Acnologia

Acnologia, King of the Dragons, is a tremendously powerful villain to the Avatar world. Known for his feat of slaughtering every dragon known to existence, using his gift of telekinesis, due to the death of his wife and children during a Fire Nation raid hundreds of years before, Acnologia proceeded to enact retribution on humanity by destroying settlements and committing mass genocide. Bathing in the blood of dragons, Acnologia himself became a terrifying black and blue dragon of destruction.

Eventually, he was quelled, by the benders and the Guardians, a group of elemental beasts who were granted volatile power which remained strongest during times of chaos and their elemental prominence (how well an element was faring at the time). Remains buried, he waited hundreds of years before finally being resurrected by the feared Arkarium.

## History

### Early Life

A citizen of the Earth Kingdom and a nonbender, Acnologia lived with his wife and at least two children until a war brewed, and the Fire Nation raided settlements of the Earth Kingdom with the aid of dragons, which at the time were a part of the Fire Nation army. His wife and children were somehow killed as he was helpless to stop it.

For years and years on end, Acnologia trained in the art of telekinesis and meditated until he unlocked the special gift. With a goal in mind, Acnologia set out, and readied his powers for what was to come.

### Genocide

As it could only ever be, Acnologia used the power of telekinesis to brutally slaughter every living dragon in existence to his knowledge, and in spite and thirst he bathed in their blood. This led him to become a dragon himself, as it transformed him into a monster, causing him to lose himself in the process. Once he was certain that every dragon had been killed, he continued to enact vengeance upon the bending population. Eventually, he had used his newfound ability to turn into a dragon so much that his mind was broken, and he was forced into a permanent transformation.

The imbalance in power awakened the Guardians after hundreds of years of slumber, and at some point Acnologia was confronted by the Earth Guardian, who provided somewhat of a resistance before being obliterated by Acnologia, who was a much more powerful dragon. It was then that Acnologia realized that he could communicate with other creatures such as the Guardians as well, conversing with the Earth Guardian about his motives and why he did it.

Somehow, by someone unknown, Acnologia was quelled. Killed by some entity. Many were relieved that he would not again terrorize the world, and they rested in peace knowing that he would not attack tomorrow.

### Guardian War (~500 AG)

It was not yet over for the King of the Dragons, as a man by the name of Arkarium, utilizing the powers of reanimation, sought to resurrect Acnologia, which he accomplished successfully. The grateful Acnologia fought loyally by his side in his beastly dragon form, first attacking the world, in particular Union City. Unleashing devastating beams and barrages which easily destroyed cities, Acnologia assailed many significant settlements, including Omashu and Ba Sing Se, the latter of which was destroyed.

Although what primarily occurred in the war is unknown, aside from the unification of the existing nations into one, named the Bending Allied Forces, it is known that Arkarium led a force named the Black Wings, which consisted primarily of followers and reanimated soldiers, courtesy of Arkarium.

Near the end of the war, Acnologia flew to Tenrou Island, a sacred location harboring the Tenrou tree. The Guardians, having fought Acnologia before, arose to combat him once more at the island.

#### Battle of Tenrou Island

Awaiting the Bending Allied Forces and the Guardians were three primary obstacles: Acnologia, Arkarium, and the rest of the Black Wings followers. Immediately, Arkarium engaged with the Avatar, and the rest of the world's leaders assisted against him and/or fought against the Black Wings. The duel with the Avatar and Arkarium involved a fair amount of offense and defense for both sides; Constantly, one of the combatants would be sent tumbling.

However, above the island and ground battle, was Acnologia, soaring through the skies and sending spiraling energy beams at each of the Guardians, at times (particularly with one of his stronger attacks) nearly finishing them off. The Earth Dragon primarily provided the fiercest battle, combating Acnologia's energy beams with its own. Acnologia utilized other attacks, such as the flapping of his four wings, to deter the others, making the battle rather difficult.

The Sun Serpent, Water Whale, Water Turtle, Air Griffin, Earth Dragon and Elder Tree each played their part in attempting to bring down Acnologia. The strongest combatant, the Elder Tree, gave just as strong a resistance as the Earth Dragon, as the others bombarded the dragon, who had begun to become overwhelmed.

Eventually, near the end of the battle, and no longer being tied to Arkarium, his master, Acnologia was impacted by a powerful collision, a combination attack from every one of the guardians at once. The barrage caused Acnologia's body to explode and crumble to pieces, the bones falling down to the ground. The bones were placed in museums and historical centers, one even being placed in Union City itself.

