Chapter 8: The Titan

“May I entrust you with being the guardian of my child? Of course, you can also see it as a gift.” 

The gentle and kind tone made Dyril almost feel as if the being was negotiating with him, but he knew he had no room for bargaining. All he could do was nod, agreeing readily.

“It would be my honor!”

After all, a wise dragon knows when to seize an opportunity, and Dyril was confident that he was indeed the wisest and most exceptional dragon.

“Then, I will entrust my child to you.”

Ripples of space and time spread out as an azure-gold meteor fell. Dyril watched as a seed, larger than his entire body, crashed down before him, landing on the altar with a gust of wind.

The young bronze dragon could sense the incredible, overwhelming vitality contained within the seed. Along with it came a faint, natural aroma of plants and wood that filled the air.

The moment he smelled it, Dyril felt as if he glimpsed a world where all life flourished and grew vigorously. His throat instinctively swallowed.

His appetite was triggered!

His instincts told him that if he consumed the seed before him, his bloodline would undergo an extraordinary transformation, reverting to an ancestral state and potentially evolving into an ancient dragon, perhaps even one comparable to the primeval progenitors.

However, Dyril’s rationality warned him that this was a reckless and suicidal action—devouring someone’s child right in front of its parent.

Even though the being was a tree and could not be judged by typical moral standards, it was undoubtedly a path to death.

Driven by a deep respect for life and a strong desire for survival, Dyril used his immense willpower to suppress his draconic instincts, preventing himself from making any rash moves.

“I said this is both a trust and a gift. You can become mutual companions with my child, supporting each other, or you can consume it as food, seeing it as my gift to you.”

The gentle and serene expression on the face formed from branches and vines remained unchanged as she watched Dyril’s every move.

“For us bronze dragons, choosing between food and companionship is a decision that doesn’t require thought. Rather than satisfying a momentary craving, I need a partner I can entrust for eternity.”

Dyril lifted his head, making an effort not to look at the seed. Fortunately, he possessed the rational bloodline of a benevolent dragon rather than the one driven by instinct and desire, which sought to destroy everything like the wicked dragons.

“Very wise choice, little one. Can you tell me your name? Perhaps one day, in the vast void, I might hear the names of you and my child.”

The expression on the comforting face became even gentler, and Dyril had no doubt that he had made the right choice.

“Honorable World Tree, my name is Dyril, Dyril, Dyril Aurelian Naz’dorm!”

“Dyril, I will remember your name. I eagerly anticipate the future where you and my child grow together.”

“I look forward to it as well.”

“Take my child back to your world. When the time is right, it will take root, spread its branches, and become a reliable ally for you.”

After conveying the final message, the gigantic face above the altar began to disintegrate, turning into streams of emerald light that scattered around the altar.

Above, the void encircled by golden rivers of light rippled, gradually becoming blurred. The World Tree, stretching across the starry sky, cradling the sun and moon, also slowly faded away.

“Finally, it’s over.”

The suffocating and overwhelming pressure lifted, and Deriel, feeling a newfound lightness, unleashed a stream of crackling lightning. He hadn’t even realized that as a young dragon, his breath had already undergone a significant transformation. 

Even though it was just a brief contact with the World Tree’s consciousness, it had still left a profound impact on his life essence and bloodline.

“I actually held on?!”

With the World Tree’s presence gone, Deriel felt a mix of melancholy and joy. This was undoubtedly the best outcome. 

In his current state, he wasn’t qualified to face such a being. Even if he were to offer something as a supplicant, he wasn’t prepared with any offerings of value that could be useful to a being of such magnitude. 

“The result isn’t bad!”

The young dragon gazed at the azure-gold seed before him, feeling a sense of satisfaction. However, before he could relax, he saw the flowing lights in the sky converge again, revealing an entirely different scene in the void.

A towering six-armed titan stood at the center of the vast expanse. Behind the giant, a silver wheel slowly turned, embedded with six gemstones of various colors, each emitting a force powerful enough to warp the surrounding space.

Chaotic temporal currents, carrying remnants of desolate worlds, swirled around the titan like planets orbiting a sun.

Even without the titan’s gaze directed towards him, Deriel felt his body freeze in place, unable to move, just as he was preparing to leave.

“…”

This time, Deriel couldn’t even speak. He felt as though his dragon body was about to be crushed into dust. Just as he was on the verge of collapse, the azure-gold seed that had fallen near him emitted a hazy glow, enveloping his body. The young dragon instantly felt much lighter.

“Reckless!”

Accompanied by an emotionless thought, a silver light shot out, accurately hitting the immobilized young dragon. Deriel’s eyes rolled back, and he immediately fainted on the altar.

Time flowed slowly. Not long after, the unconscious dragon began to stir, shaking his heavy head as he woke up. In his mind, a flood of complex knowledge had been forcibly implanted, which was the cause of his blackout.

“Thank you for your blessing, great titan.”

Deriel, upon awakening, respectfully bowed in gratitude, even though the colossal titan had already vanished.

The titan, exuding an aura of destruction and ruin, was the complete opposite of the life-filled World Tree. However, at this moment, the young dragon’s heart was filled with appreciation for it.

The golden rivers of light surrounding the sacrificial altar had long since dissipated, and the brilliant, majestic starry sky had returned to its original state—simple and natural.

Now, the sky no longer resembled the vast golden desert that seemed to merge with the horizon when Deriel first set foot there. The boundary between heaven and earth was once again clear.

Inside the temple, the landscape had transformed; lush greenery, flourishing branches and leaves, and a sea of flowers swayed in the air, exuding a captivating fragrance. There was no longer any trace of desolation or death.

This is the blessing bestowed by a wisp of will from the World Tree, which has permanently altered the landscape of this vast land and injected new life into it.

However, this earth-shattering power, along with the world tree seed before him that holds endless possibilities, could not capture the Empire’s attention.