The street glowed red.
Karl rose from the dirt slow, every breath spilling fire. His body had changed — scales gleamed black edged in molten gold, his claws burned like blades pulled fresh from a forge, and his eyes… his eyes burned molten, deeper than any flame he'd carried before. Wings of fire unfurled behind him, shadows bending in their light.
The wolf, the serpent, the boar froze where they stood. Their bodies tensed, jaws clenched, but their eyes betrayed them. Fear.
Karl grinned, his voice rough but steady, layered with a rumble that wasn't human anymore. "Scared? Good. You should be."
The serpent hissed, coils tightening. "What are you?"
Karl stepped forward, fire cracking the stone with each pace. "What I always was. What father tried to bury. What Kael could never be." He raised his claws, flames spilling higher. "Dragon."
The wolf snarled, forcing his fear into rage. He lunged, claws slashing for Karl's throat.
