The wind of the Frostwind Tundra cut like knives against Leon's face. He pulled his patched fur cloak tighter and stared ahead at the snow-covered canyon—Molten Fire Canyon. Its entrance flickered through the white mist, while a strange red glow shimmered from its depths, a shocking contrast to the blizzard above.
"According to the scroll," Elara unfolded the damp parchment, her finger tracing the gilded emblem, "the Heart of the Flame Dragon lies deep within the 'Altar of the Dragon's Spine.' But the land here is tainted by shadow energy—the closer we get, the more unstable the elements become."
Tom suddenly pointed at claw marks in the snow. "Look! These are frost spider tracks—they're ten times larger than any wolf prints I've ever seen!" The edges of the deep imprints were rimmed with blueish ice crystals, clearly left not long ago.
Leon tightened his grip on the flame emblem at his waist. Its warmth seemed to ward off some of the cold. He remembered the Grandmaster's dying words: *Only through the resonance of blood and rune can the chains of chaos be broken.* Yet he still didn't fully understand their meaning. For now, he could only place his hope in the power of the emblem.
They descended along the stone steps lining the canyon's edge. The walls were covered in clusters of black crystal—*Shadow Ore*, condensed dark energy that sent chills down the spine upon contact.
Elara suddenly halted, her emerald eyes narrowing at the icy mist ahead. "Someone has been here. And they left magical traces."
Before she finished speaking, several poisoned arrows shot out from the fog. Leon shoved Tom aside, deflecting one arrow with his dagger, but heard Elara gasp as another grazed her arm, leaving behind a trail of purple bruising.
"It's the Shadow Covenant's *Fang Assassins!*" Elara gritted her teeth, pulling the arrow free and applying crushed purple herbs to the wound. "Leon, draw their attention—I'll flank them!"
Nodding, Leon hurled a boulder into the mist and shouted, "Come out, you cowards!"
A chilling cackle answered him. Three figures emerged from the fog, cloaked in black, their bone blades glowing with eerie light.
"Hand over the clue to the Flame Dragon's Heart," rasped the leader, his blade dripping venom that ate holes into the snow, "and we may spare your lives."
Leon said nothing. Instead, he pressed the flame emblem to his chest. A brilliant red light erupted from it. Heat surged through his veins, flowing into his dagger. Swinging it forward, a blazing arc sliced through the icy haze, striking the assassin's blade—*sizzle!* Cracks formed along the bone.
"He's awakened the Red Dragon's bloodline!" the assassins cried in alarm, their attacks intensifying. Leon barely held his ground, but his strength was rapidly fading. Just then, Elara's arrow struck from behind, piercing one assassin's throat. The figure dissolved into black smoke.
The remaining two tried to flee, but Leon threw his dagger like a whip of fire, wrapping around one's ankle. The assassin fell screaming, and Tom delivered the final blow with his club, ending all resistance.
"Check their bodies!" Elara rushed forward despite the pain in her arm, retrieving a skull-crested badge from one of them. "This is the mark of the Shadow Covenant's *Fang Squad*. So Arthus really did send people after the Flame Dragon's Heart."
Leon picked up his dagger, noticing its edge had been refined by the fire's touch. He looked toward the red glow deep in the canyon, suddenly feeling the emblem grow hotter—as if something was calling to him.
"We keep moving," he urged, glancing at Elara's injury. "Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine," she replied, smearing the remaining herb onto the wound. "Purpleleaf slows the poison for now. But we must find the Heart before it reaches my heart."
Pushing through the icy mist, they were met with an astonishing sight—a vast volcanic crater frozen beneath layers of ice. At its center stood an altar made entirely of dragon bones, and embedded in the ribcage was a glowing crystal burning with blue flames. The Heart of the Flame Dragon!
"Careful!" Elara grabbed Leon's arm as he stepped forward. She pointed at faint glowing runes circling the altar. "This is an ancient Elven *Dragonfire Barrier*. Only someone with the Red Dragon's blood can break it."
Taking a breath, Leon pressed his palm against the stone tablet before the altar. The moment the emblem touched the stone, the entire structure flared with crimson light. The dragon skull's eye sockets ignited, roaring silently. The runes began to spin, forming a swirling vortex-like opening.
"Go!" Elara pushed Leon inside.
Within the barrier, the Heart floated midair, radiating both heat and cold. As Leon reached out, his fingers brushing the crystal, a torrent of memories flooded his mind—
He saw the Red Dragon Lord and the Frostwolf Chieftain fighting side by side a thousand years ago. He witnessed the Shadow Covenant corrupting the land with chaos magic. He saw a blurred figure sealing the Heart away here… Then, a vision settled on a woman wearing a crown of stars. Her voice echoed in his mind:
*"When the Wrath of Stars descends, the Chosen One shall awaken the slumbering power with blood as the key…"*
"Leon! Watch out!" Elara's cry shattered the vision.
Snapping back, Leon saw the blue flames around the Heart turn black. The top of the altar cracked open, tendrils of shadow bursting forth, wrapping the entire structure in darkness!
"It's the Chaos Egg's power!" Elara fired an arrow, but the shadow tendrils deflected it. "Arthus must have corrupted this place somehow!"
Tom raised his torch, but the flames were instantly swallowed. Leon felt the Heart growing colder, its blue fire dimming under the encroaching blackness. Remembering the prophecy—*Only through the resonance of blood and rune*—he slammed the flame emblem onto the Heart.
***BOOM!***
Blazing red and blue light exploded outward. The dragon bones roared with unearthly fury. The shadow tendrils recoiled as though burned. Leon felt his blood ignite, the emblem and the Heart resonating in perfect harmony. Power surged from his feet to his head, overwhelming yet exhilarating.
"Now! Take the Heart!" It was as if the Grandmaster's voice whispered in his ear.
Without hesitation, Leon seized the Heart in both hands and sprinted toward the exit. Elara and Tom followed closely. Behind them, the altar collapsed in a storm of red and blue light, sealing the shadows forever.
As they burst from the canyon, the morning sun painted the sky in hues of gold. Leon looked down at the Heart in his hands—the blue flame burned strong again, and now, a faint image of a red dragon swam within its surface.
Elara examined his hand. "You've got a flame rune on your skin! This is the Mark of the Elemental Bearer!"
Leon lifted his hand. Sure enough, a burning sigil now marked the back of his right hand—one identical to the emblem's pattern. He clenched the Heart tightly, feeling power surge through him, then glanced at Elara's lingering bruises. "We did it."
Tom grinned, raising his wooden crossbow triumphantly. "So does that mean we can go after Arthus now?"
"Not yet." Elara shook her head, her green eyes turning northward. "The prophecy speaks of four elemental trials. The Heart is only the beginning of the Trial of Flame. Next, we must seek the *Frost Rift* and complete the second trial—the Wisdom of Ice."
Leon nodded, carefully tucking the Heart away. The winds of the Frostwind Tundra had eased slightly, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating distant peaks of ice.
He knew this adventure in the mysterious land was only the beginning. The Red Dragon's blood within him was awakening. The resonance with the Elemental Relics was growing stronger.
Clutching his fist, the rune on his hand pulsed warmly. It was a sign—of the next trial waiting beyond the frozen rift. What challenges lay in store for them there?