The great halls of the Dragon Palace were quiet.
Kai sat alone in the Chamber of Reflection, an ancient room with golden walls, shimmering waterfalls, and soft echoes of dragon chants sung by past kings. A crystal bowl of holy water rested before him, untouched. His heart weighed more than a mountain.
The vision from Lilith replayed in his mind—flashes of fire, screaming, a multiversal collapse, and a divine light rising from within him.
He was the Demigod of Prophecy.
And now… he had a choice.
> "You must give your blood to your closest allies. With it, they will become Demigods too."
"But be warned… you must trust them with your heart and soul."
Those words from the Goddess echoed endlessly.
Kai clenched his fist. He had many allies. Loyal companions. Wise rulers. But trust—true trust—was sacred. One mistake could doom the world.
His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Still doubting yourself, Kai?"
He turned to see Valen Nightmoor, the new Halfling King, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes glowing with crimson light. Despite his youth, Valen now ruled over all reborn races and held more political power than many kings.
"I figured you'd come," Kai said, offering a tired smile.
Valen approached and knelt across from him. "I heard about the vision. The prophecy. The magic types. All of it."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Already?"
Valen grinned. "You're not the only one with friends in high places."
---
The two sat in silence for a moment, the waterfalls behind them humming like a heartbeat.
Kai took a deep breath.
"Valen… I want you to be my first."
Valen blinked. "First what?"
Kai's voice dropped to a whisper.
"My first Blood Oath. The first to receive my divine blood… to become a Demigod like me."
Valen's confidence faded. "Me? But why?"
"Because I trust you," Kai said. "Not just your strength or your intellect… but your heart. You care about people, Valen. Not just your kind. All people. And you've already proven you can lead without greed."
Valen's gaze softened. "This power… will it change me?"
"It will elevate you. But only your heart determines who you become."
Valen closed his eyes.
And nodded.
---
The Ritual
Later that evening, beneath the twin moons, Kai and Valen stood in the ancient Sanctuary of Oaths, a hidden chamber deep beneath the Dragon Palace. The floor was etched in radiant runes, and divine light seeped from the cracks between stones.
A silver chalice rested on an altar.
Kai stepped forward and extended his hand. With a word in Creation Magic, he drew blood not with pain, but with divine intention. His glowing crimson blood flowed into the chalice, mixing with light, magic, and warmth.
"Valen Nightmoor," Kai spoke, his voice echoing. "Do you swear to uphold balance between mortal and divine? To protect this world, even at the cost of your life?"
Valen placed his hand over his heart. "I swear it."
"Do you accept my blood—my soul, my power—as part of your own, forever binding us in brotherhood?"
"I do."
"Then drink."
Valen lifted the chalice.
The moment the divine blood touched his lips, magic erupted.
---
Winds howled through the sanctuary. The runes blazed. Valen's body was lifted into the air, surrounded by radiant flames and spectral wings. His heart thundered like a war drum.
And then… silence.
Valen fell gently to the floor.
His eyes opened—now glowing with twin auras: red and gold.
A faint crown of divine shadow and light shimmered above his head.
Valen Nightmoor was now a Demigod.
---
A New Divine Bond
Kai helped him to his feet.
"How do you feel?"
Valen blinked, then laughed. "Like my bones are made of stars and thunder."
He flexed his hands. "I feel… everything. Every magic thread, every heartbeat in the palace, every crack in the veil between dimensions."
He looked at Kai seriously. "This power is unreal."
Kai nodded. "Now imagine if we had ten more like us—trusted allies, gifted with divine blood. That's how we'll survive what's coming."
Valen looked up toward the stone ceiling, where runes of protection glowed faintly.
"The world isn't ready for this, Kai. But we are."
---
The Shadows Stir
Far away, beyond the realms, past the stars, and deep into a place unwritten by gods or time, something watched.
A creature of endless eyes and twisted limbs, cloaked in black flame, floated within the Void Beyond Realms.
It had no name.
It had no origin.
Only hunger.
It had seen the light of Eldros. The peace of the reborn. The divine awakening of Kai Dragon. And now… a second Demigod.
It whispered in a voice that echoed across realities.
> "Two sparks rise…
And now the flames must fall."
The air around it rippled and broke like glass. Its eye focused on a crack in the barrier between worlds.
It began to move.
---
The Next Morning
Kai and Valen stood on a balcony of the palace, watching the sunrise.
"This power… it's not just strength," Valen said quietly. "It's responsibility. We have to be careful."
Kai nodded. "I know. That's why I won't rush to share it."
Valen tilted his head. "Have you decided who's next?"
Kai hesitated.
"I have a few in mind. Queen Sylvaeon. Chief Ralya. Maybe even Lady Nocthera. But I need time. I need to be sure."
Valen grinned. "I'll watch your back, brother. No matter what's coming."
Kai smiled.
"Thank you."
But deep inside, the weight of his divine purpose grew heavier.
He could feel something watching him… waiting.
And he knew—
The peace would not last forever.