The dawn broke with a muted orange light that filtered through the dense canopy of the mountains, painting the forest in streaks of gold and green. Danny Chan rose first, moving with the silent precision of a Golden Dragon. His breath was steady, his body already attuned to the chi flowing around him. Across the clearing, Swift was already awake, the faint glow of residual Silver Dragon energy surrounding him like a mist.
"You've been up for a while," Danny said, gripping his katana and loosening his stance. "How do you sleep with all that power coursing through you?"
Swift stretched, his movements graceful and lethal even in the calm morning. "Power isn't something you sleep through," he said, smirking. "It hums in your bones, and I've learned to listen. Otherwise, you wake up one day with your armor shredded and your sword in pieces. I prefer to be ready before the world throws trouble at me."
Danny rolled his shoulders and nodded. "Then we'll make use of the early hours. Today, we'll focus on combining our techniques—Golden precision with Silver unpredictability. Think of it as… flow against storm."
Swift grinned. "I like the sound of that."
For hours, the forest reverberated with strikes, parries, and controlled bursts of energy. Danny's Golden Dragon aura radiated outward, precise and guiding, while Swift's Silver Dragon instincts flowed in unpredictable arcs, testing and bending the limits of human—and dragon—reaction. Every clash of steel sent ripples through the air, the sound like distant thunder.
Yet, while they trained, unseen eyes watched. High in the treetops, beyond the reach of even Swift's Silver Dragon senses, a small figure crouched. A child—barely older than ten—leaned against the branch of an ancient oak. Their eyes glimmered unnaturally, shifting between shades of violet and green as they whispered incantations under their breath.
A faint crackle of energy emanated from the child's fingertips. Small sparks danced along the air, floating like fireflies in the morning haze. The child tilted their head, studying the two warriors below. The Golden Dragon's disciplined strikes and the Silver Dragon's raw unpredictability fascinated them.
"Interesting," the child murmured, their voice soft but carrying a resonance beyond their years. "Two dragons… yet so blind. So focused on each other, they cannot see me."
Swift paused mid-strike, sensing a disturbance. The Silver Dragon instinct warned him—there was something powerful nearby, hidden, observing. His eyes narrowed, scanning the treetops, the shadows.
Danny, attuned to subtle chi fluctuations, froze mid-spin. He could feel it too: a pulse of energy unlike anything he had encountered in his training. It was neither purely natural nor entirely artificial. Something… magical.
"Someone's here," Swift said, his voice low. "And they're strong. Not dragon strong, but strong."
Danny's brow furrowed. "Stronger than a typical child, I think. I can feel intent, but it's… raw, uncontrolled. Dangerous."
Before either could react further, the child's laughter echoed through the forest, soft and melodic, yet carrying a chill that made the hairs on the back of Danny's neck rise.
"You feel me," the child whispered, voice playful yet sinister. "Do you think your dragons will save you? Do you think you can protect yourselves when I am here?"
Swift's hand tightened around his broadsword. "Reveal yourself," he commanded. "I don't care how young you are. Whoever you are, come down now."
The child giggled again, and the air shimmered. With a subtle wave of their hand, the forest itself seemed to bend—leaves swirling in unnatural patterns, roots twisting as if alive, the ground shifting beneath their feet. Danny's Golden Dragon senses screamed in alarm.
"You're… controlling nature," he whispered, eyes wide. "This isn't just magic. This is… raw, elemental manipulation. And… malevolent intent."
Swift narrowed his eyes. "I've faced powerful things. Things that destroy worlds. But a child like this…? This could be a problem. And not a small one."
From the shadows, the child descended, landing on a low branch with inhuman grace. They were small, yes, but their aura was immense, a violent storm barely contained within a fragile frame. Their hair shimmered silver in the sunlight, and their eyes—vivid and shifting—were uncomfortably piercing.
"I've watched your little sparring matches," the child said, voice calm now but carrying a deadly edge. "Two dragons… and yet, you are so weak. So predictable."
Danny tightened his grip on his katana. "I don't know who you are," he said, "but you need to leave before this forest becomes your prison."
The child tilted their head, a mocking smile forming. "A prison? No, young dragon. This forest is my playground. I am… learning, growing, waiting. And soon… you will see what power truly is."
Swift's hand brushed against the hilt of his broadsword. "Danny… this isn't a game. That energy—it's like nothing I've felt since Bones. This kid… they're dangerous. And they could be—"
"—the next one," Danny finished. "I feel it. Whatever Bones is, this child could be the beginning of another kind of chaos. One that grows while we are distracted."
Swift nodded. "Then we train smarter, not just harder. We prepare for the unpredictable. And we keep an eye on them."
The child watched them silently, almost curious, before vanishing into the treetops with a flick of their hand. Leaves fell like rain, and a soft gust of wind whispered through the clearing, leaving Danny and Swift alone once more—but the lingering energy made it clear that this encounter was only the beginning.
Danny exhaled slowly, running a hand down his katana. "Golden Dragon training is meant to bring discipline. To master control over one's own energy and the world around it. But this… this is something different. Something chaotic. We need to adapt."
Swift's eyes scanned the forest again. "Silver Dragon training is about instinct, adaptability, survival. We can combine that with your discipline, your chi flow… but this kid… I don't know. They could grow into a force that even Bones would respect—or fear."
Danny nodded grimly. "Then we prepare. The Golden Dragon path isn't just about fighting—it's about awareness, patience, and restraint. And if this child is as dangerous as I suspect… we will need all three in the coming days."
Swift sheathed his sword, his aura settling into a calm, controlled hum. "We've survived worse. And we've faced worse. But this… this is different. I can feel it in my bones. Something about this kid… it's like they were born to change the rules."
Danny exhaled, letting his chi settle, flowing through him like liquid fire. "Then we'll watch, learn, and wait. But one thing is certain—Golden Dragon or Silver Dragon, we won't allow chaos to grow unchecked. Not here. Not now."
The forest was quiet for a long moment, the mist curling around their boots and the faint hum of energy fading into the shadows. Yet, high above in the treetops, a small silver-haired figure watched silently. A mischievous grin spread across their face.
"Interesting," the child whispered to themselves, voice barely audible. "Two dragons… so powerful… yet so predictable. Soon, I will see how far they can go. Soon, the game truly begins."
And with that, the child vanished into the shadows, leaving Danny and Swift unaware of the new storm brewing above them. A storm that could rival even Bones in power, cunning, and malice—an unpredictable variable in a world already teetering on the edge of chaos.