The moment the dragon's words thundered through the star-forged realm, Kael felt the ground—or whatever counted as ground—pulse beneath his feet. The void around him shimmered with threads of gold and crimson energy, swirling as though the ancient world itself breathed with anticipation.
Kael stood alone in an endless cosmic field, a universe turned into a training ground. The ancient dragon loomed over him like a living sun, its wings spanning across galaxies, each beat sending ripples through the space between worlds.
But despite its immensity…
Despite its power…
Despite the overwhelming aura that felt like standing before creation itself—
Kael didn't feel fear.
Not anymore.
The fire in his blood answered the dragon's presence like a heartbeat echoing another heartbeat.
His heartbeat.
The Dragon Speaks
The dragon lowered its massive head, golden flames drifting from its mane like divine embers.
"You seek strength," the great being rumbled, ancient words vibrating through Kael's bones.
"But strength without knowing one's true self is hollow. Before power, you must face truth."
Kael tightened his fists. "What truth?"
"The truth of your soul. Your past. Your purpose."
A sudden wind blasted through the space, sweeping Kael off his feet and hurling him into a vortex of spinning light.
Memory Dive
Kael landed on his knees on cold, cracked earth.
A battlefield.
Broken spears.
Crushed armor.
Ash falling like snow.
The air tasted of blood and smoke.
Kael stood up slowly, heart pounding. "Where… am I?"
The world around him shimmered—then reformed.
A colossal dragon—familiar yet not—stood at the heart of the battlefield, towering above an army of shadow-born demons. Its scales were molten gold, its roar splitting the mountains. Its eyes burned with fury and sorrow.
Kael froze.
It was him.
Or the him before him.
Draven Solaris.
The previous Sovereign.
Kael watched helplessly as Draven unleashed golden flames that tore through thousands of shadow warriors. But for every shadow destroyed, ten more rose.
An endless tide.
Kael whispered, "This… this is the last battle of the Sovereign."
The vision shifted.
He saw Draven fall.
Saw shadow tendrils pierce his wings.
Saw him roar in defiance as the Devourer—an incomprehensible titan of darkness—descended upon him.
And with a final burst of divine fire, Draven sealed the Devourer away, sacrificing himself.
Kael staggered back as the vision collapsed.
Return to the Celestial Void
Kael found himself back in the cosmic realm, shaking, breath ragged.
The ancient dragon gazed at him with solemn eyes.
"He died to protect the world. But the seal was never permanent. The Devourer knew he would return—reborn in a new vessel."
Kael whispered, "Me."
"You."
Kael swallowed hard. "Then tell me what I must do… to be ready. To not fail like he did."
A deep, rumbling sound filled the void—part roar, part laugh.
"He did not fail. He saved the world. But fate demands cycles. Now it is your turn."
The dragon slowly circled Kael, each step shaking the cosmos.
"To wield what he wielded, you must first complete the Six Dragon Trials."
Golden sigils formed beneath Kael's feet—six massive rings of dragon script, each spinning in a different direction.
"Trial One: The Trial of Breath — Awaken your true essence."
"Trial Two: The Trial of Bone — Strengthen your body beyond mortal limits."
"Trial Three: The Trial of Scale — Form your first draconic protection."
"Trial Four: The Trial of Claw — Command destructive power without losing control."
"Trial Five: The Trial of Wing — Ascend beyond the limitations of earth."
"Trial Six: The Trial of Heart — Face the truth of who you are and what you fear most."
Kael exhaled slowly. "And if I fail any?"
The dragon's eyes glowed with ancient fire.
"Then you die."
Kael nodded once.
Not in fear.
But in acceptance.
"Then I'll pass."
The dragon's lips curled in a fierce smile.
"Then begin."
Trial One — The Breath of the Sovereign
The world exploded into fire.
Kael found himself standing on a floating spire of rock suspended over an endless sea of molten gold. The air shimmered with intense heat, yet Kael felt no pain—only pressure, immense and crushing.
A voice boomed through the lava ocean.
"BREATHE."
Kael inhaled—
— and the world ignited.
Fire flooded into his lungs.
Golden essence surged through his meridians like a river trying to tear apart its banks.
His veins lit up beneath his skin.
His bones vibrated with a resonant hum.
