The hero stood motionless.
"The king knew?"
The ancient dragon didn't answer.
Instead, it turned toward the broken throne room above.
"He was not searching for dragons."
The hero looked up.
"Then what was he searching for?"
The dragon's golden eyes met his.
"A key."
"A key to what?"
The ancient dragon remained silent.
The hero's patience broke.
"Tell me!"
His voice echoed through the chamber.
Suddenly
CLANG!
A piece of metal fell from the ancient dragon's broken chain.
The hero picked it up.
It was a small black pendant.
The same symbol from his hand was carved into it.
His eyes widened.
"This belonged to the king?"
The ancient dragon nodded.
"He found it beneath the palace many years ago."
The hero stared at the pendant.
"So all those dragons…"
"They were sacrifices."
The hero's expression hardened.
"For what?"
Before the dragon could answer
BOOM!
The entire palace shook.
A soldier's voice echoed from above.
"THE KING HAS ESCAPED!"
The hero looked toward the staircase.
"He escaped?"
The ancient dragon suddenly growled.
"Then you have little time."
The hero grabbed his sword.
"Where is he going?"
The dragon looked toward the north.
"The mountain."
The hero's eyes narrowed.
Of course.
The king wasn't running away.
He was going there.
"I'm going after him."
The ancient dragon suddenly blocked his path.
"You cannot."
The hero stared at it.
"Why?"
"Because you are not ready."
The hero looked at his trembling hand.
The black mark was still glowing.
"I don't care."
His dragon stepped beside him.
Its new horns had disappeared.
But something inside it had changed.
The hero placed his hand on its head.
"We go together."
The ancient dragon watched them.
For several seconds, it said nothing.
Then it slowly moved aside.
"Then take this."
A small golden scale fell from its body.
The hero caught it.
The moment he touched it
FLASH!
A strange vision appeared.
A gigantic castle.
Hundreds of dragons flying above it.
And a warrior standing beside a massive black dragon.
The warrior turned.
It was the same face.
His face.
The vision vanished.
The hero staggered.
"Who was that?"
The ancient dragon answered quietly.
"You."
The hero's eyes widened.
"That makes no sense."
"Not yet."
The dragon opened its massive wings.
A powerful wind filled the chamber.
"Go north."
The hero climbed onto his dragon.
Before leaving, he looked back.
"Will I see you again?"
The ancient dragon lowered its head.
"If you survive."
The hero's dragon launched into the sky.
They flew above the kingdom.
Below them, people were still celebrating their freedom.
They didn't know what was coming.
The hero looked toward the northern mountains.
The red moon was getting brighter.
One night had already passed.
Two remained.
Then
A dark figure appeared on a distant rooftop.
Watching them.
The figure slowly removed its hood.
A familiar voice whispered
"So… the Warrior has awakened."
A smile appeared.
"The king failed."
The figure looked toward the mountains.
"Now it's my turn."
Behind him…
something enormous opened its eyes.
TO BE CONTINUED…