Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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In the underground world devoid of light, a place forgotten by people’s memories over the years, I couldn’t help but marvel at the ruins’ structures.

I don’t consider my aesthetic sense to be particularly exceptional. However, I could confidently say that the golden city I was witnessing was the most beautiful city in the world.

I lacked knowledge about architecture, but as I slowly caressed the elongated golden pillars, I could envision the artisans pouring their sweat and blood into their creation.

This made me feel even sorrier. How much more radiant must this city have shone before being buried underground?

Setting aside such regret, I continued my steps, leaping over the collapsed golden debris and digging through the sand dunes blocking my path.

The beauty of the ruins was not confined to mere structures.

“Ah…”

I looked up blankly, unable to suppress my admiration as a gigantic golden statue came into view. Half-buried in the sand was a dragon statue, its entire body made of gold.

At first, I thought a real dragon was gazing down at me. That’s how realistic this statue appeared.

I began to clear the sand covering the statue, revealing the remaining parts of the dragon’s body.

Golden scales extended gracefully, forming smooth curves. The outspread wings and clawed hands gripping the ground, the head gazing down on everything with a haughty look. The golden dragon statue perfectly resembled the dragon I remembered.

But the dragon statue was not the only one. As I continued my exploration of the ruins, dragon statues frequently appeared. Size didn’t matter; each discovered statue contained astonishing craftsmanship.

Items related to dragons were not limited to statues. Wall paintings depicting the reverence of dragons and a lavish altar erected before the dragon statues were found. Even the golden structures showcased dragon motifs.

I caressed the golden wall painting. A dragon soaring high in the sky, with a dwarf swinging a hammer below it brushed my fingertips.

Every trace I had uncovered spoke of it: this ruin, this golden city, was a place made for dragons.

The arrogance and distinct desires of dragons came to mind. Kashpa and Kalbain often displayed excessive desires for specific things. It’s likely that the dragon who inspired the construction of this city was the same.

I continued towards the end of the city along the long path. Countless dragon statues decorated the dazzling golden road, and at the end stood a massive domed structure.

I couldn’t sense the flow of mana. However, I instinctively knew there was something dragon-related inside that structure.

I swallowed hard and stepped inside. Finally reaching the dome’s interior, I found a massive pile of gold.

No, it wasn’t just a pile. Blinking, I gazed at the hazy form of a golden mass. The partly melted lump held a vague yet specific shape.

The traces of scales that lost their uniformity due to melting, the dull claws. The wings, now skeletons, with the membrane entirely melted away. Lastly, what appeared to be a head that barely retained its form.

The half-melted mountain of gold was the dragon’s corpse. An empty shell devoid of mana or soul. That was the identity of the golden mountain I faced.

At the moment I recognized the golden mountain’s true nature, the essence of the dragon surged through my mind. The glimmering light revealed the dragon’s final moments before it collapsed.

No matter how transcendent a creature may be, it cannot escape its predetermined lifespan. That was the law of this world.

The dragon sensed its end. The grand golden city built was a tomb for itself. Preparing to depart extravagantly, it began to enjoy its final moments beside its beloved gold.

And now, after countless years, the dragon’s corpse unveiled before me was melting like gold. If time continued to pass, the traces of the dragon would surely vanish entirely.

As I inspected the dragon’s remains, I noticed something slightly protruding from the tightly clenched hand. I approached the dragon’s claw to examine it more closely, only to find a sword embedded there.

Looking around, I licked my dry lips. This was the sword the colossal golden dragon had held onto until its last moments. It must be no ordinary item.

After all, there was no one left to claim ownership of this sword. The original owner, the dragon, was dead, so there would be no problem if I took it.

If I want something, I take it. If I wish to do something, I do it. That’s how I, Seris, live my life.

I reached out and grasped the sword. It fit in my hand as if it belonged to me from the start. Simultaneously, I realized that this golden sword was comparable in quality to the two swords I already possessed.

The instinct built from my experience as a swordsman urged me not to let go of this sword. I tightened my grip and pulled with all my strength.

Crack-!

The sword, buried in gold, shook, and cracks spread around it. However, the sword would not budge.

I frowned and summoned greater strength. My heart raced, propelling mana throughout my body. The grand warrior’s insignia etched on my palm activated as I gripped the sword with both hands.

Yet still, the sword refused to be drawn. It felt as if someone were holding onto it tightly.

In that moment, the enormous dragon’s corpse stuck to the ground began to shift slightly. Sensing something was off, I quickly stepped back.

