The strange creature that had appeared before Dodo was unlike anything he had ever seen. It bore the shape of a flickering flame, but it was not the warm, comforting light of a hearth. Instead, it was a black flame, its darkness in stark contrast to the world around it.

With an ethereal voice that echoed in Dodo's mind, the black flame spoke, "Dodo, please help me."

Dodo couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt. What was this enigmatic entity, and why did it seek his aid? But his heart, as kind as it was, overruled his uncertainty, and he cautiously asked, "How can I help you?"

The black flame responded, its voice tinged with desperation, "Embrace me, Dodo. Let me absorb some of your mana, and I shall recover."

Dodo hesitated. It sounded like the plea of an evil creature coveting his energy. He couldn't simply surrender his life force to this mysterious being.

"Why should I trust you?" Dodo asked, his voice trembling.

The black flame replied, "You are the only creature on this planet who can share your energy with me. Without your help, I am condemned to remain in this weakened state forever."

Dodo remained hesitant, still unaware of the creature's true nature.

With a sigh that seemed to resonate through the very air, the black flame revealed its true identity. "I am Kraryla, the Dragon of Darkness."

Dodo's eyes widened in astonishment. Kraryla was not an unfamiliar name; it was a legend whispered by bards and recounted in tales. She was the guardian of Krastyl, the very dragon who had protected the realm during the Great War.

Fear gripped Dodo's heart as he remembered the legend—how Kraryla had turned berserk and was defeated by the twelve great heroes. He was afraid that helping her might bring about the destruction of his world.

But Kraryla's voice was gentle, her tone filled with sadness as she told her story, one that differed from the legend. A thousand years ago, after the war with the Void Gods, Kraryla had sought to reclaim the twelve holy weapons. She feared that mortals might abuse their power.

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The twelve great heroes, however, were unwilling to part with the sacred relics they had wielded. They had resisted, and in the ensuing battle, they fought the weakened Kraryla.

Normally, such a confrontation would not have posed a threat to the great Dragon. But during the war with the Void Gods, Kraryla had expended most of her power creating the holy weapons and shielding the mortal heroes from the full force of the Void Gods' attacks.

In the end, they managed to defeat Kraryla. However, before Anaelia could successfully pierce Kraryla's heart, the dragon's body had been nothing more than an empty shell. Kraryla, with what little remained of her strength, had cast a spell to release her soul from her dying form.

For a thousand years, she had waited, searching for a special life from Krastyl itself who could help her.

Moved by Kraryla's tale, Dodo's doubt began to wane, though a trace of uncertainty lingered. Why was it a mere coincidence that after a millennium, he had appeared—the right person to aid Kraryla—just as a great threat loomed on the horizon?

Kraryla sensed his skepticism and patiently explained, "Dodo, the planet itself is a living entity. Just as I was born from the planet to be its guardian, when a new threat emerges, the planet will take action to protect itself."

Dodo pondered her words, and the realization began to dawn. If he didn't help Kraryla, not only would she remain trapped in her weakened state, but the very planet he called home would be in grave danger.

With newfound determination, Dodo finally spoke, "I will help you, Kraryla."

Kraryla's dark flame flickered with gratitude, and she assured him, "Thank you, Dodo."

With a deep breath, Dodo steeled himself for what was to come. He reached out and embraced the black flame. At first, it seemed as though he was absorbing the darkness into himself, but then something unexpected occurred.

The black flame began to grow, its tendrils enveloping Dodo, shrouding him in its ebony embrace. Fear coursed through Dodo's veins, but Kraryla's soothing voice echoed in his mind, calming his nerves.

He had no other choice but to trust in Kraryla, for their fates were now irrevocably intertwined.

As the ritual continued, the black flame absorbed a portion of Dodo's mana, replenishing its strength. The process was both exhilarating and terrifying, like being caught in a storm of pure energy.

When it was finally over, and the darkness receded, Dodo felt different. He had not merely assisted Kraryla; he had become a part of her, and she a part of him.

Kraryla, with a sense of profound gratitude, looked at Dodo and said, "You are now the Master of the Dark Flame."

With those words, Dodo's destiny was forever altered, and he was bound to a power greater than he could have ever imagined.