2025-03-04 21:59:09After leaving the Buried City, Valthorien, Elden and his group emerged back to the surface, where night had fallen over the Astrahal Desert. The once-scorching heat had given way to a biting cold, while the wind whispered softly across the dunes.
Elden gripped the Aether Eye tightly. The artifact pulsed gently in his grasp, as if it possessed a consciousness of its own. He still didn’t fully understand the vision he had seen of the last dragon and of himself completely transforming into one.
Vaelis walked beside him, gazing at the artifact with a contemplative look. “The Aether Eye is an extraordinary object… but it can also be a dangerous burden. If you are not ready to wield it, it may consume you.”
Elden swallowed hard. “I know… But if this is the only way to defeat Malagar, then I have to use it.”
Kaelar, leading ahead of them, suddenly stopped and raised his hand, signaling for silence. Everyone immediately became alert.
“We’re being followed,” he whispered.
Renard quickly drew his twin daggers and disappeared into the shadows. Elden heightened his senses, trying to detect their pursuer, but what he felt was something far too close.
In an instant, an attack struck!
A shadow streaked down from above, slashing toward Elden with a dark blade. Elden barely dodged in time, but the attack was swift and precise. Kaelar blocked the next strike, forcing the attacker to retreat.
As the dust settled, their enemy finally came into view. A masked man clad in black armor that seemed woven from shadows. A dark aura surrounded him, making the air feel heavier.
“Who are you?” Elden demanded, though deep down, he already had a suspicion.
The man stood tall, his voice cold as he said, “I am someone who has long been watching your journey, Dragon Heir.”
Kaelar growled. “Are you one of Malagar’s pawns?”
The man chuckled softly. “No. I do not serve Malagar. But I am also not your ally.”
In a blink, he vanished from his spot, reappearing right behind Elden, touching the Aether Eye!
Elden’s vision blurred. Another premonition struck him, clearer than before.
He saw a young man with glowing golden eyes… then saw himself lying on the ground, while Malagar loomed over him, smiling.
The vision disappeared as quickly as it came, and Elden’s heartbeat thundered in his chest. He recoiled, breaking contact with the man.
Vaelis immediately prepared a spell. “Who are you, really?”
The man sighed. “My name… is Draven.”
Kaelar’s eyes widened at the name. “Draven? You… you are…”
Draven nodded. “Yes. I was once a Dragon Guardian, just like Kaelar.”
Everyone fell silent.
Kaelar clenched his fists. “That’s impossible. The Dragon Guardians were wiped out when Malagar slaughtered them years ago.”
Draven smirked slightly. “All of them… except me.
Draven lowered his sword, signaling that he did not intend to fight, at least not yet.
“I know much about the Dragon Heirs. More than you can imagine,” he said, his piercing gaze locking onto Elden. “And I know that if you try to face Malagar as you are now, you will fail.”
Elden frowned. “What do you mean?”
Draven crossed his arms. “The Aether Eye is not just a key to finding the last dragon. It can also unlock your greatest potential… or utterly destroy you.”
Vaelis furrowed his brow. “Explain.”
Draven stepped closer to Elden and spoke in a low tone. “Malagar does not seek the last dragon to kill it. He wants to extract its life essence, the source of the dragon’s power. If that happens, Malagar will become a being that even you cannot defeat, Elden.”
Kaelar stiffened. “What are you saying? Malagar is already immensely powerful.”
Draven met his gaze coldly. “And he is about to become even stronger.”
A shiver ran down Elden’s spine. He had always known Malagar was a formidable enemy, but if what Draven said was true… then they were running out of time faster than they had realized.
Renard, who had been silent until now, suddenly chuckled.
“This is interesting,” he said, twirling one of his daggers. “You know a lot, Draven. But tell me… why are you only showing up now?”
Draven turned to him. “Because I was waiting for the right moment. I needed Elden to obtain the Aether Eye first.”
Kaelar immediately drew his sword. “So you’ve been after the artifact all along?”
Draven sighed. “I do not wish to take it from you, but I do need it. The Aether Eye is not just the key to the last dragon, it holds a fragment of the consciousness of the first ancient dragon. And I… need its answers.”
Renard scoffed. “So you’ve been playing us all along?”
