...
{3rd Pov}
Aster needed to awaken two new elements now that he had become Advanced Tier Mage capable of awakening new magic elements.
After giving it considerable thought and analysis, he ultimately decided upon awakening the Chaos Element and the Light Element.
There was no need for any lengthy explanation regarding the Chaos Element—it was widely known as one of the most powerful and destructive elements in existence, infamous for its terrifying offensive capabilities and the difficulty of defending against its unpredictable nature.
The reason Aster chose the Light Element was different.
It was because this particular element suited his overall magic structure and personality the most.
His Spiritual Element already provided him with strong protection against spiritual and mental assaults, granting both spiritual offense and defense.
His Space Element granted him overwhelming offensive and defensive capabilities, in addition to the extraordinary ability to escape from perilous situations or deadly traps at will.
However, despite these strengths, Aster still had a remaining vulnerability — he lacked a reliable countermeasure against dark magic. Therefore, the Light Element was the ideal solution to cover this last remaining weakness.
With this in mind, Aster realized that the combination of Spiritual, Space, and Light Elements formed the perfect Trinity of Magic Elements.
This trinity ensured that he possessed balance, versatility, and near-complete invulnerability in combat.
Determined and confident in his choice, Aster did not hesitate even for a moment.
Without any delay, he proceeded to awaken both the Chaos and Light Elements simultaneously.
After completing the awakening process, Aster began to further increase the magic density within the System's Dimensional Space, ensuring that his cultivation environment remained optimal for the next stage.
Starting from the Advanced Tier, the progression of magic cultivation naturally began to slow down considerably when compared to the rapid pace of the Intermediate Tier.
However, Aster possessed a unique advantage—he could accelerate his cultivation speed by mixing in auxiliary resources, such as Commander-stage beast magic crystals and other high-grade materials, into his cultivation process.
Through this method, Aster achieved truly astonishing results.
His Intermediate Tier magic cultivation speed reached an incredible rate, approximately one thousand times faster than normal, while his Novice Tier cultivation speed became even more exaggerated, surpassing all conventional limits.
This immense growth rate, supported by his carefully chosen elemental combination and resource utilization, ensured that Aster's path toward power would continue to rise without any weaknesses left in his magical foundation.
Without any surprise or unexpected difficulty, Aster managed to elevate his Chaos Element to the Intermediate Tier within a single day.
His progress was astonishingly fast, and it clearly demonstrated the efficiency of his cultivation method.
On the very next day, he shifted his full focus toward the Light Element, gradually advancing it until it reached Novice Tier 3, where he finally decided to stop temporarily in order to stabilize his foundation before proceeding further.
After consolidating his current progress, Aster prepared for the next important step—he was finally going to elevate his element using a Natural Spirit Grade Element Seed.
This was a crucial stage, as it would determine the long-term potential and power ceiling of his newly awakened element.
Up until now, all of Astreo's elements had been directly dependent on his Spiritual Attainment.
Even his newly awakened Chaos Element, which was renowned for its uncontrollable nature, had its elemental grade linked to his spiritual cultivation, which turned out to be a massive advantage for him.
Because of this interlinked system, Aster didn't need to separately cultivate each element's grade through external means; instead, he simply needed to focus on enhancing his spiritual attainment, and as a result, the grades of all his other elements would naturally rise in synchronization.
However, the Light Element was an exception to this rule.
It was the first element in Aster's arsenal that required external resources in order to elevate its grade.
Despite this inconvenience, the Light Element was exceptionally valuable and unique.
It not only relied on external materials but also benefited directly from spiritual attainment, making it the only element that gained a dual advantage.
Because of this, the Light Element possessed the highest possible multiplier for element grade enhancement among all of Aster's elements.
To strengthen this element even further, Aster decided to use a Top-Grade Spirit Element Seed.
This particular seed possessed a 3x multiplier effect and carried the special property of "Scorching", which infused the Light Element with traces of fiery energy.
As a result, his Light Element underwent a remarkable transformation, becoming a pseudo-mutated element—a rare hybrid that combined the attributes of both Light and Fire.
Taking into account Aster's extremely high level of spiritual attainment, the total natural multiplier achieved by this combination reached an astounding 18 times increase, which was equivalent to an Upper-Grade Heavenly Seed in overall effectiveness.
Such a result was nothing short of extraordinary, considering that he had merely used a Spirit Grade seed as the base material.
Although the area-of-effect of his Light Element's abilities remained somewhat limited in range, the raw damage output it produced was undeniably powerful and devastating.
Each strike carried concentrated destructive energy that could easily overwhelm most opponents within its effective radius.
This experience made Aster realize something important — even the basic elements, which were often underestimated by many cultivators, could exhibit incredible advantages and overwhelming power when supported by infinite or abundant resources.
