Niv - Operation Desperation

"Operation Desperation, the Firemind's final plan," she said, "requires all ten guilds, the leylines of Ravnica, the charred bones of Niv-Mizzet, and that thing."

She was pointing to a brass model of a dragon head-Niv-Mizzet's head, to be specific-being carried forward by the Izzet goblin Varryvort. "It's called the Firemind's Vessel and will contain his spirit when summoned from wherever it's currently residing assuming this works, that is, and given the name of the plan that could easily be too much to assume, you know?"

Varryvort gently placed the Vessel atop Niv's blackened bones.

***

Hekara said, "It's not called Operation Desperation for nothing, you know."

Ral held up his hands and said, "We did try, and we failed. But the same terms apply. Jace Beleren has lost the power of the Living Guildpact. We need that power to defeat Nicol Bolas. If we succeed here, Niv-Mizzet will rise again to that power and use it against the Elder Dragon. Then the Firemind will step down as guildmaster of the Izzet and, as one of Ravnica's most ancient, wise and venerable paruns, take up this new role as impartial arbiter to all ten guilds and Gateless, alike. The gods know he can hardly do a worse job than Beleren."

***

But Teyo had bought Nissa and the guild leaders the time they needed. The ritual had been completed under his shield. Enough mana had been filtered through the participants to flow through and around the bones and Vessel of the Firemind. The yellow and orange flames had turned to gold and ignited the blue and red smoke within the Vessel. The smoke had burned briefly purple before the golden flames overwhelmed all other colors. The blaze seemed to take shape and solidify around the dragon bones, filling them out, turning them from skeleton to living creature.

And then Niv-Mizzet was reborn, with scales of shiny gold to match the golden glow emanating from his eyes. A decagon was etched-seared, really into his chest, and magical spheres of black, blue, green, red and white swirled around him, like five planets orbiting the sun.

***

War of the Spark: Ravnica, Chapter 49