A Dragonslayer’s Peerless Regression

Chapter 111

"What is this?"

It was the bundle of chains Sieg had seen in the video left by Terakan Draker.

Sieg reached out towards the chains.

『"Chains of ???" detected.』

『Title Successor of Terakan Draker activated.』

『Registered as the heir of the "Chains of ???".』

Like the ancient Hersion obtained from Cain, the chains left by Terakan Draker also did not have proper textual names, with question marks covering the names.

Vrrrr!

Suddenly, the chains began to vibrate.

At the same time, they started emitting light.

'What is this?'

The bundle of chains seemed to rise and coil like a snake.

It then wrapped around Sieg's gauntleted arm.

"Ugh!"

Caught off guard, Sieg tried to shake off the chains from his arm. At that moment, the chains transformed into a luminous form.

Vrrrr!

The light-converted chains passed through the gauntlet, wrapped around Sieg's arm, and burrowed into his skin.

Sieg felt an excruciating pain, as if his arm was on fire.

"Ahhhhh!"

The pain of his arm engulfed in chains couldn't be healed even with his Healing Factor.

Sieg collapsed, clutching his arm, trembling with agony.

Then, at a certain point, the chains seemed to seep and meld into Sieg's arm.

"Ugh!"

Sieg hastily discarded the gauntlet.

Ssssss!

Upon inspection, a pattern resembling chained links had been etched onto his arm.

The pattern emitted a fiery red glow as if it were blazing, then gradually the light dimmed, leaving behind a faint mark.

Only then did the burning agony in his arm finally cease.

"Haaaa."

Sieg wiped the cold sweat and stared at the chain pattern etched from his wrist to shoulder.

"What on earth is this?"

A message appeared before Sieg's eyes.

『The "Chains of ???" have been successfully registered to the user's soul.』

『Upon registering the "Chains of ???", the skill "Soul Constriction Technique (A-rank)" has been acquired.』

『Documents related to the "Soul Constriction Technique" have been registered in Terakan Draker's security archive under the "Whatever" folder.』

"Soul Constriction Technique?"

After reading the message, Sieg opened the security archive.

―Terakan Draker's Security Archive―

1. Organization Operation Manual

2. Dragonslaying Art Manual Ver. 5.21 (Final)

3. Reference Materials

4. Collection of Growth-Enhancing Maxims

5. Whatever

"Whatever? Ah, this must be the folder the system was talking about."

Upon clicking "Whatever", Sieg found stored experimental lab photos and video lists he had saved.

And at the bottom was a newly added item.

―Soul Constriction Technique_Final Version

Sieg checked the contents by selecting the Soul Constriction Technique.

Following the 3D video instructions, it detailed a technique using chains to immobilize an opponent.

"This is as detailed as the Dragonslaying Art!"

Nowadays, most knights predominantly used sword techniques.

Only the Empire and the Holy Kingdom employed sword techniques with shields, making the use of spears or bows extremely rare.

Therefore, a constriction technique using chains was nearly unheard of.

But the fact that Terakan Draker, a knight above all knights, was a master of not only swordsmanship but also such constriction techniques was indeed an unsolved mystery.

Sieg looked at the contents of the Soul Constriction Technique and extended his left arm.

"Let's see. Does it say the chains come out this way?"

Sieg assumed a pose as if throwing the chains.

Then, the pattern on his arm glowed, and chains slithered out.

"Wow, it really works!"

Sieg grasped the chains extended from his arm and swung them around.

Whoosh!

The chains extended and retracted, moving according to Sieg's will.

Practicing the moves of the constriction technique left by Terakan, Sieg reverted the chains back to their pattern form.

"If I master this, capturing demonic beasts would become much easier."

Capturing demonic beasts would yield significant karma points.

Since those points were incredibly useful, it was necessary to hunt demonic beasts and accumulate them whenever possible.

Sieg bore a satisfied expression upon acquiring an unexpected new armament.

"It's a relief I got to it before the Empire found it."

Sieg decided that since it came to this, he might as well look for other legacies left by Terakan Draker.

"System, is there any other location with relics besides this defense base facility?"

