The Battle of All Time leaves little opportunity for participants to observe the variety of life across the universe, though each combatant is instinctively aware of it. Kyrie warriors, for example, understand in broad terms what each world contains as they interact with its inhabitants in preparation for their next assault. It’s generally accepted that humans are from Earth and orcs are from Grut. But broad generalizations often lead to misconceptions—one of the most common being that Icaria contains only dragons.

When Aquilla, seeking a way to reclaim her lands lost to Utgar’s Obsidian assault on Steam Alley, had a vision of a species of crustacean in Icaria’s land of Pyrolla, she initially wished she’d seen one of Icaria’s mighty dragons instead. These creatures appeared to be mere nuisances, picking up debris along the shore and stubbornly refusing to let go. To Icaria’s self-imposed royalty, they were a delicacy, prized for their ability to bleed lava—a trait only dragons could admire. These crabs seemed wholly unfit for combat.

However, Aquilla reconsidered. Ultimately, she would summon them to Valhalla, freeing them from their destiny as dragon food, curious to see how they’d fare in Volcarren. They quickly proved valuable upon their arrival, even in an unfamiliar region where Aquilla had no combat experience and where battles often raged amid active volcanoes.

She knew the Obsidians were loyal to their Lava Stone, which was controlled by Utgar, and didn’t resent the Moltarns for following orders—it was their nature. But something stirred in her as she thought about how these natural guardians of Valhalla were being exploited. The Dracostaceans would be her answer to restoring balance to Volcarren’s elemental forces.

Her enemies would be the first to discover that Icaria’s power lies in more than just its dragons.

Molten Crustaceans are available in the Molten Crustaceans & Tanuki Tricksters Common Army Expansion!