Chapter 1512: Great Hall

The moment Erend descended deeper into the cave, he felt something brush against the deepest part of his soul. It was not a physical attack, but an unfamiliar force that seemed to reach directly into him, touching something far deeper than his body.

Erend frowned. The energy gave him an uncomfortable sensation that he could not properly explain. It was not strong enough to force him to retreat, but its presence was undeniably strange.

Erend continued downward.

The slope became steeper as he walked deeper into the cave. He had no idea how far he had traveled until he finally glanced back. The light from the entrance had completely disappeared. He was already far beneath the surface.

Erend sighed and continued forward. The walls around him looked ancient. Dark gray stone formed jagged surfaces along the passage, with several sharp edges that could easily injure anyone who stumbled in the darkness. Erend found himself wondering why no one had explored this cave before.

It did not seem particularly dangerous compared to places like the Shattered Expanse, which were constantly filled with powerful monsters. There were no large groups of creatures here, and if there were already rumors that a Dragonborn legacy existed somewhere in this region, humans should have attempted to explore the cave long ago.

Unless something else was hiding inside. Something unrelated to monsters. Something operating on an entirely different level of danger.

The strange energy he had felt earlier made that possibility increasingly likely.

"Are you guys feeling that strange energy too? The one that feels like it’s touching your soul?" Erend asked through their telepathic connection.

"Yeah," Eccar replied. "There’s definitely something strange about this cave."

"That must be why nobody has discovered what’s inside," Sylven added.

Erend realized that the others had reached the same conclusion. "Let’s continue."

The telepathic conversation ended. None of them needed to say anything else. They already understood what they had to do.

Erend continued descending. Eventually, the slope finally came to an end.

Erend stepped onto a wide stone floor and stopped. In front of him stood an enormous door.

It had been constructed from massive stone blocks arranged into an almost perfectly square structure. The geometry looked strangely unnatural compared to the rough walls of the cave. It was as though someone had deliberately placed the structure here rather than allowing it to become part of the natural formation.

The door itself was completely black. Carved across its surface was the image of a Dragon with its wings spread wide.

The carving looked as though it had been made with sharp claws. The lines were somewhat rough and uneven, but despite its crude appearance, the image possessed an undeniable sense of artistry.

Erend stared at it for several seconds. "Huh. This is strange..."

A Dragonborn symbol hidden at the bottom of an ancient cave was not something he expected to encounter so clearly. He thought it would be more subtle.

He stepped closer and placed both hands against the black stone. The moment his palms touched the surface, the entire door rumbled. Erend’s eyes widened a little.

He suddenly felt his Magic being pulled into the stone. The sensation was unmistakable. The door was absorbing his energy. But instead of feeling threatened, Erend felt something strangely familiar.

His expression changed. "This really is it..."

The sensation reminded him of something connected to his own existence. It felt familiar in a way. Now he was certain that the Dragonborn legacy they had been searching for was most likely behind this door.

The rumbling grew louder. And the enormous stone door began to move.

Erend immediately stepped backward as the massive structure slowly opened, revealing a vast darkness beyond it.

He waited for several moments before looking inside. And he saw a massive hall stretched beyond the entrance.

Rows of enormous stone pillars extended into the darkness, supporting a ceiling that Erend could barely see. The scale of the chamber was enormous, far larger than the exterior of the cave should have allowed.

Erend narrowed his eyes. Whatever had been built here had existed for a very long time.

He stepped through the doorway. The moment Erend entered the ancient hall, the strange energy attacked him once again.

Erend slowly looked around the enormous hall. Six massive pillars stood throughout the room, arranged in a deliberate formation that supported the ancient structure above them. Their surfaces were made from the same dark gray stone as the surrounding walls, but the edges had been shaped and smoothed by someone long ago.

The walls were difficult to distinguish from the natural stone of the cave. It almost seemed as though whoever had built this place had transformed the original cave into an enormous hall rather than constructing an entirely separate structure.

Ancient stone formations had been cut and reshaped into walls while still retaining traces of their natural origins.

Erend continued walking. With every step he took, the strange energy surrounding the chamber became stronger. It pressed against his body and once again reached toward his soul.

This time, Erend responded.

He released a small amount of his own Magic and allowed it to circulate throughout his body. His energy formed a protective layer around his soul and pushed back against the unfamiliar force.

The uncomfortable sensation immediately weakened.

Erend continued forward without difficulty. His eyes then caught something at the far end of the hall. A tall chair stood alone against the back wall.

It was constructed from the same gray stone as the rest of the chamber, but its design was far more elaborate. The back rose high above the seat while the armrests curved outward with sharp and elegant edges. The entire structure gave the impression of a throne.

But it was not large enough for a Dragon.

It looked as though a human could sit on it comfortably. However, there was something about its design that suggested the person who had once occupied it possessed an extraordinary sense of pride.

Erend approached slowly. He stopped several steps away and examined the ancient chair.

"A throne?" He had barely finished the thought when a voice suddenly echoed through the hall.

"What? A fellow Dragonborn is here?"

The voice was deep and unexpectedly cheerful.

Erend immediately froze. His brows raised as he turned toward the empty hall. But nobody was there.

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