Drakion stood at the end of the bridge, a single tear trailing down his face. Such a peaceful, lovely, and sweet city... reduced to this. He felt the sorrow swell within him, but this time, it wasn’t amplified or twisted by any outside force. This was his true feeling.
Unbeknownst to Drakion, an uproar had ignited once more—this time, concerning the bridge. The moment he stepped onto it, all eyes had locked on him. He walked calmly, steadily, slowly—without a single pause or sign of strain.
He crossed the bridge without breaking a sweat.
This stunned the crowd—it was the second time Drakion had crossed the bridge with such ease. Whispers surged. Some cultivators, desperate and envious, brandished draconic relics and rushed after him, hoping to mimic his feat.
But the next moment—a crushing, unknown pressure fell upon them like divine judgment. Screams rang out. Flesh was torn apart.
Over fifty lives were reduced to meat paste in an instant.
After that, no one dared to try again.
Drakion remained unaware of the slaughter behind him. He walked on, soon standing before the massive door—and the statue that guarded it.
As he took a step forward, the dragon statue’s eyes ignited, glowing with life. Slowly, it stirred. Its focus locked onto Drakion... and then, to the shock of all onlookers—it stepped aside.
Gasps echoed like thunder among the crowd.
What they could not see—what only Drakion noticed—was that the statue, though headless, was bowing to him.
His heart clenched at the sight, a heavy sigh slipping from his lips.
The doors before him creaked... then opened of their own accord, welcoming him into the Golden Dragon Palace. The onlookers stood frozen, awestruck.
"Do you think he’ll take all the treasure for himself?"
"Why is he able to enter the palace so easily while we can’t?"
"I don’t know... but maybe... maybe they really are dragons. It wouldn’t be that easy otherwise."
"Let’s wait. See if he comes back."
Lyla had also crossed the bridge. She, too, had witnessed Drakion walk across with the grace of a sovereign. She called his name over and over again, but he never turned—as if her voice no longer existed. This only fueled her rising fury.
When she reached the dragon statue, it didn’t hesitate.
Its mouth opened—and golden breath roared forth.
Lyla reacted fast, dodging just in time, but her right hand—caught in the blaze—turned to ash.
A second later, her hand snapped back into place as if time rewound itself.
She snorted, retreating from the dragon’s range, lost in thought as she stared at the majestic palace before her.
"You are finally here, Dragon Emperor."
The voice was ancient—domineering, echoing through the dark.
And as it rang out, light surged to life, slowly revealing his surroundings.
He was standing in a hallway he recognized—one steeped in history and power—the Throne Room.
But that wasn’t what sent a chill through his core.
What froze him in place was the sight just ahead—
A golden dragon corpse.
A golden dragon, as massive as the palace itself—Drakion wondered how such a colossal being had been contained within these walls. It radiated a righteous and benevolent aura that settled the mind like a calming balm. Its scales sparkled so vividly that Drakion could see his own reflection upon them. Two pairs of horns curved like pillars of judgment, commanding reverence.
But alas, its eyes were void of light.
A sigh echoed through the hall.
"It’s been thousands of years."
"If the Dragon Emperor keeps staring at me like that, it’ll start to look strange," came a sudden laugh. Drakion’s gaze shifted to an unknown young man casually seated atop the dragon’s head.
"You’re the one who was calling me," Drakion raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Dragon Emperor," the young man replied smoothly. "Well, I suppose I should introduce myself."
"I am Aurithon Solcrux—the Golden Dragon King of the Solcrux Clan," he declared, exuding a commanding blend of dominance, elegance, and authority.
"Vael’Drakion Vorr, right?" Aurithon cut him off, eyes sharp with recognition.
Drakion’s mouth fell open in shock. "How did you know?"
"We all know. Don’t worry—you’ll understand why, in time," Aurithon smiled cryptically.
"How did you all die? And who was the enemy?" Drakion pressed.
Aurithon sighed deeply. "The Dragon Emperor will learn the truth in time. For now, your focus must be on growing stronger."
"How fares the outside world? Are there any dragons left?" Aurithon asked with a heavy heart.
"There are no dragons left. Everything is dead," Drakion sighed. "I’m in a place called the Origin Continent."
"Origin Continent," Aurithon murmured, his eyes glowing faintly. "It seems our world has been shattered."
"What do you mean?" Drakion asked, confused.
"The world was once called the Origin Dragon Continent—the birthplace and ancestral home of dragons," Aurithon explained. Drakion’s breath caught at this revelation.
"I would have loved to tell you more," Aurithon continued, "but soon, I must disappear from this world. It is time to fulfill my mission."
"What mission?" Drakion asked, intrigued.
With a wave of his hand, two eggs materialized from the void somewhere within the palace—one golden, radiant as sunlight; the other dark and stone-like.
Aurithon held the stone egg forward. "This egg was entrusted to me to keep safe until your arrival—before the disaster struck."
"We knew the disaster was coming, but we had to preserve some rare bloodlines to aid you when you came," Aurithon said solemnly.
"Wait—you knew I was coming to this world?" Drakion’s voice trembled with confusion. After all, he was just an ordinary man from Earth, reincarnated into this realm.
"Some things are better left a secret," Aurithon smiled enigmatically.
Drakion’s heart pounded with shock and chaos swirling in his mind. Minutes passed before he could steady himself. "What about the golden egg?"
"That’s my daughter," Aurithon said quietly. "I had to seal her away—I couldn’t bear to watch her die before my eyes."
Before Drakion could respond, a chilling voice echoed through the chamber—a voice heavy with meaning that sent shivers crawling down his spine.
A/N: Dropped the bonus Chapter for the golden tickets!