Boom-!

Golden light swung toward the spot where I had just stood. Emerging from the swirling sand was the tail of the melted dragon.

I felt cold sweat trickling down my back. The corpse of a dragon that had left behind no mana was beginning to move. Apparently, the golden dragon didn’t want to part with its possessions even in death.

Without any mana present, it shouldn’t be magic. Yet, I couldn’t sense any divine power either. How could the dragon’s corpse move again?

I had to set that question aside for later. I needed to retreat and avoid the dragon’s attack.

Boom-!

As the colossal foreleg slammed down, the entire ruin shook. No matter how sturdy the structure, it couldn’t withstand the rampaging body of the dragon. The massive dome that served as its tomb began to creak ominously.

Right now, with no magic to use, fighting the dragon’s corpse in this confined space was akin to a suicide mission. I immediately pulled out my Nightmare from my bag and shouted.

“Nightmare!”

Neigh-!

As it swiftly exited the bag, returning to its original form, I climbed onto Nightmare’s back and yanked the bridle.

“Let’s get out of here!”

Riding Nightmare, I kept glancing back. I felt no aura from the melted golden dragon. It should have had the presence expected of a living creature. Thus, dodging its attacks became even more challenging.

Crash-!

The gigantic wing, nothing but bones, and the long tail swung mercilessly, demolishing the golden ruins. The shockwave shattered the ceiling above, causing sand to pour down.

Yet the dragon did not cease. It continued to chase me. Nightmare barely dodged the massive swipes and tail whips while galloping onward.

Crossing the shimmering golden path, I dashed over the high bridge. I leaped between the halfway collapsed buildings until I reached the spot where I first fell.

Nightmare leaped toward the gaping hole in the ceiling.

Just as we burst through the ceiling and emerged into the starlit desert, the sand beneath us began to quake, and a massive golden form shot up.

Boom-!

As the corpse of the golden dragon burst out, the ground began to collapse. It seemed the ceiling protecting the golden city had completely fallen.

Whoosh-!

In a sudden phenomenon, the surrounding sand was sucked downward. I immediately pulled on Nightmare’s bridle and had to make haste.

Boom-!

The gigantic gold gleamed brilliantly in the moonlight. The dragon’s corpse, having emerged, charged toward me from inside the collapsing sands.

Crash! Boom!

Amidst the swirling sandstorm, a dazzling golden figure raced ahead. Until that moment, the dragon’s corpse still clutched the sword in its grasp.

“Ha…”

A weak flame escaped my breath. Just then, the massive golden form descended upon me.

Whooom-!

The air split. It felt as though the very space was being forced away by an overwhelming mass. But I wouldn’t back down. The moment flames and chill surged from my two swords, I began to deflect its assault using the Tai Chi technique.

Screech-!

The golden tail met my sword, grazing it as fierce sparks flew. The turn beginning from my ankle climbed my waist, crossing my arm, and coursed through the blade.

The shock delivered to my body was beyond imagination. Gritting my teeth, I barely managed to deflect the golden tail. The Twin Dragons’ Swordplay’s Tai Chi technique was originally designed to send back the opponent’s strength. However, I could not reflect the dragon’s power. All I could do was ward it off.

Boom-!

As the tail that had slipped from my grasp smashed into the ground, a bomb-like explosion of sand erupted, creating a swirling sandstorm.

—

“He’s gone.”

“You seem lonely, Captain.”

“Shut up.”

Renilla gazed at her now empty room, wearing a bittersweet smile. The fairy-like girl who had abruptly arrived had vanished just as suddenly, like the winds of the desert. The drink she had offered, called Starlight from the Desert, had been a gesture of friendship, but it seemed it never reached the girl.

Days passed since then. Renilla still could not forget the girl named Seris.

The alias of Sandstorm seemed to resonate more with that girl than herself. Renilla furrowed her brow at the gleaming golden light outside the window.

“What is that…?”

In the moonlight pouring down from the sky, the golden light flashed. It appeared as if a massive mountain of gold was moving, causing Renilla to instinctively pull out her telescope.

As the extended telescope caught the distant mountain of gold, a rough roar escaped Renilla’s lips.

“Change direction!”

“Y-Yes…?”

“Turn toward the golden mountain that has appeared on the right!”

Just as Renilla had suddenly noticed the emerged golden mountain, other desert dwellers navigating the vast desert also spotted the mountain. While there might have been a time lag, everyone made the same choice.

Dozens, hundreds of ships began changing course toward the golden mountain.