Limitless Evolution: I'm The New Dragon God?-Chapter 56: Dragon Sighting

His claws brushed aside a layer of ice dust as something shimmered beneath the fallen Ice Giant’s remains.

It wasn’t a core or a typical loot crystal.

It was a small, silver-white orb embedded with fine runes that pulsed faintly with energy. It looked alive, almost like it was breathing.

Ryu narrowed his eyes. "This isn’t part of the standard drops... Right? Or am I just ignorant?"

He picked it up gently.

The moment his claw touched it, a strange chill ran up his spine.

[ Fragment of the Frost Womb (??) ]

[ Warning: Unidentified Artifact. Caution Advised. ]

"...Frost Womb?"

Even his system offered no detailed explanation.

But deep within the orb, he could sense something. A faint heartbeat. A slumbering presence.

Ryu tilted his head. "A dormant lifeform?"

It didn’t radiate danger... not yet, at least.

Still, the runes glowed brighter for a second before going completely still. As if it acknowledged his touch.

"Interesting. Guess I’ll need to analyze this back at the Lab."

He stored it inside the Fusion Lab’s storage space with a thought.

Just as he took that final step, a strange ripple passed through his body, like a shiver traveling down his spine.

In the blink of an eye, the eerie silence of the dungeon was replaced by the soft whisper of wind. A sudden chill touched his skin.

He blinked once. Then twice.

With that, his surroundings changed.

The oppressive coldness of the dungeon faded into a bright, frost-kissed landscape. Powdery snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, dancing in spirals as they caught the light of a fading sun. Jagged mountain peaks loomed in the distance, their snow-covered caps piercing the clouds like ancient sentinels.

He was back outside the dungeon.

But a sudden silence silence spread throughout the area.

The sky had turned orange, indicating that evening had arrived.

All the hunters were staring at him with strange, wide-eyed looks.

That’s when he realized it.

He was still in his Dragon form.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck... I am so screwed... "

Without another thought, he flapped his golden wings and shot into the sky with a massive thrust.

"Wh-what!"

Gasps echoed from all directions as hunters stumbled back in shock, weapons half-drawn, eyes wide in disbelief.

"A D-Dragon?!"

"No way, is that an actual dragon?"

"Yes. But why was that thing inside the dungeon?!"

"Did it just come out like that? What kind of nightmare run was he on?!"

But by the time anyone could even point a blade or activate a skill, the golden-scaled figure had already disappeared into the clouds, cutting through the orange sky like a divine comet.

High above, Ryu’s heart pounded like a war drum.

"Stupid... so stupid... I forgot to change back in the heat of the moment..."

He glanced down once, seeing a swarm of figures scrambling below like ants. A few even lit flares or shot signal flares toward the city.

"They’re definitely going to report this..."

He could already picture a bounty poster with a blurry image of his dragon form. "Unknown Dragon Detected near Belfort City. Approach with Caution."

With a loud groan, he pushed his wings harder, rising even higher to avoid pursuit.

"Well, so much for a low-profile grind..."

His only option now was to return to the outskirts and switch back before anyone tracked him. At least his mana wasn’t low.

Still, this would make things a little complicated. So, he decided to remain in the city in his human form and observe how the situation developed.

As he made his way back toward the city, the news was already spreading. Carried swiftly by messenger hawks, it reached the Hunter Association and various factions including the Assassin’s Creed, the Divination Guild, the Temporal Knights, and more. Each of these organizations specialized in different types of Systems.

Inside the City Chancellor’s Office...

Amid the polished marble floors and the soft glow of warm chandeliers, the mayor sat calmly in his ornate seat. His face was stirct and unreadable, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.

Bang!

Just then, a government official burst through the doors in a rush. His expression tense.

"What’s wrong? Why do you look so pale?" the mayor asked.

The official, out of breath, clutched a rolled-up report in one hand as he bowed hurriedly.

"Sir! Urgent news from the Arctic Den Dungeon!"

"Ohh?!" The mayor raised a brow, calm yet inquisitive. "Speak."

"A Dragon sighting, Your Excellency. Not a Hollow-type mutation. A real one. It had big wings, shimmering golden scales. It flew out from the dungeon just 20 minutes ago. Witnessed by at least twenty hunters, including two veteran squads. There’s no doubt."

For the first time, there was a flicker of reaction crossed the mayor’s face.

He leaned forward slightly. "Golden scales, you say?"

"Yes, sir. It showed no sign of aggression, but... many hunters were paralyzed just watching. It flew toward the western forest before vanishing."

The mayor stood up instantly, his velvet-lined coat falling into place with a crisp swish.

"And you’ve confirmed it wasn’t a projection or summoned illusion?"

"Confirmed, sir. Magic detectors on-site recorded high elemental flux, consistent with an awakened draconic presence. Possibly S-Rank... or higher."

Silence filled the room as the mayor walked toward the window, gazing out at the sky slowly bleeding into night.

"So the age of true dragons hasn’t passed after all," he murmured, almost wistfully. Then, louder, "Call in the Grand Diviner, and send word to the Temporal Knights. I want all factions on observation alert. No engagement unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes, sir!"

The official bowed and turned, nearly running out of the chamber.

The mayor turned back to his desk, opened a locked drawer, and took out a crystalline token etched with the symbol of a blazing sun and coiled serpent.

He stared at it quietly.

"Golden dragon... what are you doing here, child? Are you lost? Or have you come for something?"

The mayor’s voice faded into silence as the glowing token in his hand dimmed. His words hinted at a knowledge far deeper than most dared to possess.

---

Meanwhile...

Ryu, in his human form, calmly walked toward the Versalon House, slipping through the back alleys, careful to avoid crowded areas.

His bare feet made no sound on the stone path as he silently made his way to his room on the second floor using the stairway.

Next, he slid the window shut, and sat on the edge of his bed, then ran a hand through his snowy white hair.

"That was close," he muttered.

His body was still buzzing from the battle in the dungeon. His mana veins pulsed gently, tingling with power and exhaustion. The loot from the dungeon now sat in his Fusion Lab’s storage, safely tucked away for future use or trade.

He needed to sell them.

But for now, venturing into the market would be too risky. Evening had painted the sky with hues of violet and rust, and there was no doubt the guards would be alert after the dragon sighting.

But it was very unlikely they would be able to solve the mystery of the dragon’s emergence anytime soon.

After all, that golden dragon could transform into a human.

He allowed himself a faint grin. That secret was his greatest shield. Still, high-rank Evolvers might use their tracking skills for searching him.

So, some preparation was necessary.

That was why he made up his mind to upgrade his Hydra Human form for further assurance.

And that called for another Fusion session.