DRAGON EMPEROR

CHAPTER 6 The Truth Buried Beneath the Kingdom

The abyss demons attacked the moment the Dragon God finished speaking. Black spears tore through the rain toward Varethion’s exposed head while dark mages unleashed corrupted spells from the ruined battlements above. The battlefield erupted back into chaos instantly, as though the brief revelation about betrayal had shattered whatever fragile restraint existed between the ancient powers gathered beneath Blackthorn Fortress.

Varethion’s golden eyes narrowed. The Dragon God did not dodge. One enormous claw rose from the crater beneath the fortress and swept across the battlefield with terrifying force. The resulting shockwave obliterated incoming spells instantly while several demons were crushed beneath falling debris.

The mountain itself groaned beneath the creature’s movement. Ancient divine chains tightened around Varethion’s body, glowing with blinding silver light as sacred runes flared across every restraint embedded into the Dragon God’s scales.

For the first time, pain crossed the creature’s ancient face. The chains were not ordinary restraints. They were alive. Henry felt it immediately through the Dragon Heart. Every rune wrapped around Varethion carried ancient holy power designed specifically to suppress dragonkind. The moment the chains activated, a sharp burning sensation spread across Henry’s own chest.

He staggered backwards. Sir Gareth caught him before he fell.“What’s wrong?”Henry clenched his teeth as silver flames flickered beneath his skin.“The chains…” he whispered painfully. “I can feel them.”

The older knight stared at him with growing concern. Meanwhile, the Lich King raised Soulrender toward the sky. Blue fire exploded around the undead monarch as hundreds of fallen corpses across the battlefield rose simultaneously.“Protect the seal,” the Lich King commanded coldly.

The undead army obeyed instantly. Skeleton knights armed with rusted blades surged toward the abyss demons while dark magic collided violently against crimson dragonfire across the ruined fortress grounds. Henry could barely process the insanity unfolding around him anymore. Minutes ago, the Lich King had been the greatest threat on the battlefield.

Now he was fighting against the abyss. Nothing made sense. Kael Durham looked equally shaken.“That thing is helping us now?” the noble apprentice demanded.No,” Sir Gareth answered grimly. “He’s protecting something.”

Henry looked toward the undead monarch again. The Lich King’s hollow eyes remained fixed on the widening abyss portals overhead. There was no triumph in his expression. No hunger for conquest.Only hatred.Deep, ancient hatred.

Varethion’s massive head slowly turned toward Henry again despite the ongoing battle around them.“You wish to know why the world betrayed us,” the Dragon God said.

The words vibrated through the storm itself. Henry hesitated. Part of him desperately wanted answers. Another part feared hearing them. The Dragon Heart pulsed harder beneath his chest now, almost reacting emotionally to the Dragon God’s presence. Every instinct inside Henry urged him closer to Varethion. Closer to power.Closer to the truth.Closer to something dangerous.

The ancient dragon studied him carefully.“You already feel it, don’t you?” Varethion asked quietly. “The memories awakening inside your blood.”Henry swallowed hard. He remembered the visions. Burning kingdoms.Dragon riders.A throne surrounded by ash and corpses.And worst of all…The feeling that part of him belonged there.“Yes,” Henry admitted softly.

Varethion’s gaze darkened.“The Dragon Emperors were not born to rule kingdoms,” the Dragon God revealed. “They were created to wage war against the abyss itself.”

A nearby explosion was briefly interrupted as undead soldiers collided with advancing demons. Crimson and black flames illuminated the battlefield while terrified knights struggled merely to survive the clash between ancient powers.

Yet Henry barely noticed any of it now. Created?“What does that mean?” he asked.

The Dragon God lowered its enormous head slightly.“Long before your kingdoms existed, the abyss nearly consumed this world. Entire civilisations vanished beneath demon conquest. Humanity stood on the edge of extinction.”

Varethion’s golden eyes flickered toward the Lich King.“So we chose champions.”The undead monarch remained silent.“Dragon blood was fused with human souls,” Varethion continued. “Those chosen warriors became the first Dragon Knights. They wielded dragonfire, commanded ancient beasts, and fought beside us against the abyss.”

Henry’s breathing slowed. Something about those words felt painfully familiar. Not learned.Remembered.The Dragon Heart inside him pulsed again. Images flashed briefly through his mind. Armoured riders soaring through storms atop massive dragons. Golden banners burning against black skies. Demons screaming beneath dragonfire. Henry grabbed his head sharply. The memories were becoming clearer. Sir Gareth noticed immediately.“Henry?”

“I can see them,” Henry whispered. “The wars…”Varethion watched him carefully.“The blood remembers.”

Another violent tremor shook the fortress. One of the abyss portals widened further, allowing something massive to begin emerging from the darkness beyond. A gigantic claw covered in black armour gripped the edge of the portal while crimson lightning spread across the sky.

The surrounding demons immediately dropped to one knee. Fear spread visibly through even the undead ranks. The hooded dark mage smiled fanatically.“The Abyss General arrives.”The Lich King’s expression darkened instantly.“We’re out of time.”

Henry turned sharply.“What is that thing?”

