Chapter 322

Chapter 322
## Chapter 322

Legacy (2)

Horus, a young boy with golden hair who appeared to be no older than six or seven, rubbed the back of his neck in contemplation.

‘The final Gold Dragon.’

The fact itself was already known to him, but witnessing the official validation from the system brought about a bizarre sensation.

He had occasionally wondered whether Shri Hartgen had overlooked any other surviving members who might have escaped their clan’s destruction.

‘Does something like this actually qualify as an achievement?’

Horus tilted his small, rounded head to the side, puzzled.

So many cataclysmic events had unfolded recently, yet the system had remained completely silent until this moment, granting him an achievement only after he was designated the sole survivor of a ruined dragon race.

It was possible this reflected the immense weight the dragons held in the grand scheme of the world, or perhaps the specific designation of being the ‘last survivor’ triggered the condition.

‘I suppose I should be thankful it labeled me the “Last Gold Dragon” instead of the “Last Dragon” altogether.’

Then again, he remembered Shri Hartgen mentioning that other dragon bloodlines were still clinging to existence in remote corners of the world, unlike the Gold Clan, which had been utterly wiped out.

‘I hope to cross paths with them at some point.’

However, that was a matter for the future.

He could only afford to seek them out after settling his immediate predicaments.

Even if they shared the bond of being dragons in a world hostile to their kind, they ultimately belonged to separate factions. He absolutely could not risk presenting himself to them in a weak or defenseless state!

‘I cannot afford to let his sacrifices go to waste. First, I need to evaluate the rewards I have just received.’

Horus directed his attention back to the scrolling lines of system notifications.

There were three primary items requiring his immediate review.

‘The special trait “Dragon’s Lair”. A function allowing the creation of a dragon’s sanctuary… and it exists within an isolated subspace rather than the physical domain.’

This indicated that his sanctuary would not be anchored to a fixed geographic spot, allowing it to function as a perfect safe zone and an emergency retreat during moments of extreme peril.

It was an incredibly practical trait, serving as a highly appropriate reward for such a momentous achievement.

‘Now, what is the next item?’

Nodding in quiet approval, he shifted his focus toward the 「Elder Dragon’s Heart」.

This was the parting gift from Shri Hartgen—the condensation of his entire life force and vital spirit into a crystalline orb, a profound inheritance left behind for Horus, the solitary hatchling abandoned in a vast world.

Crafted from the fundamental essence of a genuine Elder Dragon, it was an item of incomparable worth.

‘…It is absolutely breathtaking.’

Horus closed his eyelids, his consciousness momentarily overwhelmed by the staggering torrent of energy vibrating inside his ribcage.

Although a massive portion of that vitality had dissolved into nothingness during his initial metamorphosis, the remaining reserves still vastly eclipsed his inherent capacity.

Wielding absolute authority over it was currently beyond him, but that was a minor concern for the time being.

The expansion of his latent potential and the rapid acceleration of his maturity were merely secondary benefits of this treasure.

‘…Very well, let’s begin. I will utilize this power to… ’

Drawing his awareness inward, Horus concentrated heavily on the reservoir of energy within his body, sinking deeper into its core.

Thump—! Koooong—!

The crystal resonated powerfully, offering a fiercer resistance with every attempt he made to master it.

Maintaining his fragile human appearance became impossible under the strain. Invoking 「Polymorph」, he reverted back into his authentic draconic state.

“Roar—!”

A youthful dragon, roughly the dimensions of a young calf, let out a piercing cry.

A localized tempest erupted around his form, causing the local environmental energy to ripple and warp erratically.

The sheer pressure and raw power he exuded were approaching the threshold of an Adult Dragon, yet his physical form remained constrained by his chronological age.

He had expanded noticeably, transitioning from the size of a large hound to that of a calf… and yet…

It was not enough to satisfy him.

‘The 「Elder Dragon’s Heart」 represents far more than a standard dragon core.’

It was the ultimate summation of Shri Hartgen’s lengthy and turbulent existence, a physical manifestation of his supreme dominance and ancient intellect—a repository preserving all his insights, encounters, biological traits, and very soul.

If he could successfully tap into that reservoir…

Flash—

Horus unfurled his wings and threw his head back as a blinding radiance burst from his flesh.

It was reminiscent of the spectacle Shri Hartgen displayed right before his passing.

Yet, the outcome was entirely inverted.

