The battlefield grew quiet.
For the first time since their arrival, the flames of the Skyfire Kingdom no longer raged uncontrollably. The burning winds softened, and the air, though still hot, no longer felt suffocating.
At the center of the shattered land stood the Fire Dragon—still, calm, and no longer consumed by chaos.
Its massive chest rose and fell slowly.
Its glowing amber eyes looked down… not with rage—
But with awareness.
Kim Woo Bin knelt on one knee, breathing heavily. His body felt completely drained, as if all his strength had been pulled out of him at once.
"I… actually did it…" he whispered.
Beside him, Arin stared at the dragon in disbelief.
"You didn't just calm it…" she said slowly.
"You freed it."
The Fire Dragon lowered its enormous head, bringing its glowing eyes level with them.
The ground trembled with every movement.
Woo Bin looked up.
For a moment, fear flickered inside him again.
But then—
The dragon spoke.
Not with sound.
But inside his mind.
"Dragon Bearer…"
Woo Bin froze.
His eyes widened.
"I… I can hear you…"
Arin looked confused.
"What? What is it saying?"
Woo Bin didn't respond immediately.
The voice was deep, ancient, and powerful—but no longer filled with pain.
"You have broken the chains of shadow…"
Woo Bin slowly stood up.
"Who… are you?"
The dragon's presence filled his mind.
"I am Ignivar… Guardian of the Skyfire Kingdom…"
Woo Bin swallowed.
"Ignivar…"
Arin stepped closer.
"That's its name," she said softly. "The same one I told you…"
Woo Bin nodded slowly.
"I can hear him… inside my head."
Arin's eyes widened slightly.
"So it's true…"
Astrael landed nearby, his massive wings folding as he approached.
"The bond has begun," he said.
Woo Bin looked at him.
"This… this is the Dragon Bearer's power?"
"Yes," Astrael replied. "The ability to communicate with dragons."
Woo Bin looked back at Ignivar.
"This feels… different from the visions."
"Because this is not a vision…" Ignivar's voice echoed again.
"This is a connection."
Around them, the battlefield slowly came back to life.
Skyfire soldiers began regrouping.
Some stared in shock at the now-calm dragon.
Others dropped their weapons in relief.
The Shadow Legion had retreated.
For now.
Arin looked around.
"We… actually saved it."
Woo Bin exhaled.
"Yeah… but look at this place."
The kingdom was heavily damaged.
Towers were broken.
Bridges collapsed.
Fires still burned in the distance.
"It's not over," Woo Bin said.
"No," Astrael agreed. "This was only the first strike."
Ignivar's voice echoed again, deeper this time.
"Listen carefully, Dragon Bearer…"
Woo Bin focused.
"I'm listening."
"The darkness that controlled me… was not ordinary magic."
Woo Bin frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"It carried the mark of the Crown… twisted and corrupted."
Woo Bin's heart skipped.
"The Dragon Crown?"
Astrael's eyes narrowed.
"That is impossible…"
Ignivar continued.
"Not the true Crown… but a fragment of its power…"
Woo Bin felt a chill.
"So the Dark King already has a part of it?"
"Yes…"
Arin stepped forward.
"What does that mean?"
Woo Bin spoke for Ignivar.
"It means… this isn't just about finding the crown anymore."
Astrael nodded slowly.
"It means the enemy is already closer than we feared."
Woo Bin looked up at Ignivar again.
"Tell me everything you know."
The Fire Dragon's eyes glowed slightly brighter.
"The Dragon Crown is not a single object as you believe…"
Woo Bin blinked.
"What?"
"It was broken… long ago… into seven fragments."
Silence.
Arin stepped back slightly.
"Seven… fragments?"
Astrael's expression grew serious.
"This knowledge was lost…"
Ignivar continued.
"Each fragment holds a portion of the Crown's power…"
Woo Bin's mind raced.
"Then the Dark King…"
"Seeks to collect them all."
Woo Bin clenched his fists.
"And if he succeeds?"
The dragon's voice turned heavy.
"He will control every dragon… and reshape Eternia itself."
The weight of the situation settled heavily on Woo Bin.
"So we're not just looking for one crown…"
He looked at Astrael.
"We have to find seven pieces."
"Yes," Astrael said.
"And we must do it before the Dark King."
Arin stepped forward.
"Do you know where any of them are?"
Ignivar remained silent for a moment.
Then—
"One… lies within the Skyfire Kingdom."
Woo Bin's eyes widened.
"Here?!"
"Hidden… beneath the Flame Core Temple…"
Arin looked shocked.
"That temple has been sealed for generations…"
Astrael turned to Woo Bin.
"This changes everything."
Woo Bin nodded slowly.
"Then that's our next step."
Woo Bin stepped closer to Ignivar.
"Can you fight?"
The Fire Dragon lifted its head slightly.
"My strength is returning… but slowly."
Woo Bin nodded.
"Then rest."
Arin looked at him.
"You're already acting like a leader."
Woo Bin scratched his head slightly.
"I'm just… doing what feels right."
Astrael smiled faintly.
"That is how true leaders begin."
Suddenly—
The sky darkened again.
A cold wind swept across the kingdom.
Woo Bin looked up.
"Not again…"
A massive shadow formed in the clouds.
Larger than before.
More powerful.
Astrael's voice turned serious.
"He's back."
The clouds split apart.
The Dark General reappeared.
But this time—
He wasn't alone.
Behind him stood dozens of Shadow Drakes.
And something else.
Something bigger.
A massive armored creature with wings like blades.
Arin's eyes widened.
"That's…"
Astrael growled.
"A war beast…"
The general raised his hand.
"This time…"
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"You will not interfere."
Woo Bin stepped forward.
The dragon mark glowed again.
Stronger than ever before.
"Then come try."
Ignivar lifted his wings.
Flames began to rise again—
But this time…
Controlled.
Focused.
Astrael stepped beside Woo Bin.
Arin ignited her blade.
Three forces stood together.
The Dragon Bearer.
The Silver Dragon.
The Fire Dragon.
And the warrior of Skyfire.
The general smiled coldly.
"Good…"
"This will be far more interesting."
The sky exploded with energy as both sides prepared to clash once more.
And this time—
It wouldn't end so easily.