CHAPTER 102: SYSTEM ALERT: DRACO IN DANGER

[FLAMEBOND SYSTEM – STAGE III]

– Bond Strengthened: Drakeling Imprint Fully Active

| Flameborn Companion Linked:

– Species: Drakeling (Silver-Fire Class)

– Name: [Draco]

| Soul Synchronisation Level: 50% → fluctuates with distance

| Elemental Channelling: Active

| Trait Unlocked: Soul Bond – Emotional & Sensory Link Enabled

| Affinity Bonus: +60% Fire

| NEW FUNCTION: Pain Resonance

– Any harm to bonded dragon is mirrored as a burning pulse in Aeron’s body.

– Severity of pain reflects injury level.

| System Alerts:

!!! Bond Disturbance Detected

!!! Synchronisation Surge: Pain shared with host

| Warning: Bond Link is permanent - the death of one will break the other.

"..."

Aeron, who was lying naked beside Nyella, suddenly sat up as if he had just woken from a terrible dream. His chest rose and fell quickly as he breathed heavily.

Nyella slowly sat up too and touched his arm.

"What’s wrong?" she asked softly.

"Draco... Draco, he’s..." Aeron struggled to find his words.

Nyella’s eyes widened. "What? What’s wrong with Draco?"

"He’s in danger," Aeron said in a low voice. "He’s being attacked."

Without waiting, he jumped to his feet and began pulling on his clothes.

Nyella looked at him with worry and confusion. "What do you mean Draco is in danger? How do you even know this? You just woke up."

"Trust me, I know," Aeron replied quickly, fastening his belt. "I can feel it. Something is wrong with him."

Nyella watched him and how serious he seemed. Though uncertain, she got up too and began to dress as well. Within moments, both of them were ready.

"Can you slow down for a second?" she said gently as she stepped closer to him. "What if you’re mistaken? What if nothing is wrong?"

Aeron shook his head. "No. I cannot be wrong. I am certain." With that, he moved straight for the door.

But when he tried to push it open, the door did not budge. He tried again, harder this time, but still nothing. He turned back and looked at Nyella.

She came forward, placed her hands on the door, and pulled at the handle. But no matter how much strength she used, it refused to open. After trying again and again, she stepped back and whispered, "This door... it was locked on purpose. Something really is wrong."

Aeron’s voice grew harder. "That proves my point, we must get out of here, now. Whatever way possible, even if it means burning this door down."

"No," Nyella quickly said, shaking her head. "No fire. Not yet. The door doesn’t look so strong. We can break it without fire."

Aeron nodded. "You think so, then let’s break it."

They looked around the room for something heavy. Aeron’s eyes fell on the wooden table. Without hesitation, he lifted it, smashed it against the wall, and broke off one of its legs. He handed it to Nyella, then tore off another for himself.

"Ready?" he asked.

She nodded, gripping the piece of wood.

Together they began striking the handle, blow after blow that echoed in the room. The metal began to bend, becoming weaker with each hit. After some time, the handle finally broke off.

Aeron kicked the door hard and it swung open. But what he saw waiting outside made his blood run cold.

Guards of the Blacklands stood there with their weapons ready and faced at them, as if they had been waiting for this very moment.

Nyella’s face tightened. She stepped forward and spoke firmly, "What is this? Can you let us leave? We want to go."

But as she moved, a guard stepped into her path, blocking her. She turned another way, only to find another guard there. Slowly, she stepped back to Aeron’s side. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I hate to admit it, but maybe General Amber was right. These people are not what they seem."

Aeron clenched his fists. "I don’t care who they are. Whatever this is, we have to leave now."

Nyella turned her head slightly, watching him carefully. "Hope you’re not planning on doing that... on burning them?"

Aeron looked at her confused. "Is there any other way for us to leave here faster?"

Nyella shook her head in disagreement. "But it’s better we fight our way through and get to Draco first than burn everything. If this place burns, their soldiers, thousands of them, will storm in. Do you really think you can burn them all?"

