"Run."
The word echoed through the hero's mind.
He stared at his dragon.
Black scales covered its body.
Purple energy flowed between them like fire beneath the skin.
Its golden eyes were gone.
Only darkness remained.
The hero slowly stepped forward.
"It's me."
The dragon growled.
A deep, unnatural sound.
Kael grabbed the hero's shoulder.
"Don't."
The hero pushed his hand away.
"I know my dragon."
"No."
Kael's eyes remained fixed on the creature.
"You knew your dragon."
The hero froze.
The dragon suddenly opened its wings.
WHOOSH!
A powerful wave of energy threw both men backward.
The tower walls cracked.
The hero slammed into the ground.
"AH!"
He struggled to stand.
His dragon raised its head toward the sky.
Above it, dark clouds began gathering.
Lightning flashed.
But the lightning wasn't white.
It was purple.
The hero looked up.
"What is happening?"
Kael answered quietly.
"The transformation hasn't finished."
The hero turned toward him.
"What?"
Kael pointed at the dragon's chest.
The ancient symbol was glowing brighter.
"There are three stages."
The hero's face hardened.
"Tell me."
"First, the blood awakens."
Kael pointed toward the dragon.
"Second, the body changes."
He looked at the black scales.
"And the third…"
He hesitated.
"What?"
Kael looked directly into the hero's eyes.
"The dragon loses its bond with its master."
The hero's heart sank.
"No."
The dragon suddenly turned toward him.
For one second…
the blackness disappeared.
Its original golden eyes returned.
The hero smiled.
"You're still in there."
He walked toward it.
"Don't listen to whatever is controlling you."
The dragon trembled.
A tear rolled from its eye.
The hero stopped.
"You remember me."
The dragon lowered its head.
The hero placed his hand against its face.
"I won't leave you."
The black energy suddenly exploded.
BOOOOM!
The hero was thrown across the ground.
His hand burned.
The mark on his palm had changed.
It now looked exactly like the symbol on the dragon's chest.
Kael stared at it.
"That shouldn't be possible."
The hero slowly stood.
"What?"
Kael looked terrified.
"The transformation isn't happening to your dragon alone."
The hero looked at his arm.
Black lines were spreading beneath his skin.
"You're changing too."
Silence.
The hero looked at his dragon.
Then at his own hand.
Suddenly
CRACK!
The ground beneath them opened.
A massive shadow emerged from the mountain.
Kael shouted,
"GET OUT!"
The hero grabbed his sword.
But before he could move—
the transformed dragon suddenly flew forward.
ROOOOAAAR!
It attacked the shadow.
The two enormous creatures collided in the sky.
The impact shook the entire mountain.
The hero stared upward.
His dragon was fighting for him.
Even after everything…
their bond remained.
A faint golden glow appeared inside the dragon's black eyes.
The hero smiled.
"You're fighting it…"
He raised his sword.
"Then I'll fight with you."
The black mark on his hand suddenly erupted with energy.
His sword changed.
Ancient symbols appeared along the blade.
Kael stared at it.
"That sword…"
The hero looked at him.
"What?"
Kael whispered,
"It belonged to the first Warrior."
The hero tightened his grip.
Above them, his dragon roared.
The mountain began collapsing.
The hero looked toward the battlefield.
"Then let's finish this."
He charged forward.
But deep beneath the mountain…
someone was watching.
A woman's voice echoed through the darkness.
"Don't kill them."
A shadowy figure smiled.
"The Warrior and the Dragon King must awaken together."
The hero suddenly stopped.
He heard the voice.
"Who are you?"
The darkness answered
"Your mother knew me."
The hero's eyes widened.
"My… mother?"
The voice disappeared.
And for the first time in years…
the hero remembered something.
A woman.
A dragon.
And a burning village.
TO BE CONTINUED…