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{3rd Pov}
The entire place had descended into a deep and almost suffocating silence as Astreo finally made his choice of dragon.
Nemonia's eyes burned with an uncontrollable anger, and in that moment, she released her terrifying and overwhelming aura.
The sheer force of her power knocked out the young dragonlings instantly, leaving them sprawled unconscious on the ground, while even the sleeping dragons nearby were startled awake by the intensity of her presence.
Even her mother, who had been sleeping peacefully without a single care and completely unaware that Astreo had chosen her, was jolted awake by the immense aura released by a Great Monarch.
She opened her eyes slowly, her senses immediately alert, and looked around the area.
What met her gaze was a chaotic scene — dragonlings lying unconscious everywhere and her daughter Nemonia standing there, glaring at a human child with furious eyes.
Seeing this, the older dragon instantly grew wary and instinctively prepared herself to attack the human.
However, she hesitated and stopped when she noticed that the one standing before her daughter was not an adult warrior or intruder, but merely a child — and not only that, the child was somehow able to withstand her daughter's terrifying aura, which was something no ordinary human should have been capable of doing.
'Did the human somehow spawn here?' she wondered, confusion flickering in her ancient eyes.
'But that should be impossible. A mere human entering the Dragon Domain should have already perished by the claws of other dragons long before reaching this place… Then why is he alive? And why is my daughter glaring at him instead of killing him on the spot? Is it because of the dragonlings lying around?' she thought again, her gaze shifting briefly toward the unconscious young dragons scattered on the ground.
She wanted to demand an explanation from her daughter, to ask what exactly was going on and why a human child was standing there alive amidst the dragons.
However, she quickly reminded herself of her current position.
She was no longer the matriarch; she had been reduced to the rank of a Great Commander after losing most of her former power.
Her daughter, Nemonia, now held the position of matriarch and was the one in command.
Understanding this, the older dragon decided to hold her tongue and simply observe for now, choosing to let her daughter take charge of the situation and determine what was to be done next.
"HUMAN! That dragon you are pointing at—she is my mother! You dare say you want her as your contracted beast?!" Nemonia roared furiously, her dragonic voice echoing like thunder throughout the entire cavern, shaking the very walls of the den.
Her golden eyes blazed with anger and disbelief as she glared at Astreo, who stood unmoving in front of her despite the suffocating weight of her aura.
Her mother, known as Xyra, was taken completely aback upon hearing her daughter's voice and the words that followed.
For a brief moment, her expression showed confusion, but it quickly faded as she pieced everything together using her vast experience and wisdom gained over thousands of years.
She instantly understood the situation—her daughter had personally and voluntarily brought the human child inside their sacred den, allowing him the rare opportunity to form a contract with one of the young dragonlings.
That realization alone was enough to shock even a being of her age.
However, Xyra did not question her daughter's actions.
She knew very well that she no longer held the authority to interfere directly in such matters.
As a former matriarch who had fallen from her former glory, her role was now limited to giving advice when asked.
She could no longer command or go against the current matriarch's will, and that matriarch was her daughter, Nemonia.
Moreover, she had complete faith that her daughter would not make reckless or foolish decisions.
Nemonia was strong, wise, and cautious, and Xyra trusted her judgment completely.
She also understood another truth — a dragon that usually required decades, sometimes even a century, to reach the level of a Great Commander could, under the right circumstances and with the right human partner, achieve that same level of growth in merely a decade or even less.
A proper contract could change the fate of both dragon and human alike, and perhaps that was what her daughter intended to test or witness.
"Is that so? But I still want her as my contracted beast," Astreo said calmly, his voice steady as his eyes glanced once again at the glowing blue screen that floated in front of him.
[Name: Xyra
Age: 1100+
Race: Fire Dragon
Gender: Female
Tier: Evolving Commander (Supreme Monarch)
Potential: Supreme Monarch
Status: Heavily wounded, old, at the end of her lifespan]
The information displayed before him was clear and undeniable.
She was injured—grievously so.
There was absolutely no way that a being of her rank, a Supreme Monarch by potential and lineage, could have her power reduced to that of an Evolving Commander unless she had sustained catastrophic injuries.
Furthermore, the description revealed an even harsher truth: she was nearing the end of her lifespan, her once boundless vitality nearly extinguished, and her potential completely exhausted.
For anyone else, forming a contract with such a dragon would make absolutely no sense.
It would be seen as a foolish waste of resources and effort.
The sheer amount of rare materials, time, and energy required to heal a dragon of her stature and age would be astronomical—more than triple the amount needed to raise a brand-new Supreme Monarch Dragon from birth and nurture it to its full potential.
Yet, despite this overwhelming disadvantage, Astreo still chose her without hesitation, an act that left even the ancient Xyra silently watching him with curiosity and disbelief.
However, to Astreo, none of that mattered in the slightest.
He didn't care about the difficulty, the cost, or the absurdity of his decision.
After all, he possessed what most beings across countless worlds could only dream of — literally infinite resources.
Healing her?
That was nothing to him.
With just a single gesture, with just one casual swipe of his hand, he could easily summon enough treasures and restorative materials to drown the injured dragon in an endless mountain of healing resources.
To him, even the most precious divine elixirs and mythical-grade medicines were as common as dust.
Once she was healed, everything else would naturally follow.
The moment Xyra recovered her strength, her body would regain vitality, her life would be extended, and her power would once again surge beyond its limits.
With the boundless resources at his disposal, Astreo knew she could ascend in record time. In his mind, it was simple: once she fully recovered and began cultivating again, it would only be a matter of time before she advanced to the rank of Emperor.
And once she became an Emperor, everything would change.
The problem of her dwindling lifespan would vanish completely — an Emperor-level being possessed near-infinite life, an existence that defied the natural cycle of decay.
