Power of Runes

"The Elder has issued a summon to all the young masters and mistresses," the lesser dragon announced, his voice urgent but laced with deep reverence.

His posture remained perfectly bowed at ninety degrees, showing absolute respect to the two young dragons.

Hearing that, Trixy's eyes widened slightly as she looked up from her cards, her expression shifting from playful curiosity to alertness.

"The Elder did?" she asked, surprise evident in her tone.

Blake, reacting to the same words, placed the cards neatly on the table in front of him and stood up.

His casual demeanor faded as he spoke in a more serious voice, "Let's move, Trixy. You wouldn't want that old man to start nagging us again for being late."

Trixy stood up as well, her posture still relaxed, but her expression thoughtful. She placed one hand behind her back while the other lightly touched her chin.

Looking up as if pondering the stars, she asked, "But if we go now, who's going to guard this place?"

Blake didn't hesitate as he replied with calm confidence, "Don't worry about it. You know how strict the Elder is—there's no way he'd leave this place without making sure someone's watching over it."

But before either of them could move, the lesser dragon—still keeping his respectful bow—interjected carefully, "Young master, the Elder has not given any instructions regarding who will look after the place once you two leave."

Trixy blinked once, then let out a soft laugh, her voice light and filled with amusement.

"Don't stress about it, Blake. If the Elder is around, we really don't have to worry. Did you forget? He can see everything that happens in this space with just his perception."

Hearing her words, Blake nodded slowly, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Yeah… you're right."

With that, the two turned and began making their way toward the central hall where the summons had called all of them, their steps light but their expressions growing more serious with each stride.

The young dragons were assigned to guard these important chambers in shifts, and this time, it was their turn. Each shift lasted for several months, and during this period, the responsibility of protection rested solely on their shoulders.

[A/N: If anyone is going to ask why the Elder cannot detect Ash despite his ability to perceive everyone, go back and reread the description of Absolute Concealment. I mentioned clearly that unless someone sees Ash with their own eyes, he remains completely undetectable.]

Ash, who had been silently listening to everything from the shadows, slowly fell into deep thought. His eyes followed the moving figures of Trixy and Blake as they walked alongside the lesser dragon who had delivered the message. Then, his gaze shifted back to the sealed chamber he had been trying to enter.

Should I follow them?

He wasn't certain what to do next. Still, before making any decision, he moved closer to the sealed chamber, observing it carefully.

There is no gap in this one.

Unlike the previous two chambers, where the doors had been guarded but still open, this one was sealed far too tightly.

There were no visible gaps between them, no thin slits of air to slip through, no openings at all.

Alright then... if that's the case, let's follow those two. Who knows? I might stumble upon something useful… maybe even something valuable.

Resolving himself, Ash turned away from the chamber and began following the trail of the three figures. It didn't take him long to catch up.

They were heading toward the lowest floor of the castle, the one that extended deep beneath the ground.

The castle itself was massive. It wasn't just a single structure, but rather a blend of several mountains, reshaped and refined to form a single colossal stronghold.

There were nine floors in total, each filled with countless rooms designed for young dragons.

The lesser dragons had their own living quarters as well, though those were of significantly lower quality.

Of the three sealed chambers he had found so far, one was at the very bottom floor, where they were headed now.

The second was in the middle of the structure, while the third, the one he could not enter, was located at the top floor.

Ash followed behind them in silence, keeping his presence hidden. His mana was still dangerously low, and although it was slowly recovering, the speed was so slow that it felt like waiting for a drop of water to fill an empty lake.

Because of this, he avoided using [Transcendent Step]. He needed to conserve energy in case an emergency forced him to teleport away.

Eventually, the group reached the underground floor. At its center stood a colossal portal, wide enough for even the largest dragons to pass through without resistance.

The portal shimmered faintly, and beyond it lay a hidden space—an ancient, sacred place where dragons came to hibernate in deep, undisturbed sleep.

When Ash laid eyes on it for the first time, he felt a genuine sense of awe wash over him.

The sheer size and scale of it made his breath catch for a moment. It was grand, ancient, and beautiful in a way that words couldn't capture.

However, he quickly came back to his senses. There were too many things in this world that even he didn't know about, and this was clearly one of them.

As he watched the portal, he also remembered something important. He only knew the locations of the runes on this planet. Beyond that, the rest of the runes remained a complete mystery to him.

Let's think about that later. First, I need to know the reason why they were summoned.

While Trixy and Blake moved closer to the large portal, Ash quietly veered away, choosing not to follow directly behind them.

The area ahead opened into a wide, empty space, and if he remained on the ground too close to them, there was a high chance he might get spotted. He couldn't afford to risk that.

Instead, his sharp eyes scanned the side wall. The surface here was jagged and uneven, completely different from the smooth, polished design of the rest of the castle.

