The Choice of the Tenth Dragon

The waves crashed relentlessly against the jagged cliffs of Komodo Island, their echoes fading into the crimson sky. The setting sun bathed the world in hues of fire and shadow, an omen of the choice that would soon shape the fate of Southeast Asia. The land, once David’s refuge, now felt barren, stripped of the sanctity it once held. The battles fought across the region had left scars deeper than the wounds on his flesh. Yet, it was not war that burdened him now—it was the Dragon Crown resting in his hands.

Its surface pulsed faintly, golden veins flickering as though the crown itself breathed. A relic of legend, a symbol of power—meant to unite, or to enslave. It had once belonged to warlords and emperors, passed down through blood and conquest. Now, it awaited David’s final decision.

The wind carried footsteps across the brittle soil. He did not turn. He knew who had come.

“Are you going to do this?”