The cave suddenly became silent.
Too silent.
Arian could hear his own heartbeat.
Then a deep rumbling sound echoed from the darkness.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"Oh no…"
From the far end of the cave, two enormous golden eyes slowly opened.
A massive shape began moving in the shadows.
A dragon.
Its scales glowed like burning metal.
Smoke escaped from its nostrils as it slowly lifted its head.
The ancient creature had been sleeping for centuries.
And now it was awake.
The dragon released a powerful roar that shook the entire mountain.
Flames burst from its mouth.
"RUN!" Draven shouted.
The dragon spread its massive wings, blocking the cave exit.
They were trapped.
Arian's mind raced.
"We can't fight this thing!"
Lyra quickly began casting a spell.
Blue magical energy surrounded her hands.
"I'll try to distract it!"
She launched a burst of magic toward the dragon.
The blast struck its chest.
But the dragon barely moved.
Instead, it became even angrier.
Flames shot toward them.
Draven pushed Arian out of the way just in time.
The fire burned across the cave floor.
Arkon raised his staff and created a golden shield.
"We cannot defeat it!" the wizard shouted.
"We must escape!"
Arian suddenly noticed something shining behind the dragon.
A small stone altar.
And on it…
A glowing crystal.
"The map piece!" Arian said.
Draven understood immediately.
"I'll distract the dragon."
He ran forward, slashing his swords toward the creature.
The dragon roared and focused on him.
"NOW!" Draven shouted.
Arian ran past the dragon while it was distracted.
He reached the stone altar.
Without hesitation, he grabbed the crystal.
The moment he touched it, the crystal transformed into another piece of the map.
It flew into his bag and merged with the others.
The map began glowing brighter than ever before.
New golden paths appeared across the parchment.
But the dragon was now furious.
Flames filled the cave again.
Lyra grabbed Arian's arm.
"We need to leave NOW!"
Arkon raised his staff and unleashed a powerful burst of light.
The dragon recoiled for a moment.
That moment was enough.
The group ran toward the cave entrance and escaped down the mountain.
Behind them, the dragon's roar echoed across the sky.
They stopped only when they reached the valley below.
Arian opened the map again.
Three pieces had now joined together.
A new location appeared.
Lyra studied the glowing symbol carefully.
"The next destination…"
She looked up slowly.
"Is the Crystal City of Lunareth."
Arkon nodded.
"That is where we may finally learn the truth about the forbidden power."
But none of them noticed the dark shadow watching from the distant mountains.
Malvyr's army was already on the move.
And the real battle for Eldoria was about to begin.