In the end, the true potential of an element did not lie solely in its rarity but in the resources, cultivation methods, and strategic insight of the one who wielded it.
After completing the elevation of his newly awakened elements, Aster shifted his attention toward strengthening his Novice Tier elements even further.
His goal was to push them both to Tier 8, ensuring that their foundation to overpower higher tier magics remained solid before moving on to higher realms of power.
With his incredible focus, abundant resources, and highly optimized cultivation environment inside the System's Dimensional Space, he successfully managed to achieve this target.
It took him approximately twenty days in total to complete the elevation for both elements combined, which was an exceptionally short time considering the level of difficulty involved.
Once this task was accomplished, Astreo—as the System often referred to him—decided that it was time to go all out once again.
This time, his intention was to elevate his Intermediate Tier Psychic Spells all the way to Tier 8.
The process was much more demanding and energy-intensive compared to his previous training sessions.
Even though Aster had already raised his Intermediate Psychic Spells up to Tier 5 beforehand, the subsequent advancements proved to be significantly more challenging.
Despite that, through sheer persistence and the help of his amplified spiritual control, he managed to achieve his goal within two months of nonstop training and cultivation.
This breakthrough resulted in a tremendous increase in his overall strength and magical capacity.
The completion of this stage marked a milestone—Aster's power had now reached the level of a Super Tier Mage despite him being a newly promoted Advanced Tier Mage.
His magical output, precision, and elemental synchronization all rose to astonishing new levels, firmly placing him among the elite ranks of powerful mages.
As expected, reaching Intermediate Tier 8 triggered another significant event—Aster awakened a brand-new Innate Talent.
[Congratulations to Master for awakening the Innate Double-Star Casting Speed Talent!]
Upon receiving the notification, Aster couldn't contain his excitement.
He immediately broke into a short celebratory dance, overjoyed that another innate talent had manifested within him.
However, after reading through the talent's description and understanding its effects in detail, his enthusiasm dimmed slightly.
The Double-Star Casting Speed Talent was useful, but it wasn't the overwhelming type of talent he had been hoping for, such as a Natural Spirit Grade Multiplier or an equally rare ability.
Still, Aster wasn't one to underestimate long-term potential.
He knew that even though the talent didn't seem overly impressive right now, it would shine brilliantly at the Advanced Tier and beyond, where casting speed and timing could decide the outcome of a battle between equally powerful opponents.
After a brief moment of reflection, Aster asked the System to give him a precise evaluation of his current overall strength.
'System, what is my current power level right now?' he asked calmly.
The System responded instantly with its usual mechanical tone:
[Master currently possesses a natural multiplier of 14 times. Your Intermediate Tier Magic is 28 times stronger than standard. Tier 5 Magic is 56 times stronger, Tier 6 Magic is 112 times stronger and already comparable to Super Tier 1 Magic. Additionally, Master's Tier 7 Magic is 224 times stronger and is equivalent to Super Tier 1 Magic with moderate Spirit Element enhancement.]
[Finally, Master's Intermediate Tier 8 Magic possesses a power level that is 672 times stronger than normal, making it equal in might to Super Tier 3 Magic when combined with a high-level Soul Element buff.]
Aster couldn't help but grin widely after hearing this detailed breakdown.
The rapid progression and the sheer scale of his current power left him deeply satisfied.
Each step he had taken was paying off enormously, and he was now far beyond the level of any ordinary mage in the same rank.
His next objective was already clear in his mind.
The next step would be to perform the same strengthening and elevation process for his Space Element, pushing it to similar levels of mastery.
After that, he planned to enter the training simulation within the System to test his new strength against Commander level and Monarch level beings.
Additionally, Aster knew that it was about time to search for a summon suitable for his growing power level.
He intended to focus on his Undead Magic aiming to control and command Commander-level monsters as his loyal pawns and basically the cannon fodder in future battles.
This would further expand his overall combat capability and ensure that he had both raw power and versatile tactical control on the battlefield.
But for Summoning Element he wanted to get elite summons who can reach atleast Supreme Monarch level of strength and ideally become Emperor.
He would also later on enhance his Undead Element after conquering China's underworld and absorbing all their forces, but that was for later, he at least needed to be an Mid Level Emperor to even think of achieve that.
With his cultivation advancing at a phenomenal pace and his plans perfectly aligned, Aster's rise toward absolute mastery was only just beginning.
...
Astreo entered the Summoning Plane with determined focus, his mind completely set on locating a suitable monster that could serve as his primary summon and future battle companion.
His goal was clear from the very beginning—he needed at least a Commander-level monster, as anything below that would be too weak to match his current power level.
Ideally, however, it would be perfect if the creature possessed a Monarch-level bloodline, which would ensure immense potential for growth and evolution in the future.
But most importantly, it should be loyal. Since he had infinite resources, he can make a loyal and strong beast into an Emperor level being with his infinite resources.
