Nothing had changed in the Hall of the Ritual…
Yet everything was different.
The air was heavy, not with heat or cold… but with something older than the ritual itself. Something that made the lungs work consciously, as if breathing were no longer an instinctive act.
On the highest tier, Zamasa stretched in his stone seat like a beast trapped inside a man's body.
He said with annoyance,
"Ah… by the dead ages, this boredom will kill me before any enemy does."
Navara did not look at him. Her gray eyes were fixed on the rows of cradles.
"If the ancestors heard you now, you would not need someone to kill you."
Zamasa smiled.
The smile of someone who had experienced exile… and survived.
"After thousands of years, I think I have the right to say that some of them have become senile."
Suddenly…
The temperature dropped.
Not in the hall…
Only around him.
Anata spoke without looking at him:
"Insulting the ancestors inside the Hall of Paths… even I would not dare do it. Zamasa, it seems you truly miss exile inside the Shattered World and fighting the Void Demons."
Zamasa laughed loudly.
"The Shattered World did not break me… do you think a ghostly stare from the ancestors would? At least the Void Demons there were entertaining."
Navara cut him off with deadly coldness:
"Be silent. You are distracting my focus."
He turned to her slowly.
"Focusing on what? There is nothing interesting here. It seems you have also become senile, old woman."
Navara replied,
"Your mother is the old one, you cursed man. I am two centuries younger than you…"
Below…
Another cradle passed before the mirror.
Two faint stars.
An ordinary path.
The scribes recorded it.
The cradle was lifted.
Takara said,
"It seems this generation is calm… not a single anomaly so far."
Anata said,
"Do not forget that our clan produced two anomalies in past generations, so it is natural that there are none in this generation. The universe is not that generous."
Takara said,
"Do you mean that ancestor and his son? They are truly terrifying."
Navara said,
"Have you not heard the latest news? That person wiped out the domain of the Dark Dragons in the Dragon Race universe."
"Is he insane? Does he want to exterminate entire dragon races there? Does he want to bring all his disasters upon the clan?"
"That madman… I still remember the terror he caused when he decided to destroy the clan. If not for the ancestors and his father as well, our clan would have been forgotten."
"To be born as an outcast at the moment of birth… of course he would resent the clan. But what was the reason for his exile and his hostility toward us?"
"His history is sealed within the clan. Sheikh Farin, I believe you are the only one who knows the reason."
Everyone looked toward Farin.
He had been silent from the beginning.
Standing like a pillar that does not know how to bend.
The moment grew long…
Then he sighed.
For the first time… he looked tired.
"Some histories are not buried only because they are shameful."
He paused.
"But because if they return to the surface… they will bleed again."
Takara swallowed.
"So it was our fault?"
Farin replied,
"It was a stain of disgrace."
Then he added calmly,
"But the ancestors corrected the mistake… and appointed him the Young Lord of the clan."
Zamasa gasped.
"Damn… from outcast to heir?"
Navara whispered,
"Well, you know the saying: if you cannot defeat them, join them. This time, it was better that he joined us, even though he defeated us."
Zamasa said,
"Well, enough talk about that cursed history. Would it not be better to place them in deadly danger? Then the talents of geniuses would awaken, and we could bring those geniuses to the Mirror of Paths and identify the anomalies among them."
Navara said,
"Zamasa, you mass of stupidity, do you truly not know that anomalies may not be geniuses at the beginning? Please, spare your mind and ours, and open a book someday."
Takata said,
"And how do we distinguish anomalies from the rest?"
Farin sighed in defeat.
"Seriously, everyone… go open a book. Fine, it does not matter. I know you read nothing except techniques. Let me explain and enlighten your unfortunate minds.
First, anomalies do not have symbols drawn on the Mirror of Paths. Instead, they create an actual phenomenon.
There are seven types of anomaly phenomena, each with a meaning and a prediction.
First: the Dragon. It is the best among them. It is the symbol of a talent that challenges the heavens.
Second: the Solar Eclipse. It is the most dangerous because its fate cannot be predicted. It is completely ambiguous.
