As the sphere of energy began to fade, I opened my eyes, my gaze filled with newfound clarity.
<Ding! Congratulations, host, for becoming a 5-star mage.>
<Ding! Congratulations, host, for becoming a 5-star knight.>
<Ding! Congratulations, host, for achieving something that has never been achieved.>
The words of the system echoed inside my head, notifying me about the breakthrough I had just made.
"Finally."
I mumbled, looking at my tattered body. There were scars everywhere; blood was dripping from them, making me feel like I had just done the battle of my life.
<Ding! The host is the first one to make a dual breakthrough.>
<Ding! Achievement [Forger of Paths] acquired.>
<Host's Mana Core and integration of Aura solidified.>
<Ding! The host's understanding of Aura increased.>
The system's voice persisted within me, each notification shedding light on the magnitude of the transformation that had taken place.
Rising from the ground, I acknowledged the pain that lingered but no longer dominated my senses.
Each ache and scar serves as a symbol of the journey I have undertaken, demonstrating my unwavering determination to conquer all obstacles.
"What a scene…."
Looking at the scene that I had created while being one with the chaos, I couldn't help but feel satisfied.
I was standing on top of a pillar- a pillar of at least 500 meters in height.
And surrounding me was a storm of chaos, filled with wind, fire, water, earth, lightning, sound, light, darkness, raw.
The elements still reverberated around me—the wind's symphony, fire's waltz, water's ebb and flow, earth's steadfastness, lightning's electrifying crackle, and the interplay of sound, light, and shadow.
Everything around me was chaotic, but if there were one thing that was fundamentally different, then that would be the fact that I could see what was before the chaos itself.
There, before the chaos, laid one simple thing.
What was unveiled before me was a colossal and dying dragon, its enormity surpassing anything I had ever encountered. The dragon was on the brink of its last breaths, its form fading as the energy that once sustained it ebbed away.
"You are here," I mumbled, looking at the once mighty dragon. It was on his last breath, I could see his scattering body of his.
It looked epic, a lot more epic than how it was shown in the game.
The dragon's body was a symphony of awe-inspiring features. Its scales, once gleaming with a regal luster, now held a weathered patina that spoke of countless years. Each scale was a work of art, intricately designed with patterns that seemed to shift and change with the fading light.
Its body was adorned with not one, but four pairs of wings, each set positioned with an elegant symmetry that defied the chaos that surrounded us. These wings, spanning wide, carried the aura of a once-mighty ruler of the skies.
Despite its feeble state, the dragon exuded an aura of ancient might and wisdom that filled the air. Its presence was overwhelming, a testament to the colossal beings that once ruled the world. I approached cautiously, the weight of its fading power pressing upon me.
'Dragon King. Placudraxion.'
The being that stood before me was the one who once ruled the lands of dragons, the one that flew over the world in the era of Dragons and Ancient Kingdoms.
But now, before me, such a being was lying in a state of near death, trying to fight against the unstoppable force of time.
'It is time to end your agony.' With that thought, I slowly made my way into the chaotic storm.
However, whether it was because the chaos now accepted me, or I accepted it, it no longer hurt me nor did it try to defy me.
But, the sole presence of Dragon King, the natural pressure of predator emitted from it was something to take note of.
"Grrr….." It was hard to step up, the scars on my body aching. But, I simply ignored the pain.
Some may ask why was I not healing my scars. Surely, I had potions at my disposal, right?
And the truth was simple. I was paying my respects to this Dragon King before me, while also showing that I was the one to pass his test.
I enveloped my aura around my body, but that was not all.
At this point, my aura had already formed its characteristics.
Characteristic of Chaos.
With my Aura resisting his pressure, under his form I walked one by one, stepping onto the earth and flying over the storm.
And, it didn't take too long for me to reach the place.
As I stood before the dying dragon, a dialogue unfurled, not through words spoken but through a profound connection that transcended language. The dragon's eyes, though dim, held a spark of recognition—an acknowledgment of the journey I had undertaken to reach this point.
"You have come far," the dragon's voice resonated within my mind, its tone a mixture of reverence and exhaustion.
"I have," I responded, my voice carrying the weight of my journey. "Your presence is unexpected but not unwelcome." I showed him my respect.
"No need for your small wordplays, human. I know what you are thinking." As the Dragon spoke, his vertically irised eyes turned to me. It was as if he could see beyond the surface, piercing through to the depths of my thoughts.
I met the Dragon's gaze on my own. This dying Dragon was still crafty, of course being one of those that stood on top of the world, it was a necessity.