Though he decided to look for a better option first then lower his expectations.
In his mind, the image of a perfect summon was already defined—a dragon-type monster, majestic and overwhelmingly powerful.
Dragons were known across countless dimensions as creatures of unmatched physical strength and magical might.
If he could find one that aligned with his attributes, it would become an invaluable ally.
Even better, Astreo specifically hoped to locate a Water-type dragon or at least a water-affinity creature, as this would provide him with a much-needed advantage in one of the most threatening aspects of his world—the oceans.
He hadn't forgotten the danger that the vast and mysterious oceans posed to the land.
In the current world's power hierarchy, the ocean territories were home to twice as many Emperors compared to the continents of the land.
This imbalance represented a massive threat to global stability, and Astreo knew that any large-scale conflict between the two domains could easily shift in favor of the oceanic forces.
The only comforting fact was that the three strongest Emperors in existence were still land-based rulers.
Their dominance was what maintained the delicate balance of power.
However, as long as the Water Emperors continued to avoid encroaching on the territories of these three mighty beings, then when they attacked it was as good as not having these three mighty beings who just care about their own territories.
That was why possessing a powerful water-type summon would give him a strategic edge in future battles involving oceanic forces.
With that clear understanding, Astreo began his search across the vast and unpredictable Summoning Plane.
He explored multiple regions, scanning various terrains and energy signatures in hopes of finding a monster that met his requirements.
However, despite spending considerable time and energy, he did not encounter any creature that truly satisfied his expectations.
Most of the monsters he came across were either too weak, had incomplete bloodlines, or lacked the potential for further evolution.
(A/N: Don't ask me why doesn't he not chooses a random rat and makes it the Rat emperor, after all who the hell not wants a majestic summon?)
Unwilling to waste any more time, Astreo decided to rely on the System's advanced scanning function.
Activating the feature, he ordered the System to scan the entire Summoning Plane, leaving no area unchecked.
The process took some time, but the results were astonishingly fruitful.
Not only did he obtain a vast collection of new resources scattered throughout the plane—such as rare spirit minerals, mana-infused herbs, and beast cores—but he also received a complete and detailed map of the entire Summoning Dimension.
This map revealed countless locations that were previously unknown to most summoners, including high-tier monster habitats, sealed ruins, and energy vortexes that acted as gateways to subdimensions.
Armed with this information, Astreo gained a massive advantage in future summoning expeditions.
After analyzing the data, he began entering and exiting the Summoning Plane repeatedly, using the dimensional fluctuations to his advantage.
This method allowed him to spawn in completely random areas each time he entered, giving him the opportunity to explore different regions and increase the chances of encountering a rare or high-ranking creature.
Astreo continued this process tirelessly.
Each re-entry brought him to a new, unpredictable location—sometimes near volcanic mountains where fire beasts roamed, other times within icy caverns filled with frost creatures.
It was an exhausting yet necessary effort, as the Summoning Plane was known for its chaotic structure, and every entry placed the summoner in a randomly generated zone.
Through persistence and System-guided strategy, Astreo intended to uncover the perfect creature—one that could serve as both his summon and an unshakable foundation for his future rise to power.
After repeating the process of entering and exiting the Summoning Plane dozens upon dozens of times, Astreo eventually found himself transported to one of the most powerful and dangerous regions within the entire dimension—the Dragon Valley.
This place was legendary among summoners, known as the ancestral domain of various dragon races, both ancient and newly evolved.
It was said that even high-tier summoners rarely dared to enter this area without sufficient strength, as a single wrong move could result in immediate annihilation.
As soon as Astreo set foot in the valley, an overwhelming surge of draconic pressure filled the air.
The atmosphere itself seemed to tremble with the weight of countless ancient auras. His sudden arrival did not go unnoticed.
In less than a few seconds, he had attracted the attention of numerous dragons, each radiating power.
The colossal beings shifted their massive heads to look at the intruder who had just appeared among them.
It didn't take them long to recognize him as a human from the human realm.
Several dragons narrowed their eyes, observing him with suspicion, while others examined him with open curiosity.
A few of them even looked somewhat confused or mildly cautious.
The sheer absurdity of the situation left many of them wondering how something like this could even be possible.
After all, how in the world could a human child enter the Summoning Plane?
The dragons were genuinely stunned.
They exchanged mental communications with one another, unable to understand whether they were dealing with a child prodigy, an illusion, or perhaps some sort of shapeshifted creature.
Some dragons even began to doubt their own perception, wondering if the being standing before them was a dwarf or an entirely different lifeform disguised as a human.
Typically, human magicians reached the summoning stage only after the age of fifteen or sixteen, and even then, they were pathetically weak compared to dragons.
Yet the boy standing before them emitted an aura so dense and oppressive that it made some of the younger dragons feel uncomfortable.
Even the older ones found themselves surprised by the level of power they sensed.