Her aging, her frailty, her nearing death — all of it would be erased.
Moreover, by choosing her, Astreo would not need to start from scratch, raising a young dragonling from infancy and waiting decades for it to mature.
Xyra already had unimaginable combat experience, an immense foundation, and the temperament of a true monarch.
That alone would save him countless years of effort and training.
That was the reason why, against all logic and against every expectation, Astreo had chosen this old and dying dragon as his contracted beast.
His choice was not reckless — it was practical, efficient, and in his eyes, far more beneficial than raising a child dragon who would take ages to reach the same level of power.
However, not everyone saw it that way.
Nemonia, in particular, hated his decision.
To her, this was not a mere choice — it was an offense.
After all, the dragon he had selected was her mother, and she could not accept the idea of her beloved parent spending the last moments of her long life as someone's servant or slave.
The very thought filled her with disgust and fury.
The only reason she had originally agreed to the idea of allowing a human to form a contract within their territory was because she understood the natural limits of human life.
Humans, even those bearing the title of Calamity Bearers, had short and fragile lifespans.
Even if such individuals somehow achieved the might of an Emperor, it was only in terms of combat power and destructive strength — they were not True Emperors in the sense that dragons understood.
Their bodies were mortal, their essence finite, and sooner or later, their brief existence would burn out.
When such a Calamity Bearer eventually died, their title, their power, and their curse would simply pass on to another human host.
There were methods available to prolong their lives, yes, but those methods were always twisted, unnatural, and came at the cost of their humanity.
For Nemonia, this was inevitable — and it meant that one day, the contract between her daughter and the human would end naturally with his death.
That was why she had been planning to let her daughter be the one to form the bond.
But she had done so with one very clear intention — to make sure her daughter would not grow attached to the human.
Nemonia had planned to oversee the process carefully, to make sure the contract was formed on her own terms, under her control.
Yet now, that same human was claiming her mother instead of her daughter.
Wasn't that nothing but a cruel joke?
A complete insult?
Did this foolish human truly plan to use her elderly, injured mother as a mere pawn — as cannon fodder to throw into battles?
The idea alone sent a burning rage through Nemonia's veins.
Her killing intent flared uncontrollably, radiating like molten fire.
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, glowing with a murderous light as she spread her massive wings wide.
The shadow they cast completely enveloped Astreo, covering him like a dark storm.
This was not a conscious decision — it was pure instinct, the natural response of a dragon filled with fury and wrath.
It was her primal nature as a dragon asserting itself, a command of intimidation that declared absolute dominance.
"Choose someone else," Nemonia said coldly, her voice resonating through the entire cavern like a thunderclap.
Her aura surged again, dense and oppressive, shaking the air itself as she tried to pressure Astreo into changing his decision.
However, to her surprise, Astreo stood completely unfazed by her overwhelming presence.
His calm demeanor didn't waver even for a second under the crushing might of a Great Monarch's aura.
Instead, he looked directly into her fierce golden eyes and replied in an even tone, his words steady and deliberate.
"I can choose someone else…" he began, pausing for a moment as if considering his options, then added confidently, "But tell me, what would you prefer? A dragon that would probably take half of my lifetime just to reach the level of a Supreme Monarch, or her—someone who can become an Emperor in just a few years?"
His words landed like thunder in the silent hall.
It was as if he had just placed all his cards face-up on the table, openly laying down his bet for everyone to see.
His statement was bold, almost arrogant, but there was no trace of mockery in his tone—only certainty.
Hearing that, Nemonia, Azeroth, and Xyra were all left stunned.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The three dragons, beings of immense power and wisdom, were completely dumbfounded by what the human child had just declared.
'Does this human even realize what he's saying?!' Xyra thought in disbelief, her ancient mind reeling at the absurdity of his claim.
The same thought crossed the minds of her daughter Nemonia and her son-in-law Azeroth, who both stared at Astreo with a mix of shock, confusion, and a trace of suspicion.
All three of them knew very well the unimaginable difficulty that lay between the realms of a Monarch and an Emperor.
It wasn't merely a step up—it was an insurmountable chasm that only the rarest and most extraordinary beings could ever cross.
Xyra, being the oldest and most experienced among them, understood this better than anyone else present.
She herself had spent her entire long life striving to ascend from the rank of a Supreme Monarch to that of an Emperor.
She had poured centuries of effort, countless resources, and boundless determination into that goal, yet even after all that, she had failed.
Not only had she failed to ascend, but because of the wounds she had suffered in her later years, she had lost her former strength as a Supreme Monarch and had been reduced to the level of an Evolving Commander.
It was a humiliating fall from grace that still pained her deeply.
No one in that room understood the difference between those two tiers more clearly than Xyra.
The gap between a Supreme Monarch and an Emperor wasn't just vast—it was astronomical.
Statistically, only about 0.01% of all Supreme Monarchs ever managed to achieve true ascension into Emperorhood.
And even among that rare fraction, most could only ascend to the lowest rank—a Low Emperor, a title that still required unimaginable power to attain.
So when a mere human child stood before them and spoke so casually about turning an old, wounded dragon into an Emperor "in a few years," they couldn't decide whether to laugh at his ignorance or fear his confidence.
"Nemonia…" Xyra finally spoke, breaking the silence after several tense moments.
Her tone was calm, though layered with curiosity and caution.
"Forgive my intrusion, but may I know the full matter here?"
She turned her gaze toward her daughter, her golden eyes sharp yet thoughtful.
The fact that Nemonia hadn't already attacked the boy the instant he uttered such a ridiculous statement meant something important—her daughter wasn't entirely certain whether his words were pure arrogance or if there was a trace of truth behind them.
And that hesitation was enough for Xyra to take this situation seriously.
If her daughter, a Great Monarch and current matriarch, was uncertain about the boy's words, then perhaps this human wasn't as ordinary as he appeared.
