Chapter 825 – I Demand a Raise

Naomi exhaled, shaking her head in disbelief. "Remind me never to underestimate Greed again."

Ely’s eyes shimmered with admiration. "Your methods are... remarkably strategic."

Rava grinned. "I like it. Less effort, more results."

Mira studied Lux for a moment longer, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "You fight like a king."

Lux met her gaze, confidence unwavering. "I fight like someone who intends to win."

Corvus, perched on his shoulder, ruffled his feathers. "And here I thought my job was degrading. That soldier just replaced all of us."

Lux smirked. "Don’t worry. You’re still my favorite unpaid employee."

"I demand a raise."

"You’re paid in existential purpose."

Corvus sighed dramatically. "I hate this job."

A distant rumble echoed once more, deeper within the mountain, hinting that their journey was far from over.

Lux adjusted his cuffs again, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Shall we?"

They moved forward as a unit, their footsteps echoing softly through the ancient corridors. The air felt denser the deeper they ventured, saturated with draconic mana that hummed faintly beneath the surface like a sleeping heartbeat. Behind them, the remains of the defeated creatures lay scattered across the stone floor, twisted, draconic silhouettes frozen in their final moments.

But as they watched, something strange happened.

The bodies began to dissolve.

Slowly.

Gracefully.

Scales fragmented into shimmering particles, claws disintegrated into glowing dust, and hollow eye sockets faded into motes of ambient mana. Within moments, the monsters were no more than drifting lights that were absorbed into the surrounding environment.

Lux observed the phenomenon with quiet fascination. "Not real," he murmured.

Mira nodded. "Dragon echoes. Manifestations of lingering power. They mimic life, but they are merely remnants."

Rava crouched briefly, watching the last fragments vanish. "That’s... eerie."

Naomi crossed her arms, scanning the corridor. "Good. Less guilt when we destroy them."

They continued onward, Corvus occasionally tilting his head as Lux effortlessly dismantled additional traps.

This time, Lux took the lead, his telekinesis weaving invisibly through the environment. Pressure plates lifted before activation, hidden blades twisted and snapped out of alignment, and sigils collapsed under precise bursts of infernal force.

Each trap fell without spectacle.

A demonstration of power that required neither brute strength nor dramatic flair.

Corvus clicked his beak approvingly. "Minimal effort, maximum humiliation. Very on-brand, boss."

Lux smirked. "I aim to maintain consistency."

Eventually, the corridor opened into a vast chamber.

The transition was breathtaking.

The ceiling arched high above them, disappearing into shadow, while massive stone pillars shaped like coiling dragons supported the structure. The walls were etched with ancient carvings depicting battles, rituals, and celestial alignments. At the center of the chamber lay a wide, open space, illuminated by a soft, ethereal glow emanating from embedded crystals.

Lux slowed his steps, taking in the grandeur. "Well," he said, voice echoing slightly, "this looks important."

They spread out cautiously, scanning the area for threats or clues. The chamber was eerily quiet, the only sound being the faint hum of ancient magic.

"So," Lux continued, glancing at Mira, "what are we supposed to do?"

Mira turned slowly, eyes tracing the carvings as if searching for familiarity. "Search for the way forward," she replied.

Naomi raised an eyebrow. "You don’t have any maps?"

Mira shook her head. "No. This place was never mapped. Everything known about it comes from ambiguous poems passed down through dragonkin generations."

Lux’s interest sharpened. "Tell me the poem."

Mira closed her eyes briefly, recalling the words. Her voice echoed softly through the chamber as she recited,

"Where strength bows not, and wisdom sees,

The heir of flame shall claim the keys.

Of dragon’s blood both pure and true,

Before the altar, fate renews."

Silence followed.

Rava blinked. "Well... that was poetic and completely unhelpful."

Lux hummed thoughtfully. "Strength, intelligence, and a dragon heir. It also mentions an altar."

Ely, who had been quietly examining the chamber, pointed toward a stone structure near the far end. It resembled a table carved from a single slab of obsidian-like rock, its surface engraved with intricate draconic runes.

"Is that an altar?" she asked.

Lux studied it, then nodded. "I’d say so."

They approached carefully, the runes glowing faintly as Mira drew closer. Naomi glanced between Mira and the altar. "So dragon blood... that means Mira’s blood, right?"

Rava tilted her head. "But what about the ’pure’ part it mentioned?"

Lux folded his arms, analyzing. "It probably means it has to come from the main branch of the dragonkin family. Not diluted. Not symbolic. Authentic lineage."

Mira nodded slowly. "That makes sense. My bloodline is direct."

She stepped forward, standing before the altar. The air grew warmer around her, responding to her draconic essence. The runes on the altar began to glow brighter, reacting to her proximity as if recognizing her presence.

Lux watched her closely, his expression calm but attentive. Beneath his composed exterior, a subtle tension coiled within him, not fear, but anticipation. This moment carried weight. Significance.

Mira took a steadying breath. "I will try."

She extended her hand, summoning a small blade of draconic energy. Without hesitation, she made a shallow cut across her palm. Crimson blood welled to the surface, shimmering faintly in the ambient light.

As her blood dripped onto the altar, the chamber responded instantly.

The runes ignited in brilliant gold and crimson, spreading outward like veins of fire across the stone. A deep, resonant hum filled the air, vibrating through the floor and into their bones. The pillars began to glow, and the carvings along the walls shimmered as if awakening from centuries of slumber.

[Ancient Mechanism Activated.]

[Dragonkin Bloodline Confirmed: Pure.]

[Proceeding with Trial Sequence.]

Lux’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Well," he murmured, "that answers that."

The altar pulsed once more, and a hidden seam in the far wall began to shift, revealing the outline of a concealed passage. Ancient stone ground against stone as the mechanism slowly opened, unveiling a new path deeper into the mountain.

Naomi exhaled in relief. "Looks like it worked."

Rava grinned. "I love it when ancient poetry makes sense."

Ely approached Mira, gently placing a glowing hand over her wound. The cut healed instantly, leaving no trace behind. "You did well," Ely said softly.

Mira flexed her hand, nodding. "We’re not done yet."