In contrast to the ancient dragon, whose physical form had withered as it collapsed into raw energy, Horus’s physical dimensions began to swell rapidly.

Five meters… Ten meters… Fifteen meters…

His limbs, wings, horns… every single aspect of his anatomy grew exponentially.

And at long last,

[“Rooooar—!”]

Flap— Flap—!

A magnificent golden dragon, whose sheer mass completely occupied the previously vacant cavern, unleashed a deafening roar while beating its titanic wings with immense force.

—

[“Gasp… Pant… This marks… my absolute threshold…”]

A golden beast lay collapsed across the stone ground, its tongue hanging out heavily as it struggled to draw breath.

Its majestic and terrifying appearance had completely vanished, shrinking all the way back down to the size of a calf, its overwhelming presence entirely depleted.

‘This is far more grueling than I anticipated.’

The forced physical progression granted by the 「Elder Dragon’s Heart」 carried undeniable constraints.

Ten minutes.

That was the absolute longest he could sustain that grand, transformed state.

Furthermore, the actual combat power he could deploy fell significantly short of his initial calculations.

‘I wasn’t reckless enough to expect the full might of an Elder Dragon, but… I truly believed I could at least touch the absolute peak of the tier just below it!’

Evidently, it had been nothing more than an overly optimistic hope.

The highest peak of power he could manage to grasp was that of a mid-ranking Adult Dragon.

Given that his base form already hovered just beneath the Adult Dragon threshold, this did not represent an earth-shattering increase in raw strength.

‘Still, it is infinitely better than having no trump card at all. Furthermore, the leap in pure physical capacity is staggering.’

Horus let out a low groan, shifting uncomfortably on the cavern floor.

The profound exhaustion currently plaguing him stemmed from the massive disparity between his natural physical development and the artificially amplified energy.

Despite whatever enhancements and blessings he active, his fundamental biological status was still that of a hatchling.

His youthful frame simply could not withstand the immense pressure of directing such monolithic power.

A hatchling’s defensive scales, muscular structure, and internal mana pathways were all inherently softer and more delicate than those of a fully matured dragon.

A solitary blow from a genuinely powerful adversary could prove fatal, and any minor miscalculation while casting high-tier magic could result in a violent backlash that would tear his own body apart.

He was essentially a glass cannon, completely devoid of the necessary structural resilience.

True adult dragons, possessing nigh-impenetrable scales and highly durable mana pathways, could shrug off devastating strikes and unleash apocalyptic spells without suffering any internal recoil.

Swish—

The young dragon faded away, shifting back into the form of a human youth.

He pushed himself up, his entire body radiating a dull ache, and forced his legs to stand.

“Ugh… Haa…”

He appeared thoroughly drained, despite having maintained the grand transformation for a mere ten minutes.

While recovering his strength was entirely possible in his draconic state, operating as an avatar with a primary human vessel meant he found it far more comforting to recuperate in his human guise.

‘The efficacy of these techniques is entirely dependent on my personal mastery. There is no reason to fall into despair so quickly.’

Through consistent training and deep investigation, he would eventually extend the duration of the transformation and optimize its energy consumption.

Naturally, his maximum size would expand alongside his mastery.

‘Even for an anomalous existence like Horus, a grander scale is always advantageous.’

For dragons, overall dimensions, age, and raw magical output were completely intertwined. It was a fundamental truth of their biology.

Besides, a massive physical presence was simply far more… authoritative. Far more awe-inspiring!

“Ah, it slipped my mind for a moment.”

Horus muttered softly to himself as he brushed the perspiration from his brow.

He had become completely absorbed in analyzing the 「Elder Dragon’s Heart」. He had momentarily neglected one final, crucial reward.

The 「Golden Treasury」.

The legendary storehouse of the Gold Dragon Clan, preserved across countless eras.

‘Granted, the vast majority of their wealth was likely depleted defending against the dual invasions of the Immortal King.’

Yet, as the old proverb suggested, even a fallen noble family retains enough hidden wealth to live comfortably for years.

Who could guess what manner of esoteric artifacts and deep secrets remained buried within the vaults of a clan that had reigned for tens of thousands of years?

‘Time to inspect it.’

Horus shifted his stance, clearing the space before him.

“Unseal, 「Golden Treasury」.”

The moment the command left his lips,

An immense portal crafted of solid gold materialized, seemingly carving its way through the very fabric of space.

