[One year after the Brevon Incident]

In the eastern reaches of the Origin Kingdoms lies the city‑state of Shang Tu, a beautiful cerulean city surrounded by numerous humble villages. The city itself, though smaller than the sprawling metropolis that is Shang Mu, is a hive of activity under the midday sun, its citizens going about their daily lives. From the most noble of the spiritualists to the lowliest of the working class, everyone plays their part in keeping the machinery of the most theological of the three Kingdoms moving smoothly.

At the heart of the city, rising majestically above the surrounding buildings, is the Palace of the Royal Magister. High in the main tower, the Magister himself watches over his fiefdom in his usual serene manner. But it is in the subterranean laboratories deep within the Palace where this tale begins, with two hounds finishing a machine that is the first of its kind in Avalician history.

"By the Ancients Ernie, I think we've done it!" the russet bloodhound exclaims.

"I think you're right Eric!" the jasmine spaniel agrees. "And it's magnificent!"

The two hounds stand back from the machine they have just completed and take a few moments to admire their invention.

"Do you think it'll work?" Ernie asks.

"Y'know, I'm not sure," Eric admits. "This is the first interdimensional portal generator ever in the history of Avalice, and it exists only because Sash Lilac recovered that Pangu thing from that lagoon."

"Don't forget all the bits we're using that were recovered from Brevon's Dreadnought," Ernie reminds.

"Too right, my friend," Eric agrees. "Still, even with the limitations of Avalician technology, I think we can have confidence this device will work."

"Who will have the honour of testing it though?"

"Dunno. Flip a coin?"

"Sure."

Eric pulls a coin from his pocket. "Call in the air," he instructs as he flicks it high and tumbling.

"Heads," Ernie calls.

The coin lands on the concrete floor, bounces twice, then rattles to a rest.

"Tails!" Eric cries enthusiastically.

"Go on then," Ernie sighs in graceful defeat.

Eric bounds over to the control panel and initiates the start‑up sequence. "OK, activating in five… four… three… two… one… now!"

Eric throws the switch.

The portal generator begins to emit a low quiet hum that swiftly builds in pitch and volume until it's almost ultrasonic. The room begins to shake with the intensity of energy flowing into the machine.

"That's not good!" Eric yells over the noise.

"Shut it off!" Ernie cries, on the verge of panic.

As Eric reaches for the emergency kill‑switch, there's a blinding flash, followed by silence and darkness.

"Eric?" Ernie asks as the emergency lighting flickers into life. "You OK?"

"I'm OK," Eric assures. "What happened?"

Suddenly, the door to the lab slams open, revealing a furious peach hedgehog with pink‑tipped purple spines fully erect. "What on Avalice are you two fools playing at?" she barks.

"We're sorry Sally," Eric apologises. "Our machine overloaded, and‑"

"And now the security measures have locked us all down here until power can be restored!" Sally Flynn finishes angrily. "And I was just about to go for lunch!"

"You should keep some snacks in your lab," Ernie suggests. "That's what we do."

"Really?" Sally asks. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to share, would you?"

"Well‑" Ernie begins.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to share, would you?" Sally repeats, slowly and sternly.

"Just give her something," Eric instructs.

By the time power is restored, the two hounds had concluded that their machine had failed, burning itself out in the process. They were right in that the machine had in fact burnt itself out. But not before it had generated an interdimensional portal deep in the heart of Dragon Valley…