章節 29: A Successful Destination

Zmey turned around. His mouth opened a little when Aura closed in like a predator. She grasped his wrist, driving him outside the plane. She said nothing but, "Danger is approaching."

She dragged him down the slope with roughness. Zmey could only see her back. Still, he sensed a temptation in her for no reason.

Likewise, staring back at the tragic scene didn't evade him. He could not forget what had happened. The recent shockwave was still tingling something beneath his skin.

Yet, he played on. They reached the end of the slope, then Aura glanced at him. He creased his brows, immediately composing himself.

He cleared his throat with a gentle sound. "Why...?"

Aura tilted her head in a gesture of wonder. She clenched her fist and, without realising it, took a step closer to him. She pointed towards the direction they had taken.

"Do you happen to realise what type of creature was in there a few seconds ago? And what would happen now that she was killed?..."

"... Her kind would likely appear for vengeance," Zmey said in a simple tone. He washed past her, getting close to Nero and draping his weight over his shoulder again.

Aura had first remained in place for some seconds. She turned with a slow, hesitant motion, a mix of something running across her.

As she was about to open her mouth, Zmey cut in: "I know what your confusion is, how I knew. That's what anyone could have guessed unless someone had brainwashed them from heaven."

He continued, "I trust you're strong enough to fend off the enemy." But... let's avoid this to stay alive..."

Aura squared her shoulders. "I presume only amnesia has caused the loss of the memory. But not the personality..."

Zmey let out a quiet sigh. He knew her destination.

"Yeah, I seem a coward with that decision," he ascertained. "Well, I'm with nothing but a mortal body currently. And the least I can do is stay alive. There's more to life than roughening through tides of challenges..."

Aura's brows creased. Her tone grew bolder. "Your cowardice has, for the first time, soiled our Infernosphere's heritage! That should add a catchy note to the history book then."

Zmey, unfazed, walked past her. He held Nero with light effort and continued striding behind her as if she never existed. One moment, as if the statement hit him like a sledgehammer, he halted.

His floating hair tingled down towards his face in strands. The crisp air hit the back of his neck like a physical slap.

Every moment of vulnerability he had, every suicidal attempt he had made these past few days... every cursed downfall all seemed to resonate with what Aura uttered.

It made his chest tighten. A feeling like venting his frustration on anything around him tried to overwhelm him. He clenched his fist, his fingernails digging into his palm.

But he took a slow breath. He turned. A smile crossed his face as he locked eyes with Aura.

"Sometimes, strength can't be an option. You will be good one day and terrible the next. That's just how life is... nothing is either permanent or temporal," he stated. "I will never act a fool trying to be a hero when I know clearly that I'm powerless... only putting myself at risk. Not when I have three reasons to live on..."

Over and over again, a knot tightened in his abdomen. Like fragments forming over one another to form a whole. He could feel it; every organ in his body seemed alive as he finally grounded his mind on his newfound purposes.

First, the bewildering dream. The unexpected revelation of his cursed past!

Aura waited with calm anticipation as she sensed he had something to say. She waited... for a few seconds. A few more seconds. But he remained like a gentle waterfall in its wake.

Zmey smiled to himself. A forced one. It vanished in an instant from his face.

'There were reasons why I dared to have hope in the past. Reasons that seemed judgmental. But I dare to have a higher hope now!'

The kind that would push me to go far beyond his limits! That damned bastard of the labyrinth... Wherever he was, Zmey issued a silent challenge for him to remain alive!

Why else would he not be in this world? He should. He had a reason for ruining his youth with a dark ritual.

Thrills washed over him. He had forgotten what this man looked like, not even a feature of him. But as if fate were on his side, he kept on having dreams that revealed him bit by bit.

He couldn't shake off the weight of Zmey Ashbane's true identity. The dragon was cruel for killing thousands. But beneath that blood-driven exterior was an interior that cultivated like a crazy man for one reason...

'He cultivated to meet the strongest mage body to resurrect his dead parents! The memory is as fresh as it had come to me on the cliff earlier.

Strangely, I have started to crave power like him. I will be able to fulfil his dream!'

Aura clenched her fist, showing her frustration with the wait.

"... "

Before she could say anything again, Zmey cut her off.

"... "You're right, I lack courage," he interposed. "For the sake of my realm, the sake of my heritage, and... the sake of my dead parents being able to rise from death, I wish to get powerful..."

A wave of relief washed across Aura's face. She let out a soft sigh. A slight smile bulged on her face. 'My Lord Zmey is still alive. Oh goodness... I was afraid he had forgotten about the past emperor and empress.'

"... We, dark practitioners, are born with an inherent power of destruction. I can only get through the Pathway with a perfect mage body, irrespective of the type.

On that end, I decide to be able to return to my home after cultivating to a certain level... as a pure magic practitioner."

To his dismay, Aura's grin spread across her face. His jaw dropped in that split moment.

More surprisingly, she knelt, bowing her head as well. "The creatures in the realm would struggle towards your throne. But, I, Aura Drakeborn, daughter of Lianda, vow to protect it with my power.

I'm more than happy that you've made this decision. Luckily, for some reason, your meridians have opened again so you can start to cultivate. I wish you success, my lord!"

Zmey raised his palm; his eyes glued to the tips of his fingers. So, that was it? The reason he had been feeling strange shivers was that his meridians were open?

A meridian usually blocks when one has lost their powers. Yet, someone had opened it back up.

His eyes went up the slope.

'Silvan Ferox... that was your action. I suspected you the whole time.'

He recalled the man's promise to reward him for completing his mission. This was before he was about to kidnap him. It dawned on Zmey that killing the tough woman was his mission.

But he couldn't shake it off - not only were his meridians opened. There was something more than met the eye.

'My third reason to choose life over death. To unravel what else has or would change my life... due to the foolish hero's action.'

[Later]

Through the darkened sky, the white lotus dragon glided with grace. Its moonlit wings and pearlescent scales glowed with an ethereal feel. Atop its back, Zmey sat straight, his black top billowing in the strong wind.

It whistled and howled at the same time, sounding like thunder in the ears. His gaze fixed forward at the shifting clouds, a grounded sense of purpose washing over him. Inches from him, Nero lay unconscious. His pale form contrasted with the dragon's divine elegance.

The blurred expanse of grey and brown landscapes stretched below them.

Zmey, cutting through the heavens like a living symbol of purpose, clenched his fist.

'I, Zmey Ashbane, promise myself to get strong very soon. I will take vengeance on the Minister of Defence. And get freedom from this damned ritual! Eldengrove will be my successful destination!'

評論 0條評論

投票

送禮

Load failed, please RETRY