The cold wind rushed past Kim Woo Bin's face as the massive silver dragon soared high above the forest. Below him, the glowing trees of Lumisvale looked smaller and smaller until they were nothing more than tiny patches of light in the darkness.
Woo Bin held tightly onto the dragon's scales, his heart pounding wildly.
Just an hour ago he had been a simple village boy walking home from the blacksmith shop.
Now he was flying through the sky on the back of a dragon.
The world had changed faster than he could understand.
"Try not to fall," the dragon said calmly.
Woo Bin's eyes widened. "That's easy for you to say!"
The dragon let out a deep rumbling sound that almost sounded like laughter.
"My name is Astrael," the dragon said. "I am the last awakened Silver Dragon of Eternia."
Woo Bin swallowed nervously.
"Astrael… you said I'm the Dragon Bearer. But I don't even know what that means."
The dragon glided smoothly through the clouds, moonlight shining across his enormous silver wings.
"The Dragon Bearer is the bridge between humans and dragons," Astrael explained. "Long ago, dragons protected Eternia alongside humans. But dragons possess magic too powerful for ordinary humans to control. So the ancient Dragon Crown chose a single human — the Dragon Bearer — to guide us."
Woo Bin looked at the glowing dragon symbol on his palm.
"And… that's me?"
"Yes."
"But why me?"
Astrael remained silent for a moment.
"Because the Dragon Crown chose you."
They flew for several minutes in silence before Astrael spoke again.
"Thousands of years ago, Eternia was peaceful. The seven floating kingdoms lived in harmony. Dragons guarded each kingdom."
Woo Bin listened carefully.
"The Dragon Crown allowed the Dragon Bearer to communicate with every dragon in Eternia. Through that bond, dragons and humans kept balance in the world."
"But then something happened," Woo Bin said quietly.
"Yes," Astrael replied.
"The Dragon Crown disappeared."
The dragon's voice became darker.
"Without the crown, the bond between dragons and humans was broken. Our magic became unstable. One by one, dragons fell into a deep magical sleep."
Woo Bin remembered the glowing chains wrapped around Astrael.
"Those chains… who did that to you?"
Astrael's wings shifted slightly.
"An army known as the Shadow Legion."
Woo Bin felt a chill run through him.
"They serve a powerful ruler who calls himself the Dark King."
Somewhere far away, lightning flashed across the clouds.
"The Dark King seeks the Dragon Crown," Astrael continued. "If he finds it before you… he will control every dragon in Eternia."
Woo Bin's chest tightened.
"And then?"
"Then the world will fall."
The clouds slowly cleared as they flew higher.
Woo Bin suddenly gasped.
Far ahead of them, enormous floating islands hovered in the sky.
Cities of shining towers, glowing bridges, and waterfalls that poured endlessly into the clouds stretched across the horizon.
"The floating kingdoms…" Woo Bin whispered in awe.
He had heard stories about them his entire life.
But seeing them with his own eyes was completely different.
"There are seven kingdoms," Astrael said.
Woo Bin watched as Astrael pointed with his wing.
"The Skyfire Kingdom, where dragons of flame once ruled the skies."
Another island floated beside it, glowing with blue crystals.
"The Crystal Kingdom, where magic flows through the land itself."
Further away, dark storm clouds surrounded another kingdom.
"The Storm Kingdom, home of thunder dragons."
Woo Bin stared in amazement.
"It's beautiful…"
"Yes," Astrael said softly.
"And it is all in danger."
As they continued flying, Woo Bin felt the dragon mark on his hand begin to glow brighter.
A strange warmth spread through his arm.
"Astrael… something's happening."
The dragon immediately turned his head.
"Your power is awakening."
Suddenly Woo Bin felt a strange connection in his mind.
Images flashed before his eyes.
He saw dragons sleeping inside giant mountains.
He saw ancient temples hidden in the clouds.
He saw a golden crown floating above a throne of fire.
Woo Bin gasped and grabbed Astrael's scales tightly.
"What was that?!"
"The Dragon Bearer's vision," Astrael said.
"You can sense dragons."
Woo Bin's breathing slowed.
"So… I can find them?"
"Yes."
"And awaken them."
Suddenly Astrael's wings stiffened.
"Something is wrong."
Woo Bin looked around.
"What do you mean?"
Astrael's golden eyes narrowed.
"We are being followed."
Woo Bin's heart skipped.
Behind them, three dark flying shapes burst through the clouds.
Their wings were thin and sharp like blades.
Their bodies looked almost like dragons, but twisted and unnatural.
"What are those things?!" Woo Bin shouted.
"Shadow Drakes," Astrael growled.
"They serve the Dark King."
The creatures let out horrible screeches as they rushed toward them.
Woo Bin's hands began shaking.
"I've never fought anything before!"
"Then learn quickly," Astrael said.
One of the Shadow Drakes lunged forward.
Astrael twisted sharply through the air.
The creature barely missed them.
Another Shadow Drake fired a blast of dark energy.
The attack struck Astrael's wing.
The dragon roared in pain.
Woo Bin held on tightly.
"Astrael!"
"I'm fine," the dragon growled.
"But we cannot outrun them forever."
The third Shadow Drake flew directly toward Woo Bin.
Its glowing red eyes locked onto him.
"The Dragon Bearer…" it hissed.
Woo Bin felt fear freezing his body.
But suddenly the dragon mark on his hand flared with bright blue light.
Energy exploded outward.
The Shadow Drake was blasted backwards.
Woo Bin stared at his glowing hand in shock.
"I… did that?"
"Yes," Astrael said.
"You are stronger than you realize."
The remaining Shadow Drakes shrieked in anger before disappearing into the clouds.
"They will return," Astrael warned.
Woo Bin nodded slowly.
"I figured…"
After flying for another hour, Astrael descended toward a giant mountain hidden between the clouds.
The peak glowed faintly with ancient symbols carved into the rock.
"This place…" Woo Bin whispered.
"It is called The Dragon Sanctuary," Astrael said.
"We will train here."
They landed gently near the mountain entrance.
The air felt ancient and powerful.
Woo Bin stepped off Astrael's back, still amazed by everything he had seen.
Inside the mountain, giant statues of dragons stood in a circular chamber.
In the center of the room was a massive stone platform.
"What is this place?" Woo Bin asked.
"A training ground used by past Dragon Bearers."
Woo Bin looked around.
"So this is where I learn to control my power?"
"Yes."
Astrael lowered his massive head.
"Your journey has begun, Kim Woo Bin."
"But you must become stronger."
Woo Bin looked at the glowing mark on his hand again.
"What happens if I fail?"
Astrael's golden eyes became serious.
"If you fail…"
"The Dark King will rule Eternia."
Woo Bin took a deep breath.
Fear still lingered in his chest.
But something else had appeared as well.
Determination.
"Then I won't fail."
Astrael smiled slightly.
"Good."
The dragon stepped back.
"Because tomorrow…"
"Your real training begins."
Far away across the sky, inside a dark castle surrounded by storms, a tall figure stood before a massive throne.
A soldier knelt before him.
"My king," the soldier said.
"We have confirmed it."
"The Dragon Bearer has awakened."
The shadowy figure slowly smiled.
His glowing red eyes burned like fire in the darkness.
"Excellent…"
"Send the Shadow Legion."
"This time…"
"We will not let him live long enough to find the Dragon Crown."
Thunder shook the castle walls.
And far away, inside the Dragon Sanctuary, Kim Woo Bin unknowingly prepared for the greatest battle in Eternia's history.