The image floating above the altar became clearer.A golden dragon stood beneath a sky split between light and darkness.Behind it stood two legendary figures. Ignis and Vernix.
But their attention wasn't on each other. They were staring at the golden dragon. A dragon whose power seemed to surpass both fate and faith. Then the vision distorted.
CRACK!
The image shattered into countless fragments.The entire Dragonheart Cave began shaking violently. Ancient symbols across the walls lit up one after another. The Dragon Scale floated higher. Its golden light became blinding.
At the entrance— The Eclipse Rebellion
members watched silently. Some looked nervous. Others looked excited. They knew something important was happening.
Zeff watched the mountain
" For years. For countless sleepless nights. For countless sacrifices. I had searched for this moment. The Second Key...Finally."
Beneath the altar. Far below the cave.
Far below Wang Tang. An ancient chamber slowly awakened. Massive stone mechanisms began moving. Ancient chains rattled. Golden energy flowed through forgotten pathways. Something sealed long ago was responding.
Back at the altar, Elior gathered his team.
Infernyx
Eclipse Lunashade
Lucario
Mystveil
Thundrion
Skyrend
For the first time the entire team stood together. Ready for whatever came next.
Suddenly—Lunashade froze. Its eyes widened. The abyss energy around its body became unstable. A voice echoed in its mind.A voice from somewhere far away.
"The bridge...The bridge has arrived..."
Without warning—The floor beneath the altar split apart.A gigantic staircase emerged from the darkness below.
Ancient.
Forgotten.
Waiting.
At the very bottom— A golden door slowly opened.
A familiar voice echoed through the cavern.
"I've spent years searching for this place."
Elior immediately turned.Standing at the cave entrance was.....
Zeff
Beside him stood
Kael.
And behind them—The Eclipse Rebellion.
The atmosphere instantly became tense. Elior stepped forward.
"Zeff."
Zeff looked at him briefly. Then at Infernyx. Then at Lunashade. Finally— He smiled.
"You're always arriving exactly where you shouldn't."
The golden door at the bottom of the staircase opened completely. A blinding light poured into the cavern.
For a brief moment—
A colossal dragon-shaped shadow could be seen inside. Not Aetherion. Something else.
Something guarding the Second Key.
The shadow slowly opened its eyes.
And the entire mountain shook.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!!!
TO BE CONTINUED...