Alden and Azrael found themselves on another barren land entirely.
Their weapons were drawn, stances ready to fight, eyes scanning for threats.
When suddenly a loud voice rang out. "What the hell are you guys doing just standing around? We have a lot of work to do!"
They whipped around.
Alex was standing right behind them.
His silver hair glead under the harsh light, blue eyes sharp and piercing. The power radiating from him was almost unfathomable—like staring into an endless abyss wrapped in human form.
Alden’s mouth hung open.
’The more I try to close the gap with him, the further this monster pulls away,’ he thought.
A voice echoed in his head—Ouroboros. [I’ve already told you multiple tis: do not try to compete with him.]
Alden sighed inwardly. ’That’s never gonna happen. I will surpass him soday, no matter what.’
Azrael just smiled, shaking his head slightly—as if he had already expected sothing like that from Alden.
Alden yelled, "You asshole! What the hell? I thought we got attacked!"
Alex shrugged. "Yeah. If I was attacking, you’d already be dead."
Alden’s mouth twitched. "Well, I can’t argue with that now."
He paused, then fired off questions. "But tell us first—where are we? What happened? Did you kill the Dragon King? And did you really reverse ti to bring everyone back to life?"
Alex held up a hand. "Will you slow down? One question at a ti."
Alden nodded. "Okay, tell the first one."
Alex said casually, "Yeah... I did defeat that Dragon King. But I didn’t kill him."
Azrael and Alden’s mouths fell open. "Why?!"
"No other reason," Alex replied. "That guy was a good listener and turns out he’s a damn good motivator too. So I spared him."
Alden and Azrael couldn’t believe what they just heard.
They yelled in unison, "Are you serious?!"
Alex waved them off. "Relax. I’ve already tampered with his mana core, so he’ll never be able to attack us."
Alden and Azrael sighed in relief.
Azrael looked around the vast expanse of cracked earth and distant mountains. "So where is this?"
Alex answered, "This is the other continent—where the dragons and the other races live."
Alden opened his mouth to speak again.
When suddenly—
Dragons started to gather in the sky above them, wings beating as they filled the air like a living storm. Scales of red, black, blue, and gold glinted in the sun. Among them hovered the Dragon King Zarvok in his dragon‑kin form.
Towering and regal, his obsidian scales were veined with molten gold, massive wings folded partially behind him. Horns curved like crowns from his head, eyes burning with ancient fire, claws sharp enough to rend mountains.
Zarvok smiled as he saw Alex. "That was fast. I didn’t think you would co to et so soon."
Alex smiled back. "Well, I’m short on ti, so I want to get as much work done as possible."
Zarvok nodded. "Work, huh. Let’s go to my palace and talk there."
Alden and Azrael tensed, hands on weapons, ready to fight.
Alex glanced at them. "Relax. They won’t attack."
Alden frowned. "Why is that?"
Zarvok answered before Alex could. "Because we know that silver‑haired freak will kill us all the mont we do. And also, I can’t go against him now—he has my life in his hands."
Alden and Azrael looked around. The dragons were hanging back, eyes fixed on Alex with wary respect, not aggression.
Alex nodded. "Then let’s go."
Zarvok flicked his finger.
They all teleported.
They found themselves in front of a palace shaped like a massive dragon—grand and awe‑inspiring. Towering spires curved like horns, walls of black stone scaled with gold and ruby inlays, wings of crystal forming arched gateways, eyes of glowing gems overlooking vast courtyards filled with ancient statues and mana fountains. It lood like a living beast frozen in eternal vigilance.
Zarvok welcod them inside. He led the three to a silent, luxurious room with plush sofas arranged around a low obsidian table, walls etched with draconic runes that pulsed faintly.
They all sat.
Alex cut straight to it, looking at Zarvok. "Let’s cut to the chase. I’m here to give you a job."
Zarvok’s expression turned serious. "What kind of job?"
"From now on," Alex said, "you are the guardian of this planet."
Zarvok’s eyes widened in surprise.
Alden and Azrael were shocked too.
Alden yelped, "What are you saying?! This is the sa guy who not long ago was hell‑bent on ending us all! Why would he protect us?"
Zarvok’s voice cut in calmly. "What’s in it for ?"
Alden and Azrael’s mouths hung open.
Alex smiled. "The head of the Dragon God that enslaved you."
Zarvok’s eyes widened further. "Are you serious?"
Alex leaned forward. "So you still don’t believe in ?"
A big smile spread across Zarvok’s face. "If you cannot do it, then no one can."
Alex grinned. "So I can take that as a yes, right?"
Zarvok nodded. "But I also want sothing in return."
"What is it?" Alex asked.
"Just like you did to ... do it to all of my people. Modify their cores so they’ll never fall under Tiamat’s control again."
Alex replied imdiately, "That is easy."
"Astral Domain."
A domain ford, encompassing the entire dragon continent. Vast, shimring boundaries of cosmic energy enclosed mountains, cities, skies—everything.
Zarvok’s mouth hung open as he sensed its scale.
Inside his mind, Alex said, ’useless, do it.’
[On it, Host.]
Suddenly, every person in the dragon continent felt it—a strange warmth spreading through their cores. It was as if they were becoming free of sothing heavy, an invisible chain snapping loose. A tree‑shaped mark appeared on their bodies for a mont, glowing faintly, accompanied by a brief sting of pain.
Then, after so ti, the pain vanished.
They all felt truly free of Tiamat’s will—lighter, unburdened, their destinies their own once more.
Alex’s domain collapsed after the work was completed.
He looked toward Alden, Azrael, and Zarvok, who had their eyes widened and mouths open in shock.
"Your condition has been t," Alex said. "Now it’s ti for you to et mine."
Zarvok took a huge gulp.
’I am really lucky he didn’t kill back then,’ Zarvok thought. ’And now I have him as an ally. I have a feeling this guy will shake the heavens themselves to get his way.’
He smiled inwardly.
’And I’m looking forward to seeing it all.’
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