Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

The portal behind Jiaolong pulsed with malevolent energy, and the first figures to step through confirmed Lin’s worst fears. They were dragons, but not like any he had ever seen. Their scales were midnight black with an oily sheen that seemed to absorb the golden light of the Heart of the Abyss. Their eyes glowed with the same corrupted darkness that now tainted Jiaolong’s gaze.

"Impossible," Ao Shun breathed, his voice filled with a mixture of horror and recognition. "Black dragons... they don’t exist in nature. They can only be created through corruption."

More of the twisted creatures emerged from the portal—five in total, each one radiating an aura that made the air itself feel thick and oppressive. Behind them came something even more disturbing: another whale-creature like the one they had just fought, but this one was larger and its hide bore the same black corruption as the dragons.

Jiaolong laughed, the sound carrying harmonics that resonated with darkness. "You recognize the signs, Uncle. How perceptive of you. Though I wonder if you recognize the hand behind their creation."

Ao Shun’s eyes widened with terrible understanding. "There is only one being capable of corrupting dragons on this scale. But he was imprisoned—"

"Was," Jiaolong interrupted, spreading his wings wide. The membrane between the spines showed veins of black corruption spreading like infected blood vessels. "Many things that were imprisoned have found freedom in these changing times."

The black dragons arranged themselves in a loose formation around their transformed leader, their movements coordinated with military precision.

"You want to know why I’m doing this?" Jiaolong continued, his voice taking on a bitter edge. "You want to understand what drives me to seek the Dragon Emperor’s power?"

His gaze swept over them, lingering longest on Lin, who stood frozen in shock at his transformation. "It’s because I am tired of being nothing. Tired of watching my brothers find their true selves, their true names, while I remain incomplete."

"True names?" Grim whispered to Lin.

"Names that creatures receive when they discover who they’re truly meant to be," she replied quietly, her eyes never leaving Jiaolong. "It’s the highest achievement for any dragon—to understand your essential nature so completely that reality itself acknowledges it."

Jiaolong’s expression twisted with pain and rage. "Ao Guang the Wise. Ao Qin the Fierce. Ao Run the Patient. Even you, Ao Shun the Steadfast. All of you have found your true identities, your places in the cosmic order. And yet I, born in the middle of the pack remain nameless."

His voice rose to a roar that shook the ancient stones around them. "Do you know what it’s like to watch your younger brothers achieve what you cannot? To be perpetually incomplete while those around you ascend to their destined greatness?"

"Jiaolong," Lin stepped forward, her voice gentle despite the danger. "A true name cannot be stolen or forced. It must be—"

"Earned?" Jiaolong snarled. "Discovered through wisdom and self-reflection? I’ve tried that path for centuries, cousin. I’ve meditated, studied, sought enlightenment in every corner of the sea realms. Nothing."

The corruption in his scales seemed to pulse with his emotions. "But the Dragon Emperor’s power... with that, I won’t need to find my true name. I’ll have the strength to create my own destiny, to become something greater than any of my brothers ever dreamed."

Ao Shun struggled to his feet, his injuries making every movement painful. "You’re being manipulated, nephew. This corruption, these black dragons—you’re not acting of your own will."

"Aren’t I?" Jiaolong’s smile was sharp as broken glass. "Every choice has been mine. Every step down this path taken willingly."

Before anyone could respond, Jiaolong gestured sharply. The five black dragons launched themselves forward with supernatural speed, their corrupted forms moving like liquid shadow through the golden-lit air.

The first black dragon targeted Ao Shun directly, its claws extended and wreathed in dark energy. Despite his injuries, the Dragon King met the attack head-on, his own claws blazing with blue energy. The impact when they collided sent shockwaves through the ancient stone beneath their feet, cracks spreading outward from the point of contact.

"Uncle!" Bi’an roared, leaping to assist him, but another black dragon intercepted him mid-flight. This one was smaller but faster, its movements were serpentine as it coiled around Bi’an. They crashed into the side of an ancient building, golden stones crumbling under the impact.

The mutated whale-creature charged toward Suanni with earth-shaking steps. The lion-dragon stood his ground, golden flames erupting around his mane in a brilliant display. "Come then, abomination!" he snarled, meeting the creature’s charge with one of his own.

When they collided, the sound was like thunder. Suanni’s flames washed over the whale-creature’s corrupted hide, but instead of burning it, the dark magic seemed to absorb much of the fire’s power. The creature’s multiple arms grabbed at Suanni, trying to pin him down while its shark-like teeth snapped toward his throat.

Xu Wu found himself facing two black dragons simultaneously, their coordinated assault forcing him to give ground rapidly. Ice formed around his claws as he parried their attacks, but the corrupted creatures’ strength was overwhelming. One of them raked its claws across his shoulder, drawing blood and Xu Wu hissed in pain.

"They’re stronger than normal dragons," he called out, deflecting another strike. "The corruption enhances their physical abilities!"

Lin raised her hands, ice crystallizing around her fingers as she prepared to join the battle. But before she could act, the fifth black dragon descended from above, having used the chaos to position itself for a surprise attack. Its claws, wreathed in dark energy, were aimed directly at her heart.

"Celestial Mist: Drifting Steps!" Grim’s voice cut through the battle as he appeared beside Lin, his sword intercepting the dragon’s strike with a shower of sparks. The impact sent him sliding backward, his feet carving furrows in the ancient stone.

The black dragon pressed its attack. Unlike the sea creatures they had fought earlier, this opponent fought with intelligence and technique. Using feints and combinations to try and get the better of Grim.

"Celestial Mist: Cross-Cut!" Grim called out as his sword created an X-shaped slash of energy. The black dragon twisted aside, but not quickly enough—one arm of the cross caught it across the chest, carving a deep gash that oozed black ichor instead of normal blood.