Astreo, on the other hand, calmly observed the commotion he had caused merely by existing in their presence.
His expression remained neutral as he decided to make his intentions clear.
Without any hesitation, he released his Psychic Energy freely, allowing it to expand outward in all directions like a mental wave.
The result was instantaneous.
Every dragon within several kilometers felt the crushing weight of his Psychic Element pressing down on their minds.
Their expressions turned from confusion to outright shock. The energy signature they sensed was not that of a novice or even an intermediate summoner—it was far, far beyond that level.
The strength of Astreo's Psychic Element had already reached the Super Tier, especially when combined with the amplification provided by his Soul Element Buff.
Yet, what made this situation truly terrifying was that Astreo himself was still only an Advanced Tier Magician.
He hadn't even cast his Advanced Tier 1 Magic yet!
This incredible discrepancy between his actual rank and his power output defied normal logic and understanding.
From the dragons' perspective, there was only one possible explanation—they all assumed he must be a Super Tier Psychic Mage whose spiritual body had somehow been molded to that of a child, or that he was concealing his true form with a powerful illusion.
None of them could imagine that he was really a child.
Now, while only his consciousness was present within this realm, Astreo still had a significant advantage.
Here, within the Summoning Plane, his Psychic Element reigned supreme, unhindered by the usual physical limitations.
Just as he was scanning the surroundings with his psychic sense, a sudden shift in the air made him look up.
The sky itself seemed to darken as an enormous shadow spread across the valley floor.
A massive red Western Dragon, easily several hundred meters in length, descended from above, its immense wings beating against the air with thunderous force.
The creature's scales shimmered like molten metal, radiating intense heat that warped the space around it.
The dragon hovered above Astreo, its enormous form blotting out the sun as it stared down at him with ancient, intelligent eyes filled with both anger and authority.
Then, with a voice as deep as a rumbling earthquake, it spoke:
"Intruder, leave this sacred valley before I am forced to remove you myself."
As the words echoed throughout the valley, the red dragon unleashed its aura without any restraint.
The entire region trembled under the pressure, the air thickening with fiery energy that threatened to crush weaker beings outright.
Astreo's expression, which had remained calm and composed until now, finally showed a visible change.
For the first time since arriving in the Dragon Valley, he felt a genuine sense of threat.
The oppressive aura radiating from the massive dragon hovering above him was far beyond anything he had encountered so far—it wasn't just strong, it was monstrous in every sense. The realization hit him immediately.
This dragon was not some ordinary high-ranking beast; it was a Monarch-level being, one of the highest forms of existence within the Summoning Plane after Emperors.
'System, show me its information immediately,' Astreo commanded in his mind, his thoughts sharp and controlled even as the immense pressure bore down on him.
The familiar mechanical voice of the System echoed in his consciousness, providing the data he requested in an instant:
[Name: Azeroth
Race: Fire Dragon
Gender: Male
Tier: True Monarch]
Astreo's eyes slightly narrowed as he read the information.
'What a coincidence,' he thought to himself. In terms of classification, his Psychic Power, enhanced through his Soul Element Buff, was already equivalent to that of a True Monarch in raw spiritual strength.
This meant that although he was still technically an Advanced Tier Magician, his combat power in psychic terms matched the dragon's level.
Calming his mind, Astreo took a step forward, his posture relaxed yet steady.
He knew that in order to communicate with a proud being like a dragon, he had to show confidence without appearing arrogant.
His voice carried clarity and authority as he introduced himself:
"I am Astreo, a human mage from the Human World. I have come here to form a contract with one of your clansmen."
He spoke bluntly, wasting no words.
At the same time, to demonstrate goodwill and avoid unnecessary conflict, he softened his Psychic Pressure, allowing the surrounding air to feel less oppressive.
This subtle gesture was his way of expressing friendliness and respect, signaling that he came not as an invader but as a negotiator.
However, his polite approach did not seem to impress the mighty dragon.
With a thunderous growl that shook the valley floor, the dragon known as Azeroth bared his enormous fangs and glared down at him with blazing crimson eyes filled with fury and disdain.
"Human, I will not offer any of my clansmen to serve as your slave! Leave this place immediately before I destroy you!"
The roar echoed like an explosion, making even the nearby mountains tremble.
The sheer force of his voice carried an intense wave of heat, scorching the air around them.
Astreo sighed lightly, a trace of helplessness appearing in his eyes.
He understood perfectly well why the dragon reacted this way.
The Summoning Element Contract, although beneficial for both the monster and the human, was fundamentally imbalanced in its structure.
The superior party in every contract was always the human summoner.
Even in so-called "equal contracts," the summoned creature was still bound by the literal terms of the agreement and had no freedom to disobey direct commands.
The only possible way for a summoned beast to rebel against its human summoner was to become significantly stronger, specifically by surpassing the summoner by an entire major Tier of power.
