The hero stared at the man.
"Father…?"
The word felt strange.
He had never known his father.
Not even a name.
The crowned man smiled.
"Yes."
He stepped down from the balcony.
"I have waited a long time for this moment."
The hero's eyes hardened.
"Then tell me…"
He picked up his sword.
"Where were you all these years?"
The man's smile disappeared.
"Protecting you."
"From what?"
"From yourself."
Silence.
Kael suddenly stepped forward.
"Don't believe him."
The crowned man looked at Kael.
"Still protecting your master's son?"
Kael's expression changed.
The hero noticed.
"You know him."
Kael remained silent.
The hero looked between them.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Suddenly
CLANG!
A spear struck the ground beside the hero.
Warriors surrounded them.
The crowned man raised his hand.
"Enough questions."
The hero's dragon growled.
"Let me see what you've become."
The warriors attacked.
BOOM!
The hero's dragon slammed its tail into the ground.
Several warriors flew across the chamber.
The hero charged.
CLANG!
His sword collided with a warrior's blade.
He twisted.
SLASH!
Blood splashed across the stone floor.
Another warrior attacked from behind.
The hero ducked.
Kael appeared behind him.
CLANG!
Kael blocked the attack.
"Left!"
The hero turned.
THUD!
His fist smashed into the warrior's face.
The warrior crashed into a pillar.
Three more attacked simultaneously.
The hero jumped onto his dragon.
"Let's go!"
The dragon spread its wings.
WHOOSH!
They shot upward.
The hero leaped from its back.
His sword began glowing red.
He spun through the air.
SLASH! SLASH!
Two warriors fell.
The third raised his weapon.
The hero landed directly in front of him.
BOOM!
One strike.
The warrior dropped.
The chamber became silent.
Blood slowly dripped from the hero's sword.
He looked at the crowned man.
"Now…"
He pointed his blade toward him.
"Your turn."
The man laughed.
"You still don't understand."
He raised one hand.
The entire chamber shook.
BOOOOM!
A massive pressure slammed into the hero.
He was thrown across the room.
His body crashed against the wall.
"AH!"
Kael rushed toward him.
"Don't fight him!"
The hero struggled to stand.
"Why?"
Kael looked terrified.
"Because he's not human anymore."
The hero stared at the crowned man.
Golden energy surrounded his body.
His eyes glowed like the red moon.
The man smiled.
"I was the previous Warrior."
The hero froze.
"What?"
The man pointed at the hero's sword.
"That weapon belonged to me."
The hero looked down.
The red glow around his sword intensified.
The crowned man's expression suddenly changed.
"But…"
He stared at the hero's hand.
"That mark…"
His face became pale.
"You shouldn't have it."
The hero stepped forward.
"Why?"
The man whispered
"Because your mother took it from the Dragon King."
The hero's heart stopped.
"My mother… stole the Dragon King's power?"
"No."
The man looked toward the dragon.
"She sealed it inside you."
The hero turned toward his dragon.
Its black scales were spreading again.
The dragon suddenly roared.
ROOOOOAR!
The Dragon Heart in the center of the chamber began beating.
THUMP.
The hero's mark burned.
THUMP.
His dragon's eyes turned completely black.
THUMP.
A crack appeared in the Dragon Heart.
The crowned man stepped backward.
"No…"
The crack widened.
Something moved inside the crystal.
The man looked at the hero.
"Your mother didn't save you."
His voice trembled.
"She created you."
The crystal shattered.
KABOOOOOM!
Darkness swallowed the chamber.
And from inside the broken Dragon Heart…
a small voice whispered:
"Father…"
The hero turned toward his dragon.
His dragon was staring at him.
TO BE CONTINUED…