Bab 295: Core
The shock was clear on everyone's faces when they heard Ant-Man speaking in dragon language. Leila's expression was one of disbelief. How could this human, whose life experience was a fraction of hers, understand a language she didn't even know existed? The dragon, too, looked startled, and after blinking a few times, it asked, "Are… are you a dragon too?"
"No, of course not," Ant-Man replied, slowly returning to his normal size. Although Ant-Man could go giant at will, his suit wasn't designed to sustain that size for too long. Being massive drained him faster than almost any other ability, and he needed to be smart about when he used it.
In the game's design, the ability to go giant was his ultimate move—a powerful transformation, but one that came with its own limits. The longer he stayed in that size, the more "pressure" built up, and once it hit maximum, he would shrink back to his regular form. Only after a cooldown would he be able to go giant again.
Now that he'd returned to a regular size, Ant-Man held out his arms to show the dragon he was, in fact, just a "regular" human. "As you can see, I'm only human. I just have a few questions for you."
The dragon squinted, still somewhat suspicious and probably sore. "Ordinary human," it muttered, almost like it was trying to convince itself. Its gaze lingered on the Advent Core that Batman still held, a glimmer of desire flashing across its eyes. After a moment, it gave in with a reluctant sigh. "What do you want to know?"
Ant-Man gestured to the box in Batman's hand. "Let's start with that. What exactly is it?"
The dragon looked at the box, then shook its head. "I don't know. It's something left behind by… someone from outside. But it's mine, and I must keep it locked away, or it will bring disaster."
"Why?" Ant-Man pressed, his curiosity growing.
The dragon shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know. That's just what… they told me."
"They? Are you talking about other dragons? Are there any others?" Ant-Man asked, leaning forward slightly.
The dragon looked down, shaking its head again. "They're all dead… all gone." Its expression softened, and for the first time, the creature looked less like the proud beast of myth and more like a weary, lonely soul carrying the burden of its kind. Charlie recalled Leila's earlier statement that dragons had long been considered extinct. But here, in front of him, was one of those so-called extinct beings, and it looked heartbreakingly tired.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
"The Outsiders returned," the dragon said, a dark glint in its eye. "We dragons tried to fight, but… we couldn't win. They saw us as a threat, so they hunted us down until there was nothing left."
The words chilled Charlie. He remembered Leila's warning about the gods from beyond returning. Perhaps this wasn't just a future prophecy. Perhaps it was a memory—a nightmare that had already come to pass.
"They came back," the dragon continued, its voice dropping, "and they saw us. They saw how strong we were, and they were afraid. So… they decided to destroy us."
"But you survived," Ant-Man noted, his voice gentle.
"Only because I was still an egg," the dragon replied, looking embarrassed. "When I woke, the others were gone. I hatched into silence. But… I could hear their memories, their voices, echoing in my mind, telling me that whatever destroyed us might come back. They told me this locket—" it motioned to the Advent Core—"was the key. I was to guard it, to make sure no one took it."
A flicker of anger crossed the dragon's face as it spat, "That's mine!"
Charlie asked a few more questions, but the dragon's answers were jumbled, as if its thoughts were knotted up. Talking to it was like talking to a child lost in their own imagination. Still, he managed to piece together the story.
The infected beasts and mutated creatures that had been appearing near Riverton weren't the dragon's doing. Instead, they were the result of the Advent Core's influence—a power so dangerous that even the Ancients had once warned against it. They had blamed dragons for spreading mutations and violence among lesser creatures, but it seemed those powers originated from the Core itself.
Curious about the level of infection, Charlie used his equipment to scan the Advent Core. What he saw left him stunned. The Core's infection levels were off the charts—higher than anything in the Ninth Special Service Division's entire database. Left unchecked, it could potentially spread throughout Earth, causing animals to mutate and turn aggressive within a few weeks.
Yet, somehow, this powerful artifact had remained silent for eons, buried in isolation.
The reason? The dragons had sealed it here, within this paradise-like realm, to protect the outside world. This otherworldly domain wasn't a natural formation. It had been created by the dragons—a last gift to safeguard the world from the Core's destructive potential.
The dragon in front of him, as unfocused as it seemed, was the last guardian of this realm. Through inherited memories and a deep-seated sense of duty, it had watched over this place for countless years, ensuring no one would disturb the Core or release its powers. It was also here to stand watch in case the Outsiders returned.
Dragons had always held themselves in high regard, considering themselves protectors of the world. Even in their final days, they had used their power to create this hidden realm, shielding future generations from a catastrophe that could have turned Earth into a wasteland. Their sacrifice may have saved humanity, allowing them to thrive in a world free of mutated beasts and chaos.
Reflecting on this, Charlie felt a newfound respect for the dragons. Their pride and strength had driven them to an honorable end, one that left a legacy of protection for the world.
But as he thought more, he realized there was a new problem.
The dragon had said the Advent Core had been here for ages. Yet in the past two days, infected creatures had begun appearing outside Riverton.
This was a bad sign.
Either the realm's barrier was weakening, or the Core itself was growing more powerful.
But if Charlie had to guess, there was something worse on the horizon.
They were coming back.
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone