THE LAST BLOOD SOVEREIGN

CHAPTER 5 : THE ABYSSAL DRAGON

 

The earth groaned beneath their feet.

A second colossal claw burst from the abyss, gouging deep trenches into the forest floor. Ancient trees, some hundreds of years old, snapped like dry twigs under its weight.

The Crimson Fang Wolf whimpered and fled without looking back.

It no longer cared about Kael.

Its only instinct was survival.

Kael stared into the darkness below.

A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened.

They were enormous.

Each was larger than a house.

The creature's gaze alone filled the forest with unbearable pressure.

Kael dropped to one knee, struggling to breathe.

"W-What... is that?"

Arkan's face was grim.

"The Abyssal Dragon..."

"The first beast created by the Abyss."

"It should still be sealed for another thousand years."

The dragon's massive head emerged from the darkness. Black scales shimmered like polished obsidian, streaked with glowing crimson veins. Two immense horns curved backward from its skull, and smoke drifted from its nostrils with every breath.

When it inhaled, the trees bent toward it.

When it exhaled, the air burned.

Kael had never imagined such a creature could exist.

The dragon slowly lowered its head until one giant eye was level with him.

Its gaze lingered on the young man.

Then, to Arkan's surprise, it spoke.

Its voice sounded like mountains collapsing.

"So..."

"The bloodline still lives."

Kael's eyes widened.

"It... it can speak?"

Arkan nodded.

"The oldest dragons possess wisdom beyond mankind."

The dragon ignored him.

It continued staring at Kael.

"I remember your father."

"He fought me beneath the Crimson Sky."

"For seven days..."

"And on the eighth..."

"He sealed me."

Kael's heart pounded.

"My... father?"

The dragon's eyes softened for the briefest moment.

"He was the strongest human I ever faced."

Then its expression turned cold.

"But you..."

"You are weak."

The words struck Kael harder than any blade.

The dragon was right.

Without Arkan, he would already be dead.

He couldn't protect anyone.

He couldn't even protect himself.

The dragon leaned closer.

"So tell me, child..."

"Will you become worthy of your father's name..."

"...or will you die like the kingdoms hope you will?"

Kael slowly rose to his feet.

His body still trembled, but he forced himself to meet the dragon's gaze.

"I don't know who my father was."

"I don't know why everyone wants me dead."

"But I know one thing."

He clenched his fists.

"I refuse to remain weak."

Silence.

Then...

The dragon laughed.

The sound shook the heavens.

"Hahaha!"

"There is his spirit."

Arkan frowned in confusion.

"The dragon is... testing him."

The beast lowered its enormous head.

"Very well."

"I, Vorthrax..."

"...Last King of the Abyssal Dragons..."

"...offer you a trial."

A glowing crimson scale detached from its neck and floated gently toward Kael.

The moment he touched it—

A torrent of memories flooded his mind.

He saw armies marching beneath crimson banners.

He saw dragons soaring beside human warriors.

He saw a majestic man wielding the Sovereign Blade against an endless tide of monsters.

Then he saw betrayal.

Seven kings standing together.

The Blood Sovereign Palace engulfed in flames.

His mother, holding a crying infant, tears streaming down her face.

A loyal guardian carrying the child through a secret passage.

Arkan.

The memories vanished.

Kael collapsed, gasping for air.

Tears rolled down his cheeks.

For the first time in his life...

He had seen his parents.

Arkan silently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You remember."

Kael nodded.

"They died... protecting me."

"They believed you would one day restore what was lost."

Before Arkan could say more, Vorthrax spoke again.

"The scale I have given you is no ordinary gift."

"It contains a fragment of my essence."

"It will awaken only if you survive the Trial of Blood."

Arkan's expression changed.

"No!"

"He's far too young."

"The Trial will kill him."

Vorthrax's eyes narrowed.

"Then he was never worthy of becoming the Blood Sovereign."

Kael looked between them.

"What... is the Trial of Blood?"

The dragon's answer was simple.

"Survive three days inside the Valley of Fallen Kings."

"No food."

"No allies."

"No escape."

"Only you..."

"...and the monsters that once hunted your ancestors."

Kael swallowed hard.

He had never even defeated an ordinary beast.

Now he was expected to survive against creatures powerful enough to challenge the Blood Sovereigns themselves.

Arkan looked at him with concern.

"You have the right to refuse."

"No one would blame you."

Kael closed his eyes.

He remembered the villagers laughing.

The assassins.

His parents.

The burning palace.

When he opened his eyes again, they burned with determination.

"I'll do it."

A faint smile appeared on Vorthrax's ancient face.

"Excellent."

"The first true step of a Sovereign..."

"...is choosing courage over fear."

With a sweep of one colossal wing, the dragon released a vortex of crimson light that swallowed Kael whole.

Arkan lunged forward.

"Kael!"

But he was too late.

The light vanished.

The young heir was gone.

Only the dragon's final words echoed through the shattered forest.

"If he returns..."

"...the world will witness the rise of its last Blood Sovereign."

And somewhere deep within the legendary Valley of Fallen Kings, countless pairs of glowing eyes slowly opened in the darkness...