Darkness. Cold and endless.
Kael floated in nothingness. His body was gone, his breath gone, even his heartbeat was silent. He felt only the weight of death pressing on him.
For a moment, he believed it was over. His bloodline had ended, his kingdom destroyed, his enemies victorious. The spear that had pierced his chest was the last memory that burned in his soul.
But then—
> [System Awakening…]
[Host Detected: Last Dragon Lord.]
[Rebirth Sequence Initiating…]
A voice echoed in the emptiness. It was neither human nor divine. It sounded like metal and old magic, as if the world itself was speaking.
Light burst through the darkness. Flames coiled around his soul, burning hot, yet not destroying him. Instead, they rebuilt him. His bones cracked, his skin stretched, his veins filled with power.
Kael screamed, but the sound that came out was not human. It was a roar — deep, ancient, filled with rage. The void itself trembled at the sound.
The fire shaped him anew. Wings spread across his back, heavy yet natural. His arms gained faint silver scales. His senses sharpened until he could feel every spark of magic around him.
When the light faded, Kael lay on cold stone. His chest rose and fell with breath again. The spear wound was gone. He was whole — no, more than whole. He was something greater.
He staggered to his feet. His reflection shimmered in a pool of water nearby. His once dark hair now carried streaks of silver. Faint draconic marks ran along his skin, glowing faintly in the shadows. And behind him, folded like shadows, were the outlines of wings.
The voice returned. Calm. Cold. Absolute.
> [Congratulations, Host.]
[You have been reborn as the Last Dragon Lord.]
[New Quest Unlocked: Rebuild Your Throne.]
Kael's hands trembled, not from fear, but from the overwhelming flood of power inside him.
He remembered
The battlefield. The clash of swords. His loyal knights falling one by one.
And Darion.
Darion, his most trusted general, the man who had sworn to fight beside him until death. Darion, standing at the edge of the field, smiling coldly as enemy soldiers poured through the gates Kael thought were secure.
"You…" Kael's breath hitched in fury as the memory cut deep. He saw again the spear driven through his chest by Darion's own hand. He remembered collapsing to the ground, his vision fading as the traitor whispered in his ear:
> "Your time is over. The Dragon Lord dies tonight."
Kael clenched his fists. His voice shook with rage and promise.
"No, Darion. My time begins again. I will see your blood on the ground. I will make the world bow once more."
A screen appeared before him, glowing faintly.
[Status Window]
Name: Kael Draven
Title: Last Dragon Lord
Level: 1
Strength: 45
Endurance: 42
Agility: 38
Vitality: 50
Mana: 60
Skills:
Draconic Body (Active)
Dragon's Roar (Locked)
Flame Breath (Locked)
Quest: Rebuild Your Throne
Gather Allies
Awaken the Dragon Bloodline
Defeat the traitors
Kael stared at the numbers. Each line pulsed with hidden power. When he focused on his hand, a spark of flame curled across his palm, alive and eager.
"This… is my second chance."
The cavern around him glowed faintly. Crystals embedded in the walls pulsed as if answering his presence. The air was thick with old magic, heavy and watchful.
At the far end stood a stone arch covered in glowing runes. A faint barrier of light blocked the passage. Kael stepped toward it and touched the shield.
> [Access Denied. Requirement: Level 10.]
He exhaled slowly. This sanctuary was not meant for escape. It was a trial.
Another message flashed before him.
> [Tutorial Quest: Prove Your Rebirth]
Objective: Defeat the Guardian of the Cavern.
Reward: Unlock Dragon's Roar.
The ground shook.
From the shadows emerged two burning eyes. A beast made of stone and molten cracks stepped forward. Its body was shaped like a wolf, but far larger, its claws glowing with heat. Lava dripped from its teeth as it growled.
The Guardian had awakened.
Kael braced himself. His instincts screamed danger, but his blood boiled with fire. For the first time since his death, he felt alive.
The beast lunged. Its claws cut through the air with deadly speed. Kael moved—faster than he thought possible. His body bent and twisted like flame. The strike missed, shattering stone where he had stood.
Kael countered with a punch wrapped in fire. Sparks exploded as his fist slammed into the guardian's body. The beast staggered but did not fall. Its molten core pulsed brighter, enraged.
The guardian snapped its jaws. Teeth like hot iron grazed his arm, burning his skin. Kael hissed but did not retreat. His blood surged, his heart beating with draconic rhythm.
Again and again, they clashed. Stone claws against burning fists. The cavern thundered with every strike.
At one point, the guardian pinned him, claws pressing toward his throat. The heat scorched his skin.
Kael's eyes blazed silver. Deep inside, a voice whispered: Roar.
He opened his mouth. What came out was not human. It was a roar that shook the cavern walls, a roar filled with rage and ancient power. Flame erupted with the sound, engulfing the guardian in searing fire.
The beast howled. Cracks split its stone body. Its molten lines burned too bright—until, with a thunderous shatter, the guardian broke apart into rubble.
Smoke filled the cavern. Kael stood in the center, chest heaving, fire curling from his lips.
A chime echoed.
> [Quest Complete.]
Reward: Dragon's Roar — Unlocked.
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow. His body ached, but the pain was nothing compared to the strength flowing through him now. He could feel the new skill like a fresh weapon waiting inside his soul.
He looked up at the glowing crystals. His voice was calm, but his words cut like steel.
"Darion. You killed me once. But I am reborn. I will gather allies, reclaim my throne, and hunt you down. Even if the heavens stand aga
inst me, I will rise again."
The crystals pulsed in answer, as if the cavern itself bowed to his vow.
And so, the Last Dragon Lord's second life began.