Dragon Peak – Private Council Room

  The guards escorted Isaac into the lavish chamber and bowed, closing the door.

  Isaac let out a long, heavy sigh. The adrenaline from the heist and the reentry was fading, leaving only bone-deep exhaustion. He saw the balcony doors and walked out, leaning against the cold stone railing to look at the infinite field of stars.

  Footsteps echoed in the corridor. Rapid, anxious footsteps.

  Aiko appeared. She stopped at the door, turning to the Elite Guards. Her face was a mask of imperial authority.

  "No one enters this room," she commanded, her voice sharp. "Do you understand? No one."

  "Yes, Princess!" the guards shouted, slamming their spears in salute.

  Aiko stepped inside.

  Click.

  She locked the heavy door.

  The mask dropped. Her shoulders slumped, and her breath came in ragged gasps. She scanned the room frantically until she saw the silhouette on the balcony.

  She walked slowly, her silk dress rustling against the floor. She stopped at the threshold.

  "Isaac?" she whispered, her voice breaking into a sob.

  Isaac turned slowly. The moonlight caught, but his eyes were warm.

  "Hello, Koko."

  The nickname—the one only he used—broke the dam.

  Aiko didn't walk; she ran. She threw herself at him, nearly knocking him over. She ripped the mask from his face and buried her face in his neck, sobbing uncontrollably. Isaac wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair, breathing in her scent.

  "I missed you," he whispered, tears stinging his own eyes.

  (Some time later)

  They sat on a large cushioned bench on the balcony. Aiko was lying across Isaac’s lap, her head resting on his chest, refusing to let go of his hand.

  "Why did it take you so long to come?" she asked softly, tracing the lines of his armor.

  "I needed to recover my memories," Isaac replied, stroking her long, white hair. "I was lost for a long time."

  "I'm just glad you found your way back."

  She lifted her head, frowning slightly. She leaned in, sniffing his chest, then his neck.

  "Wait... why can't I smell you?" she asked, confused. "It feels like I'm hugging a ghost."

  Isaac smiled. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Amulet.

  "Dragons have sharp noses," he teased. "I didn't want to ruin the surprise."

  Aiko looked at the amulet. She snatched it from his hand and threw it over the balcony railing, watching it disappear into the abyss below.

  "I don't want emptiness," she murmured.

  She straddled his lap, facing him. Her eyes dilated, her pupils becoming vertical slits—her draconic instincts taking over. She buried her face in his neck again, inhaling deeply.

  "Humm..." she purred, a low rumble in her chest. "There you are. I love your scent. It smells like... home."

  "I love yours too," Isaac whispered.

  Aiko began to kiss his neck, soft and tender. Then, sensing the tension in his muscles and the hidden bruises beneath his armor, her tongue darted out. She began to lick the skin of his neck and jawline.

  It wasn't just affection. Her saliva glowed with a faint, golden light. It was Dragon’s Nectar—a potent healing agent.

  "You are tired, my love," she whispered between licks.

  "Actually... yes," Isaac admitted, leaning his head back, feeling the pain in his ribs dissolve into warmth.

  "Where have you been...?" she murmured, licking a scratch on his cheek. "Your body is tense. Your mana is agitated. It feels like you fought a war hours ago."

  "Sigh..." Isaac closed his eyes. "Arian, the Supreme Entity, asked me for a favor. So... I had to break into Orion's Castle and steal a pendant back."

  Aiko stopped. She pulled back, staring at him wide-eyed.

  "Orion?" she gasped. "You infiltrated a Supreme Entity's castle? Is that why you smell like ozone and death?"

  "Well..." Isaac shrugged weakly. "She was there. We had a disagreement. That's why I'm tired."

  Aiko stared at him in disbelief, then shook her head with a loving smile.

  "You are insane," she whispered.

  She went back to tending to him, the golden light of her healing sealing his minor wounds and restoring his stamina.

  "So..." Isaac asked, watching the stars. "That toast... it means you want to have children?"

  Aiko stopped immediately. The purring ceased. She sat up, looking Isaac in the eye. The sadness returned.

  "No, Zac. It's Ryu," she said quietly. "He is trying to put ideas in Father's head. He thinks it's 'time' for an heir."

  They looked at each other.

  "Well," Isaac said gently. "The choice should be yours too."

  "With Father involved... it is difficult," she sighed. "You know how he is about legacy."

  Isaac cupped her face.

  "Does Ryu make you happy?"

  Aiko didn't hesitate. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes.

  "No. You are the only one who makes me happy," she whispered. "You are the only one I have ever loved. And you will always be the only one."

  She opened her eyes.

  They kissed.

  It was a kiss of centuries of longing, deep and revitalizing. Isaac felt his mana surge, fully restored by her love and her magic.

  They broke the kiss, foreheads touching, both smiling.

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  "I need to go, Aiko," Isaac whispered.

  Panic flashed in her eyes. She gripped his armor.

  "Take me with you," she begged, tears instantly returning. "Please, Isaac. Don't leave me alone here. Not again."