That was why Xyra decided that before she judged, before she acted, she needed to understand everything completely—to hear the entire matter from her daughter's mouth and determine for herself whether this child was simply boasting… or truly capable of defying the impossible.
Nemonia turned her gaze toward her mother, the once mighty and proud matriarch who had long since lost her dominant position within the clan.
Xyra, once revered as one of the strongest dragons of their lineage, now held no authority at all.
She was no longer qualified to be called a Monarch, and in their clan's strict hierarchy, even to hold the title of Elder, one needed to at least possess the power of a Monarch.
Since Xyra had long lost even that qualification, she was now regarded as nothing more than an ordinary clansman — a fallen monarch stripped of her former glory.
Still, because Nemonia was her daughter, she was permitted to call her mother by name without the formalities that others had to follow.
It was both a privilege and a reminder of their bond, even though their current status difference as Matriarch and Clansman made it feel distant at times.
Nemonia sighed quietly, her fierce aura subsiding slightly as she realized that avoiding an explanation would only complicate things further.
She quickly began to recount everything that had happened from the beginning — how the strange human child named Astreo, or Aster as she called him, had entered their territory, how she had decided to test him, and finally how she had allowed him into their sacred nesting grounds to choose a dragonling for a potential contract.
As she spoke, Xyra listened intently, her ancient eyes reflecting a deep sense of thought.
With each word her daughter spoke, the full scope and intensity of the situation began to unfold in her mind.
By the time Nemonia finished, Xyra finally understood the magnitude of what she was dealing with — this human child, who appeared to be no more than six years old, possessed the power of a True Monarch.
That single fact alone shook her to her core.
It was unheard of, beyond anything she could have imagined.
Now it made perfect sense why Nemonia, despite her pride and hatred for humans, had invited him into their nest instead of killing him on sight.
It also explained why she had gone so far as to allow him to choose a dragon youngling — something no human had ever been permitted to do before.
But everything changed when Aster declared his intent to form a contract not with a youngling, but with Xyra herself.
That decision had ignited the current conflict.
Xyra turned her attention toward Astreo, her ancient eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him.
She was silent for a long moment, her sharp mind evaluating every possible explanation for what she had just learned.
Then, finally, she spoke in a calm but heavy tone.
"Nemonia," she said, her voice steady yet filled with doubt, "no matter how talented one might be, even a Calamity Bearer cannot possess the strength of a True Monarch from birth. Such a thing is impossible… unless, he is not truly human."
Her words hung heavily in the air, echoing through the cavern like a sudden crack of thunder. Nemonia's eyes widened in shock, and she instinctively turned her gaze toward Aster, her golden pupils narrowing dangerously.
The possibility that he might be some other race disguised as a human flashed through her mind, and her expression hardened with cold suspicion.
Astreo, on the other hand, could only sigh quietly.
Internally, he realized that his carefully laid plan was on the verge of collapsing.
The moment Xyra began to question his humanity, he knew the situation had reached a dangerous turning point.
If her next words turned into a provocation or accusation, he would have no choice but to leave immediately before the entire nest turned against him.
But before that could happen, Xyra spoke again.
Her tone this time was analytical rather than hostile, filled with the weight of her long experience.
"To reach such strength at such a young age," she continued, her eyes never leaving Astreo, "he must have had access to an unimaginable amount of resources. For a human child to already possess the power of a True Monarch means he must have consumed or utilized ten times the amount of energy and resources that even a monster would need to reach that level!"
Her statement stunned everyone present.
So that's what she meant?!
Woman why the hell you are creating so much suspense for?!
Astreo complained internally.
Nemonia and Azeroth exchanged glances of disbelief, unable to fully comprehend the scale of what Xyra was saying.
Even Nemonia's anger faltered for a brief moment as she tried to process the implication — the sheer number of resources required to achieve such growth would be beyond even the wealth of entire kingdoms.
Despite his complains Astreo, hearing those words, finally relaxed a little.
He understood that Xyra was no longer accusing him of deceit but rather analyzing the truth behind his strength.
Her tone had shifted from suspicion to cautious curiosity.
That meant, at least for now, he wasn't going to be thrown out — or worse, attacked.
"Tell me, human… who is your guardian?" Xyra asked in a calm yet probing tone, her golden eyes fixed sharply on Astreo.
There was no hostility in her voice, only curiosity mixed with suspicion.
In truth, neither she nor the others had questioned his unusually mature demeanor before now, despite his young age.
The reason was simple — they knew he was majorly aligned with the Psychic element, and those gifted in that element often developed faster mentally than others.
Even if they did not possess full maturity from birth, their comprehension, perception, and reasoning ability were usually far beyond their years.
Still, to see such composure and confidence in a six-year-old human was extraordinary, even for a Psychic user.
Astreo didn't flinch under her penetrating gaze.
Instead, he smiled faintly, his calm expression making it impossible to tell whether he was being serious or simply provoking her.
"How about this," he said, his tone measured and confident, "you make a contract with me, and then you can see everything for yourself. I promise to heal you completely and provide you with every resource you'll ever need to ascend to the rank of Emperor. However—" he paused deliberately, his voice growing firmer, "you will have to accept the contract under my terms."
The atmosphere in the cavern shifted instantly.
His words carried a weight that sent ripples through the dragons present.
For a brief moment, complete silence followed his declaration — and then, with a furious snarl, Azeroth, who had been standing quietly up until now, suddenly stomped the ground with immense force.
The entire chamber trembled violently, dust and loose stones falling from the ceiling as the shockwave of his power spread outward.
"Human!" Azeroth roared, his deep voice booming like thunder through the cavern.
His crimson scales flared faintly as his aura burst forth, filling the air with oppressive heat.