Third: the Broken Hourglass. It is a complete gamble. It may be the worst or the best, because the child who creates this phenomenon is either a reincarnator, specifically one who has reached a very high level of power, or a traveler from the past, or someone returned from the future. These are known as makers of chaos.
Fourth: the Door suspended in the void. The one with this phenomenon is usually a symbol of prosperity for the clan.
Fifth: the Blood Moon. The worst phenomenon of all. It is the nightmare of the coming universe.
Sixth: the Serpent that eats its own tail. The second worst phenomenon. It is a symbol of annihilation and ruin for the universe.
Seventh: the Dying Star. The third worst phenomenon. It is the one rejected by the Higher Dao.
By the way, that person triggered both the Blood Moon, the Serpent, and the Dying Star. That is why he was born as an outcast within the clan, while his father triggered the Dragon phenomenon, specifically the Ancient Dragon."
Takara said,
"Damn… the father is a talent, and the son is a catastrophe."
Zamasa said,
"What I do not understand is why the clan does not do this for every newborn. Why is the measuring ritual rarely held?"
Navara said,
"Hmm… yes, why?"
Anata said,
"Do not look at me. I do not know either. The most knowledgeable among us is Farin. If anyone knows the reason, it is certainly him."
Farin said,
"To activate the Mirror of Paths, the ancestors must provide what is known as Eternal Origin Energy. It is an energy the ancestors desperately need for their cultivation, so the Mirror of Paths is rarely used throughout the ages.
It is only used when the rate of anomalous births or cosmic phenomena rises, so they can identify the anomalies born within the clan and care for them from a young age. They are always the key to survival and prosperity in ages of chaos."
Navara said,
"Oh, so that is how it is… what is the best type of anomaly?"
Farin said,
"The best anomalies are the Dragon anomalies. They mean the person's talent challenges the heavens themselves.
The Dragon anomaly is the only one with four categories: Earth Dragon, then Sky Dragon, then Great Dragon, then Ancient Dragon."
Navara said,
"So the Ancient Dragon is the most talented among them."
Farin said,
"It is something like that, though not exactly. But for simplicity, you may classify it that way."
Zamasa said,
"So does that mean anomalies are the chosen children of the heavens?"
Farin sighed.
"On the contrary, the heavens hate anomalies deeply. You could say they are sworn enemies."
The test continued without any remarkable event.
Another cradle passed.
Nothing.
Another.
Nothing.
Zamasa sighed.
"It seems our clan is safe."
Suddenly—
The ground shook.
Not a tremor…
A pulse.
As if a massive heart had been buried beneath the mountain… and beat once.
The mirror stopped absorbing light.
And began… to emit it.
A golden line…
slipped across its black surface.
Then another.
Then—
The ground cracked before it.
Not like stone breaking…
But like the shell of a world opening.
The guards stepped back.
Even the elders stood.
Light emerged first.
Pure gold…
ancient…
majestic.
Then…
something pierced through the earth.
A head.
Horns.
Eyes like two miniature suns.
A dragon.
It was not an illusion.
It was a presence.
Its golden body extended from the crack, its scales reflecting a light that drove the shadows into the corners of the hall.
And when it opened its mouth…
no sound came out.
But everyone heard it inside their bones.
Farin whispered…
and for the first time in centuries…
his voice trembled.
"Earth Dragon…"
One of the scribes knelt unconsciously.
Anata stepped back.
As for Zamasa…
he smiled the smile of a predator.
"Finally… something worth watching."
The dragon circled the cradle.
Not guarding it…
but announcing it.
Then it raised its head toward the stone ceiling…
and roared.
At that moment—
every child's cradle shook.
Some cried.
Some suddenly fell silent.
As if instinct told them:
A king was born here.
Farin said slowly,
"The talent that challenges the heavens…
has been born again in our clan."
Then he added,
"The ages of chaos… are closer than we thought."
Below…
the child opened his eyes.
Golden.
Calm.
No fear in them.
Only…
innate sovereignty.
The dragon disappeared into the earth.
But its effect did not disappear.
Because everyone understood…
that history, now…
had changed its direction.