### Black Lotus (575)

Four men, named Jackal, Valerian, Harlowe, and Krom, all shared common interests in dominance, expulsion of the White Lotus, and a new world order. To do this, they plotted to gather followers to distract the World Leaders, and then resurrect the feared Acnologia roughly 75 years after he had been destroyed. Then, they would use Acnologia to annihilate a good amount of the world's population, and take control due to the loss of morale.

The organization known as the Black Lotus surfaced in the world, revealing themselves after being in hiding underground. Soon after their revelation, all four Lotus members infiltrated Union City and stole one of Acnologia's bones from a display case in the council room as a meeting was being held. Using their powers to get a quick getaway, the four escaped toward Tenrou Island, the place where Acnologia was originally killed. The ritual was begun by Krom, the leader of the group, who had originally presented the idea of reviving Acnologia in the first place. A pillar of darkness erupted from the center of the island, soaring high into the sky.

Sooner than expected, after a transmission from Krom challenging any opposition to bring any rebellion to the island, the World Leaders, consisting of some of the world's most powerful benders from each nation, former Fire Emperor Morris, Earth King Vraxx, and the Avatar himself arrived on the island. The island was barren and stripped of its wildlife, any signs of grass now gone.

#### Battle Against the Black Lotus

The Black Lotus ensued in intense combat with the World Leaders, as the leaders of each nation who were not powerful enough to partake in the fight themselves stood back and watched in awe. The Black Lotus had the upper hand as well as much stronger benders, but the sheer will of the World Leaders seemed to be enough for them to at least hold out.

This was until Krom sped up the ritual, causing Acnologia's dragon body to form from the darkness. Harlowe, after taking the soul of Acnologia from the island, transferred the energy of his old soul into the body, causing Acnologia's eyes to light up. Life was siphoned into the beast, which let out a deafening roar as it was revived.

Instantly, Acnologia reverted forms to his human form, now having access to that ability now that he had been fully revived rather than a zombified version of himself. No longer accursed, due to the things that Krom had filled in, Acnologia engaged the Avatar, slamming a punch into him which flung the Avatar to the very back of the island. Astounded, the World Leaders fought back feebly. It had become, however, obvious that they would not win against such powerful enemies.

However, rather than giving in, the Avatar stood up and presented a speech to the World Leaders, which Krom contradicted with his own, which was drowned out by the Avatar's. The speech gave the World Leaders newfound morale, which they used to bolster their willpower, attacking the Black Lotus with their most immense attacks. Damaging them slightly, they then decided to divert their attention to Acnologia, whom they attempted to bind and trap before the now-human let out a roar of rage, transforming into his dragon form, saying "LET'S BEGIN THE FINAL STAGE."

Whilst Harlowe of the Black Lotus elaborated on the goals of the Lotus, Acnologia had finished charging an energy beam. Firing it at the World Leaders and releasing an explosion while doing so, Acnologia thought he had won. Proven when the World Leaders had disappeared, and the Black Lotus laughed at their victory.

Though, it was simply a defense mechanism employed by the Avatar to protect them from devastation. The World Leaders soon came back, and with a blessing from Raava, the spirit of light. One by one the Black Lotus were eliminated, and Acnologia flew toward Union City, tailed shortly after by Krom, who had attained the unique ability of shadowbending and ravaged the island.

#### Betrayal and Imprisonment

Krom used his new power to create earth for Acnologia and himself to land on, which they did, Acnologia turning to his human form. However, Krom then revealed that his latest plans did not include Acnologia, therefore rendering him unneeded; Krom sent a beam of every element toward the dragon, who deflected it.

The two stared each other down before releasing their auras, and Acnologia used his fist to grab Krom and plunge his left fist through him, disintegrating 80% of his body. Smug and satisfied, Acnologia was unprepared for the body of Krom to begin reforming as he teleported behind him, punching him in the back.

Both squared off against each other for merely a couple of minutes, causing tsunamis with the force of their punches. However it was clear that Krom was superior. Chains of darkness reached from the ground to tether Acnologia, who was pulled into the ground, trapped within the shadow realm. This was the end of his reign of terror.

### Reformed Black Wings (575 AG - 585 AG)

Shortly after being incapacitated by Krom, Acnologia was released from the shadow realm in order to avenge the darknessbender, who had lived with an inch of his life left after the final clash between him and the Avatar. Acnologia sought to further bring chaos to the bending world, but this time finish the job that he had started; Acnologia wished to rid the world of bending entirely, aside from those who would assist him.

#### Underground

At some point, Acnologia found Krom once more, and recruited six allies to join him in the Reformed Black Wings. Mikhail, Crassius, Torrence, Farys, Orys, Harlock. These six assisted him, even performing deeds such as destroying the World Temple Justinius. Each possessed a somewhat unique or elite form of bending normally inaccessible to ordinary people.

