The seemingly endless stone steps continued downward. I suspected I was now deeper than the seabed beneath the underground ocean. What would it feel like if gravity reversed as you passed through the center of the planet? But with Ceres' weak gravity, the difference might not be noticeable.

Finally, the stairs stopped descending, and I reached a vast, empty cavern: the lair of the Elder Darkfang.

The cavern walls were filled with countless niches, holding all sorts of objects whose functions were indiscernible. There were probably thousands of them, and some of the more peculiar ones glowed under infrared vision.

I heard the sound of flowing water but couldn't pinpoint the entrance or exit points. The inflowing currents formed a lake with a platform in the center.

"Dragon without wings, step forward." The solemn song reverberated through the cavern, and a few Augira crystals flashed white light with the specific tone, illuminating the creature on the central platform.

The massive body and thick neck were covered in indigo scales, with feathers on the body and wing tips of a similar but darker hue. Those yellow eyes pierced through me in just an instant.

Wise Pathfinder Darkfang, the oldest living ancient dragon, perched on a throne-like platform. Many objects at the lake bottom also sparkled in the brief light.

Though I had seen depictions and read about ancient dragons, seeing one in person left me awestruck and immobile—those records didn’t capture even a fraction of his magnificence.

"Dragon without wings, step forward." He sang again, with a melody of curiosity, and this time the cavern flashed blue.

Few adult dragons chose to enter the Ascension Slumber. Besides being a privilege of the Third Name Holder and taking at least a century with no guaranteed successful transformation, the complete change in body structure meant losing the ability to speak, a significant issue for those who valued their song. Yet, considering the possibility of attaining this form suddenly filled me with excitement.

One thing at a time. Darkfang clearly wanted me to approach. I guessed this was some sort of test.

I looked around the cavern for something to help me cross the lake but found nothing. Should I swim across? Would that be improper? Would Darkfang care?

Scratching my head, I was unsure.

Hearing Darkfang's subtle inhalation, I guessed he was about to sing again.

It wouldn’t be polite to make the Elder prompt me so many times.

I cleared my mind of distractions and took a step forward onto the lake's surface.

To my surprise, something solid supported my foot. Under the lake’s surface, something transparent formed a path to the central platform.

Darkfang rumbled, causing the space to vibrate; I assumed it was his laughter. Under the crystal’s red glow, I saw the pillars beneath the surface.

Understanding that Darkfang had been giving me hints from the start, I felt embarrassed, scratching the back of my head.

"Fearless one, a challenger knows no hesitation," Darkfang sang in a pleased melody as I reached him, the surrounding crystals emitting a steady white light. "Advance boldly; a wingless dragon never falls." The Elder lowered his enormous head, his yellow eyes level with mine. "But a Third Name Holder should know that caution is the stepping stone to wisdom."

I bowed my head, humbly accepting his teaching. Yet, I noticed another meaning in his words.

Returning to the lake's edge, I reached into the water and retrieved one of the transparent crystals I had used as a stepping stone. It was a rectangular prism, about the size of my palm. With Darkfang's smiling approval, I pocketed this meaningful gift.

"The Venerable One has awakened from slumber to bestow priceless wisdom. How can the wingless one repay such a gift?" I bowed deeply, then sang with a melody of longing.

"Dragon without wings, hear my song, the pride, hope, and regret of an aged elder." Darkfang lifted his head and howled, fully spreading his giant wings, the scales and feathers reflecting the crystals' resonant lights.

"The final judge has awakened, his brilliant mind illuminating the void.

A pale blue dot completes him, the vanished azure shatters him.

Red eyes see all, an empty heart embraces all.

Reflecting on past errors, glimpsing future possibilities.

Complete your inevitable journey, deciding the fate of living beings.

Who is the judge, and who will be judged?

This great question, originating a millennium ago, from the seven who dared to shape the future:

The Wealthiest controlled the sky, land, and sea, claiming all roads as his.

The Sharpest mastered words, language, and information, manipulating all truths for his use.

The Most Practical owned fields, mountains, and homes, enslaving all forms for her labor.

The Wisest fabricated knowledge, information, and data, guiding all minds for his purposes.

The Craftiest performed miracles, heroics, and holy wars, shepherding all spirits for her lead.

The Most Far-sighted created poisons, antidotes, and food, monopolizing all harvests for his gain.

The Most Foolish gazed at the stars, seeking a world wide enough for all to soar freely.

The seven knew each other, forming an alliance, secretly steering the world’s course.

Using coded language as keys, performing the finest puppet show in the shadows.

The seven are all guilty, no degree lessened, paying their dues when the final reckoning comes.

With memories as the foundation, presenting their truest thoughts in judgment.

Tides and empires rise and fall, civilizations ebb and flow, but the seven puppet masters overlooked the strings binding themselves.

Realizing they were part of a grander scheme, six intensified their efforts, speculating within their limitations, trying to piece together a conclusion fitting their own designs.

The Most Foolish vowed to learn, separating from the six, guarding the secret alone through the ages. But the long years saw more forgotten than remembered, and he failed himself again."

Darkfang's body slumped, looking weary, the crystals in the cavern dimming.

"Among all the useless knowledge and regretful memories, the Most Foolish could vaguely recall that the first act would unfold on the Luna." Darkfang lowered his head before me, singing softly.

"Find the judge, offer my fragmented memory, and show the path to reconciliation, avoiding our destruction;

Assist the judge, present my clouded eyes, perceiving the true nature of all beasts, seeing through the illusions;

Inform the judge, listen to my final song, remember the Most Foolish's failure, and understand the meaning of the coded language."

Darkfang tilted his head, showing his obsidian fang. "Wingless one, do you accept this gift and its corresponding burden?"

Still intoxicated by the unimaginable grandiosity of the song, I felt dizzy as I knelt and lowered my gaze. "Born for this." The images conveyed through the song were numerous and chaotic, and it might take a long time to sort them out. But I understood how important this was and why I was chosen.

Darkfang seemed to sigh in relief, slowly blinking as he pierced my shoulder with his obsidian fang.

At first, there was only a sharp pain. Then, it felt like liquid fire coursing through my veins. Every organ, muscle, bone, and nerve screamed. I felt like I was disassembled, scattered into space, and then reassembled molecule by molecule.

When I regained awareness of my breathing, I didn't know how much time had passed. I shakily stood up, looking at Darkfang, now curled into a ball. The Elder seemed to have entered slumber again, covering his head with the feathers on his tail, his body rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm.

But I felt something... something...

"Dif-tor heh smusma."

The sudden phrase in my mind almost made me jump. I recognized it as Darkfang's voice, similar to the song's tone. I glanced again at the ancient dragon, clearly deep in sleep, with no sign of awakening.

"This is my coded language, remember it, it will be useful in the end," Darkfang's voice echoed again.

"Understood, Wise Pathfinder Darkfang." I tried to mimic, sending my thoughts out, receiving a friendly laugh and a sense of his need for rest in response.

Retracing my steps up the stone stairs, I pondered, feeling like something... no, many things were within my... my... sense range. I didn't know how to describe it; it was like seeing many small dots in my peripheral vision, losing focus if I tried to look at one, but clearly knowing they were there.

I couldn't understand the principle, but I sensed another group of people outside the isolation pod. I thought they would explain the situation to me.

As the door to the isolation pod slowly opened, I clutched the transparent crystal in my chest pocket, knowing that the world would never be the same again.