Chapter 32: The Nova Caldera - And the Tale Begins...
The invasion of the Academy of Veils was more than a simple invasion. No, it was more like the catalyst of a cascade of events like no other.
And far from the misty peaks of the Academy, across the vast expanse of the Southern Continent, lay a region where the land itself seemed to rage against the sky.
The Nova Caldera.
It was like a massive, living wound upon the continent — a colossal volcanic region where thousands of active volcanoes rose like jagged fangs.
Their peaks constantly belched thick plumes of black smoke and glowing ash into the crimson-tinged skies.
Rivers of molten lava carved glowing red veins across the blackened earth, their heat so intense that the air shimmered and warped above them.
The ground trembled with the constant, low growl of the world’s fury, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of sulfur, burning rock, and the metallic tang of molten metal.
This was a place steeped in pure dragon culture.
Towering dragon-shaped structures were carved straight into the sides of volcanoes, their vast wings and fierce faces sculpted from gleaming obsidian and hardened lava.
Colossal dragons in their true forms curled around the volcanic peaks or lounged in sprawling lava pools, while others wandered the land in imposing humanoid shapes.
It was a realm of prideful warriors, where every dragon lived by strength, pride, and the unshakable rule that only the strong could thrive.
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Deep within the heart of the Caldera, inside the largest and most imposing volcano — a mountain so vast its peak was lost in the perpetual smoke — lay the grand throne chamber of the Nova Clan.
The chamber was colossal, its walls carved from dark volcanic stone and reinforced with veins of glowing molten gold that pulsed with the heat of the earth.
Massive chains of blackened iron hung from the ceiling, some still holding the bones of ancient rivals.
The air was stiflingly hot, thick with the smell of sulfur and burning stone, while rivers of lava flowed along the edges of the room, casting flickering orange and red light across everything.
At the center of this chamber, lay the Dragon King of the Nova Clan in his true form — a colossal, ancient dragon with dark red scales that gleamed like polished blood under the lava light.
His body was immense, easily dwarfing even the largest warriors of his clan, with powerful wings folded against his sides and horns that curved like blackened scythes.
His black slitted eyes burned with cold, calculating fury as smoke curled from his nostrils with every slow, heavy breath.
The ground itself seemed to tremble beneath his presence.
The Dragon King’s deep, rumbling voice echoed through the grand chamber like distant thunder, carrying the weight of absolute authority.
"Ryder."
The Crown Prince, Ryder, appeared moments later, striding into the chamber with heavy, purposeful steps.
His humanoid form was tall and powerfully built, with dark red scales tracing along his arms, neck, and jawline like living embers.
His eyes burned with the same darkness as his father’s, but they were currently filled with pure, barely contained fury.
His long black hair, streaked with red, and he word only the bottom half of his robes.
The moment he entered, he didn’t bow.
He stopped before the throne, fists clenched at his sides, and immediately demanded, voice thick with rage,
"Dragon King." he greeted. "How much longer until we receive new from the others?"
It was an unspoken truth that even though Ryder hadn’t been present for the invasion, he—like everyone in the Nova Caldera—was fully in on it.
The Dragon King let out a low, warning grunt, thick curls of smoke pouring from his nostrils as the ground gave a faint, uneasy shudder beneath them.
"Show some respect when you speak to me, boy."
Ryder’s jaw clenched hard, but he dipped his head just enough to show restraint, though the fire in his gaze refused to fade.
However, as prideful as Ryder was, the Dragon King—though outwardly calm—burned with even greater pride beneath the surface.
The Dragon King’s enormous tail swept across the stone floor with a deep, grinding rumble that shook the entire chamber.
His voice rolled out like distant thunder, laced with authority.
"We should receive news very soon."
BANG!!!
The moment those words left his mouth, another dragon stormed into the grand throne chamber — eyes wide with wrath and desperate urgency.
"Your Majesties! Over one hundred thousand Dragon Scales have been destroyed!" he shouted, voice cracking with panic.
The Dragon King and Ryder’s eyes narrowed, burning with a pure, volcanic fury.
