Ten years later.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and oil. Thousands of people were screaming in a giant circle. This was the Dragon Pit, the most dangerous place in the slums.
"Welcome, everyone!" a loud voice boomed through the speakers. "Tonight, we have a special fight! The Fire Dragon versus the Ice Dragon! Who will die? Who will win? Place your bets now!"
Kroy stood in the shadows. He was twenty now. He wore a heavy black coat to hide the scales on his back. Next to him was his friend, Viper, a skinny boy with mechanical eyes.
"Kroy, look," Viper whispered. He pointed at the stage. "They cut their wings. They cut them so they can't fly away. It's cruel, isn't it?"
Metallic mind controlling chips were planted on their heads.
Kroy didn't say anything. His chest felt tight. He hated this place. The dragons were not fighting because they wanted to.
They were fighting because the rich people from the Golden Prochant wanted to get richer.
Kroy's hands clenched into fists. He wanted to stop the fights, wanted to tear down the whole system, but he couldn't do it alone. And if he kept getting involved like this, he might lose the only family he had left.
"Are you ready?" Viper asked. He held a small, glowing device. "This is the 'Bomb Range.' It will blow up the gate and the left stage. That's where the most guards are."
Kroy nodded. "Do it."
They went to the hidden part of the pit where there was less security.
BOOM!
The ground shook. A giant ball of fire hit the stage. The guards screamed as the metal gates twisted and broke. Smoke filled the air. People started running everywhere. It was total chaos.
"Run! This way!" Viper shouted.
As they ran through the smoke, Kroy stopped. He heard a sound that made his blood turn cold. It was a scream. But it wasn't a human scream. It was a dragon, crying out from deep underground. It sounded like it was being tortured.
Suddenly, Kroy's back felt hot. The black scales under his jacket began to glow.
They flared up, pushing against his skin.
"Kroy, your back!" Viper hissed. "Someone will see!"
But it was too late. In the middle of the running crowd, a tall figure in a black hood stopped. The figure wasn't running away. They were staring straight at Kroy's glowing back.
"Viper, someone is following us," Kroy said, his heart beating fast.
[Finally! I thought we were going to be bored all night,] a voice rang out of Kroy's electronic port situated at the side of his neck.
"Dall? Not now," Kroy muttered.
[Oh, hush,] Dall laughed. [Your heart rate is 140. You're scared. Also, that girl in the hood? She has a very sharp sword and she looks much stronger than you. If I were you, I'd start running faster, Boss.]
"Shut up, Dall!" Kroy growled as he turned into a dark alley.
[Make me,] she replied with a formal chant. [By the way, your scales are still glowing. You look like a giant neon sign. Very stealthy. Great job.]
Kroy ignored her and jumped over a pile of trash, but the shadow behind them was getting closer.
Kroy felt a chill on his neck. Suddenly, a flash of silver cut through the air from his left side.
Swish!
A sharp sword flew toward his head. Kroy didn't even think. His body moved on its own. He ducked low, and the blade hissed just an inch above his hair. It hit a metal pipe, sending sparks everywhere.
[Nice dodge, Boss,] Dall's voice chirped. [Your 'Combat Reflexes' just jumped to 10%. See? I told you having me as your assistant was a good idea.]
Kroy ignored her. He rolled across the dirty ground and stood up, reaching for a metal pipe to use as a weapon. He looked at the person in the dark hood.
"Who are you? Why are you following us?" Kroy demanded.
The figure didn't speak. She just tilted her head, her eyes locked on the spot where Kroy's scales had been glowing. She moved like a cat—silent and dangerous.
Before Kroy could ask again, she stepped back into the shadows and vanished.
"Kroy! We have to go! The guards are coming!" Viper pulled on his arm.
Kroy and Viper ran through the rain until they reached a small, hidden basement under a pile of rusted cars. This was home.
Inside, the air smelled like old books and chemicals. Kroy's father, Adian, was sitting at a table covered in wires and glass tubes. When the door slammed open, Adian jumped up. His face was pale and full of worry.
"Kroy! Where have you been?" Adian yelled. His voice was shaking. "I heard the explosions at the Dragon Pit. I told you to stay away from that place!"
Kroy looked at the floor. "We were just trying to help, Dad. The dragons... they were suffering."
Adian walked over and grabbed Kroy's shoulders. His eyes were wet with tears.
"Helping? Kroy, look at me! Adian's voice shook. "You are not a normal boy anymore. Do you understand that? The Dextran Corporation—if they find you, they'll—" He paused, pressing his palms against his face as though the words were too much to say.
Adian sighed, sitting back down with his head in his hands. "You are the only thing I have left in this world. Your mother is gone. My lab is gone. If I lose you, I have nothing. Please... stop being a hero. Just stay alive."
Kroy felt a sting in his heart. He looked at his father's tired face and then at his own hands.
[Aww, he's crying,] Dall whispered, her voice actually sounding a little bit sad for once. [He's right, you know. You're a very expensive piece of science, Kroy. Try to stay in one piece.]
Kroy didn't answer Dall. He just looked at the dark scales on his arm, wondering if he would ever be able to live a normal life.