The massive mouth made of black iron teeth snapped shut over the broken marble floor. In a single horrifying second, Elias Thorne, Julian, and the dark twin vanished down the dark gap. The heavy roar of the iron beast echoed from the deep pit, leaving behind a cold silence that hung heavy over the floating plaza.Luca stood on his leather boots at the very edge of the fresh rift. His broad chest rose and fell fast as he stared down into the pitch black abyss. Cold wind rushed up from the deep pit, carrying the sharp smell of old rust and rotten iron. Sweet Amelia stepped up beside him, her small hand wrapping tight around his bare arm. Her brown eyes were wide with deep shock, but her gentle face held no sign of turning back.Luca looked down at her sweet face, seeing the same quiet courage that had carried them through every long war. He told her in a firm voice that they would not leave their loyal brother and general behind in the dark. Elias had stood beside him through every batt

The giant hand made of solid red ruby squeezed the waist of Luca with crushing power. The cold, slick surface of the red stone glowed with bad magic, sending sharp tingles through his leather clothes. Down in the deep chasm, a crimson light flared bright, blinding the team on the split staircase. Sweet Amelia cried out his name, her hand reaching through the red glare, but the ruby fingers yanked the young king straight down into the glowing dark rift.The heavy stone steps slammed back together with a deafening crash, sealing the rift shut. Luca felt himself falling through a hot, red mist that smelled of sharp iron and ancient copper. He did not lose his self control or panic in the dark fall. He called upon the sovereign dragon fire sleeping deep inside his human spirit, making the golden crown appear above his dark hair. The hot sun heat flared around his waist, forcing the ruby fingers to loosen their tight grip just enough for him to flex his broad shoulders.Luca swung his burn

The thick purple blood dripped from the broken shell onto the smooth marble floor. The sweet body of Amelia floated ten feet above the pool, wrapped in a cold purple aura. Her soft brown eyes were gone, replaced by two glowing silver spheres that held no human warmth. The glowing purple seal on her chest burned bright through her simple dress, sending sharp dark lines spreading across her pale neck.Luca stood frozen on his leather boots, his broad chest heaving as his heart pounded with fierce panic. His bare right hand held his steel blade tight, but the golden fire along the metal edge died out completely. He could not raise his weapon against the woman who held his whole soul in her small hands. Elias Thorne planted his heavy boots firm on the stone, his broad face twisting into deep worry as he looked at the floating girl. Julian and the dark twin stepped back two paces, holding their hands wide in pure helplessness.The cold voice came straight from the lips of Amelia, sounding

The golden dragon flapped its six broad wings, sending warm gusts of wind sweeping through the deep stone cavern. The ancient beast hovered above the cracked floor, its gold scales reflecting the soft light from its own body. Up on its broad back, the sun ancestor stood tall in his star crown, holding his glowing golden staff with a cold, firm grip. His eyes held no human warmth as he looked down at Luca.Below the dragon, the void emperor growled in frustration, his melted broadsword dripping liquid metal onto the stone floor. Yet the attention of the sun king was fixed solely on the young ruler standing near the canyon edge. He declared in an echoing voice that two sovereign crowns could not share the same sky. The lower bloodline was a weak remnant that had served its purpose, and it was time for the original sovereign to reclaim the world.Luca stood firm on his leather boots, keeping sweet Amelia safe behind his broad back. Elias Thorne gripped his heavy blacksmith hammer with tw

The loud crash of falling stone echoed across the green valley. Dust rose high into the bright morning air as the white palace towers collapsed into gray rubble. High above the ruined walls, the massive hand made of solid black iron held Elias Thorne, Julian, the dark twin, and sweet Amelia tight in its broad grip. The cold void magic flowing through the dark metal squeezed their frames, cutting off their breath as the open sky tear expanded across the blue dome.Luca stood on his leather boots in the middle of the meadow path. His broad chest heaved as his brown eyes fixed on the massive iron hand hovering above the trees. The sweet cry of Amelia reached his ears through the rushing wind, cutting straight to his human heart. He did not let the terror freeze his blood or slow his feet. He knew that this was no simple dream, written story, or sky illusion. This was the raw, ancient threat that had lurked behind every war they had ever fought.He called upon every drop of sovereign drag