Prologue

"Father… The bombs have exploded. The royals and citizens of Lan-Se are distraught. Jona did his job… Their civil war has finally begun."

A sultry female voice echoes in the dark experimentation room of seers tower. The rooms veins of pure black draconium began to glow as the shadow figure materializes. A thin black draconium dragon appears with a large smile on her face. Her long ears and spines sharpen upwards as the cold sets into her scales and bones. The cold emanating from her father. The room is barren and is one of the secret rooms below Seers tower.

A robed man facing away from her stares at a large glowing black draconium tube in front of him. Remains still, hearing the news doesn't surprise him at all. It was part of the plan for them to go to war.

"Good my darling child…" His raspy voice replies. Remaining still as he stares at the large tube intently. Watching a mysterious human figure floating inside. A slow heartbeat can be heard as a special podium mechanism floats next to it. Tracking the trapped man's heartbeat and thoughts.

Valadeera decides to stay quiet as her father seems to be concentrating on what he is looking at. She knows who the trapped man is... The black draconium Emperor's important treasure. She knew better than to go near her father. He is savouring what he did all those years ago. His patience paid off and he finally won...

It was after a while she sighs. "Can you get anything more from him?" She asks telepathically as it is the only way she can speak.

"Physically, no… Emotionally yes… His pain brings me joy…" He then raises his hand and places it onto the tube. His eyes glowing intently as his smile could not be seen.

"You have other things to say, my daughter? You know I can tell." He asks as he still stares at the man.

Her bonemark glows intently as she quickly notices. "Yes, father. I have received reports from Lan-Se. There was a rumour that a gold draconium mag explosion happened."

As she said those words the Emperor clenches his hand and accidentally causes the tube to crack.

"What?" He says as he tries to hide his frustration.

"I said it was a rumour father… Nothing more. Annisa and Reza have lived in the palace and explored every corner. Nothing… Could easily be the word of stupid peasants… We all know how stupid they can be."

Valadeera thinking to herself it is a lie… They killed many gold dragons and the royal family. She and her siblings were sent chasing across the world to find them. However, it was a later mistake as they killed them and her father wanted them alive. Taking a deep breath again and tries to hide her nervousness. She loved her father dearly... And has always claimed to be his favourite. But she wasn't immune to his unsettling nature. Especially when giving bad news... For the rumour wasn't the only news to give. Another treasure of the Emperor's is gone... Clearing her throat. She announces that Stein is missing...

The Emperor remained quiet. Only raising his right hand, pulsing with power and begins to contort the trapped man's body. The man in the tube begins to scream. His voice is muffled by a muzzle and black draconium liquid. He tries to squirm, but it was fruitless as he was connected to thick tubes connected to the main veins in his body. The Emperor contorts the man's forearm so bad it snaps. Revealing that his bones have been replaced with black draconium metal. His heart is racing as the mechanism reads his health status. Beeping loudly as it cried for emergency. Valadeera couldn't help but smile... Not just with relief with her fathers' anger is not aimed at her. But she enjoys her torture sessions. She after all does it herself...

The Emperor suddenly stops by dropping his arm as the man in the tube whimpers. Many of his bones snapped poking out of his skin.

"Don't worry old friend... I will get your bones replaced. You will not die today... You will not die tomorrow... Not in the next week, month or year." He says sinisterly as has already taken everything from him. The tortured man shakes his head wearily.

"Did they get the hammer though?" He asked changing the subject.

"No... The scouts found the priests bodies in the chamber. Slaves missing, Lord Pierce is dead. But the temple has been excavated. No sight of the hammer of Huldrich... Or Stein..." Valadeera said bleakly. "I'm guessing other priests. No ordinary people could go against them and survive."

Adding to his frustrations the Emperor grunts. He wanted the hammer of Huldrich. The hammer that can make mountains quake. This is bad news as someone now has one of the most powerful weapons in the world. Probably Stein himself... He would know how to use it. "Get scouts and search everywhere! Including Macdan. That is Stein's birthplace."

"Yes, father." Replying sharply. She was going to leave when the chamber door opens. A beautiful and graceful dragon walks inside. His wavy fins defying gravity as he walks with pride. Unbeknownst to him that his sister and father were having a serious conversation.

