The mountain path was quiet as Rio, Ryota, Auram, and Indratos made their way down from the ruined peak.
Unlike before, however, the silence no longer felt oppressive.
The tension that had weighed on them after their defeat inside the dungeon had begun to ease. The wind drifted gently through the valley below, carrying the distant sounds of wildlife and civilization. It was almost strange to hear normal sounds again after everything they had endured.
For them, the world had changed.
Rio walked several steps ahead of the group, the ancient book resting securely in her hands. Its worn leather cover looked ordinary at first glance, but every so often the talisman wrapped around it emitted a faint pulse. The energy wasn't mana. It felt far older than that.
Ryota noticed her studying it and leaned closer.
"So that's it?" he asked.
Rio didn't answer immediately.
The moment her fingers tightened around the book, the world around her seemed to shift.
A system window unfolded before her eyes.
At first glance, it resembled the standard game interface. Yet something about it felt fundamentally different. Instead of the familiar blue glow used by the system, this interface shone with gold, threaded with faint lines of crimson and silver. It looked less like a game menu and more like an ancient authority that existed beneath the game itself.
Rio's eyes narrowed.
"This is..."
The interface expanded.
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Skill: The World Legacy
Type: Unique – Irreplaceable
Description:
A relic of a fallen world. Grants the wielder authority over the remnants of its heroes.
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Rio continued reading.
Authority.
That word immediately stood out to her.
The next section appeared.
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Effect 1: Summon up to 3 World Entities
Current Available:
• Auram, The World Legacy Blademaster
Unavailable:
• Girsu, The World Legacy Knight
• Lib, The World Key Priestess
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A quiet sigh escaped her.
"As expected..."
Girsu had sacrificed himself.
Lib had been taken.
Only Auram remained available.
However, the interface wasn't finished.
Additional lines appeared beneath the description.
Rio froze.
"What?"
Ryota immediately noticed her reaction.
"What is it?"
She didn't answer.
Her eyes moved rapidly across the newly revealed information.
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Effect 2: Synchronization
Allows the wielder to access the abilities, equipment, and growth systems of summoned entities.
Effect 3: Command Authority
Summoned entities may function as independent combat units or be integrated into guild systems.
Effect 4: Legacy Binding
Summoned entities may continue growing beyond their original parameters.
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Rio stared.
For the first time since receiving the skill, genuine surprise appeared on her face.
"That's not how it worked..."
"The summons aren't even the same as the original."
Ryota blinked.
"Huh?"
Rio's thoughts raced.
She remembered this skill from her previous life.
The World Legacy had existed before.
It had always been powerful, but its limitations were clear. The skill allowed players to summon heroes, monsters, and legendary figures from a forgotten era. They fought for the summoner, but that was all.
This version was completely different.
The entities weren't generic summons.
They were the actual legendary heroes.
Auram.
Girsu.
Lib.
The central figures of the old world.
And more importantly—
The skill treated them as something far beyond simple summons.
Rio slowly looked toward Auram.
Then back toward the interface.
"I can access his equipment."
She continued reading.
"I can access his abilities."
Another line appeared.
"And I can even invite him into a guild."
Silence followed.
Ryota stared.
"...That's broken."
Rio couldn't disagree.
The skill wasn't simply stronger.
It was fundamentally different.
Game-breaking.
She considered the possibilities.
Had Liblee's interference altered the system?
Had the destruction of the original timeline caused the skill to evolve?
Or perhaps...
Her thoughts drifted toward a name.
Saros.
The mysterious being Liblee had mentioned.
Before she could continue speculating, the interface shifted once more.
A final prompt appeared.
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Would you like to learn the skill:
The World Legacy
[ YES ] [ NO ]
═══════════════════════
Rio didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The moment she selected the option, light erupted around her.
The energy wasn't violent.
It was overwhelming in an entirely different way.
Warm.
Ancient.
Absolute.
Ryota instinctively stepped backward.
"Woah..."
The book dissolved into countless particles of golden light.
The energy flowed directly into Rio's body.
Her muscles tensed.
Her vision blurred.
Then memories flooded her mind.
Battles she had never fought.
Voices she had never heard.
Promises.
Victories.
Failures.
Regrets.
And above all else—
Resolve.
The determination of countless heroes echoed through her consciousness.
System notifications exploded across her vision.
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Skill Acquired:
The World Legacy
Level Up!
Level 4 → Level 5
Stat Increases Applied
Skill Evolution Detected
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Rio's eyes widened.
"Already?"
Another notification appeared.
