Chapter 10: The Shadow Dragon

The Shadow Dragon's roar thundered through the underground sanctuary, shaking the ancient walls until fragments of stone rained from the ceiling.

Its massive wings unfolded completely, stirring powerful gusts that knocked soldiers off their feet. The once-sacred sanctuary became a battlefield of panic and confusion.

Dark flames flickered between the beast's razor-sharp teeth as its molten-gold eyes surveyed everyone below.

Friend and enemy.

Royal Guard and Shadow Hunter.

Human and Celestial.

To the dragon, they were all trespassers.

"Run!" Kael shouted.

His voice snapped everyone out of their shock.

Commander Rylan immediately took charge.

"Fall back!"

The remaining loyal guards quickly formed a protective line in front of Liana while helping the wounded retreat toward the staircase.

General Varis, however, had no intention of retreating.

His eyes remained fixed on Liana.

"If I leave without the Guardian, Lord Malachar will execute me."

One of his soldiers stepped beside him.

"My General, we can't fight that monster."

"We don't need to."

Varis smiled coldly.

"We only need to create a distraction."

He raised his sword.

"Half of you engage the dragon."

"The rest capture the girl."

Several soldiers hesitated.

"My Lord..."

"The dragon will kill us."

"That is an order!"

Reluctantly, they obeyed.

Kael's eyes narrowed.

"He's sacrificing his own men."

Commander Rylan's face darkened.

"He always has."

The Shadow Dragon suddenly lowered its enormous head.

Smoke curled from its nostrils as it inhaled deeply.

Kael recognized the warning immediately.

"Take cover!"

A torrent of black fire erupted from the dragon's mouth.

The flames swept across the sanctuary like a tidal wave.

Crystal pillars shattered instantly.

Stone melted beneath the unbearable heat.

Several of Varis's soldiers were thrown across the chamber before they could even raise their shields.

The survivors screamed as they scattered.

Liana covered her face.

The heat was overwhelming.

Kael stepped in front of her and thrust his sword toward the approaching flames.

A brilliant blue barrier appeared just in time.

The fire crashed against it with tremendous force.

Kael gritted his teeth.

His arms trembled.

The barrier held...

But barely.

When the flames finally subsided, he dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.

Liana knelt beside him.

"Kael!"

"I'm alright."

"You don't look alright."

He forced a faint smile.

"I've survived worse."

She wasn't convinced.

His face had become noticeably pale.

The earlier wound from General Varis had reopened.

Blood slowly soaked through his royal coat.

Before Liana could speak again, the Celestial Heart floating beside her pulsed with warm golden light.

The light spread toward Kael's injured shoulder.

Within seconds, the bleeding stopped.

The torn flesh slowly began to heal.

Kael stared in amazement.

"It healed me..."

Liana looked at the glowing crystal.

"I didn't do anything."

Commander Rylan smiled.

"The Heart is protecting those it recognizes."

General Varis watched the scene with growing frustration.

"The Guardian..."

"The Heart..."

"If Malachar possesses both..."

His eyes gleamed with ambition.

"He'll become unstoppable."

Ignoring the dragon entirely, Varis rushed toward Liana.

Kael reacted instantly.

Their swords collided once more.

The impact echoed throughout the sanctuary.

Varis swung again and again with ruthless precision.

Unlike Kael, he had no concern for mercy.

Every strike was meant to kill.

"You've become weak, Prince."

Kael blocked another attack.

"I've become wiser."

"Wisdom doesn't win wars."

"No."

Kael pushed Varis backward.

"But justice does."

Varis laughed.

"Justice?"

"Your father believed in justice."

"And look where it left him."

Rage flashed across Kael's face.

Without warning, he launched forward with incredible speed.

For the first time since the battle began, he fought seriously.

His sword became a blur of blue light.

Varis struggled to keep up.

Three rapid strikes forced the general backward.

A fourth shattered his enchanted blade.

The weapon flew from his hands and skidded across the stone floor.

Commander Rylan smiled proudly.

"That's the prince I trained."

Before Kael could finish the fight, the Shadow Dragon roared again.

Its enormous tail swept across the sanctuary.

The impact destroyed several crystal pillars.

The ceiling cracked.

Dust poured down in thick clouds.

Commander Rylan looked upward.

"The sanctuary is collapsing!"

More cracks spread across the ceiling.

Massive rocks crashed onto the battlefield.

The dragon had remained imprisoned beneath the sanctuary for centuries.

Now its awakening threatened to destroy everything.

Liana looked at the Celestial Heart.

The crystal was glowing brighter than ever.

It almost seemed...

Afraid.

Then the familiar gentle voice echoed inside her mind.

"Guardian..."

She closed her eyes.

"What should I do?"

"The prison is breaking."

"The dragon is not your enemy."

Liana frowned.

"What?"

"It protects the Heart."

"It only attacks because the seal has been broken."

Her eyes flew open.

"Kael!"

He turned toward her while blocking another falling stone.

"What is it?"

"The dragon isn't evil!"

Commander Rylan stared at her.

"What do you mean?"

"It's protecting the sanctuary!"

"The broken seal is driving it into a frenzy."

Kael looked toward the beast.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

The dragon hadn't deliberately targeted anyone.

It had attacked everything equally.

It wasn't hunting.

It was defending.

"If we restore the seal..."

"The dragon will calm down," Liana finished.

Commander Rylan pointed toward the shattered pedestal.

"But the seal has already been destroyed."

The Celestial Heart floated gently into Liana's hands once again.

Warm light surrounded her.

"The Heart knows what to do."

General Varis suddenly laughed.

"You expect me to believe a human girl can control an ancient relic?"

He reached inside his cloak.

This time, he drew a silver whistle engraved with dark runes.

Commander Rylan's expression changed instantly.

"No..."

"Don't use it!"

Varis smiled.

"I wasn't planning to."

He blew the whistle.

No sound came from it.

For a moment, nothing happened.

Then...

The Shadow Dragon suddenly stopped moving.

Its glowing eyes turned blood red.

Dark mist wrapped itself around its enormous body.

Kael's heart sank.

"The whistle..."

Commander Rylan nodded grimly.

"It's a Mind Chain."

"A forbidden artifact."

Varis's smile widened.

"The dragon belongs to the Regent now."

The beast slowly lowered its massive head.

Then it turned.

Not toward the soldiers.

Not toward Kael.

Its burning eyes locked onto Liana.

The Guardian.

With a deafening roar, the dragon spread its wings and charged straight toward her.

Kael's eyes widened in horror.

"Liana!"

He sprinted forward with everything he had, knowing he might already be too late.