Chapter 321: Legacy (1)

It was an ordinary day. A clear, sunny sky, a cool breeze, the gentle sound of waves crashing on the shore.

But—

[Horus.]

—the change began with a single word.

"Yes?"

[Come here.]

Horus, who had been training in his magic laboratory, tilted his head at the serious voice of his guardian, Elder Dragon Shuri Hartgen, echoing in his mind.

'What is it?'

Lately, the elder had been silently watching him without saying a word. But his curiosity was short-lived. He stopped what he was doing and turned around.

'I'll find out when I get there.'

A faint magical energy flickered, and the short, blond boy floated into the air.

Whoosh—

He zipped through the air towards the inner part of the lair. Arriving instantly at his guardian's location, Horus saw a golden creature, as large as a small hill.

'…That's always an amazing sight.'

A massive body, both awe-inspiring and breathtakingly beautiful. Golden scales, covering its dozens of meters long frame, scattered the surrounding light, radiating an overwhelming presence. The only flaw was that the scales, once brilliantly shining, were now somewhat dull.

Horus glanced at him and trotted towards Shuri Hartgen's head.

"I'm here. What is it?"

He couldn't help the slight lisp in his voice when he wasn't consciously controlling it. He had tried to fix it many times, but it seemed it would remain a part of Horus's character until his body grew…

[I'm going to die soon.]

"Huh?"

The massive, old dragon dropped the bombshell casually. Horus froze, momentarily stunned by the words, so out of place with the elder's calm tone. His eyes widened.

"Uh…"

It… couldn't be a joke. He knew this day would come. The elder had told him on their first meeting that his lifespan was nearing its end.

'But… even so…'

He hadn't expected it to be announced so suddenly, and so casually. The elder hadn't shown any signs, so he assumed it was just a dragon's different perception of time.

"…Soon, exactly when?"

He couldn't help but ask the silly question. Perhaps 'soon' meant years, in dragon terms.

[Right now. Right here.]

But his cautious question was swept away by Shuri Hartgen's decisive answer. He was speechless at the straightforwardness, so unlike someone talking about their own death.

[To be precise, I'm finally ready to die. I could prolong my life for a few more years, but it would be meaningless.]

Now he understood how the elder could predict his own death with such certainty. He was giving up on clinging to life and choosing to end it here and now. Truly befitting an ancient dragon who had lived for thousands of years.

"But, even so, you should try to live as long as possible!"

Horus instinctively protested, frowning. Even if he coveted the clan's legacy, he couldn't just let his companion of over a year choose death.

[Horus, I would have, if it weren't for you.]

"…Huh?"

Shuri Hartgen looked down at him calmly, a hint of pride in his gaze.

[Clinging to life any longer would mean distorting the power of causality, burning away my very being as fuel. My magic, my life force, my accumulated power and karma, even my destiny.]

He explained gently, like a grandfather telling a story to his grandson, so Horus could understand.

[But there's nothing to gain from prolonging my life through such drastic measures. It would only lead to nothingness. If the extinction of our clan was inevitable, I wouldn't hesitate, but…]

He paused, his massive golden eyes focusing on the small boy standing before him.

[…now there's another way. I must choose the most efficient path.]

He might as well leave a proper parting gift. A gentle smile appeared in his eyes as he looked at Horus.

"…"

Horus was speechless. What could he say? That he wasn't a 'true' dragon worthy of such expectations? That he was just a temporary visitor who could leave this world at any time?

…No, those weren't things to say to someone preparing for their final moments. He knew it was deceptive, but he was used to it by now.

'I'm a fraud, after all…'

He had been excited about the inheritance, but having spent so much time together, he had grown attached to the elder. He felt strangely melancholic, even though their bond wasn't that deep.

Unable to find the right words, Horus sighed and muttered.

"…Then, what… what should I do? I have no idea."

[Nothing. The current situation is beyond what a hatchling can handle. Live as you please until the time comes. Even if our clan goes extinct with you, Horus, as the last, it can't be helped.]

It was an irresponsible statement, considering the expectations he had placed upon him. But it was realistic.

