The Alpha And The Fifth Blood

Chapter 183

Golden light slowly spread beneath the corrupted dragon’s blackened scales like fire breaking through darkness after a long winter.

The creature trembled violently across the shattered council floor while black mist still poured from the wounds across its body, but the corruption was no longer spreading without resistance. Thin veins of gold pushed slowly against the darkness twisting beneath its scales, and Ariana felt the change immediately through the connection between them.

The dragon was still suffering.

But it was fighting back now.

The Sovereign flame surrounding Ariana burned brighter in response while warmth flooded through the broken council hall. Golden fire curled around her arms and illuminated the chamber strongly enough to force the black mist farther away from her with every pulse of power.

Then the dragon slowly lifted its head toward her again.

Its blackened eyes flickered violently before one of them gradually returned to gold.

A sharp breath escaped several wolves near the exits while silence spread across the chamber once more. Even Vormerion looked stunned as he watched the wounded creature struggle against the corruption consuming it.

"The corruption is weakening," one elder whispered in disbelief.

"No," Vormerion corrected quietly. "The dragon is resisting it."

The ancient bronze dragon kept his glowing eyes fixed on Ariana while understanding slowly settled across his expression.

"The Sovereign flame restores balance," he continued. "That was always the purpose of her power."

Another violent tremor rolled through the mountain before anyone could answer.

The Gate Titan roared again beneath the territory while enormous chains snapped one after another around its body. The widening fracture beneath the council hall split farther apart, and this time part of the creature’s massive arm dragged upward through the opening.

The entire chamber shook beneath its weight.

Several wolves collapsed immediately while others rushed desperately toward the exits. Outside, dragon roars thundered continuously across the mountains while black storms spread through the skies above the territory.

But the dragons circling overhead were no longer focused entirely on the Gate Titan.

They were watching Ariana.

Ariana felt it clearly now through the Sovereign flame burning around her body. The dragons were responding instinctively to her power, the same way wolves reacted to the Lycan. The connection stretched across the skies above the territory like something ancient awakening after centuries buried beneath history.

Then another dragon roared somewhere outside the hall.

This one sounded wrong.

Mira flinched sharply the moment the sound echoed through the mountains. Tears filled her silver eyes while black mist curled violently around her body again.

"There are more," she whispered.

Lucien’s expression darkened immediately. "How many dragons were exposed?"

Mira looked shaken now as she stared toward the shattered ceiling above them. "I don’t know."

The wounded dragon beside Ariana suddenly released another deep cry while its body trembled violently. Golden light continued spreading slowly beneath its scales, but the corruption inside it fought harder every second.

Ariana could feel the struggle tearing through the creature’s mind.

The darkness did not simply want to kill the dragons.

It wanted to claim them.

The realization sent cold through her chest.

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

"You cannot save them all."

The words rolled through the hall like thunder while the Gate Titan shifted violently beneath the territory again. Black mist exploded upward from the fracture below while ancient chains snapped apart around its massive body one after another.

The pressure flooding the chamber became almost unbearable.

Kael stepped closer to Ariana immediately while silver lightning surged violently around him. Storm energy cracked across the shattered floor beneath his feet as the Lycan reacted more aggressively every time the Gate Titan spoke.

Then the Titan’s enormous eyes slowly shifted toward him.

And suddenly the creature smiled.

Not like a human.

Like something ancient recognizing an old enemy after centuries apart.

"You remember us now," the voice echoed through the chamber.

Kael’s jaw tightened sharply while another memory slammed through the bond between him and Ariana.

A battlefield drowned in black fire stretched endlessly beneath shattered skies. Dragons screamed as corruption spread through their bodies while wolves turned their weapons toward creatures they once fought beside. Massive gates beneath the world cracked open while creatures climbed endlessly from the darkness below.

And standing at the center of it all was the Lycan, covered in silver lightning and blood.

Ariana gasped softly as the vision vanished.

Kael looked shaken too.

Not weak.

Haunted.

"It happened before," he said quietly.

The chamber fell silent again.

Augustus’ expression darkened immediately. "What happened before?"

Kael slowly looked toward the wounded dragon beside Ariana before answering.

"The dragons fell first."

Cold spread through the hall.

The wounded dragon suddenly cried out again while black veins surged violently across one side of its neck. The corruption inside it had felt the memory too, and now it fought harder against the Sovereign flame spreading through its body.

Ariana instinctively stepped closer to the dragon while golden fire burned brighter around her hands.

Then every dragon above the territory roared at once.

The sound shook the mountains hard enough to split apart what remained of the council hall ceiling.

Everyone looked upward.

And through the shattered ceiling above them, enormous golden dragons began descending from the skies.

Then every dragon above the territory roared at once.

The sound shook the mountains hard enough to split apart what remained of the council hall ceiling.

Everyone looked upward.

And through the shattered ceiling above them, enormous golden dragons began descending from the skies.

The sight stole the breath from every wolf still standing inside the chamber.

Massive wings spread across the storm-darkened skies while golden fire illuminated the mountains surrounding the territory. One after another, the dragons lowered themselves around the shattered council hall until the entire mountain seemed surrounded by living gold.

Ariana felt the connection slam into her all at once.

Not commands.

Not obedience.

Recognition.

The Sovereign flame surrounding her surged violently in response while warmth flooded through her chest so powerfully that she nearly staggered beneath it. She could feel every dragon above the territory now. Their fear. Their exhaustion. Their fury toward the corruption spreading through their kind.

And beneath all of it, unwavering trust. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

The dragons remembered her.

Not Ariana specifically.

The Sovereign.

The realization hit her hard enough to make her chest ache.

Outside the shattered hall, one enormous golden dragon landed heavily against the mountainside while another circled lower above the chamber. Ancient eyes fixed themselves entirely on Ariana while deep roars echoed through the night like something long forgotten awakening once more.

Even the terrified wolves near the exits slowly lowered their weapons.

Because the dragons were no longer looking at the territory like invaders.

They were guarding it.

Vormerion slowly lifted his massive bronze head while golden fire reflected across his ancient scales. For the first time since the Gate Titan began emerging beneath the mountain, something close to hope appeared in his expression.

"They still remember their queen," he said quietly.

But before anyone could answer, the Gate Titan roared again.

This time the sound carried fury.