The crimson sky split open with a roar.Lin Chen, Su Xiao, and Uncle Wei froze as the ground beneath their feet cracked—black smoke seeped from the fissures, carrying the stench of burnt scales and old blood. Above them, the clouds churned into a spiral, and a massive shadow descended: wings spanning the width of the forest, scales like obsidian glinting with red veins, eyes glowing like molten lava.The dragon had awoken.But it was not the mindless monster Lin Chen feared. Its wings trembled as it landed, each step shaking the earth, yet its head dipped slightly— as if in pain. When it opened its mouth, no fire came forth, only a low, mournful growl that made the trees wilt."Look at its scales," Su Xiao whispered, grabbing Lin Chen's arm. "They're cracked. The taint— it's eating away at it."Lin Chen's dragon armor hummed, the helmet pressing tighter against his skull. A flood of images burst into his mind: a sunlit valley, a man in golden armor (the first guardian) standing beside the dragon, their hands clasped in a pact; then fire— 暗影教派 (Shadow Sect) members in black robes, stabbing the dragon with a dagger made of dark stone; the dragon's roar of betrayal, its scales turning black as it fled into the mountains."Memories," Lin Chen gasped. "The armor's sharing the dragon's memories. The Sect didn't just wake it— they poisoned it. Fifty years ago, when the seal leaked… that was the Sect's doing. They wanted the dragon to lash out, to make everyone fear it."The dragon's head snapped toward him. Its lava eyes locked onto Lin Chen's armor, and for a heartbeat, Lin Chen saw clarity in them— recognition. Then the old village woman's body crashed to the ground at the dragon's feet, her chest crushed, the missing shoulder plate (the armor's core) clutched in her hand.A figure stepped from behind the dragon— tall, wearing a black robe embroidered with a silver skull, his face hidden by a hood. The Shadow Sect's leader."Foolish old woman," he sneered, kicking her body aside. He held up a dark stone dagger— the same one from the dragon's memories. "She thought vengeance would save her. But she was just a pawn. The core's what I need— and now, it's mine."He lunged for the shoulder plate, but the dragon swiped at him with a claw. The leader dodged, laughing. "Still protective of your little trinket? Don't worry— I'll put it to good use. Once I drive this dagger into the core, the taint will consume you. You'll become my weapon— and burn every village, every guardian, every healer in these mountains."The dragon roared, this time full of rage. Black smoke poured from its mouth, and the ground cracked wider— 瘴气 (miasma) pooled around its feet, twisting into the shapes of shadowy hands that reached for Lin Chen and Su Xiao."Su Xiao, heal the dragon's wounds!" Uncle Wei yelled, drawing his bronze key. He charged at the remaining Sect members, who'd emerged from the forest, their claws glinting. "Lin Chen, stop the leader— don't let him touch the core!"Su Xiao nodded, rummaging in her backpack for the last of her moonwort. She crushed the flowers into a paste, then ran toward the dragon's nearest cracked scale— but a shadow hand wrapped around her ankle, yanking her to the ground.Lin Chen saw her fall. Rage surged in him, and the dragon armor's golden veins flared. He launched himself into the air— the armor's wings (he hadn't noticed them before, folded against his back) unfurled, carrying him toward Su Xiao. He sliced through the shadow hand with his dagger, and the miasma hissed as it dissolved."Go," he said, helping her up. "I'll handle the leader."Su Xiao nodded, smearing the moonwort paste onto the dragon's scale. The dragon shuddered, and the red in its eyes faded for a second— a silent thank-you. Then she ran to tend to another wound, her hands glowing with soft silver light.Lin Chen turned to the leader, who'd grabbed the shoulder plate and was holding the dark dagger above it. The dragon's roar shook the air, but the leader only laughed. "Your father couldn't stop me. Your grandmother couldn't stop me. What makes you think—"Lin Chen's armor slammed into him. They crashed to the ground, the shoulder plate skittering away. The leader swung the dagger at Lin Chen's throat, but Lin Chen caught his wrist— the armor's scales burned the leader's skin, and he screamed."The pact," Lin Chen said, his voice steady. "The first guardian and the dragon promised to protect each other. You broke it. You poisoned the dragon. You killed my parents. Now it ends."He slammed his bronze key into the leader's chest. Golden light burst from the key, searing the leader's robes. The leader howled, his body dissolving into black smoke— but not before he yelled, "The Sect will return! The taint will never be gone! You'll all burn!"The smoke dissipated. Lin Chen stood, gasping, and grabbed the shoulder plate. The dragon's eyes were on him now— no longer full of rage, but of caution. Lin Chen held up the core, then walked toward the dragon."Your armor," he said, his voice soft. "I want to give it back. But first— let us help you. The taint can be cured. We can rebuild the pact."The dragon hesitated. Then it lowered its head, pressing its cracked scale against the shoulder plate. Lin Chen placed the core onto the dragon's back— where the armor had once been. The core glowed, merging with the dragon's scales, and a wave of golden light washed over the forest.The cracks in the dragon's scales began to heal. The red in its eyes faded to a warm amber. The 瘴气 seeped back into the ground, and the crimson sky cleared— revealing a full moon, silver and bright.Su Xiao and Uncle Wei walked over, their faces awe-struck. The dragon looked at them, then at Lin Chen, and let out a soft huff— not a roar, but a sound like wind through ancient trees."It understands," Su Xiao said, smiling through tears. "It's not angry anymore."Lin Chen's armor hummed, then began to fade— the scales peeling away from his body, merging with the dragon's own. The helmet lifted, and Lin Chen breathed in deeply, the weight of guardianship still heavy but lighter now— because he wasn't carrying it alone."The pact," Uncle Wei said, his voice thick with emotion. "Your father would be so proud. He spent his whole life trying to fix what the Sect broke… and you did it."The dragon spread its wings, but didn't fly away. It nuzzled Lin Chen's shoulder— a gentle touch, despite its size— then turned toward the mountains, as if gesturing for them to follow."What's it doing?" Su Xiao asked.Lin Chen closed his eyes, and for a second, he heard the dragon's voice in his mind— soft, ancient, full of sorrow. "The Sect left something in the mountains. A well of taint. If it's not sealed, more will suffer. I will show you… if you trust me."Lin Chen opened his eyes, smiling. "It wants to help. To finish what the first guardian started."Su Xiao nodded, tucking her grandmother's journal into her backpack— now filled with new notes about the dragon, the pact, and the taint. Uncle Wei adjusted his key, his strength returning.They followed the dragon into the mountains, the moon lighting their path. The forest around them came alive again— crickets chirped, owls hooted, and the air smelled of pine and fresh earth.But Lin Chen knew this wasn't the end. The Shadow Sect's leader had been defeated, but their followers were still out there. The taint's well needed to be sealed, and the Healer's Clan still needed to face the truth of their past.But for now, they walked together— guardian, healer, elder, and dragon. Bound by a pact older than time, and a hope for a future where darkness didn't have to win.Lin Chen looked up at the dragon's wings, silhouetted against the moon. He thought of his parents, of their sacrifice, of the smile they'd had in that old photo from Suolong Village.They would have been proud.He gripped his bronze key, its light faint but steady— a reminder of who he was, and what he'd chosen to protect.The adventure continued.And this time, they walked with a dragon at their side.