Chapter 26: The Golden Contract

The underground city lingered in everyone’s mind long after they returned to the surface.

Even as workers resumed clearing snow from the ruins and blacksmiths reignited the temporary valley forges beneath the cold northern winds, the atmosphere around Elarion had changed permanently.

People spoke softer now.

The workers avoided the eastern excavation sites after sunset.

Some claimed they could hear distant sounds beneath the mountains at night.

Others swore the ruins themselves occasionally glowed faintly in the darkness.

Fear spread quietly.

Not wild panic.

Just unease.

The kind that settled deep into the chest and refused to leave.

Lucien stood alone near the edge of the valley overlooking the ancient ruins while snow drifted slowly around him beneath a gray northern sky.

Below him, the hidden headquarters slowly continued taking shape.

Workers carried timber across frozen ground.

Stone masons reinforced damaged walls.

Knights patrolled constantly between construction zones.

Life moved forward.

Yet despite all the activity, Lucien’s thoughts remained trapped inside the underground archive.

The Gate Project has failed.

The demon could not be killed.

Do not descend beneath the seventh gate.

The ancient mage’s final warning echoed endlessly inside his mind.

Thousands had died sealing Elarion.

An entire civilization erased itself trying to contain one mistake.

And now—

That burden had unknowingly become his.

Lucien exhaled slowly.

"Troublesome."

The wind answered with silence.

Then—

The system appeared.

A pale blue screen materialized before his eyes instantly.

[HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETED]

[DISCOVER THE FALL OF ELARION]

[REWARD DISTRIBUTION INITIATED]

Golden light suddenly spread across the interface.

Brighter than before.

Heavier somehow.

[LEGENDARY CLASS SUMMON TICKET ACQUIRED]

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Legendary.

The system had given Epic rewards before.

But Legendary rewards were different.

Even the pressure radiating from the screen itself felt abnormal.

Almost alive.

Lucien looked around once.

No one nearby noticed anything.

Good.

He activated the reward immediately.

And the world roared.

The sky above the valley exploded with golden light so suddenly that workers screamed in shock while several knights instinctively drew weapons as enormous mana pressure descended from the heavens like a collapsing ocean.

The clouds split apart violently.

Not metaphorically.

Literally.

A massive circular formation of golden runes appeared high above Elarion while sunlight poured downward through the broken sky itself.

The entire valley trembled.

Horses panicked.

Workers collapsed to their knees.

Several weaker laborers lost consciousness entirely beneath the overwhelming pressure flooding the mountains.

Then—

A roar shook the world.

Not merely loud.

Ancient.

Proud.

The kind of sound that demanded submission from weaker creatures.

Snow exploded from nearby cliffs.

The mana within the valley itself became chaotic.

Even Gandalf staggered slightly after emerging from one of the nearby structures, his old eyes widening in disbelief as he stared upward.

"No..."

Malen stepped beside him slowly.

For the first time since Lucien met him—

The Peak Knight looked genuinely stunned.

Something enormous descended from the broken clouds.

At first only shadows were visible.

Then scales.

Golden scales.

Each one larger than a shield and gleaming like molten sunlight beneath the heavens while gigantic wings unfolded across the sky with enough size to cover entire sections of the valley beneath their shadow.

A dragon.

A true dragon.

Not the lesser drakes hunted by kingdoms.

Not mutated wyverns.

An ancient dragon.

And not just any dragon.

Gold.

Pure radiant gold.

The workers stared upward in absolute terror and awe while the creature descended slowly through the air with complete confidence, as though the world itself naturally belonged beneath its wings.

Because to it—

Perhaps it did.

The dragon finally landed near the ruins with a thunderous impact that shook the valley floor while snow blasted outward in every direction beneath the creature’s sheer weight.

Its body was colossal.

Elegant.

Terrifying.

Golden horns curved backward above ancient eyes burning like twin suns while streams of faint mana fire drifted continuously from between its scales.

Every movement radiated power.

Not forced power.

Natural superiority.

The dragon slowly lifted its head.

Then looked around the valley.

Its gaze swept across workers, knights, ruins, mountains—

And immediately became disappointed.

