novelnext Chapter 89 - 84:The Ancient Archives
Chapter 89 - 84:The Ancient Archives
Morning arrived slowly in **Greenwood Forest**.
Golden sunlight filtered through the towering trees, illuminating the emerald canopy above. Dew clung to leaves and spider webs, sparkling like tiny crystals as the light spread across the forest.
The village was already awake.
Elves moved along wooden bridges built between the great trees, carrying baskets of fruit, herbs, and freshly gathered water from the nearby stream.
Blacksmith hammers rang faintly in the distance.
Children practiced archery with small bows.
And in the center clearing...
A massive black dragon stretched his wings.
John yawned.
The sound came out as a deep rumbling growl that startled a flock of birds from the nearby trees.
He slowly extended his wings outward, the massive limbs spreading nearly thirty meters across the clearing.
Several elves stopped what they were doing to stare.
The sunlight reflected beautifully off his dark scales, creating faint blue highlights across his body.
John flexed his claws.
*Crack.*
His muscles loosened as he finished stretching.
"Morning exercise," he muttered.
A voice came from nearby.
"That is the most terrifying stretch I’ve ever seen."
John turned his head.
Lythriel stood nearby with her arms crossed, watching him.
Behind her stood Sylvara.
Both women looked freshly awake.
John tilted his head.
"Good morning."
Lythriel gestured at his wings.
"You know you almost flattened three houses with that stretch."
John blinked.
"I did?"
Sylvara giggled softly.
"Not quite... but you came close."
John awkwardly folded his wings again.
"Noted."
Lythriel smirked.
"You really need that humanoid form."
"Yes."
Sylvara nodded.
"It would make conversation easier too."
Lythriel grinned mischievously.
"And meals."
John snorted smoke from his nostrils.
"You two are obsessed with food."
"Food is important," Lythriel replied confidently.
Sylvara raised a hand politely.
"We came to remind you about the archives."
John straightened slightly.
"Right."
Commander Aerion had mentioned them last night.
The ancient elven archives.
Records that might contain information about **humanoid dragons**.
And possibly...
About beings approaching **Tier 10**.
Lythriel turned toward the forest path.
"Well, come on then."
John blinked.
"...How?"
She gestured at the narrow wooden bridge leading deeper into the village.
"You walk."
John stared at the tiny bridge.
Then at his enormous body.
Then back at her.
"...That bridge would collapse instantly."
Lythriel frowned.
"...Right."
Sylvara tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Perhaps the clearing path?"
She pointed toward a wide natural trail leading behind the village.
"That route is used by forest guardians."
John nodded.
"That should work."
The three of them began moving through the village.
Elves stepped aside respectfully as the massive dragon passed through.
Some bowed.
Others waved.
John still wasn’t used to it.
A small group of children ran alongside him excitedly.
"Dragon John!"
"Show us fire again!"
"Can you fly us someday?"
Lythriel groaned.
"You’ve become a celebrity."
John sighed.
"This is your fault."
"How?"
"You introduced me."
She grinned.
"You’re welcome."
After a few minutes, they reached the far end of the village.
There, hidden between massive tree roots and ancient stone, stood a large structure.
It looked older than the rest of the village.
Much older.
The building was carved directly into the trunk of a colossal tree.
Ancient runes glowed faintly along the entrance.
Sylvara spoke softly.
"The Greenwood Archives."
John studied the runes.
They radiated a faint magical energy.
"Protection enchantments."
Sylvara nodded.
"The archives are one of the oldest places in Greenwood."
Lythriel pushed the door open.
"Let’s hope the books survived longer than our patience."
The interior was dim.
Rows upon rows of ancient wooden shelves filled the circular chamber.
Thousands of scrolls and books rested neatly across the walls.
Floating orbs of light hovered above, illuminating the room with a soft golden glow.
The air smelled like old paper and magic.
John lowered his head slightly to enter.
Even then, his horns barely cleared the doorway.
Inside, Commander **Aerion** stood beside a large stone table.
Several old books lay open before him.
He looked up as they entered.
"Good morning."
Sylvara bowed slightly.
"Commander."
Lythriel saluted lazily.
"Mornin’."
John nodded.
"Did you find anything?"
Aerion gestured toward the table.
"Possibly."
John moved closer.
The stone table held several ancient tomes.
Each looked centuries old.
Aerion opened one of them.
"This text dates back nearly two thousand years."
Sylvara’s eyes widened.
"That old?"
Aerion nodded.
"It describes encounters between elves and... higher dragons."
John’s ears twitched.
"Higher dragons?"
Aerion turned a page.
"According to this record..."
He began reading.
"*When the sky split open, a dragon descended from the heavens. Yet its form was not entirely draconic. It walked upon two legs like a man, with wings of burning gold.*"
Lythriel blinked.
"Okay... that’s creepy."
Sylvara leaned closer.
"Continue."
Aerion continued reading.
"*The being spoke with wisdom beyond mortal understanding. It stayed among us for only three days before returning to the skies.*"
John felt his heart rate increase slightly.
"Did it say anything else?"
Aerion nodded.
"It mentioned a phrase."
He turned another page.
"The Path of Ascension."
John froze.
*System.*
**[Yes.]**
*Is that related to Tier 10?*
**[Confirmed.]**
John’s mind raced.
