Chain grinned, that cocky half-smile Bianca always warned him about. "Try me, lizard. I've got plenty of madness already." He sheathed his sword and placed his bare palm against the dragon's scales. "Besides, I've seen worse shit than whatever you're packing."
Something shifted in Baulduvor's ancient gaze—surprise, perhaps respect. "You would... risk it? For power?"
"For an edge," Chain corrected. "Demon threat's growing. Dragons aren't cooperating. Someone's gotta do something." He leaned closer. "And I need every weapon I can get."
Baulduvor was silent for a long moment, his breathing steadying. "The bond... is permanent. Until death."
"I'm not planning on dying anytime soon," Chain replied.
The dragon's massive head shifted. "Your companions... will not approve."
"Not their decision." Chain stood, hands on hips. "So what's it going to be? Death or partnership?"
Baulduvor's eyes flashed with ancient pride. "Not... partnership. Pact. I will not... be commanded."
"Fine. Pact. But when shit hits, you follow my lead."
The dragon growled but gave a barely perceptible nod. "The bonding... will hurt. Your mind may... shatter."
Chain shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."
Without warning, Baulduvor's jaws opened, black flames flickering between his teeth. "Place your hand... in my mouth."
"You better not be fucking with me," Chain muttered, but extended his arm without hesitation, palm forward.
The black fire engulfed his hand. Chain's knees buckled as white-hot agony shot through his skull—images, memories, hatred, ancient grudges flooding his consciousness. He bit through his lip rather than scream, blood trickling down his chin as the dragon's consciousness crashed against his own like a tidal wave.
Memories not his own flashed behind his eyes—soaring above mountains, battles with other dragons, centuries of solitude. Rage. So much rage.
"FUCK!" Chain finally screamed, collapsing to one knee but keeping his hand extended. Blood vessels burst in his eyes, crimson tears streaming down his face. "That all you got, lizard?" he taunted through gritted teeth.
Baulduvor's surprise rippled through their forming connection. No human had ever withstood this initial contact.
The dragon's own consciousness pushed harder, probing Chain's memories—a childhood of brutality in Volkov, the scars and traumas that made him who he was. Chain didn't hide any of it, letting the dragon see it all.
"See?" Chain gasped. "Told you... got my own madness."
The black flames suddenly intensified, wrapping around Chain's arm, crawling up his shoulder. He convulsed but remained upright, one hand braced against the ground. The flames seeped into his skin, leaving strange markings—intricate patterns of black that pulsed with each heartbeat.
Just as suddenly, the flames vanished. Chain collapsed, panting, as Baulduvor's wounds began closing—the bond already channeling strength between them.
"It is... done," the dragon rumbled, sounding stronger. "Unexpected... your mind did not break."
Chain wiped blood from his face, examining the new markings on his arm. "Told you." He stood shakily. "So what now? We kiss and make up?"
Baulduvor's massive form shifted, muscles rippling as he tested his healing body. "Now... I am bound to your life force. And you... to mine." There was resentment in his voice, but something else too—reluctant respect.
"Can you fly?" Chain asked, glancing toward where Bianca would be waiting.
"Soon." The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Your female companion approaches."
Chain turned to see Bianca emerging from the trees, her expression shifting from relief to horror as she spotted the dragon.
"Chain!" she shouted, drawing her weapons. "Get back!"
"Stand down!" Chain barked, raising his marked arm. "He's with us now."
Bianca froze, eyes widening at the black patterns on his skin. "What did you do?" she whispered.
Chain grimaced. "Made a new friend." He turned back to Baulduvor. "This is Bianca. You try to hurt her, deal's off, and I'll find a way to kill us both."
The dragon snorted, smoke curling from his nostrils. "The half-demon child. I smell her... tainted blood."
Bianca bristled. "Chain?"
Chain sighed. "Gonna be a fun ride back. Look, we needed an edge against what's coming. Now we have one."
"A DRAGON?" Bianca hissed. "Are you insane? After what happened to Eisen?"
"Probably," Chain admitted, feeling the alien presence of Baulduvor's consciousness at the edges of his mind. "But it's done." He turned to the dragon. "Can you carry two?"
Baulduvor's massive head swung toward him, teeth bared in what might have been a smile. "I can carry an army, human. The question is... can you handle the flight?"
Chain's answering grin was all reckless bravado. "Only one way to find out."
Probably," Chain admitted, feeling the alien presence of Baulduvor's consciousness at the edges of his mind. "But it's done." He turned to the dragon. "So what now? We have bikes nearby."
Baulduvor's massive head swung toward him, teeth bared in what might have been a smile. "Now, human, we make use of this... arrangement." His wings shifted, testing their strength. "I cannot fly yet. My wounds heal, but slowly."
Bianca kept her distance, weapons still half-raised. "Chain, this is crazy. The others—"
"Will deal with it," Chain cut her off. "Like everything else."
The dragon's eyes narrowed as he studied Chain. "There is something you can assist me with. Something I... require."
Chain raised an eyebrow. "Already calling in favors? That didn't take long."
"Not a favor," Baulduvor growled. "A mutual benefit." He shifted his massive body, scales scraping against stone. "The ruins of Ubalav. There's a dragon there I have... unfinished business with."
"Another dragon?" Bianca asked, incredulous. "You want us to help you kill your own kind?"
Baulduvor's laugh was harsh. "As your commander saw, I have no love for my 'kind', half-demon." His gaze returned to Chain. "This one is ancient. Powerful. I cannot defeat him alone."
Chain's eyes narrowed. "Ancient and powerful, huh? What's his name?"
Baulduvor's entire body tensed, black flames flickering involuntarily from his nostrils.
"Vur'thaz the Eternal."
The name hung in the air like a death sentence.
Bianca's face went pale. "That's... that's impossible. Vur'thaz was killed three hundred years ago by—"
"By no one," Baulduvor interrupted, his voice a low growl. "He let the humans believe he died. He's been waiting. Growing stronger. And now..." The dragon's eyes gleamed with something between fear and hatred. "Now he's awake."
Chain felt it through their bond—a flicker of genuine terror from the dragon.
"And why," Chain asked slowly, "would an 'eternal' dragon suddenly wake up now?"
Baulduvor's massive head turned toward the distant mountains, where storm clouds gathered on the horizon.
"Because someone unsealed him."
The wind picked up, carrying with it the faint scent of sulfur and ash.
Chain's hand went to the violet amulet at his neck. It was pulsing faster now.
Warmer.
"Chain?" Bianca's voice was tight. "Your amulet—"
"I know." He looked at Baulduvor. "Where exactly are these ruins?"
The dragon's eyes locked onto his.
"Directly beneath Star's Bridge. In the old city. The Filth Pit."
Chain's blood ran cold.
Jorden was there right now.