The Kingmaker System
Chapter 266 - 265. Behind The Hidden Doors (3)

Chapter 266: 265. Behind The Hidden Doors (3)

The darkness that had converged toward the lake had vanished completely, leaving the atmosphere cleansed. The oppressive aura was replaced by an overwhelming sense of purity, the kind that reminded me of being in pollution-free air—crisp and untainted.

I glanced around, taking in the transformed surroundings. The dark, eerie energy was gone, leaving behind a serene forest filled with harmless fauna. It almost seemed like an ordinary place now, its sinister secrets washed away by the cleansing.

In the center of the crater, a soft glow caught my eye. I floated closer, drawn to the source of light like a moth to a flame. A small, opal-shaped stone rested there, glowing faintly with a greenish-blue hue. Its size—about that of a small child’s fist—belied the immense energy it seemed to hold.

Curiosity pulled me to pick it up. The stone was warm to the touch, and its gentle glow made me wonder about the Dragon I had just freed. Was its form the same color as this pulsing light?

I recalled what Roan had told me about the seven Dragons who had chosen to remain on Earth after the war, each aiding humanity in their own way:

The Gold Dragon who helped Saintess Miella to seal the gate of the demon world.

The Green Dragon who has the power to influence the flora and fauna.,

The Fiery Red Ire Dragon who decided to live in the large volcanic mountain,

The Frost Dragon who went to a long sleep in the iciest region.

The Silver Dragon who is said to be residing on the tip of the tallest mountain in the world.

The Aqua Dragon who was capable of healing any wounds and purifying the contamination that was left behind after the long war.

And the last one was a Black and purple dragon who is probably in a deep sleep somewhere.

The Aqua Dragon was the cornerstone of my bloodline, its essence finding home in me while the other six were somewhere in self-created hibernation or probably roaming the earth. But then again, they probably had nothing to do with this Dragon, he had died here during the war and his remains were also gone now.

This Dragon had clearly been gone for centuries, far removed from the seven Roan described.

I brushed my thumb over the stone, pondering its origin. It had endured an immeasurable period of confinement, yet its essence felt alive, a faint heartbeat echoing within the crystal. Was it finally free, reuniting with the Supreme Aqua Dragon wherever their spirits now resided?

Golden light spilled over the treetops as the sun began to rise, casting the forest in warm hues. The sight was breathtaking, a rare moment of beauty amidst the chaos I often faced. I sighed, knowing I would soon have to return to the Temple for prayers and the usual routines. Still, I allowed myself a brief moment of peace to admire the sunrise.

With a deep breath, I teleported back to my room, clutching the stone carefully. I sat on my bed, staring at the unopened notifications in the corner of my vision. The tasks were marked complete, and rewards awaited. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should wait or claim them now.

Deciding not to delay, I removed my sapphire ear stud, letting my form shift back to Reina’s. With a small mental nudge, I opened the notifications.

[Task Complete: Cleanse the Holy Place and Free the One Who Is Trapped Here.]

[Reward Received: Assimilation with the Dragon’s Bloodline by 10%.]

A faint hum resonated in my ears as the next notification appeared:

[Beginning Dragon Bloodline Assimilation.]

[Dragon Bloodline Assimilation Complete: 60%... 64%...]

The surge of energy was immediate and overwhelming. It hit me like a high-speed train, leaving me breathless as my entire body seemed to ignite. Every cell in my body vibrated, alive with power. My blood sang beneath my skin, rushing through my veins with the force of tsunami waves.

My heart pounded furiously, each beat echoing in my ears as though it might burst from my chest. The electric charge running through me left me momentarily blinded, overwhelmed by its intensity.

[Dragon Bloodline Assimilation Completed: 68%.]

When I opened my eyes, I caught a faint glow in my reflection. The electric current coursing through me had subsided, leaving behind a surge of energy that felt as though it had always belonged.

I flexed my fingers, clenching and unclenching my fists as the newfound power settled into my body like an old friend. My heartbeat, though calmer now, felt stronger—each beat steady and purposeful.

Walking over to the mirror, I examined the subtle changes in my appearance. My eyes glowed faintly, their pupils no longer fully human. They had become slightly elliptical, like a Dragon’s, with vibrant blue rings circling them. The longer I focused, the sharper my vision became, as though the world had been brought into a new clarity.

My silver hair now carried strands of the palest blue, shimmering faintly in the light. That part concerned me—it would complicate maintaining my separate forms. If both Reina and Ocean began merging physically, it could make my disguises far more difficult to manage.

I sighed, noticing how my muscles had become subtly more defined. It wasn’t enough to make me look unnaturally strong, but the physical strength I could feel in my body now seemed to match my true abilities.

"Good enough," I murmured, taking in my reflection. The face staring back at me was more ethereal than ever—a strikingly beautiful child, yet undeniably alien in subtle ways.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts, followed by the soft voices of the maids. With a resigned sigh, I placed the sapphire ear stud back on, shifting seamlessly into Mirielle’s form once more.

The routine would continue, at least for now. Tonight, however, I planned to drop another bomb on the Pope. The timing had to be perfect, and for that, I needed Lyall’s assistance. Until then, I slipped into my daily routine, blending in as Mirielle.

The day proceeded like any other. The young boy who often visited me came again, his cheerful energy a refreshing break from the responsibilities I carried. We settled down for a game of chess, and I noticed he was steadily improving. His moves, once random and haphazard, were now calculated, though still easy to counter.

As the game progressed, I noticed him glancing at my hands repeatedly, his gaze lingering on my fingers. It wasn’t his usual expression of curiosity, but something more focused, almost fixated.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, breaking the silence.

He hesitated, then pointed at my hands. "Your nails."

My brows furrowed as I followed his gaze, lifting my fingers for a closer look. My eyebrows shot up in surprise. My nails, which had been ordinary before, now carried a pale blue hue, as if frost had kissed them. It was faint but unmistakable, a subtle glow that caught the light.

This had to be another side effect of the Dragon Bloodline Assimilation. I hadn’t noticed it earlier, perhaps because I was too preoccupied with managing my shifting forms and surges of energy.

"They’re beautiful," the child said, his voice soft with awe. His shy smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

"Thank you," I replied, brushing a strand of hair from my face as I gave him a warm smile.

He beamed, clearly pleased with my response, and returned his attention to the chessboard. Yet his compliment lingered in my mind, a reminder of how the changes in my body might not be as hidden as I had hoped.

The boy made his next move, and I leaned forward to counter, though my thoughts were elsewhere. If even a child could notice such subtle details, how long would it take for someone more perceptive to figure out what I truly was?

As I played, I made a mental note to test my abilities more thoroughly later. The Dragon’s bloodline was changing me in ways I hadn’t anticipated, and I needed to be prepared for whatever came next.

The news about the lake at the Holy Place drying up would be spread throughout the kingdom soon enough because of my sources which were there only to create the chaos for my sake.

The Pope then would have to be answerable for something so huge and then he would have to act on it as well.

I was waiting for that move. It wouldn’t take long.

"Here, you lost again." I smiled as I took out the child’s king and he gasped looking at the board as if trying to understand how my knight managed to take over his game.

He seemed to be doing good these days as well. The child was given a room right beside mine and he would often be allowed to pray with me and have his meals together with me.

I didn’t ask him if he was hurt again by someone because there was no need to, his bright smile and light-hearted laughs were clear enough answers.

I just hoped that soon enough I would be able to take away every reason for his pain and bring him to the world he would only know happiness.