Vrrrmmm—!

The moment Ethan stepped through the spatial rift, a wave of nausea hit him like a punch to the gut. He staggered slightly as he emerged, blinking against the sudden brightness of the open field near Emerald Castle.

But the light didn't last.

The sky darkened in an instant, as if someone had drawn a curtain across the sun.

Thunder cracked overhead, sharp and violent. The air thickened with pressure, humming with static. Ethan's pupils dilated as he snapped his head up.

And there it was.

A massive golden Celestial Dragon coiled through the clouds, its scales gleaming like molten metal, arcs of lightning dancing across its body. The sheer force of its presence made the sky tremble.

BOOM—

BOOM-BOOM—

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—

Each thunderclap tore open swirling vortexes in the sky, as if the heavens themselves were being unraveled. The dragon's body twisted through the storm, its wings slicing the air, its roar lost beneath the crashing of thunder.

Ethan's skin prickled. Every hair on his body stood on end.

He'd never seen a dragon like this before. Not in person. Not this close. Not this powerful.

And just as he instinctively turned to flee, another figure appeared in the sky.

Cicero.

Clad in ancient draconic armor, his aura flared like a beacon. He hovered in the air, facing the golden Celestial Dragon head-on, the two of them locked in a silent standoff that radiated raw, unfiltered power.

Then the clash began.

Energy exploded between them, rippling through the sky like a storm given form. The ground beneath Ethan's feet trembled with each impact, as if the earth itself feared what was unfolding above.

"This… this is insane…" Ethan whispered, frozen in place.

Behind the Celestial Dragon, more figures emerged—an entire host of dragons, each one crackling with thunderous energy. A full-blown army.

And yet Cicero didn't flinch. He met the onslaught with unwavering force, his power surging to match the storm. The battle escalated, lightning and flame colliding in a spectacle that lit up the sky.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, watching the golden dragon twist through the clouds.

"Celestial Dragon?" he muttered. "Where the hell did this one come from?"

He hadn't expected this. Not now. Not here. Emerald Castle's defenses had only just begun to recover, and now a dragon of this caliber was bearing down on them?

The sheer voltage radiating from the golden beast made his chest tighten. Even from this distance, it was overwhelming.

But then a thought crept into his mind—dangerous, ambitious.

What if he could turn this?

What if he could bring these dragons under Emerald Castle's banner?

It would change everything. The city's defenses would be unmatched. No one would dare challenge them.

He was still turning the idea over when—

A golden blur shot toward him.

One of the Celestial Dragons broke formation, diving straight at him. Thunder gathered around its maw, condensing into a massive sphere of crackling energy.

It hurled the orb toward the ground beside him.

BOOM—!

BOOM-BOOM—!!

The explosion was deafening. The shockwave tore through the field, ripping open the air itself. Dust and debris blasted outward in a violent ring.

Ethan stumbled back, heart hammering, but he held his ground. The force was brutal, but he was stronger than most. He braced himself, boots digging into the earth, and didn't fall.

Then a voice rang out—cold, sharp, and furious.

"Who are you?"

Ethan turned toward the sound.

A golden-scaled dragon warrior descended from the sky, armor gleaming, eyes like twin blades. His wings flared as he landed, the wind from his descent kicking up a swirl of dust.

"You think you can skulk around here unnoticed?" the warrior snapped. "Trying to ambush someone?"

Ethan opened his mouth, but the dragon cut him off.

"Our leaders agreed—one-on-one combat. No interference. No reinforcements."

The warrior's voice rose, thunder rumbling behind it. "You plan to break that pact? Speak now—or I'll cut you down where you stand!"

Ethan froze for half a second, caught off guard by how seriously the dragon warrior clung to the idea of a one-on-one duel.

"A duel?" he echoed, then let out a low, humorless laugh. "Fine. If that's how you want it—then we'll play by your rules."

He wasn't in the mood to argue. He'd already been attacked. That was reason enough.

"I don't give a damn about your agreements!" he roared.

Power surged through him like a dam breaking. Golden lightning exploded from his body, arcing forward in a blinding flash and slamming into the Celestial Dragon warrior with the force of a meteor.

The impact rocked the earth.

A thunderous boom cracked across the battlefield as the dragon's energy shield shattered like glass. The warrior was hurled backward, crashing into the ground with a sickening thud, dust and sparks erupting around him.

Ethan stood tall, lightning crackling across his skin, his aura expanding like a storm front. The sky above seemed to bend under the weight of his power.

Then his voice rang out—sharp, commanding, impossible to ignore.

"Emerald Castle forces—hear me!"

His shout rolled across the desert like thunder, echoing off the dunes and cliffs.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it again—anyone who dares invade Emerald Castle is our enemy. I don't care who they are or how many come. We will cut them down to the last!"

His voice rose, fierce and unrelenting. "There is no duel. No pact. No mercy. Now—attack! Full assault!"

The order shot through the ranks like a lightning strike.

Soldiers snapped to attention, eyes blazing with resolve. In a heartbeat, they surged forward, a tide of steel and magic crashing toward the enemy lines.

"My Lord!"

"My Lord, at your command!"

The cry echoed from every direction as the army mobilized. Their momentum was unstoppable, their formation tight and lethal. The ground trembled beneath their charge.

Across the field, the Celestial Dragon forces stirred in alarm.

Their golden-scaled leader let out a furious roar, lightning flaring around him as he summoned a massive energy barrier to shield his troops from the oncoming assault.

"You dare break the pact?!" he bellowed, voice crackling with rage. "This was supposed to be a duel! One-on-one! You dishonor the agreement!"

Ethan didn't flinch.

He stepped forward, slow and deliberate, his eyes locked on the dragon commander. In his hand, a massive sphere of condensed lightning began to form, pulsing with raw, volatile power.

"You invaded my territory," he said coldly. "And now you want to lecture me about honor?"

The energy ball grew brighter, louder, the air around it warping with heat and static.

"I'm the Lord of Emerald Castle," Ethan said, voice like a blade. "And around here, I make the rules. Got it?"

His fury had reached its peak. He was done playing diplomat. Done pretending.

With a snarl, he hurled the energy sphere straight at the golden Celestial Dragon leader.

BOOM—!

The explosion tore through the air like a cannon blast. The dragon's shield shattered on impact, lightning ripping through it like paper. The force of the blast sent the commander flying, his body crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact, arcs of electricity dancing across his scales.

...