A Desperate Pact

Fafnir snarled, flipping midair and landing on his feet, his Magicore surging violently. "Don't get cocky!" He launched forward again, but this time, Siegfried sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Fafnir by the wrist and twisting—SNAP.

A flash of agony crossed Zarathorak's face as Siegfried threw him over his shoulder and slammed him into the stone floor, creating a deep crater beneath them.

"Tch." Zarathorak spat blood, his claws digging into the ground as he recovered. "I don't care what you are—" his aura darkened, tendrils of blood energy coiling around his limbs like living shadows. "You are not walking out of here in one piece."

Siegfried smirked. "Then by all means, try again."

Meanwhile, I was still with Ingi, desperately trying to break through the barrier restraining Umbaxis.

Every time we tried to dispel it, the chains pulsed violently, tightening around Umbaxis's already broken body. The ancient dragon barely had the strength to lift his head anymore—his once-mighty form now torn, bloodied, and exhausted beyond belief.

"Damn it," I growled, slamming my palm against the invisible wall separating us from him. "There has to be a way to break this!"

Ingi's expression was grim. "This isn't just any magic. This is something beyond what even I have seen."

I clenched my fists. "Then we'll tear it apart piece by piece."

I summoned my Magicore, letting it flow into my hands. If raw force wasn't enough, then maybe—

"Stop."

Umbaxis's voice was barely more than a whisper, yet it still held the weight of countless years.

I froze.

"Do not… try to break it…" his deep, ragged breaths echoed through the chamber. "The more you fight it… the stronger it becomes…"

My heart pounded in my chest. "Then what do we do?"

Umbaxis slowly lifted his head, his ancient, weary eyes locking onto mine. "You… must listen… to what I say…"

Before he could continue—another deafening crash rang out.

I turned just in time to see Fafnir smashing into a pillar, coughing up blood. Zarathorak followed right after, slammed into the opposite wall with enough force to crack the stone.

Siegfried was still standing.

Unbothered. Untouched. Completely in control.

Unbothered. Untouched. Completely in control.

His golden eyes gleamed as he pointed Balmung toward us. "Time's running out."

Siegfried slowly began walking toward us. His every step echoed through the vast chamber, carrying an eerie confidence, as if this battle was nothing more than a formality—an inevitability. His golden eyes glowed beneath the shadow of his hood, locked onto me and Ingi like a predator closing in on its prey.

But before he could take another step—

"You're not taking another damn step forward!"

A deafening roar erupted from behind him as Zarathorak and Fafnir surged back into battle, their Magicore igniting with violent intensity.

This time, there was no holding back.

Fafnir's entire body crackled with dark energy, his scales glowing with a sinister sheen as his Draconic Core surged beyond its normal limits. His claws extended, radiating with raw power, his fangs bared in sheer determination.

Zarathorak, on the other hand, stood tall, his blood-red aura pulsing like a heartbeat, the air around him twisting and distorting under the sheer weight of his magic. He clenched his fists, his blood magic swirling violently around him, forming an oppressive storm of crimson energy.

Siegfried smirked. "Finally getting serious?"

Neither of them responded. They were beyond words now.

In a split second, both of them vanished from sight—moving at speeds even I could barely track.

Siegfried barely had time to react before Fafnir appeared above him, his claws coated in pure destruction, swinging downward in a devastating arc.

BOOM!

Siegfried barely parried with Balmung—but that was when Zarathorak struck from below.

A torrent of blood-forged spears shot up from the ground, piercing into Siegfried's torso and arms, locking him in place. Fafnir used the opening to slam his knee directly into Siegfried's chest, sending him flying backward.

But they weren't done yet.

Zarathorak extended his claws, chanting in a deep, guttural voice:

"Sanguis Vinculum: Rapture."

The moment his spell activated, the blood spears exploded, sending Siegfried rocketing into the air—where Fafnir was already waiting.

"Dragon Blast!"

A concentrated beam of draconic energy tore through the chamber, colliding with Siegfried and sending him crashing into the farthest wall with an earth-shattering impact.

For the first time—Siegfried had been sent flying.

Dust and rubble filled the air, obscuring our vision, but I could feel it—Fafnir and Zarathorak had truly turned the tide for now.