[I have succeeded in extending our lineage. The rest is up to Lord Dracarion's will. You're a smart child. You'll know what to do when the time comes.]

With those nonchalant words, Shuri Hartgen closed his eyes, as if he had nothing more to say.

"But…!"

As Horus hesitated, about to speak again…

…the change began, as if it couldn't wait any longer.

Whoosh—

A massive magic circle appeared, covering the walls of the cavern, and the room was bathed in a brilliant golden light. At the center was the old dragon, lying on the ground.

The dull golden scales covering his massive body began to glow, and his entire being radiated a powerful energy.

[It was enjoyable, Horus. I'll give you a parting gift. You'll like it. It will be of great help to you.]

Shuri Hartgen's voice echoed in his mind.

And hearing those words, Horus realized that the 'gift' was the main reason for the elder's decision.

'What could it be, for him to go this far!'

He shouted inwardly, struggling to maintain his balance amidst the surging energy storm, but it was too late.

It didn't take long for Shuri Hartgen's body, resonating with the lair's magic circle, to transcend its physical form and transform into a mass of mana, shaped like a radiant light.

[Oh— Lord Dracarion.]

The massive energy construct, the size of a small hill, began to crumble.

As it dissolved into the air in a flash of brilliant light, a part of it converged and compressed. The light, shrinking from the size of the cavern to a small hill, then to a large boulder, finally—

[Horus, then this…]

"Shuri Hartgen-nim!"

—materialized into a golden crystal, the size of a child's head, floating in the center of the now empty cavern. A crystal far larger and more brilliant than the hatchling's Dragon Heart, radiating a powerful presence against the backdrop of the still faintly glowing magic circle.

It wasn't just a dragon's heart; it was a concentrated mass of power, created by an Elder Dragon who had lived for millennia, sacrificing his very being. Although the process resulted in considerable loss.

'That's…'

Horus stared at the alluring crystal, mesmerized, and gulped involuntarily. He shouldn't, but he couldn't look away.

Thump!

The crystal, floating calmly in the air, suddenly pulsed, a surge of energy rippling through it.

And then—

"W… Wait…!"

—it shot towards Horus, embedding itself in his chest and being absorbed, its powerful energy still pulsing within him.

'Ugh! This is…!'

Horus stumbled and fell to his knees, clutching his chest. While there were no external signs, despite the crystal, the size of his head, being absorbed, the physical phenomenon didn't matter. He instinctively knew.

He wasn't ready for this power. Even with all the buffs enhancing his body, he was still a hatchling, far from being able to control the immense power contained within the crystal. Just channeling a small fraction of it took considerable effort.

'…I can't absorb it all at once. I have to suppress it…'

As if responding to his panic…

…the crystal, which had been radiating a powerful presence within him, calmed down, its energy flow stabilizing under his control. It seemed the carefully prepared gift came with built-in safety measures.

'Phew, that was close. He could have at least warned me.'

He grumbled, but it was just a momentary complaint. Perhaps Shuri Hartgen had done it this way to avoid further attachment. Horus recalled the elder's aloof demeanor and gently stroked his chest, feeling the heavy presence within, a strange sense of melancholy washing over him.

'I didn't expect things to happen so suddenly.'

Would it remain within him forever? While the elder's soul had departed, leaving no consciousness behind, he felt a sense of comfort. He grinned, patted his chest, and stood up.

And at that moment…

"The individual's potential has been forcibly unlocked. Limits expanded, growth accelerated."

"The individual has met the conditions for growth. Acquired Special Skill 「Elder Dragon's Heart」."

"Authority granted as the last Gold Dragon. Acquired Special Skill 「Golden Treasury」."

Messages appeared before him. The changes brought about by Shuri Hartgen's final gift, and the authority to access the clan's legacy. He had anticipated this much, but…

"Achievement Unlocked! Became the 'Last Gold Dragon' in this world."

"Became the only Gold Dragon in the Auterica dimension. Awarded Perk 「Dragon Lair」."

"Achieved an impactful world event. Additional Karma awarded."

…the following messages were unexpected.