The order echoed like a divine curse.
"Kill the Crown-Bearer."
Hundreds of hunters surged forward.
Dragons of ice and steel tore through the sky.
The Dragon Queen lifted her sword — a blade forged from dragon fangs, dripping cold authority.
Rayzen whispered to Seraph:
"Don't hold back."
Lightning split the air— Etherstorm Surge activated.
Seraph roared as stars erupted behind him — his wings glowing brighter than the moon.
Hunters collapsed instantly — bodies trembling from pure fear.
But the Queen didn't flinch.
"Interesting. Your power… is incomplete."
Her ice dragon lunged — growling frost into reality.
Rayzen stepped forward — shadow lightning dancing from his body.
He met the beast head-on.
💥 THUNDER IMPACT 💥
The dragon exploded into shards of snow and blood. Rayzen watched its remains fall like winter rain.
The Dragon Queen's smile thinned.
"You killed my favorite pet…
A pity."
Suddenly — Ice chains erupted from the ground — clamping around Rayzen's arms and legs.
He strained — void lightning sparking — but the chains refused to break.
The Queen approached — her aura suffocating like a mountain collapsing.
"Your bloodline is a crime.
Your existence… a mistake."
She raised her blade — aimed for his heart—
Seraph launched himself between them — blue fire igniting the air.
❄️🔥 Fire and Ice collided — violently.
Seraph staggered.
The Queen flicked her wrist — a storm of blades impaling Seraph's wings.
Rayzen's eyes widened.
"SERAPH!"
The Queen leaned close to Rayzen's ear.
"You do not deserve a dragon."
Her sword pierced Seraph's chest.
A scream tore the sky itself — Rayzen felt something snap inside him.
The chains tightened — drawing blood.
Rayzen's voice shook with rage:
"Don't… touch… him."
His lightning turned black-purple — swallowing light.
[PRIMORDIAL LINK — CRITICAL OVERFLOW]
Sanity Warning: EXCEEDED.
Reality cracked.
The Queen was thrown back — sliding across shattered bone pillars.
She gasped — eyes wide.
"A… Primordial Sovereign's aura…?"
Rayzen's vision darkened — killing intent thick as storm clouds.
A voice whispered inside him:
"Let me out."
Rayzen exhaled darkness — void lightning swirling like demonic halos.
He flashed forward — faster than possible — and drove his fist into the Queen's armor.
💥
It shattered.
Blood spilled.
For the first time — she looked terrified.
"How… dare… a defective—"
Rayzen punched again — sending her crashing through three pillars.
He stood over her.
"Don't ever call me that again."
Lightning coiled around her throat — ready to end a royal bloodline.
Seraph groaned weakly behind him.
"Rayzen… stop…"
Rayzen's voice remained hollow.
"She tried to kill you."
🌑 The Spirit of the Ancient Dragon King
The sanctuary trembled — bones glowing bright gold.
The spirits above bellowed — wind turning into roaring cyclones.
A colossal figure formed behind Rayzen — a spectral dragon with a crown of void suns.
Dragon King Aethryon.
Last ruler of the Primordial Dragons.
The origin of forbidden power.
His voice rolled across worlds:
"Crown-Bearer…
You tread the edge of a tyrant."
Rayzen shivered as the king's power flooded his soul.
The Queen stared in horror, whispering:
"N-No… The Prophesied Monarch…"
Aethryon gazed at Rayzen — with both approval and warning.
"You have the right to rule.
But will you rule to protect…
Or rule to dominate?"
Rayzen's fist trembled at the Queen's throat.
Seraph, bleeding but alive, called out:
"Rayzen… your heart defines your power."
Lyra's voice echoed faintly from her prison:
"Choose who you want to become…"
The lightning around Rayzen flickered.
Darkness…
or resolve?
Rayzen closed his eyes.
Then stepped back.
The Queen collapsed — gasping.
"I won't become them."
"I won't be a tyrant."
The Ancient King smiled — proud.
"Then ascend."
A thunderous beam of light fell from the heavens — engulfing Rayzen.
His aura shattered known limits —
Wings of lightning forming from his back —
Eyes burning like galaxies collapsing.
[ETHERSTORM ASCENSION — PHASE 2 UNLOCKED]
Mark across his arm now spread to his chest — a half-crown blazing with dragon sigils.
The spirits bowed.
Even the Queen… crawled backward in disbelief.
"A crownless king… awakened."
Rayzen leveled his gaze at her — calm yet terrifying.
"Leave. And tell Remiel:
The defective tamer is coming for the throne."
She vanished instantly — retreating in absolute fear.
⚡ What's Coming
The storm settled — but Rayzen's heart was racing.
Seraph limped to his side.
"You spared her.
That is true power."
Rayzen nodded.
But his eyes drifted to Lyra — still chained in crystal.
Her voice, a soft plea:
"Hurry… They know now.
The real hunt begins."
Rayzen placed a hand on the barrier.
"I'm not leaving without you."
The barrier glowed — resisting.
The Ancient King spoke one final line:
"To break those chains…
You must become more than a king."
Then he vanished.
Lightning roared in Rayzen's veins.
He looked at his fists.
"Then I'll rise higher.
Till every chain bows."
Seraph grinned.
"Storm King… what's the plan?"
Rayzen smirked — fearless.
"We hunt those who hunt us."
—
✅ END OF CHAPTER 8