The city of Everhart burned like the mouth of hell.
Flames devoured rooftops, pillars cracked under the heat, and the sky glowed orange with ash. Knights screamed orders, their armor reflecting dragonfire as they struggled to protect civilians. But against a dragon, their swords were nothing more than splinters.
Andy stood on the shattered street, dragonfang blades glowing with molten runes. His golden eyes burned with the fire of his form, but inside his chest, pain throbbed like molten lead.
"This isn't war," he muttered, jaw clenched. "This is execution."
Beside him, Nia's staff shimmered with radiant starlight. Her bracelet pulsed in perfect rhythm with his flames, tethering them together. Her face was pale but resolute. "Then we don't let it end here."
Andy's lips tugged into a faint smile. "Couldn't stop me if you tried."
The dragon descended. The impact of its claws shattered the street, fire licking outward. Andy launched himself into the air, wings of flame sparking into existence. His blades carved burning arcs across its neck, but the beast only roared in irritation, scales unyielding.
The fire in Andy's veins screamed. His body convulsed.
> [System Warning: Overload – 40%]
Damn it… too fast.
"Andy!" Nia's voice cut through. Her bracelet flared, sending a surge of starlight into his core. The flames steadied, the pain dulled.
His breath caught, relief flooding him. He looked down at her—silver hair shimmering in the firelight, eyes wide with fierce determination. "…You're saving me again, huh? Guess I owe you more than my life."
"Then pay me back," she snapped, voice trembling, "by surviving."
---
From the chaos, Andrew appeared, silver armor gleaming. His knights followed, their formation sharp, banners high. His smile dripped arrogance.
"Witness this, all of you! It will be Everhart steel that slays the beast!"
He charged. His sword art cut elegantly, trained strokes striking the dragon's flank. For a heartbeat, it looked impressive—until the blade glanced harmlessly off scales. The dragon turned, unleashed a torrent of fire.
Knights screamed, their bodies engulfed. Andrew barely rolled aside, his composure cracking.
"No… no, it was supposed to be me…" His eyes flicked to Andy, blazing with fury.
---
Andy didn't think. He saw fire surging toward a group of civilians—children clinging to their mother—and he moved. His wings flared, his blades tore a path through the inferno. He grabbed them, twisting midair, landing inside Nia's barrier.
A whip-like tail struck him before he could recover. The blow sent him crashing through a wall. Stone and dust collapsed over him. Blood sprayed from his lips as he struggled to rise.
> [System Warning: Overload – 60%]
"Andy!" Nia's scream cracked the night. She ran, ignoring debris, falling beside him. Her hands cupped his bloodied face, her bracelet blazing. Light flooded into him, knitting torn flesh, soothing the fire threatening to consume him from within.
His eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he saw nothing but her—hair wild, cheeks streaked with tears, hands shaking as she held him.
"You idiot," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Do you have any idea how scared I was? You can't keep throwing yourself like this… not when—" She cut herself off, biting her lip, but her tears betrayed the words unsaid.
Andy reached up, his trembling hand brushing her cheek. His smile was weak but real. "Then don't cry for me… unless it's because I'm alive."
Her breath hitched. Their faces were so close, breaths mingling, the world falling away. For a heartbeat, it felt inevitable—that she would close the gap, that the fire consuming the city would be drowned by the fire between them.
But the dragon roared.
The moment shattered as shadows swept over them.
---
Andy forced himself upright, leaning on her for support. His blades trembled but still burned.
"Alright," he rasped, "let's try this."
He crossed his swords. Runes spiraled, fire coiling like a storm. His roar joined the dragon's.
"Dragon Fang Twin Blades – Flame Rend!"
Twin arcs of fire carved into the dragon's body, tearing through its wing. The beast howled, crashing into buildings, the city trembling.
For a moment—hope.
But then shadows poured from its wounds, stitching them shut. Horns elongated, eyes burned crimson, fire turned black.
> [System Alert: Boss Evolution → Corrupted Dragon King Fragment]
The corrupted dragon spread its wings, shrieking. Black fire poured from its throat, heat so intense the stone beneath their feet cracked.
Andy's knees buckled.
> [System Critical: Overload – 85%]
Collapse Imminent.
He dropped to one knee, his flames sputtering. "I… can't…"
Nia grabbed him, pulling him into her arms. Her forehead pressed against his, her tears falling freely. "Don't you dare leave me. Not now. Not ever."
Her bracelet glowed furiously, starlight pouring into his fading flames. She held him so tightly he could feel her heart pounding against his chest.
Andy's eyes flickered open. He gazed at her, golden and molten, soft despite the pain. "…Guess I'm not allowed to die if you're still holding on."
Her lips trembled, hovering dangerously close to his. "That's right. So don't let go."
The dragon's roar split the sky. Its mouth gaped, black fire swirling.
Andy tightened his grip on her hand, lacing their fingers. "Then we stand together."
Her tears glistened in the firelight, but her smile was fierce. "Together."
The dragon's breath surged. Black fire swallowed the world—
And everything vanished in light.
To be continued…
---