Sai accepted the offer, and the Dragon Emperor said nothing further. Instead, he unleashed a powerful roar that sent tremors through the air.
He could barely catch his breath as the dragons landed before the emperor. There was no need for words; their mere presence conveyed everything that needed to be said. These were beings of ancient power, their strength unmatched. The dragons did not even spare a glance at Sai. Their attention was entirely focused on the emperor, and their submission was clear as they lowered their heads in perfect synchronization, a gesture of loyalty that sent a wave of awe through.
Despite the dragons' intimidating size, Sai couldn't help but marvel at their magnificence. What kind of world was this, where such creatures existed? He had always heard stories, but nothing could have prepared him for the overwhelming presence of these beings.
He felt a wave of trepidation wash over him. The dragons' indifference to his presence made it clear they saw him as nothing more than a curiosity an insignificant speck in the vastness of their realm. But that was before the emperor spoke.
"Rise," the emperor commanded, his voice like thunder, but calm and controlled. The dragons obeyed without hesitation, their forms shifting before Sai's astonished eyes. It was as if they had shed their very essence, their ancient forms giving way to something entirely new. The first two dragons transformed into middle-aged men, their faces marked by wisdom and experience, their bodies rippling with strength. The third became an elderly woman, regal and commanding, her age not diminishing her presence in the slightest. The final dragon took the form of a woman, whose beauty was so captivating. Her power radiated from her like a visible aura, a mixture of grace and undeniable strength.
For a moment, the air grew still, the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing down on Sai's chest. He could sense the shift in the dragons' expressions, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. But then their gaze shifted back to the emperor, and their thoughts became less about Sai and more about what was being said.
The elderly woman, her sharp gaze cutting through the silence, spoke first. "You claim he comes from the Blackthrone Abyss?" Her voice was filled with disbelief, as though the very idea was unthinkable.
The emperor, his expression unreadable, gave a subtle nod. "There is no doubt. Only that gate could have brought him here."
The dragons fell silent, and Sai felt a cold chill run through him. The mention of the Blackthrone Abyss had clearly rattled them, and he could see the curiosity in their eyes. The Blackthrone Abyss was no mere legend. It was a place spoken of in whispers, a place that even the dragons avoid, for it was tied to ancient forces that could never be fully understood.
One of the middle-aged men, his brow furrowed in deep thought, spoke up. "The Abyss has been silent for centuries. Why now? Why him?"
The beautiful woman, her gaze flickering over to Sai, regarded him with suspicion. "He is here, But for what purpose?"
Sai stood motionless, his thoughts racing. He felt the weight of their gazes upon him, as though they were looking into the very core of his being. For a moment, he wondered if they could sense the strange force that stirred within him, an ancient and restless presence that he himself did not fully understand.
A part of him wanted to scream, to demand answers. But another part, a part that had been awakened by the emperor's words, simply observed. There was something far greater at play here, something that he was only beginning to understand.
The emperor's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Perhaps to guide him," he mused, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his tone. "But let's not pretend that we, as dragons, are known for such things. We hoard our knowledge as we hoard our treasures. And humans… humans are less than a gold coin in our eyes."
His words hung in the air, heavy with the centuries of pride that the dragons had carried with them. Sai couldn't help but feel the sting of their words, but he remained silent. It was clear that he was nothing more than a pawn in their eyes, an insignificant being to be discarded as easily as a discarded trinket.
But then, an unsettling thought crossed the minds of the dragons, one that was too primal to be ignored: It would be easier to kill him.
The very idea struck the air like a lightning bolt, and Sai felt an inexplicable shiver run down his spine. For a brief moment, he felt as though his life was in the hands of the dragons, and that his fate had already been sealed.
But just as quickly as the thought appeared, it vanished. A force—ancient and unfathomable—filled the air, sending a wave of fear through the dragons. It was as though the very fabric of reality itself had rejected the idea of Sai's death. There was something in him, something that could not be easily extinguished. The emperor, who had been watching the exchange with quiet amusement, finally spoke again, his voice calm but laced with an underlying authority.
"You thought of killing him, didn't you?" The words were a statement, not a question. His eyes gleamed with knowledge, and the dragons knew, in that moment, that they could not act against the young man standing before them.
The silence that followed was suffocating, and the dragons remained still, as though acknowledging the invisible force that surrounded Sai. It was not just the emperor's power that kept them at bay, but something far more ancient, something that none of them dared challenge.
Finally, the emperor turned back to Sai, his gaze softening, though still filled with an unfathomable depth. "Teach him what you excel at," he commanded. "Whether he rises or falls will be his burden alone."
The dragons exchanged glances, their reluctance evident. It was clear that they saw no value in this human, this anomaly that had appeared before them. But duty was duty, and the emperor's words were law.
The eldest dragon, her eyes sharp and unforgiving, took a step forward. "Brat," she said, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. "From this day forth, I will train you. Survive if you can."
With those words, she reverted to her true form, her massive body towering over Sai like a living mountain. The wind howled as she lifted him effortlessly into the air, her claws wrapping around him with ease. For a brief moment, Sai's instincts screamed at him to struggle, but before he could act, a voice filled his mind.
Relax, Sai. You are safe.
It was the Dragon Emperor's voice, resonating with that left no room for doubt. Sai exhaled, trying to calm his racing heart. Despite the immense power that surrounded him, he felt a strange sense of peace settle within him. It was as if, for the first time in his life, he had been swept into something far greater than himself, something that he could not yet comprehend.
As the dragon soared higher, the wind roaring past them, Sai felt the stirring within him once again. It was not fear, but something else a presence, ancient and familiar, watching him from the depths of his soul. What was this force that pulsed within him? He had no answers, only the feeling that a beginning had been set in motion.
And so, with the wind in his face and the weight of the dragons' presence around him, Sai's journey truly began.