflection in the swirling portal—one eerily resembling Astrocat.
As they began to lose themselves to the visions, the Dimension Shard pulsed violently, releasing a surge of energy. The Guardian of Dimensions was sucked into the artifact, dragged back into the vortex of fractured reality. The trio collapsed, gasping for breath, but before them now lay the Dimension Shard—the key to opening interdimensional portals and bending time itself.
Astrodog grasped it with trembling hands. He had succeeded.
When he handed the artifact to The Void, he looked at him with desperate hope. "Now, bring my wife back." His voice was firm, yet hidden within it was an unspoken fear.
The Void studied him for a moment before speaking in a calm yet calculating tone. "Reviving Stella is possible, but one crucial element is missing… the soul extract from the Heart of Lightning artifact on Celestia."
Astrodog stiffened, his jaw tightening. Celestia… a distant planet among the stars, home to an indomitable race, the keepers of the storm's power. He knew this was no mere retrieval mission. It was a declaration of war.
Yet, his thoughts centered on only one thing: Stella. If he had to conquer an entire galaxy to bring her back, he would do so without hesitation. His fists clenched, the fire of rage and determination blazing in his eyes.
The Void smirked slightly, recognizing the growing darkness within Astrodog. "Prepare yourself, Astrodog. With the power of the Voidstone artifact, we will decimate Celestia and take what we need."
As the colossal portal opened, Astrodog stood at its threshold, clad in black armor adorned with jagged spikes, his inherited axe from Lumix pulsating with dark energy. The march toward Celestia had begun… and there was no turning back. And as the portal expanded, the war for Celestia commenced…