The Dragon Lord's Revelation
The massive dragon that had given everything without reservation vanished in an instant. The black-haired man supporting the suddenly collapsed Kang Min-ho. The familiar aura emanating from him. Putting all these facts together, the most logical conclusion was that the man's true identity was that very dragon.
He gazed down at Kang Min-ho with deep, profound eyes, then gently stroked the head of the Water Dragon rubbing against him as it approached. It was hard to believe this was the same creature that had moments ago unleashed ferocious energy and blasted breath attacks. A serene aura now enveloped him completely.
Professor Park Cheol-gyu glanced around, confirming no one else was present, and let out a soft sigh.
"Hoo~ So you're that... I mean, the dragon from just now?"
His words caught in his throat, and he furrowed his brow deeply as he asked. The black-haired man turned to look at him. His obsidian eyes fixed on Professor Park Cheol-gyu.
Flinch.
Just their eyes meeting was enough to make Professor Park Cheol-gyu instinctively step back without realizing it.
What the hell? This pressure...
As if fully understanding Professor Park Cheol-gyu's reaction, the man smiled softly and spoke.
"We should talk inside first."
"..."
He nodded toward the lair—the former boss room—cradling Kang Min-ho in his arms as he walked that way.
"Heh!"
Professor Park Cheol-gyu let out a dry chuckle and shook his head. He had no choice but to admit it: the initiative had already shifted to the other side.
Clicking his tongue lightly, Professor Park Cheol-gyu followed behind. Kang Mir, who had been observing the situation, quietly trailed after them, his eyes on the Water Dragon still circling the black-haired man instead of returning to him.
In one crumbling corner of the half-collapsed lair, the black-haired man snapped his fingers lightly. A table and four chairs emerged from the floor.
He carefully seated the unconscious Kang Min-ho in one, then gestured gracefully to the others.
"You should sit for a bit."
"Yeah."
Professor Park Cheol-gyu gritted his teeth to resist being overwhelmed by the man's presence and sat down, responding curtly. The man smiled faintly at the sight.
When his gaze turned to Kang Mir, the young man startled and quickly took the seat beside him.
"Like tea?"
"..."
With a casual wave of his hand, steaming teacups appeared before the two men. The cups looked exquisitely luxurious at a glance, and the fragrant aroma made their mouths water involuntarily. To an outsider, it might have seemed like a casual tea time.
Professor Park Cheol-gyu, staring silently at his cup, watched as the man elegantly lifted his to his lips.
"I'll ask again. You're that dragon, right?"
Setting his cup down on the table, the man gazed steadily at Professor Park Cheol-gyu and opened his mouth.
"Allow me a proper introduction, human hero. I am Brunhilde, guardian of the intermediate realm and Dragon Lord."
Kang Mir's eyes widened at his words. Not just any dragon, but a Dragon Lord. Suddenly, the Water Dragon nuzzling affectionately against him made perfect sense—it was the last hatchling.
"Alright, Mr. Brunhilde. You seem to know something about this situation. Care to explain it to us?"
"This place is a fragment of the era I lived in. Think of it as a remnant of a world that's already perished—easier to grasp that way?"
"Your era? And it's already destroyed?"
Professor Park Cheol-gyu tilted his head at the man's words. Did that mean all the dungeons appearing in their world were traces of fallen realms?
"It seems these fragments from our world are gradually altering the one you live in."
Surprise spread across the faces of Professor Park Cheol-gyu and Kang Mir at his statement.
"And the monsters you've been fighting? They're the degraded forms of those who lived in that era—including myself."
The two men were speechless at the shocking truths spilling from his mouth one after another. Why had dungeons suddenly appeared in their world? What was the true nature of the monsters pouring out from them? The mysterious power of mana that came with the dungeons, the emergence of Awakeners—all these hidden secrets were slowly coming to light.
Professor Park Cheol-gyu carefully gathered his questions and chose his words before speaking.
"What do you mean by using fragments of your era to change our world?"
"To elevate it to a level where a Transcendent can descend."
"Transcendent? A level where it can descend?"
Professor Park Cheol-gyu pressed his throbbing temples and echoed the words. What the hell was a Transcendent? What did descent even mean? To him, who had lived believing this world was everything, the dragon's words shattered his every conception—each one far too immense.
Unaware or uncaring of his distress, Dragon Lord Brunhilde continued.
"Once this world reaches a level that can withstand a Transcendent's descent, it descends directly and devours the world itself. To explain in human terms: like fattening livestock until it's ripe, then slaughtering it. The only difference is the scale—a single world."
"..."
"..."
Using fragments of destroyed worlds to create dungeons, all to raise their world to be devoured by some Transcendent? That meant their world, advancing toward a new magical civilization through these dungeons, was actually sprinting toward doom.
"So, in the end, there's nothing we can do?"
Professor Park Cheol-gyu asked through gritted teeth.