"Who do you think you are?! Even if my mother-in-law's strength has declined, she is still our former Matriarch, the one who once ruled this domain with pride and power! To try and enslave her is nothing short of an insult to our entire clan!"
His fury was raw and unrestrained.
Nemonia, standing beside him, did not stop him this time.
Instead, she remained silent, her expression hard and cold, her tail swaying slightly in irritation.
For once, she fully agreed with her loudmouthed husband's words.
To her, what the human had just proposed was outrageous.
Even if he promised to heal her mother, forcing a contract — especially one under his own terms — was no different from demanding servitude.
Astreo sighed deeply, clearly growing tired of the constant shouting and hostility.
He could tell that no amount of reasoning would get through to them at this point.
Their pride as dragons was too immense, their emotions too deeply tied to family and hierarchy.
Shaking his head in mild exasperation, he waved his hand dismissively.
"If that's the case, then sayonara," he said casually, his tone completely unbothered. He turned around as if the matter was already over.
"I don't have time to waste arguing with those who can't see reason. I'll just find a suitable water monster instead and raise it to Emperor level myself."
As he spoke, his tone remained calm, but his words carried a sharp edge of finality. In truth, he wasn't bluffing.
His system contained an enormous variety of resources — and, in fact, he had far more materials, elixirs, and artifacts specifically designed for the growth of water-type monsters than for land or sky creatures combined.
Finding another potential candidate wouldn't be difficult for him at all.
With that, Astreo turned ready to leave the den entirely, his expression a mixture of annoyance and indifference.
The dragons could only stare at him — a six-year-old human child who dared to walk away from three Monarch-level beings as though they were beneath his notice.
"Wait a minute!"
The voice that cut through the tension belonged to Xyra.
Her tone was hurried, almost panicked, which immediately drew everyone's attention.
The ancient dragon's eyes were fixed firmly on the departing figure of Astreo.
Hearing her words, Astreo stopped mid-step and turned his head slightly, his expression calm but his patience clearly thinning.
"You accept my deal," he said bluntly, his voice flat and emotionless.
"No negotiations. If you refuse, I leave — simple as that."
His words were final, his tone leaving absolutely no room for discussion. It was clear that he meant every syllable.
If Xyra so much as hesitated, he would walk away without a second thought.
"Nemonia…" Xyra began after a brief silence, turning toward her daughter, her expression composed but her voice carrying the weight of determination.
"I think it will be best… if I become his contracted beast."
Her statement hit the room like a lightning bolt.
Both Nemonia and Azeroth turned to look at her in disbelief, their eyes wide with shock.
"But… mother-in-law," Azeroth muttered, his usually loud and confident voice suddenly uncertain. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Mother, have you gone insane?!" Nemonia burst out, her voice sharp and trembling with anger.
Her claws dug into the ground, leaving deep marks as she glared furiously at her mother.
"Just because this human claims he can make you an Emperor, you're willing to lower yourself to the status of a slave?!"
Her tone was filled with outrage.
The idea that her once-proud mother, the former Matriarch of their clan — a being who had commanded respect from countless dragons — would willingly accept a contract under a human was simply unthinkable to her.
Xyra, however, didn't raise her voice in return.
Instead, she closed her eyes briefly and then inclined her head slightly in a gesture of respect, acknowledging Nemonia's current position as the Matriarch.
"I apologize for overstepping my boundaries, Nemonia," she said sincerely, her tone calm and formal.
She knew the weight of those words — acknowledging her daughter's authority was not something she did lightly.
Then, turning her gaze toward Astreo, she continued, speaking with a firm, reasoned tone that carried the wisdom of her centuries of life.
"But making me his contracted beast is actually for the best. Think about it carefully. Instead of sacrificing one of our potential younglings — who still have long lives ahead of them and great potential yet to be realized — if someone like me, who has already reached the end of her lifespan, becomes his contracted beast, then we lose nothing. In fact, it becomes an opportunity to verify his true character and test whether his claims are genuine."
Her reasoning was clear and logical.
She was not speaking out of desperation but out of careful thought.
The words made both Nemonia and Azeroth pause, their anger momentarily subdued as they processed her argument.
"I am nothing more than a mere Evolving Commander, and even that title barely holds meaning for me anymore," Xyra said slowly, her tone steady but filled with weary acceptance.
"I am already standing at the end of my lifespan. No matter what I do, I will die within the next decade or so. My loss will not affect the clan in any significant way. The younger generation will continue to grow, the strong will rise, and my existence will fade quietly into history."
She paused, her ancient eyes glancing briefly toward Astreo before turning back to her daughter and son-in-law.
"But if I become this boy's contracted beast," she continued, her voice deep and deliberate, "then at the very least, we will have the chance to verify whether or not he is truly trustworthy. If he proves to be sincere, our clan gains an invaluable ally and potentially restores one of its lost powers. But if he turns out to be a liar or a threat, then I alone will bear the consequence. He will likely kill me for my organs and materials, but at least my death will protect the clan from greater future betrayal."
Her words hung heavily in the air, leaving a tense silence behind them. Astreo's brows twitched slightly at her bluntness.
The way she so calmly spoke about her potential death and being harvested for her body parts was unnerving, but it also revealed just how deeply practical and selfless her reasoning was.
There was another layer of truth in her words that all the dragons in the cavern understood well — the reason dragons rarely formed contracts with humans.
It wasn't merely because of pride or arrogance.
The truth was far darker and more practical.
Dragons that reached the Commander level were considered perfect raw material for the creation of powerful magical tools and artifacts.
Their bodies, blood, bones, and cores contained tremendous energy.
For humans, a single Commander-rank dragon corpse could be worth more than an entire small nation's treasury.
Young dragons, on the other hand, while easier to capture or subdue, were considered inferior in terms of material quality.
