RISE OF THE FORSAKEN DRAGON HEIR

THE POWER ABOVE ASTRAL ESSENCE

The Astral-charged bullets raced toward David, carrying enough force to tear through the defense of an experienced supernatural warrior.

General Kael Varen watched with clenched teeth, certain that David would finally be forced to defend himself. But David did not move. His golden eyes simply focused on the first bullet coming toward his chest.

Something changed immediately.

The white Astral Essence wrapped around the bullet turned gold. The change spread from the energy into the metal itself until the entire projectile became a strange golden solid suspended in the air.

Before anyone could understand what they were seeing, cracks spread across it and the bullet shattered into fine golden dust.

The other rounds followed.

One after another, they turned gold and broke apart several feet from David. The golden particles scattered across the road without a single bullet touching him.

Several soldiers lowered their weapons without realizing it. One young officer stared at David and whispered, “What did he just do?”

A more experienced Astral wielder shook his head slowly. “He didn't block the bullets. He changed them and made them useless.”

The officer looked at him. “Changed them into what?”

“I don't know,” the man admitted. His eyes remained fixed on the golden dust. “But he changed the Astral Essence first, then the matter carrying it.”

General Kael's face had lost some of its anger. “Impossible.”

Seraphina pushed herself up from the road and glared at him. “General, I warned you.”

David finally shifted his attention from the falling particles to Kael. His eyes remained completely gold. “And I warned him too.”

Kael's pride would not allow him to retreat in front of his soldiers. White-gold Astral Essence exploded around his body again, covering his arms and shoulders as he gathered more power.

“You think one trick makes you untouchable?” Kael demanded. He spread his hands as the force around him intensified. “I am the Supreme Commander of Varethia's armies.”

David watched him without changing expression. “Then you should have learned how to obey your Empress.”

Kael's jaw tightened. “You will not speak to me about obedience.”

David slowly brought his fingers together, causing Kael's Astral aura to flicker.

He stopped talking.

The glowing force around his body flickered again, then disappeared completely.

Kael looked down at himself. He immediately tried to summon his Essence again, but nothing happened.

“What did you do to me?” he demanded.

David's voice remained calm. “Try using your power.”

Kael clenched both fists. “Return my Essence.”

David's gaze hardened slightly. “Your Essence?”

Kael strained again. Still nothing came. For the first time since the confrontation began, real fear appeared in his eyes.

Seraphina understood before the other soldiers did. “Kael, stop resisting.”

He turned toward her. “Your Majesty, I can't feel it.”

“I know,” Seraphina replied. Her face had become pale. “He isn't draining your Essence. He's suppressing your connection to it.”

A murmur spread among the soldiers.

David slowly closed his hand further.

Kael's entire body stiffened.

His arms locked beside him and his legs refused to move. A second later, his boots lifted from the road.

The soldiers stared as their general rose into the air.

Kael struggled violently. “Release me!”

David did not move from where he stood. A faint golden force surrounded Kael's body, holding him several feet above the ground.

“How dare you fire at me,” David said.

Kael's face twisted. “I was defending my Empress.”

“She told you to stop.”

Kael said nothing.

David's fingers tightened.

Kael suddenly gasped.

The invisible force from David, squeezed his chest and shoulders inward. His body jerked as he fought for breath, but without Astral Essence, there was nothing he could use against the Primordial force surrounding him.

Seraphina stepped forward. “David.”

He ignored her.

Kael forced the words through clenched teeth. “You think... this frightens me?”

David's golden eyes remained cold. “No.”

His fist tightened a little more.

Kael cried out as pressure closed around his ribs.

“I'm not trying to frighten you,” David added.

A thin line of blood ran from Kael's nose.

That was enough for the soldiers to know that their General was in danger.

Weapons immediately rose around David. Dozens of rifles clicked into firing position while the stronger Astral wielders released their Essence. White, blue and silver energy began glowing around several soldiers as they prepared to attack.

“Release General Varen!” one officer shouted.

David did not even look at him.

Another soldier moved forward with his rifle aimed at David's head. “This is your final warning. Put him down!”

David continued watching Kael.

His fist tightened again.

Kael's body compressed further. Blood now appeared at one ear, and his breathing became rough and uneven.

“General Varen is losing consciousness!” one of the soldiers shouted.

A senior Astral wielder raised both hands as concentrated energy formed around his palms. “On my command, we fire.”

Seraphina spun toward them. Her exhausted Astral aura suddenly expanded across the road.

“STAND DOWN!”

The soldiers hesitated.

One commander stared at Kael hanging helplessly in the air. “Your Majesty, he's killing the General.”

“I said stand down!” Seraphina snapped. “General Varen disobeyed my direct command and attacked the Primordial Dragon Lord after being warned.”

The commander looked troubled. “But Your Majesty—”

“That is an order.”

The rifles slowly lowered.

One after another, the Astral wielders allowed their power to fade.

Seraphina turned back toward David, expecting him to release Kael.

He didn't.

Kael remained suspended above the road while blood reached his chin.

“Most sovereign dragon lord, they have lowered their weapons,” Seraphina said carefully.

David said nothing.

“David, please. That's enough.”

His fingers tightened slightly.

Kael groaned in pain.

Seraphina moved closer. “Please stop.”

David finally looked at her. “He called my mother's death something that happened years ago.”

Seraphina's face fell. “I know.”

“He attacked me after you ordered him to stop.”

“I know.”

David's voice remained controlled. “And now you expect me to pretend neither happened?”

Seraphina shook her head. “No. General Varen was wrong. He disobeyed me, and he had no right to attack you.”

David looked back at Kael. “Then why should I spare him?”

Seraphina swallowed as Kael's breathing weakened further. “Because Varethia has already lost too many people.”

“That is not my problem.”

The words struck her hard, but she stepped closer anyway.

“I know I have no right to ask anything more from you,” Seraphina said. Tears gathered in her eyes again. “But please... spare my general.”

David's fist remained closed.

Kael convulsed under the Primordial pressure.

Seraphina's fear became immediate as she moved toward David. “Please, David! We didn't come here to make you our enemy!”

David slowly turned his golden eyes toward her.

General Kael was still hanging helplessly above the road.