Dust and debris still clouded the air as Siegfried remained buried beneath the collapsed wall. For the first time, he had been sent flying.

But we couldn't waste this moment.

I turned back to Umbaxis, who was struggling to keep his eyes open. His breath was ragged, his body limp—he was on the verge of death.

"Umbaxis!" I called out, kneeling beside his massive head. "You were saying something earlier. What did you mean? Who else do they need to break Pyrion's seal?"

His bloodied eyes flickered with pain, but he pushed himself to speak. "Another… one of us…" His voice was barely above a whisper. "A dragon of great power… perhaps even greater than mine…"

My hands clenched into fists. Another dragon? Someone stronger than him?

Who could it be?

I exchanged a look with Ingi, whose expression darkened. He was thinking the same thing I was—there weren't many beings left who could fit that description.

Umbaxis shuddered as the magical chains around him tightened again. A sharp, pained growl rumbled from deep within his throat. "We don't have much time…"

His gaze locked onto mine, and for the first time, his expression changed. It wasn't just desperation, It was conviction.

"I have a proposal," he rasped.

I furrowed my brows. "What kind of proposal?"

His next words shook me to my core.

"A soul transfer."

My breath hitched. "A… what?"

Even Fafnir, who had been preparing for another attack, froze. His golden eyes widened.

"You can't be serious," Fafnir muttered.

But Umbaxis was dead serious.

"I will give you my dragon soul." His voice was weak, but the determination behind it was unshakable. "Just like Fafnir… I will become a part of you."

Silence.

Even Ingi looked taken aback, his usual composure wavering.

I swallowed hard. "Why? Why would you do that?"

Umbaxis exhaled, his massive form trembling from his wounds. "Because if they succeed… if they take my soul… the world will burn."

His words sent a cold chill through me.

I already knew how dangerous Pyrion was—the Infernal Warden of Flame and Chaos. If the seal was broken, the devastation would be unimaginable.

Umbaxis must have realized there was no escape.

If we couldn't break the chains...Then there was only one way to ensure his power never fell into enemy hands.

I clenched my jaw.

A soul transfer wasn't just a simple ritual. It was irreversible. If I accepted, Umbaxis would cease to exist as an independent being—his entire essence would fuse with mine. Just like Fafnir.

Could my body even handle it? Was this really the only way?

As if reading my hesitation, Umbaxis spoke again.

"You're the only one who can weild it." His voice was weak, but firm. "I refuse to be used as a key to unleash hell upon this world. If you will not accept… then I will die here, and they will take what remains."

Ingi's expression twisted. "Damn it!"

Umbaxis' breath grew weaker. The chains binding him glowed brighter, tightening around his limbs, as if sensing his life slipping away.

There was no more time.

I exhaled sharply and stepped forward.

"Tell me how to do it."

Umbaxis' tired eyes met mine, and despite the pain, there was relief.

"Good…" he murmured. "Then listen carefully… this cannot be undone."

Fafnir gritted his teeth but remained silent. Even Ingi's expression was unreadable.

There was no turning back.

I knelt beside Umbaxis' massive head, placing my hand against his scales—scales that had once been unbreakable, now marred by wounds and blood.

His voice was a whisper.

"Repeat after me… 'By the eternal oath of dragons, I take your soul as my own. Your flames shall burn within me, your power shall become mine, and your will shall live on through my being.'"

I took a deep breath.

Then, I spoke the words.

"By the eternal oath of dragons, I take your soul as my own. Your flames shall burn within me, your power shall become mine, and your will shall live on through my being."

The moment the words left my mouth—the entire chamber shook.

A thunderous pulse rippled through the chamber as Umbaxis' essence surged toward me, his life force beginning to unravel from his body. A swirling mass of golden energy formed above him, burning like a second sun.

Siegfried, instantly recovers from Fafnir and Zarathorak's combined attack, snapped his head toward me. His sharp gaze narrowed as realization hit him like a hammer.

"What are you doing?!!" he roared, his voice echoing like a war cry.

His form blurred—he moved, fast.

Too fast.

His cape billowed behind him as he rushed straight for me, Balmung gleaming with an eerie glow. His killing intent was like a blade pressing against my throat.

But he never made it.

BOOM!