Chapter 33 - The Summit of the Guardians
Morning sunlight poured over the Dragonbone Frontier.
For the first time in many days, there was silence.
No alarms.
No roars.
No battles.
Kai stood atop the highest cliff overlooking the frontier.
The Crimson Flame Fox stretched lazily on his right shoulder.
Ignis, now in his tiny sealed form, slept soundly on his left.
Kai smiled.
"Hard to believe we've been through all that."
Ignis opened one golden eye.
"You have seen only a single page of this world's history."
"And there are countless pages yet to be written."
---
Behind Kai, Commander Arcturus approached.
"The frontier owes you a debt."
He handed Kai a black cloak embroidered with a silver dragon.
"This is the cloak of an Honorary Frontier Hunter."
"Only three people under the age of twenty have ever received one."
Kai accepted it with both hands.
"I'll wear it with pride."
---
Trumpets suddenly echoed across the fortress.
BWAAAAA!
Every hunter looked toward the sky.
The Four Divine Guardians descended once more.
This time, they landed peacefully in the central plaza.
Thousands of hunters knelt.
Commander Arcturus bowed respectfully.
Kai stepped forward.
Aurelius regarded him with calm eyes.
"Kai Dragonbane."
"You have completed the Second Trial."
"But greater trials await."
Verdantis extended one emerald claw.
A glowing map appeared in the air.
It displayed the entire continent.
There were seven great kingdoms.
Three empires.
Countless independent territories.
At the centre stood a floating island surrounded by clouds.
Ignis looked at the map.
"Elysium."
"The seat of the Divine Temple."
Raikou's voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"For ten thousand years..."
"They have searched for every Beast Sovereign."
"And now..."
"They know exactly where to find you."
---
Aegis, the Black Tortoise, spoke next.
"But they are not your only concern."
The map shifted.
Across the continent, six lights appeared.
Each marked a different location.
The Book of Infinite Beasts floated before Kai.
---
Ancient Sovereign Relics
Relic I – Dragon King's Scale ✔ Obtained
Relic II – Phoenix Crown
Relic III – Leviathan Pearl
Relic IV – World Tree Seed
Relic V – Titan Heartstone
Relic VI – Celestial Crown
Collect all six to restore the Throne of the Beast Sovereign.
---
Kai stared at the map.
"So this is my journey."
Ignis nodded.
"And every relic is guarded by beings older than kingdoms."
---
Before anyone could speak further, the Book flashed again.
A new page, unlike any before, appeared.
The ink was silver rather than gold.
Hidden Notice
Potential Ally Detected
Location: Kingdom of Astravia
Identity: Unknown
Compatibility: Extremely High
---
The Crimson Flame Fox tilted its head.
"A new friend?"
Ignis smiled knowingly.
"Or perhaps..."
"A future rival."
---
Aurelius spread its magnificent wings.
"Our time together ends for now."
"When you have gathered three relics..."
"Call our names."
"We shall answer."
One by one, the Four Divine Guardians ascended into the heavens.
Their radiant forms disappeared beyond the clouds.
---
That evening, the frontier celebrated.
Bonfires lit the fortress walls.
Hunters sang old songs of dragons and heroes.
For the first time since arriving at the Dragonbone Frontier, Kai allowed himself to relax.
He sat beside the fire with Arcturus, Lyra, the Crimson Flame Fox, and Ignis.
Lyra smiled.
"So..."
"Where will you go first?"
Kai looked toward the northern stars.
"The Kingdom of Astravia."
"The Book says someone there is waiting."
Ignis folded his tiny wings.
"Then we leave at dawn."
The fox grinned.
"And hopefully, we won't be hunted for at least a day."
Everyone laughed.
High above them, unnoticed by all, a silver shooting star crossed the night sky.
Far away, in the Kingdom of Astravia, a young woman with long silver hair looked up from the balcony of an ancient castle.
Beside her stood a majestic white wolf.
She smiled faintly.
"So..."
"You're finally coming."
As she turned to leave, a pendant around her neck began to glow with the same golden light as Kai's Book of Infinite Beasts.
Their destinies were already beginning to intertwine.