Chapter 6 - The Dragon's False Flame
While the Iron Blood Pack fell to its knees, terror was sweeping through the inner sanctuary of the Royal Castle of Valoria.
Lord Caspian Veyne stood inside the high vault beneath the palace, surrounding himself with fifty elite blood-mages and mercenary captains. In the center of the room sat the real Dragon Core—a massive, pulsating sun-gold crystal that radiated immense heat and magical power.
Caspian had stolen the genuine core weeks ago, replacing it with the unstable bomb Fenris had exposed. His plan was simple: use the core’s infinite magic to empower his private army, wipe out the royal family, and seize the throne.
“My Lord!” a breathless scout burst into the vault, covered in sweat. “The Iron Blood Pack has surrendered! Merrick was defeated without a single sword drawn!”
Caspian’s eyes narrowed. “By whom? Did the King send his royal vanguard?”
“No!” the scout cried. “By the stable boy! The human! He... he shattered steel with his fingers! The elders are calling him the First Lycan!”
Caspian’s face twisted in rage. “Nonsense! Old wives' tales! Force the core into the amplification array immediately! We strike the inner palace now before they realize what’s happening!”
The blood-mages began chanting, driving black iron needles into the glowing surface of the real Dragon Core.
GROAN.
The massive gold crystal shrieked in agony as dark magic corrupted its surface. Instead of releasing steady, protective light, the core began to vent wild, chaotic arcs of golden lightning through the stone walls of the castle.
Above ground, the ground shook violently. Towering stone columns in the Grand Hall shattered. Fires broke out across the lower quarters as wild magical energy leaked into the city’s streets.
Panic erupted throughout Valoria. The city’s magical wards collapsed, allowing wild beasts from the surrounding mountains to breach the outer walls.
High Scholar Alistair stumbled through the burning corridors of the castle, clutching his ancient books. “The core is weeping!” he wailed to the fleeing guards. “Someone is forcing its power! The entire city will burn!”
May you like
Suddenly, the heavy iron doors of the castle were blasted off their hinges, crashing onto the stone floor with a deafening boom.
Through the dust and flames walked Fenris, flanked by Vana and three hundred grim-faced warriors of the Iron Blood Pack, who now wore the blue banners of the true Sovereign.
