Chapter #54
From his right hand, Hifung released a surge of red aura that struck the center of the twin doors.
But the moment it touched the surface— crack!— the red aura shattered.
All three of them froze in shock.
Hifung: "Eh?"
Ray: "It failed!?"
Yuita: "What!? If not red aura… then what aura!?"
Ray: "Didn't you say the god's aura was white?"
Yuita stiffened at her words, digging through his memory of the legend.
Yuita: "…That's true. But aura of white doesn't exist. I've only ever heard of it in that legend."
Hifung frowned, annoyed. Then, a reckless thought flashed in his mind.
Hifung: "Hey, what if we just dig around it?"
Yuita: "Are you joking? You think I never tried that? The entire chamber is protected by the gate's energy—it can't be broken, no matter how hard I try."
Hifung's lips curled into a sharp, cold smile that even made Ray shiver.
Hifung: "Then we'll just destroy the gate itself."
He wrapped both fists in red aura and began pounding the gate furiously.
Yuita: "Idiot! That gate shatters aura itself—your hands will break before it does!"
Still, Hifung ignored him.
Yuita sighed, pressed his palm against the surface, coating his hand in blue aura.
Ray could only stand aside, hopeless.
Then—something unexpected.
The moment Yuita's blue aura touched the same spot Hifung was striking, the two auras merged. Red and blue blended into something entirely new—white aura.
All three of them froze, eyes wide. Hifung stopped striking, stepping back with Yuita as the white aura spread across the entire gate.
Slowly, the gate trembled… then cracked open with a blinding light between its doors.
Ray: "…It opened?"
Hifung: "Let's go in."
Yuita: "Yes."
Yuita pushed the massive doors fully open. Beyond lay a long corridor leading deeper inside.
The three walked cautiously down the hall until they reached a vast chamber. The room was enormous, high-ceilinged, and pitch black.
With a wave of both hands, Yuita scattered tiny fire orbs into the air, dimly lighting the chamber. The magic drained his chi, but it was the only way.
The chamber was empty—just stone, rubble, and fallen rocks from the ceiling and walls.
They stepped toward the center. None of them noticed the massive shadow above—until a droplet of water splashed right before Hifung's eyes.
He flinched.
Hifung (muttering): "…What the—"
Yuita: "What is it?"
Hifung slowly lifted his gaze. His breath caught.
A gigantic white dragon loomed above them, scales streaked with earthy brown, claws black as obsidian, wings spread wide, its piercing eyes locked on them.
Hifung, Ray, Yuita (together): "A… dragon!?"
Cold sweat ran down their faces. They'd seen Filz before—a man with dragon claws forged from fragments of a dragon's soul—but never a living dragon itself.
This one was whole, alive, and terrifying.
Hifung (panicked): "S-sir… what do we do!?"
Yuita: "…I think… we run?"
Ray was frozen, staring into the beast's eyes.
But before they could move, the dragon's jaws opened wide— fwwoooosh!— a torrent of fire roared toward them.
They leapt aside just in time, the flames scorching the ground.
The dragon descended, landing heavily, blocking the exit.
Dragon (booming): "Who are you!?"
The voice was thunderous yet unmistakably female.
Hifung: "I-it speaks!?"
Yuita: "So it seems…"
Despite his fear, Yuita forced himself to meet its gaze.
Yuita: "What's your name?"
Dragon: "I am Sheshi—Dragon of Endurance, also known as the Everlasting."
Ray: "Dragon of… Endurance?"
Hifung stepped forward beside Yuita, bowing his head slightly.
Hifung: "My name is Hifung. This is my friend Ray, and this is my teacher, Yuita."
The dragon tilted her head, studying them, then growled.
Sheshi: "How did you get in here? Only my master is allowed within!"
The three stiffened. None of them had an answer.
Sheshi: "Hmph. You must be lucky fools… but luck won't save you. I'll kill you all!"
Her jaws opened wide again, this time unleashing a torrent of orange fire. The trio barely dodged by leaping upward.
Ray: "What do we do!?"
Hifung: "…Looks like we don't have a choice."
Yuita: "Together. We'll find an opening and escape."
Hifung: "Right."
They raised their lightning blades, bracing themselves—when Sheshi's maw glowed again. This time, energy swirled into a blazing orb.
The sphere grew larger, shifting color from orange to brilliant yellow.
Yuita (horrified): "What!? That much yellow fire—enough to wipe out this entire chamber!"
Hifung: "You've got to be kidding me!?"