Draven stared at him for a long moment. “I have never served Malagar. But I do not serve you either.”
Before anyone could react, Draven vanished into the shadows, disappearing like mist.
Elden clenched his fists. “We cannot trust him.”
Kaelar nodded. “But we also cannot ignore what he said.”
Vaelis stroked his beard. “If Malagar is truly after the last dragon’s essence, then we must move quickly. Not only to stop him… but to understand who Elden truly is.”
Renard let out a long sigh. “I hate this. The more enemies that appear, the less we know who we can truly trust.”
Elden looked down at the Aether Eye in his hand, then turned his gaze to the vast desert horizon.
In the distance, the wind carried a whisper, as if the last dragon was calling out, waiting to be found.
And far away, Malagar had already begun his move.
...
The night in the Astrahal Desert grew even colder. After Draven’s departure, Elden and his group continued their journey, following the guidance of the Aether Eye, which pulsed warmly in Elden’s grasp. The artifact seemed to possess a consciousness of its own, trembling whenever they approached something significant.
Vaelis observed the sky, where the stars gathered in a strange formation, as if pointing them toward the path they needed to take. “We must move quickly. If Malagar is truly after the dragon’s essence, we don’t have much time.”
Kaelar, leading at the front, nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on any tracks around us. Draven may be gone, but I don’t believe we’re truly alone.”
Renard scoffed, slipping his dagger back into its sheath. “I agree with Kaelar. The farther we go, the greater the chance that someone is watching us.”
Elden couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling in his heart. All of this felt like a trap.
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Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 13 : The Passage to Destiny
After several hours of walking, they arrived in a land unlike anything they had seen before. The desert sands gradually turned into black, rocky ground, as if they were stepping into another world.The Aether Eye in Elden’s grasp began to glow even brighter.“This place…” Elden murmured, sensing a strange energy in the air.Vaelis scanned the surroundings. “This is no ordinary place. I can feel traces of ancient magic here.”Ahead of them, ancient ruins emerged from the night mist. Towering pillars made of obsidian stone stood tall, adorned with carvings of dragons that seemed older than any human civilization.Kaelar drew his sword. “I don’t like this place.”But before they could retreat, the ground suddenly trembled.From beneath the earth, armored hands burst forth, followed by massive figures resembling ancient warriors. Their eyes glowed red, and an aura of death surrounded them.“Undead soldiers…” Vaelis exhaled heavily.Kaelar sprang into action, slashing at one of the undead
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 14 : The Last Dragon
The narrow passage they had been following gradually widened, revealing a sight beyond imagination.Before them lay a massive cavern, its walls shimmering like gemstones. A blue glow emanated from the crystals embedded in the ceiling, casting a magical atmosphere. In the center of the cavern, a silver lake reflected the light, creating the illusion that they were standing beneath a starlit sky.But the most striking sight of all was the enormous figure resting at the heart of the cave.A colossal dragon, its scales as black as the night, and eyes glowing blue like the stars. Elden felt his heart stop for a moment.The last dragon.Elden stepped forward cautiously, while the others remained on guard.The dragon opened its eyes, staring at them with an unreadable expression. “At last, you have arrived, Heir of the Dragon Blood.”The voice did not come through their ears but resonated directly in their minds, deep and echoing like the voice of nature itself.Elden swallowed hard, trying
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 15 : The Battle in the Dragon’s Cave
Without warning, Malagar raised his hand, and a massive black energy orb the size of a boulder formed above him!“Feel the wrath of darkness!”BOOOM!The energy orb shot forward at an incredible speed!Elden and the others scrambled to dodge. The cave floor trembled violently as the energy orb smashed into the rocky walls, triggering a massive explosion that sent giant shards of stone crashing down.“Don’t let him destroy this place!” Kaelar shouted, drawing his sword and dashing forward.Renard also sprang into action, hurling several daggers at Malagar, but with a mere wave of his hand, Malagar effortlessly deflected all the attacks.Vaelis raised his staff and chanted a spell. A burst of blue light shot from its tip, streaking toward Malagar.However, before the magic could reach him, Malagar lifted his hand and conjured a shadow shield.“A good attempt… but futile.”Malagar gestured toward Vaelis, and suddenly the ground beneath him cracked open!“Vaelis, watch out!” Elden shouted
