Far away, deep in the golden halls of the floating Dragon Empire, the Dragon King—Valtherion the Eternal Flame—stood alone atop his obsidian tower. The sky cracked with lightning as he opened a forbidden scroll, one not touched in thousands of years. He had just awakened from a troubling vision… a prophecy.
It wasn't the first time he peered into the future. But this one? It shook him.
He had seen a Black Lion—golden-eyed, cloaked in storms, fur like shadowfire—leaping into the heavens. It tore off his grand wings with claws wreathed in lightning. His flames were swallowed by a roar that made the stars tremble. His kingdom—his legacy—was reduced to ash.
And then the vision ended.
The Dragon King's claws trembled slightly, his breath uneven.
> "Impossible... That beast should have been dead centuries ago. I slaughtered them… all of them."
But then it struck him.
> "They… can shapeshift. The Black Lions… they can look like humans."
His eyes flared with molten fury.
> "So one survived. And now he's grown. An adult."
With desperation, he summoned the Oracle Mirror of Ages—a relic older than most stars. He gazed once more, seeking the beast's name.
Aizen Arcime.
A cold shiver ran through the ancient king's scales.
He smashed the mirror with a roar. "Find him! Hunt him down! Before he brings the storm to my throne!"
Twenty elite Dragon Knights were dispatched, each powerful enough to destroy a city on their own. They flew in every direction, searching for a black-haired youth with golden eyes… unaware that their target had already begun his quiet march through history.
---
Meanwhile, on the quiet outskirts of a thick forest, Aizen was returning from a hunt, a fresh kill slung over his shoulder. His eyes darted toward the evening sky, where faint rumblings echoed in the distance.
He narrowed his golden eyes.
> "Something's coming."
Back at their temporary home, the family was peacefully enjoying their last few days in the city.
Crystal was playing joyfully in a flower field, her birthday coming soon—she would turn 7.
Theodore was next to Lyra, training his magic, drawing runes in the air while Lyra meditated beside him, her golden aura steady and calm.
Amethyst played tag with Lina and Crystal, their laughter echoing through the trees.
Mikaela, exhausted from helping Amethyst cook all week, was snoring softly under the shade of a tree, clutching a pillow and a tomato like it was treasure.
But above them, fate was already moving.
---
The next day, they packed their belongings. The family had decided to travel to the Human Kingdom, a place where many beastmen had taken refuge after the Dragon King's genocidal campaign. They would blend in, take human form, and rest among the crowd. It was time to move again.
As they walked through a lush, open valley, twenty Dragon Knights descended from the sky, like falling stars with burning wings.
"Who are you?" barked the captain. His sharp eyes landed on Lyra, and they widened. "W-What?! That's the missing noble—Princess Lyra Subaru, daughter of the Grand Duke of the Dragon Empire!"
The other knights stepped forward, weapons drawn.
"You must return to the Empire immediately."
But Lyra stepped back, shielding Crystal behind her.
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
One knight snarled, "You're being manipulated by that beastman. A common animal has no place beside our kind."
That insult echoed in the air like a curse.
Aizen stepped forward, lightning crackling around his body.
"Don't. Touch. Her."
They laughed. "You think we'll listen to a mongrel like you?"
But before they could grab Lyra, a devastating blast of black and gold energy surged forward—tearing through the air like divine judgment. Half of the Dragon Knights were annihilated instantly.
The survivors screamed, trying to flee. But then—
> "BOOST HIM!"
Mikaela unleashed a powerful buff spell, while Theodore added a wind enchantment.
Aizen soared into the sky like a cannonball, appearing above the knights before they could react.
Lightning roared.
He crashed down with a thunderclap, punching one dragon midair, sending his limp body spiraling to the ground. One by one, he tore through them, his rage sharpening with every strike.
They weren't just enemies. They were reminders of the day his people were slaughtered.
When it was over, the battlefield was silent. The sky had turned orange. The remaining Dragon Knights were either unconscious… or ash.
Lyra stood beside him, proud.
"You really did it…"
Aizen wiped blood from his cheek, panting. "I only could… because you boosted me."
---
That night, they made camp under a starlit sky.
To hide from any remaining scouts, everyone transformed into human form:
Aizen, now appearing as a tall, black-haired man with fierce golden eyes.
Lyra, her dragon features gone, now with pale skin and golden blonde hair.
Amethyst and Crystal, who already looked mostly human.
Lina, now with cat ears hidden and regular green eyes.
Mikaela and Theodore, looking like ordinary traveling mages.
As they sat around the fire, Amethyst cooked dinner, showing off.
"Tonight, I made buttered meat stew with forest herbs!" He puffed out his chest. "Chef Amethyst never disappoints!"
Lyra helped him stir, smiling gently. Lina and Crystal clung to Aizen's arms, still talking excitedly.
"You were so cool earlier!"
"Yeah! You went—BAM! And the dragon exploded!"
Aizen chuckled. "Only because you guys gave me the strength."
They laughed, and for a moment, it didn't feel like war or prophecy mattered.
It just felt like… family.