. The torches in the corridor outside flickered weakly, and even the atmosphere in Andy and Nia's quarters seemed thick, as if weighed down by something unseen.
Andy sat at the edge of the bed, still in his training clothes, his hands pressed hard against his knees. The Dual Dragonblades leaned against the wall nearby, their steel faintly glowing as if they, too, felt the tension in the air.
But Andy's chest burned hotter than the blades. His heart pounded too fast, every beat hammering like a war drum. Heat licked through his veins, crawling under his skin until it felt as though molten metal was flowing in place of blood.
He gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his temple. "Damn it… not now…"
The fire surged again. He staggered to his feet, clutching his chest. His vision blurred, his breath came ragged, and when he looked at his hands, his veins glowed faintly, red-orange cracks like molten stone spreading across his skin.
System Alert: Dragonblood surge detected. Instability rising.
His reflection in the mirror across the room flickered. For a heartbeat, he saw himself not as he was, but as something monstrous. His eyes glowed crimson, slit like a beast's. Faint horns curled from his brow. Black-red scales shimmered across his shoulders, catching the torchlight. His mouth twisted open, revealing sharp fangs where his teeth should be.
Andy stumbled back, crashing into the bedframe. "No… no, this isn't me…"
The whisper came then. Soft. Feminine. Honeyed with sweetness, yet laced with venom.
"Yes, it is."
Andy froze. The voice slithered around his ears, curling into his skull. He spun, searching, but the room was empty save for Nia sleeping lightly across the chamber, her breath calm, unaware.
"You can feel it, can't you?" the voice murmured. "The fire inside you isn't human. It's older. Stronger. No one can control it. Not her… not even you. Why keep resisting?"
Shadows shifted along the walls. For a moment, golden eyes gleamed from the corner, piercing, radiant, cruel. Kayla's smile flickered into existence, soft and saintly, before the shadows swallowed her again.
Andy clutched his head, dropping to his knees. His body trembled violently, his skin rippling as though something inside wanted to burst free. Flames roared along his arms, cracking the stone beneath his hands.
System Warning: Corruption influence detected. Probability of external interference: 72%.
"Shut up!" Andy growled, though the words came guttural, deeper, almost bestial. His voice didn't sound like his own. "You're not real… you're not—"
"Oh, I am very real," the voice crooned. "You just don't want to see it. You are not her partner. You are a beast dressed in skin. Let go, Andy. Let the dragon claim you. Only then will you be strong enough to protect her."
Andy's vision blurred red. He looked down—and gasped. His hands weren't hands anymore. Scales spread across his forearms, claws jutting from his fingertips, glowing with faint ember cracks. His chest burned as though fire had been carved into his bones.
"No… no, I won't…" He slammed his fists against the ground. Stone cracked, sparks flying. Flames spiraled up around him, uncontrolled, wild.
Across the room, Nia stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, catching the faint crimson glow. She sat up instantly, silver hair tumbling around her shoulders.
"Andy?" Her voice was urgent, alarm slicing through the haze.
He looked at her, and for an instant he saw fear in her eyes—not for herself, but for him. The reflection of his monstrous form burned in her silver gaze.
He staggered back, holding up his claws as though ashamed. "Stay back, Nia! I… I can't stop it!"
Her staff was already in her hands, the gem glowing faintly as she stepped forward. "No. You don't push me away. Not now. Not ever."
Andy's flames roared, filling the chamber with blistering heat. Shadows on the walls warped, twisting into monstrous shapes. Faces leered from the corners, their mouths whispering cruel echoes.
"She will leave you. She will fear you. You are nothing but a monster."
The whispers multiplied, the chamber trembling under their chorus. Andy clutched his head, snarling, his body half-wreathed in scales, his fire burning hotter than ever.
System Alert: Instability escalating. Dragonblood resonance at 78%.
"Stop it!" Andy roared, his voice half a dragon's bellow. His body shook violently, fire bursting outward in violent pulses. The torches sputtered and died, leaving only his crimson blaze to light the room.
Nia's heart pounded, but her steps didn't falter. She gripped her staff tight, lifting it before her, silver light gathering at its tip. Her eyes blazed with determination.
"I won't let her take you," she whispered. "Not while I'm here."
She raised her staff high, the silver gem pulsing like a moon in the night. Mana surged, rippling outward, bending the air itself. Glyphs of light bloomed around her, intricate and ancient, shimmering with power. Her voice rang through the chamber.
"Arcane Detection!"
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(to be continued in Chapter 42B, where Nia awakens her skill fully, the illusions shatter, and the bond stabilizes…)
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