"How far are we going?" Hades asked as he followed the large man deeper into the Death Well.
Vulcan led him toward the areas his mother had strictly forbidden him to enter—for good reason. The deeper they went, the stronger and more dangerous the beasts became.
"We're looking for an opponent strong enough to challenge your inner beast," Vulcan said.
Hades frowned. "What do you mean?"
Vulcan glanced back. "Have you ever felt the heat of a dragon? When we don't hunt or mate for a long time, that heat builds up. It burns inside us."
Hades suddenly remembered the day his draconic side had first awakened—the wild hunger, the madness for blood.
"Yes," he muttered. "I've felt that before."
Vulcan nodded. "That same heat can be triggered by anger or frustration too. And when it happens, you show your true strength—raw and unrestrained."
Hades looked uneasy. "Isn't that dangerous? That side of me… I can't control it."
