[Vol. 7] Chapter 267: Ascension to the Throne
Xiluo smiled lightly.
"If today is the day I'm doomed to die, I at least hope to do something meaningful. I’d rather die honorably in battle, not be secretly assassinated in a dark corner by some assassin or evil creature. Staying with you three legendary people might actually make me safer, huh?"
"But... ah, Brother!"
Before Carinvega could say anything else, Xiluo suddenly poured a bottle of high-level healing potion into his mouth and turned to run toward the gray giant in the distance!
"Stupid fool, look over here!!!"
At the sound of Xiluo's shout, the giant instinctively turned its head, its gaze seemingly pulled like a magnet, locking onto Xiluo’s small, fast-moving figure. The giant immediately let out an angry roar, similar to Orluk’s, but much more chaotic and confusing!
"Xiluo!!! I’ll kill you! Get away from the princess!!!"
"Ha, having such an arrogant idiot as a subordinate, my royal sister sure is unlucky!"
As the giant's massive foot came down like a pillar, the red-haired young man didn’t hesitate. He leaped into the air, using the wreckage of the building as support, narrowly avoiding being crushed into dust with the debris. While in mid-air, he raised his hand and sent a sword energy flying back at the giant!
"Wind Slash!"
The move, a signature technique learned from a certain sword saint, carried a sharp wind that howled and slammed heavily into the giant’s chest. But despite Xiluo putting everything into the attack, it had no effect. The sword energy went right through the giant’s body, which was made of gray mist, and flew into the air, scattering until it vanished at the limit of its range.
No physical form!?
Xiluo was slightly startled upon seeing this. He had expected his test attack wouldn’t work easily, but the unbelievable result still caught him off guard. After all, the monster had just made a huge crater in the ground with one stomp. Why, when attacked, did it...
For a moment, Xiluo’s thoughts were distracted. Just that brief lapse in focus caused a chain reaction, and the giant’s huge hand, like a giant fan, was already rapidly growing larger in front of him!
"Boom!!!"
The remains of several corridor pillars shattered into stone fragments under the immense force, but among them, there was no trace left of the true target.
A small flying sword, engraved with flower-like patterns, rushed swiftly toward them, dragging Xiluo's body through the air for several meters, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow that would have severely injured him. The red-haired man used the momentum to jump, landing next to the three members of the [Flying Flower Sword] who had just arrived. The flying sword also traced a graceful arc in the air, lightly landing in Yir's hand, bringing with it a breeze.
"Phew... thank you."
"Oh? The prince can actually say such a thing? The world says that Prince Xiluo of the Empire is stubborn and unreasonable. I thought you would scold me for interfering in your business," Yir said, glancing at him with a hint of hostility, but she had indeed acted decisively to save him just now.
Xiluo responded indifferently, "I’ve always been someone who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. When it’s time to thank, I thank, and when it’s time to repay, I do not refuse. Do some rumors from the outside world hold more truth than what is seen with your own eyes? Also, since we are both disciples of the Sword Saint, even though we’ve never lived or learned together, we can be considered fellow disciples. Yir and the others needn’t be formal, just call me by my name."
"Tch..."
The younger female disciple snorted lightly, seemingly unimpressed by Xiluo's attempt at closeness. However, the one who seemed to have no interest in power struggles, [Blunt Edge], stepped forward, calmly preparing to face the giant, which was once again rampaging toward them, her posture steady.
"Before engaging in power struggles, let’s focus on keeping our lives intact first."
………………………
Lannas Province, Dragon Mountain Range.
In a deep part of the mountains, an immense cavern was carved by some non-human force and decorated like an exquisite palace. Inside, a golden-haired girl sat cross-legged, her eyes once again opening. The golden flames in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a sense of realization and contemplation.
"So this is what Master meant by Divine Descent, the subtle relationship between the ritual and the divine. If it were the old 'me,' I probably would have never understood this feeling..."
Murmuring to herself, she stood up and turned to look toward the center of the cavern.
Surrounded by seven massive stone pillars, each rising up to the ceiling and carved with intricate patterns, a platinum-colored figure, over a hundred meters long, lay in the center. Even though it was curled up and its eyes were closed, it still exuded an air of absolute beauty and power, quietly sleeping.
It was a dragon, a real dragon, a higher existence that didn’t belong to any of the Seven Great Dragon Clans.
Her platinum-colored scales were spotless, as if carved from the purest and most flawless crystal, transparent and smooth. The long, graceful tail coiled around her body seemed to perfectly combine strength and beauty. A pair of horns, filled with majesty and elegance, reflected a soft golden glow under the light of the seven pillars surrounding her.
The Light Pillar, representing the Holy White Dragon.
The Dark Pillar, representing the Dark Magic Dragon.
The Crystal Pillar, representing the Diamond Crystal Dragon.
The Flame Pillar, representing the Fire and Life Dragon.
The Cold Pillar, representing the Frost and Arcane Dragon.
The Cloud Pillar, representing the Thunder and Tempest Dragon.
The Rock Pillar, representing the Earth and Material Dragon.
These seven pillars, shaped by the Dragon Kings using their own blood, were created for the Ascension Ceremony. They were the original site of the Dragon God Temple, and only one dragon in the entire world had the right to bathe in their light and reside there.
Among the many worshippers in the mountains, she had a grand and supreme title.
Dragon God.
The golden-haired little girl let out a soft breath and patted the hem of her small dress, which had gathered some dust from sitting cross-legged. The crisp sound of her bare feet tapping against the ground, along with the soft ringing of the foot rings, filled the air as she stepped closer to the being called the Dragon God.
In this vast cave, it was just her and the Dragon God alone. It was an absolute secret space where no one would know what was happening, no matter what took place.
Normally, the dragonkin, who devoutly worshipped the dragons, would never allow outsiders to approach their most revered deity in such a manner. This would be not only a threat to the sleeping Dragon God but also an absolute desecration of their faith. The girl should not have been here, but...
She was the exception.
"Our memories… You want to understand this world more, and understand your master’s heart more. Perhaps that is why I am here now..."
"And now, I truly understand."
Amid the humming sound of the light from the seven-colored pillars, the little dragon girl seemed to pass through the last protection beside the platinum-colored dragon effortlessly, arriving right next to her.