A smirk bloomed on my face, looking at it. "Is that so?" I answered.
The Dragon replied, its face lying on the ground. "You have faced the convergence and emerged not as its conqueror, but as its embodiment. It is a distinction that few have achieved."
Hearing him speaking the same things in the game, my smirk widened. "It seems you are still trying to test me, aren't you?" I answered.
This place is the path of convergence, where one is faced with another. It was the place to test one's own self and achieve the breakthrough, but it was also a place solely designed by this dying old man.
"Indeed. The knowledge you possess. It is indeed terrifying, isn't it?"
"It may be terrifying for some, and it may be terrifying for another. Who knows?" Speaking those words, I raised my head, locking my eyes on it. "Isn't it your wish to salvage this fate?"
With my words, the Dragon's eyes remained calm. It seemed this was not the first time it was hearing about these words. "The word fate you are talking about. It is no word that you shall speak."
"What does this mean?"
"The fate you bear is already complex enough. You are in no position to bear such fate as myself. Your lineage….You are no simple guy."
I was slightly taken aback by the revelation. The dragon's words held a weight that resonated with a truth I had long suspected but never fully comprehended.
No matter what, this lineage of mine was something I could never understand. The words of Austin, the words of Xenon, the words of Nyx, and countless other things surrounding me.
It was nothing simple, and I knew that fact.
"You were tested by the convergence, not merely to showcase your might, but to stir awake the dormant potential within you," the dragon's voice exuded both solemnity and resolve. "You are cast in a role that reaches beyond the confines of this convergence, a role that will sculpt the fate of our realms."
I let his words sink in, the gravity of his revelation taking root in my understanding. "And what might that role entail?" I inquired, though I knew that direct answers were rarely granted.
"The role you seek is not a script to be recited but a symphony to be composed. The future remains in flux, awaiting the resonance of your choices," the dragon's response echoed with timeless wisdom.
I absorbed his words, acknowledging the vastness of the canvas before me. "Then, perhaps, the answer lies in the journey itself."
"Indeed, the journey you undertake is yours to shape, a narrative spun from the threads of existence," the dragon affirmed.
I let out a chuckle, realizing the futility of expecting a clear path. "So, no straightforward directions, just like navigating a labyrinth in a fog."
"The maze of fate is navigated not solely by sight but by the whispers of intuition and the footsteps of resolve," the dragon's voice carried a hint of amusement.
I smirked at his response. "So, wise and cryptic, much like every ancient being."
A rumble of amusement echoed in the dragon's voice. "To think that the one who once ruled the skies would be labeled 'cryptic' by a descendant."
"And yet here we are," I replied with a grin, the formality between us dissolving further.
"True enough. Since you understand why you've ventured here, let us dispense with formalities," the dragon's voice took on a more casual tone.
"Kid. Do you understand the gravity of your request? What you seek is not a trinket but a force of perilous proportions," the dragon's voice held a tinge of concern.
"I am well aware," I affirmed, my voice steady and resolute.
The dragon's gaze remained steady on me. "Are you prepared for the consequences?"
"I am. I've weighed the risks against the necessity."
The dragon's eyes seemed to gleam with a mixture of respect and caution. "Then, there's no use in further deliberation."
"Agreed," I replied. "The world's strings of fate are already taut. It's time to add another layer."
A wry smile touched the dragon's lips. "You truly are an audacious one."
"Call me audacious, or call me determined. In the end, I know what must be done against those who wish to trample me."
"Indeed," the dragon acknowledged with a solemn nod. "Let determination be the fire that guides you through the abyss."
With a decisive breath, I reached into a hidden pocket within my clothing. My fingers closed around the cool, pulsating surface of the Dragon Heart, a precious thing I had prepared for this very moment.
Placudraxion's eyes, though dim, fixated on the heart in my hand. "The heart of my kin," he murmured, his voice a mixture of reverence and nostalgia.
I took a step closer to the majestic creature, holding out the Dragon Heart before me.
The Dragon looked into my eyes for one last time. "Kid. This is the last time I am asking this, are you sure you wish to do it?"
"I am."
"Then, I shall begin."
The dragon extended a massive, scaled limb, his claws cradling the heart with a gentle grace that belied his enormous size. As he took the heart from my hand, a surge of energy passed between us, a connection forged in the crucible of chaos.
And following that, an immense amount of pain assaulted me as the energy of the Dragon King entered my very being.
It was time to peak my growth and make use of the Dragon Heart.
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