Chapter 3
….
Allen and Cade engaged in hand-to-hand combat. Allen attempted to knee him in the face, but Cade stopped it with a single motion. Cade slugged him in the face, but Allen didn't even flinch. The Flame Dragon grunted as he was punched in the chest, lifting him off his feet. Allen followed up with a series of well-placed punches.
Allen clenched his fist before letting loose another powerful strike, but Cade took to the sky, evading the attack. Wind blew violently from the ferocity of the missed strike, scarring the land and carving a small trench into the earth.
Cade grinned. "Allen!"
The lightning cloak around Allen crackled as bolts burst outward.
Allen knew if he lost here, it was all over. It wasn't just his son and the people in the hospital who were in danger. If Allen lost, Cade would eventually kill everyone in Detroit. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But a Dragon like Cade could easily level the city and sink it into the waters that surrounded it. He had to be stopped.
"I can't afford to lose here!" Allen exclaimed as he floated into the sky and gripped his hands tightly. Cade winced as Allen suddenly appeared behind him, claws plunging into his back. The force of the attack sent him plummeting to the ground. As soon as he hit, a pillar of lightning shot into the sky—the earth shook violently beneath them.
Cade screamed in pure agony. Lightning tore through his body, splitting him in two. His top and bottom halves lay separated, scorched and smoking.
Allen went for the killing blow—but he was stopped. Multiple tendrils of flame shot toward him, forcing him back.
He growled in frustration. Every time he tried to end Cade, the tendrils attacked. He couldn't get close enough.
Cade laughed. "How interesting!"
Allen narrowed his eyes—then widened them. He realized what Cade was doing.
A volley of glowing orange orbs shot into the sky.
"They're not all aimed at me…" he muttered.
"The hospital!" Allen exclaimed. He flashed in front of the attack, using his draconic speed.
Cade's face twisted into a wicked sneer.
Allen had always known Cade was evil—but this… Inside the hospital were children, the elderly, the sick, the injured. People on their deathbeds. His newborn son.
Cade wasn't just evil. He was a demon.
"You bastard," Allen growled, pain rattling his body. "How could you!"
"Hmph. So that's your choice?" Cade said as he stepped forward.
Their fists collided again in a flurry of powerful strikes. Each blow created shockwaves that cracked the air and tore through the sky. Both warriors looked serious and focused.
Allen took a punch to the chest, scorching his clothes and skin. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he responded with a fierce kick that sent Cade flying. Allen chased after him.
But suddenly, Cade appeared behind him.
Allen gasped as Cade's hand pierced straight through his chest like a knife through butter. His Dragon form vanished instantly.
Allen winced, feeling his insides burning. Cade grinned and turned up the heat.
Allen screamed in pure agony as he was torched alive from within. His skin, his muscles, his organs—reduced to ash.
And with the last breath in his soul, one thought echoed in his mind:
I'm sorry, Cyrus… Katie…
Cade laughed maliciously, eyes gleaming with wicked delight.
Suddenly, multiple men landed nearby.
"Sire!" they exclaimed in unison, bowing respectfully.
"What's next, m'lord?" one of them asked.
Cade looked toward the hospital with a knowing expression.
"Allen was protecting something in there."
The dragons could feel it—there was a Dragon Core in the hospital. But this one felt different.
"Why does it feel like… the King and Queen's Cores merged together?"
Cade smirked. "There's only one explanation. That sneaky bastard. So that's what he was protecting."
His men looked confused. "What do you mean, sire?"
"Allen and Katie Black had a child."
Gasps echoed around him. Murmurs rose.
They all knew what that meant.
"What do you want to do?" someone asked cautiously. Most assumed he would order the child's death. After all, the offspring of Allen and Katie could grow to become a far greater threat than either parent.
But Cade shook his head.
"Leave him be."
"But Sire—"
"The King and Queen died honorably," Cade said. "They were our enemies, but I will always respect their strength."
He turned, a small grin on his face. "They're the only ones who ever injured me… It'll be interesting to see how strong the boy becomes. Our goal remains the same."
"Goal?" a newer member asked.
"Ah, you're new, aren't you?"
Cade turned to the young dragon and grinned.
"The grand goal of the Fire Dragons… is to take over this world with an iron fist. I want a society of Fire Dragons ruling over humans."
The dragons around him lit up with excitement, smiling with awe.
World domination, eh?
"What are we?!"
"Members of Draco!" they chanted.
"What do we fight for?!"
"To rule over this world!"
Cade grinned. The enemy's leader was gone, ubut the war with the Lightning Dragon Clan wasn't over. There were still powerful warriors among them.
He sighed. If his dream of conquest was to come true, he needed time.
"We're moving out," he said.
"Yes, Sire!"
Wings sprouted from the backs of his soldiers, and together, they rose into the sky.
…
Theo's eyes widened as he felt Allen's core vanish completely.
"Damn it!" he growled. "This had to happen while I was away!"
Even from here, he could smell the burning flesh. Blood. Death.
He flapped his wings and flew faster.
Ten minutes later, he arrived at the scene—burned corpses, collapsed structures, and in the center, two pieces of scorched clothing.
He sniffed the air. Allen's scent. Katie's.
He looked down solemnly.
Theo blamed himself. If only he had waited longer before rallying the clan…
Moments later, members of the Lightning Clan landed around him. Many broke down at the sight of the clothing, the residual energy of their fallen King and Queen still lingering.
But Theo didn't allow himself to grieve.
Instead, he made a decision.
He would make sure Allen's legacy lived on. And when the time came, he would raise Cyrus and train him.
But first… he had work to do.
Unfortunately, Cyrus would have to stay in an orphanage for a few years. It wasn't ideal, but it was necessary. Cade was planning something big, and they needed time to prepare.
Theo made his way to the hospital.
"Are you going to see the prince?" a dragon asked.
"That's right."
"Can we see him too?"
Theo nodded. "After I come out, you can go in. One at a time."
He entered the building.
Twenty minutes later, he emerged.
One by one, the Lightning Dragons entered the hospital to glimpse at their prince.
"Who will lead us now?" asked a dark-haired dragon. "The King and Queen are both gone."
Theo sighed.
"The next King is chosen by the soul of our first ancestor—Dragnus. A dragon with royal blood in their veins will be reborn as a Dragon King when certain requirements are met."
"What requirements?" another asked.
"Intense stress… and the loss of someone dear."
Theo frowned. "I hope he never awakens that power."
The others nodded. They shared the same fear. On one hand, they didn't want Cyrus to suffer. But on the other, without a new King, the world would be doomed. Only a Dragon King had the power to stop Cade.
"For now, I'll lead the clan," Theo said. "In a few years, I'll take Cyrus in and begin his training."
"Where will the prince stay? He has no family left."
"An orphanage. Just for a few years. We need to figure out Cade's plans first."
"Right."
"Sir!" one of them called out.
They all looked to Theo now—the strongest Lightning Dragon alive.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
Wings unfolded, and the dragons flew into the distance.
Cade was never seen in Detroit again. But the destruction he left behind was just the beginning.
He moved from city to city, attacking without mercy.
Theo and the Lightning Clan soon discovered the truth: Cade was building an army. Draco would continue to grow in number, strength, and cruelty.
He was preparing for war. Preparing to burn the world. After five years, Theo returned. Cyrus was eight. It was time to begin his training. Three years later, Theo's daughter would be born.
To be continued.