Chapter 223: THE SECRET OF HEAVEN

Chapter 223 — THE SECRET OF HEAVEN

The storm above the ruined city had grown violent beyond anything the world had seen before. Two dragons circled each other through the clouds like ancient forces of nature colliding. Emerald lightning tore across the sky from the Jade Dragon’s power while deep black-gold currents spiraled around the Eclipse Dragon like a rising eclipse swallowing the heavens.

Below them, the city burned. Fires crawled through broken districts. Entire blocks had collapsed beneath the pressure of their battle, and rescue teams were still dragging civilians out of the rubble while military helicopters struggled to maintain flight in the unstable air currents. But even amid the chaos—everyone kept looking up. Because something historic was happening above them.

High in the sky, Long Hao hovered in his new form. The Eclipse Dragon’s massive wings stretched through the storm clouds like shadows of night itself. Black scales glowed faintly with golden veins that pulsed like living lightning beneath the surface. Across from him, the Jade Dragon watched, its enormous emerald body radiating ancient authority.

For a few seconds, neither dragon moved. Then the Jade Dragon spoke. “You awaken.” Its voice shook the clouds. Long Hao flexed his claws slowly and replied, “Yeah.” The Jade Dragon tilted its head slightly. “You have inherited Sovereign authority.” Long Hao snorted lightly. “Didn’t come with a manual.” The dragon’s emerald aura expanded outward as it continued, “But you misunderstand something.” Long Hao narrowed his eyes. “Oh?” The Jade Dragon’s voice deepened as the storm clouds churned violently around its wings. “You think awakening makes you equal. But it does not.”

Before Long Hao could respond, the Jade Dragon attacked. Its massive claw tore through the air with terrifying speed. Long Hao moved instantly. The Eclipse Dragon twisted sideways and met the strike with his own claw.

CRASH

The impact exploded across the sky like a thunderclap. Shockwaves rippled outward across the battlefield, sending cloud layers spiraling away from the point of collision. Below, Han shielded his eyes and muttered, “…Here we go again.”

Above them, the Jade Dragon pushed forward as its strength surged through the locked claws. Long Hao felt the force immediately. The Jade Dragon was still stronger. The Eclipse Dragon’s wings beat once as Long Hao twisted his body sideways and broke the clash. Then he countered, his tail whipping through the sky like a black comet.

“Eclipse Tail Breaker!”

The strike slammed into the Jade Dragon’s ribs. Emerald scales cracked and fragments scattered through the clouds. The Jade Dragon recoiled slightly, but it recovered instantly. Its tail lashed upward and the blow slammed into Long Hao’s shoulder, throwing the Eclipse Dragon backward across the sky. He stabilized himself several hundred meters away.

Below, Nyx spoke quietly. “The Anchor still dominates.” Rao nodded slowly. “The origin always holds deeper authority.”

Above them, the Jade Dragon hovered again with its emerald eyes burning brighter. “You see.” Long Hao rolled his shoulder and answered, “That one had some weight.” The dragon’s voice deepened as its wings spread across the storm. “You awaken as Sovereign, but you remain ignorant.”

Long Hao tilted his head slightly and asked, “Ignorant of what?” The Jade Dragon inhaled slowly as emerald light gathered beneath its scales. “You believe this battle decides the world.” Long Hao raised an eyebrow and replied, “…Doesn’t it?”

The dragon laughed, the sound rumbling through the sky like distant mountains collapsing. “No.” The Jade Dragon’s eyes burned brighter. “This world was never yours.” The words echoed across the battlefield. Long Hao frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

The dragon’s voice deepened as the emerald aura around it surged outward. “You think Sovereigns ruled freely. You think the Anchor system existed for balance.” Long Hao hovered silently as the dragon lowered its head slightly. “But the truth…” The Jade Dragon paused while the storm clouds twisted violently. “…is far older.”

Below them, the Eight exchanged uneasy glances. Han frowned and said, “Okay. I don’t like where this speech is going.”

Above them, the Jade Dragon spoke again. “The Sovereigns once ruled evolution.” Its emerald aura pulsed slowly. “We governed growth. We regulated the rise of power.” Long Hao narrowed his eyes. “That’s basically what the system told me.” The dragon’s voice deepened further. “But the system was never ours.” Long Hao blinked. “…What?”

The Jade Dragon’s wings spread wider. “The Sovereign system…” it paused. “…was created by Heaven.” The sky went silent. Even the storm seemed to pause.

Below them, Han stared upward. “…Heaven?” Nyx’s voice dropped to a whisper. “That explains everything.”

Above them, the Jade Dragon continued. “Long ago…we rose too high.” Its emerald eyes burned brighter. “Sovereigns evolved beyond the limits of creation.” Long Hao’s golden eyes narrowed. “And Heaven didn’t like that.” The dragon nodded slowly. “Heaven fears what it cannot control.”

The storm above them darkened as the Jade Dragon continued. “So the Anchor was shattered. The Sovereign throne was broken into fragments.”

Long Hao’s mind raced. The system. The fragments. Longyu. Everything suddenly made more sense. “You mean…” Long Hao began.The dragon finished the sentence. “Heaven divided us.”

The words hung heavy in the sky. Long Hao exhaled slowly. “So the system…”

“…was a prison.” The Jade Dragon nodded. “Yes.”

The Eclipse Dragon stared at the storm clouds above. “Then why are you trying to rebuild it?” Long Hao asked. The Jade Dragon’s eyes burned brighter. “Because the prison also holds power.” Its emerald aura surged again. “And power… must return to its origin.” Long Hao snorted. “Yeah. I’m still not helping with that.”

The Jade Dragon roared as emerald lightning tore through the sky. Then it attacked again. Claw slammed into claw. Two dragons collided through the clouds as shockwaves exploded across the battlefield. Long Hao countered. “Eclipse Sovereign Claw!”

His strike cracked another line of emerald scales across the Jade Dragon’s chest. But the dragon retaliated instantly. Its wing smashed into Long Hao’s side, throwing the Eclipse Dragon backward again. The Jade Dragon hovered above him.

“You cannot win.”

Long Hao steadied himself. “Maybe.” The dragon’s emerald aura surged again. “But you should worry about something else.” Long Hao frowned. “What?”

The Jade Dragon slowly lifted its head toward the sky, far above the storm clouds. “Because Heaven…” Its voice grew quiet. “…is watching.”

The words rippled across the battlefield like cold wind. Long Hao followed its gaze as the storm clouds above them shifted slightly. For a brief moment something moved behind them—something bright, something enormous. Then the clouds closed again.

Long Hao’s eyes narrowed. “…What was that?” The Jade Dragon’s voice echoed quietly. “The Executors.” Below them, Nyx stiffened. “…Executors?” Han frowned. “What executors?” Above them, the Jade Dragon looked back at Long Hao. “You awaken Sovereign authority. And Heaven will never allow that.”

Long Hao exhaled slowly. “So this whole fight…”

“…is just step one.”

The Jade Dragon nodded. “Yes. Your awakening has already triggered their attention.” Long Hao cracked his claws. “Well. That’s inconvenient.” The Jade Dragon roared again as emerald lightning exploded across the sky. “Then let us finish this before they arrive.”

The Eclipse Dragon’s golden eyes sharpened. “Deal.” The two dragons lunged toward each other again. The storm erupted. And far above the battlefield—

Something watched.

[Chapter ENDS]

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