Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

Tianlong uncoiled from his resting position, his large serpent body stretched into the darkness. As he moved. Cloud-like wisps of energy drifted around his serpentine body, and celestial pearls embedded along his spine pulsed with a white light.

The dragon’s mane flowed like liquid. You could see the mana around his body, as it dripped off of him and into the graveyard. Despite having no wings, Tianlong lifted effortlessly from the ground, his massive body towering through the air as if gravity were merely a suggestion.

"Your companions will remain where they are," Tianlong declared, his voice resonating through the cavern. "This trial is yours alone, dragon-blood."

Grim stepped forward, his sword still crackling with azure energy. Fighting bone dragons was one thing—facing the brother of the Dragon Emperor was something else entirely.

"I accept your challenge," Grim said, raising his blade in a formal salute.

"Your companion will live or die based on her own strength," Tianlong interrupted. "That is not your concern during this trial. Focus on proving your worth, or join her in whatever fate awaits."

"She is not my companion. You may eat her if you want."

Without further warning, Tianlong attacked.

The celestial dragon’s movement was unlike anything Grim had ever encountered. There was no telegraphing, no buildup—one moment Tianlong was floating in place, the next his massive claws were sweeping toward Grim with speed that defied his enormous size.

Grim barely managed to raise his blade in time, the azure energy flaring as it met Tianlong’s claws. The impact sent shockwaves through the graveyard, causing even the settled bone dragons to rattle in their eternal rest.

"Celestial Judgment: First Heaven," Tianlong spoke, and suddenly the space around Grim filled with points of light that moved like living stars.

Each point of light struck with the force of a meteor, forcing Grim to dodge and weave between attacks that came from impossible angles. His enhanced aurora energy helped him deflect some of the celestial strikes, but others got through, leaving burning marks on his arms and shoulders.

"Aurora Flash: Sundering Slash!" Grim countered, releasing a web of azure cutting energy toward his massive opponent.

Tianlong simply breathed, and clouds of silver mist erupted from his maw. Where Grim’s azure energy met the celestial clouds, it was absorbed and neutralized as if it had never existed.

"Impressive technique," Tianlong observed, continuing his assault without pause. "But you rely too heavily on raw power. True strength requires more than enhanced mana."

The dragon’s tail swept around in a wide arc, forcing Grim to leap high into the air to avoid being crushed. As he reached the peak of his jump, Tianlong was already there, waiting.

"Celestial Judgment: Second Heaven."

This time, the attack wasn’t points of light but waves of crushing force that pressed down on Grim from above. He fell faster than gravity should have allowed, slamming into the stone floor hard enough to crack the ancient rock.

Blood ran from Grim’s mouth as he struggled to his feet. The azure energy around his blade was flickering now. But something else was stirring in his blood—something deeper than the sea realm’s power.

"You test my strength," Grim said, wiping blood from his lips. "But what are you really measuring?"

Tianlong paused in his assault, his interest was now piqued. "Wisdom in the midst of battle. Good. Strength without understanding is merely destruction."

"Then test my understanding," Grim challenged, his blade steady despite his injuries. "What do you want to know?"

"Why do you seek passage to the Dragon Emperor’s tomb?" Tianlong asked, floating closer but not attacking. "What drives you to risk everything for this quest?"

Grim considered his answer carefully. He could lie, tell Tianlong what he thought the ancient dragon wanted to hear. But something about those celestial eyes suggested that deception would be immediately detected.

"To stop Mo Xuan from possessing the Emperor’s power," Grim said honestly. "And to save Jiaolong from corruption that isn’t entirely his own fault."

"Even though Jiaolong has committed atrocities? Even though saving him might cost you everything?"

"Yes," Grim replied without hesitation. "Jiaolong is a victim as much as a villain. Mo Xuan orchestrated his mate’s death, twisted his grief into a weapon. The dragon he was before the corruption deserves a chance at redemption."

Tianlong was quiet for a long moment, his celestial pearls pulsing with contemplative light. "And what of your own desires? Your clan’s restoration? Your thirst for power?"

The question struck deep, forcing Grim to confront motivations he had tried to keep buried. "I want those things," he admitted. "But I will accomplish those things by myself. I will destroy that elf’s soul."

"The elf?" Tianlong’s voice carried a note of dangerous curiosity.

"Malaxis," Grim said, the name tasting like poison on his tongue. "The shadow overlord who destroyed my family’s honor. I’ve spent years planning to kill him, but I know I’m not strong enough to beat him unless I can become stronger and learn my family’s Sword Doa’s"

"Malaxis," Tianlong repeated, and suddenly his entire demeanor changed. The celestial energy around him intensified, and his eyes blazed with recognition and something that might have been old pain. "You know that name. You speak it with the hatred of personal experience."

"He gave me this scar," Grim said, touching the mark on his face. "Twelve years ago, when I was just a child. He possessed my father and tried to kill me and my grandfather."

Tianlong’s massive form descended until he was closer to Grim’s level, his ancient eyes studying the scar with intense focus. "Show me more of your power, descendant. Show me the strength that flows in your blood."

Grim understood. "And how would I access this power"

"Focus," he said. Grim closed his eyes and began to focus. Tianlong reached out his claw and touched Grim’s chest.

Grim felt a surge of energy come from Tianlong as it drew energy through his mana points. After a few moments, Grim opened his eyes and could see mana on his body. There were different colors. Pure white and dark black were the most prominent colors.

"There," Tianlong breathed, recognition dawning in his celestial eyes. "There is the truth of what you are."

The ancient dragon settled fully onto the ground, his massive form coiling in what might have been a bow. "You carry the blood of dragons, yes. But more than that—you carry the heritage of one who once stood beside my brother as an equal."

Tianlong’s gaze fixed on Grim with an intensity that was both reverent and deeply troubled. "You are descended from the traitor Axem. The first to receive my brother’s gift, and the first to turn away from it."

Axem—the figure from Ao Run’s visions, the ancestor whose resemblance to him had been unmistakable. Not just a distant relative, but a direct bloodline connection to someone who had known the Dragon Emperor personally.

"I will let you pass, it will be my brother’s decision on what to do with you."

The ancient dragon’s eyes turned toward Lin and the others, who had been watching the confrontation in tense silence. "The others may wait here. They do not deserve to see my brother."

As Tianlong began to withdraw toward the deeper shadows of the graveyard, he paused and looked back at Grim one final time.

"When you face my brother in his tomb, remember this: Axem was both his greatest friend and his greatest sorrow. The choices your ancestor made shaped everything that followed. Do not repeat his mistakes, descendant. The realm cannot survive another such betrayal."