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 16 : Confronted by Darkness
Elden stood tall, the blue flames still blazing across his body. His eyes locked onto Malagar with pure hatred, yet deep within, he began to feel something strange. The power of the dragon’s blood, newly awakened, was incredible, but also… uncontrollable.Malagar smirked. "You feel it, don’t you? That power… it doesn’t want you to resist it."Elden gritted his teeth, trying to block out Malagar’s voice. He stepped forward, raising his sword, which burned with blue fire. "I won’t let you manipulate me."Malagar lifted one hand, and dark shadows began swirling around him. "Let’s see how long you can hold out, Dragon Heir."Without warning, Malagar shot forward with incredible speed. Elden had only a split second to raise his sword and block the attack. The clash between blue flames and dark shadows sent shockwaves through the entire cavern.Kaelar, Renard, and Vaelis stepped back, trying to avoid the destruction unfolding around them.Kaelar drew his sword. "We can’t just stand here and
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 17 : Eyes Behind the Shadows
They stood amidst the ruins of the cave, remnants of battle scattered around them. Elden’s breathing was still heavy, but his eyes had returned to normal, bright blue, no longer the deep purple darkness that had nearly consumed him. Kaelar, Renard, and Vaelis watched him cautiously, ensuring he was truly back to himself.Across from them, Malagar stood with a calm expression, though it was clear he was slightly surprised by what had just transpired."Interesting," Malagar murmured, a thin smirk forming. "I thought you would succumb to the darkness, Elden. But it seems you're more stubborn than I expected."Elden clenched his fists. He could still feel the remnants of the dark energy swirling inside him, but now he was more prepared to control it. "I won’t let myself fall into your game."Malagar chuckled softly. "Oh, Elden… this is not my game. This is fate, one that was decided the moment you were born."Kaelar stepped closer to Elden, his stance wary. "We need to leave. We've fought
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 1 : The Awakened Mark
The night wind swept through the forest, carrying the scent of damp earth and freshly fallen leaves. Amidst the dense foliage, a young man clad in ragged hunter’s garb moved cautiously, his sharp eyes scanning every movement around him. Elden, a simple village hunter, gripped his bow tightly. He had spent hours in the forest, yet his prey had not appeared."Just one deer is all I need…" he muttered under his breath, almost as if speaking to himself.Life in his small village on the kingdom’s edge had always been simple—rising before dawn, hunting for food, and returning before nightfall. But tonight was different. The air felt heavier, denser, as if unseen eyes were watching him from the shadows of the trees.Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled violently. Elden swiftly raised his bow, nocking an arrow, and aimed toward the source of the sound."Hrrr…"A low growl sent chills down his spine. Emerging from the darkness of the forest was a wolf—but not an ordinary one. Its body was larger
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 2 : The Hunt Begins
Elden began to run out of breath as the current of the water pushed him closer to death."I have to... get out of here..." he thought in panic.Then, something strange happened. The mark on his arm started glowing faintly underwater, and suddenly, his body felt lighter. His muscles reacted faster, and it was as if his instincts were guiding him on how to fight the current.With his newfound strength, Elden kicked hard and swam toward the riverbank. It took a few seconds, but he finally reached the edge, dragging himself onto the rocks, gasping for air.In the distance, he could still hear the muffled voices of the knights. They seemed to be struggling to find a way across the gorge."I made it..." Elden exhaled, relief washing over him despite his exhaustion.But he couldn't stay there for long. He had to keep moving.Hours later, Elden continued walking along the riverbank, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and his pursuers. The forest grew denser, with sunli
Heir of the Dragon’s Blood 3 : The Awakening Flame