This part of the structure looked older, more raw, as if it had been carved directly from the mountain itself. His gaze focused on a protruding rock that jutted out just enough to be used as cover.

Without hesitation, Ash activated his ability and instantly appeared atop the rocky ledge in a blink of an eye.

The sensation of teleportation always left a strange excitement in his chest.

No matter how many times I use this, it always feels fun, he thought, a small smile curling on his lips, though it remained hidden behind the expressionless skeleton mask covering his face.

He crouched down low to conceal his presence, his body pressed against the stone. Slowly, he shifted into a lying position, keeping his movements silent and controlled.

His clothes and mask began to change color, blending seamlessly with the texture of the rock beneath him, just like a chameleon disappearing into its surroundings.

Then, he closed his eyes briefly and began channeling a faint stream of mana to his ears.

With a quiet breath, he activated [Omni Thought], knowing that the distance between him and the group of young dragons was too far for normal hearing.

Without enhancing his senses, he wouldn't be able to catch a single word.

The world around him hushed as the magic took effect, and after a few minutes of silence, a voice finally echoed in his ears.

**

"You are all here."

Kristos's calm voice echoed through the vast chamber as his silver gaze swept over the sea of young dragons assembled before him.

Around three hundred younglings stood with pride and discipline in their postures, and behind them stretched the vast crowd of thousands of lesser dragons, all lined up in neat formations. It was a sight that filled the heart with both awe and comfort.

They are growing well... strong, alert, and unified.

Kristos felt a quiet satisfaction bloom within. He wasn't the supreme ruler of all dragons, nor the current acting leader, but as an Elder, his words carried weight—especially in times of uncertainty.

The younglings looked at him with gleaming eyes full of admiration, their faces lighting up as they took in the rare appearance of the Elder.

To them, he was a distant legend, a powerful figure who spent most of his time away in the ancient tomb, guarding the Throne Room and the sacred remains of their ancestors.

Kristos nodded slowly before speaking again, his voice gaining an edge of seriousness.

"I summoned all of you here today not to share history, but because I need every one of you to take action immediately. You must increase the security of the castle—double the surveillance, no... triple it if needed. I want every corridor, every gate, every open space watched carefully. Nothing and no one should go unnoticed."

As the weight of those words fell upon them, the gleam in their eyes dimmed. Expressions shifted from excitement to discipline, their gazes sharpening like blades. Stoic and serious, the younglings prepared to move.

"I want you to spread this command to the other outposts as well," Kristos continued, his tone firm but composed. "Inform the patrol leaders, the aerial watchers, and even those posted near the crystal chambers. Every station must be strengthened."

A young dragon in the front raised his hand slowly. Kristos gave a small nod, allowing him to speak.

"Elder, has someone managed to infiltrate the continent? Who are we searching for?"

The voice was respectful but carried a strange tone of steel beneath the surface, the kind of instinctive coldness dragons bore when facing threats to their kin.

Kristos gave a light smile in return, not revealing too much, but neither brushing it aside.

"You are not looking for an enemy. You are looking for a child. A baby dragon. One of our own. He might be very young, younger than even you, and could be considered your younger brother or sister. So listen to me carefully. Do not harm him. Do not frighten him. Simply observe and report."

A wave of surprise and confusion swept through the younglings. The edge of battle they had readied themselves for softened. Eyes widened slightly, and murmurs stirred the rows behind them.

Another dragon raised his hand, frowning as he stepped forward.

"But Elder, a baby dragon should still be in the care of their parents, right? There are strict measures in place to protect them. How could one even escape?"

Kristos's smile remained calm, yet his gaze held a subtle glint of something deeper.

"You do not need to concern yourselves with the how. Leave that part to me. Just focus on your task. If you happen to see him, stay near, protect him from harm, and inform one of the elders immediately. I will personally go and inspect the egg chambers to determine who among them is missing."

The moment those words left his mouth, the confusion on their faces began to fade. Realization sank in.

So it truly was a newborn. A child, barely old enough to fly, who had somehow wandered off or perhaps hatched in secrecy. That explained the urgency without the alarm.

The dragons were many things, but one truth remained clear in every heart standing there. They would never abandon one of their own. If even a single dragon was lost, they would tear down the skies to bring them home.

They were not a race that forgave trespassers, but they would never strike at one of their blood.

And so, each young dragon straightened their back again, this time not in aggression, but with the quiet resolve to find the one missing child. Not for glory. Not for power. But because the blood of the dragons called them to act.

Still... how could a baby escape the eyes of all the Elders?

None of them voiced that thought, but the question lingered, buried deep in their minds.

And Kristos... he turned slightly, the smile never leaving his face, though something unreadable flickered in his eyes.

A baby who was acknowledged by the Throne... this is just the beginning.

***