The air grew heavier, suffocating beneath the presence of the monstrosity that now towered before them. The dragon's skeletal form had been restored, its hollow bones wrapped in a sickening shroud of malice. Dark mana pulsed through its frame, like veins of shadow threading across its body.
The beast let out a roar—no longer the cry of a proud guardian, but a howl of hatred and corruption. The earth itself quaked, trees splintered, and the very air seemed to tremble in dread.
Panic spread through the soldiers. Some broke rank and fled deeper into the forest, while others tried desperately to form a defensive line. Their shouts and the clash of metal were drowned out as falling debris crushed men under broken trunks. Horses screamed, bolting uncontrollably. Carriages overturned, scattering supplies across the dirt road.
Albert's face was pale with disbelief as he drew his sword. "This—this is bigger than it ever was before!" he shouted, his voice nearly lost in the chaos.
Elric's brows furrowed sharply. Without hesitation, she grabbed Albert's shoulder, forcing his eyes to meet hers. "We need to stop it before it reaches the city!" Her command rang like steel against the panic. She turned on her heel, shouting over the storm of noise: "Form up! Hold the line! Stop it before it takes flight!"
As she spoke, she summoned her weapon. A golden bow of mana materialized in her hands, its string shimmering faintly under her grip. Beside her, Albert steadied his breathing, his expression hardening with resolve. With a flick of his wrist, his blade blazed to life, coated in mana.
The dragon's wings spread wide, shadows blanketing the ruined clearing.
"Over here, you wretched beast!" Elric growled under her breath as she nocked an arrow. With a swift release, the projectile shot toward the dragon's skull, exploding against its forehead. The creature's hollow eyes turned upon her, furious, just as she intended.
"Now!" Elric called.
Albert lunged forward, leading what remained of the vanguard. His blade swung down in a wide arc, striking at the creature's front leg. Instead of cleaving through, the strike rang out with a metallic clang, sparks flying as the edge bounced back.
"Damn it!" Albert snarled, stumbling back. "Its mana coating is as hard as steel!"
The dragon's maw opened, exhaling a hiss of decayed mana. Its gaze remained locked on Elric. She didn't hesitate—she sprinted into the trees, weaving between broken trunks. She needed elevation.
"Lady Elric!" Albert shouted after her, but she was already gone.
Her boots struck the earth with precision, her cloak trailing behind. She reached a rise of rock within the forest, the beast crashing after her. Its skeletal claws dug trenches into the ground, but Elric was faster. Turning mid-stride, she drew another arrow, the string of her bow glowing under her pull. Flames ignited along the shaft, engulfing the tip in blazing fire.
Her eyes locked on the source of corruption—the faint red gleam deep within the dragon's skull. "There you are," she whispered.
The arrow loosed, slicing through the air. It struck the beast's neck, embedding itself before erupting into fire. Flames coiled upward, searing across its throat, crawling closer toward its head.
But the dragon only roared louder. Instead of faltering, its body twisted unnaturally, mana surging toward its mouth. Elric's eyes widened in horror.
"No… it's concentrating on it!"
The fire from her arrow was pulled, sucked into the growing orb of flame building within the dragon's maw. The corrupted energy swelled, distorting the air around it.
"Lady Elric!"
Albert appeared, leaping high into the air. His sword shimmered with concentrated mana, brighter than before. With a fierce shout, he slashed at one of the dragon's wings. The blow landed true—his blade cut through bone, severing the massive wing in half.
The creature roared in agony, shaking the forest. The ground cracked beneath their feet as shockwaves rippled outward.
Albert landed beside Elric, panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face. "Don't stop now! Its bones are shielded by thick mana—but if we concentrate enough power, we can break—"
He froze mid-sentence.
Both of them watched as the dragon's severed wing twitched, then—before their eyes—fused back into place. The jagged bones reknit themselves, sinews of black mana weaving them together as if nothing had happened.
The corrupted beast spread its restored wings, hatred blazing from its skull.
Elric's heart sank. "It can heal itself…"
The dragon's chest expanded, its head lowering toward them. The orb of fire within its maw swelled, its light growing unbearable. Heat surged around them, suffocating and overwhelming, as if the world itself was about to ignite.
