In a cave dark and hollow, the sound of water dropping echoed softly, the only semblance of life in the desolate surroundings. However, it didn't take long for this gentle rhythm to be engulfed by the steady march of multiple footsteps.

Approaching were soldiers, their torches illuminating the cavern with flickering light, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Amidst them strode a man of distinguished bearing, his presence commanding respect and authority. Despite his advanced age, he retained an air of strength and vitality, his form clad in elegant garments befitting his noble status.

The nobleman, his face etched with determination, wore a sword at his waist, a silent testament to his martial prowess and readiness for whatever lay ahead. His every movement exuded urgency as he led his soldiers deeper into the cavern, their purpose as yet unknown but undoubtedly pressing.

Having ventured deep into the cave, they finally reached a towering iron door. Upon entering, they beheld a breathtaking sight: a majestic white dragon, poised and formidable. Despite its imposing presence, a sense of serenity emanated from the creature, yet its sheer size instilled a deep-seated fear.

Addressing the dragon, King McCormick expressed his frustration at their inability to communicate effectively in its current form. Responding to his concern, the dragon enveloped itself in a cocoon of magic, emerging moments later as a resplendent woman draped in pristine white robes.

As the transformed dragon-woman awaited the king's query, he wasted no time in seeking answers about his fate. In a voice laden with foreboding, the dragon-woman delivered a grim prophecy: death, an inevitable outcome regardless of his choices.

Shocked by the revelation, King McCormick pressed for specifics, only to receive a chilling response: his demise was imminent, mere minutes away. Panic gripped him at the thought of such a swift and unexpected end.

In the midst of the king's distress, the dragon-woman's attention shifted, detecting an unwelcome presence within the cave. With a cryptic summons, she addressed the intruder, leaving both the king and his soldiers bewildered by her mysterious words and unsettling revelation.

In the cavern's dim and eerie depths, King McCormick's mind raced with confusion and disbelief. How could he, a seasoned swordsman, fail to detect the presence lurking in the shadows? As he and his soldiers braced themselves to confront the unknown, a figure emerged, casting a pall of shock over them all.

It was the Third Prince, barely thirteen years of age, yet exuding an air of maturity and gravitas far beyond his years. His appearance and demeanor belied his tender age, leaving the king and his soldiers dumbfounded.

The Dragon's voice pierced the tense silence, addressing King McCormick with a mixture of surprise and inquiry. Did the king not know of his own child's existence?

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With a faltering voice, King McCormick confessed to his past actions, believing he had already ended his son's life. But the Third Prince's laughter cut through the air, a mocking rebuke to his father's misplaced certainty.

"What a foolish father you are," the Third Prince sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "Did you truly think I would meet my end so easily? You merely saw what you were meant to see, believed what you were meant to believe. I am Emperor Shin, the master of kings, and I answer to no one."

King McCormick's confusion deepened, his mind reeling from the revelation of his son's survival and transformation into an emperor of unparalleled power. How could he have been so blind?

Emperor Shin's words cut through the fog of confusion, laying bare the truth of his manipulation. "You were a pawn in my game, Father," he declared, his voice tinged with a cold calculation. "I controlled you, manipulated you, all to bring you to this moment. And now, you shall witness the full extent of my power."

The Dragon, sensing the impending confrontation, demanded to know Emperor Shin's identity and his intentions. With a smirk, Emperor Shin revealed his mastery over a power beyond mere magic—a power that wielded dominion over souls.

"It is not by mana that I shall conquer you," Emperor Shin declared, his voice dripping with malice. "It is by soul."

With a gesture, Emperor Shin unleashed his formidable skill: Domination. A spectral image of himself materialized, its ethereal form pulsating with malevolent energy as it surged forward, invading the Dragon's very essence with relentless force.

In that fateful moment, the balance of power shifted irrevocably, as Emperor Shin asserted his dominance over the white dragon, heralding the dawn of a new era where kings would bow to his will, and empires would tremble at his command.

Emperor Shin's voice echoed through the cavern, dripping with disdain as he confronted the ancient dragon. "You are but a thousand years old, and yet you dare to challenge me?" The battle between their souls raged on, each refusing to yield to the other's dominance.

Meanwhile, King McCormick saw an opportunity amidst the chaos. With the third prince distracted by the intense struggle, the king seized his chance to strike. He lunged forward, sword raised high, intent on ending the prince's physical form once and for all.

But as the blade descended, a chilling realization washed over the king—he was unable to move. Paralyzed by some unseen force, he understood too late that he had fallen into Emperor Shin's trap.

Emperor Shin's hand moved with an eerie grace, reaching out to touch the king's forehead. In an instant, the king felt his soul being ripped from his body, drawn inexorably towards the emperor. With a cruel twist of fate, his essence was absorbed into Emperor Shin's own, fueling his relentless power.

Even as he absorbed the king's soul, Emperor Shin continued his battle with the dragon, his strength augmented by the stolen essence. The struggle persisted for agonizing minutes until, at long last, Emperor Shin emerged victorious.

With a triumphant roar, he asserted his dominance over the defeated dragon, bending it to his will and making it his loyal bodyguard. The soldiers, powerless to intervene, watched in despair as their hope dwindled.

Yet, in a desperate bid for survival, they devised a plan. Bowing before Emperor Shin, they pledged their allegiance, proclaiming him their king in a bid to curry favor and perhaps find a way to escape their dire predicament.

Emperor Shin regarded them with a chilling smile, his eyes gleaming with the promise of power and dominion. In that moment, as the echoes of their submission reverberated through the cavern, the soldiers realized they had unwittingly placed their fate in the hands of a tyrant whose hunger for control knew no bounds.