"How primitive."

Its voice echoed across the valley like thunder wrapped in arrogance.

Several workers looked offended despite being terrified.

Malen’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

The dragon continued observing the surroundings.

"A frozen ruin hidden in mountains, frightened mortals everywhere, terrible architecture..."

It snorted softly.

"You truly summoned me into a depressing era."

Lucien stared at it silently.

The dragon’s massive eyes finally settled upon him.

A long silence followed.

Then the dragon narrowed its eyes slightly.

"You."

Lucien raised one eyebrow.

"Me."

The dragon lowered its gigantic head closer while golden smoke drifted from its nostrils.

"Hm."

Another pause.

"Weak."

Malen immediately looked ready to object.

Lucien answered calmly.

"For now."

The dragon blinked once.

Then—

A deep rumbling laugh emerged from its chest, powerful enough to shake nearby snow loose from the ruins.

"Oh, good."

Its golden eyes gleamed with amusement.

"You have pride at least."

The dragon straightened proudly afterward, wings partially unfolding again as though intentionally reminding everyone present how insignificant they were compared to it.

"I am Aurethar."

The name itself carried ancient weight.

"A Dragon Lord of the Solar Bloodline."

Several nearby soldiers nearly collapsed hearing the title.

Even Gandalf looked shaken.

Dragon Lords existed mostly in myths now.

Ancient beings powerful enough to influence kingdoms alone.

Aurethar noticed their reactions immediately.

Naturally—

He looked pleased.

"Yes," he said smugly. "That reaction is correct."

Malen muttered something under his breath.

The dragon’s head snapped toward him instantly.

"I heard that, tiny armored human."

Several soldiers nearly choked trying not to laugh.

Even Lucien felt amusement rising slightly.

Aurethar looked around the valley again with visible judgment.

"These walls are ugly."

Another glance.

"The roads are terrible."

Another.

"And why is everything covered in snow?"

"It’s winter," Lucien answered.

The dragon stared at him for several seconds.

"...Disappointing season."

Then Aurethar suddenly froze.

His enormous eyes shifted toward the ruins behind Lucien.

Toward Elarion.

The arrogance vanished.

Not fully.

But enough.

The dragon’s expression slowly darkened.

The air itself became heavier.

"You opened the city."

Not a question.

Lucien nodded once.

"We discovered it."

Aurethar’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"And below it?"

Silence.

Lucien answered carefully.

"There’s a sealed demon beneath the lower levels."

The moment those words left his mouth—

The dragon’s expression changed completely.

Cold fury flickered inside ancient golden eyes.

For the first time since arriving—

Aurethar looked serious.

"I know."

Everyone looked toward him sharply.

The dragon slowly lifted his head toward the mountains surrounding the valley.

"That creature..."

A faint growl escaped him.

"...slaughtered my kin during the Ancient Rift Wars."

The atmosphere froze.

Even the wind seemed quieter.

Aurethar’s golden eyes shifted downward again toward Lucien.

"That city was built to imprison it after the portal collapsed."

Another pause.

"And if the seals fail completely..."

Golden flames flickered between the dragon’s teeth.

"...this continent dies first."

No one spoke afterward.

Because the dragon was not exaggerating.

Lucien could feel it.

Aurethar looked at him silently for several moments.

Then suddenly snorted again.

"Well."

Another arrogant grin spread across the dragon’s face.

"At least things won’t be boring."

Several workers looked horrified hearing that.

Lucien almost laughed.

Almost.

Aurethar lowered his head closer again.

"The system selected you as my contractor."

The dragon’s eyes gleamed.

"Fortunately for you, I am in an unusually generous mood."

Lucien crossed his arms slightly.

"How lucky."

"I know."

Golden mana suddenly erupted around the dragon’s body while ancient runes spread across the valley floor beneath Lucien’s feet.

The air trembled violently.

Aurethar smiled.

A proud,dangerous and magnificent smile.

"Come then, little lord."

The dragon’s voice echoed across Elarion.

"Let us see whether you are worthy of carrying a Dragon Lord beside you."

And the contract began.

End of Chapter 26