The first strike came from nowhere.
A bolt of liquid fire slammed into his chest and sent him skidding backward across the obsidian floor, his claws scraping furrows in the stone.
Dà Jiāo Huǒ lowered his hand. His golden eyes were blazing.
"I warned you," the Burning Sky said.
Lóng Wēi looked down at the scorch mark on his chest. His smile did not waver. "Brother. You always did hit first and ask questions later."
He snapped his fingers.
The two dragons flanking him moved.
The first was a female with scales like dried blood and hair the color of rust. Her name was Xuè Yá, Blood Fang, and she lunged for the Burning Sky's throat.
The Burning Sky didn't move.
He didn't need to.
A golden blur intercepted Xuè Yá mid-leap, slamming into her with enough force to crater the obsidian floor. Cāng Jì rose from the impact, his scales blazing, his roar shaking the crystals from the walls.
"YOU," he thundered, "DO NOT TOUCH MY FATHER."
