The stars above Virestead still shimmered when Kael woke, heart pounding, sweat glistening on his skin. His dreams had been a whirlwind of fire and wings, ancient voices whispering secrets in forgotten tongues. The glass bottle containing the Dragon King's blood pulsed at his side, the dark crimson liquid glowing faintly with a life of its own.
Today was not like any other day. Kael could feel it in his bones.
He stood up, strapping Veyrion across his back and fastening the pouch with the blood close to his chest. Rynn was already awake, tending to their supplies.
"You felt it too," she said without looking up.
Kael nodded. "It's waking up."
They shared a glance. Neither needed to say more.
They made their way to the center of the village where the elders awaited. But Kael felt something else — a prickling on the back of his neck. Danger.
The first arrow sliced through the morning mist, aimed straight for Kael's heart.
Time slowed.
Time Dilation activated instinctively. Kael watched the arrow's flight path with crystal clarity. With a slight sidestep and a flick of his wrist, he deflected it with Veyrion's blade.
"Ambush!" Rynn shouted, drawing her twin daggers.
From the shadows of the forest, figures emerged — cloaked in black, armed with cruel weapons gleaming with poisons. Their faces were hidden behind bone-white masks carved to resemble dragons.
"Dragon Hunters," Rynn hissed. "They've come for the blood!"
Kael's heart thundered. No time to think.
Sword Mastery (Lv. MAX) kicked in, his body moving in perfect synchrony with Veyrion's blade. The first hunter lunged, but Kael parried effortlessly, spinning with a flash of steel that sent the man sprawling.
More came. Ten. Fifteen. Too many.
Kael gritted his teeth. Shadowstep activated — and in an instant, he blurred out of one attacker's range, reappearing behind him. A clean strike dropped the hunter to his knees.
Rynn fought beside him, swift and lethal, but the hunters were trained, relentless.
One caught Kael across the side with a jagged blade. Blood sprayed — but immediately, Regen (Enhanced) surged to life. The wound knitted together before the hunter could even gloat.
"Impossible," the hunter snarled.
Kael smirked. "Get used to it."
The battle intensified. Lightning crackled at Kael's fingertips — Elemental Affinity: Lightning answered his rage. With a shout, he thrust his palm outward, unleashing a stormbolt that hurled three hunters backward into the trees.
Yet more enemies poured in.
Kael needed an edge.
He whistled sharply — a high, piercing sound that carried through the mist. Beast Taming answered.
From the forest, a massive direwolf burst forth, fur bristling with crackling energy. It was Kael's companion, bonded in secret days before. The beast tore into the hunters with primal fury.
Kael used the opening. Dimensional Storage shimmered briefly as he retrieved a small throwing axe — no need for bulky backpacks — and hurled it into a hunter trying to flank Rynn.
Still, the hunters were skilled, and they adapted.
Kael felt the odds stacking against them until, without warning, a blade found his shoulder — slicing deep.
Pain lanced through him.
The bottle at his side flashed.
The blood inside boiled.
And something inside Kael snapped free.
A roar ripped from his throat — not human, not animal, but something vast and ancient. His veins lit up with molten gold. His pupils slit like a dragon's. Scales shimmered faintly along his arms.
The Dragon King's blood had awakened.
Kael moved with terrifying speed. His strikes left afterimages. Every blow carried the force of a thunderstorm.
The hunters faltered. Fear crept into their movements.
One of them screamed, "He's Ascending! FALL BACK!"
But Kael didn't let them.
He surged forward, cutting through them like a living storm. Veyrion blazed in his hands, drinking the hunters' fear and blood alike.
When the dust finally settled, the ground was littered with the fallen. Only a handful of hunters managed to flee into the woods, dragging their wounded with them.
Kael stood there, chest heaving, eyes burning gold.
Rynn approached carefully, her daggers lowered.
"Kael... you..."
He forced his breathing to slow. Bit by bit, the dragon's rage receded. The golden scales faded, leaving only his battered but very human skin.
Kael staggered, and Rynn caught him.
"The blood..." he whispered.
She nodded grimly. "It's part of you now. And it's only just begun."
They took time to recover, tending wounds and calming Kael's still-sparking nerves. The direwolf, bloodied but victorious, laid at Kael's side, ever-watchful.
As dawn fully broke over Virestead, Kael realized the truth.
The Dragon King's blood was not just a gift.
It was a challenge.
He was stronger now. Faster. More dangerous.
But he could feel it: this was only the beginning.
Somewhere out there, darker forces stirred. Forces that would not allow a Dragon's Heir to rise unchecked.
Kael tightened his grip on Veyrion.
Let them come.
He was ready.