Chapter 321

Chapter 321
## Chapter 321

Legacy (1)

The afternoon was entirely commonplace.

The firmament was bright and devoid of any vapor, a chilling gust blew past, and the soothing rhythm of breaking waves echoed from the coast.

Yet—.

[Horus.]

A solitary call signaled the arrival of the transformation.

“Pardon?”

[Approach me.]

Engaged in his routines within the arcane workshop, Horus tilted his head as the deep, telepathic tone of his caretaker, the ancient Elder Dragon Shri Hartgen, reverberated inside his mind.

‘What could it be?’

Lately, the great beast had merely watched over him in absolute silence.

His bewilderment dissolved quickly, however. Giving a brief blink, Horus pivoted away from his workbench and departed the workshop.

‘The answer will be clear enough once I arrive.’

A subtle current of mystic force rippled, lifting the youthful, fair-haired youngster directly off the floor.

Swish—

He darted down the corridors of the sanctuary, leaving a small vortex of air in his path.

The journey concluded in mere moments.

Before his eyes loomed a gargantuan, gilded entity, possessing a scale that truly commanded reverence.

‘…He remains… magnificent, as always.’

The creature exuded an absolute weight, simultaneously inspiring wonder and a quiet dread.

Glittering metallic armor plates cloaked a massive frame extending for tens of meters, catching the ambient illumination and amplifying an already suffocating majesty.

The sole flaw lay in the dulled sheen of those gilded plates, a quiet indication of a waning vitality.

Stepping toward the colossal snout, Horus directed his gaze upward and spoke.

“I have arrived. Is there something you require?”

His pronunciation carried a minor impediment, the result of a physical form that was still maturing.

Though he had attempted to smooth out his speech, it appeared destined to remain a characteristic trait until more years passed…

[My demise is imminent.]

“What?”

…Yet his trivial reflections were instantly shattered by the ancient Wyrm’s blunt proclamation.

Horus froze on the spot, his eyelids parting wide in sheer bewilderment at such an immense statement, delivered with complete nonchalance.

“But…”

This could not be a jest… could it?

He recognized that this hour would arrive eventually.

The majestic Elder Dragon had explained this reality during their initial encounter.

That his time in this realm was drawing to a close.

‘Even so… ’

He had never anticipated it occurring without warning, so entirely devoid of ceremony.

The grand beast had exhibited no physical decline, leading Horus to assume that the ancient entity viewed the passage of eras differently, fitting for a creature that had witnessed millennia.

“…Imminent… Exactly how much time remains?”

The inquiry slipped out involuntarily, despite his internal awareness of its foolishness.

Perhaps a short duration to a Wyrm translated to decades for lesser beings.

[In this very spot. In this very moment.]

Yet the unyielding declaration from Shri Hartgen shattered any lingering hope.

The proclamation was uttered with such absolute finality that Horus found himself entirely devoid of a counterargument.

[To state it precisely, my preparations for departure are complete. Prolonging my existence for a handful of winters is possible, yet it would serve no true purpose.]

The underlying logic of the ancient being’s confidence became transparent.

He had willfully abandoned any efforts to sustain his failing frame, choosing instead to conclude his journey right here.

A monumental resolution befitting an Elder Dragon who had witnessed thousands of winters.

“Nonetheless… you ought to persist for as long as you can!”

Horus found himself shouting in opposition, every fiber of his being rejecting the notion.

Even though he anticipated receiving the grand inheritance, he could not simply stand by while an entity he shared a genuine connection with abandoned life so willingly.

[Were it not for your presence, Horus, I certainly would have.]

“…Pardon?”

Shri Hartgen merely looked down upon the youth, his colossal amber irises reflecting a profound warmth mixed with quiet satisfaction as he continued his explanation.

[Extending my presence further would necessitate disrupting the natural order of fate, draining my remaining reserves, and converting my very soul into fuel. My internal reserves, my vitality, my gathered power and worldly deeds, even destiny itself would be consumed.]

His tone remained gentle, reminiscent of an elder sharing ancient lore with a descendant.

[Yet even if I managed to sustain this frame, the outcome would be void of meaning. I would fade into absolute nothingness. Naturally, if the total eradication of our lineage were certain, I would struggle to remain for as long as possible… however…]

The grand beast paused, lowering his massive gaze toward the tiny youngster before him.

[Since an alternative path has manifested, I am obligated to adopt the most effective course.]

He was determined to provide a magnificent inheritance.

The amber depths of his eyes softened with a subtle hint of warmth.

“…”

Horus remained utterly speechless.

What words could he possibly offer?

Should he confess that he wasn’t an authentic Wyrm, completely unworthy of such high hopes?

Should he reveal that he was merely a traveler from elsewhere, a transient visitor who might vanish from this reality without warning?

…No, such confessions could never be uttered to a dying ancient preparing for his ultimate transition.

He recognized the illusion he maintained, yet the hour for truth had passed.

‘I am nothing but an impostor… ’

While the prospect of gaining the legendary inheritance had initially thrilled him, he had developed a genuine fondness for the ancient Wyrm over the course of their companionship.

Only now, with a heavy sorrow tightening his chest, did he comprehend the true depth of the bond they had forged.

Failing to discover appropriate words, Horus let out a soft breath and grumbled with a touch of youthful resentment.