Their scales were soft, their magic essence undeveloped, and their cores lacked purity. It was more efficient for humans to keep them alive and use them as contracted beasts rather than to slaughter them for low-grade resources.
Older dragons presented the opposite problem.
They were too powerful, too intelligent, and too difficult to kill.
Their defenses and regenerative abilities made them poor candidates for butchering, and even when slain, their energy-infused bodies were so resistant that refining their remains into magic tools required absurd amounts of effort and cost.
Therefore, in very rare cases, humans chose to reason with older dragons instead, forming alliances or contracts when mutual benefit was possible.
But Xyra's case was a strange and dangerous exception.
She possessed the bloodline of a Supreme Monarch, yet her current power had fallen all the way to that of an Evolving Commander due to her injuries.
That unique combination — a fully matured dragon with an extraordinarily high-grade bloodline but currently weakened strength — made her one of the most ideal candidates for harvesting.
Her body would yield immense quantities of high-quality materials: blood essence, dragon bones, heart crystals, and core fragments.
To most humans, she would be a treasure trove waiting to be dismantled.
Moreover, because she was at the end of her lifespan and her body was severely damaged, healing her would not be cost-effective in the slightest.
In the eyes of any rational human alchemist or sorcerer, the resources required to restore her body and extend her life would be astronomical — dozens of times more expensive than what her parts would sell for after death.
From a purely material perspective, there was no logic in saving her.
"You do realize," Xyra continued, her tone calm but with a faint hint of grim humor, "that the amount of resources required to heal me would be far more than what one would need to raise several Monarch-class monsters. To any ordinary human, the only possible value I possess is what can be extracted from my body — my organs, my bones, my core, my blood. That is all."
Her voice grew quieter, but her words carried even more weight.
"Thus, if this human betrays me," she said, turning her gaze back to Nemonia, "it will mean that contracting any of our younglings would have led to the same fate. This way, by taking me as his contracted beast, we can confirm his true intentions without putting the lives and futures of our young dragons at risk. If he is treacherous, my death will serve as a shield to protect them from becoming his next victims."
Her reasoning was cold, logical, and painfully realistic.
There was no emotion in her words, only the detached acceptance of someone who had already come to terms with her own mortality.
Yet beneath that calm exterior, her decision carried the unmistakable essence of a mother and protector — one willing to sacrifice herself to safeguard her kin.
Nemonia fell completely silent, her golden eyes flickering with conflicting emotions as her mother's calm and logical reasoning finally sank in.
For several long seconds, she said nothing, her expression dark and thoughtful.
Slowly, realization began to dawn on her — if her mother had not intervened, she might have ended up offering her own daughter to this human boy without fully understanding the possible consequences.
That single thought made her chest tighten with a mix of guilt and frustration.
Letting out a deep sigh, Nemonia finally lifted her head and looked directly at Astreo.
Her gaze was sharp, but her voice, though stern, carried reluctant acceptance.
"Very well, human," she said firmly, her tone echoing slightly in the quiet chamber.
"Do as you like. Form a contract with my mother."
Her words, though simple, carried immense weight.
It was a reluctant acknowledgment of defeat — not in battle, but in reason.
She couldn't refute her mother's argument, and deep down, she knew Xyra had already made her decision long before speaking.
Xyra's shoulders relaxed slightly, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to breathe in relief.
Seeing her daughter finally agree filled her with a sense of quiet satisfaction.
However, her expression also revealed a deeper emotion — hope.
Because in truth, her decision had not been made only to test the human's intentions.
A part of her, buried beneath centuries of disappointment and pain, still believed in the possibility that Astreo's words might hold truth.
Even if the chance was slim, even if the path ahead was filled with uncertainty, she still desired to strive toward her lifelong dream — to become an Emperor.
That goal had defined her entire existence.
For as long as she could remember, ascending to Emperor rank had been her greatest ambition, the very purpose that had driven her to train endlessly, fight without rest, and endure countless hardships.
No one but she herself knew how much effort and sacrifice she had poured into that dream.
Unfortunately, her fate had taken a cruel turn five hundred years ago.
Her husband — a powerful dragon and her lifelong companion — had perished during a brutal conflict between rival dragon clans.
Enraged by grief and consumed by vengeance, Xyra had unleashed her full power as a Supreme Monarch, slaughtering every last enemy responsible for his death.
The battle had ended in her victory, but the cost was unimaginable.
The wounds she suffered during that war were so severe that even with centuries of recovery, her body never fully healed.
The injuries were permanent.
Her strength declined year after year until her once majestic Supreme Monarch power was reduced to that of a mere Evolving Commander.
For centuries she had endured that humiliation, trapped in a weakened body that refused to recover, clinging to the remnants of her former glory.
And now, standing before this mysterious human child who claimed he could restore her and help her reach Emperorhood, she felt something she hadn't felt in centuries — a spark of hope.
After Nemonia gave her reluctant approval, Astreo calmly raised his hand and materialized the contract.
A glowing, translucent scroll appeared between them, etched with intricate runes of light and ancient sigils that pulsed faintly with power.
It was an equal contract, though with a few critical exceptions clearly detailed in the clauses.
According to the contract, Xyra would not be treated as a servant or property, but she would be bound by specific restrictions.
The most important condition stated that she must obey Astreo's literal commands without resistance and could never betray him under any circumstance.
Her loyalty would be absolute, and she would be compelled to follow his will — even to the extent of fighting or killing those he commanded her to.
However, Astreo had added a crucial safeguard that slightly eased the tension in the air.
The contract explicitly stated that unless her dragon clan directly betrayed him first, any order requiring Xyra to harm or kill her kin would automatically be invalid.
He had even gone as far as to define in meticulous detail what would constitute "betrayal," ensuring there were no loopholes that could be twisted later by dragon clan.
When Nemonia and Azeroth read through the glowing script, anger flared again in Nemonia's eyes.