Leave the dungeons alone, and endless monsters would wipe out humanity. Conquer them diligently to advance the world, and that only hastened the Transcendent's arrival. Humans were trapped in a no-win dilemma.
"Perhaps."
Brunhilde nodded slowly in agreement, then turned his gaze to the still-unconscious Kang Min-ho. What dwelled within him was undoubtedly a remnant of Bruschmidt. Thanks to that, he himself had awakened from an eternal slumber.
A power I can't comprehend...
But now he saw it: beyond that, traces of an unknown Transcendent lingered— a mysterious force beyond even his abilities.
Perhaps...
The thought flashed that this world might yet escape destruction because of it.
Turning back to the other two, he smiled bitterly and spoke.
"I'd love to explain more in detail, but sadly, my time is short."
"What?"
Dragon Lord Brunhilde's gaze shifted not to the questioning Professor Park Cheol-gyu, but to Kang Mir.
"There was a child born to the blue dragon Rusalreon just before his death. That child was beloved by all dragons—the last hatchling. I sense that child's trace in you. Come here for a moment, would you?"
"Pardon?"
Kang Mir blinked in confusion, looking helplessly at Professor Park Cheol-gyu with a frozen expression. A gentle voice reached him.
"I'm not trying to harm you. It's just that I wish to give what I can, in hopes your world avoids our fate. Don't be afraid."
"Ah, yes."
Confirming Professor Park Cheol-gyu's subtle nod, he stood awkwardly and approached Dragon Lord Brunhilde.
"That child died without gaining the power all dragons receive upon reaching adulthood. A dragon's true strength lies in the knowledge accumulated over near-eternal time. I'll pass it to you. How much you can accept depends on the strength of that child's trace within you."
With those words, Brunhilde extended his slender hand and placed it on Kang Mir's head.
"Endure it well."
Brilliant light burst from his hand.
"Guh!!"
Kang Mir stifled a groan, his eyes bulging red as he stared into space. In that instant, a fragment of the Akashic Records—records spanning all dimensions—was etched into his mind.
Splat.
Nosebleed erupted from the overwhelming pressure. Ignoring the blood streaming down, Kang Mir absorbed the massive influx of information stacking in his head, transforming into a being on an entirely new level.
Bang!
With a sharp sound, Kang Mir's body was shoved backward. Though only a blink had passed, it felt like days had gone by.
Stagger.
Reeling, he gripped the chair to steady himself and sit.
"Th-thank you."
Only now realizing the enormity of the being before him, Kang Mir wiped the blood and bowed his head.
"As expected, only a fraction could be transferred. The rest is up to your own ability."
"Yes."
Gazing at his still-trembling hands, lost in thought, Kang Mir slowly replied. Brunhilde turned to Professor Park Cheol-gyu.
"Though I've fallen endlessly and lost my original power, a dragon's essence remains unchanged. You, who hunted such a being and earned the title of Dragon Slayer."
"Urgh..."
Professor Park Cheol-gyu felt his soul being sucked into the man's piercing eyes, a dizzying vertigo.
Hummm.
A black-glowing suit of armor materialized beside him.
"I gift this armor to you. It grows stronger the more enemy blood it absorbs."
What Brunhilde bestowed was none other than Dragon Scale Armor—a one-of-a-kind piece forged from the scales of the greatest dragon, the Dragon Lord himself. Infused with potent draconic energy, no ordinary human could even dream of wearing it. Only one who had slain a dragon with their own power and bathed in its blood was worthy: the Dragon Slayer's armor.
Professor Park Cheol-gyu marveled at the armor that had captivated him instantly. As if entranced, he reached out, and the armor hummed in response.
"It will aid you greatly on your path."
"Thanks."
Brunhilde smiled softly, satisfied at Professor Park Cheol-gyu's gruff but sincere words.
"And..."
His gaze turned to the limp, unconscious Kang Min-ho.
"Nothing's as dangerous as an incomplete Dragon Heart."
His hand extended toward Kang Min-ho's chest. Though he had degraded into a near-monster over eons, he couldn't abandon this child who carried Bruschmidt's legacy.
Vrrrrm.
A massive vibration accompanied an outpouring of light from his hand.
At least this way, we can be together. Bruschmidt.
Feeling Bruschmidt's trace through his hand, Dragon Lord Brunhilde smiled gently. He poured out every last drop of his remaining power without hesitation.
The Dragon Heart absorbed it greedily, not wasting a speck. Sensing its fierce pulsing through his hand, Brunhilde smiled in satisfaction.
Even the power maintaining his form—he unleashed it all. His figure began to fade, as if being erased from the world.
His final gaze fell on the two men.
"Take good care of this child."
With those words, his form vanished completely.
Whoosh.
The intense light enveloping Kang Min-ho's body gradually subsided.
Thud!
In that moment, the transformed Dragon Heart pulsed powerfully.
"What? What's that sound?"