David ran his fingers over the brittle parchment, the faded ink barely legible under the flickering lantern light. The prophecy had been buried deep within the archives, hidden among forgotten records of war and betrayal.
"The Tenth Dragon shall rise when the world is in ruin," he read aloud. "Born from fire, they will bring an end to the old order and reshape the world anew."
Felix leaned against the wooden desk, arms crossed. "Sounds like something the Phoenix Dragon would love to use to justify their madness."
David nodded grimly. "That’s exactly what they’re doing. They’re using this prophecy to rally their forces—to convince people that destruction is necessary for rebirth."
Clarissa frowned. "And what if there’s more to it? What if they believe they’re fulfilling destiny?"
Felix exhaled sharply. "Then we make sure their destiny never comes to pass."
—