Three warriors descended from the clouds.
Their black armor reflected the red moonlight.
The warrior in the center pointed his sword at the hero.
"Come quietly."
The hero laughed.
"You came all this way just to say that?"
The warrior's eyes narrowed.
"Then we'll take you by force."
BOOM!
All three warriors attacked.
The hero's dragon moved first.
Its enormous wing struck the ground.
WHOOSH!
A wave of dark energy blasted the warriors backward.
But they didn't fall.
They landed perfectly.
Kael's expression changed.
"They're not ordinary soldiers."
The hero drew his sword.
"Good."
The first warrior charged.
CLANG!
The hero blocked his sword.
Another attacked from behind.
Kael intercepted him.
CLANG!
Steel collided.
The third warrior jumped toward the dragon.
"Don't touch my dragon!"
The hero tried to reach him.
Too late.
The warrior thrust his weapon into the dragon's chest.
CRACK!
The dragon roared.
The hero's vision went black for a second.
Pain exploded through his chest.
He fell to his knees.
"AH!"
Kael shouted,
"Your bond!"
The hero looked at the warrior.
The same black symbol on the warrior's armor was glowing.
"They're attacking the bond!"
The hero stood.
His eyes turned red.
"Get away from him."
The warrior smiled.
"Now you're beginning to understand."
He raised his hand.
Black chains appeared from the ground.
They wrapped around the dragon's legs.
The dragon struggled.
The hero's mark began burning.
The warrior spoke calmly.
"The Ancient Court has waited centuries for the return of the Warrior."
The hero tightened his grip.
"Why?"
"Because only you can open the Dragon King's seal."
The hero froze.
"Seal?"
The warrior smiled.
"And your dragon is the key."
The hero looked at his dragon.
"No…"
The warrior continued.
"Your mother tried to prevent this."
The hero's expression hardened.
"You knew my mother?"
"She betrayed the Ancient Court."
Kael suddenly attacked.
SLASH!
The warrior blocked.
Kael shouted,
"Don't listen to him!"
The warrior laughed.
"You know the truth, Kael."
The hero looked at him.
"Kael?"
Kael said nothing.
The hero's eyes narrowed.
"You knew about the Ancient Court."
Kael lowered his sword.
"I was once one of them."
Silence.
The hero stared at him.
"You were one of them?"
Kael nodded.
"Until I discovered what they were planning."
Before the hero could ask anything
the ground exploded.
BOOOOM!
The three warriors were thrown into the air.
The hero's dragon had broken the chains.
But something was different.
Its body was changing again.
Black scales spread across its wings.
Purple flames appeared around its horns.
The warrior stared in fear.
"The second stage…"
The dragon opened its mouth.
A massive sphere of purple energy formed inside.
The warrior shouted,
"RUN!"
The dragon fired.
KABOOOOOM!
The mountain shook.
The three warriors disappeared into the smoke.
The hero stared at his dragon.
"Stop…"
The dragon didn't move.
Its eyes were completely black.
The hero stepped closer.
"It's me."
The dragon growled.
"Look at me."
Nothing.
The hero continued walking.
"I know you're still there."
The dragon raised its head.
Its jaws opened.
A second attack began forming.
Kael shouted,
"GET AWAY!"
The hero didn't move.
He lowered his sword.
"I won't fight you."
The dragon's energy grew brighter.
"I won't abandon you."
The hero stepped forward.
"Even if you become the Dragon King…"
Another step.
"…I'll bring you back."
The dragon suddenly froze.
The purple flame disappeared.
Its black eyes flickered.
Gold.
Black.
Gold.
Then
ROAR!
The dragon collapsed.
The hero caught its head.
"Easy…"
A faint golden glow returned to its eyes.
Kael watched silently.
Then he looked toward the smoke.
"The Ancient Court won't stop."
The hero stood.
"Neither will I."
He picked up his sword.
"Take me to them."
Kael looked at him.
"You don't know what you're asking."
"I want answers."
The hero looked toward the northern mountains.
"About my mother."
He looked at his dragon.
"About my mark."
Then his eyes hardened.
"And about what my dragon really is."
Kael finally nodded.
"Then we go to the Ancient Court."
Far away…
inside a hidden fortress…
the three defeated warriors knelt before a throne.
A woman sat in darkness.
The warrior lowered his head.
"The Warrior has awakened."
The woman remained silent.
"And the Dragon King has chosen him."
Still no response.
Then the woman slowly opened her eyes.
They were golden.
"Good."
The warriors looked up.
She smiled.
"Now…"
"Bring me my son."
TO BE CONTINUED…