Deep in the Land of Iron, five children spent their days kicking a soccer ball across dusty fields: Isshinano Goemon with his long blue hair, Jhenga Krown with his pastel-blue tuft, Hallera Phenom whose tired eyes watched everything, Yunkojin Blast with his sharp black hair, and Unova Heartfire, a bright spark of pink.
They came from entirely different worlds — the heir of a swordmaster, a fisherman's son, a young assassin-in-training, a warrior's child, and a girl with no known origin — yet they grew up side by side. They ate together, laughed together, and, for a time, believed nothing could separate them.
That ended during their teenage years.
The sky over the Land of Iron darkened as an Elder Dragon descended — a creature nothing like the dragons, wyverns, or serpents the world knew. Elder Dragons were closer to natural disasters than animals: ancient, colossal, and intelligent beyond human understanding. Everyone believed they were extinct. Then one appeared, and in less than two hours, four nations — Iron, Honey, Waterfalls, and Flowers — were reduced to ash.
Before its destruction, the Land of Iron guarded an ancient stone tablet passed through generations of the Kozuki line. From it, Isshinano inherited a burden: a legacy of loss and hatred. Dragons had taken countless Kozuki lives... including his father's. The moment his homeland fell, that legacy became a purpose.
Isshinano became a Dragon Hunter.
He wandered the world searching for anyone who knew even a whisper about dragons, but he always understood the truth: all roads would lead to the last surviving Elder Dragon — the only one far beyond his reach.
The Dragon of Greed.
Uriel Rakiel.
Jhenga wandered through Arystel with no real destination, letting the noise of the city drown out his thoughts. His phone buzzed.
"Yo, Unova," he answered.
"Did you find Isshin?" Her worry bled through the speaker.
"Yeah. But he's not coming back with us. He's glued to that damn path." Jhenga forced the words out, anger threaded through every syllable.
"Maybe Yunko or Hallera can convince him! Where are you?"
"Land of Water's capital. Arystel. Festival of Dawn." His voice dropped flat. "He just finished his match, so I don't know how long he'll stick around."
"Okay. We'll head there." The call ended.
Jhenga slipped the phone back into his pocket and let out a long breath, his gaze drifting to the empty space where his arm used to be.
"Missing it already?" a manic voice chirped.
Jhenga stiffened. He didn't need to look to know.
"You just figured that out, Sorren?" he muttered, lifting his eyes toward him.
"Awe, no hard feelings, bud. Just a little bit of fun!" Sorren laughed, patting Jhenga's shoulder as he walked past. Then his voice dropped, cold and low:
"Don't come after me with any grudges... because I'll kill you."
A sharp chill ran down Jhenga's spine, freezing him in place.
"Master Zephyr, are you sure letting this guy enter is a good idea?" Ragna asked, concern twisting his face.
Zephyr shrugged. "I don't see the problem."
Ragna groaned. "Yeah, you never see the problem. You're the world's strongest man."
Zephyr chuckled. "Relax. I'll call for another Court Angel if you're that worried."
Ragna finally exhaled in relief. "Please tell me you're calling him."
Zephyr smirked. "Of course I am."
"Bro, what are you even talking about?" Loretta shot back at Heartz.
"Come onnn, me and Rui saw it the day you guys met," Heartz teased, nudging him in the arm. "You're totally into her!"
Loretta rolled his eyes. "That's not what it was, man."
Heartz raised a brow. "Then what was it, hm?"
Loretta hesitated for a moment, then exhaled. "My Evil Eye forced itself on when I saw her... I don't even know what I was looking at."
Heartz's grin slowly faded into something sharper, more focused. "What did you see?"
"It felt like I was staring at two people," Loretta said quietly. "Then my lungs started burning."
Heartz blinked once, then snorted. "Yeah, nah, you're totally in love."
"What!? I'm being serious, man!" Loretta threw his hands up.
"I'm not saying you're not serious. I'm just saying you definitely fell for her."
Loretta stood up with a groan. "Whatever, dude." He muttered as he walked out of the room.