The massive metal gate of the Directorate facility lay shattered on the ground.
Smoke rose slowly from the destroyed entrance as alarms echoed throughout the underground complex.
Agents quickly took positions behind defensive barricades while energy cannons locked onto their target.
Standing calmly in the middle of the destroyed entrance…
Was Rudra.
His crimson aura flickered like burning fire around his body.
Missile launchers and automatic weapons surrounded the entrance hall.
For a moment…
Everything was silent.
Then a loud voice echoed through the speakers.
"FIRE!"
Dozens of energy cannons fired simultaneously.
Bright beams of energy shot toward the Dragon King.
The entire hallway exploded with light.
But when the smoke cleared…
Rudra was still standing there.
Completely untouched.
His crimson aura had formed a protective shield around him.
One of the Dragon warriors behind him chuckled.
"The humans still believe machines can stop a bloodline king."
Rudra slowly stepped forward.
Each step echoed through the ruined hallway.
"Let them try."
Deep inside the facility…
Director Meera watched the live footage on the holographic screen.
Her expression remained calm, but the tension in the room was obvious.
"Defense team one has engaged the enemy," a technician reported.
Arjun crossed his arms.
"That won't slow him for long."
The screen showed Rudra walking forward while dozens of agents fired at him.
Explosions shook the corridor.
Yet the Dragon King continued walking.
Unstoppable.
Kabir stared at the screen in disbelief.
"…he's literally walking through everything."
Dev sighed.
"That's the problem with ancient bloodlines."
Sana looked serious.
"Normal agents won't stop him."
Meera nodded slowly.
"Then we move to phase two."
Meanwhile…
In the training arena, Aadhya suddenly felt the serpent mark burning again.
Stronger than before.
She clenched her fists.
"He's inside."
Kabir immediately stood up.
"That fast?!"
Dev stretched his arms.
"Well… time to fight the boss."
Arjun walked toward them.
"You three will support the defense teams."
He then looked directly at Aadhya.
"You're coming with me."
Kabir frowned.
"Where?"
Arjun answered calmly.
"To intercept Rudra."
Kabir's eyes widened.
"…that sounds like a terrible idea."
Dev grinned.
"I like it."
Back near the entrance corridor…
The entire hallway looked like a battlefield.
Broken walls.
Destroyed weapons.
Smoke everywhere.
Dozens of Directorate agents lay unconscious after trying to stop the Dragon warriors.
Rudra slowly stepped over the debris.
His crimson aura burned brighter as he walked deeper into the facility.
One Dragon warrior spoke.
"My lord… resistance is increasing."
Rudra smiled slightly.
"Good."
He stopped walking.
Because suddenly…
He felt it.
That emerald energy again.
Much closer now.
The Serpent Bloodline.
He turned his head slightly.
"So you finally came to greet me."
Several corridors away…
Aadhya walked forward with Arjun beside her.
Dev, Sana, and Kabir followed behind.
The deeper they moved into the facility, the more destruction they saw.
Kabir whispered nervously,
"…okay I officially don't like this guy."
Dev smirked.
"Too late now."
They reached a large intersection hallway.
And suddenly…
A powerful wave of heat rushed toward them.
Crimson energy filled the air.
At the end of the hallway…
A tall figure slowly stepped out of the smoke.
Rudra.
His crimson eyes immediately locked onto Aadhya.
For a moment…
The entire hallway became silent.
Even the air felt frozen.
Then Rudra smiled.
"So you're the new Serpent Queen."
Aadhya felt the serpent mark burn intensely.
The emerald aura appeared behind her instantly.
The ghostly serpent rose high above her.
Rudra's smile widened.
"Interesting."
Kabir whispered to Dev,
"…yep that's definitely the final boss."
Dev cracked his knuckles.
"Then let's give him a proper welcome."
The first Dragon warrior attacked.
He rushed forward with incredible speed.
But Sana moved even faster.
She dashed forward and kicked the warrior into the wall.
Dev slammed his fists into the ground.
Stone spikes erupted from the floor and attacked two more Dragon warriors.
Kabir raised his hands quickly.
A bright blue shield surrounded the team.
The battle had begun.
But Rudra didn't move.
He simply watched.
His eyes focused entirely on Aadhya.
"Your power has awakened quickly."
Aadhya stepped forward.
The serpent aura behind her grew larger.
"Leave this place."
Rudra chuckled softly.
"That's not going to happen."
His crimson aura suddenly exploded outward.
The entire hallway shook violently.
Kabir almost lost his balance.
"WHY IS HE SO STRONG?!"
Dev shouted back,
"Because he's the Dragon King!"
Aadhya clenched her fists.
Emerald energy gathered in her palms.
The serpent aura lunged forward like a massive phantom.
But Rudra simply raised one hand.
Crimson flames erupted instantly.
The two ancient energies collided.
Dragon fire.
Serpent power.
The explosion blasted through the hallway.
The walls cracked.
The ground shattered.
Everyone was thrown backward by the shockwave.
When the smoke cleared…
Rudra stood exactly where he had been before.
Completely calm.
His crimson aura burned brighter than ever.
Aadhya slowly stood up again.
Her serpent aura flickered around her.
Rudra looked impressed.
"You're stronger than I expected."
Then he stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath his foot.
"But you're still far from my level."
His crimson eyes burned like fire.
And everyone in the hallway realized the terrifying truth.
The Dragon King had not even started fighting seriously yet.