The roar echoed across the heavens.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The magical barrier surrounding Velkar exploded into millions of glowing fragments.
Panic spread through the city.
Children screamed.
Citizens ran for shelter.
Warning sirens echoed from every tower.
WARNING!
DIVINE GUARDIAN DETECTED.
CITY LOCKDOWN INITIATED.
Kael looked toward the sky.
The enormous black dragon hovered above the city.
Its wings stretched across the clouds.
Every beat of its wings shook the mountains.
Purple lightning crawled over its crystal scales.
Its silver eyes never left Kael.
It wasn’t looking at Velkar.
It had come…
For him.
Evelyn Arclight’s expression became serious.
“This isn’t possible.”
Draven rested his massive sword on his shoulder.
“It found him faster than expected.”
Kael frowned.
“What exactly is that thing?”
Nobody answered immediately.
Instead—
The First King suddenly appeared behind Kael.
Without a sound.
Without magic.
Simply…
There.
His silver eyes remained fixed on the creature.
Then he quietly said,
“It is not alive.”
Kael blinked.
“What?”
The old king continued.
“It died ten thousand years ago.”
Silence.
Kael looked back toward the dragon.
Its eyes glowed.
Its wings moved.
Its body breathed.
Yet…
It was dead?
The First King slowly explained.
“When the gods disappeared…”
“They left twelve Guardians behind.”
“They were never meant to protect humanity.”
“They protect the Thrones.”
Kael’s heartbeat quickened.
“So why is it here?”
The answer came instantly.
“It sensed another king.”
Far above—
The dragon opened its mouth.
Purple energy gathered between its jaws.
The sky darkened.
Clouds spiraled.
Every soldier on the walls immediately aimed their rune cannons.
The captain shouted.
“ALL BATTERIES!”
“FIRE!”
Hundreds of blue beams shot into the sky.
The strongest weapons humanity had ever created.
Every beam struck the dragon.
Explosion after explosion filled the heavens.
Smoke covered everything.
For one second…
Hope appeared.
Then—
The smoke disappeared.
The dragon hadn’t moved.
Not a single scale was damaged.
The city became silent.
One soldier whispered,
“Impossible…”
The dragon looked downward.
Then released its attack.
A beam of violet light descended from heaven.
It wasn’t fast.
It wasn’t loud.
Yet everyone felt certain of one thing.
If it landed…
Velkar would cease to exist.
BOOM!!
A gigantic black sword suddenly split the beam in half.
Draven.
He stood atop the city wall.
One hand gripping his massive blade.
Golden energy exploded around him.
For the first time—
The War Throne activated.
Golden armor spread across his body.
Ancient runes ignited.
His eyes shone like twin suns.
The pressure alone forced everyone to their knees.
Kael stared in disbelief.
“So that’s…”
Draven smiled.
“The Throne of War.”
Without another word—
He jumped.
The mountain beneath him shattered.
One leap carried him thousands of feet into the sky.
Then—
He swung his sword.
BOOOOOOM!
Golden and violet energy collided.
The heavens split apart.
Clouds vanished.
The shockwave flattened forests hundreds of kilometers away.
Kael couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
This wasn’t a battle.
It was a disaster.
Inside the chaos…
Astra suddenly grabbed Kael’s wrist.
“We have to leave.”
Kael looked confused.
“What?”
“They’re buying time.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Buying time for what?”
Astra’s silver eyes turned toward the city.
Then—
Toward the ground.
“Something beneath Velkar…”
“…has awakened.”
The earth trembled.
Not because of the battle.
Because something underground…
Was moving.
Deep beneath the city…
Thousands of meters below…
An enormous stone gate slowly opened.
Ancient chains broke one after another.
Inside the darkness…
Rows upon rows of gigantic statues stood motionless.
Each statue resembled a god.
Each one bound by black chains.
Kael suddenly heard a whisper.
Not with his ears.
Inside his soul.
“Find us…”
His body froze.
Another whisper followed.
“Before he does…”
Then—
A single golden eye opened in the darkness.
Watching.
Waiting.
Alive.
Kael grabbed his chest.
Pain exploded through his body.
The black mark on his arm began burning.
The hidden Thirteenth Throne reacted.
The First King immediately noticed.
His expression changed.
For the first time…
He looked afraid.
“No…”
Evelyn turned toward him.
“What is it?”
The old king slowly whispered,
“The prison recognizes him.”
Silence.
“The Thirteenth Throne…”
“…has found its rightful heir.”
The world seemed to stop.
Far above…
The Divine Guardian suddenly stopped fighting Draven.
Instead…
It lowered its head.
Like a knight greeting its emperor.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
The dragon wasn’t bowing to Draven.
It wasn’t bowing to the First King.
It was bowing…
To Kael.
The city fell completely silent.
And somewhere beneath Velkar…
A deep, ancient voice echoed through the prison.
“Welcome home… My King.”
End of Chapter 13