237: True Name
[Ding, mission completed. You have gained +1 AP and Previously Unknown Blessing: Shadow of the World's End/Shadow of Destruction.]
[Shadow of the World's End/ Destruction: In dragon form, all magical abilities are enhanced, and magic resistance is significantly increased.]
As John opened his eyes again, he had already left the Gate of Things.
Above him stretched a clear, vast sky.
A brilliant Milky Way shimmered in breathtaking splendor, its light cascading down onto John.
The silver dragon Heimdall had been waiting for John to awaken. He spoke in a low, solemn voice: "You are awake."
John sat up, finally realizing that he was still beneath the cliffside.
However, the once-familiar landscape had undergone a dramatic transformation—the crystal pathway now resembled an endless river of stars.
Heimdall, though clearly trying to suppress his excitement, respectfully bowed his head and said: "You have completed the trial and, in doing so, resolved the millennia-old test of the Dragon's Homeland."
"Your true name has now been revealed to the world. I hereby bestow upon you the highest name of dragonkind!!"
As Heimdall unfurled his wings, his white feathers seemed to resonate with the celestial river above.
The silver dragon, bathed in starlight, was a sight of unparalleled magnificence.
"Shadow of Destruction. Wherever you tread, boundless power follows. Your shadow alone can steal the breath of life itself. Your breath conjures tempests. Your gaze extinguishes light. You are the Endbringer, a dragon born from destruction itself."
…Shadow of Destruction?
The blessing granted by the system is exactly the same.
No wonder it was labeled as unknown—this blessing was actually his true name.
As Heimdall's words fell, a surge of magical power erupted from within John.
This must be the power granted by his true name.
His body began to change.
John watched as scales started growing over his skin.
But this time, it was different—his scales were no longer dark green but had turned golden.
As his form transformed, John's Animagus body underwent a massive shift.
From his original 55 feet, he had grown to 60 feet.
Though still smaller than Heimdall, his presence exuded an undeniable aura of dominance—a difference rooted deep within his very bloodline.
Heimdall lowered his massive body—despite his blind eyes, he could still feel it.
That thrill, that tremor—a sensation lost for a thousand years—had returned once more.
The bloodline of a king!
Though young and unrefined, it was something that even the mightiest dragons could not resist.
Even the Great Dragon Sage Heimdall… was no exception.
After transforming into his Animagus form, John examined his new body.
Not only had his color changed, but even his physical appearance had undergone some modifications.
If his previous form had been more ferocious and menacing, then at this moment, he radiated an aura of divinity and majesty.
In this new form, John's magical defenses had reached an incredibly terrifying level.
If he were to face dragon tamers again, they would probably be incapable of causing him any real harm—They's probably pee.
And that wasn't all—John discovered something even more shocking.
He could switch back.
With just a thought, his scales darkened back into a deep emerald green.
The starlight that fell upon him was completely absorbed by his scales.
And within the shadow he cast, all life in its presence rapidly withered away.
Even without casting a single spell, just this passive effect alone could wipe out large groups of enemies with ease.
"This form… really does live up to the name Shadow of Distruction,'" John muttered to himself.
He turned to look at Heimdall, only to find that the old dragon had no intention of rising.
"Heimdall, that trial… what exactly was it?"
That ice casket, a relic from the Giant's Realm, had almost cost John his life.
Even Ambrosius had been helpless against it, forced to wait a thousand years for John's arrival.
In that moment, John felt as if he had caught a glimpse of an even deeper mystery within the magical world.
"I don't know either," Heimdall shook his head. "It is a trial that every king must undergo. The ancient dragons built Dragon's Haven here precisely because of that thing."
Even as a Dragon Sage, Heimdall knew little about the Casket of Ice.
He had watched many dragons with the potential to become king enter the trial, but John was the first to ever emerge.
Not only that, he had even accomplished something that no past king had ever done.
The change in the Dragon Grounds was proof of it.
This only strengthened Heimdall's belief—John was the prophesied king.
And there was even stronger proof.
John's True Name Blessing was not yet complete.
Above the night sky, the souls of ancient dragons spiraled across the celestial dome.
ROAR—!!
They let out earth-shaking cries, their voices reverberating through the heavens—an act of homage to their king.
John could feel the mysterious power within him surging again.
On his forehead, a mark was beginning to form.
