Power of Runes

Chapter 135: Dragon Tomb

After his mana had recovered, Ash teleported above a large stone slab that rested right on top of the massive stone door.

He appeared without making a single sound, completely silent, as if he were a ghost.

Absolute Concealment was already active, cloaking his body so well that even the air didn't seem to notice him.

There was a small gap between the two sections of the enormous stone door. It was narrow, but just enough for him to peek through, like a tiny window, revealing a limited view of what was on the other side.

It reminded him of the size of a keyhole, offering only a partial glimpse into the mysterious chamber within.

Carefully observing the darkness behind the door through the gap, Ash locked onto what he could see and teleported inside.

As soon as he arrived inside the room, his instincts kicked in.

Without wasting a second, he moved behind a nearby pillar and kept himself completely hidden.

No one noticed his presence. He remained undetected and, for now at least, he was safe.

Ash slowly turned his gaze around the chamber, taking in the sight before him—and what he saw filled his heart with a quiet awe and a deep, almost sacred reverence.

The floor beneath him was made of deep black obsidian, polished so well it reflected faint glimmers of golden light from the carvings engraved into it.

Each golden line formed symbols and patterns that pulsed faintly with forgotten magic.

The ceiling above arched high in a grand, curved shape that reminded him of a dragon's ribcage—its bones holding the very weight of this massive space, giving off the feeling of being inside a sleeping beast.

This has to be space magic…

Ash thought silently to himself. From the outside, this place hadn't looked so huge, but now that he was standing within it, the interior was far too vast to fit the structure's outward size.

It was a space far larger than it should've been, clearly expanded with powerful spatial enchantments.

Statues of dragons stood all around the grand hall. Each one was tall and imposing, captured in heroic poses that celebrated their strength and pride.

These weren't ordinary dragons; these were the legends of their kind, carved in stone with intricate detail that told stories of wars, victories, and dominance.

They were clearly the strongest warriors of their race.

Ash moved ahead, step by step, slow and careful.

His clothing shifted its color and pattern with the surroundings, adjusting in real time to help him blend into the environment even better.

It was like he wasn't walking at all, but gliding as a shadow over ancient ground.

There's no one here…

He thought while scanning the area.

His eyes kept looking left and right,

So that's how it was hidden all along.

It was clever—no one would expect the throne to be anything other than a symbol of power. Anyone who wanted to enter would have to turn the throne, no matter what.

And the moment that happened…

The dragon would wake up.

But, a great thief has come, and I don't think it will stop me, Ash thought with a dark, creepy smile that looked like the shadowy version of himself.

His mental state was something to worry about—he might be able to show some emotions, or maybe he just didn't feel like showing them. Sometimes, when he did, it was like a girl caught in mood swings, unpredictable and wild.

What he gained from inheriting those memories was control over his emotions.

Many would think this is a good thing, but it was mostly control over the negative emotions, not the positive ones.

And the emotions he did show were bound to be amplified to their highest degree. and somewhat twisted. He will need time and warmth of others to return back as he was previously.

He pulled a small rock from his pocket and moved slowly toward the throne. Thanks to Absolute Concealment, every trace of him—his footsteps, breathing, life force, everything from A to Z—was perfectly hidden. He reached the throne without making a sound.

Carefully, he slipped the rock into the narrow gap behind the throne, pushing it inside the hidden passage. But the gap was small, barely wide enough for a finger, so the rock clattered down the stairs inside.

Clank!!

The noise was soft but enough.

The moment the sound echoed, Ash vanished instantly. The dragon's eyes snapped open, glowing with fierce golden light as it stared toward the throne.

Intruder...? the ancient dragon wondered, his gaze piercing into the throne, searching the hidden passage.

Hmm...? No one...?

Then, a small snake slithered over the stones, knocking a few loose rocks down.

Snakes. Looks like I'll have to tell the childrens to clean this place. The snakes are coming back...

And this place is filled with detection magic and space-blocking magic. No one can come here unannounced…

With that, the elder dragon slowly closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

It was the true superiority of the Runes that allowed Ash to come here undetected—after all, how could space-restricting magic actually bind the very essence of SPACE itself? That would be like asking a one-year-old child to earn money and support their parents.

Meanwhile, hidden behind a rock along the stairway leading downward, Ash let out a slow breath, relief flooding him.

At the same time, in his mind, something dark and twisted stirred.

This thrill of dodging life-or-death situations is fun, but since I can't actually die, it makes things less exciting... Life is getting boring. I need to seek more thrill.

Whatever it was, at least he was happier than before—finding joy in things that might seem creepy to others.

And somewhere far beyond the story, the Author looked sideways, bracing for impact.....knowing full well the readers were about to throw their phones.

***