Remnant of the Old Age

"Young man, you're smarter than I thought." SCP-3844 smiled, indirectly acknowledging what Zhang Jue had said.

The wine in his hand was poisonous, a poison that could kill him himself. Originally, he wanted to enjoy it alone, but he had not expected Zhang Jue to break through the test he had set on the outside to come here.

Zhang Jue looked at him, somewhat puzzled, "You've been resurrected, and your strength has increased greatly, whether it's because of GOC or the Foundation. It would cost a lot just to try to contain you. In a way, you've gained your freedom. So why would you want to kill yourself?"

Sensing Zhang Jue's kindness, SCP-3844 sighed, "I am a remnant of the old age, the new age no longer has a sky for me to fly freely, and I have no intention of returning here. I am no longer 'myself' now."

What he said was obscure, and Zhang Jue was as serious as ever, "If you're not in a hurry, tell me your story."

SCP-3844 looked at him. Zhang Jue's eyes had a calmness and composure unbecoming at his age, and he knew that this was indeed a perfect person to talk to.

SCP-3844 suddenly smiled, "Originally, these words were meant to be said to that old friend, but since he's not here, I think it's okay to tell you about it."

"Unlike you humans, we 'dragons' have souls that exist after we die. After being executed by the SCP Foundation, my soul drifted around the world with no hatred. Then one day, I met 'it'."

Zhang Jue frowned, "It?"

"Right." SCP-3844 nodded, "I don't know what 'it' is. I've lived thousands of years and have never seen such a thing. It gave me the power to change my state of existence and brought me back here."

"But I found that I've changed. I was no longer the same gentleman. I become rabid, wanting to kill every creature in sight. The urge to destroy those civilizations and sciences."

"I tried hard to control it, but the more I tried to control it, the more it eroded my body. Before then, my mind would be all taken over by it, and I would no longer be 'me'."

"I am a remnant of the old age, and the new age no longer has a sky where I could fly freely," SCP-3844 repeats these words again. "I know very well that I don't belong here."

"This time, I will 'die' completely." He shook the goblet he was holding, and the liquid in it made a crisp ringing sound.

"This gin was promised to me by that old friend, but we never had a chance to drink it, and I want to savor it in these last hours."

SCP-3844 with calm eyes, his intention had already been decided. Zhang Jue knew that nothing he could say could undo it at this moment.

Perhaps a little ridiculous. The dragon that the GOC had failed to kill by all means was now thinking of killing himself.

Although the chances were slim, Zhang Jue still intended to fight for it, and he asked, "Isn't there any way to be able to stop this erosion?"

SCP-3844 shook his head, "It is the opposite of the original me, and as long as I continue to be exposed to your civilization, your science, its erosion of me will continue until it replaces me completely."

"There you go." He smiled, "Let the conversation end here. Thank you for listening, young man. If I had met you earlier, perhaps we could have become friends. But now, it is too late."

Zhang Jue was silent. Faced with a man who had gone to his death with grace, even he had no way to bring him back to his senses.

SCP-3844 raised the wine glass in his hand high: "To you, to my old friend, and the world." He drank the wine from the glass in one go.

Zhang Jue looked at him and didn't make a sound, let alone try to stop it. He was showing his respect for SCP-3844. With the poisoned wine gulped, SCP-3844 didn't show anything unusual, but Zhang Jue noticed that his feet had gradually become transparent as if they had been erased from the world by an unknown force.

The disappearance was rapid, and only the upward part of SCP-3844's torso remained after a minute. In just a few more moments, he would disappear from this world forever.

"Young man, can you do me a favor?" SCP-3844 suddenly said, "Of course, I will give you an appropriate reward."

"Wow, I like this kind of fair and reasonable request." Zhang Jue shrugged, "Do you also want to offer a bouquet of flowers to someone? It just so happens that I'm free recently."

SCP-3844 shook his head, "No, I just need you to bring a message to my old friend."

"What is the message?" Zhang Jue asked.

SCP-3844 said, "The end is coming."

"..." Zhang Jue resisted the urge to curse. SCP-3844 threw such a heavy word before he died out of Zhang Jue's expectations.

"Hey, hey, that's very unethical of you. Can you tell us more about it?" Zhang Jue called out.

SCP-3844 said, "I just sensed something in the struggle with 'it', a powerful force is converging to this world. As for the rest, I'm not sure." At this moment, only the eye was left for SCP-3844. Even if he wanted to say a few more words, there was no chance.

"..." Zhang Jue was so angry that he wanted to curse. Such an important message, SCP-3844 even thought of it only at this time, clearly against him!

There was so much time to speak in front of Zhang Jue, but he had to wait until it was over. To say that SCP-3844 did it unintentionally, Zhang Jue did not believe that.

SCP-3844 only had a moment left, and he said, "Young man, after my death, the power remaining in my body will turn into a crystal. I hope that when something unfortunate happens, it can help you." These were the last words left by SCP-3844 in this world, and a few seconds later, he disappeared.

After being resurrected, this dragon resolutely chose to die and was completely gone from this world. He knew to the point that he didn't belong here, and forcing himself to stay would only corrupt him and bring endless disaster.

This reminded Zhang Jue of Agent Keller, who was faced with a similar choice. Fortunately for both Keller and SCP-3844, they did not live greedily but chose to sacrifice themselves so that this world could continue to survive.

Still, whether inside or outside the Foundation, many nameless people sacrificed quietly for the sake of their country, their families, and the world.

We can't be like them, but we should not mock or insult them. Some people are really in vain.

After SCP-3844 disappeared, a dark red crystal stone was thrown into the air, emitting a strange light. Zhang Jue went up and held it in his hand, feeling some warmth. Its light dimmed slightly and finally disappeared in Zhang Jue's hand, turning into an ordinary stone.

But Zhang Jue could feel that his whole body would be very comfortable whenever he held it as if it was full of power. Needless to say, he had picked up a treasure.

Not only that, but his five senses had also become sharper, and he had a clearer understanding of his surroundings.

For example, he was able to perceive that outside that wooden door, somebody was waiting.