Aeron stayed silent, his lips pressed together.

She gave a small, knowing smile. "Just as I thought."

Then she pulled out her sword and looked at the guards with determined eyes. "They may be strong and take time to deal with, but we will finish them soon enough."

Aeron drew his own blade. "Then let’s get on with it."

They struck first.

Clang... clang... clang...

Swords clashed against swords as they fought the Blacklands guards. Blow by blow, they pushed the soldiers back along the hallway, trying to make space to escape. But the guards were skilled and strong which made it more difficult. Every strike was carefully made, and every hit was a skilled one. It was not an easy fight.

After some time, the soldiers changed their tactics. They began focusing on Nyella, thinking she was weaker because she was a woman and believing that only their women wield swords in the entire world. Their plan was to capture her and force Aeron to surrender.

But their mistake cost them. Each time they rushed her, one after another fell. Nyella’s blade moved swiftly, cutting them down before they could even reach her. With every guard that dropped, it became clear she was far from weak. Their plan had failed, and fear began to spread among them.

The guards became much fewer, and Aeron and Nyella thought the fight was almost over. But just then, another wave of Blacklands soldiers stormed into the hallway, joining the battle.

Nyella’s voice was steady. "No way, we cannot keep fighting like this. We need to find another way out."

Aeron, who was busy with enemies, spoke. "Can you now agree to burning them, now that they keep growing in number?"

Nyella didn’t hesitate. "Still not an option, Aeron, this is very little compared to the heat we’ll face."

Then they continued fighting and just that moment, a sound echoed from behind the guards. More sword clashes, sharp and sudden. The enemy froze in confusion as men from their backs began to fall. Anyone who turned around was struck down before they could defend themselves.

Aeron and Nyella paused, wondering who it was. Then the figure stepped forward.

It was General Amber. His sword dripped with blood as he cut through the enemy from behind.

With Amber pressing from the rear and Aeron and Nyella pushing from the front, the enemy was caught between them. Surrounded, the guards were slaughtered until none were left standing.

When the fight was over, Amber approached them. His face and armor were stained red.

"You... You’re covered in blood," Aeron said looking shocked and surprised.

Amber gave a faint, bitter smile. "That is what happens when you enter an enemy’s den with careless allies. I would want to say I warned you, but there is no time for that now. More of them are coming in the hundreds. I know how many I fought just to reach here. We must leave at once. Follow me."

They stepped over the fallen bodies, making their way quickly through the passage.

"Do you even know the way?" Aeron asked.

"Just follow me," Amber replied.

But Nyella stopped him with her words. "Aeron should know. He felt Draco being harmed. That’s why we rushed out in the first place."

Amber froze and turned. "What?" His eyes moved between the two of them.

Nyella explained, "He woke up suddenly. He felt something about the dragon. He said Draco was in danger."

Amber’s expression hardened. He looked at Aeron. "Is this true?"

"Yes," Aeron answered.

"Then tell me," Amber said. "Can you still feel him? The dragon? Because he’s our only way out of here and we need to get to him."

"I can," Aeron replied, "but only if we reach outside."

"Then outside it is," Amber said. "Move."

They continued deeper into the passages. Along the way, they avoided some guards when they could and cut down the ones they could not. Step by step, they pushed forward until they finally reached a hidden mechanism, a lever built into the wall.

Amber pulled at it, but it was stiff. Together, they forced it, pushing harder and harder. Footsteps thundered behind them. Guards were coming fast.

"Push!" Amber shouted.

They heaved with all their strength, and just as the soldiers closed in, the lever gave way. The stone door slid open and revealed a stairway leading upward. Without hesitation, they rushed up the stairs, leaving the guards behind.

As they reached the top of the stairs and saw the forest and trees around them, they suddenly froze. Standing right in front of them were hundreds of Blacklands soldiers, waiting for them.

"..."