The Hidden Kingdom remained silent after the shadow creature disappeared into the darkness.
Cold air moved slowly through the ancient ruins. The glowing blue crystals on the walls flickered softly, casting long shadows across the broken streets of the underground city.
Aria, Rowan, and the Dragon stood quietly in the middle of the ruins.
Rowan finally broke the silence.
"So… you are really the last dragon?"
The Dragon slowly nodded.
"Yes."
Aria looked at the giant creature with wide eyes. Even though she had already heard the story, it still felt impossible to believe"The last dragon in the entire world…" she whispered.
The Dragon's golden eyes looked toward the ancient statues of the Guardians that surrounded the city.
"Long ago," the Dragon said slowly, "dragons ruled the skies of this world."
"There were thousands of us."
Rowan crossed his arms.
"And now there's only one."
"Yes."
Aria stepped closer.
"What happened to the others?"The Dragon looked up toward the dark ceiling of the mountain.
"After the First Shadow War, everything changed."
The Dragon's voice echoed softly through the ruins.
"When the Abyss Lord tried to invade this world, the Guardians and the Dragons fought together."
"The war lasted for many years."
Aria remembered the ancient carvings on the walls showing battles between warriors and shadow creatures.
"But the Abyss Lord could not be destroyed," the Dragon continued.
"He was too powerful.""So the Guardians created a seal to close the Shadow Realm forever."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"You said the dragons helped create that seal."
"Yes."
"The seal needed enormous magical power… more than any human could provide."
"So the Dragons became the power of the seal."
Aria felt a strange sadness growing inside her.
"You mean they sacrificed themselves."
The Dragon lowered its head slightly."Yes."
"One by one, the Dragon Guardians gave their life force to strengthen the seal."
Rowan looked shocked.
"That must have taken a lot of dragons."
"It did."
"Each Dragon Guardian became part of the magic that keeps the Shadow Realm closed."
Aria looked around the empty ruins.
"And after that?"
"After the war ended, the remaining dragons were no longer strong enough to stay in this world.""Their power had been drained by the seal."
"So they left."
Rowan frowned.
"Left where?"
"The ancient realms," the Dragon answered.
"Worlds where dragons originally came from."
Aria's voice became quiet.
"So all the dragons left this world… except you."
The Dragon remained silent for a moment.
"Yes."
"I stayed behind."Rowan raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The Dragon's golden eyes glowed softly.
"Because someone had to protect the seal."
Aria slowly understood.
"You stayed to watch over the Shadow Realm."
"Yes."
"For centuries I have guarded the places where the seal is hidden."
The Dragon looked toward the center of the Hidden Kingdom.
"And this city… is one of those places."
Rowan sighed."That explains the broken seal we found earlier."
Aria's expression suddenly changed.
"Wait."
"If the dragons left long ago… and their power is part of the seal…"
She looked directly at the Dragon.
"Then why is the seal breaking now?"
The Dragon's eyes became serious.
"Because the power of the seal is fading."
Rowan rubbed his forehead.
"So the magic isn't strong enough anymore?""Exactly."
"The Dragon Guardians gave their power thousands of years ago."
"Magic does not last forever."
Aria looked toward the giant tower standing in the middle of the city.
"So the Shadow Realm is slowly breaking free."
"Yes."
"And if the seal completely breaks…"
The Dragon did not finish the sentence.
Rowan spoke quietly.
"The Abyss Lord returns."The Dragon nodded slowly.
"And with him… the Shadow Army."
A deep rumbling sound suddenly echoed through the ruins.
Small stones fell from one of the broken towers.
Aria turned quickly.
"What was that?"
The Dragon spread its wings slightly.
"Dark energy."
Rowan looked around nervously.
"Please don't tell me more shadow creatures are coming."The glowing crystals on the walls suddenly flickered.
For a moment, the blue light turned dark.
Then a cold mist began creeping through the empty streets.
Aria stepped back.
"The shadows…"
The mist slowly twisted together between the broken statues.
Dark shapes began forming inside the fog.
The Dragon's voice became deep and powerful.
"They are coming."
Suddenly a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.Then another.
And another.
Rowan swallowed.
"Oh no."
More shadow creatures slowly emerged from the mist.
Their bodies were made of darkness and smoke, and their eyes burned like fire.
Aria clenched her fists.
"They're coming for the seal."
The Dragon looked toward the giant tower in the center of the Hidden Kingdom.
"Yes.""The Heart Tower."
"It protects one of the last pieces of the seal."
Rowan stared at the tower.
"You're telling me that thing is the only thing stopping the Shadow Realm from opening?"
"Not the only thing," the Dragon said.
"But one of the most important."
The shadows around them grew thicker.
More creatures began crawling out of the darkness.
Aria looked at Rowan.
"We have to reach the tower first."Rowan gave a nervous smile.
"No pressure, right?"
The Dragon spread its massive wings.
"If the Heart Tower falls…"
"The Shadow Realm will open."
Aria took a deep breath and looked toward the tower glowing faintly in the distance.
Then she said firmly,
"Then we protect it."
Far away in the darkness of the Hidden Kingdom…
More red eyes slowly opened.
And somewhere deep beyond the Shadow Realm…Something ancient began to awaken.
The Abyss Lord was coming.