The room grew still, the air thick with the weight of the ultimatum. Kai's heart pounded in his chest, his scales shivering with the intensity of his emotions. He looked at Astrid, her eyes wide with terror, and knew he had to make a choice. With a roar that shook the very foundations of the syndicate's lair, he launched himself at the brainwashed Ragner, his dragon form a blur of black fury.
As the two collided, a fireball shot from Ragner's hand, aimed directly at Kai's heart. But at the last possible second, the memories flooded back in, the warmth of his mother's smile, the gentle guidance of his father's touch. Ragner's eyes widened, and for a moment, the coldness of the Node's power seemed to waver. Kai saw his father's true spirit, struggling against the shackles of Argel's control.
"Dad, please," Kai whispered, his voice filled with hope and desperation. "Remember what you taught me, remember why we fight for the weak."
