The chamber had fallen into ruin.
Broken stone covered the floor while ancient crimson pillars leaned dangerously beneath the aftermath of the ritual. The ceiling no longer existed entirely—only shattered edges remained surrounding the massive opening above where the burning skies of the Dragon Realm stared downward like the eye of some ancient god.
Crimson lightning flickered endlessly through the heavens.
Volcanic winds screamed across the destroyed chamber.
And amidst the destruction—
Silence reigned.
Because no one inside the room could process what they had just witnessed.
The retainers stood motionless.
Their expressions frozen between disbelief and fear.
Dust drifted slowly through the air while shattered lantern flames flickered weakly against broken walls. The pressure from the destroyed curses still lingered throughout the chamber like the remnants of a nightmare.
And at the center of it all—
A human lay unconscious beside the ruined ritual circle.
Not a dragon.
Not a draconic hybrid.
Human.
The realization alone shook the retainers more deeply than the destruction itself.
Meanwhile—
Velor remained completely still near the bedside of his elder sister.
Those burning crimson eyes stared silently toward Kel's unconscious figure while stormlight illuminated the chamber around them.
The future Dragon Emperor could not move.
Because for the first time in many years—
His thoughts had become chaotic.
The hatred that always filled his chest…
Had nowhere to go right now.
Instead—
Confusion existed.
Shock.
Something unfamiliar.
The crimson-haired heir slowly looked toward his sister lying upon the bed.
Her breathing had stabilized.
The black curse markings spreading across her skin were gone entirely now.
The oppressive mana poisoning that had lingered around her body for years—
Vanished.
Alive.
His sister was alive.
Velor's fingers trembled slightly.
Only slightly.
Yet for someone like him—
That alone meant everything.
Memories surfaced uncontrollably within his mind afterward.
His mother dying while protecting him.
The endless political pressure afterward.
The nobles isolating the Crimson Bloodline.
The physicians repeatedly declaring his sister hopeless.
And every single time—
Velor had been powerless.
Too weak.
Too young.
Too alone.
Yet tonight—
Someone stepped into his ruined world unexpectedly…
And accomplished the impossible.
A human.
The irony felt almost cruel.
Because the dragons of the Dragon Realm—with all their pride, bloodlines, and ancient knowledge—
Could not save the Crimson Princess.
But a human could.
Velor slowly walked toward Kel afterward.
His footsteps echoed softly across broken stone while volcanic winds moved through the destroyed chamber.
The unconscious human looked exhausted beyond limit now.
Blood covered his body.
Several mana veins near his neck remained visibly damaged from elemental overload.
Even breathing seemed painful.
And yet—
His expression remained strangely calm despite unconsciousness.
As though saving her had been enough.
Velor quietly stared downward at him.
And internally—
A terrifying realization slowly formed.
This man…
Could have killed everyone inside this mansion if he truly wished.
The retainers realized it too.
Several elderly dragons exchanged shaken glances silently.
Because now that Kel's draconic disguise had vanished—
Everything became more frightening.
A human capable of defeating succession candidates.
A human capable of controlling multiple elemental forces simultaneously.
A human capable of destroying seven layered draconic curses.
What exactly had entered the Crimson Dragon Mansion tonight?
One elderly retainer finally collapsed to his knees weakly.
"…A human…"
His voice trembled faintly.
"This entire time…"
Another retainer whispered slowly while staring toward the unconscious Kel.
"No ordinary human could accomplish this…"
Fear spread subtly among them afterward.
Because throughout draconic history—
Humans were considered weaker species.
Short-lived.
Fragile.
Politically insignificant.
Yet tonight—
That belief shattered completely.
The old retainer who earlier proposed political marriage slowly looked toward Velor.
His aged eyes now carried something beyond caution.
Reverence.
"Young lord…"
His voice sounded quieter now.
"…this human…"
He could not even finish properly.
Because no title felt appropriate anymore.
Monster?
Savior?
Calamity?
None seemed enough.
Meanwhile—
Velor remained silent while staring at Kel.
And for the first time in his life—
He genuinely felt indebted to someone.
Not politically.
Not strategically.
Personally.
The sensation felt unfamiliar.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Because Velor trusted no one.
That rule existed for survival.
Yet tonight—
A human broke through that wall effortlessly.
Not through manipulation.
Not through fear.
Through action.
Sairen's voice softly echoed within the unconscious Kel's soul-space.
Though unheard by anyone else.
"…You overdid it again."
The guardian quietly looked toward Kel's unconscious soul drifting within darkness.
"…But perhaps this time…"
A faint pause followed.
"…it was worth it."**
Meanwhile—
Back inside reality—
The Crimson Princess slowly moved weakly upon the bed.
Immediately—
Several retainers rushed forward anxiously.
"Your Highness!"
"Please don't move yet!"
Her crimson eyes looked dazed beneath the flickering stormlight while weakness still lingered heavily across her body.
Yet unlike before—
Life existed within her gaze now.
Real life.
The princess slowly turned her head slightly.
Her eyes eventually settled upon Velor standing beside the unconscious human.
"…Velor…"
The crimson-haired heir visibly stiffened.
Because hearing her voice again after years…
Felt unreal.
The princess weakly smiled faintly despite exhaustion.
"…You're crying."
Silence.
Velor froze entirely afterward.
Then slowly—
His fingers touched his own face.
Wet.
He had not even realized it himself.
The future Dragon Emperor—
The dragon destined to someday drown realms in blood—
Was crying silently beneath shattered heavens.
The retainers lowered their heads instinctively afterward.
Some out of respect.
Some because the sight itself felt too personal to witness.
Velor quietly wiped his face immediately afterward and regained composure.
Yet the damage was already done.
Because tonight—
Something inside him had changed permanently.
His gaze slowly returned toward the unconscious human once more.
The volcanic winds moved softly through Kel's black hair while crimson stormlight illuminated his exhausted face.
And for the first time—
Velor truly understood the weight of the words spoken earlier.
"Your sister can be cured."
Not arrogance.
Not false hope.
Truth.
The crimson-haired heir slowly closed his eyes briefly.
And deep within the hatred filling his heart—
A small unfamiliar emotion finally appeared.
Trust.