Renan, thinking back to that conversation now, felt an eerie sense of intrigue.
’The Dwarf Progenitor didn’t want his dungeon to be conquered?’
’Then… what was the true purpose of those dungeons?’
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Lost in thought, he continued walking through the bustling city streets, the morning sun casting long shadows on the cobblestone roads.
Renan, while lost in thought, had unknowingly reached the exit gate. Since he had already gathered all the information he needed, he was now ready to proceed to the next stage of his journey. His heart pounded with excitement as he thought about what lay ahead.
’Although I don’t know why the Dwarf Progenitor set such a ridiculous requirement for entering the dungeon, in the end, it won’t affect me. After all, I’m only eight years old, so I qualify perfectly,’ Renan mused, a slight smirk forming on his face.
He couldn’t help but wonder—if the Dwarf Progenitor had known about him, would he have set the age requirement even lower? Or would he have come up with an entirely different condition to keep people out? The thought amused him.
After showing the stamp on his hand and stating his name to the guards at the gate, Renan was allowed to pass through without any trouble. The moment he stepped outside, he took a deep breath of the fresh air, his excitement growing. Without wasting any time, he broke into a sprint toward his next destination—the Dwarf Progenitor’s dungeon.
As he ran, his mind kept circling back to the mysteries surrounding the dungeon. ’Why would someone go to such lengths to restrict entry? What exactly is hidden inside that made the Dwarf Progenitor set such an absurd requirement?’ Renan pondered, trying to make sense of it.
His first guess was that the dungeon contained the Dwarf Progenitor’s legacy—perhaps some powerful artifact or lost knowledge meant for the most worthy successor. But after thinking it over, he dismissed that theory.
’No, there’s no way. If it were truly a legacy, he would want someone to inherit it. Setting an age limit that practically guarantees failure makes no sense. I’m sure most people would want their legacy to be carried forward, not sealed away forever,’ Renan reasoned.
If it wasn’t a legacy, then what was it? What could be inside the dungeon that the Progenitor went to such great lengths to keep people from reaching it? And more importantly, why did the same conditions apply to the dungeons of the elves and humans as well?
’It has to be something incredibly important—something that the Progenitor’s didn’t want just anyone to get their hands on,’ Renan concluded, his excitement growing.
In the end, he shook his head. ’Oh well, there’s no need to overthink it. I’m just about to get there. I can just clear it myself and see what’s inside.’
His mind now focused, Renan picked up speed. Within five to ten minutes, he had arrived at his destination. But instead of rushing in, he stopped at a safe distance, carefully observing the dungeon’s entrance.
The dungeon’s door was massive, made of intricately carved wood, its surface pulsing with a strange, otherworldly energy. The surrounding structure was composed of stone, seamlessly merging with the ground, as if it had been carved directly from the earth itself. The stone extended underground, suggesting the dungeon’s true depth was far greater than what could be seen from the surface.
Standing guard in front of the entrance were two dwarf warriors, each wielding massive hammers that were easily twice their size. Their eyes were sharp, scanning their surroundings with unwavering vigilance, ready to strike at the first sign of trouble.
After carefully assessing them, Renan muttered under his breath, "Both of them are seven-star warriors."
He weighed his options. ’If I fight both of them at the same time, it would be tough, but I could win. However, the battle would create too much noise. The Dwarf Empire isn’t far from here, and if the commotion reaches them, the Dwarf Emperor will definitely send eight-star warriors to investigate. If that happens, I’ll be doomed.’
Renan frowned, realizing that brute force wasn’t an option. While he was confident in his abilities, he wasn’t strong enough to take them down silently. He needed another way in.
Then, a sudden thought struck him.
"Oh, right!" he exclaimed, clenching his right fist and tapping it against his left palm. "I should use my fox illusion ability. Even though they’re strong enough to break out of it eventually, I only need to distract them for a few seconds to slip past them. That should be more than enough."
With his plan set, Renan transformed into his fox form. His body began to shift—his once pure white hair darkened to jet black, and his red eyes turned a shimmering gold. While his facial features remained mostly unchanged, the simple alteration of his hair and eye color made him look like an entirely different person. Only those extremely familiar with him would be able to recognize him, and even then, they might hesitate.
Taking a deep breath, Renan focused, and soon, his golden eyes shone brightly on the dwarf guards. Almost instantly, their bodies tensed. Their heads snapped to the side, eyes widening in shock.
"A dragon!" they both exclaimed in unison, gripping their weapons tightly.
Their breathing quickened, and their stance shifted into a defensive position, prepared to fight at any moment.
While the dwarves were caught in his illusion, Renan swiftly moved. Without hesitation, he dashed forward, appearing directly in front of the dungeon door. He could feel the illusion beginning to weaken—the guards wouldn’t remain fooled for long.
’I need to hurry,’ he thought urgently.
Reaching out, Renan pressed his right hand against the massive wooden door. The moment his skin made contact, something unexpected happened.
Instead of simply opening like a normal door, the entire surface shimmered with energy. A strange, mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
[REQUIREMENT: MET]
[ENTRY: ALLOWED]
A bright light engulfed the door, and before Renan could react—
—he vanished.