-----
"Drake, it’s ti. The next two Worlds have rged with this one. You have created a fusion between laws."
Hel’s voice guided him. The next two worlds belonged to the Primordial Dragon King and the Primordial Laws of Beginning and End.
Clearly, they connected to the crack he had opened, now lding into one.
Then he landed in a realm of all elents.
One area featured volcanic landscapes, another endless heavens of fierce winds, one eternal dark night, another a radiant sky filled with stars. There was an azure sea, rugged mountains, lush forests and jungles, a bright silver moon, frozen expanses, a chaotic twisting domain, a blazing demonic hell, and a world of phantoms and Nether.
All interconnected at the center, where he stood. He realized he had returned to his dragon form, though with only one head.
From each divided area, spiritual silhouettes of hundreds—no, thousands—of dragons began to appear.
The Primordial Mothers manifested as well.
Muspel of Fire.
Nifl of Ice.
Vana of Wind.
Alf of Nature.
Svartalf of Darkness.
Jotun of Earth.
Asga of Light.
Midga of Moonlight.
Ran of Sea.
Hel of Death.
Benladann of Chaos.
Drakda of Demon.
Hrimvaldr of Blood.
Indeed, even his wife, his son, and his brother appeared.
The last two were the first "Primordial Fathers" among Dragons, representing Demon Dragons and Blood Dragons.
It seed Tiamat had finally accepted them as Primordial Fathers, granting them control over separate realms.
This was perhaps her way of allowing these new bloodlines and elents to assimilate into the world without conflict.
They had to be accepted, even if created by those who once brought destruction.
Though "Technomancy Dragons" remained undecided, Kate—whom Drake hoped would beco their Primordial Mother—had not appeared.
There seed no challenge here, only their presence.
They remained still, silent. Drake imagined Benladann and his son might panic, perhaps even his brother a little.
Yet they gazed down at him without a word, in their majestic dragon forms.
It felt less like them and more like embodints of what they represented.
The other dragons appeared to be the souls of both the fallen and the living.
"Oh great Dragon King, you who have inherited the crown, shall now inherit our wills and our true power."
"This mont, long awaited, has finally arrived."
"All branches, all children of Tiamat, shall beco one."
"The ultimate pinnacle of dragons, the one above all."
"The culmination of millions of years of legacies."
RUMBLE!
Drake watched in awe as a gigantic silhouette manifested, composed of a vast sea of elental energies and primordial power.
With several colorful heads, each representing an original dragon family, she gazed down at him with bright draconic eyes.
Her presence alone sent shockwaves through the Void Realm.
Drake knew her instantly.
"Tiamat..."
It was his grandmother.
"You have completed all the trials set by my eldest daughter. You are now the perfect vessel... I died long ago, but you will beco my true inheritor."
"...?!"
Drake was stunned. He hadn’t expected things to reach this point.
"I died long ago, and my soul has been slowly deteriorating under the weight of the world and our draconic realm. I have long sought soone capable of bearing it all—soone with an immortal body and an immortal soul."
"...!"
Drake began to understand why he had been chosen above all others.
FLASH!
Dozens of crowns ford from various elents erged from each Primordial Mother, then unified above Tiamat into a large, crystallized crown of rainbow hues.
"I present you with the Primordial Dragon King’s Crown, a Primordial Artifact forged from all our Souls. Now, you have attained the power to wear it, my dear grandson."
Drake lowered his head, closing his eyes as the crown settled upon him.
FLUOSH!
Power surged through him. His body began to grow, expanding rapidly.
He beca imnse—equal to Tiamat, then larger.
His appearance shifted to resemble hers. New heads sprouted, each representing a bloodline.
At the sa ti, Tiamat smiled faintly, closing her eyes with a relieved sigh as she lted into pure essence.
"I can finally rest... This world... and its future... belong to the new generations... Drake... my grandson... I wish we could have spent ti together... Please, take care of this world I loved so much..."
"I will..."
Drake accepted her crown and responsibility without hesitation.
Hel had forged him. Through these trials, he had changed once more.
He had evolved.
Ascended.
The ocean of essence rushed toward him, filling him with a near-infinite pool of Primordial Energy.
Enough power to finally confront Oberon properly.
The other dragons gazed at him, transforming into pure light of various colors.
They did not fade.
Instead, they surged toward him, fusing into his body.
Each dragon soul, each dragon spirit, their hearts.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
They rged with him continuously. His body grew larger and larger.
Until, at last, the power of the Primordial Mothers and the two Primordial Fathers reached him.
Pure light enveloped him completely.
The Void Realm returned to normal.
Drake stood there, glancing at his body. He had reverted to his Dragonoid form, but a glowing crown rested upon his head.
"It... happened... It wasn’t a dream."
"Of course it wasn’t, my king. Congratulations."
"Hel!"
Drake saw her approach and rushed forward, embracing her tightly.
"A-Ah...!"
Hel blushed but didn’t pull away.
She welcod the hug, smiling softly.
"You have ascended. My mother has fully passed the crown and the mantle of Supre Ruler of Dragons to you. You accepted the responsibility without hesitation. Your mind, soul, heart, and body were forged for this mont."
"Yeah... All my life prepared for this. I owe it to everyone I’ve ever t—friends, foes, family, and loved ones. And to you especially. Without your guidance, this would never have been possible. Thank you. I truly an it."
"I was only fulfilling my duty, my dear king... But I am glad to have helped you ascend."
Hel caressed his face, gazing into his eyes.
She didn’t realize how close her face had drawn to his.
Nor did Drake notice how naturally he leaned toward her.
"My... my king?"
Hel t his gaze, captivated by his eyes. Drake felt the sa, drawn to her beautiful crimson ones.
"Hel... Thank you for everything."
Yet Drake stepped back slowly, heading toward the exit of the Void Realm.
"A-Ah... yes..."
Hel nodded, letting out a soft sigh.
Why was she sighing?
What had she been expecting?
Was she disappointed that nothing happened?
Between the eldest dragon mother and the youngest dragon king?
"It was but a fleeting dream... nothing more. I am too old for love."
-----
Reviews
All reviews (0)