Kael screamed—
Not in pain, but in sheer overwhelming force.
His vision blurred.
His body shook.
His dantian expanded like a collapsing star.
The ancient dragon's voice whispered directly into his soul.
"Do not resist the fire. Become it."
Kael forced himself to breathe again.
Then again.
Each inhale deeper than the last, until the golden fire no longer felt foreign—
—but familiar.
Comforting.
A memory of a life he had never lived.
His breath steadied.
His aura flared.
A shockwave of gold burst outward, splitting the molten sea.
The Trial of Breath had awakened something sleeping inside him.
Dragonbreath Essence: Awakened.
His cultivation surged—
Body Refining: Stage 3 → Stage 5
Qi Foundation: Stage 1 → Stage 3
Dragonblood Resonance: 4% → 15%
Kael felt the difference instantly.
He wasn't human anymore.
Not fully.
And strangely… it felt right.
Trial Two — The Bone of the Sovereign
The world shifted again.
Kael stood on a massive skeleton the size of a mountain—the ribs of an ancient dragon forming a bridge over a void of roaring storms.
Lightning cracked.
Wind howled.
The bones beneath Kael glowed with ancient power.
The dragon's voice echoed.
"Endure the lightning that once forged the bones of the Primordial Dragons."
Before Kael could react—
CRAAAACK—!!
A bolt of white-hot lightning slammed into his back.
His entire body convulsed.
His vision went white.
Another bolt struck him in the chest.
Then another on his shoulder.
Kael dropped to a knee, gasping.
More lightning fell—relentless, furious.
Kael's muscles tore under the force.
His skin burned.
His bones vibrated, cracking under the pressure.
His vision blurred.
His heartbeat slowed.
His body… was breaking.
He fell forward, hands slamming against the glowing bones of the ancient dragon.
His breath hitched painfully.
"No… not yet…"
He forced himself up with trembling arms.
Another bolt struck.
Kael roared, standing through the pain.
Lightning wrapped around him like chains.
"IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE!?" Kael shouted into the storm.
The world answered.
KRAAAAAAAGH—!!
A final bolt—ten times stronger—fell directly onto Kael.
It lifted him off his feet, hurling him backward.
He crashed against the dragon spine, coughing blood.
Then—
Silence.
Kael lay still.
His heartbeat slowed…
then steadied…
then strengthened.
His bones glowed.
And the cracks began sealing.
Not just healing—
Transforming.
Primordial Dragon Bone Infusion: 6% Achieved.
The Trial ended.
Kael rose to his feet, trembling—but alive.
Outside the Chamber — Seris & Lira
While Kael faced trials beyond mortal comprehension, the two people waiting outside felt only one thing:
Helplessness.
Seris paced tightly, nearly wearing the stone floor down.
Her chest tightened every time she felt a tremor echo from the sealed gate.
Lira leaned against the wall with crossed arms—but her foot tapped rapidly.
"You're worried," Seris whispered.
Lira huffed. "Of course not."
A loud rumble shook dust from the ceiling.
Lira flinched.
Seris gave her a soft, knowing look.
Lira groaned. "Okay, fine! Maybe I'm slightly very extremely worried!"
Seris sat beside her. "He's strong. I know he is. But… whatever's happening inside—"
"—it's beyond anything we've seen." Lira finished quietly.
Another tremor rolled through the chamber.
Seris pressed a hand against her heart.
"Kael… please be safe."
Back to Kael — The Third Trial Looms
Kael stood in the celestial void again, chest heaving, body glowing with power he couldn't fully control yet.
The ancient dragon watched him with burning eyes.
"You endured the first two trials. Most fail within the first."
Kael ran a hand through his hair, still feeling lightning tingling in his bones.
"What's next?"
The dragon spread its wings, and the void reshaped itself.
A field of endless scales—thousands, millions—glittering like gemstones.
"Trial Three: The Scale of the Sovereign."
"If your body is fire and your bones are lightning—your protection must be the unbreakable shell of the ancient ones."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"I'm ready."
The dragon smiled—a fierce, wild thing.
"Then let the pain shape you, and let the fire crown you."
The next trial began.
And Kael stepped forward without hesitation.
Because for the first time—
he could feel it.
Burning in his blood.
Pulsing in his soul.
The Sovereign awakening.