Chapter 26 – The Vault of Legacies
The ancient silver sword floated silently within the crystal.
Galaxies seemed to drift across its blade.
The chamber beyond the sanctuary was unlike anything the expedition had seen before.
Rows upon rows of stone pedestals stretched into the distance, disappearing beyond the horizon.
Some held broken weapons.
Others contained ancient books, crowns, staffs, armor, or glowing crystals.
Many stood empty.
Each pedestal carried a golden plaque.
The Sword Saint of Solaris
The World Sage Elion
The Storm Titan King
The Azure Dragon Emperor
The Spirit Queen Lysia
Marcus stared in amazement.
"...This place is enormous."
Lyra stepped forward, her voice filled with reverence.
"This..."
"...is the Vault of Legacies."
"It preserves the inheritances of heroes whose deeds changed worlds."
Ryan looked around.
"So every weapon here belonged to someone legendary?"
Lyra nodded.
"Not merely legendary."
"World-shaping."
"Their physical bodies perished long ago, but fragments of their wills remain within their legacies."
Sophia whistled softly.
"So if we obtain one..."
"We inherit their power?"
Lyra smiled.
"Not their power."
"Their guidance."
"If they deem you worthy."
Elena’s eyes lit up.
"I like that."
The System appeared before every expedition member.
Hidden Area Discovered
Vault of Legacies
Current Participants: 20
Special Rule:
Each participant may challenge one Legacy Trial.
Failure carries no penalty.
Success grants a Legacy Inheritance.
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"Now this is my kind of reward."
Azrael looked toward the countless pedestals.
"There must be thousands..."
Lyra corrected him.
"There are millions."
Silence.
"...Millions?"
"The Vault connects to every civilization that has ever joined the Celestial Evolution System."
"The legacies continuously grow."
Ryan muttered,
"Suddenly I don’t feel very special."
The group slowly spread out.
Almost immediately...
Different pedestals began glowing.
A massive stone hammer flew toward Marcus.
A pair of elegant daggers resonated with Sophia.
A long emerald bow floated before Ryan.
Even Claire’s communication badge, though she wasn’t present, briefly appeared on the Guild interface as if the Vault had acknowledged her contributions back at headquarters.
Elena stopped before a black katana resting upon a marble altar.
Its blade radiated quiet elegance.
A plaque beneath it read:
Legacy of the Moonblade Saint
The katana trembled gently.
"...It chose me?"
Lyra nodded.
"Or perhaps..."
"...you chose it."
Meanwhile...
Azrael and Seraphina continued walking deeper into the Vault.
Curiously...
None of the relics reacted to them.
Not one.
Seraphina frowned.
"Are we doing something wrong?"
Lyra looked thoughtful.
"No."
"I think..."
"They’re afraid."
Marcus laughed from the distance.
"Afraid?"
"How can a sword be afraid?"
Lyra didn’t answer.
She wasn’t looking at Marcus.
She was looking at the twins.
Far ahead...
The enormous silver sword inside the crystal pulsed once.
The entire Vault fell silent.
Every relic stopped glowing.
Every floating weapon gently lowered itself.
It was as though the entire Vault was paying respect to something.
Then...
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
"So..."
"The heirs have arrived."
The crystal surrounding the silver sword slowly dissolved into particles of light.
The sword remained suspended in the air.
It was nearly as tall as Azrael.
Its guard resembled six folded wings.
Its silver blade reflected not the room...
But an endless night sky filled with stars.
The System identified it.
Origin-Class Legacy
Name: Astraeus
Classification: Unknown
Compatibility:
Searching...
Searching...
Error...
Access Restricted.
Marcus blinked.
"...Origin-Class?"
Elena frowned.
"I’ve never seen the System fail to classify something."
Lyra slowly knelt.
"The First Sword..."
"...has awakened."
The sword drifted toward Azrael.
Everyone instinctively stepped back.
It stopped only a few centimeters from him.
For several seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then the sword gently rotated.
Its tip lowered toward the ground.
Almost as if...
It were bowing.
Azrael looked confused.
"It isn’t attacking?"
Lyra smiled softly.
"No."
"It is greeting you."
Before Azrael could respond—
Another brilliant light erupted from the far side of the Vault.
This time...
A magnificent white staff floated into the air.
Its head resembled a blooming flower surrounded by miniature stars.
The staff flew directly toward Seraphina.
Unlike the sword...
It circled her happily before stopping beside her shoulder.
The System displayed another notification.
Origin-Class Legacy
Name: Elysia
Classification: Unknown
Compatibility:
Searching...
Searching...
Error...
Access Restricted.
Seraphina reached out.
The staff rested gently in her hand.
Warmth spread through her entire body.
"It feels..."
"...alive."
Lyra nodded.
"Every Origin Legacy possesses its own consciousness."
"They are companions."
"Not tools."
Marcus scratched his head.
"So..."
"They just got the rarest weapons?"
Sophia laughed.
"I think they did."
Ryan sighed dramatically.
"Of course they did."
Elena smiled instead.
"They earned it."
Suddenly...
The silver sword spoke.
Its voice was calm and ancient.
"I refuse."
Everyone froze.
Marcus looked around.
"...The sword talks?"
Astraeus continued.
"I refuse to become a weapon."
Azrael blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"I have served as a weapon for countless ages."
"No longer."
"I seek a partner."
Silence filled the Vault.
Then the sword added,
"If you merely wish to swing me..."
"I reject you."
Azrael couldn’t help smiling.
"That’s fair."
"I don’t want a weapon."
"I want a companion I can trust."
The sword remained silent.
A few moments later...
It glowed brightly.
Compatibility Test
Result:
99%
Reason:
Shared Ideals Confirmed.
Astraeus floated beside Azrael.
"...Acceptable."
"You may carry me."
Marcus burst into laughter.
"The sword has standards!"
Even Elena laughed.
"I like this one."
Seraphina looked down at her own staff.
"Elysia?"
The staff emitted a soft chiming sound.
Then a gentle feminine voice echoed in her mind.
"Hello."
Seraphina smiled.
"So you can talk too."
"Of course."
"I’ve been waiting a very long time."
Before the twins could ask more questions...
The entire Vault trembled.
This time...
Not from the relics.
A crimson crack spread across the ceiling.
Then another.
And another.
Lyra’s face turned pale.
"Impossible..."
"The Abyss can’t enter the Vault."
A booming laugh echoed throughout the chamber.
"Normally..."
"...it can’t."
"But one foolish Fallen Seraph..."
"...left the door open."
The crimson cracks widened.
From beyond them...
Hundreds of burning eyes slowly appeared.
The System’s calm voice echoed once again.
World Alert
The Ruins of Eden have suffered an Abyssal Breach.
Dungeon Integrity:
92%...
91%...
90%...
If Integrity reaches 0%, the dungeon will collapse.
One by one...
Ancient relics throughout the Vault began awakening.
Swords left their pedestals.
Spears floated into the air.
Ancient armor walked on its own.
Millions of inheritances illuminated the endless hall.
Astraeus’ voice became solemn.
"The Vault has chosen."
"It is no longer a Trial."
"It is now..."
"...a war to protect humanity’s first Legacy Vault."
As the crimson sky tore apart above the sanctuary, every member of Dawn instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
For the first time...
They would fight not only for themselves.
But for the countless heroes whose legacies had endured across the ages, waiting for worthy successors.