Until then, obedience was absolute, regardless of the creature's will or pride.
That was precisely why proud and talented species like dragons despised these kinds of pacts.
For them, entering a contract with a human was equivalent to surrendering their freedom and dignity. Most dragons would rather perish in battle than submit to the servitude of a human summoner.
As he stood there facing Azeroth's wrath, Astreo couldn't help but mutter a silent thought to himself:
'Damn it, China… you're really lucky to have the Azure Dragon as your guardian.'
His eyes flickered with a strange glint of amusement mixed with caution as he analyzed the situation.
The dragon before him was already preparing to unleash its full power—a massive torrent of fire was building up within its throat, the air vibrating with the sound of compressed energy.
The temperature around the valley began to rise dramatically, and the entire sky turned a shade of molten orange from the dragon's gathering flames.
Just as the devastating attack was about to be released, a sudden voice—deep, calm, yet filled with overwhelming authority—echoed through the valley.
"Wait!"
The Fire Dragon immediately froze mid-action, its burning eyes shifting sideways as a new presence manifested beside it.
Astreo instinctively turned his gaze toward the source and immediately felt the change in atmosphere.
The pressure in the air grew exponentially heavier, to the point where even the surrounding dragons instinctively lowered their heads.
Floating beside Azeroth was another dragon—one even larger, more majestic, and radiating a far stronger aura.
Its mere presence distorted the space around it, exuding an ancient and oppressive power that made even the True Monarch Fire Dragon seem insignificant in comparison.
Astreo's eyes narrowed once again as he assessed the newcomer. Without needing the System to confirm it, he already knew—this was an existence far above the True Monarch level.
The situation had just taken an unexpected and far more dangerous turn.
[Name: Nemonia
Race: Fire Dragon
Gender: Female
Tier: Great Monarch]
The moment the System displayed this information, Astreo's expression hardened slightly. This new dragon—Nemonia—was on an entirely different level of existence compared to Azeroth.
While Azeroth was classified as a True Monarch, Nemonia's rank as a Great Monarch meant she stood an entire sub tier above him, belonging to the kind of beings who could dominate entire regions by themselves.
Astreo understood the implications instantly.
If he had possessed enough strength to defeat or even kill Azeroth, that would already place him among the strongest entities within the Dragon Valley.
However, when it came to Nemonia, the difference in power was overwhelming.
To fight against a Great Monarch with his current strength would not just be reckless—it would be pure suicide.
Defeat in such a confrontation was not a possibility; it was an absolute certainty.
Yet, as Astreo observed her towering form and the immense waves of draconic energy surrounding her, he noticed something significant.
Despite her staggering power, Nemonia did not appear to be openly hostile toward him.
Her expression and aura, though naturally imposing, lacked the killing intent that Azeroth had displayed earlier.
This small observation made Astreo relax his stance slightly, though he remained alert.
Meanwhile, the male dragon, Azeroth, turned toward her and let out a frustrated snarl.
His enormous wings flared as he spoke in a deep, defiant tone, completely ignoring Astreo's presence as if the human wasn't even worth acknowledging.
"Wife, why did you have to come here? I could have handled this intruder on my own!"
The arrogance and pride in his voice were unmistakable.
However, before he could continue boasting, Nemonia's fiery eyes narrowed in irritation.
"Idiot! Can you not see that this human is just a child?!"
Her reprimand came in a thunderous roar that made the surrounding atmosphere tremble.
Then, without a single ounce of hesitation, she swung one of her massive claws and struck Azeroth directly on the head.
The impact was devastating.
The mighty True Monarch Fire Dragon was sent hurtling down from the sky like a falling meteorite, crashing into the ground with a deafening explosion.
The resulting shockwave shook the entire valley, causing massive cracks to spread across the terrain.
Dust, flames, and debris flew everywhere, turning the once-calm Dragon Valley into a chaotic storm of destruction.
Most of the weaker dragons, who had already sensed the escalating tension between the two Monarchs, had wisely retreated to a safe distance.
Only a handful of lower Monarch-ranked dragons and a few Evolving Commanders or Great Commanders remained near the periphery, observing the confrontation from afar with awe and fear.
Astreo, recognizing the immense destructive power of the clash, immediately activated a psychic shield around himself.
The energy barrier shimmered faintly in the air as it absorbed the violent shockwaves, protecting him from the catastrophic aftermath.
Even so, he could feel the incredible heat and pressure radiating through the barrier, proving just how terrifying these creatures truly were.
Azeroth let out a painful roar from the crater where he had crashed, his body scorched and bruised.
Before he could even recover, Nemonia descended gracefully from the sky, landing directly on top of him.
Her massive hind legs pressed down firmly on his face, pinning his head to the ground with effortless dominance.
