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HINATA POV
I took my first step into another world, and the moment my foot touched the ground, the shift was unmistakable. The terrain was steeped in chaos, yet the realm's beauty remained intact, untouched by the disorder that wrapped around it.
There were no trees, no rivers, nothing but an endless expanse of black desert stretching beyond sight. At first glance it was unsettling, almost suffocating, yet the longer I stood there, the more that feeling began to fade, replaced by something quieter, something deeper.
"Welcome to Kalidor, Mother."
The voices pulled me back. I turned to find Yin and Yang standing behind me in their human forms.
They were identical in build and presence, yet distinct in nature, one cloaked in light, the other in darkness, just as expected.
Yin's broken horn remained, a jagged reminder of what she had endured, her violet eyes fixed sharply on the portal as she sensed Antares's presence.
Yang, in contrast, stood calm and composed, his golden eyes, so similar to mine, gazing steadily into the realm ahead.
It struck me then that they had never truly seen their birthplace like this, not in reality.
"It does bring back memories."
Antares said, drawing in a deep breath before letting it out slowly, as though the very air carried echoes of the past.
"We have company already."
Yin noted, her voice sharpening.
"This is the Tenth Realm, Veyra, the Wild Edge."
Came the explanation, steady and certain.
"No one enters Kalidor without passing through here… except the Dragon Deity, of course."
"Care to tell me about the Monarchs?"
"In case you're wondering how strong they are, they're above Hypergods' level. Why, because they existed before the Lord First made the title for Hypergods."
"The Hypergod Tier was published immediately after B-Class. According to the scriptures, there was an extended period before B-Class which came after the Rebellion. There was a whole million-year interval between O and B Class as the Deity of Sun proposed. If we're to add from the day of the Rebellion, it'll be 32 million+ years."
"Correct. But during the Rebellion, the Dragon-kin were put to sleep by the Star Dragon for 10,000 years."
"I know, but that means all the kin from that generation are all Monarchs?"
"No. At his last moment, he spread his fragments randomly to his descendants. Those chosen are the Monarch. All Noble Dragons are descendants of a Monarch but not all Monarchs are Noble Dragons."
(Monarch and Sovereign are almost identical in real life but this is a fantasy so it won't fit as it does irl._.)
"That makes sense."
"Now that we have some knowledge, I wonder which rank we are."
Yang asked curiously.
"We're definitely Nobles, but I'm also curious about our ranks."
Yin replied.
"Probably above Grand Seraphs. You haven't shown me much to fit you in the Higher Nobility."
Hinamatsuri intervened.
"And an opportunity just presents itself."
Antares noted, pointing at the flight of Dragon-kins. My children.
"These are Void Dragons. I can go all out."
"Wait for Mother's instructions, Yin."
"Too late. Compared to the Dragon Vessel, these guys won't be a problem."
"Shall we put it to the test and see who claims the most kills?"
Zhou said, a faint edge of amusement in his voice as he and Antares spoke, reducing my children to nothing more than targets, their lives treated as little more than a passing exercise.
My hand tightened into a fist, the tension running through me as I tried to restrain the surge building within. For a moment, I held it back, forcing it down, but it slipped through all the same. The air ignited in gold, the space trembling as every gaze turned towards me.
"I will not tolerate that."
I said, my voice steady, leaving no room for doubt.
Without waiting, I stepped past them, moving forward towards the horde.
"Hinata, what are you doing? Stan..."
"You stand back."
I raised my hand and issued the command, sealing them all within a barrier.
The horde halted mid-air as if time itself had been seized, parting to make way for a Void Dragon whose scales shifted between black and deep blue. It descended before me, its presence heavy, its form imposing.
It unleashed a roar, a deafening, commanding bellow, the Dragon Fear. Any ordinary dragon-kin would have been forced to their knees beneath such authority, yet I did not so much as flinch.