Elden was still staring at his palm, his breath ragged after what had just happened. He had never experienced anything like this before. He had always thought of himself as just an ordinary young man from a small village, not someone who could wield fire.Kaelar, sitting across from him, gave a slight smile. "This is just the beginning, Elden. If you don’t learn to control it, that power could become your weapon… or your downfall."Elden swallowed hard. "How do I control it?"Kaelar crossed his arms. "Just like controlling your breath. You can’t force it, but you can guide it. You must understand the power, not fight against it."Elden furrowed his brow. He wasn’t sure he could do it. When the fire had erupted from his hands earlier, it felt uncontrollable, an untamed explosion bursting from within him. If he wasn’t careful, he could burn himself… or worse, the people around him.Kaelar seemed to sense his unease. "Don’t fear your own power, Elden. Fear will only make it wilder."Elde
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17 : Eyes Behind the Shadows
They stood amidst the ruins of the cave, remnants of battle scattered around them. Elden’s breathing was still heavy, but his eyes had returned to normal, bright blue, no longer the deep purple darkness that had nearly consumed him. Kaelar, Renard, and Vaelis watched him cautiously, ensuring he was truly back to himself.Across from them, Malagar stood with a calm expression, though it was clear he was slightly surprised by what had just transpired."Interesting," Malagar murmured, a thin smirk forming. "I thought you would succumb to the darkness, Elden. But it seems you're more stubborn than I expected."Elden clenched his fists. He could still feel the remnants of the dark energy swirling inside him, but now he was more prepared to control it. "I won’t let myself fall into your game."Malagar chuckled softly. "Oh, Elden… this is not my game. This is fate, one that was decided the moment you were born."Kaelar stepped closer to Elden, his stance wary. "We need to leave. We've fought
16 : Confronted by Darkness
Elden stood tall, the blue flames still blazing across his body. His eyes locked onto Malagar with pure hatred, yet deep within, he began to feel something strange. The power of the dragon’s blood, newly awakened, was incredible, but also… uncontrollable.Malagar smirked. "You feel it, don’t you? That power… it doesn’t want you to resist it."Elden gritted his teeth, trying to block out Malagar’s voice. He stepped forward, raising his sword, which burned with blue fire. "I won’t let you manipulate me."Malagar lifted one hand, and dark shadows began swirling around him. "Let’s see how long you can hold out, Dragon Heir."Without warning, Malagar shot forward with incredible speed. Elden had only a split second to raise his sword and block the attack. The clash between blue flames and dark shadows sent shockwaves through the entire cavern.Kaelar, Renard, and Vaelis stepped back, trying to avoid the destruction unfolding around them.Kaelar drew his sword. "We can’t just stand here and
15 : The Battle in the Dragon’s Cave
Without warning, Malagar raised his hand, and a massive black energy orb the size of a boulder formed above him!“Feel the wrath of darkness!”BOOOM!The energy orb shot forward at an incredible speed!Elden and the others scrambled to dodge. The cave floor trembled violently as the energy orb smashed into the rocky walls, triggering a massive explosion that sent giant shards of stone crashing down.“Don’t let him destroy this place!” Kaelar shouted, drawing his sword and dashing forward.Renard also sprang into action, hurling several daggers at Malagar, but with a mere wave of his hand, Malagar effortlessly deflected all the attacks.Vaelis raised his staff and chanted a spell. A burst of blue light shot from its tip, streaking toward Malagar.However, before the magic could reach him, Malagar lifted his hand and conjured a shadow shield.“A good attempt… but futile.”Malagar gestured toward Vaelis, and suddenly the ground beneath him cracked open!“Vaelis, watch out!” Elden shouted
14 : The Last Dragon
The narrow passage they had been following gradually widened, revealing a sight beyond imagination.Before them lay a massive cavern, its walls shimmering like gemstones. A blue glow emanated from the crystals embedded in the ceiling, casting a magical atmosphere. In the center of the cavern, a silver lake reflected the light, creating the illusion that they were standing beneath a starlit sky.But the most striking sight of all was the enormous figure resting at the heart of the cave.A colossal dragon, its scales as black as the night, and eyes glowing blue like the stars. Elden felt his heart stop for a moment.The last dragon.Elden stepped forward cautiously, while the others remained on guard.The dragon opened its eyes, staring at them with an unreadable expression. “At last, you have arrived, Heir of the Dragon Blood.”The voice did not come through their ears but resonated directly in their minds, deep and echoing like the voice of nature itself.Elden swallowed hard, trying
13 : The Passage to Destiny
