The sound of gears turning echoed beneath the altar as the ground shook violently. Orson immediately stepped back, his guard up.
In the world of Infinite Dimensions, secret chambers and treasure chests followed two simple rules: either you struck gold or got scammed.
An arched platform slowly rose, revealing…
"What the hell…? Dragon Maiden?"
Orson's jaw dropped.
On the intricately decorated metal pedestal sat a shriveled, grapefruit-sized object that looked suspiciously like a dried-out citrus peel.
"This is supposed to be the legendary Dragon Maiden? This thing looks more like a mummified pomelo!"
Disappointment hit him like a ton of bricks. He had envisioned a graceful maiden, blushing shyly as she gazed at him, or perhaps a mighty, awe-inspiring dragon joining his ranks.
Instead, he got this… overripe fruit?
"An expired citrus orb? This is what I risked my life for?!" Orson groaned.
Curious but skeptical, he checked its attributes.
[Dragon Maiden: Berenice]
Form: Dragon Egg HP: 1/1 Skills: ???
"You're kidding me. It is the Dragon Maiden… a dragon egg? More like a dragon's eyeball!"
The absurdity of the situation made Orson question his life choices. He'd lost his mount and endured countless trials for this pathetic, shriveled thing.
Before he could complain further, his vision blurred, and he found himself in a surreal, dreamlike realm.
In the vision, a young, regal man stood hand in hand with the Earth Elf Queen, kneeling outside the majestic silver cathedral of the Light Dragon Empire's Grand Church.
They knelt without rest for seven days and nights.
Orson recognized the location instantly—it was said to house the mortal incarnation of the God of Light, with a king-class Light Dragon guarding it.
"So the backstories of the Feathered Ascension and this dungeon are interconnected," Orson thought, his suspicions confirmed as he observed the scene.
Legend had it that the Feathered King and the Earth Elf Queen fell deeply in love but were unable to produce an heir. In desperation, they sought the aid of the immortal Sacred Spirit Dragon King, whose compassion led him to bestow a drop of his divine blood upon them.
A year later, a girl named Berenice was born. She became the kingdom's cherished jewel, a breathtaking beauty, and heir to the Ascension Kingdom.
But one fateful day, she was abducted by agents of the Dark Empire while on a royal outing.
The Rebellion, Dark Dragon King, sensing the power of the Sacred Spirit's divine magic within her, cursed her, seeking to unravel its secrets and find a way to defeat the Light Dragon King.
Horrified, the Feathered King led his army of 100,000 and three war gods in a desperate attempt to rescue her. But against a king-class dragon, even their advanced warships and magic proved futile.
When all seemed lost, the Sacred Spirit Dragon King intervened at great personal cost, rescuing Berenice but discovering she had been cursed. Her body had transformed into an egg-like vessel, intended to fuse her humanity, elf lineage, and the powers of both Light and Dark Dragons into a being that could rule over all dragons: the Dark Dragon Emperor.
The Grand Church, deeming her a harbinger of doom, demanded her death. But the Sacred Spirit Dragon King, defying all opposition, sealed her within the altar using his ultimate barrier magic.
Orson's mind raced.
The Frost Dragon Knight Ivan I, once tasked with guarding the seal, had succumbed to ambition. Hoping to harness Berenice's power, he repeatedly infused the egg with Frost Dragon blood, attempting to hatch and tame her.
When the plot was exposed, the Frost Dragon Kingdom was annihilated by the Grand Church.
Though their plan failed, Ivan's descendants hadn't given up. They later discovered the egg's location and used its divine energy to mass-produce Dragonblood monsters, aiming to one day launch a vengeful assault on the Light Dragon Empire, with Cain's help.
The vision faded, leaving Orson speechless.
"A god-tier being… a transcendent dragon race… all from this sad, shriveled egg?"
He turned back toward the pedestal—and froze.
"Where's my egg?!"
The Dragon Egg was gone.
Panic gripped him as he scanned the room. Then he saw it—a bouncing, legged egg darting toward the chamber door at an alarming speed.
"You've got to be kidding me! My god-tier pet has legs and is running away?!"
Orson bolted after it, yelling, "Stop! You're my divine beast! Come back!"
The egg suddenly stopped, then turned and launched itself back at him at full speed.
"What… what is this idiot egg even doing?!" Orson had no idea what to make of its erratic behavior.
The egg's tiny, transparent legs sprang up as it leaped into his arms. Before he could react, it dove into his inventory.
"Berenice has expressed her fondness for you, believing you will offer your humble life for her protection."
"Berenice acknowledges your bravery and hopes you will dedicate your insignificant soul to her cause."
Orson stared at the notifications, dumbfounded.
"This shameless egg… is it trolling me?!"
He frantically tried to pull it out of his inventory, but the egg moved with uncanny agility, dodging every attempt.
Even with his lightning-fast reflexes and his reputation as a gaming champion, Orson couldn't catch it.
"Who am I? Where am I? Am I being outplayed by a dumb egg?"
Orson broke into a cold sweat. Every move he made, every thought he had, seemed to be anticipated by this ridiculous egg.
"This is absurd… I've fought some crazy things in Infinite Dimensions, but this takes the cake!"
Suddenly, a mocking laugh filled the chamber.
A blue-haired man stepped through the doorway, his figure radiating an aura of cold arrogance.
Frost spread across the walls as he entered, chilling the air with each step. His presence alone seemed to freeze the very ground beneath him.
"Adventurer, you've surprised me!" the man said, his voice smooth yet icy. "For centuries, my Frost Dragon Clan has failed to break the Dragon's Curse Barrier, yet you've done it!"
Orson's eyes narrowed as he analyzed his foe.
[Corrupted Frost Dragon Knight: Inevan II]
Level: 40 Lord-Class Creature HP: 7,000,000 Attack: 2,300 Skills: ???
"You killed my mount, didn't you?" Orson asked calmly.
"A mere fire lizard? Hardly worthy of being called a mount. Have you ever seen a truly noble steed?" Inevan smirked, exuding an unsettling charm.
"So you admit it." Orson chuckled coldly. "Let me guess. You want the egg too?"
Inevan descended the steps, his every footfall freezing the ground. "Hand over Berenice, and I'll let you live. I might even reward you handsomely."
A system prompt appeared:
Option 1: Surrender Berenice for 100,000 gold, 1,000,000 reputation, and an alliance with Lord Cain. Option 2: Defeat Inevan II…
The prompt glitched. Then, a childish voice chimed in:
"And earn Berenice's favor! She'll deem you her adorable, invincible, dashing personal servant!"
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Orson's scalp tingled. "The egg can hijack system prompts too?!"