Dragon's Tomb
Such words were clearly engraved on a tombstone as large as Han Ji-woo's body.
"This is supposed to be a place with some special treasure?"
Han Ji-woo asked, his face a mix of puzzlement and reluctant understanding.
"Yes."
The griffin replied curtly.
'Like a royal tomb or something?'
Royal tombs often held not just the king's body but also their cherished gold and jewels. So maybe this dragon's tomb stored similar treasures.
But then the griffin suddenly launched into an unprompted explanation.
"When the Bryunak Continent fell, many of its monsters were imprisoned in the Dungeon Prison. But no dragons were among them. This tombstone... I erected it myself."
"How do you know a dragon's buried here?"
"Impossible not to know. A terrifying surge of jewel-like energy pulses from deep underground. ...A dragon heart. The heart of a dragon, infused with immense mana!"
The griffin's voice grew heated as its beak moved.
"That's the ultimate gem, incomparable to anything else. The most special treasure in the world!"
"So just dig it up and take it?"
Regaining its composure at Han Ji-woo's question, the griffin shook its head.
"Can't."
"What kinda nonsense is that?"
Instead of answering, the griffin stabbed the ground with its sharp talons.
Boom!
A shockwave repelled its foot with tremendous force, and a system message appeared.
Those not acknowledged by the dragon cannot enter the tomb.
"As you can see."
Han Ji-woo rapped the ground behind the tombstone with his fist.
Thud!
There was definitely an empty space beyond. He put more force into his next punch.
Bang!
The sound was loud, but nothing else happened. His fist bounced back, and the same message repeated.
Those not acknowledged by the dragon cannot enter the tomb.
"If we can't get in, what's the point?"
The griffin shot Han Ji-woo a cold glare.
"I said I'd show you the secret places. Taking what's inside is on you."
With that, the griffin flapped up into the air.
"You leavin' me here? I don't even know where this is!"
The griffin ignored him, beating its wings rapidly to escape before the annoying human could ask for more. Han Ji-woo let out a hollow chuckle as it vanished in seconds.
"Ha. That bastard's got a real shitty personality."
He was a bit annoyed, but no time to waste emotions on one monster right now. Anyway, buried underground was a dragon heart. As the griffin said, it had to be the ultimate treasure among all jewels.
Han Ji-woo's fantasy knowledge wasn't vast, but deep enough to know that much.
"Seein' stuff like this makes you wonder if fantasy novels were written by someone who actually visited those worlds."
Back then, he'd have dismissed it as nonsense. But experiencing it firsthand? Totally plausible suspicion.
"Hmm... Dragon's tomb, huh."
Meaning a dragon died and was buried here. If it were alive, the Ogre King never could've been the Dungeon Prison's top dog.
Curious how this happened, but that could wait. First, get into the tomb.
"Those not acknowledged by the dragon cannot enter."
Han Ji-woo mulled over the phrase. Then it hit him.
'Don't dragons acknowledge other dragons?'
And he had Seibier, his tamed pet black hatchling. He'd summoned Pao to the Dungeon Prison before, so Seibier should be fine too.
"Seibie!"
At his call, Seibier appeared right beside him. It whipped its head around in surprise, then lit up spotting its master and charged over joyfully.
Kyuurruk!
"You startled? Heh heh. ...But dude, did you pack on more pounds already? Eat somethin' on the sly?"
Seibier guiltily stared at the distant sky, pretending nothing happened. It had just devoured half a watermelon from the patch in seconds. Osgeelro Haiban and Lucy had tried stopping it, but no use. Among dragons, this one had insane gluttony.
Han Ji-woo inspected Seibier's face closely. Its cheeks were definitely plumper, making it even chubbier overall, with a potbelly sticking out. Even as a hatchling, the puffy look killed its draconic intimidation.
"No matter how fast dragons gain weight from eating, this is too quick, right?"
Kyuurrr?
"From now on, you're not Seibie—you're Pudge. Pudge the Chubby."
Kyuu~?
"Pudge~!"
Kyuruk~!
The newly dubbed Pudge beamed at its nickname. Sure, the pet status window still said Seibier, but Han Ji-woo planned to call it Pudge from now on. Suited him better, matched the visuals perfectly. Plus, a strong hunch it'd get even fatter.
"Pudge, stand over there by the tombstone."
Pudge obediently positioned itself behind the stone.
"Jump!"
Kyu!
Pudge leaped high, landing with a thud!—and the ground behind it split open.
One acknowledged by the dragon. The path to the tomb shall open.
"Yes!"
Just as Han Ji-woo hoped, stairs leading underground appeared.
The passage down was incredibly wide—five grown men could walk shoulder-to-shoulder easily.
"Alright, let's head down?"
