“They have recognized you! They will never betray you, will obey you forever, and serve you wholeheartedly.”
Beiyuan said, “But I cannot stay here long.”
The White Dragon smiled, “A King’s mere ‘existence’ is a steadying force for them. There have been kings in dragon history who disliked crowds, who, after winning the throne, isolated themselves, and some even vanished entirely.”
As one of those kings who withdrew, the White Dragon spoke from experience.
The dragon clan’s attitude toward their King was always: “Our King does what he wishes—do we need to teach him!?”
“So there is only one real question,” the White Dragon stroked its whiskers, “Does your departure mean death?”
“…”
Beiyuan: “No, I simply will no longer exist at that time point.”
“Oh, a long journey through time, is it?” the White Dragon said. “I imagine that after your coronation, all the newborn dragons of this generation will become obsessed with studying Time Mages. Perhaps soon, there will be dragons who can manipulate time. How wonderful.”
Beiyuan thought the Old Dragon King was too optimistic, or maybe all Dragon Kings shared such confidence.
A loud roar rose again from the sky; the dragons were making every effort to catch Beiyuan’s attention.
“Go forth, the new spark of our clan,” the White Dragon encouraged. “Join them and lead them to roam the dragon clan’s territory. Wherever you fly from now on, that land will be yours.”
“Choose the place you like best and make it your throne.”
“Then, if you accept their loyalty, allow them to build nests around your throne.”
“Gather them before your seat to receive their homage—this is your unique Coronation Ceremony!”
After speaking, the White Dragon spread its wings and took out an object it had long guarded beneath its wing.
It was a vessel shaped like a sacred cup, but its function was more like a torch.
The vessel seemed to have the ability to shrink or enlarge, instantly growing from the size of a dragon’s claw to requiring several dragon claws to hold it together.
Beiyuan was unsure if it could grow larger, but he noticed the torch was not yet lit.
In the past, Dragon Kings entrusted everything to the new King, like an elder guiding a child fumbling through the long fog of history toward a future filled with endless light.
“Dragons need no crown— wearing one is a burden that shackles our wings.”
“But the dragon must have the King’s guiding light.”
“This torch represents the King. As long as it burns, it means you live; it means your dynasty lives on.”
Beiyuan stared at the torch placed in his hands and suddenly recalled the many similar torch flames he had seen burning on the Arena at the Chasing Dragon knights’ castle.
Those flames were different colors but all stunningly beautiful, containing immense power.
The dragons flying overhead seemed to notice Beiyuan taking the torch, their breath collectively catching.
Beiyuan looked at them and asked, “So the flames in the Arena are the remnants of the previous Dragon Kings’ Soul Flames?”
“Strictly speaking, yes. They are the remnants of their soul flames. The real flames long faded with history,” the White Dragon said. “They are the eternal watchers who will now watch over you, as I do.”
Beiyuan said nothing but responded with action—
Golden flames suddenly burst forth from the new torch, crackling loudly as they blazed fiercely.
“…Beautiful,” the White Dragon straightened. Its pupils contracted slightly and then squinted against the dazzling light in awe.
At the same time, the dragons in the sky exploded into an intense crescendo of roars!
—The transition between old and new King was finally complete!
They watched as the Golden Dragon nodded slightly toward the White Dragon, then took the torch with its wings, shaking off the snow, and flew toward them.
As the golden light drew nearer, they found themselves suddenly breathless, especially upon seeing the unquenchable golden flame burning in its hands.
—Was it fear? Like a weak creature facing a power beyond itself, a primal, heartfelt fear?
—Was it unease? Knowing they were no longer untethered beasts but had found a figure to follow for life?
No— it was none of those! It was impossible to describe.
Astonishment, excitement, rapture, reverence, nervousness, longing… feelings they had never fully experienced all at once, but not a trace of regret!
They swarmed around Beiyuan, their eyes glowing gold, the flickering flame seeming to burn straight into their hearts, shaking their souls.
Some dragons felt their throats dry, unable to contain their excitement, spewing wild flames that instantly swept across the sky.
“From now on,” Beiyuan paused, scanning the diverse dragons around him.
—“I am your King.”
