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The moment I stepped out of the portal, I found Vera and Tik standing directly in front of me. The three of us were surrounded by armed Dragons, their weapons raised and their eyes fixed on us with unmistakable hostility. They weren't Void Dragons but ordinary Star Dragons.
Parvak, which had been on the brink of collapse after Mordryth's rampage, looked completely restored. The shattered landscape had vanished as though nothing had ever happened. The realm stood whole and steady again, the destruction erased without explanation.
I ignored both the armed Dragons and the unsettling abnormality of the situation. Their hostility was insignificant compared to the questions pressing in my mind. What mattered was the state of my companions.
(New persona, new personality.)
"Vera, what's going on?"
I asked.
She did not respond. She did not even turn to acknowledge me. Her posture remained rigid, eyes fixed forward as though I were not there.
"Tík…"
"Are you… Wú Jí?"
The commanding voice cut through my words from behind. At the same moment, a monstrous intent ignited in the air, spreading outward like a sudden storm.
Only then did I realise something unsettling. I had not sensed his signature until that very moment.
I turned and found a towering dragon standing behind me in humanoid form. His limbs were long and lean, his presence unnaturally imposing. Black hair fell over his face in heavy strands, half-veiling the features beneath.
An obsidian knight's armour clad his body, each plate formed from interlocking dragon scales. The armour absorbed the surrounding light rather than reflecting it, leaving him wrapped in a dull, lightless sheen. Even as he bent slightly to meet my height, he still loomed over me like a predator studying its prey, a living shadow sharpened into something meant only for killing.
Despite that pressure, I did not look away. I raised my head and met his gaze directly, my eyes steady and unflinching.
'Wú Jí? Who is that?'
The question formed quietly in my mind. Nyxon had been my first persona, a name already claimed by that identity, but this one… I had not chosen a name for it yet.
'It's a Lyra chinese philosophical concept rooted in Taoism. Wú Jí translates to without extremes or ultimate nothingness.'
Entares began.
'It refers to the primordial, limitless, and undifferentiated state of the universe before the emergence of form, duality, or distinction. It represents the infinite potential and unity of all things before they manifest into the tangible world of opposites (e.g., yin and yang).'
He managed to make a long explanation for the first time.
In Taoist cosmology, Wú Jí is the state of boundless chaos or emptiness from which Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate) arises, giving birth to the dualities of yin and yang, and subsequently the myriad things in existence. It symbolises the origin of all creation, a state of pure potential without boundaries or definitions.
'I had Vera call you that after Nyxon. And believe me, that name is no coincidence.'
(Belive me, it's not.)
'You're behind this too.'
'If you know the influence I have currently you'll be shocked.'
'Try me.'
I ignored the Dragon and directed the challenge toward . It was a defining trait of this new perona, Wú Jí.
'Take care of what stands before you. Then we can talk.'
With that quiet response lingering in my mind, I shifted my attention back to what was happening in Parvak.
"Yes."
I said at last, lifting my gaze to the towering Dragon once more.
"I am Wú Jí."
The Dragon studied me for a moment before speaking again, his presence still pressing heavily on the space around us.
"We are grateful to you for returning the Princess of the Olyssar Lineage, Lady Tikvah."
He inclined his head slightly. His body did not move, yet the subtle dip of his head carried the weight of acknowledgement.
'A princess, huh.'
"But I can clearly see that the two of you are not Dragons."
Chains materialised out of nowhere and coiled around Vera before she could react. The moment they tightened, she drew a sharp breath, her body going rigid. The magic leaking from the chains was suffocating. She could neither cry out nor struggle. Even breathing seemed impossible as she remained frozen in place, her face twisted in silent agony.
"Archduke, please stop!"
Tikvah pleaded desperately.
"I told you they saved us. The others didn't make it because they abandoned us!"
"Apologies, my lady."
The Dragon replied, his tone steady and unyielding.
"My authority here outweighs yours. Take her back to the palace."
At his command, several dragons stepped forward. Judging by their armour and the markings along their scales, they appeared to belong to the same lineage as Tikvah. They moved quickly, surrounding her before she could protest further.
Moments later, they escorted her away.
A portal stood open nearby, a Gate shimmering with controlled energy. The group headed towards it without hesitation, clearly intending to return to the palace while the rest of us remained behind.
'So this man created that portal and possibly prevented the destruction of Parvak? Personally, I think that is far too much authority for an Archduke. Unless the Star Dragon hierarchy is stronger than expected.'
"Are you sure you're the one in charge?"
I asked, my gaze scanning the surroundings as I tried to pick up the strongest signature.
"I am not."
He replied calmly.
"You..."
'Others mistake defiance for stubbornness, an insult, perhaps to build tension. How predictable.'
I accessed the situation faster than he could move. He suddenly reached forward, aiming to seize my head.
Without paying him a glance, I raised my hand to swat his arm away, but the moment my palm touched his armour, searing pain shot through me. The heat burned through my skin instantly, and the sharp smell of burning flesh spread through the air.
'How weird.'
This unpredictable act forced me to take this matter a bit serious.
"Stand down, Adrian."
The command cut through the tension.
The voice was soft, almost quiet, yet it carried across the entirety of Parvak as if the realm itself had delivered it. The presence behind those words was unmistakable, the aura of a powerful dragon, far stronger than anyone standing here.
I instinctively looked up toward the Gate where Tikvah had been taken, but it had already vanished.
'Behind you.'
The warning came quietly in my mind.
I turned and there he was.
A dragon with long crimson hair and eyes burning the same vivid hue stood before me. Broad black horns curved outward from his skull, and his body was encased in gleaming silver knight's armour that radiated both majesty and menace. The weight of his presence was immense. Adrian and the other dragons dropped to their knees, and even Tikvah's escorts followed suit in silent deference.
"Wú Jí, correct?"
He asked and I nodded.
"Apologies for Adrian's behaviour."
At his words the chains binding Vera vanished, dissolving into nothing.
A faint greenish glow flowed through her body, mending the damage in an instant. I did not need Etherium or any deeper analysis to recognise what had happened, he had healed her. Not merely stabilised her, but restored her as though the agony of the chains had never existed.
"I sensed an Abyssal Calamity's kin."
He continued.
"I dispatched my best soldiers to investigate. They arrived almost immediately, yet the only disturbance was Parvak itself unravelling. I dismissed the possibility and ordered them to search thoroughly. They found the two of them hidden within a rift. According to their report, you engaged in battle with them."
He had denied the notion of an archetypal collapse and acted decisively to investigate it. That alone spoke to his strength and authority.
'He's strong.'
I acknowledged the fact silently.
"I did."
I replied.
"And you came out alive?"
"Apparently."
He closed his eyes and nodded gently.
"I see."
"I'd like you to come with me."
"Where?"
"For answers. It's a few so don't worry. It won't take long."
"What'll happen after we cooperate?"
"I can't decide that."
A portal snapped out next to him.
"It's alright. You'll be taken to Velorith and so will I. I'll try my best to get you out of this."
Tikvah, came running, said to me.
"I can't just take strangers, formidable strangers into the Crystal Skyline."
The crimson-haired dragon replied.
"Wha..."
"They'll be held captive in Sylith for the time being."
"On the High Sovereign's orders, is it?"
She asked, bowing respectfully.
"Grand Duke Lancelith is also a High Sovereign, Princess." One of the escorts replied.
Lancelith turned to regard him.
"I… I beg your pardon. She may be young, but she remains royalty. She deserves to understand the situation."
The escort nodded, speaking with a hint of apology.
"Of course."
Tikvah looked visibly startled by the exchange, her eyes widening as though the implications were only now settling in.
"F… forgive me, Lord…"
"Grand Duke is sufficient."
Lancelith interrupted gently.
Tikvah hesitated before offering a few small, solemn nods, clearly beginning to grasp the gravity of what had occurred. The dragons possessed their own nobility system, much like the Void Dragons I had encountered earlier.
I found myself curious about the structure and traditions that governed their society. There was much to learn here, and the more I observed, the more intriguing it became.
One of the escorts stepped forward.
"Lady Tikvah, the Queen is waiting for you."
The tone was respectful but firm, signalling that the matter required immediate attention.
"Umm."
She nodded.
"I'll talk to the Queen and see if I can get permission to leave."
"We all know she'll decline."
"I'll try. See you later, Vera. She waved and ran off with the others into the Gate."
"Weird child. Pursuing adventure rather than her destiny."
"I can relate."
I replied to Adrian.
"What if adventuring is her destiny?"
I added with a small shrug.
"Dragons have free will, don't they?"
"Silence."
The Grand Duke interjected, his tone carrying quiet authority.
"Let's not keep anyone waiting."
At his words, I moved forward, walking toward Vera.
Vera still stood where the chains had held her, though the green healing glow from earlier had faded, leaving her looking shaken but unharmed. I approached slowly, giving her space.
"Are you alright?"
I asked.
Her expression remained tight, as if she were still processing what had happened. The surrounding Dragons watched in silence, but their weapons remained lowered.
"Yeah."
She replied, rubbing her arm.
"Are you?"
She asked.
I spread my arms.
"Better than ever. Let's go."
We headed into the Gate but after stepping into the corridor, there was no exit. I hastily turned back only to catch a glimpse of Adrian's face as the Gate closed. My heart sank.
'We're trapped in the corridor.'
I scanned around and saw traces of the previous exit point. Which means they purposefully kept us here before activating the exit.
"Where are we?"
"The space between portals. It's called the corridor."
"Isn't that..."
"This corridor is stable, so don't worry."
"Ok."
That unpleasant stillness began to take control, but Vera didn't let it have its way.
"What happened to Nyxon?"
She asked.
"He's gone for now. We are no longer in Void Dragon territory, therefore I am unable to utilise him here. He'll attract more attention, which is the last thing we want.."
"A kid named Wú Jí defeated an Abyssal Calamity's kin is the apex of the spotlight."
She chuckled.
"Yeah. I never thought I'd be expecting guests after taking care of Mordryth."
"I guess in enemy territory we always have to be on alert."
Just then, the exit gate twists out.
"Time to see what these guys want."
I turned towards the exit.
"Wú Jí. It sounds cute."
"Hmm."
I chuckled.
"I don't think this is the time for jokes."
I made my way out and she followed.
"Welcome to Sylith, the Grove of Light."
Adrian welcomed us.
Sylith was breathtaking in its own way. An endless expanse of glowing forest stretched all around us.
Yes, glowing. Every tree seems to be woven from light itself. The leaves, branches and barks were all made of light. It wasn't glowing intently, but regulated to give the three shapes. All in all, the presence of darkness has been outshone within this forest.
"You..."
He pointed at me.
"...follow me."
Without waiting for my reply, he turned and began walking.
"What about her?"
"We don't need her."
He replied without stopping.
"It's alright. I'll be right here waiting for you."
"Ok. I'll be back as soon as possible."
I followed Adrian as we made our way into the glowing forest.
After several minutes of walking, a castle wavered on the horizon like a heat-born mirage. With every step it shimmered in and out of existence, a vision half-anchored to the world. The closer we drew, the more it seemed both near and unreachable until it loomed directly before us, yet remained strangely insubstantial, a structure present and unreal in the same breath.
With his long arm, he reached out to the incorporeal door and it reacted to his presence, solidifying before opening automatically.
Without a word, he stepped into the blinding light and I followed. I thought the light was just a curtain to what's behind the door but the light was all there is inside the castle. An endless trail spread out before me and just like the castle itself, there is a door at end, flickering in and out like a mirage.
"Follow the trail."
Adrian said, taking a seat in the space.
"Don't keep him waiting."
[[IMAGE]]
[[IMAGE]]
I hate to take another long walk so Aether Move took me to the door without even trying. They expected me, therefore the door opened for me and I walked in with hesitation.
Unlike the previous light space, this place can be called a hall. The wall, ceiling, floor and everything here is just like the glowing forest. They were light giving shape and at the far end of everything stood the High Sovereign, Lancelith.
To be continued...