Chapter 227: Conquering The Whispering Caves!

-----

Riven saw through the vivid visions exactly what this world had once been like. It was a realm dominated by Dragons, where they were both feared as Destroyers and revered as Benevolent Gods and Guardians. Each and every one of them protected tribes and clans of devoted worshippers who served them loyally. In return, the dragons helped those people thrive and grow stronger under their watchful protection. Clans without dragons shielding them would rapidly disappear from the map or get absorbed by larger ones that constantly sought more subjects and greater territory.

Amidst this endlessly warring world of Dragons and their Followers — a world filled with Reptilian Races such as Lizardmen, Saurians, and Kobolds — everything ruptured without warning. The sky itself shattered, and dozens of gates suddenly began to spawn across the land.

An endless stream of otherworldly beasts poured out of those gates. Even the lowly races began to awaken classes, skills, and blessings granted by distant Authorities. The dragons, driven by instinct and ambition, started hoarding every resource from these otherworldly gates, the dungeons, and everything contained within them. It was their final desperate attempt to seize control of an ever-changing world they could not fully adapt to.

Their greed knew no bounds. Ultimately, because they constantly fought against one another — and even against their former followers or slaves who rebelled with newly awakened power — the world never progressed. It remained unable to accomplish the requirements for true ascension, despite already being ruled by such powerful beings.

Then came the end. An endless sea of emerald light surged down from the skies and drowned the entire world. It was a living, monstrous amoeba-like entity made of pure acid that melted and consumed entire mountains, entire populations, and all life it could find.

This was, without a shred of doubt, another Cosmic Monarch. It possessed a monstrous form and power Riven had never witnessed before. It arrived like a rain of acid and ultimately consumed everything within its gastric juices. The entity was known as the Starving Emerald Sea.

The dragons that stayed until the very end melted away and died while trying to fight back against those endless seas. The strongest among them, the Order of the Ancient Dragons, escaped into the stars and abandoned their people without looking back.

Among all that chaos, there was one Ancient Dragon who refused to let go of her people. She was among the very few — the rarest of dragons — who truly loved those she protected. These were the kobolds who had served her for generations. She shielded them within the last remaining mountain as the world drowned in green acid. Countless eyes and mouths slowly opened across the surface of that sea, speaking words of hatred and ancient curses.

In her final act, she created a powerful divine formation within the heart of her mountain. She tore open her own dragon heart and used it as the core for a separate dimension. In doing so, she managed to survive the world’s destruction at the cost of her own life.

The core that now floated in front of Riven was not a simple world fragment. It was her own heart, still imbued with what remained of that world’s essence, transformed into the dungeon core that sustained this place.

After an indescribable amount of time had passed, this single mountain appeared in the current world as a Gate. It became known as The Whispering Caves.

Ding!

[Congratulations, Ascendant. As the one who carries the {Sovereign Codex}, you have been chosen as a Lord.]

[Using your Authority of Pride as a Lord, you have taken over the D-Rank Gate "The Whispering Caves".]

[The Former Gate Ruler "Kobold King" has been slain and is unable to wrestle control over it. You have won over the Gate.]

[Former Gate Ruler "Kobold King" now serves you.]

[You can now Summon the Believer Race "Kobolds".]

[You gained +100 GP.]

Riven let out a long, quiet sigh as he looked up at the giant skeleton that still loomed over the cavern. "Ignias... Instead of running away like the rest of the Ancient Dragons, you sacrificed yourself for your people. You are without a doubt the noblest of dragons."

Vladimir narrowed his eyes, still processing everything. "Her name is Ignias? Wait... it’s a female dragon?"

Riven nodded slowly. "It does seem to be the case. This here, the Dungeon Core itself, is her heart."

"What?!" Vladimir could hardly believe it. "H-How is that even possible...? I always thought the Dungeon Cores were like fragments of planetary cores."

"I guess I was wrong about that," Riven explained patiently. "They can also be other things, as long as they are imbued with World Essence. That essence itself is simply the compressed accumulation of countless souls. Dungeon Cores and World Fragments represent these lost worlds because they carry the legacy and essence of the people who once lived there. They are forged from their agony and pain, crystallized from the energy their souls released as they died in mass."

"...!"

"At the end of the day, Mana and Spirit Energy also seem to originate in a similar way — from what souls produce," Riven continued. "I have yet to completely understand everything, but..."

RUMBLE!

As Riven spoke, the entire cavern suddenly trembled with violent force.

His eyes widened. Everyone present gasped as they watched the gigantic dragon skeleton begin to tremble. A faint red aura ignited across its bones and continued growing brighter — first red, then orange, and finally a blazing yellow like living fire.

The flames rapidly encompassed the entire skeleton. At the same time, the essence of the Dungeon Core lifted from its place and flew toward the ancient remains, giving the skeleton a single, powerful heartbeat.

The cavern trembled even more violently as the ancient dragon skeleton stirred fully awake. Riven and Vladimir could only watch in stunned disbelief as the long-dead guardian of this place began to rise once more, flames flickering across its jaws as its empty eye sockets glowed with golden light and red dragon fire.

-----