The summoning arena had fallen silent again. Where moments ago, volcanic chaos and draconic roars had shaken the entire academy, now only dust floated in the air—thick, suffocating, and full of the aftertaste of fear.
Rayzen stood at the center, chest rising heavily, sweat dripping down his jaw. His fingers still tingled from the force of Daemonos' manifestation. Every elder, instructor, and student who had doubted him now stared like they were witnessing an anomaly… a walking disaster.
Or a rising god.
Under his breath, Rayzen whispered only one thing:
"I won't be caged again."
Daemonos' voice echoed calmly within his mind—deep, ancient and dangerous:
"Good. Let them fear. Fear forces the world to kneel."
Rayzen clenched his fists.
He wasn't doing this to make the world kneel.
He was doing this… so they could never crush him again.
"Rayzen. Move away from the dragon."
Instructor Eira stepped forward, ice-cold authority in her gaze. Beside her, the other elders tightened their defensive stances.
They weren't just intimidated—they were ready to eliminate him.
He recognized the look.
He had seen it every time someone labeled him defective.
Daemonos sensed Rayzen's pulse spike.
"Do not fear them. Your destiny is greater than their permission."
But Rayzen didn't answer.
Not yet.
The Empire's Command
A new figure stepped from the shadows of the upper stands—tall armor, a silver cape, and eyes sharp enough to cut through stone.
General Thorne.
The emperor's right hand.
Every instructor stiffened.
"Rayzen Valen." His voice was powerful and final. "By royal decree, you and your… creature… are to be escorted immediately to the capital."
Students gasped. Someone whispered:
"Is he being rewarded… or imprisoned?"
Rayzen asked firmly:
"For what reason?"
Thorne's jaw tightened.
"Dragons—especially ones of that classification—belong to the Empire. You will relinquish control and undergo a binding ritual."
There it was.
Not an offer.
A sentence.
Daemonos rumbled in Rayzen's mind, angered:
"He seeks to chain you. I will not allow this."
The ground trembled slightly with his fury.
Rayzen raised a hand to calm him.
He understood now.
No matter how strong he became…
those in power would always try to claim him.
He breathed slowly, suppressing the dangerous storm rising inside him.
"If the Empire wants a slave," Rayzen said, voice low but steady,
"they should find someone weaker."
The aura around General Thorne shifted instantly—a silent command for violence.
A Tense Stand-off
Hundreds of elite academy guards surged forward, enchanted chains and sealing spears ready.
The students scrambled back, terrified.
Rayzen's heartbeat slowed.
If he fought here…
if Daemonos unleashed even a fraction of his wrath…
This entire academy would turn to ash.
He didn't want that.
Eira stepped between the guards and Rayzen, shocking everyone.
"General… this boy just awakened. Force will destabilize the bond. If the dragon reacts—"
Thorne's glare cut her off.
"We take the risk. The Emperor's orders are absolute."
Rayzen felt his throat tighten.
No one here cared about him as a person.
Only what he possessed.
Only power.
A Choice With No Right Answer
Daemonos murmured:
"I can rip them apart. One breath and nothing remains."
Rayzen shook his head.
"No… not like this."
He couldn't let innocent students die.
They were ignorant—not evil.
He turned to Thorne.
"I'll go."
Daemonos snarled inside.
"Rayzen—"
"No," Rayzen insisted silently. "Not now. We bide our time."
His gaze hardened.
"I'll go because I choose to. Not because you ordered me."
Thorne smirked like he had already won.
Eira didn't look convinced.
The March Into Uncertainty
As guards moved to surround Rayzen, a lone figure broke through the crowd.
Aiden.
Despite trembling legs and fear in his eyes, he stepped beside Rayzen—shield up, determination burning.
"If he goes…" he swallowed,
"I go too."
Rayzen stared at him—shocked.
Aiden's voice quivered, but he kept going:
"He saved my life. And he's my friend. I won't let the Empire take him alone."
Even Thorne paused at the audacity.
The crowd murmured—an S-rank prodigy choosing the "defective" reject?
Daemonos chuckled in Rayzen's mind:
"You attract strange loyalty, hatchling."
Rayzen allowed himself a small smile.
"Thank you," he whispered.
No one ever stood beside him before.
Not like this.
The System Awakens Again
As chains inscribed with runes approached Rayzen's wrists, a soft chime sounded in his consciousness.
A translucent screen flickered:
System Notification:
> You have chosen loyalty over annihilation.
> The Primordial Bond deepens.
Reward: [Bond Skill Unlocked]
— Skill: Dragonheart Resonance —
Allows synchronization of strength, will, and essence between Tamer and Dragon.
Power multiplier depends on trust.
Warning: Unbreakable loyalty strengthens both… and hatred becomes twice as deadly.
Rayzen exhaled—hope stirring.
Daemonos' voice grew softer:
"You are no slave. You are my chosen."
Departure & Dark Whispers
They marched toward the sky-docks, where flying fortress-ships waited above the clouds.
Tension trailed behind them like a shadow.
As they walked, Eira silently approached Rayzen, her voice extremely low:
"Listen carefully… Trust no one in the capital. Especially not the royal handlers."
Rayzen eyed her.
She worked for the academy… yet she was warning him?
"Why are you telling me this?"
Eira looked straight ahead.
"Because… you remind me of someone I failed once."
Before he could ask more, she stepped away, disappearing into the guards.
A Secret Transmission
Inside the fortress-ship, Rayzen and Aiden were locked in a containment chamber reinforced with eternal-steel.
Rayzen stared out the window—flying above the clouds toward a destiny someone else wanted for him.
Aiden leaned closer and whispered:
"Don't worry… I believe in you."
Rayzen smiled weakly.
Before he could respond, Daemonos spoke with urgency:
"We are being watched. Many eyes. Many intentions."
Suddenly—another screen blinked before Rayzen:
A hidden presence attempts to connect…
Decrypting…
Unknown Message Received:
"They fear you. But I… will set you free.
Reach the capital.
We meet soon, heir of dragons."
Rayzen's blood ran cold.
Heir of dragons?
What did that mean?
Who sent this message?
Daemonos growled darkly:
"Old enemies wake.
And older truths will burn."
The Chains of a New World
The ship sped through the night sky—toward the Imperial Capital, toward a ritual that would try to bind him…
And toward a conspiracy that already had his name written in blood.
But Rayzen wasn't the same powerless boy anymore.
He had a dragon who would burn worlds for him.
He had the strength to rewrite fate.
He had a friend willing to stand beside him.
And the world was about to learn…
The Broken Tamer never breaks.
End of Chapter 9 ✅