Chapter 24
The sky turned gold.
Not sunlight.
Not fire.
Wings.
Hundreds of massive dragons burst through the clouds, their enormous wings beating against the air as they descended toward the battlefield. Their scales gleamed like molten metal beneath the shattered sky, reflecting waves of golden light across the mountains.
The thunder of their wings rolled across the valley like a storm.
For the first time since the battle began,
the hunter dragons hesitated.
Their glowing red eyes flickered with uncertainty as they turned toward the approaching swarm.
Ariana stared upward in shock.
"Where did they come from?"
The Dragon King's deep voice echoed calmly inside her mind.
They answered the call.
Her heart skipped.
"My call?"
Your blood.
Ariana's breath caught.
Beside her, the golden dragon guarding the palace terrace released a powerful roar, spreading its wings wide in recognition.
Above the hidden city, the sky had become a storm of dragons.
But these were not ordinary dragons.
Their eyes burned with brilliant golden light.
Ancient markings shimmered along their scales—symbols older than the city itself.
Royal dragons.
Kael crossed his arms beside her, watching the sky.
"Well," he muttered.
"That's definitely an upgrade."
Despite everything happening around them, Ariana almost smiled.
Almost.
Then the darkness moved again.
High above the battlefield, Augustus floated in the air like a silent king watching his kingdom.
He studied the arriving dragons with quiet curiosity.
Not fear.
If anything,
he looked entertained.
"So," Augustus said slowly, his voice carrying across the mountains.
"The Dragon King finally gathered his old army."
His golden eyes shifted downward.
They locked onto Ariana.
"Impressive."
The royal dragons roared as they spread across the sky, circling the hidden city in massive arcs.
Hundreds of wings moved in perfect formation.
Golden fire erupted from their jaws.
Flames filled the sky.
The spreading Abyss darkness hissed as the dragon fire pushed against it.
For the first time since Augustus had appeared,
the shadow began to retreat.
Ariana felt the crushing pressure in her chest ease.
"It's working."
Kael kept watching the sky.
"Don't celebrate yet."
A massive shadow passed over the terrace.
The Dragon King descended from the clouds.
The ancient dragon landed heavily on the broken palace stone, cracking the marble beneath his enormous claws.
Even wounded, he towered above them like a living mountain.
His golden eyes burned brightly.
The royal legion will hold the hunters.
Ariana stepped forward.
"And Augustus?"
The Dragon King turned his massive head toward the dark figure in the sky.
He is yours.
Ariana blinked.
"Mine?"
Kael stepped forward immediately.
"Ours."
The Dragon King studied him.
Then slowly nodded.
Yes.
The bond between Ariana and Kael pulsed.
Golden light and storm-white energy flickered between them, growing stronger.
Something inside them had changed.
Something ancient had awakened.
Above the palace, the battle erupted.
Royal dragons clashed with hunter dragons in a storm of claws and fire.
Roars shook the clouds.
Flames lit the sky.
One by one, the hunter dragons began to fall.
For a brief moment,
it looked like the tide had turned.
Augustus watched calmly.
Then he sighed.
"I had hoped they were extinct."
He slowly raised one hand.
The Abyss energy around him twisted violently.
Darkness gathered above the battlefield, swirling into a massive vortex.
The sky itself seemed to bend.
Ariana felt the pull immediately.
Her golden power flickered uneasily.
"He's doing something."
The man standing beside her looked up in horror.
"No…"
Ariana turned.
"What?"
"That's not an attack."
Her stomach tightened.
"Then what is it?"
The man swallowed.
"He's opening a gate."
Cold fear slid down Ariana's spine.
"To where?"
The Dragon King answered.
The Abyss.
The vortex widened.
Dark lightning crackled inside the swirling darkness.
The air trembled.
Even the royal dragons began pulling away from the growing rift.
Their roars filled the sky with alarm.
Kael rubbed the back of his neck.
"That's probably not good."
Augustus smiled faintly.
"If dragons wish to fight…"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"…then let them face the true rulers of darkness."
The vortex exploded open.
The sky screamed.
And something began emerging.
Not one creature.
Hundreds.
Black shapes poured from the gate like living shadows spilling into the world.
Their bodies were twisted.
Their wings looked like smoke.
Their silver eyes burned like cold stars.
Ariana stared in horror.
"What are those?"
The man beside her whispered.
"Abyss beasts."
The creatures shrieked as they burst into the sky.
Their movements were unnatural.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
They attacked instantly.
The first royal dragon barely had time to roar before one of the beasts slammed into it.
The creature tore through the dragon's wing like paper.
Blood sprayed across the clouds.
More beasts poured from the gate.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
The sky that had once been filled with royal dragons was now swarming with monsters.
Kael cursed under his breath.
"That's cheating."
Ariana's chest tightened.
"We can't fight all of those."
Augustus' voice echoed again.
"You don't have to."
His golden eyes locked onto Ariana.
"You only have to die."
The Abyss beasts began diving toward the palace.
The royal dragons rushed to intercept them.
Golden fire clashed with shadow.
But there were too many.
Far too many.
The Dragon King roared.
The gate must be closed.
Ariana looked toward the swirling vortex.
"How?"
The Dragon King answered immediately.
Destroy the one who opened it.
Kael cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
Ariana glanced at him.
"You're smiling."
He shrugged.
"I like simple plans."
Above them, the Abyss beasts shrieked as they dove toward the palace.
The sky had become chaos.
Dragons.
Monsters.
Shadow.
Fire.
Augustus slowly descended toward the terrace.
His feet touched the stone.
Dark energy twisted around him like living smoke.
His golden eyes locked onto Ariana and Kael.
"Shall we begin?"
Kael stepped forward.
The Wolf King's power flared.
White lightning flashed in his eyes.
"Been waiting for that."
Ariana raised her glowing hand.
Sovereign light surged through her veins.
The royal dragons above roared in response.
Augustus smiled.
But then,
the vortex in the sky suddenly expanded again.
Much wider.
Even Augustus frowned.
"That shouldn't…"
The Dragon King's voice thundered inside Ariana's mind.
No.
Ariana looked up.
"What now?"
The ancient dragon's voice shook.
Something else is coming.
The darkness churned violently.
And then,
a colossal shadow began pushing through the gate.
Larger than the Abyss beasts.
Larger than the dragons.
Even larger than the Dragon King himself.
The enormous shape forced its way into the sky.
Mountains seemed small beside it.
Kael stared upward.
"Well."
He rubbed the back of his neck again.
"That's definitely worse."