The chamber remained silent for a few moments after Arin's warning.
A faint glow from her flame-forged sword lit the stone walls, casting long shadows across the ancient runes. The air felt heavier now, as if the sanctuary itself understood that something had changed.
War was no longer a distant threat.
It had begun.
Kim Woo Bin looked between Astrael and Arin, his mind racing.
"The first kingdom… which one is it?" he asked.
Arin didn't hesitate.
"The Skyfire Kingdom."
Astrael's golden eyes narrowed.
"The kingdom of flame dragons…"
Arin nodded.
"It's already under attack. The Shadow Legion has surrounded its outer defenses. If we don't reach it soon, it will fall."
Woo Bin clenched his fists.
"Then we go now."
Astrael watched him carefully.
"You are not ready."
Woo Bin turned sharply.
"I don't have time to be ready!"
His voice echoed across the chamber.
Arin stepped forward slightly.
"He's right," she said. "If Skyfire falls, the other kingdoms won't stand a chance."
Astrael remained silent for a moment.
The great dragon slowly lowered his head.
"Then we prepare… quickly."
Back in the main arena, Arin stood across from Woo Bin, arms crossed.
"If you're coming with me," she said, "you need to prove you won't slow us down."
Woo Bin raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you just see me fight?"
Arin smirked.
"I saw you survive."
Woo Bin frowned.
"That's not the same as fighting."
He stepped forward.
"Fine. What do I need to do?"
Astrael moved to the side, observing.
"Show her your control," the dragon said.
Woo Bin took a deep breath and stepped onto the center platform.
"Alright…"
He closed his eyes and focused.
He could feel it again—that energy inside him. Stronger now. Warmer. More alive.
The dragon mark on his hand began to glow.
"Dragon Pulse…" he whispered.
He raised his hand and released the energy.
A controlled wave of blue light shot forward, striking the stone pillar ahead.
This time, the energy didn't explode wildly.
It struck with precision.
Arin's expression changed slightly.
"Not bad."
Woo Bin opened his eyes and smiled a little.
"I told you."
But suddenly—
The energy didn't stop.
The glow intensified.
Cracks spread across the pillar.
"Wait…" Woo Bin said.
The pillar shattered into pieces.
Debris scattered across the arena.
Woo Bin stepped back.
"I didn't mean to—"
Arin raised an eyebrow again.
"Still not full control."
Woo Bin sighed.
"Yeah… I figured."
Astrael stepped forward.
"You are improving. But power alone will not win battles."
Arin nodded.
"You need speed. Awareness. And instinct."
Woo Bin looked at her.
"Then teach me."
For a moment, Arin was silent.
Then she turned and walked toward the edge of the arena.
"Come on," she said.
Woo Bin blinked.
"That's it?"
She glanced back at him.
"I'm not going easy on you."
The next few hours passed quickly.
Arin trained Woo Bin without holding back.
"Move faster!" she shouted, swinging her flaming blade toward him.
Woo Bin barely dodged.
"I am moving fast!"
"Not fast enough!"
She attacked again.
Woo Bin ducked, rolled, and tried to create distance.
"Use your power!"
Woo Bin focused and released a small Dragon Pulse.
Arin jumped to the side easily.
"Too slow!"
Woo Bin groaned.
"This is harder than it looks!"
Astrael watched silently from the side.
"Again," Arin said.
Woo Bin stood up, breathing heavily.
Sweat ran down his face.
His arms felt tired.
But something inside him kept pushing forward.
"Again," he said.
This time, he moved quicker.
He dodged her strike and countered with a faster Dragon Pulse.
Arin blocked it with her flaming sword.
The impact sent sparks flying.
She smiled slightly.
"Better."
As the training continued, Woo Bin began to notice something.
The more he focused…
The easier it became.
His movements grew sharper.
His reactions faster.
His control stronger.
At one point, Arin attacked from behind.
Woo Bin reacted instantly.
He turned and blocked with a burst of dragon energy.
Arin stepped back, surprised.
"That… was different."
Woo Bin looked at his hand.
"I didn't even think about it."
Astrael stepped forward.
"That is instinct."
Woo Bin looked up.
"Is that good?"
"It is essential," Astrael replied.
As the sun began to set beyond the clouds, the training finally stopped.
Woo Bin dropped to the ground, exhausted.
"I think… I'm done for today."
Arin smirked.
"You'll need more than that."
Woo Bin laughed weakly.
"I figured."
Astrael looked toward the sky.
"It is time."
Woo Bin sat up.
"To leave?"
"Yes."
Arin stepped forward.
"The longer we wait, the worse it gets."
Woo Bin stood slowly.
His body was tired.
But his mind was clear.
"Then let's go."
Moments later, they stood outside the sanctuary.
The sky burned orange and red as the sun set behind the floating kingdoms.
Astrael lowered his massive body.
"Climb on."
Woo Bin stepped forward and climbed onto Astrael's back.
Arin followed, landing lightly behind him.
"Hold on," she said.
Woo Bin nodded.
"I'm ready."
Astrael spread his wings.
With a powerful leap, he launched into the sky.
The wind rushed past them as they rose higher and higher.
Woo Bin looked ahead.
In the distance, he could already see it.
The Skyfire Kingdom.
But something was wrong.
Smoke filled the sky around it.
Flames burned across its outer edges.
Dark shapes surrounded it.
Woo Bin's heart sank.
"They're already there…"
Arin's voice hardened.
"We're late."
Astrael's wings beat harder.
"Then we move faster."
The air grew hotter as they approached.
The sky turned darker.
Shadow Drakes circled above the kingdom.
Explosions lit up the clouds.
Woo Bin clenched his fists.
"This is war…"
"Yes," Astrael said.
"And this is only the beginning."
Far ahead, a massive explosion tore through one of the kingdom's outer towers.
Flames spread rapidly.
And standing in the sky above it all—
A dark figure watched.
Waiting.
As Astrael flew closer, the figure slowly turned.
Even from a distance, Woo Bin could feel it.
A powerful presence.
Cold.
Dangerous.
Arin's expression tightened.
"That's not just a soldier…"
Astrael's voice dropped.
"No."
Woo Bin stared ahead.
"Who is that?"
Astrael's wings slowed slightly.
"That… is one of the Dark King's generals."
The figure raised its hand.
Dark energy gathered around it.
And then—
It pointed directly at them.
Woo Bin felt a chill run through his body.
"It sees us…"
Arin gripped her sword.
"Good."
Her eyes burned with determination.
"Let it."
Woo Bin took a deep breath.
The dragon mark on his hand began to glow again.
Stronger than ever before.
"Then let's fight."
Astrael roared as they charged forward into the burning sky.
And the battle for the Skyfire Kingdom began.