The very idea that a human could command her mother so absolutely made her blood boil.
Her claws clenched tightly, and for a moment it seemed she might step forward to stop them.
But when she looked at her mother — calm, determined, and resolute — she understood that it was pointless to interfere. Xyra had made her choice.
In the end, she remained silent, glaring at the contract but saying nothing as it was completed.
Once both parties had signed their respective marks, the scroll dissolved into motes of light that merged into their bodies, signifying the formation of the pact.
The magical energy resonated for a brief moment, filling the cavern with a faint hum before fading completely.
Astreo lowered his hand, his expression unreadable, and then said flatly, "We'll begin the healing process immediately."
Without waiting for anyone's response, he snapped his fingers.
In an instant, both he and Xyra vanished from the cavern, their bodies enveloped in a bright flash of blue light as they teleported away.
The remaining dragons — Nemonia, Azeroth, and the unconscious younglings scattered across the ground — were left staring at the now-empty space, the silence of the vast chamber echoing with the weight of what had just transpired.
Nemonia didn't give it too much thought.
She simply assumed that the human boy had taken her mother back to the human world, completely unaware of the truth — that the place he brought her to wasn't even part of the same dimension as the human realm.
She didn't realize that Astreo had transported Xyra into an entirely different space altogether, something far beyond ordinary human understanding.
...
Xyra, on the other hand, was utterly disoriented when she opened her eyes.
The place around her was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Instead of the rocky caves or the fiery magma chambers she was used to, she found herself standing in a vast expanse of glowing blue emptiness.
The entire environment shimmered with soft azure light, and countless thin white grid lines extended infinitely in every direction, forming a massive three-dimensional box-like pattern.
The sight was surreal and unfamiliar, almost artificial, as if she were standing inside the structure of reality itself.
Her instincts immediately went on high alert.
She could not sense any natural mana or familiar energy flow in the surroundings.
Her wings twitched slightly as she cautiously scanned the space with her perception, ready to unleash her power at the slightest sign of danger.
"What… is this place?" she muttered quietly, her voice carrying both confusion and wariness.
Astreo, who stood calmly in front of her, turned around to face her and replied in his usual matter-of-fact tone, "This is a different pocket space, a separate dimension that I own. You'll be healed here."
His words made Xyra's eyes widen slightly.
A pocket space — something that even most high-tier Monarchs couldn't create or sustain.
To maintain an independent dimension required absurd amounts of energy and spatial authority, things far beyond the reach of ordinary humans.
For a mere child to claim ownership of one… that alone was unbelievable.
Of course, what Xyra didn't know was that this place wasn't something created through normal means.
This was, in truth, Astreo's system dimensional space, a domain generated by the mysterious system bound to him.
It was his private cultivation realm — a place where he trained, stored resources, and conducted all experiments that were too dangerous to perform in the outside world.
Normally, Astreo would never reveal this space to anyone.
It was his most guarded secret, the true foundation of his power and progress.
Exposing it, even partially, could be considered an enormous risk.
However, this time, he didn't have much of a choice.
If he wanted to heal Xyra safely, this was the only option available.
He couldn't possibly take her back to Bo City — doing so would cause sheer chaos.
A dragon, even at her current weakened state as an Evolving Commander, possessed power strong enough to obliterate the entire city with a single strike.
If she were to appear in her true form, the panic among humans would spread instantly, and the military and magic associations would intervene without hesitation.
Besides, the location where he lived — the orphanage — was the last place he could ever bring her to.
Bringing a dragon there would not only endanger the orphans but also expose his entire identity and abilities.
The chaos and suspicion that would follow were simply not worth the risk.
And even worse, if Xyra were to realize that he didn't actually possess any massive background, noble lineage, or divine backing — if she were to discover that he was, in truth, just a human boy with no family and no political power — she might think he had tricked her into forming a contract.
That misunderstanding could easily turn into hostility, something he couldn't afford right now.
For all these reasons, Astreo chose to bring her here — inside his dimensional space, away from the eyes of both humans and dragons alike.
He knew that she might question it, but he already had a ready explanation.
If she asked how such a space was possible, he could simply brush it off as being a pocket realm he discovered or inherited.
At worst, she might assume he was a Plane Lord, someone who ruled over minor dimensions, or perhaps even the reincarnation of a Plane Lord — both of which were far more believable than the actual truth of his "system."
That, for Astreo, was the safest lie he could tell — one that would protect his secret while still maintaining the respect and awe of his new contracted dragon.
Even with all the potential complications, this fabricated identity was far better than risking the exposure of his system.
In the first scenario, anyone who learned about him would likely consider him a powerful being or the inheritor of one, rather than just a boy in possession of an incredibly powerful treasure.
Maintaining that perception preserved both his safety and authority.
She didn't think much of it at first; after all, any Super Tier mage or even a Forbidden mage could create something like this.
The construction and maintenance of such a space were impressive, but not beyond the realm of possibility for high-tier magic users.
Her mind, however, was occupied with a far more pressing question: would Astreo actually help her, or was this merely a trap — a controlled space designed to suppress her and kill her once she was isolated?
That thought made her instincts flare, though she stayed composed, refusing to act rashly.
The next moment, a transparent partition materialized between her and Astreo within the dimension.
The sudden barrier immediately put her on high alert, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied it carefully.
She didn't move, unwilling to make any impulsive gestures while trying to gauge the boy's intentions.
Suddenly, the air around her began to shift.
A shimmering blue liquid started to rise from the floor, filling the space of the dimensional chamber slowly at first, then more rapidly.
Her initial reaction was one of caution; her mind raced through the possibilities, considering the worst-case scenarios.
But then, as the liquid began to touch the edges of her claws and scales, she noticed the magic density in the area increasing at an alarming rate.
