Chapter 321: Legacy (1) |
It was an ordinary day.
A clear, sunny sky without a single cloud, a refreshing breeze, and the gentle sound of waves crashing on the shore.
But—.
[Horus.]
The change began with a single word.
“Yes?”
[Come here.]
Horus, who was diligently training in the magic laboratory, tilted his head at the solemn voice of his guardian, Elder Dragon Shri Hartgen, echoing in his mind.
‘What is it?’
But his curiosity didn't last long. Horus blinked a few times, then turned and left the lab.
‘I’ll find out when I get there.’
A faint magical aura flickered, and the small, blond boy floated into the air.
Whoosh—
He zipped through the lair, a gust of wind in his wake.
He arrived at his destination in the blink of an eye.
Before him stood a massive, golden creature, its size truly breathtaking.
‘…As always, he’s… impressive.’
An overwhelming presence, both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Golden scales, covering its massive body, dozens of meters long, scattered the surrounding light, amplifying its already overwhelming aura.
The only blemish was the scales’ slightly tarnished luster, a sign of its fading life force.
Horus glanced at the massive dragon, then walked towards its head and spoke.
“I’m here. What is it?”
His words were slightly slurred, his tongue still too short for his young age.
He had tried to correct it, but it seemed like it would remain a part of his personality until he grew older…
[I’m going to die soon.]
“Huh?”
…But his casual thoughts were interrupted by the old dragon’s blunt declaration.
Horus froze for a moment, his eyes widening in surprise at the unexpected words, so casually delivered.
“Um…”
It wasn’t a joke… was it?
He had known it would happen eventually.
The Elder Dragon had told him so himself on the day they first met.
That his lifespan was nearing its end.
‘But still…’
He hadn’t expected it to be so sudden, so… nonchalant.
He had shown no signs of deterioration, so Horus had assumed that his perception of time was simply different, as expected of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years.
“…Soon… When exactly?”
He couldn’t help but ask, even though he knew it was a silly question.
Perhaps ‘soon’ meant years, in dragon terms.
[Right here. Right now.]
But Shri Hartgen’s firm reply left no room for doubt.
His words were so decisive, so certain, that Horus couldn’t even retort.
[To be more precise, I’m finally ready to die. I could cling to life for a few more years, but it would be pointless.]
Now he understood why the old dragon had been so confident in his prediction.
He had given up on prolonging his life and chosen to end it here and now.
A fitting end for an Elder Dragon who had lived for thousands of years.
“But… you should try to live as long as possible!”
Horus couldn’t help but protest, his instincts screaming in denial.
Even if he was eager to inherit the dragon’s legacy, he couldn’t just let someone he had formed a bond with choose death so readily.
[If it wasn’t for you, Horus, I would have.]
“…Huh?”
But Shri Hartgen simply looked down at him, his massive golden eyes filled with a strange mixture of affection and approval, and calmly continued.
[Clinging to life any longer would mean distorting the flow of causality, consuming everything I have, burning my very essence as fuel. My magic power, my life force, my accumulated power and karma, even my destiny itself.]
He explained his reasoning gently, as if telling a story to his grandson.
[But even if I managed to extend my lifespan, it would be meaningless. I would become nothing. Of course, if the extinction of our clan was inevitable, I wouldn’t hesitate to cling to life for as long as possible… but…]
He paused, his gaze fixed on the small boy standing before him.
[Now that there’s another way, I must choose the most efficient option.]
He had to leave behind a proper parting gift.
His eyes softened, a hint of amusement flickering within their golden depths.
“…”
Horus couldn’t say anything.
What could he possibly say?
That he wasn’t a ‘true’ dragon, unworthy of such expectations?
That he was just an outsider, a temporary visitor, who could leave this world at any moment?
…No, those weren’t words he could say to a dying dragon, preparing for his final moments.
He knew it was a deception, but it was too late now.
‘I’m a fraud myself…’
He had been excited about inheriting the dragon’s legacy, but he had grown attached to the old dragon during their time together.
He hadn't realized how strong their bond had become until now, his heart heavy with a strange sadness.
Unable to find the right words, Horus sighed and muttered softly, his voice filled with a childish petulance.
“…Then… what am I supposed to do? I don’t even know where to begin.”
