Kael readied himself, about to unsheathe his sword.
But before he could,
Dorian suddenly appeared beside him.
Without hesitation, Dorian grabbed both Kael and Julian, hoisting them over his shoulders. He had already strapped his axes to his back.
Then he ran.
Straight toward the tunnel they had entered from.
Kael struggled against his grip.
"Sir Dorian! What are you doing?!" Kael shouted. "We have to take it down!"
Dorian replied while sprinting at full speed,
"Kael… I don't know what you think you are, but the best thing we can do right now is run!"
He didn't slow down.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
Finally, the tunnel exit appeared ahead.
But the moment he reached it.
Dorian froze....
The path was blocked.
A wall of solidified mana sealed the entrance.
The barrier shimmered faintly, dense and immovable.
No one could enter.
And no one could leave.
Dorian slowly placed Kael and Julian back onto the ground.
Then he clenched his fist and punched the barrier with full force.
The cave shook.
His fist left a deep imprint on the stone wall beside the barrier.
But the mana wall remained completely intact.
Dorian's face twisted.
Fear.
Anger.
Confusion.
He growled through clenched teeth.
"Damn it…"
"The dragon has established its domain."
Dragons were creatures that guarded their nests fiercely.
And in order to isolate their territory, they emitted massive amounts of mana, creating a domain around their nest.
Once formed.
Nothing could enter.
And nothing could escape.
Then suddenly,
It clicked.
Dorian's eyes widened.
The wolves hadn't been coming out to hunt.
They had been running away.
Trying to escape.
From the dragon.
Dorian exhaled deeply, lost in thought.
But his thoughts were interrupted when Kael spoke.
"Sir Dorian… I believe it's a pseudo dragon."
Dorian turned to him.
"A pseudo dragon?"
Kael nodded calmly.
"Creatures that share dragon lineage
.. wyrms, wyverns, drakes, basilisks..... sometimes break through their limits and awaken their bloodline."
"When that happens, they gain abilities similar to true dragons."
"They become pseudo dragons."
Dorian relaxed slightly, though worry still lingered in his eyes.
"And how can you be so sure?" he asked.
Kael met his gaze, his expression completely steady.
"My family has hunted dragons for generations."
"I am familiar with every dragon type."
He gestured toward the barrier.
"This mana barrier is only about one foot thick."
"A true dragon's domain would be at least five feet thick."
"And the quality of mana is different."
He paused. Kael had known about it back when the founder of Dravenheart family had talked with him about dragons. So he was even more confident in the facts he was saying as those were the words of a man who had slayed a true dragon after all. Then he continued.
"This is definitely the work of a pseudo dragon."
Dorian sighed.
"Even so…"
"A pseudo dragon can be as powerful as an infant true dragon."
"That is still far beyond what we can handle."
Julian suddenly spoke up.
"Mr. Dorian… believe in Kael."
"He isn't someone who becomes delusional about situations."
Just as Dorian was about to respond.
The entire cave trembled.
A deafening roar echoed through the cavern.
The sound alone made their hearts seize.
It felt as if an invisible hand had gripped their hearts and squeezed them.
For a moment...
They couldn't breathe.
Kael slowly unsheathed his sword.
The blade gleamed faintly.
Then he ran.
Straight toward the depths of the dungeon.
As he sprinted forward, he shouted behind him,
"It is your choice, Sir Dorian."
"Follow me or not."
"But please don't try to stop me."
His voice was calm.
Dead serious.
"For I am afraid I would have to slay you too."
Dorian stood still.
His face hidden in shadow.
His figure unmoving, like an ancient stone statue.
Julian looked at him quietly.
For a moment, it felt as if Dorian had been reminded of something he desperately wanted to forget.
Julian sighed.
Then he placed a hand on Dorian's arm.
His voice was warm.
"Don't worry, mister."
"It's okay."
Then he smiled and sprinted after Kael.
Soon, both boys disappeared deeper into the cave.
Dorian remained standing alone.
The cave continued shaking around him.
Then suddenly,
A black snake slithered down from the ceiling.
Its body was covered in glowing blue crystal-like growths.
It crept slowly toward Dorian's neck.
Opening its jaws.
Its fangs extended.
Just as it was about to bite,
Dorian moved.
His hand shot out.
He grabbed the snake's head and crushed it instantly.
Purple blood splattered across the stone.
Dorian looked up toward the cavern ceiling.
Then he sighed.
Slowly, he sat down.
For the first time, his unbreakable figure seemed to bend.
He reached beneath his armor and pulled out a small golden necklace he had hidden there.
He opened the pendant.
Inside was a picture.
A beautiful woman with green-tinted hair and a gentle smile.
A small mole rested beneath her lower lip.
She held a baby in her arms.
A memory echoed inside his mind.
"Don't blame yourself, honey…"
"Just love her as much as you can."
Dorian gripped the pendant tightly and pressed it against his chest.
His eyes were filled with sadness.
Then,
Something changed.
The fire returned.
His eyes sharpened, firmer than ever.
He stood up.
Without another word. Dorian walked toward the direction Kael and Julian had disappeared.