Her fiery gaze burned with authority as she glared at him, and in that moment, the once-proud male dragon's resistance completely vanished.
Azeroth's tail lowered submissively, his wings folded against his body, and he slowly closed his eyes, signaling complete surrender to his mate.
The entire valley fell silent, the air heavy with the weight of dominance and hierarchy.
To an outsider, this scene might have looked strange—almost absurd—but in truth, this was perfectly normal behavior among dragons.
Despite their intelligence and majesty, they were still, at their core, monsters, governed by primal instincts and strict dominance structures.
Among the True Dragon species, there was only one social rule that vaguely resembled human behavior—they generally practiced monogamy.
However, even this similarity was not as noble as it sounded.
The concept of "mates" among dragons did not signify equality or partnership.
Instead, it was a relationship built purely on power and hierarchy.
In every dragon pair, there was always a superior and a submissive one.
The weaker dragon was bound to obey the stronger one unconditionally.
The greatest honor a dragon could possess in such a bond was simply to be chosen as a mate by a superior dragon, allowing them to reproduce and continue the bloodline.
To them, this was the ultimate privilege.
Unlike humans, dragons did not view their partners as equals in love or companionship.
For them, everything boiled down to strength and dominance—the superior was the master, and the inferior was the servant.
Even more disturbingly, it was not uncommon for a dominant dragon to have multiple partners among sub-species or lesser creatures, treating them merely as breeding tools or pleasure servants.
Astreo watched this entire display with analytical calm, taking in every detail.
Though the scene might have seemed violent or humiliating to outsiders, for dragons, this was simply the natural order—a brutal hierarchy where only the strong dictated the rules, and the weak accepted their place without question.
That was precisely why Astreo wasn't particularly surprised by the dynamic he had just witnessed between the two dragons.
The hierarchical and dominance-based relationship was something he fully expected from creatures like them.
Still, despite his calm expression, he remained extremely cautious, keeping his psychic perception active at all times.
He knew that if the situation took a dangerous turn, he had to be prepared to escape instantly.
After all, no matter how composed he seemed, even a single careless move in front of a Great Monarch-level dragon could easily mean his death.
As he was silently evaluating the atmosphere, the female dragon, Nemonia, shifted her massive head and fixed her burning golden eyes directly on him.
Her gaze was intense, her tone filled with unquestionable authority as she spoke:
"Tell me, human… what is your age?"
Her voice reverberated through the entire valley like rolling thunder, making the surrounding dragons instinctively bow their heads.
Despite the suffocating pressure, Astreo remained steady and answered without hesitation, his voice calm and composed.
"I am six years old."
The enormous dragoness studied him for a brief moment, her sharp eyes glowing faintly as though analyzing his soul.
Then, she gave a slow nod, the corners of her maw lifting slightly in what might have been a faint smirk.
"You should be thankful that you chose to speak the truth, little one. I possess a natural ability to detect lies, and had you dared to deceive me, I would have burned you to ash without a second thought."
Her words were delivered with a cold, matter-of-fact arrogance that left no room for doubt. It wasn't a threat—it was a simple statement of fact.
Astreo was momentarily speechless.
The casual tone with which she spoke about killing him over a single lie was both terrifying and absurd.
He finally managed to reply, a hint of exasperation slipping into his otherwise steady voice:
"Now that you know my real age, you must have realized just how talented I am."
Nemonia's massive head tilted slightly as she regarded him with interest.
Then, to his surprise, the enormous dragoness let out a low, rumbling chuckle that made the ground vibrate.
"Indeed… you are truly extraordinary. Among your kind, you are what the humans would call a calamity bearer, one destined to bring upheaval to the world. But even among those rare beings, you are something far beyond—a true monster in human form."
Her grin widened as she spoke, revealing her rows of razor-sharp teeth, each one capable of slicing through enchanted steel.
The sight of her grin was enough to make even the stronger Monarch dragons nearby instinctively retreat several steps, afraid of her presence.
"In simple words, human child, you possess an extremely high chance of reaching the level of an Emperor-class powerhouse in the future."
The moment those words left her mouth, the entire Dragon Valley fell into utter silence.
Every dragon present—whether Commander, Evolving Commander, or even Monarch—turned their massive heads toward the small human figure standing calmly in the center of the valley.
Their eyes widened in disbelief, their expressions filled with shock and awe.
It was almost impossible for them to process what they had just heard.
The idea that this tiny, fragile-looking human child, barely larger than one of their claws, could one day ascend to the rank of Emperor was beyond comprehension.
"Seriously? This tiny insect-like creature could become an Emperor one day?"
Many of the dragons shared similar thoughts, their mental voices filled with disbelief.
But the more they thought about it, the more terrifying the realization became.
They recalled the overwhelming psychic pressure Astreo had released earlier—pressure strong enough to rival that of a Super Tier mage.
And now, remembering that this human prodigy was only six years old, the entire situation became even more absurd.