The ambient energy felt pure and structured, not chaotic, and her senses picked up something astonishing — the liquid wasn't harmful.
In fact, it radiated a calming, soothing energy that penetrated her very essence.
Xyra's eyes widened as she realized what it was: Holy Spring Essence.
At first glance, she found it almost unbelievable.
Holy Spring Essence was already a rare and miraculous substance in most realms, possessing inherent healing properties.
But this liquid was far more potent than anything she had encountered in her long life.
It seemed to heal both physical and spiritual injuries simultaneously, even mending deep spiritual wounds that normal magic or conventional healing herbs could never touch.
Her sharp mind quickly deduced the secret behind it.
This was no ordinary holy spring; it was a specially prepared essence, the result of a complex fusion of potent healing herbs, rare elixirs, and magical potions, blended perfectly and enhanced through arcane alchemy.
Such a concoction was capable of restoring even a dragon on the brink of death, repairing injuries that had resisted centuries of conventional recovery.
As the liquid continued to rise and surround her, a sense of cautious relief washed over her. It was undeniable that Astreo intended to heal her — not harm her — and that this chamber was designed specifically to maximize the effectiveness of the Holy Spring Essence.
The very thought made her mind race with both curiosity and lingering suspicion, but at least now she could feel the magic beginning to work its incredible restorative effects.
Astreo, as always, did not allow his system's fusion function to remain idle over the past year.
In addition to producing the resources he immediately required, he had instructed the system to continuously fuse materials and create resources that might become necessary in the future.
This proactive approach ensured that he would never be caught unprepared, whether in combat or in other unforeseen circumstances.
The Healing Holy Spring Essence was one such creation.
It was not simply a healing medium; it was designed to save even the most critical of lives. In fact, even if Astreo himself were to die, as long as he was immersed in this essence within ten minutes of death, he would automatically revive at his peak strength.
The system had been programmed to ensure this, linking his survival directly to the presence of the essence.
His soul and the system were intricately connected, forming a unique and powerful bond.
The system had been ordered to automatically bring the Healing Holy Spring Essence to him in case of death.
If Astreo were to perish completely, the system would sustain immense damage, triggering a fail-safe that would place it into a protective 'coma mode' to prevent total collapse.
Conversely, if the system itself were destroyed, he would suffer equivalent damage because the two were effectively wired together.
Their life forces and energies were entwined, their soul bond strengthening proportionally as Astreo's own power grew.
Meanwhile, Xyra gradually began to let her guard down, her tension easing as the liquid began to take effect.
She groaned softly in relief, feeling the searing pain of her centuries-old injuries begin to fade as the Healing Holy Spring Essence penetrated her scales, muscles, and sinews.
Her body was being repaired at a rate she had never experienced before, and every injured tissue seemed to regenerate almost instantaneously.
As she sank deeper into the soothing liquid, she felt it enveloping her completely.
Slowly, comfortably, she allowed herself to relax, finally giving in to the rejuvenating sensation.
But as the liquid continued to rise, covering more of her body, a thought began to form in her mind.
The flow of the Healing Holy Essence didn't seem to stop.
Soon, her entire torso was submerged, and the liquid was creeping higher, covering her wings and legs.
A sudden, alarming thought struck her: Was he planning to drown her in this lake of Healing Holy Essence?
(A/N: New way of dying, by drowning in elixir that can literally revive someone!)
Panic began to rise within her as she realized she was completely immersed, her head barely above the shimmering surface.
She started to struggle helplessly, thrashing against the liquid in a vain attempt to free herself, her golden eyes wide with alarm as she searched for Astreo.
He, however, remained calm, observing her with the same composed expression as before. When she looked at him in panic, her body tense with fear, he spoke casually, his tone reassuring but firm.
"Don't worry," he said simply, his voice carrying over the liquid-filled chamber. "It needs to go inside you completely to enhance you properly."
"Go inside? What the hell did he mean by that?" Xyra thought in alarm, her mind racing as the liquid began rushing into her body.
At first, she tried to resist, but the Healing Holy Spring Essence forced its way inside her through her mouth, her nasal cavities, and, inevitably, other orifices.
The sensation was overwhelming, and for the first time in centuries, she felt a foreign power penetrating every part of her being, filling her completely.
(A/N: Yes, all the orifices, I mean everyone from above to down)
Within moments, her entire body, both the parts still visible outside the liquid and the parts submerged, were completely enveloped by the essence.
The sheer pressure and flow of the liquid was almost too much to withstand, and the combination of surprise, discomfort, and intense energy caused her to lose consciousness.
Her mind slipped into darkness as the magic began its work at a pace far beyond anything she had ever experienced.
Slowly, the liquid began to recede, draining away from her body as its purpose was fulfilled.
When Xyra finally awoke, she felt an unfamiliar lightness and strength coursing through her veins.
Every wound, scar, and lingering injury from the last five hundred years had been completely healed.
Her body felt stronger, more agile, and far more potent than it had at her previous peak.
She realized with astonishment that her prowess had not only recovered to her former strength but had ascended further, reaching the level of an Evolving Monarch.
Though her innate talent had not increased, she had clearly crossed a critical threshold.
The latent potential within her had been unlocked.
Now, as long as she was provided with sufficient resources and cultivation materials, there was nothing to prevent her from eventually ascending to Emperor-level power, surpassing even the achievements she had dreamed of for centuries.
As Xyra fully regained consciousness, she instinctively looked toward Astreo.
He had kept his word — the healing and enhancement had been real, and the results were undeniable.
Filled with a mixture of gratitude and instinctive affection, she moved closer to him, her natural urge to nuzzle or lick him emerging from centuries of bonding instincts with those she deemed trustworthy.
However, when she saw his diminutive human figure beside her, she froze.
One accidental flick of her tongue and she might swallow him entirely, mistaking him for a tiny object.
