The heat intensified until it became unbearable. The forest temperature climbed toward boiling. Leaves curled. Bark smoked. The air shimmered with distortion, thick and heavy.
Then—landing.
The earth cracked—not a chaotic earthquake, but the controlled impact of colossal weight. Twenty-five stories of obsidian and flame descended from the sky like a falling star.
Raziel Ignaryx. The Molten Sovereign. The Magma Drake Overlord.
He was colossal, beyond comprehension until witnessed directly. Obsidian scales covered his body like armor, each one etched with glowing veins of lava. His chest blazed like an open furnace—orange and white heat visible through cracks in his armored hide. His wings were vast enough to shadow mountains, their membrane dark as volcanic glass, and sparks rained with every slight movement.
Every step left footprints of cooling glass. Every breath released smoke and ash. The radiant heat forced the pack backward instinctively, but they held their ground. They did not flee. They stood together, a family facing overwhelming power.
Raziel's eyes—molten gold surrounded by heat distortion—focused on their group. Assessing. Judging. Ancient intelligence studied the younger generation. Then he spoke, his voice rumbling like a distant volcano. It was deep, resonant, each word carrying the weight of mountains.
"Draven."
The single word was a simple acknowledgment, carrying the respect not many received from the strongest Overlord in Theia.
Draven stepped forward. He did not challenge the power, nor did he cower before it. He met it.
"Raziel Ignaryx. The Molten Sovereign. We did not expect you to visit personally."
Raziel's gaze shifted briefly to Malvorn, who stood magnitude zero beside Draven, then back to the human.
"Your ideals proved true," Raziel said, his voice calm despite his volcanic nature. "Human and beast as equals. You spoke this philosophy before. Now you have proven it beyond question. Human and Overlord. Bonded. Not master and servant. Not controller and controlled. Partners."
The heat distortion made the air ripple around him. "This is unprecedented. In all Theia's history, no human has bonded an Overlord-tier beast. Many have tried, and all have failed. Yet you achieved the impossible. Not through force. Through trust. Respect. Family."
His molten eyes fixed on Draven with something approaching admiration. "My acknowledgment of your character was correct. My respect increases further."
"Three months ago I gave an ultimatum," Raziel continued, looking at Malvorn. "A young Overlord. Newly ascended. Uncontrolled. A magnitude seven threat to the continent. I told Draven: teach control within three months, or I remove the threat permanently."
Malvorn's magnitude zero remained perfectly stable despite the casual mention of his potential execution.
"I expected training. I expected control teaching. I expected success possibly," Raziel stated. "I did not expect bonding. I did not expect a human to achieve what no predecessor managed. I did not expect an Overlord to accept a human as an equal partner."
"Malvorn chose bonding himself," Draven said simply. "I offered. He accepted. The partnership formed naturally through trust that we built over six weeks."
"That makes the achievement more impressive," Raziel rumbled. "It was not forced. It was a genuine bond between a human and an Overlord. You have proven yourself worthy of the Genesis Codex's choice. You are worthy of an Overlord's loyalty. This is acknowledged."
---
Raziel's attention fixed fully on Malvorn. He was in assessment mode, a guardian evaluating a potential threat.
"Show me your control," he commanded simply. "Maintain magnitude zero while moving. Demonstrate precision."
Malvorn nodded. He moved. Twenty-five stories of crystalline earth-element Overlord walked forward. Each step was deliberate. Each motion was calculated. The earth responded to his presence but was not commanded. There were no tremors. No accidental destruction. Just controlled movement.
He performed several precise actions: turning, kneeling, rising. All were executed flawlessly without a magnitude fluctuation.
Raziel watched silently. He looked for cracks. He looked for instability. He found none.
"Magnitude one," he commanded next.
Malvorn's presence shifted. It was subtle but noticeable. Gravity increased slightly. But it was completely controlled. Not leaking power. Not affecting the surroundings beyond his intention. Just magnitude one held stable.
"Back to zero."
The transition was smooth, instant, and showed perfect discipline.
Raziel rumbled his approval, a deep sound like a satisfied volcano. "Three months ago you could not exist without causing magnitude seven earthquakes. Today you transition between magnitudes with precision matching ancient Lords. The transformation is complete. Control is absolute."
He looked at Draven. "You taught well. He learned better. I anticipated control sufficient for survival. You delivered mastery."
"He earned it through his dedication," Draven replied. "I just guided. He did the work."
"That is humble," Raziel observed. "It is a rare trait among the powerful. It is another reason for respect."
"The ultimatum is fulfilled," Raziel declared formally. "Malvorn, the earth-element Overlord, is stable. You are acknowledged as a true Overlord. Junior still, but true."
Malvorn inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you for giving the opportunity instead of immediate execution. Three months changed everything."
"Overlords protect Theia," Raziel said simply. "Executing a potential ally is a waste of a resource. Teaching a potential ally creates strength. A guardian's duty is protection, not destruction. Destruction is the last resort."
He swept his gaze over the group. "Overlords cannot spar with each other. Our combat reshapes continents. So we assess through observation. Your control is sufficient. Assessment complete."
"The other Overlords will approve of your development," Raziel continued. "Frostina values discipline—you demonstrate this well. And Naelvorn..."
The slightest smile crossed Raziel's draconic features.
