Chapter 10 - Legacy of the Crown
Ethan stepped forward into the ancient stone amphitheater, his boots crunching softly against the untouched snow. The air here didn't feel cold; it felt alive, vibrating with a deep, welcoming warmth that seemed to seep straight into his bones.
Marcus and Vance followed close behind, their weapons drawn, scanning the shadows for any sign of remaining threats, but the amphitheater was entirely empty, save for the massive stone altar pulsing with soft, golden light.
Ethan approached the altar. As he drew near, the Dragon Sword on his back began to hum softly, pulling itself free from its scabbard as if guided by an invisible magnet. It floated gently out of the leather sheath, hovering in the air before him, its silver blade shining with the brilliance of a thousand stars.
"This is it," Ethan whispered.
He reached out and grasped the hilt. The moment his fingers locked around the leather, the runes carved into the surrounding stone altar flared with blinding intensity, shooting pillars of golden light straight up into the night sky, piercing the clouds and illuminating the entire Colorado Rockies in a glorious, golden dawn.
A deep, resonant voice—not speaking in words, but echoing directly within the minds of Ethan, Marcus, and Vance—filled the amphitheater.
The bloodline is restored. The guardian has returned. The realm is secure.
The golden pillars of light gradually softened, settling into a warm, permanent halo that enveloped the amphitheater in peace and safety. The Council and its dark shadows had been broken, their eternal hunt ended by the rightful heir.
Marcus holstered his weapon, walking up to the young man who had started the night in a torn gray hoodie, hiding in the service halls of a museum, and ended it as the master of the ancient legacy.
The veteran offered a slow, respectful military salute.
May you like
"At ease, Commander Miller," Marcus said with a genuine, warm smile.
Ethan returned the smile, feeling the comforting weight of the Dragon Sword in his hand and the enduring warmth of his mother’s final wish fulfilled. The road behind him had been forged in hardship and struggle, but as the golden morning sun crested the peaks of the Continental Divide, Ethan knew that his true journey was only just beginning.
