The moment Keith took the dragon box into his hands—
Velgrynd stiffened.
Her crimson eyes narrowed, pupils thinning into sharp draconic slits.
"…Your heart," she said slowly.
"It's incomplete."
Rowena's head snapped toward Keith.
"Incomplete?" she echoed. "Impossible. His mana flow is pristine."
Velgrynd stepped closer, placing two fingers lightly over Keith's chest.
Not touching—listening.
"The mana heart is there," Velgrynd said, voice calm but heavy.
"But the Dragon Heart… is absent. You're living on potential alone."
Keith nodded, unsurprised.
"I know," he replied. "That's why Temar left this."
He opened the box.
Inside—
A High-Grade True Dragon Heart rested within a crystalline suspension field.
Each pulse distorted space.
Each beat resonated with authority.
Rowena inhaled sharply.
"…That's not just a heart," she whispered.
"That's a legacy."
Keith closed the lid gently.
"My ancestor sealed you," Keith said to Velgrynd, meeting her eyes.
"But I don't think it was to punish you."
Velgrynd didn't interrupt.
"I think," Keith continued, "he didn't want you to die alone.
Didn't want you hunted again.
Didn't want the world to forget dragons—or leave you without a place called home."
Velgrynd's expression softened—just a fraction.
"He believed," Keith said quietly,
"that one day, someone from his bloodline would awaken…
and be able to understand you."
Velgrynd exhaled.
"…Except you," she said softly.
"You're the only one who did."
Keith smiled faintly and nodded.
Legendary Rivalry (Very Petty)
Rowena folded her arms.
"So," she said sweetly,
"are you going to stare at him all day, dragon, or let him breathe?"
Velgrynd scoffed.
"At least I knew him before he had ten fiancées."
Rowena's eyebrow twitched.
"I founded a house. You got sealed."
Keith sighed deeply.
"…I just evolved and I already have legendary women competing for my attention."
Both of them turned to him at once.
Rowena smiled brilliantly.
Velgrynd smirked dangerously.
Keith raised his hands.
"One at a time. Please."
The Decision
Keith looked at the box again.
Then at Velgrynd.
Then at Rowena.
"…If I do this," he said, voice steady,
"I won't be the same."
Rowena nodded.
"You'll be more."
Velgrynd crossed her arms.
"And the world will finally notice."
Keith closed his eyes.
"Then let's do it."
Time Distortion
Snap.
The world shifted.
Time inside the portable dimension twisted—
1 hour outside → 1 year inside.
Keith lay down at the center of a vast mana formation.
"Raphael," he said calmly.
"Take over."
Acknowledged, Master.
Initiating Evolution Protocol.
Keith's consciousness slipped into darkness.
EVOLUTION — BEGIN
The High-Grade True Dragon Heart floated above Keith.
Raphael activated—
Ultimate Skill: Gluttony, King of Consumption — Executing.
The dragon heart shattered into pure conceptual essence.
Not devoured.
Assimilated.
Keith's body convulsed once—
Then stilled.
Void-black runes spread beneath his skin.
Mana density skyrocketed.
Reality bent.
Velgrynd's eyes widened in disbelief.
"…He's not just becoming a True Dragon," she whispered.
"He's becoming something else."
Rowena felt it too.
"This… is beyond founders."
EVOLUTION COMPLETE
When Keith opened his eyes—
They were no longer simply sapphire.
A cosmic void rotated within them.
His hair shimmered silver-white, threaded with starlit black.
Space subtly curved around him.
Mana pressure alone forced Velgrynd and Rowena to instinctively step back.
Behind him—
A halo of void-dragon authority formed.
Star-black wings flickered into existence, then vanished.
Manas Awakening Successful.
Designation: Ciel.
"Good morning, Keith."
His mind was clear.
Perfect.
Limitless.
Race Evolution Complete.
Primordial Void True Dragon Bloodline Acquired.
Keith exhaled slowly.
"…So this is it."
Velgrynd stared at him.
"…You surpassed dragons," she said quietly.
"You became sovereign."
Rowena smiled—soft, proud.
"Welcome to true legendhood, Keith Argus Runcandel."
Keith rubbed his forehead.
"…I just wanted to help everyone."
Ciel replied gently:
And now you can.