Most of the dragons in the valley couldn't help but internally compare themselves to him.
At six years of age, they had barely been hatchlings, clumsy and unaware of the world.
Back then, they would spend their time playing with their own tails, often mistaking them for some strange creature following them around.
When they bit into it out of curiosity, they would end up roaring in pain and confusion, wondering why the mysterious "enemy" hurt them.
It was only after several centuries of growth and evolution that they had managed to ascend to the Monarch level, and even then, few could boast of reaching such strength as young dragons.
Compared to that, this human child—barely past infancy by their standards—was already comparable to, if not stronger than, some of them.
The comparison was both humiliating and awe-inspiring.
A being with such terrifying potential could only be described as a true aberration, something that defied the natural laws of power and growth.
For the first time, many of the dragons felt a strange mixture of fear and respect for a creature so small yet so impossibly dangerous.
And standing there amidst the silent valley, with dozens of dragons staring at him in disbelief, Astreo simply crossed his arms and smirked faintly, as if the entire world's astonishment was nothing more than a trivial occurrence to him.
A person who possessed the power of a Monarch-level being while still being only six years old—that was something so absurd that it almost defied reason itself.
Yet, as the dragons observed Astreo, none of them could deny the overwhelming possibility that he truly had the potential to ascend to the Emperor level in the future.
His strength, spiritual density, and elemental harmony were far beyond what any normal prodigy could achieve at such an age.
What they did not know, however, was that Nemonia, the Great Monarch Fire Dragon, had already sensed faint traces of Emperor-level aura emanating from Astreo's being.
That subtle yet unmistakable pressure of supremacy made her momentarily doubt reality.
For a fleeting instant, she even wondered if this mysterious child was perhaps the illegitimate offspring of an Emperor-level existence, hidden away from the world until now.
It seemed unthinkable, yet the aura did not lie.
Another, far more intriguing possibility also crossed her mind—that the natural bottleneck between Monarch and Emperor level simply did not exist for him.
For most beings, that bottleneck was an unbreakable wall, a limit that countless geniuses failed to overcome even after thousands of years of cultivation.
But in Astreo's case, that limit seemed nonexistent, as if his very essence had been designed to surpass the laws that restrained others.
Nemonia had encountered—or at least heard stories of—a few rare humans throughout history who carried a faint trace of Emperor-level aura within their souls even as children.
Those few, without exception, had eventually grown into true Emperor-level beings, standing at the peak of all existence.
Remembering those tales, Nemonia's instincts screamed that this boy was one of those anomalies, a creature born to dominate.
(A/N: Meanwhile Astreo who simply gained this aura by assimilating Emperor cores as if they were common soul essence: My superpower is being rich)
Because of that realization, she made an immediate decision.
She would not harm him.
Instead, she would build a connection—no, a long-term relationship with this potential future powerhouse.
After all, a Psychic-element Emperor would possess the terrifying ability to manifest a large portion of his power within the Summoning Plane, something no other element could do so effectively.
Any creature bound to him through a contract could share in his power, growing alongside him.
In fact, Nemonia was fully aware that any beast contracted to such a being could easily ascend to the level of a Supreme Monarch, and with luck—or perhaps fate—even to the Emperor level themselves.
That possibility was simply too great to ignore.
Her clan, though powerful, currently had only one true pillar—herself.
The Fire Dragon Clan was locked in a constant struggle for dominance against several rival dragon clans, many of which possessed stronger and more numerous Monarchs and Great Monarchs.
If not for the urgent need to strengthen her clan and secure its future, she would have reduced Astreo to ash the moment he appeared, treating him as nothing more than an intruder.
But now, she saw an opportunity—one that could change the fate of her entire race.
Meanwhile, Astreo, entirely unaware of the full extent of her internal calculations, was more than satisfied with the outcome of their encounter.
To him, this was a great success—he had earned the acknowledgment of a Great Monarch dragon and even gained safe passage deeper into their territory.
His goal of finding a suitable contract beast was closer than ever.
Under Nemonia's command, the massive red dragon Azeroth—still sulking after his earlier humiliation—reluctantly agreed to carry Astreo on his back.
The Fire Dragon's scales glowed faintly with molten energy as he spread his colossal wings, soaring high into the burning skies of the Dragon Valley.
Astreo sat calmly atop the creature's head, his psychic energy forming an invisible barrier that shielded him from the turbulent air pressure.
Following Nemonia's lead, they soon reached the core territory of the Fire Dragon Clan, a place brimming with ancient energy and draconic power.
It was a vast volcanic basin surrounded by towering cliffs of obsidian, rivers of magma flowing through the crevices, and countless dragons of all sizes occupying the skies.
As they landed, Astreo's sharp gaze wandered across the area, immediately noticing several newly hatched dragons resting near the magma pools.
