The Dragon Elders' Legacy

Han Ji-woo hoisted the chubby Seibier high into the air and spun around in circles.

"Hahaha! Seibie~ Now we can even make a fridge and freezer!"

The environment in the Hidden Space was steadily improving. But one thing he just couldn't figure out was how to properly refrigerate or freeze his ingredients. Sure, tossing them into his Inventory stopped time and preserved their freshness and temperature perfectly. But humans were greedy creatures—once you got used to the good stuff, you always wanted more. Some things just tasted better ice-cold straight out of storage. Fruits especially. Watermelon hit different when it was chilled, right? And with ice, he could even blend it into a sweet fruit juice!

Delighted by this unexpected everyday upgrade, Han Ji-woo suddenly stopped laughing.

"...I'm not here to build a fridge, though."

He needed materials for crafting divine weapons. But with the Dragon Heart continuously getting absorbed by Seibier, he'd have to source them elsewhere. Luckily, he had a backup plan: the griffin leader was bringing his jewels.

Still, just in case there was anything worth taking, he scanned the tomb chamber thoroughly. It was completely empty—no real loot in sight.

"Tch."

Smacking his lips in disappointment, Han Ji-woo turned to leave with Seibier when—

—Now I sense the aura of a dragon from you as well.

A majestic voice echoed in Han Ji-woo's mind once more.

"Are you talking to me?"

The voice continued without acknowledging him.

—Faint, but unmistakable... Ah, so that's it. The arrangement of Dragon Lord Ibelius. Has it finally succeeded? After all this time, has the Hidden Space been activated? Have you set foot there?

The voice grew increasingly emotional. The name "Dragon Lord Ibelius" burned deep into Han Ji-woo's memory.

'The Hidden Space is an arrangement by the Dragon Lord?'

Until now, he'd had no idea who created it or why. To think he'd uncover that secret here.

He pulled up his message log, scrolling to the very beginning to find the one he wanted.

"Whoa!"

The name was properly displayed now. It had always been some garbled mess like '%$#$!#%'.

Collecting his thoughts, Han Ji-woo ventured a question, just in case.

"Why did Ibelius create the Hidden Space?"

He didn't expect an answer this time either, but—

—An ark containing the last hope of a perished world. That is the Hidden Space.

"An ark? Could you tell me more?"

—That is all we know. Before the sudden apocalypse struck our world, Ibelius had no time to explain to the other ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠elders. We only remember him tearing open a rift in the dimensions and vanishing to create the Hidden Space. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Thus, he was never buried in this tomb.

Han Ji-woo glanced at Seibier and asked another question.

"Then why isn't the black dragon elder here?"

—As the hatchling's master, you must raise it well to ensure the dragon lineage endures.

The elders' voice, which had been answering so cooperatively, suddenly veered off-topic. Han Ji-woo sensed they were dodging.

'Looks like... there was some bad blood between them and the black dragon.'

But if that was the case, why push him to continue the bloodline through Seibier?

'Who cares.'

It was dragon drama, not human. He wasn't that invested. He'd just take what benefited him now and call it a day.

"If you're done, we'll be going."

As Han Ji-woo moved to leave with Seibier, the voice stopped him.

—You carry a trace of Ibelius's power. He must have shared a fragment of his authority with whoever entered the space he created. And since you're responsible for the dragon lineage, we cannot simply let you go. What speaks to you now is the lingering thoughts left by the elders in this tomb. We gave the Dragon Heart to the young hatchling, so to you, we shall share the elders' lingering thoughts.

"Lingering thoughts? I don't really need those."

Lingering thoughts sounded like worries and regrets—nothing appealing.

But the next words flipped his mind 180 degrees.

—Leaving lingering thoughts requires immense draconic power. Thus, sharing them means sharing our power. Worry not—we offer only the strength within, not base concerns.

With those words, a surge of intense energy erupted from Han Ji-woo's body. System messages flooded his vision.

"......"

Han Ji-woo's jaw dropped as he skimmed the messages filling his view. Just from sharing the lingering thoughts, he'd hit the jackpot in an instant. All base stats up by 100. An impossible achievement granting the Dragon Knight title—which he'd pioneered, unlocking the entire title system and netting another achievement with 100 bonus points. Plus, boosted dragonkin affinity and a new skill: Dragon Scale.

He distributed the 100 bonus points evenly across his five base stats, then opened his status window.

"Oh, beautiful!"

His base stats had jumped by 120 each on average, pushing past 200 across the board. His overall power had more than doubled in a flash!

He checked the description for his new skill.

"This is insane."

So much at once—it was dizzying. If this wasn't the dungeon lottery, what was?

—Do you like your gift?

"Like it?"

Han Ji-woo bowed deeply in all four directions.

"I don't know where you are, so I'm expressing my gratitude to every corner!"

—You've adopted the proper attitude.

The voice carried a chuckle, pleased. And as everyone knew, good moods overlooked minor rudeness. Seizing the moment, Han Ji-woo pressed on.

"Sorry to ask after such a life-debt-level gift, but any chance you could help with materials for divine weapons?"

—Materials for divine weapons?

"My comrades are pushing deeper into the dungeon, and..."

—Enough. I shall peruse your memories.

A queasy energy probed his mind. Moments later—

—I see. So that's why Ibelius created the Hidden Space.

"Mind sharing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with me?"

—No. You must uncover it yourself. Only then will Ibelius's blueprint come to fruition.

"Too bad."

The Hidden Space hid countless secrets. Living there, Han Ji-woo knew that better than anyone. Now he knew Dragon Lord Ibelius made it—but not why. The hint? The elders called it an "ark."

—Perhaps you will end this tragedy... We shall grant what you desire.

The elders' voice cut his thoughts short. Suddenly, a massive white pillar erupted from the ground.

"This is...?"

—The bone of one of the dragon elders buried here.

"...!"

Han Ji-woo's eyes widened at "dragon bone." Osgeelro Haiban had forged incredible gear from a dragon eggshell. What could this produce?

—We wish to give more, but our bodies decayed strangely fast here—only this remains. Use it to aid your comrades' path.

Han Ji-woo stored it in his Inventory and bowed at ninety degrees.

"Thank you so much!"

No more voices came. Laden with unexpected treasures, he hummed happily out of the tomb with Seibier.

After the dim chamber, the bright light made him squint.

"Agh, eyes sting. But it's great. Right, Seibie?"

Qrurrr~

Seibier purred happily, rubbing against him. In the light, its scales gleamed an oddly white sheen.

"Huh? Your scales... turned white-black?"

Likely from absorbing the white dragon's power. They shifted mesmerizingly—blue in reflection, then back to black. Mystically beautiful.

Petting Seibier's head lightly, Han Ji-woo scanned around.

"But where's that griffin? Feels like we've been in there a while..."

Then—flap! Flap! Wings beat overhead.

"Speak of the devil."

Not far in the sky, the griffin leader hurried over, a basket of jewels in its beak.

* * *

Ferrofero watched the Dungeon Prison via his crystal orb.

"Master is truly amazing! Finding the dragon tomb in the Dungeon Prison and snagging impossibles like that! Our princess meeting him was pure luck!"

Ferrofero wiggled his hips in delight—when

"...!"

A chilling message hung in the air.