The Husk Dragon moved.
Bones groaned, and obsidian shattered as the massive creature unfurled its wings—still bound in chains. A roar shook the Hollow Sanctum, spraying hot mist across the chamber.
Kael braced himself, sweat stinging his eyes.
> [Threat Level: Exceeds Calculations]
[No escape route detected.]
[Strategy Mode: Endurance + Fragment Sync]
The dragon reared back and breathed a beam of nullfire—violet and black, burning through reality. Kael rolled behind a broken rib, the heat slicing inches from his shoulder.
> "System—calculate weak points!"
> [Analyzing... Core Pulse Detected – Sternum Plate, Rear Segment. Strike During Phase 2.]
Kael leapt to the side, launching Hellfire Barrier as a flash shield. The flame held—barely. His health dropped 11%. His mana hit the red.
The dragon roared again—
And then the masked figure appeared at its flank.
> "Distract it," they said coldly. "I'll carve the seal."
Kael blinked. "What?! Why would you—"
But they were already moving. A silver blade appeared from their arm, humming with ancient energy. They carved glowing sigils into the dragon's right hind leg—runes of containment.
The dragon howled.
> [Mobility Temporarily Restricted – 6.4 seconds]
> [Masked Entity: Skill – Arc-Edge Slash Initiated]
> "You're helping me?" Kael shouted.
The figure didn't answer. They moved like a phantom—vanishing and reappearing with each strike.
But then they looked at him—and something shifted.
Kael's system glitched. For a moment, his vision split.
> [WARNING: Seed Signature Conflict Detected]
[Match Found – Host-Class Interference: ACTIVE]
[Rival Seedbearer Present]
Kael's mouth went dry.
> "You're… like me."
The masked figure hesitated—then nodded once. "I carry the second fragment."
> "Then why save me?"
> "Because if you die now… this world dies with you."
---
Kael staggered as the dragon slammed its tail down, sending debris everywhere. Pain flared in his side.
And then… it happened.
A voice. Inside his mind.
Ancient. Echoing.
> "You are not ready… and yet… you burn."
Kael froze.
> "Who—who are you?"
> "I am what the world buried. I am the memory encoded within flame. You touched the Seed… and now it remembers."
> [Seed Imprint: Voice Activated]
[Warning: Core Sync Unstable – Dual Resonance Detected]
> "Am I going insane?" Kael muttered, ducking as the dragon's claws raked the ground.
The voice returned.
> "No, Reclaimer. You are ascending."
> "But beware… the other bearer does not seek unity. They seek dominance."
Kael looked toward the masked figure again. And for a moment—just a flicker—he saw it:
Behind the visor, their eyes glowed the same violet as the Seed.
---
The dragon bucked wildly. The ground shattered. The chains binding it began to snap.
> [Final Phase Initiated – Husk Dragon: Unbound State Imminent]
The masked figure shouted:
> "You have one shot, Kael. The sternum—strike now!"
Kael surged forward, fire surrounding his body like armor.
> "Then let's see what this Protocol can really do."
---