“…If that is so… what course am I to follow? I possess no direction on how to proceed.”

[None at all. The current state of affairs is far beyond what a mere fledgling can navigate. Simply exist according to your own desires until the proper era arrives. If our lineage meets its end with you as its final representative, then so be it.]

It was a remarkably detached mandate, given the immense burden of hope placed upon him.

Yet it carried an undeniable truth.

[The transfer of the legacy is secured. The path ahead rests upon the grand design of Dracarion. You possess great intellect, child; you will grasp the path when it manifests.]

Shri Hartgen lowered his eyelids, signaling the conclusion of his speech.

“But wait…!”

Just as Horus stepped forward, desperate to argue further,

The phenomenon commenced.

Bright light—

A colossal runic circle, spanning the entire floor of the subterranean chamber, ignited with a radiant golden luminescence, banishing the darkness.

The massive beast rested directly at the center of the pattern.

Every single dulled scale began to radiate brilliance, until his entire form was enveloped in a blinding light, discharging a terrifying magnitude of raw energy.

[It has been an honor, Horus. I grant you this final token. I am certain it will serve you well. It shall offer immense assistance in your journey.]

The final thoughts of Shri Hartgen echoed directly within his consciousness.

In that exact instant, Horus realized that this specific token was the primary catalyst behind the ancient dragon’s choice.

‘Why must you take it to this extreme?!’

He screamed in his mind, fighting to keep his footing amidst the turbulent vortex of force, but the process could no longer be halted.

Resonating perfectly with the runic circle, Shri Hartgen’s physical mass dissolved, transforming into a gargantuan vortex of raw mana that broadcasted a brilliant golden radiance.

[Oh, Dracarion…]

The immense manifestation of power, its outer boundaries gradually dispersing,

Began to contract, its light growing more concentrated as it condensed.

Shrinking from the dimensions of a massive mound down to a substantial boulder… and at last—.

[Horus, take this…]

“Shri Hartgen!”

…With a fragmented final utterance, the consciousness dissolved.

A golden gemstone, matching the dimensions of a youth’s head, hung suspended in the center of the vacated chamber, drifting in the air.

It gleamed with intense brilliance against the fading runic pattern, its scale and raw energy far eclipsing Horus’s personal Dragon Heart, which had acted as the anchor for the magical reaction.

…No, this was far more than a typical core. It represented the distilled culmination of an Elder Dragon’s entire life, his spiritual essence and total power forged into a solitary, translucent object.

Despite the natural dissipation of force during the transition,

‘…That object is… ’

Horus watched the glittering gemstone, utterly spellbound.

He understood he should look away, yet his gaze remained locked.

Thump!

Suddenly, the gemstone, which had hung completely still, emitted a powerful tremor, sending a wave of raw force cascading through the room.

And immediately after—.

“H-hold on…!”

It lunged straight toward Horus, plunging directly into his chest and integrating into his soul.

It vibrated violently inside his core, emitting a fierce, unbridled energy.

‘Ugh! This force is…!’

Horus collapsed to his knees, pressing his hands tightly against his chest.

No visible transformation altered his exterior despite the gemstone’s mass, but physical dimensions were entirely irrelevant now.

An instinctual realization washed over him.

He was far from prepared to handle this.

Though his physical vessel had been enhanced by numerous enhancements to surpass the constraints of a normal fledgling… he still had to mobilize every ounce of his will to restrain even a sliver of the gemstone’s true magnitude.

‘…Absorbing this completely right now is impossible. I must bind it… ’

As if acknowledging his internal desperation,

The wild energy raging within his core began to subside, its violent waves smoothing out as it aligned with his directives.

The ancient Wyrm had evidently structured the transition to account for such a necessity.

‘Phew, that was incredibly close. A word of warning would have been appreciated.’

He voiced a quiet complaint, though it was merely a defense against his grief.

Perhaps Shri Hartgen had executed the process abruptly to spare them a sorrowful parting.

Recalling the ancient dragon’s characteristically detached manner, Horus felt a wave of melancholy and softly rubbed his chest, sensing the incredible density nestled within.

‘I never anticipated the timeline accelerating so drastically.’

Would the ancient entity remain alongside him in this manner indefinitely?

Even though the great spirit had crossed over, leaving no active awareness inside the gemstone, the youth felt an unexpected sense of comfort and protection. He gave his chest a final tap, then arose with a small smile.

In that very moment,

《The subject’s latent capabilities have been unlocked by force. Maturation accelerated, thresholds broadened.》

《The subject satisfies the criteria for advancement. You have unlocked the unique trait “Elder Dragon’s Heart”.》

《Privileges inherited as the ultimate scion of the Gold Dragon lineage. You have unlocked the unique trait “Golden Treasury”.》

…System notifications manifested before his vision.

These were the transformations wrought by Shri Hartgen’s ultimate offering, alongside the right to inherit his lineage’s ancient vault.

He had foreseen these developments…

《Feat Accomplished! You have earned the title ‘Last Gold Dragon’.》

《You stand as the sole surviving Gold Dragon within Auterica. You have obtained the asset “Dragon’s Lair”.》

《You have executed an action that alters the fabric of the world. Global karma has been augmented.》

…Yet the notifications that followed caught him completely off guard.