Just hours after the battle in the Cross Mountains, the sky abruptly turned black. The clear, cloudless sky was instantly covered in dark storm clouds, and the entire land began to tremble.
"What... is this?" Leon muttered, looking up at the sky.
Cael's face turned pale. Akbajar's Core was emitting a warning signal unlike anything he'd felt before.
[HIGHEST DANGER ALERT!][DRAGON EMPEROR CLASS ENTITY APPROACHING][RECOMMENDED ACTION: IMMEDIATE RETREAT]
'Bahamut...' Cael gritted his teeth. That monster, who had turned the entire continent to ash in his past life, was finally revealing himself.
A rumble, deeper and louder than thunder, shook the entire mountain range. Then, a colossal shadow appeared through the clouds.
A massive dragon, easily 200 meters long. Its black scales looked harder than steel, and hellfire blazed in its eyes. Every flap of its wings created a hurricane.
"Ba... Bahamut..." Elisa whispered, her voice trembling.
[DRAGON EMPEROR BAHAMUT][LEVEL: ???][DANGER LEVEL: CATASTROPHIC]
Bahamut slowly descended and landed on the mountain peak. The sheer weight of its landing caused half the summit to crumble.
"Human..." Bahamut's voice echoed across the land. It was the human tongue, not Dragon Language, but its oppressive power was beyond imagination.
"Are you the one who slaughtered my descendants?"
Cael stepped forward. His companions tried to stop him, but Cael shook his head.
"That's right," Cael replied calmly. "And I will deal with you too."
Bahamut's eyes gleamed. "Audacious human. What you slew were mere hatchlings. I shall show you the true power of a dragon."
Bahamut opened its maw. Inside, an atomic-bomb-level of energy began to condense. [Breath of Destruction] – the very technique that had erased an entire city in Cael's past life.
"Everyone, get back!" Cael shouted, fully activating [Dragon Lord's Armor]. The newly acquired legendary equipment glowed, enveloping Cael.
But Bahamut's breath was beyond imagination. Black flames swept across the entire mountain range, melting rocks.
Cael barely managed to block it with [Dragon God Shield Arts], but the shockwave alone pushed him back a hundred meters.
[HP: 2543/4000]
'This much damage in one hit?' Cael was shocked. It seemed even stronger than he remembered from his past life.
Leon rushed over. "Cael! Are you okay?"
Aria drew her bowstring, but her arrow shattered upon touching Bahamut's scales.
"Our attacks aren't working!" Garon cried out in despair.
Bahamut sneered. "Foolish creatures. I am the ancestor of all dragons in this world. How dare lowly beings like you..."
Just then, a new system message appeared for Cael.
[HIDDEN ABILITY MANIFESTED][AKBAJAR'S CORE - TRUE POWER RELEASE POSSIBLE][WARNING: 90% LIFE FORCE CONSUMPTION UPON USE][SELECT WHETHER TO ACTIVATE]
Cael hesitated for a moment. 90% life force consumption meant a technique that required facing almost certain death.
But there was no other choice. If Bahamut wasn't stopped here, not only the kingdom but the entire continent would be annihilated.
"Sorry, everyone," Cael said, looking back at his companions. "This time, it might be truly dangerous."
"What are you talking about!" Leon shouted. "We'll be with you!"
Aria nodded. "If we die, we die together."
Garon and Elisa also steeled their resolve.
Cael smiled, tears welling up in his eyes. "Thank you, everyone."
Cael activated [Akbajar's Core - True Power Release].
Instantly, an immense energy erupted from Cael's body. The red aura pierced the sky, and its overwhelming presence even momentarily startled Bahamut.
[TEMPORARY STAT INCREASE][ALL STATS INCREASED BY 1000%][DURATION: 5 MINUTES][HP: 400/4000]
The form of a dragon appeared from Cael's sword. Akbajar's soul had imbued itself into the blade.
"Bahamut," Cael said in Dragon Language. But this time, Akbajar's voice was mixed in. "Your era is over."
Bahamut's eyes widened. "Akbajar's aura... How can a human wield a dragon's power?"
Cael leaped into the sky. [Dragon God Sword - Final Secret Skill: Dragon Annihilation Slash]
A massive sword energy, cleaving the sky, flew toward Bahamut. Its power was enough to split a mountain range in half.
Bahamut hastily deployed [Absolute Defense], but Cael's attack pierced through it.
"Kryaaaaaah!" Bahamut screamed for the first time in its life. A colossal wound was carved into its chest.
But Bahamut didn't just take it. Enraged, it activated [Emperor's Judgment].
Black lightning poured down from the sky. Cael narrowly dodged, but the surrounding mountains exploded from the aftermath.
[HP: 50/4000]
Cael fell to his knees. He was at his limit.
"Cael!" His companions rushed to him.
Then Bahamut prepared its final attack. "Now it ends!"
But at that moment, a dazzling light suddenly descended from the sky.
"Bahamut."
A majestic voice resonated. From within the light, a colossal being in golden armor appeared.
"Dragon God King Bahamut. You have broken your seal."
Bahamut's face hardened. "Dragon Lord... Why are you here?"
"To protect this human." The Dragon Lord looked down at Cael. "He is the chosen one."
Cael looked at the Dragon Lord with surprised eyes. It was a being he had never encountered in his past life.
"Bahamut, retreat. It is not yet time."
Bahamut gnashed its teeth. "Next time, I will surely..."
With the sound of colossal wings flapping, Bahamut vanished.
The Dragon Lord approached Cael.
"Brave warrior, you fought well. But the true trial begins now."
[SPECIAL QUEST INITIATED][THE DRAGON LORD'S TRIAL][REWARD: AWAKEN DRAGON GOD'S POWER]
Just before losing consciousness, the last thing Cael saw were the worried faces of his companions.