King Aldrich: Unleash the shadow drake! Let the audience see real power today!
Lady Serena: Father, he has no weapon! He doesn't even have armor!
King Aldrich: That is the point, my child. The crown does not show mercy to thieves.
Down on the arena floor, Caleb stumbled backward as the giant beast took its first heavy steps. The creature was twice the size of a warhorse, covered in thick black scales that looked like iron plates. Long, jagged horns curved backward from its massive head, and smoke drifted from its black nostrils.
Caleb: Stay back! Someone get me a shield!
Crowd Member: Die, orphan! Give us a good show!
Crowd Member 2: He won't last ten seconds!
The dragon snarled, its crimson eyes locking directly onto Caleb's trembling frame. With a sudden burst of speed, the beast charged, its heavy claws tearing deep furrows into the dry dirt. Caleb lunged to the left, diving across the sharp rocks just as a massive claw swiped through the air where his head had been.
Caleb: Ugh! My arm!
He rolled onto his back, gasping for breath as dust filled his lungs. The beast spun around with frightening agility, its heavy tail whipping through the air and smashing into a stone pillar nearby. Shards of rock rained down around Caleb, stinging his bare skin.
King Aldrich: Hahaha! Look at him crawl! He looks like a wounded dog!
Lady Serena: He dodged the first strike... how did he move so fast?
King Aldrich: Pure luck. Watch, the beast is getting ready to incinerate him.
The dragon lowered its head, opening its wide jaws to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth. Deep within its throat, a bright, fiery orange glow began to rumble and swell. The air around the monster grew so hot that the air shimmered.
Caleb: Is this how I die? Scared and alone in the dirt?
He pressed his back against the solid stone outer wall, nowhere left to run. The dragon took a step closer, its glowing eyes fixed on his trembling body. The intense heat radiated off the creature, drying the sweat on Caleb's skin instantly.
Caleb: I don't even know who I am... why did you bring me here?!
As if in response to his desperate shout, the painful heat in his chest suddenly spiked into a searing white flame. Caleb gasped, clutching his ribs under his ragged shirt as a brilliant golden light began to leak through the dirty fabric of his tunic.
Lady Serena: Father... look at his chest! What is that light?!
King Aldrich: What? What nonsense are you talking about?
Lady Serena: Look! He's glowing!
The dragon paused its advance, snorting out a plume of black smoke as it sniffed the air nervously. The golden light flared brighter, spilling across the dark sand like liquid sunshine. Intricate magical runes began to spell out an ancient crest on the surface of Caleb's skin, pulsing in time with his racing heartbeat.
Caleb: What... what is this power?
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