Curiosity sparked within him, and he couldn't resist the urge to analyze their potential.
Activating his System's scanning function, he quietly ordered it to evaluate each hatchling's innate talent and future growth potential.
However, the results left him utterly disappointed.
Not only were none of them qualified to reach the Supreme Monarch level, but most didn't even possess the potential to become True Monarchs in their entire lifetime.
Their bloodlines were undoubtedly superior to most magical beasts, yet even among dragons, natural talent varied greatly.
It was somewhat ironic.
Despite being one of the most superior species in existence, capable of producing Commander-level monsters even among their sub-species given enough time, the true geniuses—those capable of ascending beyond the Monarch realm—were exceptionally rare.
Astreo sighed softly, realizing once again that talent determined everything.
Among beasts, just as among humans, the difference between a Monarch and a True Monarch was like the gap between heaven and earth.
After all, Monarch-level monsters existed on an entirely different plane of power.
Their might was enough to annihilate small to mid-sized human cities with ease, turning fortresses into dust and kingdoms into ashes.
The sheer destructive capability they commanded was beyond terrifying.
They were called "Monarchs" for a reason—because their strength allowed them to rule over entire regions, commanding legions of lesser beings beneath them.
And in the face of such overwhelming power, even the strongest human armies could only tremble helplessly.
Astreo looked around the valley once more, his expression calm but thoughtful.
The dragons might have been powerful, but for him, they were only stepping stones—potential allies, tools, or contracts on his path toward absolute supremacy.
And with each passing moment, his resolve to dominate both the Summoning Plane and the Human World grew stronger.
When the Clan Leader saw that Astreo did not immediately choose any of the young dragons available for contracting, she felt a flash of disappointment.
She had expected him to show at least some interest in the promising hatchlings, especially those with superior bloodlines.
However, her attention quickly shifted as her gaze instinctively fell upon a particular young dragon—her own daughter.
'He wants my child?!' she thought in shock and disbelief.
'Well, Zyra is indeed my daughter, and her talent even surpasses mine! If she were to become his contracted beast, she would grow at an exponential rate. Her potential would skyrocket far beyond what I could achieve alone. However… I cannot allow her to be bound as a servant to a human!'
Her mind raced, and as she mulled over the situation, a plan began to take shape.
'But… what if I establish the contract myself?' she considered, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
'As long as I am the one initiating the contract—and I am currently the superior dragon—the agreement would favor my daughter.' She paused for a moment, realizing that subtlety was key.
'However, this human must not realize my intentions. I will need to trick him, to fool him into believing this is his own choice.'
A sly, almost evil smirk spread across her mind as she moved deliberately toward him, preparing to execute her plan.
"Human! She is my daughter and the next leader of our clan! I will not allow you to take her as your contracted beast! Choose someone else!"
Her voice was gruff, commanding, and carried the authority of the clan's hierarchy. She expected Astreo to back down immediately, intimidated by her status.
Astreo, however, remained calm, almost dismissive.
"Ah, no worries. I don't care about her anyway."
His words were casual, yet they stirred a storm in the Clan Leader's mind.
'What the—what does he mean? Not want my daughter? How utterly rude this human is!' she thought, her eyes narrowing as she processed his words.
'He clearly is not worthy of my daughter! Also… why is he walking toward her? Hehe, he must be pretending, putting on an act to mislead me.'
The Clan Leader had encountered many foolish humans before, and she found herself amused by the situation.
She observed quietly, letting Astreo approach her daughter, planning to intervene at the perfect moment to assert her conditions.
Zyra, meanwhile, had been watching Astreo with anticipation.
She assumed he was going to choose her as his contracted beast, and in her arrogance, she raised her hand haughtily, prepared to accept his attention with pride.
But then… Astreo passed right by her, as if she did not exist.
He ignored her completely.
Zyra froze, her jaw dropping in disbelief.
She growled softly under her breath, and her eyes followed him as he walked toward another dragon.
Not only was Zyra stunned, but the Clan Leader and even Azeroth froze, their expressions betraying their shock.
Astreo stopped in front of a huge dragon with black scales, lying quietly in the corner of the valley. Its body was covered with numerous old wounds, its breathing shallow, and its aura faint and weak.
The dragon's frailty was obvious—it was near the end of its lifespan, yet its presence still commanded a subtle, regal authority.
"I want her."
Astreo's words were simple but delivered with unshakable certainty, pointing directly toward the weakened dragon.
The entire valley fell into absolute silence.
Even the wind seemed to pause in that moment.
Nemonia's mouth dropped open in utter shock.
Her eyes widened, disbelief flashing across her scales.
That old, frail dragon—the one Astreo had chosen over the young, talented hatchlings—was her mother.
(A/N: Lmao such an twist! Bro wants Gilfy instead of the loli! Sniff, I am so proud of him!)
To be continued...
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