When it realised its power had failed, black sparks began to crackle along its jaws, gathering into a surging torrent of jet-black flame. I watched in silence, calm and unmoved, allowing the display to unfold without interruption.
Then I raised my arm, not in attack, but in acknowledgement.
"You have fallen, Byrona."
Its pupil dilated, locking onto me with sudden intensity.
A flicker of confusion stirred within it, the question forming unbidden—how do I know her name?—but it faded just as quickly.
"Unlike some who were born from the void, you were a test subject. I'm the reigning Dragon Deity, Vel'Arixia. Calm down, Baroness."
I commanded.
"Your presence is outstanding indeed but I need more than bluffs."
She spoke, and I answered with my Runes.
They flickered to life, a faint glow echoing the light within my eyes. The effect was immediate. She froze where she stood, the flames around her dying out as disbelief overtook her.
"It cannot be… Lady Vel'Korvus is dead. How can this…?"
"I am not Lady Vel'Korvus."
I replied calmly.
"The Balance Dragons chose me as the next Dragon Deity, and I accepted. It was not easy, but with Antares and their guidance, it became possible."
"A… Antares?"
She stammered, fear clouding her expression.
"I am quite well known."
He muttered to Zhou with a quiet smirk before giving a small wave.
"That would be me."
"W...what is happening? Am I… am I going to die as well?"
She asked, her voice trembling, stripped bare by fear.
"That depends."
Antares answered, a wicked grin forming, and her panic spiked instantly.
"He does not decide that here. Focus on me."
I said, stepping forward.
I raised my hand, and she yielded without resistance, lowering herself in reverence as my palm came to rest against her snout.
Gently, I drew out the fear and the darkness that had taken root within her. It came away easier than expected, yet I could feel how deeply it had been devouring her from within, gnawing at her very existence.
With Energy guiding my touch, I removed it without causing harm, then mended what it had damaged. As the last traces faded, her form shifted, restoring itself into its true state.
Before me stood a Dragon with crystalline scales that shimmered with quiet brilliance.
"A Lunar Dragon."
Antares said, a note of recognition in his voice.
"I thought… I thought I would never see these scales again."
She whispered, her strength giving way as she lowered her head once more, overcome with relief and gratitude.
"Don't worry, I'll save you. I'll save you all."
That's my first duty as the new Supreme Diety in Kalidor. Just before my resolve hardened, a thunderous voice boomed from the heavens,accompanied by black bolts of lightning.
"Are you sure?"
From the heavens, a Void Dragon descended, its scales oozing with dense, seeping darkness that bled into the space around it.
It dropped at immense speed, tearing through the air and leaving a trail of void in its wake, the darkness lingering long after it had passed. Through the debris and distortion, its green eyes burned, sharp and unyielding.
"Get behind me."
I said, my voice firm. Byrona did not hesitate, retreating at once and taking her place behind us.
The Dragon landed with a heavy impact, the ground trembling beneath its weight as the surrounding darkness thickened. It lifted its head, its gaze locking onto me with quiet suspicion.
"I sensed the world had fallen into a stagnant state, so I came to see for myself."
It said, its voice low and edged with authority.
"Lady… what have you done to Byrona?"
"A void-born like you won't understand. Apparently, I'm not here to fight."
"Then why are you here for? This is obviously a warzone. I'm sure even a blind creature can tell."
"You, you're a Caraxes Family Dragon right?"
Antares asked.
"Huh?"
"Where's the Obsidian Wyrm? He used to guard the Gate to Pyrral."
"Those fools from those ages were executed a long time ago. We're a new batch, unshakeable and strong."
"What do you mean by executed?"
He asked, caught off guard.
"You heard me. An Outsider infiltrated and ascended right under their nose. From the lustful Silverhair, down to the Ash Duke, Velros, all of them were executed."
'So that's what happened after all those years.'
Antares thought, his mood dampening. I couldn't tell what memories he had but to be affected this much...
