THE FIRST SEAL

The village of Ashara burned beneath the stormy sky.

Flames spread across rooftops while terrified villagers ran through the streets screaming. Smoke filled the air as members of the Black Fang Order surrounded the center of the village.

But no one moved closer to Rin Kael.

Dark chains twisted around his body like living creatures. Crimson energy flowed through the cracks in the ground beneath him.

The soldiers stared in fear.

“That pressure…”

“It’s really a Dragon Host…”

Rin could barely breathe.

His heart pounded violently as strange power flooded through his body. His right arm was now covered in black scale-like markings, and his vision flickered between the burning village and a strange world of endless darkness.

Then the dragon’s voice echoed again.

“Give me control.”

Rin clenched his fists.

“No.”

The giant black dragon behind him narrowed its glowing eyes.

“If you hesitate, they will kill you.”

The Black Fang captain slowly stepped forward, gripping his chained sword tightly. Red Chain Force burned around the weapon.

“Do not fear him!” the captain shouted.

“The First Seal has only partially opened!”

The soldiers regained courage and charged together.

Dozens of glowing chains shot toward Rin from every direction.

Instinctively, Rin raised his hand.

BOOOOM!

Black chains exploded from the ground and smashed into the attackers, throwing them through burning buildings.

The villagers watched in shock.

Rin stared at his own hands.

“What… did I just do?”

The dragon laughed deeply.

“This is merely a fragment of my power.”

Suddenly, pain shot through Rin’s body.

He fell to one knee, struggling to control the energy surging inside him. Dark smoke rose from his skin as the black markings spread farther across his chest.

The captain saw the weakness immediately.

“Now!”

The Black Fang soldiers attacked again.

One soldier appeared behind Rin and swung a chain blade toward his neck.

CLANG!

A wall of black chains blocked the attack instantly.

Rin looked up in surprise.

Standing in front of him was an old man wearing a torn gray cloak.

His body was surrounded by silver Chain Force.

The old man sighed.

“Using dragon power this early… troublesome.”

The soldiers stepped back nervously.

The captain’s eyes widened.

“You… you’re a Chain Keeper!”

The old man slowly removed his hood, revealing a scar across his left eye.

“Name’s Kaien.”

Without warning, Kaien slammed his hand into the ground.

Silver chains burst across the battlefield like lightning, wrapping around several Black Fang soldiers instantly.

CRACK!

The chains tightened and smashed them into the ground.

The remaining soldiers panicked.

“Retreat!”

“Fall back!”

But the captain remained still.

His eyes locked onto Rin.

“The Black Fang Order will never stop hunting you, Dragon Vessel.”

He pointed his sword toward Rin.

“Because the Chained Dragon must never fully awaken.”

The captain threw a smoke bomb onto the ground.

BOOM!

Dark smoke covered the battlefield.

When it cleared, the Black Fang Order had vanished.

Only burning ruins remained.

Rain continued falling softly over the destroyed village.

Rin collapsed from exhaustion.

The black chains around him slowly disappeared.

The dragon’s voice faded.

“You are still weak…”

“But soon… the next seal will break.”

Darkness consumed Rin completely.

Rin opened his eyes slowly.

He found himself inside a small wooden cabin surrounded by candlelight.

His body ached terribly.

“You’re awake,” a voice said.

Kaien sat near the window calmly drinking tea.

Rin immediately stood up.

“The village!”

Kaien’s expression darkened.

“Destroyed.”

Rin froze.

“What about the people?”

“Some survived.”

“Many didn’t.”

Silence filled the cabin.

Rain tapped softly against the windows.

Rin looked down at the black markings still visible on his arm.

“What am I?”

Kaien stared at him carefully.

“A Dragon Host.”

“The rarest and most feared existence in the world.”

Rin’s chest tightened.

“The dragon… Zephryx… is real?”

Kaien nodded slowly.

“Thousands of years ago, seven Dragon Kings nearly destroyed humanity.”

“To stop them, warriors known as the Chain Keepers sealed their souls away using the Seven Dragon Seals.”

He pointed toward Rin’s necklace.

“But somehow… the soul of the Chained Dragon was sealed inside you.”

Rin remembered the dragon’s enormous crimson eyes.

“Why me?”

Kaien remained silent for a moment.

“Because your father chose it.”

Rin’s eyes widened instantly.

“You knew my father?!”

Before Kaien could answer, a loud explosion shook the forest outside.

BOOOOM!

The cabin trembled violently.

Kaien immediately stood up.

“They found us already…”

Rin heard screams outside.

Kaien grabbed his chain weapon from the wall — a silver spear wrapped in glowing chains.

“Listen carefully,” Kaien said.

“The Black Fang Order serves someone far more dangerous than ordinary humans.”

Another explosion blasted through the trees.

A deep voice echoed outside.

“Bring me the Dragon Vessel.”

Heavy footsteps approached slowly.

Kaien’s face darkened.

“An Executor…”

Rin stepped outside behind Kaien.

The forest ahead was burning.

Standing among the flames was a massive man covered in black armor. Giant chains hung from his shoulders like serpents.

His eyes glowed red.

The pressure from his Chain Force alone cracked the ground beneath him.

The armored man smiled coldly.

“So this is the boy carrying Zephryx.”

Rin’s body trembled.

The dragon’s voice suddenly echoed once more inside his mind.

For the first time, Zephryx sounded serious.

“Run.”

“You cannot defeat this one.”

The armored man slowly raised a gigantic chained axe onto his shoulder.

“My name is Darius… Executor of the Black Fang.”

“And tonight, boy…”

“I will rip the dragon out of your body.”

Lightning flashed across the sky.

Kaien tightened his grip on his spear.

Rin felt dark energy rising inside him once again.

And deep within the darkness…

The First Seal continued to crack.

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