The organization remained relatively hidden, however, although their actions were noticed by Union City and the Avatar. It was especially brought to attention when Acnologia headed to the cavern of the Earth Dragon, finally ending the dragon in a rather short duel and causing the cavern's explosion.

#### Revelation

During the year 585 AG, Acnologia and his companions caused the eruption of Inferno City's volcano, utilizing Farys's powers of quakes, bringing about the city's destruction and angering Fire Lord Oberyn. Attention of the organization was immediately brought to the World Leaders, who made their way to Inferno City as fast as possible to find Acnologia and the Reformed Black Wings searching through the rubble. Acnologia, unknown to the World Leaders, took the fire gem from the remnants of the city before escaping to the Temple of Time with his organization, leaving the World Leaders in shock.

Acnologia and the Reformed Black Wings made it to the Temple without much hassle, but while the World Leaders were gathering information about the Temple, the Wings were forced to face off against the Temple's Guardian, Ossus, who was empowered by the Temple's aura and his proximity to temporal energy. This led to Ossus being able to fend off the Reformed Black Wings for long enough that the World Leaders were able to come in time to watch Ossus be defeated by them. Acnologia commanded the Wings to battle the Leaders, and combat ensued.

In culmination, one by one the Wings were defeated after long and challenging battles. The far-from-unscathed world leaders went toward Acnologia, who was already commencing the first stage of his plan. The power of the elemental crystals created another jewel, a glowing gem named the gem of life. Using the power of the gem, Acnologia resurrected the dead Torrence and Crassius, who assisted him in reviving the World Tree, which had toppled over during Harlock's battle with Ranmaru.

The World Tree expanded to several times its size, sending out energy-sucking vines which reached into the bending world and drained the benders' energy upon Acnologia transferring the gem of life's energy into it. Each of the elemental crystals plus the gem of life, each essential to his scheme, was melded into a single crystal, the seal stone. Acnologia brought the seal stone to the back of the Temple where a large statue lay, and pressed it against the statue.

In response to this, the statue revealed a woman, now freed from the binds of the Temple. The Goddess of Time, Rhinne. Rhinne questioned Acnologia's motives, and the Dragon King demanded that Rhinne work for him.

Rhinne replied by bombarding Acnologia with blasts from her staff, causing him to be beaten down rather easily as the World Leaders watched. From behind Acnologia, a figure emerged, cloaked in shadows. The broken form of Krom assisted in corrupting the Goddess, and Acnologia, satisfied, commanded Rhinne to eradicate the World Leaders.

His plan backfired as Rhinne instead attacked Acnologia, revealing that she was not under his control. Acnologia absorbed a small portion of Rhinne's power to create an alternate future, leaping through the portal to travel the distance. The World Leaders and Ossus soon followed suit, tailing Acnologia to the future Union Hold, a wrecked husk of what it once was, upon black barren earth.

#### Final Battle

Combat almost immediately began, following petty banter between the two sides. The Avatar and Kane struck for Acnologia first, while the rest of the World Leaders primarily assaulted the weakened body of Krom. Acnologia held out against the Avatar and Kane with relative ease, sustaining only a minimal number of serious injuries as he used his telekinesis to his advantage, tossing houses, bodies, and other objects into Kane, the Avatar, and even occasionally Air Elder Minku. Acnologia's psychic energy proved to be a large advantage in the battle at that point.

Harmed by lava and light from Kane and the Avatar, Acnologia continued to fight against them while Krom was defeated. Afterward, all of the World Leaders dedicated their attention to Acnologia, beginning to square against him. In particular, Fire Lord Oberyn, who jetted himself into Acnologia and shoved a fire spear thrice into Acnologia's stomach as he coughed up blood, held down by plants.

Acnologia, however, was not ready to relent. The King of Dragons formed his spirit manifestation before them, bringing a massive foot down onto Oberyn, smashing his body. In retaliation, the Avatar formed his own spirit manifestation with the power of the World Leaders due to his lack of mastery with it. The two faced on fairly even ground, both manifestations shattering at the same time after an intense battle.

Seeking to end the battle, Acnologia brought down the castle of Union Hold onto the Avatar, who demolished the structure with a single blow of multiple elements. Unleashing a blast of wind which knocked Acnologia far back into the water, the Avatar prepared a spear of fire, augmented by wind, to finish off his opponent. Acnologia shifted into his dragon form, readying a dragon beam to eradicate all of Union Hold.

Both were fired at the same time, but the blessing gained from Rhinne proved to be the deciding factor. The spear forced its way through the energy, burning the beam away, and impaled Acnologia through the head. The head exploded, and Acnologia, smoke billowing from his body, fell to the water, now a headless human.

The Avatar released a last lightning bolt to incinerate Acnologia's body, leaving no traces.