═══════════════════════
Chronos Eye
Level 2 → Level 3
═══════════════════════
The effect was immediate.
Rio felt it.
Time itself seemed more responsive.
More obedient.
A new description appeared.
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Time Acceleration
200% → 250%
Mana Cost
35 → 30
═══════════════════════
"...250%."
Ryota stared.
"Wait, did that just get stronger?"
"Yes."
Rio flexed her fingers.
The difference was obvious.
Chronos Eye no longer felt like a borrowed power.
It felt natural.
Refined.
More efficient than before.
"And the mana cost decreased."
Ryota groaned dramatically.
"Okay, that's just unfair."
A faint smile tugged at Rio's lips.
"It means I can use it much more freely."
Eventually the light faded.
The world returned to normal.
But the connection remained.
Rio immediately felt it.
Auram was no longer merely standing beside her.
He was linked to her through the skill.
A living part of The World Legacy.
Auram stepped forward.
His expression was calm.
Respectful.
He lowered his head slightly.
"It is an honor to serve you, Lady Rio."
His gaze shifted toward Ryota.
"And Lord Ryota."
Ryota immediately pointed at himself.
"Lord?"
Rio sighed.
"Don't encourage him."
Auram merely smiled.
For the first time since the dungeon, the atmosphere felt lighter.
Rio looked directly at him.
Not at a legendary hero.
Not at a figure from history.
But at an ally.
"I look forward to our adventure, Auram."
Auram nodded.
"As do I."
Behind him, Indratos stirred.
The small dragon slowly raised his head.
His eyes looked much healthier now.
His wounds remained, but his condition had improved.
Rio crouched beside him.
"Hey there."
Indratos tilted his head.
Curious.
Watching her carefully.
"Welcome to our adventure."
Her fingers brushed gently across his scales.
The dragon immediately leaned into her hand.
A soft rumble escaped him.
Content.
Comfortable.
Safe.
Ryota dropped into a crouch beside them.
"Okay, that's unfair."
"He likes you more."
Rio smirked.
"Of course he does."
A pause.
"I'm better."
"Oi!"
For a brief moment, the mountain path filled with normal conversation.
No monsters.
No gods.
No world-ending threats.
Just companions sharing a quiet moment.
Then Indratos suddenly perked up.
The small dragon scampered toward Auram and nudged his leg repeatedly.
Auram blinked.
"Hm?"
The dragon made another insistent noise.
Auram listened.
Then smiled knowingly.
"I see."
Reaching into his satchel, he retrieved another book.
Unlike the World Legacy tome, this one appeared older and far more worn.
The leather cover was faded.
The pages were weathered.
Yet powerful energy still lingered within it.
Auram tossed it toward Ryota.
Ryota caught it instinctively.
"Huh?"
Auram glanced toward Indratos.
"It seems he has taken a liking to you."
The dragon immediately ran over to Ryota.
After circling him once, he sat down and stared up at him expectantly.
Ryota looked between the dragon and the book.
"Wait. Why me?"
Rio crossed her arms.
"Because he chose you."
Then she added dryly,
"Try not to mess it up."
"No pressure at all."
Ryota carefully opened the book.
Ancient symbols covered every page.
The moment he touched them, the text began to shift.
The symbols rewrote themselves before his eyes.
A new system window appeared.
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Would you like to learn the skill:
World Dragon Crest
[ YES ] [ NO ]
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Ryota stared.
Then looked down at Indratos.
The dragon tilted his head.
Waiting patiently.
A grin slowly spread across Ryota's face.
"World Dragon Crest, huh?"
He chuckled.
"Sounds pretty cool."
At that moment, Auram's body began to glow.
Small particles of light drifted away from him.
His remaining energy was finally reaching its limit.
The connection between worlds was weakening.
Auram looked at them one last time.
"Until we meet again."
His voice echoed softly.
"If you need me, call my name."
His form became increasingly transparent.
"And I will answer."
The light scattered.
Then he was gone.
Only the wind remained.
Rio glanced at her interface.
A new notification had appeared.
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Auram
Status: Resting
Energy: 1%
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"So that's the cooldown."
Ryota closed the book and looked down at the dragon sitting beside him.
A grin appeared on his face.
"So..."
He pointed at Indratos.
"Guess I just got a dragon."
Rio smirked.
"Looks like it."
Indratos immediately let out a happy roar.
The sound echoed across the mountainside.
For the first time since entering the dungeon, the future no longer felt like something they were desperately chasing.
Instead, it felt like something waiting for them.
Waiting for them to grow stronger.
Waiting for them to rise.
And when the day finally came—
They would be ready.