  "Aiko..."

  "Please!" Her voice cracked. "I don't care about the crown. I don't care about Ryu. I just want to be with you."

  Isaac looked at her. He saw the pain of years of waiting. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles reverently.

  "I can't take you where I'm going right now. It's too dangerous, even for a dragon," Isaac said firmly. "But I am gathering an army. I am going to reclaim Olympia."

  He cupped her face again.

  "I will come back for you."

  Aiko searched his eyes, looking for the truth.

  "Do you promise?"

  "Yes," Isaac smiled. "I promise, Koko."

  Aiko threw her arms around him, hugging him so tight her claws slightly scratched his armor. Isaac held her just as tight.

  They pulled apart. Isaac stood up and hopped onto the balcony railing. He looked back at her.

  The wind whipped his hair. Aiko stood there, tears drying, a hopeful smile on her face.

  "Can you still fly?" she laughed, a wet, choked sound.

  "Yes," Isaac laughed back. "And soon, we will be flying together."

  "I can't wait, my love," she whispered. "Come back soon, okay?"

  Isaac smiled. His eyes glowed blue.

  BOOM.

  The air cracked. He launched himself into the night sky with a sonic boom, disappearing into the clouds in a heartbeat.

  Aiko stood on the balcony, watching the empty sky, laughing softly through her tears.

  The Frozen Wastes – Northern Border

  The wind howled, carrying the metallic scent of fresh blood.

  Lican wiped his blade on the fur of the beast they had just slain—a Snow Wyvern that had been terrorizing a local village. It was a clean kill, but Lican’s movements were jerky, filled with suppressed rage.

  Safira watched him as she packed their supplies.

  "Well..." she ventured, her voice soft against the gale. "It seems everything went well, brother. A perfect execution."

  Lican didn't answer. He slammed his scythe into its sheath on his back, his jaw clenched tight.

  "Are you still upset about the Oracle?" Safira asked, stepping closer.

  "It doesn't matter, sister," Lican snapped, turning away. "Let's just get out of here."

  He grabbed his pack and started walking into the white void. Safira sighed, looking at the sky. Dark clouds were swirling, swallowing the mountain peaks. The temperature was dropping rapidly.

  "We have to camp," she called out, catching up to him. "This storm is turning into a blizzard. We won't survive the night in the open."

  "NO!" Lican roared, spinning around. "We are moving. We are not weak. We do not hide from a little snow."

  "Brother... it’s not about weakness, it’s about survival," Safira pleaded, grabbing his arm. "The visibility is zero."

  "I said we move! We need to—"

  BOOOOOOM.

  The sound was louder than thunder. It wasn't a natural sound; it was the atmosphere tearing apart.

  A shockwave of compressed air slammed into them, knocking Safira and Lican into the snow. The ground beneath them shook violently, cracking the ice sheet.

  A few hundred meters away, a pillar of blue fire smashed into the frozen earth.

  CRASH.

  Steam hissed instantly, rising in a massive white column as intense heat met the freezing snow.

  Lican coughed, shaking the snow from his hair. He looked up, his eyes widening.

  In the center of a massive crater of molten ice and scorched earth, a figure stood up. The man was encased in black armor that smoked in the cold air. Blue mana crackled faintly around his body, melting the snowflakes before they could touch him.

  He looked like a demon that had fallen from the stars.

  Safira gasped, her Assassin’s Instinct screaming at her to run.

  "Isaac..." she whispered, the name tasting like ash.

  Lican stared. He watched the King of Olympia stretch his neck, completely ignoring the devastating storm around him.

  A twisted, manic smile slowly spread across Lican’s face.

  "This..." Lican breathed, his eyes gleaming with dangerous ambition. "This is our chance, sister."

  He slowly drew his twin scythes. The metal sang in the cold air.

  "We are going to kill him."

  Safira’s eyes widened in horror. She grabbed his shoulder hard.

  "Lican... NO!" she hissed. "Are you insane? Mother explicitly said—"

  "Mother doesn't know anything!" Lican snarled, shaking her off. "She called us weak. She canceled the contract because she thinks we can't handle him. But look at him... he's alone. He's tired."

  He pointed his weapon at the distant figure of Isaac.

  "If I bring his head to the Oracle... she will never look down on me again. I will prove that I am the strongest in the Clan."

  "Lican, please!" Safira stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "You didn't see the reports! He killed Galadion! He is a monster! If you go there, you die!"

  Lican’s eyes were cold, blinded by pride.

  "If you won't help me, Safira... then stay here and watch."

  He shoved her aside into a snowbank.

  "I’ll do it myself."

  Lican crouched, his mana flaring green. He vanished into the blizzard, moving like a phantom toward the unsuspecting King.

  "LICAN! WAIT!" Safira screamed, her voice lost in the howling wind.

  The Crystal Caves – The Deep Chamber

  Isaac stood at the entrance of the cavern. The walls were lined with luminous blue crystals, casting a ghostly light over the scene. The air was cold, but it smelled warm—the metallic, coppery scent of fresh blood.

