The team moved through the underground tunnels.
No one spoke much.
Everyone knew what was waiting ahead.
Kai walked at the front.
Axel and Leo followed behind him.
For the first time in a long time…
Kai wasn't walking alone.
Axel looked around.
"Crazy how we went from fighting the government to working with them."
Leo smiled slightly.
"Don't get comfortable. We still don't trust them."
Kai heard them but stayed quiet.
The deeper they went, the colder it became.
The walls were covered with ancient Dragon symbols.
The Dragon King stopped.
"We're close."
Kai looked at him.
"What happened here?"
The Dragon King stared at the symbols.
"This was where the first experiment began."
A massive door appeared ahead.
No locks.
No guards.
Only one message carved into the metal.
ONLY THE CHOSEN CAN ENTER
Axel frowned.
"Chosen by who?"
Kai stepped forward.
The door opened instantly.
Everyone froze.
Leo whispered, "It recognized you…"
Inside was a giant chamber.
At the center stood a machine unlike anything they had ever seen.
And beside it…
A person was waiting.
Kai stopped.
The person turned around.
A woman.
Older.
Tired.
But familiar.
Kai's breathing stopped.
"…Mom?"
The woman looked at him.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Kai…"
For years, he imagined this moment.
He imagined anger.
Questions.
Answers.
But now that she was standing there…
He had no words.
Axel and Leo stayed silent.
Giving them the moment.
Kai finally spoke.
"Why?"
His mother looked down.
"I tried to protect you."
Kai's voice became colder.
"By leaving me?"
She looked hurt.
"I never left you."
A pause.
"They took me."
Silence.
The Dragon King stepped forward.
"She was trapped here because she knew the truth."
Kai looked at him.
"What truth?"
His mother looked toward the machine.
"The Underlord was never the enemy."
Everyone froze.
She continued.
"The real threat is the power Dragon was trying to create after it."
The machine started activating.
Warning lights turned on.
Leo checked the controls.
"Oh no…"
Axel looked at him.
"What?"
Leo swallowed.
"They're not creating something."
A pause.
"They already did."
The ground shook.
A dark energy began rising from the machine.
Kai's eyes glowed faintly red.
Inside him, the Underlord spoke.
"Kai…"
For the first time…
The Underlord sounded afraid.
"Whatever comes next…"
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU."
Kai looked forward.
The final enemy had awakened