Night had fully fallen by the time they finally reached the outskirts of VulcanFire territory. The skies above Avalon had darkened into deep shades of blue and black, while clouds drifted heavily overhead like silent omens.
In the distance, towering pillars of flame illuminated the land below, casting flickering orange light across the rocky cliffs and volcanic terrain. Even from afar, VulcanFire felt different at night. Colder. Harsher. Like the land itself had forgotten how to breathe peacefully. Atlas glided silently through the darkness beside Lutu and Drogo, his pale scales nearly disappearing against the moonlight sky. Below them, the faint glow of machinery and patrol torches stretched across the mountainside like veins of fire. Then Lyam raised his hand sharply. Instantly, the dragons descended lower. Silent. Controlled. Even the wind seemed to quiet around them.
Lutu landed first atop a hidden ridge overlooking the valley below. Atlas followed closely behind while Drogo landed with surprising grace for a dragon that normally crashed into everything enthusiastically. The moment their claws touched the rocky ground, Lyam dismounted immediately. His expression had shifted entirely now. Gone was the casual teasing leader Primara knew. In his place stood a commander preparing for war.
" Stay close," Lyam ordered quietly. His voice barely rose above the wind. " No unnecessary noise."
Starfania and Aeron nodded immediately. Behind them, Atlas lowered himself protectively beside Starfania, while Drogo's ears twitched alertly at every distant sound. Even Lutu moved carefully now, each step deliberately despite his massive size. Together, the group advance toward the cliff side overlooking the enemy encampment. The closer they moved, the more the scale of the operation revealed itself. Below them stretched a massive, hidden facility carved directly into the volcanic cliff.
Soldiers moved rapidly between transport lines, carrying metal crates stamped with warning symbols. Massive pipes pumped glowing black liquid between reinforced chambers while towering spotlights swept across the valley. The poison production had advanced far beyond what they feared. Lyam crouched carefully near the cliff edge before pulling a pair of binoculars from his side pouch. His expression tightened immediately while scanning the area.
" They've accelerated production," he muttered darkly. Aeron moved closer quietly. " How bad?"
Lyam didn't answer immediately. Instead, he handed the binoculars over. Aeron lifted them carefully toward the center of the encampment. The moment he focused properly—his expression dropped completely. " No way…"
Hidden near the center platform stood an enormous rocket-like structure reinforced with black steel and glowing red mechanisms. Thick tubes connected directly into the massive poison containment chamber surrounding its base. The entire thing pulsed faintly with unstable energy. It wasn't merely a delivery system.
It was designed to spread the poison across Avalon from the skies themselves. Aeron slowly lowered the binoculars. " They're planning to launch it during the eclipse…"
Lyam nodded grimly. " Exactly."
Aeron swallowed hard before passing the binoculars to Starfania. Starfania hesitated briefly before lifting them toward the encampment below. At first, all she saw were soldiers. Workers. Flames. Machinery. Then—her breath caught. Standing atop one of the elevated command platforms was Cesar Night. Her father.
Even from a distance, she recognized him instantly. The black dragon armor. Behind him, the silver cape moved. The posture she had seen her entire life. Commanding. Unshakable. Yet somehow…he looked older now. Tired. Like grief itself had carved into him over time. Starfania's expression never visibly changed. She remained perfectly still beside Lyam and Aeron. But inside—her entire mind spiraled violently. Papa…the ache in her chest returned instantly. Memories collided painfully with reality. Her father taught her how to hold a sword. Carrying her through festivals. Laughing beside dragons beneath VulcanFire's old skies. And now…standing beside a weapon capable of destroying everything. Then Cantina's voice appeared quietly within her mind. Calm. Steady.
" This," Cantina said softly, " is where everything you've learned begins to matter."
Starfania's grip tightened around the binoculars. Cantina continued. " Not only from the lessons from this journey…but the lessons from your past."
" The pain."
" The love."
" The grief."
" Everything that brought you here today."
Starfania stared silently at her father below. The king of VulcanFire looked impossibly far away now. Yet at the same time—closer than ever. Cantina's last words settled heavily within her chest. " A Dragon Savior does not fight because hatred guides them."
" They fight because they understand what must be protected."
Wind swept violently across the cliff-side. Below them, VulcanFire prepared for the eclipse. And somewhere deep inside herself—Starfania finally understood something terrifying. Stopping her father…and saving him…might not be the same thing.