Chapter 59: The Inheritance of Dragons
Darkness.
No...
Not darkness.
Peace.
Lee Kung slowly opened his eyes.
He was standing in an endless white plain that stretched farther than sight itself. There was no wind, no sky, no earth beneath his feet—only an infinite sea of brilliant light.
He looked around.
"...Where am I?"
His voice echoed endlessly.
There was no answer.
Then—
Footsteps.
Soft.
Gentle.
He turned.
Two figures slowly emerged from the light.
A man...
And a woman.
Their presence alone radiated unimaginable power.
The woman wore elegant white armor decorated with silver dragon scales. Long white hair flowed behind her like silk, and her warm silver eyes seemed capable of calming even the fiercest storm.
Beside her stood a tall man clad in crimson armor trimmed with gold. His red hair burned like living fire, while his scarlet eyes carried the quiet strength of a warrior who had seen countless battles.
For some reason...
Lee Kung's heart began racing.
He didn't know why.
But tears welled in his eyes.
The woman smiled.
"My son."
Lee Kung froze.
"...What?"
The man chuckled softly.
"You've grown."
Lee Kung took an unsteady step forward.
"I..."
The woman gently placed a hand on her chest.
"My name is Maliakazan."
She smiled warmly.
"But everyone called me Malia."
Lee Kung stared at her.
The former...
White Dragon.
The woman nodded.
"Yes."
The man stepped forward next.
"And I..."
"...am Kael-el."
He smiled proudly.
"Though most knew me by another name."
"Khelly."
Lee Kung's breathing became uneven.
"No..."
His knees gave way beneath him.
"You..."
"My parents?"
Tears finally escaped his eyes.
All his life he had wondered.
Wondered who they were
Why they had to die.
Whether they had loved him.
Now...
They stood before him.
Alive.
At least...
In spirit.
He rushed toward them.
Without hesitation he embraced them both.
His shoulders trembled violently.
"I've never seen you..."
His voice cracked.
"I missed both of you..."
Malia gently stroked his hair.
"We know."
Kael smiled.
"We've always known."
Lee Kung cried harder.
"I'm sorry."
"I couldn't protect Master Po."
"I couldn't save everyone."
"I wasn't strong enough."
Kael gently lifted his son's chin.
"No."
"You became exactly the man we hoped you would become."
Lee Kung looked confused.
"But..."
"I almost lost everything."
Malia wiped away his tears.
"And yet..."
"You still chose love."
She smiled.
"When anger told you to kill..."
"You chose to save."
"When revenge tempted your heart..."
"You chose forgiveness."
"When hatred consumed your brother..."
"You fought to bring him home."
Kael nodded proudly.
"You have succeeded where many Dragon Warriors failed."
Lee Kung looked down.
"I was scared."
"Good."
His father smiled.
"Courage is not the absence of fear."
"It is choosing to move despite it."
Silence settled over them.
Then Kael slowly stepped backward.
"There is one final gift."
Lee Kung looked up.
"What gift?"
Malia smiled.
"The Dragon Armor."
Lee Kung blinked.
"I already have it."
She shook her head.
"No."
"You borrowed it."
"What?"
"The armor you've been using..."
"...was only a fragment."
Kael raised one hand.
"You have now proven yourself worthy."
"Worthy not because of your strength..."
"But because of your heart."
Golden light surrounded both spirits.
"Our legacy..."
"...belongs to you now."
Lee Kung watched in awe as his parents slowly transformed.
Kael's body erupted into crimson flames.
His human form disappeared.
A colossal Red Dragon emerged.
Its scales burned brighter than the sun.
Its wings covered the heavens.
At the same moment—
Malia transformed into a magnificent White Dragon.
Elegant.
Radiant.
Her silver scales reflected endless light.
The two dragons circled above him.
The sky trembled beneath their roars.
Then together they descended.
The Red Dragon dissolved into crimson light.
The White Dragon dissolved into silver light.
Both streams of energy entered Lee Kung's body.
Immediately—
A magnificent suit of armor materialized around him.
Unlike anything he had ever worn.
Crimson dragon scales layered over black enchanted steel.
Golden engravings glowed across the chest.
Twin dragon wings folded neatly behind his back.
A flowing crimson cloak appeared.
His sword changed as well.
No longer merely the Dragon King's Sword...
It had become the true Dragon Emperor Blade.
Lee Kung stared at himself.
"...Beautiful."
He looked up.
His parents were fading.
"No..."
He reached toward them.
"Wait!"
"I still have so many questions!"
"Please!"
Malia smiled lovingly.
"We'll always be with you."
Kael laughed.
"Now..."
"Go live."
"Not as our son..."