No one answered immediately. Then Kael muttered quietly, “Why do I suddenly feel like we’re insects standing beneath gods?”Because that was exactly what this felt like. The battlefield had transformed into something far beyond mortal understanding. Dragons. Abyss generals. Ancient undead kings.

And somehow, Henry stood at the centre of it all. The pressure nearly overwhelmed him. Varethion suddenly growled deeply.“The church lied to your kingdoms,” the Dragon God continued. “After the Abyss War ended, humanity feared the power of dragons. Feared the Dragon Emperors.”

Sir Gareth stiffened slightly at those words. The Dragon God noticed.“You know parts of this already, knight.”Gareth remained silent for several seconds before finally answering.“The Holy Church teaches that the Dragon Emperors became tyrants.”

Varethion laughed bitterly.  The sound echoed like distant thunder across the battlefield.“Yes,” the Dragon God said. “That is the story they created.”Henry frowned.“Created?”

The Dragon God’s eyes hardened.“The Dragon Knights won the war against the abyss… but victory came with a cost. The Dragon Heart evolves through battle. Every war makes its wielder stronger.”

Henry suddenly understood where this was going. And it terrified him.“The power changes them,” he whispered. Varethion nodded slowly.“The Dragon Emperors slowly became something neither dragon nor human. Their strength surpassed that of kings. Surpassed armies.”

The ancient dragon’s gaze sharpened.“So humanity betrayed them.”The words settled heavily across Henry’s chest.Betrayal.Suddenly, many things began making terrible sense. The extinction of Dragon Knights.The destroyed bloodlines.The fear surrounding dragons. Henry looked toward the Lich King again.“Where does he fit into this?”

For the first time, silence stretched uneasily between the ancient beings. Then the undead monarch answered himself.“I was the last Dragon Knight.”Shock rippled through everyone nearby.

Even Kael stepped backwards in disbelief.“That’s impossible.”The Lich King slowly removed part of his armoured gauntlet. Beneath the black metal, ancient silver markings glowed faintly across dead flesh. The same markings are spreading across Henry’s body.“No…” Henry whispered.

The undead king’s hollow eyes met his directly.“I once carried the Dragon Heart exactly as you do now.”The revelation struck Henry harder than any blade. The Lich King. The monster commanding undead armies. The creature responsible for countless deaths.Had once been like him.Human.

Henry’s stomach twisted painfully.“What happened to you?”The Lich King looked toward the abyss portals overhead.“War,” he answered simply.

Then something strange crossed the undead ruler’s expression.Regret.“The Dragon Heart demands strength,” he continued quietly. “Every battle feeds it. Every act of violence awakens more of the dragon soul sleeping inside you.”

Henry felt cold suddenly despite the flames surrounding him. Because he already understood.The exhilaration during battle.the growing rage.The ease of destruction. He had felt it all.“You’re saying I’ll become like you.”

The Lich King did not answer immediately. That silence terrified Henry more than words could have. Suddenly, the corrupted dragon chained above the battlefield screamed in agony. Black corruption finally reached one of its eyes. The creature’s golden iris turned blood-red instantly. A violent shockwave erupted across the fortress as abyssal energy exploded from its body.“No!” Varethion roared.

The corrupted dragon broke three divine chains simultaneously. Panic spread across the battlefield. Dark mages cheered while surviving knights retreated in horror. The corrupted dragon turned toward nearby soldiers. Hatred burned inside its now-crimson eye. Henry felt the creature’s pain through the Dragon Heart connection. It was still conscious. Still trapped inside itself. But losing.

The dragon’s voice echoed weakly inside Henry’s mind.“Please…The desperation nearly broke him. Then the corrupted dragon attacked. Crimson-black fire erupted from its jaws, consuming an entire section of the fortress wall instantly. Soldiers vanished inside the flames before they could even scream.

The battlefield descended into panic again.“It’s fully corrupted!” “Fall back!”

“We can’t stop it!”Varethion strained violently against his divine chains.“You must kill it before the abyss takes its soul completely!”

Henry froze. Kill it? The dragon had protected him earlier. Spoken to him.Trusted him. Yet now it had become a monster capable of destroying everyone remaining inside Blackthorn Fortress.

Henry’s chest tightened painfully. He did not want this responsibility. He did not want any of it. But when he looked around the battlefield, he saw terrified soldiers trying desperately to protect civilians. He saw Sir Gareth bleeding beside shattered stone. He saw Kael dragging wounded apprentices away from spreading fire despite his own injuries.

People were still fighting. Still hoping. And if Henry failed now…Everyone would die. The Dragon Heart pulsed violently. Power surged through his veins once more. The Lich King stepped beside him unexpectedly.“When the moment comes,” the undead ruler said quietly, “hesitation will doom you.”

Henry stared at him bitterly.“How many people did you kill before you stopped hesitating?”The question lingered heavily between them. For the first time since arriving, genuine sorrow crossed the Lich King’s hollow face.“Too many.”

Before Henry could respond, the massive armoured claw emerging from the abyss portal finally tore fully into the world. The sky split apart. And something ancient began to crawl out of the abyss itself.