『Checking the facility upon the administrator's command.』

『Search completed.』

『An ancient dragon lair built before the defense base has been detected underground.』

Sieg was startled by the system's words.

"What? A dragon lair?"

Reacting to Sieg's response, the system automatically displayed a map marking the path to the dragon lair.

『The current mobility system of the defense base is non-operational. You can access the lair by using the emergency exit to descend underground.』

Following the map, Sieg found the entrance to the emergency exit in a corner of the defense base.

He descended endlessly down the dark stairway of the emergency exit.

"I've never seen a dungeon like this."

It seemed that the Avian Race had erected a temple upon a dragon lair, and Terakan Draker subsequently built the defense base over it to block dragons and demonic beasts.

While mentally mapping the dungeon's structure on his way down the stairs, a question arose in Sieg's mind.

'Come to think of it, wasn't it said that the dragon known as the world's balancer attacked humans along with demonic beasts? How does that make sense?'

In Sieg's recollection, Bahamut once mentioned that if humans became stronger through aura, they would wipe them out to maintain the world's balance.

Perhaps, feeling threatened by a world full of humans, Bahamut attempted to destroy the human world by leading other dragons and demonic beasts.

'But then, didn't Bahamut make a pact with Terakan Draker? Something doesn't add up here.'

According to Kaiser, a pact between a human and a dragon essentially meant sharing each of their souls.

He called the relationship between a dragon and its contractor "Eternal Companionship."

This meant Terakan Draker and Bahamut were eternal companions sharing each other's souls.

Yet, in Sieg's memories of the past, Terakan eradicated his pact dragon, Bahamut, with his own hands.

In Kaiser's words, 'it was something that should never happen.'

Sieg pondered, recalling the scenes of the past he'd witnessed, sinking into contemplation.

'There are so few known facts about Bahamut or even Terakan Draker, I can't figure out what's going on. I have information, but it's hard to connect.'

Amidst these varied thoughts, Sieg eventually reached the end of the underground stairs, stopping before a colossal door.

"Is this the dragon's lair?"

The door stood massive and thick, incomparable even to significant fortress gates.

Overcoming the monumental sense of intimidation, Sieg slowly reached out towards the door.

『Title "Blessing of the Ancient Dragon" confirmed.』

『Opening the lair.』

The tightly sealed lair's door slowly parted.

Sieg gazed at the automatically opening door with a bewildered expression.

'At this rate, there might not be any ruins I cannot enter.'

Astonished once again by the power of a 'title', whose practical use differed from authority or skills, Sieg was taken aback.

Walking into the lair, Sieg's eyes widened at the scale. It was even more spectacular than the Avian Race's temple.

Although the impression left by the dragons in the 3D video was immense, the lair where they stayed displayed overwhelming grandeur beyond imagination.

Despite being a long-sealed lair, the floor, pillars, and walls remained nearly intact without significant damage.

Admiring its sheer size, Sieg proceeded down the long and broad corridor only to find a vast cave inside.

"What is this?"

The center of the cave was hollowed, and surprisingly, refined magical stones carpeted the floor like gravel.

"Oh my goodness."

The sight of the magical stones covering the circular hollow cave floor, about the size of twenty Valhalla's Grand Colosseums pieced together, was indeed a spectacle.

Just then, an inscription emerged before him.

『Accessing the lair's command system.』

『The previous administrator sealed the lair, and all functions have ceased.』

『Searching for alternative access routes.』

Shortly after, another system message surfaced.

『Title "Successor of the Sword Saint" confirmed.』

『A message left for the heir is being replayed.』

Startled by the message that appeared, Sieg exclaimed.

"Successor of the Sword Saint? Why is that coming up?"

Vrrrr!

Suddenly, a massive dragon appeared before Sieg's eyes.

A gold dragon with two pairs of wings and golden scales gleaming like the sun, its blue eyes piercing.

Startled, Sieg took a step back upon seeing the holographic image of the gold dragon.

Despite being a hologram, its overwhelming presence was directly transmitted to Sieg.

