The Alpha And The Fifth Blood

Chapter 182

The Gate Titan’s roar shook the entire mountain hard enough to split more stone beneath the council hall.

The sound thundered through the shattered chamber while black mist surged violently upward from the widening fracture below. Ancient chains snapped one after another beneath the territory, and every dragon circling above the mountains answered with furious roars that echoed across the night sky.

But Ariana barely heard any of it.

Her attention remained fixed entirely on the corrupted dragon kneeling before her.

The creature’s massive head stayed lowered against the broken floor while the Sovereign flame burned around Ariana’s body in waves of golden light. Warmth spread through the chamber with every pulse of her power, pushing the black mist surrounding the dragon farther back little by little. For the first time since the creature entered the hall, the corruption inside it hesitated.

Ariana felt the change immediately through the connection between them.

The darkness consuming the dragon was no longer spreading uncontrollably. Something inside the creature had started resisting it. Beneath the corruption, the dragon itself was still fighting to survive.

Kael stood close beside Ariana while silver lightning flickered violently around him. The pressure surrounding him had become almost unbearable since the Gate Titan recognized him beneath the mountain, but despite the storm building around the Lycan, his attention remained entirely on her.

"Ariana," he said carefully, "you need to stop."

But she couldn’t.

The golden fire continued spreading through her body like something ancient had fully awakened inside her. Ariana could feel the dragon reaching toward the Sovereign flame desperately, clinging to the warmth of her power while the corruption tried to drag it deeper into darkness.

"It’s asking for help," she whispered.

Silence spread across the chamber.

Even the terrified wolves near the exits turned toward her now.

Vormerion slowly stepped closer, his enormous bronze body glowing faintly beneath the Sovereign flame illuminating the hall. Ancient understanding darkened his expression as he watched the corrupted dragon struggle beneath Ariana’s power.

"The dragons remember her fire," he said quietly.

One elder stared at him in disbelief. "You’re saying she can save it?"

Vormerion’s ancient eyes shifted toward the black veins spreading beneath the dragon’s scales.

"For now," he answered grimly.

The words settled heavily through the chamber.

Mira suddenly stepped forward. "Then let her save it."

Kael’s expression darkened immediately. "Mira—"

"No," Mira interrupted sharply, tears burning in her silver eyes. "You didn’t hear what it sounded like outside." Her voice trembled despite her effort to control it. "The dragons are screaming."

Outside the council hall, another roar thundered across the mountains.

This one sounded wrong.

Ariana felt cold spread through her chest immediately because Mira was right. Some of the dragons above the territory no longer sounded fully like themselves anymore. Something darker echoed beneath their roars now, twisted and unnatural enough to make the entire chamber feel colder.

The corruption spreading from the Underworld was reaching them too.

And the Gate Titan beneath the mountain was feeding it.

The corrupted dragon suddenly convulsed violently beneath Ariana’s flame while black smoke burst from the wounds across its body. Several wolves stumbled backward in panic as the creature released another painful cry that shook the chamber walls.

Then Ariana felt something shift inside the connection between them.

The dragon’s fear weakened slightly.

Not completely.

But enough for her to feel something else beneath it.

Recognition.

Ancient and instinctive enough to make her chest tighten painfully.

The dragon slowly lifted its head again while the golden fire surrounding Ariana reflected across its blackened eyes.

Then the corruption reacted violently.

The black veins beneath the dragon’s scales surged sharply upward toward its head as though the darkness itself was trying to resist Ariana’s power. The creature screamed in agony while black mist exploded outward across the chamber floor.

Kael moved instantly.

Silver lightning burst violently around him as he stepped directly between Ariana and the spreading corruption. The Lycan reacted aggressively now, ancient instincts pushing sharply beneath his control while storm energy crashed through the chamber hard enough to shake the remaining walls.

The black mist stopped immediately the moment it touched his lightning.

Then the voice beneath the mountain echoed through the chamber once more.

"The Guardian still stands against us."

Kael’s jaw tightened instantly.

Another violent tremor shook the territory while the fracture beneath the hall widened farther apart. This time part of the Gate Titan’s massive head became visible beneath the mountain itself.

Several wolves collapsed in terror.

Ariana felt cold spread through her entire body.

The creature beneath the world was enormous beyond reason. Black chains still wrapped around parts of its body while ancient symbols burned faintly across dark skin that looked more like living stone than flesh.

And its eyes remained fixed entirely on her.

The Sovereign flame surrounding Ariana surged instinctively in response.

The Gate Titan roared.

Outside, every dragon above the territory answered at once.

Then something impossible happened.

One by one, the dragons circling above the mountains began turning toward the council hall itself.

Toward Ariana.

Toward the Sovereign flame burning around her.

Lucien stared upward in disbelief. "What are they doing?"

Vormerion’s ancient gaze darkened slightly as the roars outside grew louder.

"They are choosing," he said quietly.

The words sent immediate silence through the chamber.

Then the corrupted dragon beside Ariana slowly spread its massive wings despite the corruption tearing through its body.

And beneath the blackened scales consuming the creature, golden light suddenly began burning its way back to the surface.

The pressure inside the chamber changed the moment the dragons descended lower above the shattered ceiling.

Massive golden wings filled the storm-darkened skies while ancient roars thundered across the mountains hard enough to shake the entire territory. One by one, the dragons lowered themselves around the council hall, their glowing eyes fixed not on the Gate Titan beneath the mountain, but on Ariana standing at the center of the Sovereign flame.

Ariana felt the connection hit her all at once.

Not fear.

Not obedience.

Recognition.

The feeling surged through her chest so powerfully that the golden fire surrounding her body flared brighter in response. She could feel every dragon above the territory now, their rage, their fear, their exhaustion, and beneath all of it, the ancient instinct drawing them toward the Sovereign once more.

Then one enormous golden dragon landed outside the shattered council hall hard enough to crack the mountain beneath its claws.

And slowly, the ancient creature lowered its head toward Ariana in absolute submission.