Only John could see it, and within it lay a hidden bloodline ability.
Grr..
A searing heat spread across his chest.
John quickly reverted to human form and conjured a mirror with magic.
Pulling open his shirt, John saw in the mirror that a magical mark had appeared on his chest.
The mark looked strangely familiar—it resembled a symbol from the Gate of Everything.
A square shape embedded in a great tree, like an oak tree encasing the Casket of Ice.
He fell silent.
This must have been something his teacher arranged.
He had no idea what kind of deal his teacher had made with the Gate of Everything, but somehow, it had led to him receiving this magical mark.
John crushed the mirror and summoned his system panel.
His magic power had surged dramatically, clearly a result of his True Name.
Not only that, but he had also gained the Oak Mage Blessing from Merlin.
Now, his body continuously absorbed magic power on its own, without him needing to do anything.
This significantly accelerated his growth.
This journey had brought him great rewards.
But the cost had been just as severe.
If it hadn't been for his teacher's help, his fate would have been to be dragged away by the Gate of Everything.
Dealing with the Gate of Everything was so dangerous that just thinking about it filled John with deep wariness.
If he could help it, he never wanted to encounter it again.
The changes brought by John's True Name were not yet over.
Around him, starlight gathered, radiating a sense of intimacy toward him.
When he reached out to touch it, the starlight merged into his body, soothing his exhaustion.
"Ahh~ Absorbing starlight, huh…"
It was John's first time coming into contact with the magic contained within the stars.
Perhaps it was fate's response—he had founded the Constellation Society, and now, he had gained the blessing of the stars.
Heimdallr personally escorted John out of the Dragon Grounds.
His respect for John was evident, and he had even changed the way he addressed him: "Young King."
The young king of dragons.
Heimdallr knew that, by dragon standards, John was still far from even adolescence.
And yet, at this age, he already possessed the power to kill an adult dragon.
That alone was enough for Heimdallr to overlook his human heritage.
As the guardian of the Dragon Grounds, Heimdallr would not easily leave his post.
So he stood at the platform, watching as John departed.
Outside the Dragon Grounds, in the Dragon Sanctuary, Thunder-Piercing Spear was waiting at the entrance.
The moment John stepped out, Thunder-Piercing Spear stared at him.
For some reason, it felt like… John had grown taller.
"You're out? What's your True Name?"
Thunder-Piercing Spear was very curious about John's True Name.
The aura radiating from John gave the elder dragon a bold suspicion....
John spoke in a calm tone: "Shadow of Destruction."
Ah! The moment he said it, Thunder-Piercing Spear visibly faltered.
It suddenly had the uneasy feeling that this name… might be even more formidable than its own.
Seeing its reaction, John couldn't help but think—Dragons really do seem like a straightforward bunch.
No scheming, no subtlety—everything was plainly written on their faces.
Now that John had his True Name, he no longer needed to climb down.
He spread his wings, and in an instant, his form merged with the darkness.
Even as an elder, Thunder-Piercing Spear couldn't make out his figure.
A feeling of dread crept into its heart.
John descended from the Dragon Sanctuary, soaring back toward Silent Valley.
It had only been a single day, yet to him, it felt like an eternity.
Merlin of Hogwarts.
The artifact of the Giant Kingdom.
The return to the Gate of Everything.
And now, the Young King of the Dragon Sanctuary.
Too much had happened in too short a time, leaving John utterly exhausted.
But at least, there was one silver lining—He had returned, completely unscathed!
The three female dragons also returned, but none of them had obtained a True Name.
John found himself pestered by Amoham, who kept asking about his name.
In the end, he had no choice but to tell her.
As soon as he did, Amoham erupted into a series of loud exclamations.
Even among dragons, that name was considered extremely intense.
Amoham firmly believed it was far superior to her own.
At the same time, it was also an acknowledgment of strength.
The female dragons now held a newfound respect for John—And the other dragons in Breathless Valley felt the same.
After all, his ferocity had intimidated even the strongest dragons, making him the sole dragon of this generation to earn a True Name.
John stayed in the Valley for three days before preparing to leave.
During this time, he took another look at the mark that had appeared on his forehead.
It looked more like a sigil, carrying a specific meaning.
Wotan. (A/N: Wotan is another name for the Norse god Odin)
An ancient rune. Representing an equally ancient existence.
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