"The noisy fish will probably challenge you to a swimming contest within minutes of meeting. He treats everything as a game. But beneath the constant joking, he is perceptive. He will see your worth immediately."
The smile faded, but the fondness for his fellow protector was clear.
---
"The control assessment is complete," Raziel said, shifting his focus. "But that was not the sole reason for the visit. I came also to share information. To warn. To instruct."
His molten eyes fixed on Draven. "You carry the Genesis Codex, an ancient artifact of immense power. You have bonded an Overlord. Both facts mean you will be involved in what is coming whether you choose involvement or not. You are better off being informed and prepared."
Draven straightened. "What is coming?"
"Crisis," Raziel said simply. "Continental scale. The zone you discovered here?" He gestured toward the purple-white glow. "It is not an isolated incident. It is not a random occurrence."
Silence. Everyone listened intently.
"It is a pattern," Raziel continued. "Widespread. Accelerating. Dangerous."
"How many zones?" Draven asked quietly.
"Twenty-three confirmed as of three days ago," Raziel replied. "Possibly more undiscovered. All appeared within the last month. All are behaving similarly to what you have observed here."
Feyra's ears flattened completely. "Twenty-three? That many? All at once?"
"Not simultaneous," Raziel clarified. "They are staggered appearances. The frequency is increasing. All are appearing near settlements. Near cities. Near places where humans and beasts coexist. The pattern is consistent—zones manifest where populations concentrate."
"That means immediate danger," Zor said grimly. "Beasts mutate. They escape the zones. They attack nearby populations. Massacres like the Ice Serpent are being repeated across the continent."
"Precisely," Raziel confirmed. "Several incidents have already occurred. The casualties are significant. Lord-tier forces are responding, but they are spread thin. The crisis is outpacing the response capability."
"The Overlords are responding," Raziel continued. "All four of us are investigating zones within our territories."
"Four?" Draven asked. "I know you and Malvorn. Who are the others?"
"Frostina," Raziel said. "The Glacial Queen. An ice and air element wyvern. She commands the northern territories. She is calm, regal, and pragmatic. She is currently investigating seven zones that appeared in the northern regions. Her frost can suppress the corruption spread temporarily. It buys time for evacuations."
He paused, then continued with that slight smile returning. "And Naelvorn. The Tide-ripper. A water and pressure element leviathan. He is the largest Overlord physically. He commands the hadal trenches and ocean territories. He is enthusiastic. He jokes constantly. But beneath the humor, he is ancient and perceptive. He is currently investigating six zones appearing near the coastal regions. His pressure control can collapse zones temporarily. He is a containment specialist."
"The noisy fish," Malvorn said, recognizing Raziel's earlier reference.
"Yes," Raziel confirmed with genuine fondness. "Insufferable. Loyal. Powerful. A friend."
"We coordinate loosely," Raziel explained. "Each Overlord investigates zones within our territories. We share findings when our paths cross. But Theia is vast. Communication is difficult across continental distances. Each of us handles our regions independently."
"No central coordination?" Sylvara asked.
"Overlords are not an organization," Raziel said. "We are individuals. Protectors. Guardians. We act because Theia is home. Because populations need defending. Not because authority commands. Because it is right."
Velnar clicked thoughtfully. "Individual responsibility accepted voluntarily. That is stronger than commanded duty."
"Correct," Raziel agreed. "I investigate volcanic regions. Frostina handles the north. Naelvorn covers the oceans and coasts. And Malvorn now joins the investigation. The fourth protector. A welcome addition to the defense."
Raziel's focus returned to Draven. "You carry the Genesis Codex, an ancient artifact containing knowledge we need. You have proven capable through Overlord bonding. This qualifies you to help. To investigate. To gather data. To seek solutions."
"What do you need from us?" Draven asked directly.
"Continue what you are doing. Monitor this zone. Document the expansion. Investigate other zones if you discover them. Record everything. When our paths cross again, share your findings. Collective knowledge builds understanding. Understanding eventually produces solutions."
"But you do not have solutions yet," Draven stated.
"No," Raziel admitted. "Just data. Patterns. Observations. The cause is unknown. The trigger is unknown. The method of stopping this is unknown. We are gathering information first. Understanding the problem fully before attempting solutions. Rushed answers create worse problems."
"So we investigate. Document. Wait for the answers to emerge."
"Yes."
Raziel's wings spread. Vast. Dark. Magnificent. The heat intensified as he prepared for flight.
"I must continue. Ten more zones require investigation within my territory. Populations need protecting. Time is critical."
He looked at Malvorn one final time. "You are acknowledged, junior Overlord. Protect Theia well."
Then to Draven. "And you, Codex bearer. Your achievement is noted. Your contribution is valued. Your family is strong. Continue as you have been. Theia needs protectors like you."
Wings beat once. A massive downdraft. A heat wave. Ash and sparks raining down.
Raziel launched skyward, volcanic power lifting twenty-five stories of obsidian drake into the sky. He was gone within moments, just a fading orange glow on the horizon.
Silence returned. Normal temperature was slowly restoring. The presence was gone.
"Twenty-three zones," Feyra whispered. "Maybe more. All expanding. All creating mutated beasts. All threatening populations."
"Continental crisis," Sylvara confirmed. "Not an isolated incident. Widespread disaster. And we are right in the middle of it."
Draven looked at his pack. His family. "Then we keep investigating. We will find the answers. Together."
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