The sky above the Skyfire Kingdom burned like a living inferno.
Flames rose from shattered towers, painting the clouds in shades of red and orange. Thick smoke curled upward, choking the once-clear sky. The floating island trembled under the force of explosions as Shadow Drakes circled like vultures.
At the center of it all, war had already begun.
And flying straight into it was Kim Woo Bin, riding on the back of the silver dragon Astrael, with Arin of the Skyfire Kingdom gripping tightly behind him.
The heat hit them first.
It wasn't like the warmth of a fire back in Lumisvale.
This was overwhelming.
It burned the air itself.
Woo Bin shielded his face slightly.
"This is insane…"
Arin's voice came from behind him, steady and focused.
"This is home."
Woo Bin glanced back at her.
Despite the chaos, her expression didn't show fear.
Only determination.
Ahead, a massive explosion shook the air.
A tower collapsed, sending waves of fire into the sky.
Astrael growled.
"We're entering the battlefield."
Woo Bin tightened his grip.
"Then let's not hold back."
Astrael folded his wings slightly and dove.
The wind roared past them as they dropped through the smoke-filled sky.
Below, soldiers in flame-marked armor fought desperately against the Shadow Legion.
Blades clashed.
Magic collided.
Fire met darkness.
Woo Bin's eyes widened.
He had never seen anything like this.
"This… this is a real war…"
A Shadow Drake suddenly lunged toward them from the side.
"Astrael—!"
Before Woo Bin could finish, Astrael twisted mid-air and unleashed a blast of silver fire.
The creature was struck instantly and spiraled downward.
"Stay focused," Astrael said.
"More are coming."
And they were.
Three more Shadow Drakes closed in from above.
Arin stood up slightly on Astrael's back, balancing with ease.
"Leave them to me."
Woo Bin turned.
"What are you—"
Before he could finish, Arin leaped.
She jumped off Astrael's back into the open sky.
"ARIN!" Woo Bin shouted.
But she didn't fall.
Flames erupted beneath her feet, forming wings of fire.
She soared forward like a blazing comet.
Her sword ignited, burning brighter than ever.
With one swift motion—
She sliced through the first Shadow Drake.
The creature vanished in a burst of dark energy.
Woo Bin stared in shock.
"She can fly?!"
Astrael's voice remained calm.
"She is a warrior of the Skyfire Kingdom."
Arin spun mid-air, dodging an attack from another Shadow Drake.
Her flaming blade flashed again.
Another enemy fell.
The third creature charged toward her.
This time, Woo Bin reacted.
He raised his hand.
"Dragon Pulse!"
A blast of blue energy shot forward, striking the creature before it could reach her.
It exploded into shadows.
Arin glanced back at him and smirked.
"Nice timing."
Woo Bin smiled slightly.
"Getting better."
As they pushed deeper into the battlefield, the air suddenly grew colder.
The flames around them flickered strangely.
Astrael slowed.
"He's here."
Woo Bin looked ahead.
Through the smoke, a figure emerged.
Floating in the air.
Completely still.
The Dark General.
He wore black armor covered in glowing red cracks, as if molten lava flowed beneath its surface. His presence alone made the air feel heavy.
Woo Bin felt it immediately.
Pressure.
Like something was pushing against his chest.
"That's him…"
Arin landed back on Astrael's back, her expression serious.
"He's strong."
The general spoke.
His voice was deep and distorted.
"So… the Dragon Bearer finally arrives."
Woo Bin swallowed but didn't look away.
"I'm not running."
The general tilted his head slightly.
"Good."
Dark energy gathered around him.
"Because you won't have the chance."
Without warning, the general moved.
He vanished—
And reappeared directly in front of them.
Woo Bin's eyes widened.
"So fast—!"
Astrael reacted instantly, swinging his massive claw.
The general blocked it with one hand.
The impact shook the air.
A shockwave spread across the sky.
Woo Bin almost lost his balance.
The general pushed Astrael back.
"Impressive," he said.
"But not enough."
He raised his other hand.
Dark energy exploded outward.
Astrael was forced backward.
"Hold on!" the dragon roared.
Woo Bin gripped tightly.
Arin jumped forward again.
Her blade burned brighter than ever.
She struck at the general—
But he blocked her attack easily.
"You are skilled," he said.
"But you are nothing compared to him."
He knocked her back with a wave of dark energy.
"ARIN!" Woo Bin shouted.
She recovered mid-air but was clearly pushed back.
Woo Bin turned back to the general.
Anger rose inside him.
The dragon mark on his hand flared.
"Don't ignore me!"
He thrust his hand forward.
"Dragon Pulse!"
A powerful blast shot toward the general.
This time, stronger than before.
The general didn't move.
He simply raised his hand.
The energy stopped.
Frozen in place.
Woo Bin froze.
"What…?"
The general closed his fist.
The Dragon Pulse shattered like glass.
Woo Bin felt a shock run through him.
"That's impossible…"
The general stepped closer.
"You have power, Dragon Bearer."
His red eyes glowed brighter.
"But you lack mastery."
The general raised his hand again.
Dark energy gathered into a massive sphere.
Woo Bin felt it.
This attack would destroy everything.
"Astrael—!"
"I know!" the dragon roared.
But before Astrael could move—
Woo Bin stepped forward.
"No."
Astrael's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!"
Woo Bin's voice became steady.
"I'm done holding back."
The dragon mark burned brighter than ever before.
Energy surged through his entire body.
This time—
He didn't panic.
He focused.
He remembered Astrael's words.
Power and control.
He raised both hands.
Blue energy formed around him, stronger than ever before.
The air around him began to shake.
Arin looked at him in shock.
"This energy…"
Woo Bin took a deep breath.
"Let's see if I can do this…"
The general released his attack.
A massive wave of darkness rushed forward.
Woo Bin stepped forward and shouted—
"DRAGON PULSE!"
But this time—
It was different.
Instead of a simple blast, a massive wave of blue dragon energy surged forward like a roaring storm.
The two powers collided.
The sky exploded with light.
For a moment—
Everything went silent.
Then—
BOOM.
The explosion pushed everything back.
Astrael roared as he stabilized himself.
Arin shielded her eyes.
When the light faded—
Woo Bin was still standing.
Breathing heavily.
But standing.
The general… had moved back.
For the first time—
He had been pushed.
The general looked at Woo Bin.
Silence.
Then slowly—
He smiled.
"Interesting."
Woo Bin clenched his fists.
"I'm not weak."
The general nodded slightly.
"No."
His voice turned colder.
"But you are still incomplete."
He raised his hand again.
"This is enough for today."
Suddenly, a massive roar echoed from below.
All three of them froze.
Woo Bin looked down.
Deep within the Skyfire Kingdom—
Something was waking up.
The ground cracked.
Flames spiraled into the sky.
Astrael's eyes widened.
"A dragon…"
Arin's voice trembled slightly.
"No…"
"It's the Fire Dragon…"
The general smiled.
"Perfect timing."
Woo Bin felt the energy rising from below.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
Dangerous.
"This isn't good…"
Astrael spread his wings.
"The dragon is awakening… without the crown."
Woo Bin looked down at the burning kingdom.
Then back at the general.
The battle wasn't over.
It had only just begun.