FIRE AND SILVER
Flames devoured the forest.
Burning trees collapsed around the clearing while thick smoke filled the air. The heat from the dragon’s fire made the ground glow red in places.
The enormous creature stood at the center of the destruction, its black scales reflecting the firelight like dark metal.
Its glowing red eyes were fixed on one person.
Aria.
Lucian grabbed her arm again.
“Stay back.”
But Aria didn’t move.
The silver light around her slowly grew brighter.
The Primordial power inside her stirred violently, responding to the ancient creature before her.
The dragon lowered its massive head slightly.
Smoke curled from its nostrils.
Rowan coughed from behind a fallen tree.
“I feel like they’re having some kind of ancient staring contest.”
The Alpha King stepped forward again.
Golden energy burned around him like sunlight cutting through the smoke.
“Aria.”
His voice was calm but firm.
“Let us handle this.”
Aria’s glowing eyes flickered slightly.
For a moment, her normal voice pushed through.
“It’s not here for you.”
Lucian frowned.
“…It’s here for you.”
Aria nodded slowly.
The Blood Emperor clapped slowly behind them.
“Excellent.”
Everyone turned toward him.
His red eyes gleamed with excitement.
“Two ancient forces finally meeting.”
Lucian’s patience snapped.
“You woke a dragon just to test her power?”
The Blood Emperor shrugged.
“I wanted to see if the Primordial wolf was real.”
He gestured toward Aria.
“And now I know.”
The dragon suddenly roared.
A deafening sound that shook the burning forest.
Its wings spread wide, sending powerful gusts of wind through the flames.
Then it moved.
The massive creature lunged forward.
Straight toward Aria.
Lucian jumped in front of her instantly.
His blade flashed upward, slashing across the dragon’s snout.
Sparks flew as the sword scraped against its scales.
But the dragon barely noticed.
Its enormous claw swung forward.
Lucian barely rolled away before the ground exploded beneath the strike.
Rowan leapt from the side in wolf form again, aiming for the dragon’s leg.
His teeth sank into the thick scales.
The dragon roared in annoyance and kicked him away.
Rowan rolled across the dirt, groaning.
“Why is everything we fight enormous?!”
The Alpha King launched himself into the air.
Golden energy exploded around him like lightning.
He slammed his fist into the dragon’s jaw with incredible force.
For the first time—
The creature staggered slightly.
Lucian’s eyes widened.
“It felt that.”
The dragon snarled angrily.
Its tail whipped across the clearing.
The massive strike sent several warriors flying backward.
Flames continued spreading through the forest.
Aria watched everything.
Her silver eyes studied the dragon carefully.
It wasn’t mindless like the earlier monsters.
It was intelligent.
Ancient.
And it was testing them.
The Primordial voice whispered again inside her mind.
It recognizes your blood.
Aria’s hand slowly lifted.
Silver light gathered around her fingers again.
Lucian noticed.
“Aria—wait!”
But the dragon moved again.
It inhaled deeply.
Its chest began glowing bright red.
Rowan’s eyes widened.
“Oh no.”
“Not again.”
The dragon unleashed another massive wave of fire.
But this time—
Aria stepped forward.
Her silver power exploded outward.
A glowing barrier of light formed in front of her.
The fire crashed against the shield.
Flames roared against the silver barrier, but they couldn’t break through.
Lucian stared in shock.
“She blocked dragon fire.”
Rowan blinked.
“…That’s new.”
The Alpha King looked back at Aria.
His golden eyes softened slightly.
But the Blood Emperor’s expression changed.
For the first time—
He looked impressed.
The flames slowly faded.
Aria lowered her hand.
The silver shield dissolved into glowing sparks.
The dragon tilted its massive head slightly.
Studying her now.
Not attacking.
Watching.
Aria stepped forward again.
The warriors behind her went silent.
The dragon lowered its head closer to her level.
The two ancient powers faced each other in silence.
Then suddenly—
The dragon bowed.
Everyone froze.
Rowan blinked.
“…Did the giant dragon just bow?”
Lucian looked just as confused.
The Alpha King’s eyes widened slightly.
The Blood Emperor’s smile slowly faded.
Because dragons didn’t bow.
To anyone.
Aria stood completely still.
The silver glow around her body pulsed once more.
The Primordial voice whispered inside her mind.
It knows what you are.
But before anyone could react—
The dragon suddenly lifted its head again.
Its red eyes shifted away from Aria.
Toward the Blood Emperor.
Then it growled.
A deep, furious sound that shook the ground again.
The Blood Emperor’s smile vanished completely.
“…Wait.”