The moment Leon stepped into the underground labyrinth beneath the capital, a wave of damp mold and heavy blood stench hit him. Torchlight flickered on the stone walls—burning with black flames that cast eerie shadows across the winding corridors. He tightened his grip on the True Form of the *Heart of the Flame Dragon*. Multicolored fire flowed from his palm, resonating with the elemental mark on his hand, forming a faint protective aura around him.
"Leon! Wait for me!" Tom's voice rang out behind him. Leon spun around to see the boy limping forward, a fresh wound bleeding down his forehead. "What are you doing here? Where are Elara and Garrosh?" He caught Tom by the arm, concern lacing his tone.
"Elara told me to give this to you," Tom said breathlessly, handing over a fragment etched with thunder glyphs. "She said it's the key to unlocking the Trial of Thunder. Garrosh stayed at the Tree of Life to recover—he wanted me to tell you, 'A warrior never fears battle.'" He paused, lifting his gaze to meet Leon's, eyes burning with determination. "And… I want to avenge my family."
Leon looked at Tom's young yet resolute face, a mix of emotions stirring within him. He gently patted the boy's shoulder. "Alright—but stay close, and don't act on your own." Without another word, they pressed onward into the depths of the labyrinth.
The chanting grew louder as they advanced. Rounding a corner, they emerged into a vast circular chamber. Hundreds of shadow priests danced in ritual around the Chaos Egg at the center. Its shell was now covered in interconnected bloodlines, pulsing with a nauseating glow. Arthus stood atop the egg, channeling energy through his staff into its core. His left eye gleamed with madness.
"Stop!" Leon roared, activating his four-element resonance. A shockwave of multicolored flame and crackling lightning surged outward, scattering the outer ring of priests. Arthus slowly turned, lips curling into a cold smirk. "Master Leon, you've finally arrived. Unfortunately, it's already too late."
"Is that so?" Leon raised the Thunder Fragment. "You think only you know how to awaken the Chaos Egg?" As he pressed the fragment against the Heart of the Flame Dragon, the two relics resonated violently. The ceiling of the chamber cracked open, and a golden bolt of lightning shot down, striking Leon's palm.
"This… is the power of Thunder!" Arthus's expression darkened. "How can you wield two sacred relics at once?"
Leon didn't answer. Instead, he hurled the concentrated energy at the Chaos Egg. Upon impact, the bloodlines trembled violently, and an image of the First Elemental Bearer appeared above the shell.
"I understand now…" Leon whispered. "The Chaos Egg isn't a monster—it's the unformed heart of the world. Only pure energy can purify it."
Just then, Tom gasped. "Leon, look! It's cracking!"
All eyes turned as the Chaos Egg split open, revealing a clawed limb armored in shadowed keratin. Arthus laughed maniacally, raising his staff high. "Rise, the embodiment of chaos! Devour this world!"
Leon took a deep breath and pressed both the Heart of the Flame Dragon and the Thunder Fragment onto the shell. "In the name of the Elemental Bearer—I command you: be purified!"
Multicolored fire and golden lightning wove together into a radiant cocoon, engulfing the Chaos Egg. Within the light, Leon saw visions—spirits of all races dancing alongside the First Elemental Bearer's whisper.
When the glow faded, the Chaos Egg was gone. In its place lay a softly glowing dragon egg, adorned with the marks of the four elements and the stardust sigil.
Arthus let out a cry of despair before vanishing into a swirl of shadow. Leon caught the falling egg, feeling its heartbeat pulse gently. The runes on his hand flared, resonating with the shell, completing the full mark of the Elemental Bearer.
"Did we… succeed?" Tom asked, voice trembling with disbelief.
Leon nodded, a small smile forming. "We did—for now. But Arthus was right. The real challenge is still ahead." He looked down at the egg in his arms. "This is the *Dawnborn Dragon*. A new hope for Azlan."
As they prepared to leave, the ground shook violently. Leon looked up—the ceiling of the chamber was collapsing. "Run!" He grabbed Tom's wrist and sprinted toward the exit. Behind them, the magma lake began to boil, roaring like thunder.
They stumbled out of the labyrinth just as dawn broke over the ruined capital. Elara and Garrosh were already waiting, relief lighting their faces when they saw the dragon egg in Leon's arms.
"You did it, Elemental Bearer," Elara said, her emerald eyes shimmering.
Garrosh stepped forward, clapping Leon hard on the back. "Well done, human kid. Ironmane would be proud." He glanced at Tom. "You're not bad yourself, little one."
Tom scratched his head shyly, smiling. Leon looked at his companions, strength surging within him. He lifted the dragon egg, sunlight refracting off its shell in dazzling colors.
"We're heading to the Stormlands next," Leon declared firmly. "To find the *Core of Thunder*—and complete the true Trial of Thunder."
Elara nodded, pulling out a map. "I've found the route. But the Stormlands are always shrouded in storms, and filled with corrupted thunder beasts. It'll be dangerous."
"No matter the danger, we must go," Leon said, gazing toward the distant snowy peaks. "For Azlan. For every life lost—we must gather all the elemental relics and destroy the threat of chaos forever."
Garrosh gripped his axe, letting out a low growl. "The orcs will follow the Elemental Bearer to the end."
Tom raised his rune crossbow, eyes blazing with resolve. "I'm coming too!"
Looking at his companions' determined gazes, warmth filled Leon's heart. He knew the road ahead remained perilous—but as long as they stood together, nothing could stop them.
As the final page of Volume I turned, Leon and his companions had already begun their journey to the Stormlands. The *Heart of the Flame Dragon* glowed under the sun, and the Thunder Fragment pulsed with energy—heralding the beginning of Volume II: *The Secrets of the Elements*.
And far beyond the stars, true chaos stirred, drawing ever closer. The fate of Azlan rested in the hands of this young Elemental Bearer—and his unwavering allies.