Realizing the danger, she immediately reined in her instincts.
After a moment of careful thought, she made a final decision.
To prevent any further risks and to interact safely with this human child, she would assume her human form.
Slowly, her massive dragon body began to shrink and transform.
The transformation was seamless yet astonishing.
Her enormous, powerful dragon frame condensed into a humanoid figure, her scales and tail disappearing entirely.
The only remnants of her draconic heritage were the two large dragon horns protruding from her forehead, a striking and unmistakable mark of her origin.
Aside from those horns, she now looked completely human.
Standing before Astreo in her humanoid form, Xyra realized that not only had she been fully restored, but she had also become stronger than she had ever been in her long, turbulent life.
The feeling of absolute vitality, raw power, and renewed purpose coursing through her made her pulse quicken with anticipation and awe.
Dragons originating from the summoning plane possessed the inherent capability to transform into human-like figures.
This transformation, while providing advantages in mobility and interaction, came at a cost: their power decreased significantly.
Of course, the degree of reduction was relative to their original strength.
Dragons of the same tier were nearly invincible in their natural forms.
They could effortlessly overpower weaker racial beasts even in the next sub-tier and, on occasion, successfully challenge opponents stronger than them by an entire major tier.
Their strength in combat was both overwhelming and unmatched, making them feared across multiple realms.
When they transformed into human form, the process occurred in two distinct stages.
In the first stage, they appeared completely human, except for subtle draconic features, most notably the dragonic horns protruding from their forehead.
This form retained only the faintest hints of their true draconic nature, making them deceptively ordinary to the untrained eye.
In the second stage of transformation, dragons regained some of their physical attributes while maintaining a humanoid appearance.
They would grow scales, claws, and a tail, yet their overall body retained the human silhouette.
This intermediate form allowed them to harness greater strength and combat potential than in their initial human-like stage, while still enabling the benefits of humanoid mobility and dexterity.
Xyra, at this moment, was in the first and weakest stage of human transformation.
In this form, her strength was comparable only to that of a peak Super Tier mage, remarkable by human standards but only a fraction of her true draconic might.
Had she transformed into her dragonoid form, her power would increase dramatically.
In her true dragon form, it would require at least Forbidden-level magic to even pose a credible threat to her, making her nearly impossible to defeat through conventional means.
Astreo observed her carefully in her current state.
Despite being in the weakest human form, she was still imposing.
Two black dragonic horns jutted from her forehead, a clear marker of her draconic heritage.
Her eyes glimmered a deep, commanding golden hue, while her hair was a striking grey-red, cascading down her back and shoulders.
Even in this subdued form, the regal presence of a dragon was unmistakable.
The faint wrinkles on her face revealed her age and the centuries she had lived, yet they contrasted with her voluptuous and well-maintained body, a testament to her draconic vitality and enduring strength.
The combination of maturity, power, and elegance created an aura that was both commanding and captivating.
After a brief moment, Xyra smiled warmly.
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Astreo in a sudden hug.
The gesture was instinctive, an expression of gratitude, relief, and recognition of the trust she had placed in him.
In that instant, her immense presence seemed to envelop him, yet she remained fully in her human-like form, a perfect balance of familiarity and latent draconic power.
"Master! I thank you for healing me!" Xyra exclaimed, her voice overflowing with joy and genuine gratitude.
The relief and happiness in her tone were unmistakable, and in her elation, she began swinging him around in her arms, completely ignoring his protests.
The motion was rapid and playful, yet entirely overwhelming for him, making it abundantly clear just how powerless he was in comparison to her.
Despite being an advanced mage, Astreo's physical strength was negligible next to a fully grown dragon, even in her human-like form.
The playful swinging served as a harsh reminder that, no matter how much magical power he possessed, he was still merely a child in terms of raw physical capability.
In that instant, he was made vividly aware of his own limitations, realizing just how small and fragile he truly was compared to a dragon of Xyra's stature.
"Xyra, get me down!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with genuine annoyance.
He wiggled and flailed, trying to free himself, but Xyra only smiled warmly, clearly amused by his protests.
She held him closer, cradling him in her hands as if he were a delicate treasure. Her movements were tender yet assertive, and she even cuddled him gently, pressing her scaled body, or in this case, human-form body, against his.
Taking her affection a step further, she licked his neck and cheek, an instinctive display of her draconic familiarity with bonding.
The sensation made Astreo's eyebrows twitch involuntarily, a mixture of surprise and mild exasperation crossing his face.
For a moment, he wondered if he would have to issue a formal command to make her release him, though at the same time, he allowed himself a small gesture of authority by gently ruffling his own hair as a subtle mark of dominance over the situation.
"It had been ages since I felt this strong," Xyra admitted softly, her eyes closing momentarily as she savored the power coursing through her.
"I had given up all hope of recovery. I thought I would die someday, quietly, perhaps randomly, while asleep, never regaining my former strength."
Her voice carried a tone of melancholy intertwined with relief, reflecting the centuries she had endured in weakened form.
Then, turning her gaze toward Astreo, she leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, a gesture that was both intimate and profoundly respectful in her way, showing her trust and appreciation.
Astreo, maintaining his composure, looked back at her seriously.
"Now that you have been healed, you should understand that everything I said before is true. From this moment forward, you are bound to obey my commands as per the terms of our contract."
Xyra nodded solemnly, her expression calm yet filled with acknowledgment.
She fully accepted the agreement, her mind clear and her loyalty confirmed through the unspoken trust that had already begun to form between them.
Satisfied, Astreo released her, and she gracefully returned to the Summoning Plane, her body radiating renewed vitality and power.
Meanwhile, he teleported back to the human world, leaving behind the restored dragon whose strength now rivaled her former glory and whose loyalty had been secured through the meticulous application of his healing and foresight.
To be continued...
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