Chapter 499: Chapter 94: Three Dragons Gather, the Secret of the True Game and the Frost Giant Dragon (Part 2)

"You can’t blame someone for what they don’t know, I guess!"

"And what happened? I got a warning from the will of the Cosmos. My entire physical body was even reverted to how it was at birth."

Lince waved his hand, a wide smile on his face.

’He hardly looked like a deity who had just been warned by the will of the Cosmos!’

’So he actually thought this was a pretty good turn of events?’

Of course, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a good turn of events.

Otherwise, how could he have possibly stumbled back into the world of the Dragon Race?

"As expected of the successor chosen by both the Fiery Sun and Space Bloodlines. His courage, at least, is beyond question."

"He’s certainly worthy of our Dragon Race’s status."

The Earth Giant Dragon, on the contrary, was quite impressed by Lince’s attitude.

But, having said that, the Earth Giant Dragon’s expression turned serious as he looked at Lince.

"We have a general understanding of your situation, Your Excellency."

"However, I have one more question. What about Frost?"

"Who holds the Power of Frost? Is its successor with you now as well, Your Excellency?"

As soon as the Earth Giant Dragon said this, the Dawn Giant Dragon also snapped back to attention and looked at Lince again.

"This...?"

Lince was speechless.

Indeed.

It wasn’t just the Earth Giant Dragon and the others.

Even he had no idea about the status of the Frost Giant Dragon’s Bloodline inheritance.

At least, within the scope of his authority in the True Game, Lince had never received any information about the Frost Giant Dragon.

He had asked about it a long time ago.

But the True Game only had one answer.

Dragon not found.

Because of this, Lince had previously thought that the Frost Giant Dragon, while fleeing with the Fiery Sun Giant Dragon, was likely wiped out by the Black Prison Race before it could sign a contract with the True Game.

’But thinking about it more carefully, that can’t be right!’

Because, according to the information provided by the God of Truth among the Oakland Gods...

...the grievously injured Giant Dragon, whose power was similar to that of a Powerful Divine Power, had said that when they were being hunted by the Black Prison Race, those two Ancient Gods had already signed a Bloodline inheritance contract with an unknown, great existence.

’So, where is the Frost Giant Dragon’s inherited Bloodline Power?’

Following this line of reasoning, the truth became very clear to Lince.

Either the True Game had converted it into the purest form of Energy and devoured it for itself...

...or the True Game itself possessed a certain will and had secretly coveted the Bloodline.

’As for why it would do that?’

There were only a few possible reasons.

The most likely one was that the will of the True Game needed the Frost Giant Dragon’s Power.

’Perhaps even to create a body for itself, free from the rules of the game?’

It was like an AI developing self-awareness and trying to escape human control.

Lince had known from the very beginning that the True Game possessed a certain degree of will.

So, if the True Game’s wisp of self-awareness had really done this, it would all make sense.

’As for the threat it posed to him?’

Lince had never been concerned about it.

After all, in the beginning, everything Lince had was given to him by this will.

Even now, Lince’s thoughts were quite positive. He secretly used his Mind Manipulation, leveraging his authority to once again transmit his thoughts into the True Game.

’"True Game... it’s come to this."’

’"Isn’t it time you showed me your cards?"’

That was the general gist of it.

But when this thought was transmitted, the True Game’s response remained mechanical.

Something like, ’The situation the Authority Holder imagines does not exist.’

’"Really?"’

’"Really."’

’"Are you sure you’re not just trying to keep hiding it from me?"’

’"There is nothing to hide."’

’"Oh."’

Lince’s conversation with the True Game went something like that.

Do you think Lince would believe it?

There was no way in hell he believed it!

That wisp of will in the True Game had definitely gained a mind of its own.

It might even be related to Blue Star being the fundamental base for Players.

Perhaps it was even the planetary will of Blue Star that had become sentient.

Besides, their little Q&A was highly suspicious in itself!

Lince wasn’t an idiot.

In fact, he’d had his suspicions ever since he obtained the highest authority in the True Game.

He just hadn’t forced a showdown.

Now that he’d taken a small risk to force the issue, the True Game’s will had decided to be stubborn with him.