Albert tightened his grip on his blade, but his knuckles were white, his breathing shallow. They both knew—there was no escaping this blast.
Sweat rolled down Elric's temple. Her hands trembled, but her bow remained drawn. In that moment, her lips parted, and a whisper escaped her.
"…Kael…"
The dragon released its roar, and the burning light consumed the sky.
-----------------------------------------
Reinhardt felt it first—the faint vibration beneath his boots. His usual smile slipped away, replaced by a sharp, unreadable expression. Kael, sitting silently on his bed, noticed the sudden shift in him. Reinhardt's gaze snapped toward the window, brows knitting.
Then the trembling grew stronger. The floor quaked, rattling every piece of furniture. Books tumbled from the cabinet, glass cups shattered against the ground, and a vase toppled with a loud crack.
Kael flinched as a deafening roar filled the air, shaking the walls around them. It wasn't just a sound—it pierced into their bones, ancient and oppressive.
Robert staggered, pressing a hand against the wall to steady himself. His face drained of color. "W-what's happening?!" he shouted over the rumble, hands clamping down over his ears. The roar grew louder, drowning every other sound.
Reinhardt didn't answer immediately. His jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. He knew this roar. He had heard it once before, long ago. Behind him, Kael's gaze darkened, his pupils uneven as the sound clawed at his memory. He too recognized it.
The next moment, a thunderous explosion echoed from the distant forest. The ground shook again, rattling the windows. They all turned toward the window in unison. From afar, flames rose high, curling black smoke into the sky. The earth split with fire, lighting up the Caldery mountain in the distance.
Kael's eyes widened as he saw it—the massive shadow of something vast soaring upward, breaking free into the air above the explosion.
Reinhardt stood abruptly from his chair. His calm tone was gone, replaced by the authority of a commander. "Don't move from this room. Stay here." His voice carried the weight of a command, leaving no space for argument.
He turned sharply to Robert. "Whatever happens, do not step back. Protect him."
Robert straightened, forcing down his fear. "Y-yes, Your Majesty!"
Reinhardt moved toward the door with decisive strides—but before he could leave, Kael pushed himself from the bed, his legs trembling beneath him. He managed to catch Reinhardt's hand.
Reinhardt stopped. Slowly, he turned back. Kael's pale face trembled as he gripped Reinhardt's wrist, his body swaying unsteadily.
For a moment, Reinhardt simply looked at him—those crimson-gold eyes reflecting fear and unspoken words.
His expression softened. With a small smile, Reinhardt placed a steadying hand on Kael's shoulder. "It's alright. I'll be back." His tone carried both reassurance and finality, though his eyes betrayed something deeper: he could see Kael wanted to follow, wanted to speak—but Reinhardt would never allow him to step into that danger again.
He squeezed Kael's shoulder once, firmly, then gently let go. Turning away, he walked out of the room, leaving Kael and Robert behind in uneasy silence.
"Your Majesty…" Robert whispered after him, but the door had already closed.
Kael wavered on his feet, his strength faltering. Robert hurried forward, catching him before he could fall. "Careful, young master! Please—don't push yourself." He guided Kael back toward the bed, speaking softly, as if trying to shield him with words alone. "Don't worry… everything will be alright. His Majesty will take care of it."
But Kael shook his head weakly. His voice was hoarse, quiet, yet filled with urgency. "No… this is not—"
Before he could finish, another roar ripped through the air. Louder. Closer. The floor shuddered beneath their knees, nearly throwing them off balance. Both of them winced, hands instinctively rising to cover their ears from the unbearable sound.
The tremors grew violent, rattling the entire manor. The bedposts shook, shelves collapsed, and plaster cracked along the walls. Robert pulled Kael closer, shielding him as best he could.
The roar felt so near, as if the beast was no longer in the distance but right upon them.
Kael turned his gaze toward the window again. Through the shaking glass, he could see nothing of the explosion's flames. The sky above Caldery was empty.
The dragon was no longer there.
His chest tightened as an indescribable dread filled him. Deep inside, his heart knew the truth. The beast was moving closer. And he… he felt it—the pull, the call—that he could not simply sit and do nothing.