As the sun began to set, casting eerie shadows across Blackthrone City, the sky transformed into a palette of deep reds and purples, bathing the streets in an ominous light. Inside the dimly lit dungeon, a haunting silence hung in the air, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the stone walls. A man sat on a cold, unyielding chair, a smirk etched onto his face. Before him stood two weary figures, their bodies marred by injuries that whispered tales of their endurance. Lilian and Selena, the mother and sister of the Azeris, were restrained by heavy chains that glimmered ominously in the shadows.
"Will you consider my offer?" the man asked, his voice calm yet laced with a chilling confidence that sent shivers down their spines.
Selena, despite her battered state, looked up with fierce determination burning in her eyes. "I would rather die than accept your terms." Her voice rang out, strong and defiant, displaying her unwavering spirit.
The man's laughter echoed through the small room, a sound that was as cold as the surrounding stone walls. "You believe you have a choice? In twenty days, you will learn just how powerless you truly are." His cruel smile grew wider, reveling in their despair.
Lilian, her protective instincts flaring, stepped forward, wincing slightly as she shifted her weight. With fierce defiance, she replied, "What do you think you can accomplish in this city? You have no true power here." The strength of her words, though strained, filled the dim room.
"Oh, my dear Lilian," he said, a mocking tone coloring his reply. "I can do as I please. Just as I dealt with your son—thinking he could be noble enough to save his family. But he has failed." His cold gaze flickered between the two women, a cruel smirk lingering on his lips. "And soon, all will know of your family's downfall."
"You monster!" Selena shouted, adrenaline surging through her veins. She struggled against her restraints, feeling a surge of desperation and anger. A moment of instinct kicked in, urging her to defend her mother, but sharp pain shot through her body, causing her to stumble backward, gasping.
The man regarded her with an icy glare, his expression void of empathy. "You're bound by the seal we placed on you. You can do nothing but obey." His voice dripped with mockery.
As he turned to leave the dungeon, an unexpected surge of defiance filled the air. Selena's voice, tinged with anger and sorrow, rang out, "It's hard to believe that a gentle soul like Isabella could emerge from this family."
His anger flared at the mention of Isabella, and he approached Selena menacingly, towering over her fragile form. The air became thick with tension as he leaned closer, his voice low and threatening. But Lilian, driven by a mother's love, instinctively moved to shield her daughter, a fierce desperation lending her strength.
Suddenly, the ominous sound of an angry dragon's roar shattered the tension, reverberating through the dungeon and sending chills through the stone walls.
"Rrrrrrrrrooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
The roar echoed through Blackthrone City, jolting citizens from their evening routines. Fear and confusion spread like wildfire as the sound rolled across the rooftops. Soon after, a guard, his face pale with alarm, rushed to the man's side. "Young Master, a dragon is attacking the city!"
Kane Blackthrone, the young master of the Blackthrone family and Isabella's older brother, felt a surge of urgency coursing through him. His heart raced as he sprinted toward the castle, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on his mind. Images of his family flooded his thoughts—his sister's laughter, his mother's warmth, the bonds that had held them together through countless trials. He couldn't let them down now.
Meanwhile, high above, Azeris soared toward the city, resolute in his mission. His dragon form glinted under the setting sun, reflecting hues of emerald and gold. As he approached the towering city walls, he spotted soldiers prepared for battle, bows drawn and arrows aimed at the sky. At the forefront of the defense stood Wilburn, a formidable figure clad in armor, commanding the city's troops with an intense focus—a warrior at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment realm.
When Azeris entered the range of arrows and cannon fire, Wilburn, wary yet steadfast, commanded his troops to strike.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The sky darkened with a storm of arrows and cannonballs raining down upon Azeris, but to everyone's astonishment, the onslaught passed harmlessly over him. The weapons, though refined and precise, were ineffective against his cultivation and the protective scales of his dragon form.
"Let's see how far I've come," Azeris murmured, a fierce grin spreading across his scaled face as he summoned the full extent of his power. He twisted and turned with agile grace, missing the volleys of death aimed at him. The dragon's breath surged within him, ready to unleash fiery destruction upon those who sought to harm his family.
With a roar that echoed through the skies, Azeris released a torrent of flames, igniting the air as it collided with the walls of the city. The explosion rocked the battlements, sending shrapnel flying and creating chaos among the soldiers. Some found their resolve faltering as glimpse of his true power filled them with dread.
"Reinforce the walls! Prepare for ground defense!" Wilburn shouted, rallying the soldiers amidst the panic. His command was met with a mixture of fear and reluctant determination as they regrouped, not willing to let their home fall into chaos.
Azeris pushed forward, eyes blazing with the desire to save his family. He could sense their suffering and knew the time was critical. He just needed to break through the defenses, reach the castle, and find Lilian and Selena before it was too late.
Back in the dungeon, as the walls trembled with the effects of the conflict above, Lilian and Selena exchanged a glance