Chapter 504: Meeting with the Dragon Ancestor
Leon turned his gaze forward, taking in the sight of a massive and majestic white palace.
"That's huge..." he muttered softly, admiration evident in his eyes.
The palace was even larger than the Holy Empire of Elysium's palace or the Demon Empire's one, where he had once lived.
Athena gradually descended, landing gracefully in the palace's vast courtyard.
Leon quickly stood up and leaped down from her head. The moment his feet touched the ground, he scanned his surroundings with curiosity.
"Even the courtyard is this vast," he murmured with a soft sigh.
Considering this palace belonged to the ancestor of dragons, its grandeur wasn't all that surprising.
*Buzz!*
A red light flared around Athena before her massive form began to shrink, gradually returning to her elegant and captivating human appearance.
She stepped toward Leon, looping her arm through his.
With a faint smile, she tightened her hold and said, "Come on, let's go meet my ancestor."
*Gulp!*
Leon swallowed nervously but forced himself to stay composed, giving a small nod.
"Let's go," he said firmly.
For some reason, this visit felt like a son-in-law meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time.
Athena giggled at his tense expression. "Don't worry, my ancestor isn't fierce or cruel."
Her reassuring words helped Leon relax.
Then, with a snap of her fingers, their figures vanished in an instant.
...
The palace of the dragon ancestor truly deserved to be called the largest Leon had ever seen.
The entrance gate alone was nearly forty meters wide and soared hundreds of meters high!
The palace was divided into numerous halls and various other rooms, including a parlor, a treasure chamber, and more.
Unlike the halls he was familiar with in the inner palace or the Holy Empire of Elysium's palace, the ones here stretched tens of meters wide and stood between one to two hundred meters tall.
Standing inside, Leon felt as small as an ant in comparison.
It reminded him of a fairy tale from his previous world, where a man accidentally climbed into the clouds and discovered a giant's palace.
But compared to that story, this palace was likely dozens of times bigger.
Just as Leon was still admiring the palace's splendor, Athena suddenly came to a stop beside him.
"We've arrived."
Leon snapped out of his thoughts and turned his gaze forward—only to be met with a towering golden gate.
Athena placed her palm against its center. Moments later, the gate trembled violently before slowly beginning to open.
As it did, Leon caught a glimpse of what lay beyond—an altar.
It was massive and towering, adorned with ancient patterns he couldn't comprehend.
However, what truly caught Leon's attention wasn't the altar—it was the massive black dragon on it!
Its enormous body was adorned with two sharp black horns that curved upward.
Though it lay in a resting position, as if asleep, the sheer majesty it radiated was enough to make Leon feel an overwhelming sense of danger.
"So, this is the ancestor of dragons, huh?" Leon muttered to himself, clenching his fists.
Even from its aura alone, he could tell how extraordinary its power was—perhaps the strongest he had ever encountered!
"Let's go meet my ancestor, Leon," Athena said, pulling him forward.
As if sensing their presence, the dragon ancestor's eyelids trembled slightly before slowly opening.
Its deep red pupils gleamed with an eerie pressure as they locked onto Athena.
"You've finally arrived, Athena."
Its voice was calm and indifferent, yet it carried an undeniable majesty.
Athena stopped about ten meters away and gently unhooked her arm from Leon's.
"Forgive me for being late, ancestor," she said with a hint of embarrassment, bowing her head.
The dragon ancestor remained silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.
"Late? It has been over six months since I asked you to bring the Fated One. I was beginning to think you had forgotten your task," it said in a nonchalant tone, though dissatisfaction lingered in its voice.
"Hehehe... That..."
Athena, who usually carried herself with authority and grace, now merely scratched her cheek awkwardly.
It wasn't that Athena had intentionally delayed bringing Leon to meet her ancestor—Leon himself had chosen to leave only after settling matters in the Holy Empire of Elysium.
Thinking it wouldn't hurt for her ancestor to wait a little longer, Athena decided to accompany Leon until his business was done. However, she hadn't expected it to take this long.
Seeing her reaction, the dragon ancestor simply shook its head. "Forget it. I don't blame you."
Then, its gaze shifted to Leon, and for a brief moment, a flicker of surprise appeared in its eyes.
"So, you are Leon Kruger, the Fated One?" it asked in an indifferent tone.
Leon quickly composed himself and gave a small nod.
"Yes, I am Leon Kruger," he replied respectfully, placing his right hand over his chest and bowing slightly. "It's an honor to meet you, Dragon Ancestor."
As a being who had once fought alongside Hero Luminus Troya and Demon Emperor Amon Crimson against the Evil God, the dragon ancestor was someone worthy of the highest respect.
He was both a hero and a savior who had helped protect this world from destruction.
Noticing Leon's polite and respectful demeanor, the dragon ancestor nodded in approval.
A person's character could often be judged by their gestures and manner of speech—and in that regard, Leon had passed the test.
A grin spread across the dragon ancestor's massive mouth. "I can sense both holy power and chaos power within you. So, those two forces really can coexist in a single body, huh?"
"Though those two men told me about it, seeing it with my own eyes is still surprising."
Its tone carried a clear sense of nostalgia and longing.
"Two men? Are you referring to Hero Luminus Troya and Demon Emperor Amon Crimson?" Leon asked instinctively.
"Yes, those two," the dragon ancestor confirmed. "Holy power and chaos power are opposing forces. I once believed they could never exist within the same body... until I met you."
Leon sensed the underlying praise in its words, making him feel slightly embarrassed, though he maintained his composure.
Suddenly, the dragon ancestor straightened its enormous body, letting out a low chuckle. "By the way, why are you still hiding? Don't you want to meet your old friend?"
Leon blinked in surprise at the unexpected remark. But before he could process what it meant, a woman's laughter echoed around them.
"Hahaha... Even after thousands of years, you haven't changed, Dragon Ancestor."