The golden eye stared at him.
The hero couldn't breathe.
His dragon stood frozen.
For the first time, it wasn't angry.
It was afraid.
The ancient voice echoed again.
"You have returned."
The hero tightened his grip on his sword.
"I've never been here before."
The golden eye slowly narrowed.
"Not you…"
A pause.
"Your blood."
The hero's heart skipped.
"My blood?"
Before he could ask another question—
CRAAACK!
The stone door shattered.
A massive dragon emerged from the darkness.
Its body was covered in ancient golden scales.
Broken chains hung from its neck and wings.
But the strangest thing was its face.
It wasn't attacking.
It was looking at the hero as if it had been waiting for him.
The hero stepped backward.
"Who are you?"
The dragon lowered its head.
"The last guardian."
The hero looked around the chamber.
"Guardian of what?"
The dragon turned toward the northern mountains.
"Of what sleeps beneath them."
Suddenly—
The black mark on the hero's hand burned.
"AH!"
He dropped his sword.
Red light spread from his palm across his arm.
His dragon immediately rushed toward him.
The ancient dragon roared.
"NO!"
The hero looked up.
"What?"
The ancient dragon's expression changed.
For the first time…
It looked terrified.
"Your awakening has begun too early."
The chamber started shaking.
Stone fell from the ceiling.
The hero grabbed his sword.
"What is awakening?"
The ancient dragon didn't answer.
Instead, it looked toward his dragon.
"Your companion…"
Its golden eyes widened.
"It carries the blood of the Dragon King."
The hero stared at his dragon.
"My dragon?"
His dragon suddenly roared.
Its eyes began glowing.
The ground cracked beneath its feet.
The hero stumbled backward.
"What is happening to you?"
His dragon looked at him.
For a moment, its eyes were completely unfamiliar.
Wild.
Ancient.
Powerful.
Then
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded through the chamber.
The hero was thrown against the wall.
His sword fell from his hand.
He struggled to stand.
"Stop!"
His dragon didn't hear him.
Its body began changing.
Dark scales appeared across its chest.
Two enormous horns slowly emerged from its head.
The ancient dragon watched in silence.
Then it whispered
"The Dragon King has chosen his vessel."
The hero's eyes widened.
"My dragon isn't becoming stronger…"
He looked at the creature standing before him.
"It's becoming something else."
Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the entire kingdom.
Above them, every dragon in the city lifted their heads.
Then they all began flying toward the northern mountains.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
The sky filled with dragons.
And far beneath the mountains…
something answered their call.
ROOOOAAAR!
The ancient dragon looked at the hero.
"Warrior…"
The hero picked up his sword.
"What?"
The dragon's voice became serious.
"If you want to save your dragon…"
A pause.
"…you must reach the mountain before the moon turns red."
The hero looked outside.
The moon was already changing.
A thin red glow appeared across its surface.
His eyes widened.
"How long?"
The ancient dragon looked at him.
"Three nights."
The chamber went silent.
Then the ancient dragon added
"And the king already knew this."
The hero froze.
The king.
He thought the king had been acting out of greed.
But suddenly…
he wasn't so sure.
TO BE CONTINUED…