The heavens tore apart as the Earth Dragon's apocalyptic blast descended. Space itself bent under the force, its roar drowning the cries of soldiers fleeing into the distance.
Azren stood alone. His gray eyes trembled, his body weak, his dragons fading into streaks of light. His soul weighed heavy, his aura almost extinguished.
The dragon hissed, its golden eyes glowing with scorn.
"Deep breath, brat… This is the end. Everyone abandoned you. Alone. Powerless. This is the fate of the so-called fated one… HAHAHAHAHA!"
Its laughter echoed like thunder, carrying death with it.
Azren clenched his teeth, despair flooding his chest. So this is it…
But before the strike could land—
WOOOSH!
The sky rippled, and a blue light fluctuated across the battlefield. In the blink of an eye, a girl appeared, her presence so sudden and overwhelming that even the Earth Dragon's aura faltered.
She stood like a celestial goddess descended from another world. Her beauty was an enchantment so profound that it could spark wars across all of Arka. The battlefield stilled, and even Azren—bleeding, broken—found himself lost in her eyes.
He tried to sense her cultivation.
But there was nothing.
It wasn't low—it was unfathomable. So high that even he, with his awakened dragon seal, couldn't see through it.
His breath hitched. Who… is she?
The girl stepped forward, her voice soft yet absolute, carrying the weight of heaven and earth.
"How could you die before me, Azren?"
She extended her hand, catching his collapsing body in her arms with effortless grace. Her eyes shone with a strange light, her lips curving into the faintest of smiles.
"I'm the powerful one. If anyone must sacrifice… it will be me."
Before Azren could even respond, she pulled him into her embrace. The void split, and a dark blue space tunnel tore open behind her.
Azren's blurred eyes widened as he felt the pull of the void, her warmth steadying him as his consciousness wavered. His thoughts scattered, his lips parting faintly—but no words came out.
The tunnel closed in an instant, leaving behind only silence.
BOOM!
The Earth Dragon's strike annihilated the land where Azren had stood, but the boy was gone.
The dragon roared furiously, its colossal body shaking the battlefield.
From the distance, the battered Hall Chief exhaled, his lightning aura barely holding his body together. His voice carried over the retreating army, trembling yet resolute.
"Now… we have our chance. With this information, with this moment—Aiden Hall must move. The Tred Clan will bleed for what they've done."
The battlefield raged on, but the balance had shifted.
Azren had been saved.