“Roar—!!!”
The dragons raised their heads and echoed in unison.
“I really don’t know what the outcome will be,” Luluda whispered, watching the grand projection.
“But,” Bai Buwen’s brow darkened with worry, “what if they come back? What will we do then?”
Luluda: “It can’t be so soon, right?”
Everyone else: “…”
For some reason, there was a bad premonition. They longed for Beiyuan’s swift return but also wished he would stay in that era a little longer— it was a torment unlike any other.
“Look!” Luluda shouted, and everyone hurried to watch the projection.
Suddenly, Beiyuan’s figure on the screen began flickering as if fragmented.
At the same time, Luluda felt the blond boy on his back twitch his fingers, as if waking.
“Wait!” Then everyone burst into the most honest and direct cry, “At least wait until the Coronation Ceremony finishes! What kind of half-finished business is this!?”
But time waited for no one.
With a crackling sound, the entire projection shattered. The Golden Dragon, the Snow Mountain, the torch, and the other dragons —all vanished.
Replaced by the decayed Arena before them.
Luluda didn’t know what to make of the lump in his throat but quickly laid Beiyuan’s body flat on the ground.
The gathered dragons gathered close but dared not approach; they forced themselves to suppress their desire.
After just half an hour, the blond boy slowly opened his eyes.
He looked dazed, or perhaps still recovering from the shift through time.
His eyes glazed for a moment, then gradually regained focus and clarity.
Beiyuan immediately drew the sword sheath from his back, staring silently at the once full row of crystal stones above, now all depleted.
“Um… Beiyuan?” Luluda cautiously asked, “Do you still remember who you are?”
The gathered Chasing Dragon Clan members did not dare rush forward, holding back their eagerness for the moment.
Beiyuan calmly looked at them, then returned to staring at the sword sheath, lost in thought.
Then, suddenly, he stood up.
As if guided by some invisible, inevitable force, he aimed the sheath at a distant snowy mountain and released his energy forcefully.
The next second, the mountain rumbled and collapsed.
From the slowly cracking mountainside, all the dragons saw—
A torch burning with golden flames, surrounded by countless remnants of multicolored embers, blazing fiercely.
—Just as they had seen moments ago in the projection, as if no long time had ever passed.
[They are the eternal watchers, who will watch and guard you from now on, as will I.]
Among the fiery glow guarding the golden torch, a cluster of white flames shone brightest.
It was as if behind the flames, they could faintly see the gentle, aged White Dragon.
[This torch is like the King. As long as it burns, it means your dynasty endures.]
Beiyuan took a deep breath and slowly released his spiritual power—
He was attempting to awaken this ancient castle and the spiritual entities slumbering within—
If his spirit could cross through time to the past, then might the ancient spirits also cross to the present?
It was just a guess, but Beiyuan was certain.
In response, the entire castle suddenly trembled violently.
Countless players, once trapped in the castle’s mechanisms and being hunted by monsters, suddenly felt the presence of something terrifying awakening.
The monsters all fled, retreating into the darkness.
“What?… What’s coming now?!” The players, already PTSD-ridden by this dungeon, shouted from the depths of their hearts, on the verge of madness.
Fragments of crumbled walls reassembled, cracks disappeared, chandeliers on the ceiling lit up again, and the suits of armor lining the hallways regained their luster.
Everything seemed to flow backward to its prime, as though the castle was being reborn.
—Yes.
Feeling the countless familiar spiritual power fluctuations and strength responding to him, Beiyuan became certain of one thing.
The blond, golden-eyed boy slowly stood and took step after step toward the castle’s main hall.
His expression was much the same as when he entered, yet somehow more mature overnight, ready to shoulder the responsibility of a kingdom and step onto the throne.
—“This is still my dynasty.”
[This is still your dynasty.]
Luluda and the others watched Beiyuan’s retreating figure in silence.
After a long moment, the first Chasing Dragon Clan member stepped forward, sensing something.
At the same time, beneath the earth, a dragon’s roar echoed.
The ever-approaching dragon cries seemed to say—
[Your coronation has never ended. No matter how many times, we will always answer your call.]
[Until you reach your throne!]