The chamber fell into a heavy silence.
The golden glow of the floating Crown fragment flickered gently, casting long shadows across the ancient walls of the Flame Core Temple. The air felt thick—charged with something far more dangerous than before.
Kim Woo Bin's hand froze mid-air, just inches away from the fragment.
Behind him, that voice echoed again.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?"
Slow.
Calm.
Familiar.
Woo Bin slowly turned around.
A figure stepped forward from the shadows.
A man.
Wearing armor marked with the symbol of the Skyfire Kingdom.
Arin's breath caught.
"No… that's impossible…"
Woo Bin frowned.
"You know him?"
The man smiled faintly as he stepped into the light.
"Yes," he said.
"She does."
Arin's voice trembled.
"…Kael."
Woo Bin looked between them.
"Kael?"
The man nodded.
"Former captain of the Skyfire Guard."
He bowed slightly, almost mockingly.
"At your service… Princess."
Arin clenched her fists.
"You disappeared years ago."
Kael's smile didn't fade.
"I didn't disappear."
"I chose a different path."
Woo Bin stepped forward slightly.
"And that path led you here? Trying to steal the Crown fragment?"
Kael chuckled softly.
"Steal?"
He glanced at the glowing shard.
"No."
"I'm here to claim what should never have been left unguarded."
Arin's voice sharpened.
"You betrayed the kingdom."
Kael's expression shifted.
For a moment—
The smile faded.
"You still see it that way…"
He walked slowly around the chamber, his eyes fixed on the fragment.
"I served this kingdom longer than anyone my age," he said.
"I fought its wars."
"I protected its people."
"And what did I get in return?"
Silence.
Arin didn't answer.
Kael's eyes darkened.
"Nothing."
Woo Bin narrowed his eyes.
"So you joined the enemy?"
Kael stopped.
Then laughed quietly.
"You still don't understand."
He turned toward Woo Bin.
"There is no 'enemy' the way you think."
Woo Bin frowned.
"What does that even mean?"
Kael raised his hand.
Dark energy flickered around it.
"The world is changing, Dragon Bearer."
"And I chose to stand with the side that will win."
Astrael stepped forward, his eyes sharp.
"You carry the same corruption as the Dark General."
Kael smirked.
"Not exactly."
He clenched his fist.
The dark energy grew stronger.
"I was… given a gift."
Ignivar's voice echoed in Woo Bin's mind.
"Be careful… his energy is unstable… but powerful…"
Woo Bin nodded slightly.
"I can feel it…"
Arin drew her blade, flames igniting instantly.
"Step away from the fragment, Kael."
Kael tilted his head.
"And if I don't?"
Her grip tightened.
"Then I'll stop you."
Kael sighed.
"Still as stubborn as ever."
Then—
He moved.
Faster than expected.
He vanished—
And reappeared right in front of Arin.
Their blades clashed instantly.
CLANG.
The impact sent sparks flying.
Arin's eyes widened.
"He's faster…"
Kael smirked.
"I've improved."
He pushed her back with a surge of dark energy.
Woo Bin reacted immediately.
"Dragon Pulse!"
The blast shot toward Kael—
But he dodged it effortlessly.
"Too slow."
He raised his hand—
And fired a wave of dark energy at Woo Bin.
Woo Bin barely blocked it, sliding back.
"Okay… he's strong…"
Arin charged again.
Their blades clashed repeatedly.
Fast.
Precise.
Intense.
"Why are you doing this?!" she shouted.
Kael blocked her strike.
"Because I see the truth!"
He pushed her back.
"This world is ruled by power!"
"And the Dragon Crown is the ultimate power!"
Woo Bin stepped in.
"And you think you deserve it?"
Kael turned toward him.
"No."
"I think I'm strong enough to take it."
Woo Bin moved forward.
The dragon mark glowed.
"Let's test that."
Kael smiled.
"Gladly."
They clashed.
Woo Bin used Dragon Strike, aiming for Kael's side.
Kael blocked it with his arm—
But the impact pushed him back slightly.
"Not bad," Kael admitted.
Woo Bin didn't stop.
He followed up with another attack.
Faster.
Stronger.
Kael countered—
But this time, he struggled slightly.
"You've grown," Kael said.
Woo Bin smirked.
"Yeah. I don't stay weak for long."
As their battle continued—
Something strange happened.
The Crown fragment began to glow brighter.
Its light pulsed with each clash of energy.
Astrael noticed immediately.
"The fragment is reacting to their power!"
Ignivar added:
"It is choosing…"
Woo Bin glanced at it for a second.
"What?"
Kael saw it too.
His eyes widened slightly.
"So that's how it works…"
He suddenly changed direction.
Instead of attacking—
He dashed toward the fragment.
"HEY!" Woo Bin shouted.
Arin moved instantly.
She intercepted him mid-air.
Their blades clashed again.
"You're not getting it!"
Kael growled.
"Move!"
Woo Bin gathered energy.
More than before.
He focused everything into one point.
"Dragon Pulse!"
The blast shot forward—
Stronger than ever.
Kael turned just in time—
But couldn't fully block it.
The attack hit him directly.
BOOM.
He was thrown back across the chamber.
He crashed into a pillar, coughing.
"…Impressive…"
Woo Bin stepped forward.
"It's over."
Arin stood beside him.
"Walk away, Kael."
For a moment—
Kael didn't move.
Then—
He started laughing.
Quietly at first.
Then louder.
"You really think… this is over?"
Woo Bin frowned.
"What?"
Kael raised his hand.
The dark energy surged wildly.
"No."
"This is just the beginning."
Suddenly—
The ground beneath them shook.
The fragment's light flared.
Too bright.
Too unstable.
Astrael shouted:
"Get back!"
Woo Bin and Arin jumped away.
Kael stood up slowly.
"You can keep the fragment… for now."
Woo Bin's eyes narrowed.
"What are you planning?"
Kael smirked.
"You'll find out soon enough."
He stepped backward into the shadows.
"And when you do…"
His voice echoed one last time.
"It'll already be too late."
Then—
He disappeared.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Woo Bin exhaled.
"…That guy is trouble."
Arin nodded.
"He always was."
Woo Bin turned toward the fragment.
It floated quietly again.
As if nothing had happened.
He stepped forward slowly.
This time—
No interruption.
He reached out—
And touched it.
The moment his hand made contact—
Light exploded across the chamber.
Energy surged into his body.
The dragon mark burned brighter than ever before.
A voice echoed deep within him.
Ancient.
Powerful.
"One of seven… has chosen you…"
Woo Bin's eyes glowed.
He clenched his fist.
"I can feel it…"
Astrael stepped closer.
"The first Crown Fragment…"
Ignivar's voice followed.
"Your journey has truly begun now…"
Woo Bin looked ahead.
Determined.
"This is just the start."