After several hours of walking, they arrived in a land unlike anything they had seen before. The desert sands gradually turned into black, rocky ground, as if they were stepping into another world.The Aether Eye in Elden’s grasp began to glow even brighter.“This place…” Elden murmured, sensing a strange energy in the air.Vaelis scanned the surroundings. “This is no ordinary place. I can feel traces of ancient magic here.”Ahead of them, ancient ruins emerged from the night mist. Towering pillars made of obsidian stone stood tall, adorned with carvings of dragons that seemed older than any human civilization.Kaelar drew his sword. “I don’t like this place.”But before they could retreat, the ground suddenly trembled.From beneath the earth, armored hands burst forth, followed by massive figures resembling ancient warriors. Their eyes glowed red, and an aura of death surrounded them.“Undead soldiers…” Vaelis exhaled heavily.Kaelar sprang into action, slashing at one of the undead
12 : Betrayal Among Us
After leaving the Buried City, Valthorien, Elden and his group emerged back to the surface, where night had fallen over the Astrahal Desert. The once-scorching heat had given way to a biting cold, while the wind whispered softly across the dunes.Elden gripped the Aether Eye tightly. The artifact pulsed gently in his grasp, as if it possessed a consciousness of its own. He still didn’t fully understand the vision he had seen of the last dragon and of himself completely transforming into one.Vaelis walked beside him, gazing at the artifact with a contemplative look. “The Aether Eye is an extraordinary object… but it can also be a dangerous burden. If you are not ready to wield it, it may consume you.”Elden swallowed hard. “I know… But if this is the only way to defeat Malagar, then I have to use it.”Kaelar, leading ahead of them, suddenly stopped and raised his hand, signaling for silence. Everyone immediately became alert.“We’re being followed,” he whispered.Renard quickly drew h
11 : The Buried City
Elden and his party left black wind fortress, the site of their previous battle, and continued their journey toward the astrahal desert. According to the Dragon's Tome, hidden within this desert was one of the keys to the ancient Dragon's Heart, an artifact capable of awakening the true dragon power within Elden.However, the journey to Astrahal was anything but easy. The desert was known as a perilous place, filled with desert bandits, magical creatures, and deadly sandstorms. Weakened and wounded from their last battle, they needed to move quickly before Malagar’s forces caught up with them.Under the scorching sun, Elden walked at the front of the group alongside Kaelar and Renard, while Vaelis stayed at the rear, shielding them with protective magic against the sandstorm. Despite his injuries from the last battle, Renard maintained his usual nonchalant attitude."You know? I'd rather face Malagar’s army than walk through this place," Renard grumbled, shaking off the dust from his
10 : Shadows Beyond the Sky
The Ardent Fortress now stood as a witness to the awakening of Elden’s power. The light from the Dragon’s Heart had slowly dimmed, leaving behind a lingering magical aura in the air. Elden could still feel the warmth of dragon energy coursing through his body, yet he knew this was only the beginning of his journey.Kaelar rested his sword on his shoulder, breaking the silence. “So, we’re heading to Eldoria Peak?”Renard nodded. “That’s the only clue we have. If King Orthenos’s final secret truly lies there, we can’t afford to wait any longer.”Vaelis gazed at the towering ceiling of the fortress. “But Eldoria Peak isn’t easy to reach. It lies within Malagar’s domain.”Elden clenched his fists. The name Malagar sent a burning fury through his chest. That man had destroyed his village and hunted dragon blood. And now, Elden knew Malagar was after him too.Renard stepped toward the fortress exit. “We need to move fast. If Malagar knows we’re here, he may have already sent someone to stop
9 : The Gate of Ardent Fortress
The footsteps of Elden, Kaelar, Vaelis, and Renard echoed along the narrowing stone corridor. The air around them began to change, growing colder and heavier, as if something unseen was pressing down on them. The dim light from the torch Vaelis carried cast long shadows on the walls, creating the illusion that they were not alone.After walking for several minutes, they finally arrived before a massive gate made of intricately carved black metal. The engravings depicted a great dragon with outstretched wings, its eyes appearing to watch anyone who stood before it.Kaelar placed his hand on the gate. "So, this is Ardent Fortress?"Renard nodded. "This is the entrance. But getting inside won’t be that easy."Elden stepped forward, sensing something strange about the gate. "Why not?"Renard looked at him seriously. "This gate will only open for those with the blood of a true dragon. Without it, anyone who tries to enter will die on the spot."Elden felt his heart beat faster. "So, I have