"I'm here to restore what has been lost for generations."
I replied, walking towards the Void Dragon.
"And what is that?"
"Peace."
The word left my lips calmly, yet it carried weight.
"Hilarious."
The dragon replied, a low, mocking rumble.
"Kalidor has known none since its creation. It was born and divided in midst of war. How could a mere dragon achieve what even existence itself could not?"
"It will be resolved without bloodshed. I promise."
"Foolish."
Darkness gathered within its maw, thick and violent, ready to be unleashed, yet before it could take form, I stripped it apart, reducing it to harmless particles that drifted into the air.
"What?"
"Kneel before your Queen."
It was a command, simple in its words yet absolute in its authority. The air itself seemed to press down with it, leaving no room for defiance.
"Y-you… you are no ordinary.."
Its words cut short as its head slammed into the ground, forced down by a power it could neither resist nor comprehend.
"What is happening?"
I stepped forward, placing my hand against its dark scales, feeling the nature of its existence beneath my touch.
"You may have been born of the void, but I will accept you nonetheless."
I said softly.
"Will you walk with me into the new age of Dragons?"
I paused, letting the weight of the offer settle.
"Together, we can rebuild the peace Kalidor has long been denied. What do you say… Eren?"
"Eren?"
It repeated, confused.
"I have no name, and no will. I am nothing more than a weapon for destruction."
"I reject that."
With a single motion, I severed its link to the source, cutting it free from the corrupted force that bound it. The shift was immediate. The darkness around it stabilised, and it was no longer controlled, though its nature as a Void Dragon remained.
"W… what did you do?"
It asked, its voice unsteady with disbelief.
"You are free, Eren. Join me, if you wish."
I turned and walked past him, my gaze settling on the horde of dragon-kin waiting in the distance, their hostility lingering like a storm ready to break.
"I am your enemy… why?"
Je asked, still struggling to understand.
"You are not my enemy."
I replied without turning.
"You are my child, one who has lost everything. I will free you all and bring peace to Kalidor."
"T...the higher powers will never allow it…"
"You mean the Dragon Vessel? I killed him."
Antares said casually, lifting a hand in a small wave, his tone almost playful. The barrier I'd casted dissolved as he made his way out.
"Y...you are… Antares? The one who destroyed Nihil Space?"
"I did say I was famous didn't I."
He muttered to Zhou with a quiet grin before waving again. "Yes."
"This War revolves around you. And you're making a move by visiting Kalidor? A lot of Stars are dying down there."
"Don't worry. The damage won't be as much as the one I've inflicted."
'I do not know when he set his plans in motion, but the precision and execution are worth examining. What seemed like uncontrollable annihilation has somehow given us both time and advantage. Antares… what exactly is going on in your mind?'
I tried to understand, even under the weight of Etherium, the stitches and directions swarming out of his head was too much to contain.
'Completely harmless on the outside, accurate in mind and dangerous in execution. A true cosmic wolf in a sheep's clothing.'
"And you… are you truly the Dragon Deity, as you claim?"
Eren's question pulled me back, snapping my focus to the present.
"She is.
Yang answered without hesitation, his voice calm as he stood behind me.
"These people know nothing about Kalidor. They do not even.."
Yin began, her tone sharp with restrained anger.
"Watch it, Yin."
Yang cut in, his voice low but firm. At the warning, she fell silent at once, the tension in her expression lingering even as she held her tongue.
"Perhaps I am not… yet. But just wait, and see for yourself."
There was no time to exorcise every Void Dragon individually, so I raised a dome, sealing all the dragon-kin within, before beginning the wide-range purification and severing.
The mutants would be cleansed and healed, their corruption undone. The voidborns, however, would be freed, granted autonomy over their own choices. This was all I had ever wanted. Just like Asteri, I would let them choose their own path, while I continued walking mine.
With Antares's help, we cleared Pyrral in record time.
To be continued...