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Erald harnessed the power of the Demons to forge Soul Contracts, infusing them with his Celestial Winds to create Celestial Wind Soul Contracts, which the desperate twelve or so Chaos Spirits swiftly accepted.
This contract barred them from seizing control of his body or using it for selfish purposes. Everything remained under Erald’s command, and he was rely providing them a "temporary ho" for the ti being, as Chaos Spirits decay and perish outside their Realm unless it is infused with Miasma or they inhabit a vessel.
With the contract complete, the Chaos Spirits fused with his right arm, rging with his soul. That side of his body transford, sprouting black, crimson, and purple feathers, with red eyes and twisted jaws erging across his now larger, more muscular arm.
"It’s peculiar how you’re such an ideal vessel... perhaps your vast soul, despite its apparent ’emptiness,’ has always been your gift," the Alter Ego remarked.
"Huh? Are you praising ?" Erald asked, surprised.
"Shut up! I’m not saying anything!" the Alter Ego grumbled. "Look! The Dominion is gone!"
"I can see..." Erald nodded, sensing the combined power of Demons and Chaos Spirits within him, which sohow advanced his Celestial Winds further. A new force, Chaos Winds, began to erge, and perhaps, by rging all three, sothing entirely unique could arise. "I will wield the power of those who once brought this world to ruin to protect it..."
Though so might deem this "monstrous" or "wrong," Erald’s personality remained largely unchanged, untainted by the influence of these beings.
If anything, his humble nature and lack of self-esteem seed to inspire these entities to shield and comfort him.
Indeed, as his Alter Ego noted, this was his "Unique Talent."
It stemd from a blend of his Celestial Winds, an Elent capable of adapting and absorbing other powers to grow stronger, a soul far larger than most dragons, and his distinct mind and personality.
As Erald clenched his fists, his transformation faded, restoring his lustrous erald feathers. He turned to Surtr, who approached his side.
"Hey, Erald! Did you defeat it too? Damn, that was incredible! You’re so much stronger now!"
While Drake was absent, the two had bonded closely, becoming true friends. They frequently trained and sparred together, and Surtr had guided Erald in mastering his Demonic Alter Ego’s powers.
"Yeah, I did. Thank you for helping train so much. I wouldn’t have succeeded without your support, hahah..." Erald chuckled, scratching his head, embarrassed by the praise.
"Nah, it was all you!" Surtr insisted. "You handled it better than I did, honestly... And faster!"
"Your foe was simply tougher. Mine was swift and had deadly venom, but it wasn’t as strong," Erald explained. "Also, look! It seems Master is finished with Sangre."
"Yeah! But what in the world is happening over there?" Surtr wondered. "Shouldn’t we go and see— Woah?!"
Surtr and Erald startled as Fuyu surged toward them, nearly colliding, but they landed on her deck, greeted by the others.
"Erald! Are you okay?" Ahia rushed to his side. "You went off alone when it was so dangerous outside!"
"I’m fine, I’m fine, Ahia..." Erald laughed, gently patting her head with his large claws.
"Boss! You handled that thing really well!" Jamar said, admiring Surtr, his role model.
"Yeah, it was a tough nut to crack, for sure," Surtr nodded.
"We planned to assist, but I suppose it wasn’t necessary," Nadia said.
"Now, what’s happening with Drake and his brother? Did he defeat him?" Mina asked.
"We’ll find out soon. There’s a lot of light out there, though..." Benladann stepped forward, peering into the distance.
"Papa..." Benladra sighed. "Did he...? Did he have to slay his brother in the end?"
"Sangre seed irredeemable and crazed... I doubt he could be saved in the end," Miranda sighed.
"That last attack must have finished him," Yuki said. "It could’ve ended much sooner, actually, if he hadn’t held back so much at the start! Damn it, why is he always so soft?"
"Well, if he weren’t as compassionate and kind as he is, I doubt any of us would love him as much," Benladann said with a faint smile, then sighed. "Drake?"
As the giant ship reached Drake, they beheld a sight they could scarcely have imagined or believed. Beyond the veils of snowflakes and radiant light, they saw two brothers.
One was Drake, the one they knew and cherished, and the other, strikingly similar yet older-looking and taller, was unfamiliar.
He bore dazzling crystal scales, long wings, and a majestic ice dragon face, his entire being exuding elegance and strength.
"Who is that?" Benladra asked. "An Ice Dragon? Where did he co from? Wait, Grandma’s there too!"
"Yeah! Grandma...!" Kate nodded.
"Eh?" Drakda tilted his head, confused.
"That’s... it can’t be, right?" Benladann asked.
"But... wait, you think it’s Sangre?!" Miranda asked.
"I..." Yuki muttered. "Wasn’t he... much bigger and kind of freaky?"
"..." Androda smiled at them. "That is indeed Sangre, everyone."
"EEEEH?!"
The entire crew, down to the last mber, was stunned, watching Drake embrace the other ice dragon with a smile, while their mother enveloped them both with her larger arms and claws, her great head resting over them.
"I’m so happy to have you both here... my dear children..." she said. "I love you both so, so much..."
"It’s him!!!" Yuki gasped.
"What in the world is going on?!" Benladann asked.
"When did Nifl arrive?!" Miranda asked.
"Wait, wait, wait! Calm down! Don’t freak out!" Alma said. "I don’t get it, what’s going on again?"
"You’re the one freaking out!" Yuki grabbed Alma and shook her.
"Aaaaggh!" Alma scread.
In short, everyone was in utter chaos.
"Ah, right... I forgot about everything else for a mont..." Drake said. "Brother, I want you to et my family... this ti, not as enemies, but as your family too."
"My... my family?" the other dragon asked. "But that’s..."
"You said you always wanted a family, right? That you hated because I had... I had everything you always wanted..." Drake sighed. "And that’s not right, you know? This family... my family is your family too. You have four sisters-in-law to et, plus three nieces and one nephew. And all my friends, who can beco your friends too."
"...But wouldn’t they hate ?" he asked. "For what I did... for how I acted... I am not worthy of their love, my brother... I am—"
"Are you my uncle?!"
"Huh?"
Then, Drake’s brother saw a family mber appear before him: a small Dragonoid boy with black and red hair, black scales, and bright red eyes.
He resembled his younger self in so ways, yet this boy was born this way, his powers untainted by experintation.
"You’re... you’re Drake’s son, aren’t you?" he asked.
"Drakda! That’s my na..." Drakda said. "Are you Sangre? Are you not evil anymore?"
"I... I no longer go by that na," Drake’s brother said. "I have been baptized, which is why I changed my appearance..."
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