Gazing intently at Sieg with radiant blue eyes, the dragon's voice echoed in Sieg's mind.

「Successor of the Sword Saint, inheritor of Shaton Draker's legacy.」

Following the dragon's voice, Sieg felt Bahamut's heart beat faster.

The gold dragon continued its voice.

「I am Uranus, the head of the Gold Tribe. Following Chronos's prophecy, I have awaited the Sword Saint's heir.」

'Chronos's prophecy?'

With piercing eyes, uranus gazed at Sieg and spoke.

「Shaton Draker entrusted parts of the Chronos Seal to the representatives of each tribe, including myself.」

Listening to Uranus, something clicked in Sieg's mind.

'Seals? Could it be the Seal of the Chronos Kingdom?'

Uranus continued his explanation.

「To prevent the prophecy mentioned by Chronos from happening, a portion of the seal and arrangements for the heir have been left here. Find the remaining Seal and discover the truth left by Chronos, heir of the Sword Saint.」

Vrrrr!

Whether the video had ended, uranus's body became blurry and disappeared soon after.

At that moment, another message cropped up in Sieg's view.

『Acquired 1/4 of the Chronos Kingdom's Seal.』

『Upon finding all remaining Seals, the coordinates to the Chronos Kingdom's treasury will be activated.』

Reflecting on the video left by Uranus, the leader of the Gold Dragon, Sieg pondered deeply.

"Chronos's truth? I thought the Chronos Kingdom's treasury merely refers to a vault."

Though the exact meaning of Chronos's prophecy remained unclear, it appeared not to be an ordinary matter, considering Shaton Draker had plans with the Dragon Tribe leaders.

"It's so far removed from what I've faced in the future, it feels surreal."

Just then, another message emerged before Sieg.

『Compensation prepared by the Sky Guardian Uranus is being provided.』

『The compensation is designated according to the user's abilities.』

『Title "Dragonkin" confirmed.』

『Acquired Dragonkin Skill "Dragon Fang Soldiers".』

"Dragon Fang Soldiers?"

Curious about the unfamiliar term, Sieg checked the skill immediately.

―Dragonkin Skill Information―

Dragon Fang Soldiers: Allows the summoning of warriors using a dragon's fang as a medium.

"I can manage summons?"

Sieg drew the Bahamut made from a dragon's fang.

He then attempted to use the Dragon Fang Soldiers skill.

『Summoning the Dragon Fang Soldiers using the medium, Black Sword Bahamut.』

『The maximum number of Dragon Fang Soldiers that can be summoned at Dragonkin Skill Level 3 is 15 units.』

『with the enhancement from Bahamut's Heart, the limit is increased to 20 units.』

Vrrrr!

Sieg's shadow spread widely, from which soldiers clad in dark armor emerged.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

They secured swords at their waists, carried bows on their backs, and held spears in their hands.

The 20 Dragon Fang Troops, clad in unfamiliar attire, stood in perfect rows before Sieg.

Witnessing their formidable aura, Sieg was thoroughly impressed.

"With their strength, they're probably at least on par with yellow-rank swordsmen."

Twenty yellow-rank swordsmen could match the might of a considerable unit of a mercenary squad.

Considering how to command them, Sieg mused before attempting to issue orders mentally.

'Everyone, turn to the left.'

In perfect unison, the Dragon Fang Troops turned left.

Nodding in satisfaction at their seamless execution, Sieg said, "They'll be handy in chaotic battles. No need to expend other soldiers for reconnaissance and scouting either."

For Sieg, who often worked undercover, having the Dragon Fang Troops provided him significant tactical advantages.

Upon releasing the Dragon Fang Troops, they faded like dark smoke, dissolving back into Sieg's shadow.

As Sieg contemplated the magical stones embedded in the lair's floor, he considered his options.

"Hmm, could I possibly extract and carry all those?"

Just then, another red-lettered message flashed before Sieg's eyes.

『By command of the previous administrator, the lair is scheduled for complete closure.』

『The lair is set to auto-destruct soon. Open the emergency exit portal and evacuate to the outside promptly.』

『Commencing countdown.』

"What? Auto-destruct?"