"But as yourself."
Their forms became countless particles of light.
"No!"
Lee Kung reached out desperately.
"Please don't leave again!"
He ran toward them.
His fingertips almost touched the fading light.
Then—
Everything shattered.
The white world disappeared.
A powerful force pulled him backward.
The light vanished.
Darkness swallowed him.
Then—
Warm sunlight touched his face.
Lee Kung's eyes opened.
He instinctively raised an arm to block the morning sun shining through the large window.
For several moments...
He simply breathed.
"...I'm back."
He immediately sat upright.
The memories flooded back.
Lee Kang.
The reactor.
The battle.
The stab.
His heart.
His eyes widened.
"My chest!"
He quickly pulled open his shirt.
Nothing.
The wound was gone.
Not even a scar remained.
He touched the spot repeatedly.
"...Impossible."
Slowly he climbed out of bed.
His legs felt weak after weeks without movement.
The room itself was unfamiliar.
A private recovery chamber inside the Heroes' Lair.
He walked toward the window.
Outside...
Morning sunlight reflected beautifully across the Water Veil that flowed through the center of the Heroes' Lair.
Standing beside the water...
Was Mia.
She looked thinner.
More tired.
As though she hadn't slept properly in weeks.
Lee Kung quietly smiled.
He stepped outside.
The cool morning breeze greeted him.
Mia heard footsteps.
She turned.
For several seconds...
She simply stared.
Her eyes widened.
"...Lee?"
He smiled.
"Morning."
She blinked.
Then suddenly—
She ran.
Without saying a word.
She threw herself into him.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
She buried her face against his shoulder.
"You idiot!"
She began crying immediately.
"You absolute idiot!"
Lee Kung gently hugged her.
"I'm sorry."
She punched his chest repeatedly.
"You promised!"
"I thought..."
"I thought..."
Her voice disappeared into sobs.
Lee simply held her tighter.
"I'm here."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
"Well..."
"I guess sleeping beauty finally woke up."
Lee turned.
Walking toward them were Harris...
Sio Jun...
Gin Morino...
And...
Lee Kang.
The moment Lee Kung's eyes met his brother's...
He became serious.
He carefully observed him.
The corruption.
The darkness.
The hatred.
Gone.
Completely gone.
Lee Kang slowly approached.
Then—
Without warning—
He dropped to both knees.
His head lowered.
"I don't deserve forgiveness."
His voice shook.
"But..."
"I'm sorry."
"For everything."
"I have no excuses."
Lee Kung silently walked toward him.
Everyone watched.
Wondering what would happen.
He stopped directly before his brother.
Then gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Stand."
Lee Kang remained kneeling.
"I can't."
"I don't deserve to."
Lee Kung smiled.
"Brother."
"It's over."
Lee Kang slowly looked up.
"We won."
Lee Kung helped him to his feet.
"That's all that matters."
For the first time in years...
Lee Kang smiled.
A real smile.
The twins embraced once more.
Nearby, Harris smiled.
Gin looked relieved.
Sio Jun quietly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
Then Lee Kung suddenly looked toward the others.
"So..."
Everyone blinked.
"When do we go back to school?"
Silence.
Then Harris burst into laughter.
Gin laughed too.
Even Lee Kang couldn't help smiling.
Commander Pius, who had been watching from a balcony, simply shook his head.
"Three weeks asleep..."
"And the first thing he thinks about is school."
Everyone laughed.
Everyone...
Except Mia.
Lee Kung immediately noticed.
She quietly stepped away from the group.
Walking toward the Water Veil once more.
Her shoulders looked heavy.
He frowned.
Then followed her.
She stood silently beside the flowing water.
Without turning around she spoke.
"Do you know..."
"...how long you were asleep?"
Lee Kung shook his head.
"No."
She finally looked at him.
Tears had already returned.
"Three weeks."
He remained silent.
"I never left your side."
"I tried every healing spell I knew."
"Heaven's Grace."
"Celestial Restoration."
"Sacred Pulse."
"Everything."
Her voice trembled.
"Nothing worked."
"I thought..."
"...I lost you."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"So tell me."
"How?"
"How are you standing here?"
"You were stabbed through the heart."
"I watched your heartbeat stop."
"I watched your soul fade."
"So..."
"How?"
Lee Kung looked down at his hands.
He remembered the white world.
His parents.
The dragons.
The armor.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
Then he looked back at Mia.
"Because..."
He softly placed a hand over his chest.
"...my parents weren't finished with me yet."
A warm crimson glow pulsed beneath his palm.
Hidden deep within his heart...
The newly awakened Dragon Armor responded.
Watching.
Waiting.
For the battles...
...that were still to come.