Creak—

The grand doors parted with a heavy groan, welcoming its new master into the depths.

—

The Immortal Fortress, a Citadel steeped in pure dark energy, the absolute domain of malice.

“Ah— Hmm— Ah—!”

A bizarre, echoing voice reverberated through the confines of a secluded laboratory deep within the stronghold.

The entity was adjusting its pitch repeatedly, experimenting with various tones as though tuning a delicate instrument, before letting out a soft, pleased murmur.

“Kkuk kuk— This ought to suffice.”

The vocalization—a dark, grating chuckle that carried the oppressive weight of the abyss—came from a mature man possessing pitch-black hair, dark irises, and a manicured, short beard. He stood directly before a looking glass, his features set in a frozen, emotionless mold.

He observed his own image intently, then slowly forced the edges of his lips upward into a grin—.

Twitch—

…And without warning, his facial structure began to warp and slide out of alignment.

His lips shifted toward his right cheekbone, his nose migrated downward toward his chin, his right eye slid upward onto his forehead, and his left eye spun a full 180 degrees within its socket.

The previously handsome and orderly features had devolved into an utterly monstrous distortion.

“…”

Yet, the individual simply continued to study his reflection, completely unbothered by the grotesque display.

“…Tsk, the alignment still requires finer calibration.”

He grumbled, the sound now echoing from the mouth that had somehow repositioned itself at the base of his neck.

In the next instant,

Rip—!

…He reached upward with his hands and violently ripped his own face away.

The entirety of his facial flesh, encompassing his eyes, his hair, and even his inner throat lining, separated flawlessly from the structure beneath.

Nothing remained but a stark, white skull.

Twitch— Twitch—

“Ah… Uh… Eh…”

The severed visage, now resembling a horrifying, independent homunculus, continued to expand and contract within his grip, its jaw working up and down as it emitted faint, wet noises.

[“I was under the impression this configuration would hold. What a tedious endeavor.”]

Immortal King Hans fixed his burning, skeletal sockets onto the writhing mass in his palm, shaking his head in mild annoyance.

He carelessly flipped the discarded flesh into a metal receptacle resting in the corner of the laboratory, then turned back to review the extensive pile of alchemical schematics he had gathered on his desk.

‘…The framework is nearly perfected. A few more cycles should finish it.’

He was currently finalizing his arrangements for his upcoming excursion into Ganghwange.

The primary objective was to disguise himself perfectly as a living human, masking the overwhelming death energy of his undead nature.

As Hugo had previously discovered during his encounter with Elder Yunhyeon of the Wudang Sect, the spiritual perception of peak-stage martial artists was incredibly acute.

Standard disguises and simple physical masks would never survive their scrutiny.

In fact, before he could even attempt to interact with them, Hans—a walking avatar of absolute demise—would be categorized as nothing more than an exceptionally powerful, self-aware jiangshi.

‘While I possess the power to simply conquer them through sheer force and intimidation, it is far wiser to attempt a seamless infiltration.’

To ensure the absolute success of his underlying objectives, he needed to completely suppress any trace of his extra-dimensional origin.

His sheer power and unique techniques would already draw immense attention. If they managed to discern that he lacked a human soul entirely…

Consequently, he had devised a plan to graft an incredibly complex chimera onto his skeletal frame—a layer of genuine ‘living tissue’ capable of completely deceiving even the most legendary masters of martial arts.

This specific chimera was designed not only to react naturally to physical touch and external factors but also to replicate standard human biology, including respiration and metabolic processing.

[“I will need to fuse the properties of specimen E-3 with G-2N. That should minimize unexpected mutations and maximize cellular reaction times…”]

Engineering a living biological layer capable of surviving while anchored to the death-saturated bones of the Immortal King, while simultaneously mimicking human functions and obeying his mental commands, was a monumental challenge.

Furthermore, because living tissue could not survive the journey through dimensional rifts, he was forced to preserve the biological materials in a dormant, inert state, intending to finalize the grafting process once he arrived in Ganghwange.

Even creating a rudimentary, mindless organic shell was a task of immense difficulty.

Yet, his tireless experimentation had finally yielded the desired breakthrough.

Precisely one day later,

“Khehehe— Perfection.”

A mature gentleman with dark hair and striking black eyes stood in the laboratory, his countenance cold and precise as he permitted a dark, genuine smile to spread across his face.

It was an unsettlingly flawless, completely natural human expression.