[Nothing. The current situation isn’t something a hatchling can resolve. Just live as you please, until the time comes. Even if our clan goes extinct with you as the last, it can’t be helped.]
It was an irresponsible statement, considering the expectations he had placed on him.
But it was also realistic.
[I’ve succeeded in passing on the legacy. The rest is up to Dracarion’s will. You’re a smart child, you’ll seize the opportunity when it arises.]
Shri Hartgen closed his eyes, his words final.
“But…!”
As Horus hesitated, about to speak again,
The transformation began.
Flash—
A massive magic circle, covering the entire floor of the cavern, glowed with a brilliant golden light, illuminating the space.
At its center lay the massive dragon.
Each of its dull gold scales began to glow, and then its entire body was enveloped in light, emitting an overwhelming energy.
[It was a pleasure, Horus. I’ll leave you a parting gift. I’m sure you’ll like it. It will be of great help to you.]
Shri Hartgen’s voice echoed in his mind.
And as he heard those words, Horus instinctively knew that the ‘gift’ was the main reason for the old dragon’s decision.
‘Why are you going this far?!’
He cried out inwardly, struggling to maintain his balance amidst the swirling storm of energy, but it was too late.
Shri Hartgen’s body, resonating with the magic circle, transcended its physical form, transforming into a massive sphere of mana, radiating a brilliant golden light.
[Oh, Dracarion…]
The massive energy construct, its form slowly dissolving,
Began to shrink, its light intensifying as it condensed.
From the size of a small hill to a large boulder… and finally—.
[Horus, then this…]
“Shri Hartgen!”
…With a final, unfinished word, the voice faded away.
A golden crystal, the size of a child’s head, materialized in the center of the empty cavern, hovering in mid-air.
It glowed brightly against the backdrop of the still-active magic circle, its size and brilliance far surpassing Horus’s own Dragon Heart, which had served as the catalyst for the transformation.
…No, it wasn’t just a dragon’s heart. It was the culmination of an Elder Dragon’s life force, his essence and power condensed into a single, crystalline form.
Even with the inevitable loss of energy during the process,
‘…That’s…’
Horus stared at the shimmering crystal, mesmerized.
He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn’t look away.
Thump!
And then, the crystal, which had been floating motionless, suddenly pulsed, a surge of energy rippling outwards.
And then—.
“W-wait…!”
It shot towards Horus, embedding itself in his chest, merging with his body.
It pulsed within him, still radiating a powerful energy.
‘Ugh! This is…!’
Horus stumbled and fell to his knees, clutching his chest.
There was no external change, despite the crystal’s size, but such physical phenomena were irrelevant now.
He instinctively knew.
That he wasn’t ready for this.
His body, enhanced by countless buffs, had already surpassed the limits of a hatchling… but even then, he had to exert considerable effort to control even a fraction of the crystal’s power.
‘…I can’t absorb it all at once. I have to suppress it…’
As if responding to his panic,
The crystal, which had been rampaging within him, slowly calmed down, its energy stabilizing as it submitted to his control.
It seemed like it had been designed with such a contingency in mind.
‘Whew, that was close. He could have at least warned me.’
He grumbled, but it was just a momentary complaint.
Perhaps Shri Hartgen had done it this way to avoid getting too attached.
Horus recalled the old dragon’s aloof demeanor and, feeling a pang of sadness, gently stroked his chest, where he could feel the crystal’s weight.
‘I didn’t expect things to progress so quickly.’
Would he always be with him like this?
Even though the old dragon’s soul had departed, leaving no trace of its consciousness within the crystal, he felt a strange sense of comfort and security. He patted his chest, then stood up with a grin.
And at that moment,
《The individual’s potential has been forcibly unlocked. Growth accelerated, limits expanded.》
《The individual meets the conditions and grows. You have acquired the special skill “Elder Dragon’s Heart”.》
《Authority granted as the last Gold Dragon. You have acquired the special skill “Golden Treasury”.》
…Messages began to appear before him.
The changes brought about by Shri Hartgen’s final gift and the authority to access his clan’s legacy.
He had anticipated this much…
《Achievement Unlocked! You have become the ‘Last Gold Dragon’.》
《You have become the only Gold Dragon in Auterica. You have acquired the perk “Dragon’s Lair”.》
《You have achieved a world-altering feat. Karma increased.》
…But the following messages were completely unexpected.