Leon couldn't discern the true meaning behind Konstantin’s whispered words: "I'm so tired."

Were they the resignation of a dragon ready to face his destined end, or had the Flame Dragon King decided to relinquish the fight entirely? Perhaps, he simply no longer wished to involve himself in the struggles of this world.

Leon said nothing further. Standing silently for a moment, he turned and left, the sound of his retreating footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Konstantin waited until the noise faded before he slowly opened his eyes.

Raising his hand to his chest, he pressed his palm against the steady, forceful rhythm of his heartbeat. Yet, he knew this wasn’t entirely his heart—it pulsed with a foreign power, sustained by the Black Dragon Scale's chaotic energy.

His hand tightened involuntarily, crumpling the fabric of his shirt. After a moment of stillness, he exhaled deeply and released his grip, his crimson eyes lifting toward the faint sunlight spilling through the room’s small window.

“...Hefei…” he murmured, her name carrying on his breath like a silent prayer.