The night over Ashfall was restless.
Not because of the wind. Not because of the shadows.
But because something ancient stirred inside Kael.
Three days had passed since the Arbiter's visit, and Kael had remained hidden, moving only under the veil of mental disruption. Rion stayed close, limping, but alive. Kael sensed every pulse of his teacher's qi, every shallow breath, every twinge of pain. The thread master's survival was priority one.
But inside Kael, another force demanded attention.
It began as a rumble in his chest—subtle at first, like a heartbeat from beneath his ribs. Then it grew, vibrating through his bones, shaking his consciousness.
> Kael…
Harvester's voice was calm, but strained.
> Another fragment is stirring. It is… unstable.
Kael closed his eyes. Mental disruption flared, probing, balancing, restraining. But it was useless.
The Dragon Hybrid gene had been awakened—not by his will, but by survival instinct amplified beyond containment.
Heat surged, coiling around his spine like molten steel. His skin felt alive, almost liquid with power. Scales formed faintly beneath his flesh, shimmering with gold and crimson light, hidden beneath his robe.
> Warning: Kael Viren. Gene expression reaching critical threshold.
"Not yet," Kael muttered. "I control this."
But control was fleeting. His body clenched involuntarily. The air around him hissed as if the forest itself recognized the transformation.
The ground cracked beneath his weight. Trees bent backward. Animals fled in terror.
Then Kael opened his eyes. They were no longer fully human. Flecks of molten gold swirled in the iris, pupils slitted like a dragon's.
Harvester stirred within his consciousness.
> You cannot suppress it for long. You must accept it. Or it will accept you.
Kael took a deep breath.
Then let it.
Energy coalesced around him, forming into a visible aura. Not ordinary fire, not even elemental. It was Dragonfire—ancient, wild, raw power channeled from the hybrid genes fused in him during the experiments.
Kael raised his hand. The air shimmered, heat radiating in waves.
A practice tree three meters away ignited instantly—not scorched, but erupted into molten flame that danced around its trunk like serpents.
He flexed his other hand, and a boulder exploded from the ground with a roar, shattered by concentrated fire.
Harvester spoke again.
> This power… is beyond human comprehension. But you must bind it. Or it will betray you.
Kael nodded. The lesson was clear. He couldn't simply unleash the Dragon Hybrid fully—not yet. He needed to synchronize with it, merge partially to gain control without losing consciousness.
Over the next three days, Kael pushed himself further than ever. He allowed the Dragon Hybrid fragment to manifest for controlled intervals, testing fire abilities, mobility, and destructive potential.
Absolute Eruption: a cone of molten flames capable of disintegrating stone
Tail Sweep: summoning a spectral draconic tail to strike enemies at distance
Fiery Wings: brief gliding, powered by intense heat
Dragon's Roar: concussive shockwaves that destabilize terrain
Each use strained Kael's body. Each success strengthened the fragment's self-awareness.
> Warning: Fragment autonomy increasing. Probability of independent action: 18%.
Kael smirked. "Good. Learn. Survive. Obey."
Harvester muttered, almost reluctantly:
> You always push too far.
High above the forest, hidden in the clouds, a scout of the imperial empire observed. Not a man. Not a soldier. Not fully alive.
> Subject Kael Viren… power escalation confirmed.
Avatars manifesting. Dragon Hybrid awakened.
Recommendation: Engage immediately.
Far below, Kael didn't know it yet—but the empire had begun to deploy specialized hunter units. Elite cultivators, each stronger than the last, each armed with ancient relics designed to counter otherworld genes.
And the first challenge had already been dispatched toward Ashfall.
Kael stepped into the clearing, flames curling around his body like a living cloak. Rion, watching from the shadows, finally spoke:
"You're not the boy I trained anymore… You're something else entirely."
Kael's gaze hardened. "Then it's time they learn why they should fear me."
He exhaled, letting a controlled wave of Dragonfire ripple across the forest. Trees splintered. Rocks melted. The ground cracked.
Somewhere, in the distance, a signal was raised. The empire's hunters were on their way.
Kael smiled.
Good.
Let them come.
This time, he would not run.