Han Ji-woo took the lead down the stairs, Pudge following—when something screamed down from the sky.
Screeeeech—!
His nape prickled at the savage aura. Turning, the griffin leader was right upon him.
It had pretended to leave but hidden nearby to watch. If Han Ji-woo somehow opened the tomb, it'd snatch the dragon heart. And now the "somehow" happened.
"That treasure's mine!"
The griffin's eyes wild, its talons slashed to split Han Ji-woo's skull.
Too late to block, dodge, or counter.
'Shit!'
Not knowing the griffin's base stats made it riskier. If higher than his, it'd be fatal—or deadly bad luck.
But then—
It halted!
The griffin's talons stopped just before his eyes.
'...What?'
Its stone-still face was frozen in terror. Even breathing cautiously, spasms wracked its body.
Grrrrrrrr...
Han Ji-woo belatedly realized what terrified it. Behind him, a small body exuding immense presence growled in warning.
Black hatchling Seibier. The endlessly cute act around its master was gone. Baring razor teeth, its fierce eyes blazed murderously—the ultimate predator. Black mist roiled from its maw, unmasking its foul mood.
The griffin slowly backed away, desperate not to provoke the unbeatable foe.
One step, two, three. Once distanced, it gulped and pressed its head to the ground—a gesture of no fight.
"I, I was wrong."
Underestimating the hatchling was its fatal mistake. The leader had never faced one directly. Adult dragons, sure—but hatchlings stayed in nests till grown.
Then one appeared by Han Ji-woo, opening the dragon tomb door. From afar, it looked small and harmless, fawning cutely. Blinded by the heart, judgment failed. It walked into its own trap.
"Sp-spare me."
Han Ji-woo gaped as it begged Seibier.
"Hey. Say that to me."
"...What?"
His finger pointed at Seibier.
"That's my pet. One word from me, and you're dead or alive. You're not dumb—you get it."
The griffin whipped its lowered head toward him.
"S-sorry! Please, just spare my life...!"
"Apologies aren't just words."
"What... do you want?"
Han Ji-woo's lips curled. A wrathful growl sliced into the griffin's ears like a blade.
"Bring every damn jewel you have, punk."
"...!"
The unexpected demand dropped its heart.
"W-wait. All... all the jewels...?"
"Don't want? Then trade 'em for your life."
Grrrrrrrr!
Seibier's black mist thickened. Pale-faced, the griffin nodded frantically.
"O-okay. I'll bring them."
"All of them. Hide one and get caught? You die alone—I'll tell the Ogre King, and your whole griffin crew gets wiped. Got it?"
"...Got it."
Utterly subdued, it flew off weakly.
Han Ji-woo yelled after it.
"Have those jewels ready when I exit the tomb!"
No reply. But he was certain it'd obey.
"Pudge, c'mere!"
Kyuurruk!
Back to Pudge the moment the griffin vanished, it grinned and dove into his arms.
"Man, you're a lucky charm. Thanks to you, we'll score a ton more jewels."
Kyuuut—
"Now, let's go down."
Finally, Han Ji-woo entered the dragon's crypt with Pudge.
* * *
The chamber at the stairs' end was a vast cavern. Stepping in, a solemn voice boomed in their minds.
This is the crypt where the elders of the White, Red, Green, and Blue dragon tribes are laid to rest.
On the day the Bryunak Continent fell, all dragons of the world had to face death.
Thus, we elders created this hidden tomb, hoping some successor would inherit the power of our four tribes and continue our lineage.
Deceiving the Creator's eyes was exceedingly difficult, but we succeeded.
"Four dragons buried here?"
White, Red, Green, Blue dragons. This crypt was their desperate bid to pass on those lineages.
"But our Pudge is a black dragon."
No black elder here, apparently. Curious story, but the voice continued undeterred.
No surviving dragons remain, but should one miraculously find this crypt by heaven's luck, it shall inherit our elders' powers one by one.
However, forcing them risks ruining the body. Only when the vessel is ready can all powers be fully claimed.
The voice paused. Radiant light shone from Pudge's body.
Thy body can hold but one power now. Take the White Dragon Elder's heart.
A watermelon-sized blue gem materialized in the air. Its dazzling, crystalline beauty captivated Han Ji-woo.
"That's... the dragon heart?"
No wonder the griffin lusted after it. He'd never seen a more stunning jewel.
It soon absorbed into Pudge. Then, system messages appeared.
Dragon Breath (White)
Exhales a freezing breath that eternally ices all it touches. Frozen targets melt only by the dragon's will.
Mana cost: 100. Cooldown: 1 minute.
"Whoaaa!"
Han Ji-woo whooped, checking Pudge's new breath description.
"We got a fridge!"