"What do you want brother?" Valadeera says annoyingly.

"Oh, I'm sorry… Am I interrupting something?" He says smarmily. His smooth voice is so powerful Valadeera softens for a moment.

"You always do…" She rolls her eyes, trying to shake off Kaunis's alluring aura.

"Enough you two…" The Emperor says frustratingly.

"Sorry, father!" They both say in unison.

"Another war has started… And this time. Everyone knows that we have a part in it… Jona the fool made it obvious years ago. The hammer is in someone else's hands and Stein is missing." His hand clenches again causing another crack in the draconium glass.

"But he did agree to help us… And what?" Kaunis says in surprise as he tries to find a bright side. He sighs and looks up to the roof and hums. Knowing that Stein is fathers prize. He then looks down and sees the man in the tube. Beaten and his limbs snapped. Kaunis swallows as he is relieved that his anger is taken out on the prisoner and not him. "But there is good news I have to give you father." He says proudly as he gives Valadeera a quick look of egotistical pride. "I" He emphasizes. "Have found an old friend…"

"Friend?" Valadeera sarcastically questions. None of the league of eight has the luxury of "friends". Everyone works for them and having friends leaves you vulnerable. Those who try, end up dead... Like her old dragon "friend" Belladonna. She reminisces about Belladonna. Before the Emperor found Valadeera they loved each other like sisters. After her accident and being found by her father. Belladonna was her closest confidant, she made her happy. Until Valadeera found out that Belladonna is trying to get political power behind her back. Valadeera felt betrayed by her. Their sisterly love became a short-lived rivalry. Valadeera outsmarted her and imprisoned Belladonna. Valadeera having a unique smile as she watched her old friend being tortured. Belladonna roared and screamed as Valadeera began to laugh maniacally. And with a swipe of her newly mutated claws, Valadeera rips Belladonna apart.

"Yes, Valadeera I have friends unlike you…" He chuckles. As Valadeera comes back to her cold reality.

"ENOUGH!" The Emperor shouts piercing fear into the two dragons hearts. A rare moment when the Emperor loses his calmness. They both immediately quietened down.

Kaunis swallows as Valadeera remains quiet. "I found Samurox and I have convinced him to assist us."

"Samurox?" The Emperor says in surprise as he finally faces his two dragon children. "You found him?"

Samurox? Valadeera herself is surprised. She only met him a few times many years ago during the separatist war. Small, thin head, sharp claws, long legs, spikes that are shaped like lightning bolts. Having a unique shrieking roar that any dragon can hear from far away.

"I did father… I have also reunited with Ironclad. Another who has a thirst for blood and destruction."

A dragon Valadeera is unfamiliar with, but she has heard the name... Another separatist. "Will they serve our Emperor?!" Valadeera quickly jumps in front of Kaunis. "May I remind you Kaunis, they were separatists. We used them to our advantage to destroy the Gold Empire. They did not pledge allegiance when they lost. Then scuttered away like rodents!"

"They said they will… In fact, they are waiting outside of the throne room right now." Kaunis using his convincing smile. Valadeeras' face remained stern.

The Emperor for first the time turns around and floats to Kaunis.

"If they betray us Kaunis. I will rip your bonemark straight off your forehead." The Emperor raises his hand onto Kaunis's bonemark. Placing his index finger onto the top of the eye shape. The bonemark glows intensely as Kaunis closes his eyes. Trying his hardest not to shriek in pain. The Emperor using his minor power inputs massive energy into his bonemark. It creates a tiny crack where he placed his finger.

The Emperor moves his finger away as Kaunis breathes out. In relief, he shakes his head trying to make the pain go away.

Valadeera having the largest grin on her face. As she saw her brother writhing in pain.

"Take me to them…" The Emperor demands. He says as he looks back at the man in the tube. "Do not worry old friend… I will be back to torment you…"

The man in the black draconium tube tilts his head up. His body was destroyed with deep stitches at every part of his body, with protruding bones. Covered with whiplashes, burns and scars covering his skin. His fingers twitch as he tries his hardest to move. His face slowly being covered with fresh tears.