The flames left by Kaelen's final strike still smoldered across the ruined street.
The trench he carved through the district glowed faintly red, heat slowly fading as the night wind rolled through the city. Sirens echoed in the distance as emergency vehicles rushed toward the scene.
Kaelen exhaled slowly.
His grip on Axiomfall loosened slightly as the last remnants of Dragonic Pressure faded from the air.
The Metamorph colony was gone.
Completely erased.
For a moment, the world felt quiet again.
Kaelen turned to leave.
But then—
Something shifted behind him.
A soundless ripple opened in the air.
The space itself folded inward like water spiraling down a drain.
A portal appeared.
It was unlike any dimensional gate Kaelen had seen before.
It did not glow with mana.
It did not pulse with circuit energy.
It felt older.
Primordial.
The moment it opened, the Heart of Alyth inside Kaelen's chest began pounding violently.
Thump.
Thump.
THUMP.
The beat was so powerful he could feel it vibrating through his ribs.
A pull formed inside him.
Not forceful.
Not coercive.
But undeniable.
It was like standing near home after wandering for years.
Something familiar waited beyond the portal.
Something ancient.
Kaelen took a step forward.
He didn't consciously decide to move.
His body simply followed the pull.
Above the city, Tessandra sensed it instantly.
Her perception threads snapped toward Kaelen's location.
Her eyes widened.
"Kaelen—!"
She launched from the skyscraper with explosive speed, the Apex Martial Circuit driving her body forward like a bolt of light.
The portal expanded slightly.
Its interior was pure darkness.
Kaelen stepped closer.
The heartbeat in his chest grew louder.
This place…
Why does it feel like I belong there?
"KAELEN!" Tessandra shouted as she crossed the city in an instant.
But she was too late.
Kaelen stepped through.
The portal closed behind him immediately.
Tessandra landed exactly where it had been.
The street was empty.
No portal.
No trace.
She stared at the empty space for a moment.
Then muttered under her breath.
"…Shit."
Minutes later.
Inside the Liones estate.
Tessandra stood in the courtyard under the moonlight, arms crossed, waiting.
A ripple of space appeared in front of her.
Alzwalt stepped out casually, hands in his pockets.
"Yo."
Tessandra looked at him immediately.
"Alzwalt. Do you know anything about portals like that?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"What kind?"
"One that opens with no mana signature… but triggers a dragon heart."
Alzwalt froze for half a second.
Then he sighed.
"…Yeah. I know what that is."
Tessandra narrowed her eyes.
"Then explain."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I can't say too much."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do," he said calmly, "it'll cause a disaster."
Tessandra frowned.
Alzwalt continued.
"Let's just say… it's something like an instant dungeon."
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
"But not a normal one."
He looked toward the horizon.
"Kaelen is humanity's hero."
"But the one he entered…"
He paused.
"…He's going to struggle a bit."
Tessandra's expression hardened.
"But if he conquers it?"
Alzwalt smiled faintly.
"…It'll be a blessing to all existence."
Silence filled the courtyard.
Then Tessandra sighed.
"I believe in him."
Alzwalt glanced at her.
"He's my student."
She smiled faintly.
"He'll make it out."
Alzwalt nodded.
"Yeah… don't worry about it."
Then he snapped his fingers.
"Oh right, before I forget."
"John asked me to tell you something."
Tessandra raised an eyebrow.
"He wants you to come to Karveth."
"For what?"
Alzwalt shrugged.
"Said he has somewhere to bring you."
Tessandra smiled.
"Alright."
"Thanks, Az."
"No problem."
He waved lazily.
Then vanished back into space, returning to Arkion.
Somewhere Unknown -
Water dripped slowly.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
Cold droplets landed on Kaelen's face.
His eyes opened slowly.
For a moment, everything was dark.
Then his vision adjusted.
Stone walls.
Rough.
Ancient.
He was lying inside a cave.
Kaelen sat up immediately.
Instinct took over.
His hand moved toward his weapon.
Axiomfall lay beside him.
He grabbed it instantly.
His senses expanded outward.
No immediate threats.
But something… enormous… lingered nearby.
He stood up slowly and walked toward the cave's exit.
Light shone faintly outside.
When Kaelen stepped out—
He froze.
He stood on a massive cliff overlooking a valley that stretched for miles.
The sky above was ancient and golden, as though time itself flowed differently here.