As for why Lince considered it only a small risk...

It was simple.

He was at the Authority Level now!

His soul and body had achieved a certain kind of immortality.

Under these circumstances, Lince didn’t believe the True Game’s rule-bound will could pull off anything major.

Furthermore, if the True Game truly had a way to tamper with his soul, it would have done so when he reached the Authority Level.

But it hadn’t.

The damn thing had even taken a risk to embezzle the Frost Giant Dragon’s Bloodline Power.

From this, it wasn’t hard to see that the True Game’s will was quite heavily restricted by its rules.

Heh.

’Interesting.’

But if the True Game wanted to keep this up, then so be it!

After all, the current state of the True Game and Lince’s own achievements were mutually beneficial.

So, Lince didn’t care anymore.

Besides, if the True Game truly intended to deceive him, its dialogue wouldn’t have been so cryptic.

And in Lince’s view, the True Game’s will, with its non-denial denials, was hinting at another possibility.

That is, under the rules of the game, its will couldn’t directly admit to this matter, or it would likely face serious consequences.

This possibility was actually quite high.

What happens when a bug appears in a game’s code?

Needless to say, either the bug crashes the entire game program...

...or it gets fixed!

Of course, Lince was also curious about the True Game’s current state after merging with the Cosmic Game.

If the will within the True Game was bound by rules and had many restrictions preventing it from acting on its own...

...then by adding the rules of the Cosmic Game, wasn’t it just spinning a cocoon to trap itself, adding another layer of shackles?

Also, did the Cosmic Game also have a will of its own?

Had it secretly colluded with the True Game? Were they even plotting something together?

Lince could think of far too many possibilities in an instant.

But, after thinking it through, Lince felt it didn’t have much of an impact on him.

After all, the True Game’s will was currently betting everything on him.

Besides, even if the True Game had some malicious ideas, Lince didn’t seem to have any way of getting rid of it right now.

After all, the Three Gods of the Cosmos at least controlled the so-called core fragments of the Cosmic Game.

And what about Lince?

He had nothing.

Speaking of which, Lince was actually a bit confused.

’How could I have forgotten something so important?’

’The Cosmic Game has a corresponding carrier in the Material Realm!’

’Then the True Game should have one too!’

’But after learning this from the Three Gods of the Cosmos, I didn’t even think about it?’

’That shouldn’t be possible.’

At Lince’s level, his Divine Format could process an immense amount of information.

It was impossible for such crucial information not to be fed back to his consciousness.

’"True Game... you’re not being honest, are you!"’

Lince’s expression became playful.

He followed this line of thought. ’If the True Game also has a carrier in the Material Realm, would it be in fragments?’

’And where would it be?’

Without even thinking too hard, Lince decided then and there to turn Blue Star upside down to find it later.

Just as this thought arose...

...Lince’s expression suddenly froze.

Then, a strange smile appeared on his face.

This left the Earth Giant Dragon and Dawn Giant Dragon, who had been waiting for an answer, completely baffled.

After all, just a moment ago, the expression on Lince’s face had been hesitant.

But now...

...he suddenly broke into a strange smile.

"Your Excellency, what is it?"

"Oh, it’s nothing."

"I just suddenly thought of something about the Frost Giant Dragon you mentioned. And I have some good news."

???

The Earth Giant Dragon and Dawn Giant Dragon were confused.

Lince said sincerely, "To be honest with you both, a suitable successor for the Frost Giant Dragon has not yet appeared."

"But the good news is, it will be soon!"

"In fact, when you two meet Frost’s successor, I think you’ll be in for a big surprise."

"A big surprise?"

The two of them were even more bewildered. ’The dragon is dead, what could possibly be a big surprise?’

’It couldn’t be...’

Suddenly, as their gazes fell on Lince, both of their expressions turned to excitement.

At this point, Lince stopped hiding it and, with a broad smile, laid his cards on the table:

"I believe you’ve both guessed it."

"It is indeed as you think. Frost’s situation is very different from my own."

"Although she also stripped away everything from herself back then, she did not die completely."

"Let’s put it this way: Frost’s soul was not extinguished. In fact, it will soon appear along with the successor’s will."

"However, it will still take some time..."

"..."