The Shadow Council led them through terrain that made no geographic sense. James noticed it first—they'd walk for ten minutes and cover what should have been miles. Space itself bent around the Council members."Spatial manipulation," Mei whispered. "Father mentioned it in theory lessons. He said only Dragon Sovereign cultivators could manage it.""Shadow Council isn't human," James replied quietly. "Not anymore. They've sacrificed their humanity for power."The lead Council member glanced back. "We can hear you. And you're partially correct. We sacrificed nothing. We evolved."They emerged from the spatial fold into a fortress carved from black stone. No gates. No visible entrance. The walls simply parted as they approached, then sealed behind them.Inside, the fortress was massive. Thousands of soldiers trained in courtyards. Dragon Soul cultivators sparred on elevated platforms. And everywhere, chains. Hanging from walls, embedded in floors, wrapped around pillars."Artistic choice

They reached Dragon Nation's borders in three days by pushing the horses past exhaustion. James felt it before he saw it—his homeland's energy signature corrupted, twisted by foreign power.Mei sensed it too. "Something's wrong with the land itself.""Vivian's doing," Samuel said grimly. "She's not just invading. She's claiming Dragon Nation's spiritual foundation."James understood what that meant. Every nation had a core, a wellspring of natural energy that fed its cultivators. If Vivian seized Dragon Nation's core, she'd control every ounce of power within its borders.Including Emily's unstable ascension.They crested the final hill and saw the capital. Surrounded by an army fifty thousand strong. Vivian's banners flew from every siege tower. The city walls were holding but barely."We can't fight that many," Liu said flatly."We don't have to." James pointed to the palace at the capital's center. "Emily's there. We get to her, stabilize her power, then use that power to break the