The moment Octavia finished speaking—The ground beneath Carl shifted.Not physically—But something in the air changed.Heavier.Sharper.Like the entire Ember Vault had turned its attention toward him.Carl didn’t move.His eyes locked onto Octavia.“Last chance,” he said coldly. “Where is she?”Octavia smiled, almost amused.“You crossed dimensions for her,” she said. “How romantic.”Carl’s flames flickered higher.“I’m not here for your commentary.”Octavia sighed softly.“Such a shame,” she murmured. “I was hoping you’d be a little more… interesting.”Then—She raised her hand.And the shadows behind her moved.One.Two.Ten—No.Dozens.Figures emerged from the darkness.Dragon Vessels.But different.Their eyes glowed faintly.Their movements—Too synchronized.Too controlled.Carl’s gaze sharpened.“…You’ve been busy.”Octavia clasped her hands behind her back.“I improve things,” she said simply. “Unlike Seraphine, I prefer refinement over chaos.”Carl didn’t respond.He step

The air trembled.Not from the Ember Vault—But from Carl.Flames coiled around him, tighter, denser, no longer wild but obedient—like they finally recognized their master.Octavia watched him carefully this time.No smile.No amusement.“…So it begins,” she murmured.Carl didn’t answer.He shifted Sophia slightly in his arms, holding her closer—protective, steady.“I said fix her.”Octavia exhaled softly.“You’re in no position to make demands,” she replied.Carl’s eyes darkened.“Then I’ll take what I want.”And he moved.Fast.Even while carrying Sophia.A blur—Closing the distance instantly.Octavia reacted—But this time—She wasn’t fast enough.Carl’s hand shot forward—Grabbing her by the throat.Lifting her slightly off the ground.The flames around him flared—But didn’t burn her.Not yet.Octavia’s eyes widened—Just for a second.“…Impressive,” she whispered.Carl tightened his grip.“Fix. Her.”The pressure in the room skyrocketed.The Vault itself began to crack—Respond

Carl pushed the door open without knocking.“Master.”Master Aiden was already seated upright, as if he had been waiting.Gone was the frail man from before.Now—There was weight in his presence.Power.Ancient.His eyes immediately fell on Sophia in Carl’s arms.“…So it finally happened,” Aiden murmured.Carl stepped closer and gently laid Sophia on the bed.“She’s stabilizing,” Carl said, voice tight. “But something’s wrong. Fix her.”Aiden didn’t respond right away.Instead—He reached out and placed two fingers on Sophia’s wrist.Silence filled the room.Even the air seemed to pause.Then—Aiden’s expression darkened.“…Dragon Blood resonance,” he said quietly.Carl frowned. “What does that mean?”Before Aiden could answer—A voice cut in.“She’s becoming a vessel.”Carl’s head snapped toward the door.Octavia stood there, leaning casually against the frame.Ana stiffened immediately.“…Who is she?” Ana whispered.Carl didn’t answer.His eyes were locked on Octavia.“You followed

Carl gritted his teeth as he concentrated, every fiber of his being focused on Sophia. The dragon blood inside him flared violently, coiling like molten fire through his veins, and he could feel it responding to her faint pulse. Her body was fragile, but his power, raw and untamed, could stabilize her—if he controlled it perfectly.“Carl… be careful!” Master Aiden’s voice cut through the roar in his mind. “If you push too hard, you’ll destroy her instead of saving her!”“I know!” Carl shouted back, though his voice trembled. Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn’t flinch. Every ounce of anger, grief, and desperation boiled inside him. He had failed to protect her once, but he would not fail again.Sophia’s chest rose and fell unevenly. Her lips quivered, and her hand twitched weakly. Carl focused on her heartbeat, letting his dragon flame wrap around her like a living shield, merging with the dragon blood coursing through her. Slowly, her pulse began to strengthen.Ana clutched her

The chamber descended into chaos.Bodies lunged from every direction—twisted, unstable, barely human. Their movements were erratic, but fast. Too fast for ordinary men.But Carl—Was no longer ordinary.Flames erupted from his arms, coiling like living serpents. Not wild. Not reckless.Controlled.Deadly.The first wave rushed him.Carl stepped forward instead of back.BOOM.His fist connected with the nearest vessel, sending it crashing through two others. Before they could even hit the ground, a burst of dragon flame consumed them—clean, precise, leaving nothing behind.More came.From the sides.From above.Carl twisted, his body moving on instinct. A kick. A strike. A flare of fire.Each movement—Efficient.Calculated.Ruthless.And yet—They kept coming.Endless.Carl’s breathing grew heavier, but his eyes burned brighter.“Is this all you’ve got?” he muttered.From the distance, Seraphine smiled wider.“Not even close.”She tapped something on her wrist.Suddenly—The remaining