Lythriel noticed his expression.
"You’re doing the staring thing again."
John ignored her.
"Aerion... are there more records?"
"Yes."
Aerion opened another book.
"This one is older."
He read aloud.
"*Those who reach the Tenth Threshold shed their mortal limitations and awaken their true form.*"
Sylvara whispered softly.
"...Tenth Threshold."
John murmured.
"Tier 10."
Aerion looked at him sharply.
"You recognize the concept?"
John nodded slowly.
"Something like that."
Aerion studied him carefully but didn’t press further.
Instead, he continued reading.
"*Beyond the Tenth Threshold lies the realm of Ascended Sovereigns.*"
Lythriel raised her hand.
"Okay, now it’s getting dramatic."
Sylvara ignored her.
"What are Ascended Sovereigns?"
Aerion shook his head.
"The text doesn’t say."
John spoke quietly.
"...The True League."
Aerion looked up.
"You mentioned that phrase last night."
John nodded.
"The legends might be referring to the same thing."
Sylvara looked fascinated.
"So the True League... could be a group of ascended beings?"
"Possibly."
Aerion closed the book slowly.
"If that is true... then the power hierarchy of the world is far greater than we imagined."
John looked down at the ancient text.
And suddenly...
The system spoke again.
**[New information detected.]**
John’s eyes narrowed slightly.
*Explain.*
**[The Path of Ascension is a known evolutionary route available to high-tier dragon species.]**
John’s heart skipped a beat.
*Meaning?*
**[Host qualifies.]**
John blinked.
*Wait.*
*What?*
**[Host meets 92% of the evolutionary requirements.]**
John’s mind exploded.
*92%?!*
That was far higher than he expected.
Lythriel snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Earth to dragon."
John blinked.
"Sorry."
Sylvara looked concerned.
"Are you alright?"
John nodded.
"Yes."
But inside his mind...
Everything had just changed.
If he was already at **92%**...
Then Tier 10 was no longer a distant goal.
It was close.
Very close.
Aerion closed the book.
"There is one more text."
He walked toward a tall shelf and carefully removed a massive scroll.
"This one is sealed."
Sylvara gasped.
"The sealed archive?"
Aerion nodded.
"It has not been opened in centuries."
Lythriel grinned.
"Oh this is definitely going to be good."
Aerion slowly broke the wax seal.
The ancient scroll unfurled across the stone table.
The parchment was yellow with age.
Strange symbols covered the surface.
Sylvara’s voice trembled slightly.
"This script... is older than the elven kingdom."
Aerion read the first line.
Then his expression changed.
"...Impossible."
Lythriel leaned forward.
"What does it say?"
Aerion looked directly at John.
"It describes..."
He hesitated.
"...the birth of a black dragon."
John’s eyes widened.
"...What?"
Aerion continued reading.
"*When the Shadow Flame awakens, the sky will tremble and the ancient watchers will stir.*"
John’s heart pounded.
Sylvara whispered.
"...Shadow Flame?"
Aerion looked at John again.
"Your fire."
Lythriel slowly turned toward him.
"...Wait a second."
John remained silent.
Aerion continued reading.
"*The one who bears the Shadow Flame shall walk the Path of Ascension and challenge the heavens themselves.*"
The room fell silent.
Sylvara’s voice was barely audible.
"...Challenge the heavens."
Lythriel stared at John.
"You’ve been holding out on us, haven’t you?"
John rubbed the back of his neck with one claw.
"...Maybe a little."
Aerion finished reading the final line.
And his eyes widened.
"...There’s more."
"Read it," Sylvara whispered.
Aerion took a slow breath.
"*When the Shadow Dragon reaches the Tenth Threshold... the gates of the True League shall open.*"
The floating lights in the archive flickered slightly.
John stared at the ancient scroll.
His mind spinning.
*System.*
**[Yes.]**
*Is this prophecy about me?*
There was a brief pause.
Then the system responded.
**[Probability: 97.4%]**
John slowly exhaled.
Sylvara looked at him gently.
"What are you thinking?"
John smiled faintly.
"...That my life just got a lot more complicated."
Lythriel burst out laughing.
"You’re telling me!"
Aerion rolled the scroll closed.
"If this prophecy is real..."
He looked at John seriously.
"Then your existence may change the fate of this world."
John glanced toward the open doorway of the archive.
Outside...
The peaceful Greenwood Forest swayed gently in the wind.
Birds sang.
Leaves rustled.
Everything looked calm.
But John had a strange feeling.
Somewhere far above the clouds...
Something had awakened.
And it was watching him.
The system suddenly spoke again.
**[Warning.]**
John’s eyes narrowed.
*What now?*
**[Host has been detected.]**
A chill ran down his spine.
*Detected... by what?*
The system paused for a moment.
Then it answered.
**[Ancient Observer Class Entity.]**
John’s pupils shrank.
High above the world...
Beyond the clouds...
Beyond even the stars...
A massive pair of golden eyes slowly opened.
And for the first time in thousands of years...
They focused on a single creature.
A young black dragon...
In Greenwood Forest.
And the ancient being smiled.
"...Interesting."
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100 ps = 1 extra Chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra Chapter
30 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter