The earth still quaked from the aftermath.
Ashes drifted through the capital's skies as black smoke curled toward the heavens, painting an ominous mural of devastation. What once stood as proud buildings now lay in ruin—flattened, scorched, shattered.
Edward Phoenix stood at the top of the ruined citadel tower, his cloak torn, his expression grim. Behind him, Marshal Serena and Evelyn Phoenix approached, their eyes fixed on the heart of the wreckage.
"Edward!" Evelyn's voice was sharp with urgency. "Why did you send both Marshals to the borders? Shouldn't we be rallying our strongest mages here? We need reinforcements—not border defense!"
Edward didn't turn. His voice was calm, cold.
"You really think a dragon appearing in the center of our capital… was a coincidence?"
His words struck the air like a sword.
Evelyn frowned. "You mean…?"
"There's no way it could've flown in undetected. Not past our magical surveillance, not through the border wards." Edward's eyes narrowed. "No… It came from beneath. From the underground tunnels built during the dark mage wars. Tunnels even we've long forgotten."
Serena tensed. "Then… someone from the inside?"
Edward nodded. "Only the Brook royal family could've orchestrated this. They're the last ones who know those tunnels' locations. This is their doing."
Evelyn scoffed. "Those cowards…"
"But how?" she continued. "Dragons were wiped out in the Great War. There shouldn't be a single one left alive. Even dragon eggs were incinerated centuries ago!"
Edward turned, his face shadowed by memories.
"I once heard from Father… the Brook royals had a twisted fascination with chimeras. They funded his research. They… helped him." His voice dropped. "They wanted to create a dragon."
Serena's eyes widened. "Create… a dragon?"
"They must've succeeded."
A heavy silence hung over them like a curse.
"But they're fools," Edward said, his tone bitter. "Dragons are not beasts to be tamed. From the moment they hatch, they obey no one. Not even their own kin. A dragon's nature is conquest. When they mature, they kill their parents and siblings to prove dominance—some even burn their own nests."
He clenched his fist.
"They've created a calamity."
A low rumble rolled across the ruined capital, followed by a deafening BOOM—a torrent of blue lightning shot across the skies, scorching the clouds and raining destruction upon the city. Buildings collapsed. People screamed. A cathedral's spire shattered into dust.
Evelyn spun around. "There! It's attacking again!"
They saw it.
The dragon.
It hovered like a demon of ancient legend—wings vast enough to blot out the sun, blue scales shimmering like cursed sapphires, electricity sparking across its monstrous frame. Its maw opened, revealing a void of crackling power.
"MOVE!" Edward shouted.
The next second, bolts of divine lightning erupted from the dragon's mouth, splitting the heavens.
Serena and Evelyn dashed, barely escaping as the attack slammed into the capital's core. A massive explosion followed. The shockwave sent rubble flying, glass exploding, towers crumbling.
Half the capital was gone.
Edward coughed blood from the force of impact, but he didn't falter.
"This… can't continue," he muttered. "If this battle reaches the palace… Reyon will die."
He raised his hand.
"Sun's Embiance."
A blazing golden circle formed behind Edward. The air around him distorted. The heat was so intense that the sand below began to turn into glass. Flames curled around his arms as if the sun itself answered his call.
The dragon screeched, blue lightning colliding with radiant sunlight.
The air cracked.
The dragon snarled as the temperature around it rose beyond tolerance. Its scales hissed and began to glow—molten gold seeping between the gaps.
Edward pressed forward, forcing the heat higher and higher.
But—
In a single breath, the dragon surged. Electricity coiled across its body, forming a shield of lightning that dissipated the heat.
It roared and flew skyward, then dove again—its eyes locked on Edward.
"Come on…" Edward turned, beginning to run. "Come after me!"
He flew into the air, racing away from the city—toward the buried remnants of Sky Mountain.
Behind him, the dragon gave chase.
From the palace rooftop, Evelyn watched.
"He's… luring it away."
Serena cast several rapid spells, locking down the royal chambers with protective barriers and reinforcement sigils. Golden veins of mana surged through the palace stone, surrounding Reyon's chamber like a fortress.
"I'll stay and guard Reyon," Serena said. "You go."
Evelyn hesitated, then nodded.
"We need to make sure Elise doesn't take advantage of this chaos."
"I know." Serena turned. "But are we really letting Edward face that monster alone?"
Evelyn bit her lip. "He… he won't let us help."
Just then, Edward's voice echoed from their communicators, his tone calm but commanding.
"Don't follow me."
Serena replied immediately. "Edward, don't be ridiculous! You can't—"
"I noticed something while fighting it," Edward interrupted. "It hasn't used its breath attack it's full power yet. Not once."
"What…?" Evelyn whispered. "You mean… it's only using partial strength?"
"Exactly. That last attack?" Edward's voice was grave. "Only ten percent of its power. If it uses its breath… you both would turn to ash before you could cast a shield."
"Then how do you plan to survive?" Serena demanded.
There was a pause.
Then Edward's voice came, steady. Determined.
"I'm going to break through."
Their eyes widened.
"I'm right on the verge. When we fought Wyvern, I almost reached it… but I couldn't break the wall. But now?" A pause. "Now… thanks to Reyon, I understand what I was missing."
"You mean…"
"I'm going to reach the 9th Circle."
Evelyn gasped. "Are you… certain?"
Edward laughed softly, the sound crackling through static.
"Yeah. Reyon… made me believe again. I have something to protect. I feel it—I'm standing at the peak. All I need is this battle."
"…Edward," Serena whispered. "Don't die."
"I won't. And if I do…" his voice softened, "tell Reyon I was proud of him."
The communication cut.
Evelyn and Serena stood frozen for a moment.
"…I'll head to the borders," Evelyn finally said. Her voice shook. "We can't let Elise take advantage."
"And I'll guard Reyon."
The two nodded at each other before parting ways.
Above the Sky Mountains, thunder boomed.
The dragon roared.
And Edward Phoenix, the Emperor, soared toward his battle.