Behind him—
Five other caves formed a perfect circle around the cliff.
Then the ground began to rumble.
Kaelen slowly turned.
From the other caves—
They emerged.
Dragons.
Ancient.
Colossal.
Each one larger than a mountain fortress.
Wings folded.
Eyes burning with primordial intelligence.
One was silver.
One deep emerald.
One obsidian black.
One sapphire blue.
One pale white.
And then—
The final cave trembled.
A red dragon stepped out last.
Its scales burned like molten metal.
The other dragons bowed their heads slightly toward it.
Kaelen realized instantly.
Their leader.
The red dragon's massive eyes focused on him.
It spoke.
In ancient dragon language.
But Kaelen understood it.
Because of Alyth's heart.
"How are you here… human?"
Kaelen stepped forward slightly.
"I felt something familiar about this place."
"Like I was drawn here."
He removed his coat.
Then his shirt.
The Heart of Alyth glowed brightly inside his chest.
Primordial aura exploded outward.
The dragons' eyes widened.
Then—
A faint spirit appeared.
A translucent figure of an immense white dragon.
Alyth.
She looked at the red dragon.
"Father."
Her voice carried ancient warmth.
"I'm glad I get to see you again."
The red dragon's body froze.
"…Alyth?"
She nodded gently.
"This human is connected to great providence."
"Try to divine his future."
"But do not probe anyone else connected to him."
Her gaze turned serious.
"It will kill or injure you."
The red dragon stared at her for several seconds.
Then nodded.
"…Very well."
"I will trust you."
The red dragon closed its eyes.
Ancient magic surged through the air.
It began divining Kaelen's future.
Images appeared.
Kaelen standing above humanity as its strongest protector.
Battles against beings that could shatter worlds.
Entire civilizations rising behind him.
The red dragon continued looking deeper.
Then—
Kaelen turned suddenly.
Like he felt someone watching him.
And suddenly—
A man appeared beside him.
Short black hair.
Black pants.
Black undershirt.
Black open coat.
Hands in his pockets.
He touched Kaelen's shoulder casually.
"You alright?"
Kaelen nodded.
"Yeah."
But the man slowly looked up—
Directly at the red dragon.
The red dragon's soul froze.
That gaze.
Impossible.
It was like staring at something beyond existence itself.
The red dragon snapped back to reality.
Its breathing became heavy.
"…Impossible."
"How can such a being exist?"
Then more memories surfaced.
Ancient ones.
The Great War.
Eons ago.
Dragons.
Circuit users.
Entire worlds destroyed.
The red dragon remembered clearly—
They had all perished.
Every last one.
But now they were here again.
Alive.
The red dragon slowly realized something terrifying.
Someone brought them back.
And the one it saw in the vision…
Was likely responsible.
Arkion — Hoshigawa
Night fell over Arkion.
On the rooftop of the Hoshigawa restaurant, a man sat peacefully sipping tea.
Arata.
He looked at the stars.
Then laughed quietly.
"I expected no less from an ancient dragon to deduce that much."
He took another sip.
"…Impressive."
Back In The Portal -
The red dragon looked down at Kaelen again.
"…I see."
"I will introduce myself."
"My name is Magnolia."
"Dragon of Hell's Flame."
Kaelen nodded.
"Kaelen Veystrum."
Magnolia studied him carefully.
"I see you possess time and gravity powers."
Then Magnolia began chanting ancient magic.
Before Kaelen could react—
A seal formed around him.
His circuit powers locked instantly.
Kaelen blinked.
"What the—"
Magnolia continued calmly.
"You will go through a trial."
"But not just any trial."
"This ritual has not been initiated for eons."
"It only happens when a human carries a dragon heart."
The other dragons watched silently.
Magnolia continued.
"In ancient times…"
"They were called Dragon Bearers."
"This trial is unlike all others."
"It is up to you whether you survive."
Kaelen looked down.
Below the cliff stretched a deep valley.
Endless.
Ancient.
Dangerous.
He looked back up at Magnolia.
Determination burned in his eyes.
"I'll do it now."
Magnolia nodded slowly.
"Good."
The dragons chanted together.
Reality shifted.
The cliff dissolved.
The sky tore open.
Kaelen was pulled into a new world.
A realm untouched by time.
A land where the first dragons were born.
The Land of the Ancestral Dragon.