  Isaac sighed, the sound echoing softly. He stepped inside, his boots crunching on the crystal dust.

  He walked slowly, scanning the room.

  Crunch. Snap. Slurp.

  The sound of wet tearing filled the silence.

  In the center of the room, sitting on a natural stone throne, was a man. He was hunched over the armored corpse of one of Yamato’s Elite Guards.

  The man tore a piece of flesh from the soldier's shoulder with his teeth, chewing methodically.

  He stopped. He didn't turn around. He simply swallowed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

  He pointed a bloody finger toward a silk cloth resting on a nearby stone table, next to a bottle of rare spirits.

  Isaac walked over. He picked up the cloth. He walked up to the man—the monster—and held it out.

  The man took it. He wiped the blood and gristle from his face, revealing handsome, sharp features that looked terrifyingly like Yamato’s, but twisted by a dark, chaotic corruption.

  He turned to look at Isaac.

  Isaac grabbed the bottle from the table. He took a swig, not bothering with a glass, his eyes never leaving the man.

  "Hello, Jin."

  Jin smiled. It was a charming smile, despite the blood on his teeth.

  "Hello, Isaac."

  Jin finished cleaning his hands and stood up. He offered a hand to Isaac.

  Isaac looked at the bloody hand. Then he looked at Jin's eyes. He saw the old friend there, buried deep. Isaac gripped Jin’s hand firmly.

  "Good to see you again, old friend," Jin said, his voice smooth and cultured.

  "I wish I could say the same," Isaac replied, his voice low.

  Jin laughed softly, a dry sound. He walked over to the table and poured himself a drink in a crystal glass.

  "It is a surprise to see you here, Isaac. Forgive my table manners. If I had known royalty was visiting... I would have lunched earlier."

  He gestured to the mangled corpse of the Dragon Guard.

  "Fuel," Jin shrugged. "Imperfection requires constant maintenance."

  Isaac sat on a stone stool opposite him. Jin poured a splash more into Isaac’s bottle.

  "I understand," Isaac said, though his eyes were cold.

  Jin raised his glass. Isaac raised the bottle.

  "Saludê."

  "Saludê," Isaac echoed.

  They drank. For a second, the years melted away. They were just two warriors sharing a drink after a battle. Isaac looked at Jin—the way he held the glass, the tilt of his head.

  He reminds me of Joe, Isaac thought, a pang of grief hitting him. The same carefree attitude masking a deep, broken soul.

  "So," Jin said, setting the glass down. "I assume you didn't come all this way to catch up on my life. Or to ask for advice on how to finally bed Aiko."

  "No," Isaac said flatly.

  "The old man sent you, didn't he?" Jin’s smile faded at the edges. "Yamato."

  "It was unexpected," Isaac admitted. "But... you stole a box from his vault. A key. I need that key, Jin."

  "Ah. The key." Jin swirled the liquid in his glass. "I can't give it to you, Isaac. That key is what guarantees my daily 'lunch'. As long as I hold it, Daddy sends his best soldiers to retrieve it. And I get to eat."

  Isaac looked at the bodies scattered around the room. Then he looked at Jin.

  He thinks it’s just a bargaining chip, Isaac realized. He doesn't know it opens the weapon vault. He doesn't know about the God-Killer.

  Isaac took another long drink, fortifying himself.

  "I don't have a choice, Jin."

  "I think you do," Jin countered softly.

  "It's a shame."

  Jin stood up. The air in the cave changed. The shadows seemed to stretch toward him. The "Imperfect Dragon"—the Demon of Valoon—let his aura leak out. It was heavy, suffocating, and reeked of ancient hate.

  "Yes. It is."

  Jin placed his hands on the table, leaning in.

  "I am going to be frank with you, Isaac. Because you were my best friend. Because you are the only one who never looked at me with pity."

  Jin’s eyes glowed a sickly, corrupted red.

  "I don't want to fight you."

  He gestured to the exit.

  "Leave. Go back to your rebellion. Retake Olympia. Save your people. My fight... my hatred... is against the Dragons. Specifically, the monster who calls himself my Father."

  Jin grabbed the edge of the table, the stone cracking under his grip.

  "I will not be satisfied until I see Yamato dead, Isaac. Until I rip his heart out and eat it to finally become Perfect. Do not stand in my way."

  The silence stretched between them, heavy and sharp as a blade.

  Isaac stood up slowly. He set the bottle down. He looked at his friend with a mix of sadness and resolve.

  "Where is the key?"

  Jin stared at him. The hope in his eyes died, replaced by a cold acceptance.

  He reached into his bloodstained coat. He pulled out a black, ornate box.

  He tossed it onto the table. It slid across the stone, stopping right between them.

  "Then you leave me no choice," Jin whispered.

  Isaac looked at the box. Then at Jin.

  Jin smiled, and this time, there was no warmth in it. Only hunger.