The air in the chamber grew oppressively hot as their draconic auras surged and clashed, filling the space with an almost tangible heat.
They both understood all too well that Dragon Scales were far more than mere ornaments—they were the very lifeline of a Dragon.
Not an actual scale, but a sacred artifact carried by every member of the Nova Clan—and, in truth, by nearly every faction—to keep track of their own.
The grim knowledge that so many Dragons had perished was undeniable, and it could only point to one, terrible conclusion.
HUMMMMM!!!!
And before either could speak, two brilliant white lights flashed in the center of the room.
Thud! Thud!
RRRROOAAAARRRRRR!!!!!
Kaleb and Kristen appeared.
Kaleb appeared in a crumpled heap, yelling in agony as the spear Akasha had hurled remained embedded in his back, still driving forward with an unstoppable, ancient power.
"Father—help me!!"
In his frantic desperation, he completely forgot even the most basic decorum, failing to address the Dragon King with proper respect.
Nearby, Kristen lay sprawled on the ground, her body battered, burned, and barely clinging to life.
CLANG!
Taking in the scene, the Dragon King let out a low, dismissive grunt, the kind that carried more weight than words.
The spear fell lifelessly from his grasp, hitting the floor with a dull clatter and rolling to a stop.
Ryder’s eyes cut sharply toward the attendant who had barged in before, his voice cold and commanding as he said.
"Get Kristen healed. Now."
As the attendant hastily pulled Kristen from the scene, their attention snapped entirely to Kaleb, who stood rigid, every muscle tense, his chest rising and falling with the force of his fury and the sting of humiliation burning in his eyes.
The air between them seemed to crackle with the intensity of the moment, the weight of unspoken accusations pressing in from all sides.
Ryder strode forward with deliberate steps, his gaze locked on Kaleb, his voice cutting through the charged silence like a blade.
"What the hell happened during the invasion?" he demanded, each word laced with urgency and the need for answers.
Kaleb took a shaky breath, his fury momentarily tempered by the weight of what he had witnessed. He began speaking in a low, tense voice.
"From the very start, something felt off. The Academy of Revelations only sent one thousand members to aid us.
One thousand..... That alone should have been a warning. But we pushed forward anyway."
He clenched his fists as he continued.
"Not even minutes into phase one of the invasion... everything crumbled. Because of one man."
The Dragon King and Ryder shared a glance — disbelief flickering in their eyes — but neither interrupted.
Their rage continued to boil beneath the surface like a volcano awaiting eruption.
Despite this, Kaleb continued.
"From afar, the Elder Dragon and I, along with a hundred thousand strong, watched as the sky suddenly lit up in a flash of purple.
In an instant, our entire force collapsed, incapacitated. Then they were cut down like livestock.
They... didn’t even have time to react."
He swallowed hard before continuing.
"Kristen was somehow forced to initiate phase two earlier than planned. I don’t know what happened on her end... but before I could move to reinforce her, he appeared."
Kaleb’s voice dropped, filled with tension, as he recounted the figure.
"He had hair the color of crimson and snow... eyes like pools of blood... void-black horns... and black scales etched across light brown skin.
But it wasn’t only his appearance. His bloodline..."
Kaleb paused, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
"It radiated more power than any dragon I’ve ever met.... Even more than yours, Dragon King."
HUMMMMMM!!!!!!
The moment those words left his mouth, the Dragon King’s aura erupted violently.
A crushing, volcanic pressure exploded through the chamber.
Thud!
The ground trembled violently as waves of draconic fury slammed into Kaleb, forcing him to his knees with a pained grunt.
The air itself grew thick and suffocating, lava veins in the walls flaring brighter in response to the King’s wrath.
Still, Kaleb forced himself to continue through the crushing discomfort, his voice strained but determined.
"Despite that impressive bloodline... he acted like a total vampiric maniac. Laughing, drinking blood, toying with us like it was some twisted game.
He didn’t fight like a warrior—he fought like a monster who relished the killing."
The chamber sank into a thick, stifling silence, broken only by the deep rumble of the Dragon King’s breath and the far-off roar of the volcanoes outside.
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