Chapter 110: Chapter 110

Alexander had wondered what Sehuyun wanted when he had first been extended the invitation to come to her universe. He’d heard she had made an intelligent being to accompany her from Father, something called a Wyvern, a lesser dragon, and had therefore been wondering if she wanted help raising that child. Or needed advice of some sort, and was too proud to ask Father. He even considered if she had gotten stuck on trying to make a true Dragon, as he had. It wasn’t just a matter of giving them a form like a dragon, they had to have the proper souls behind them as well; which was easier said than done.

That was why there were still so few dragons in the Four Realms, tucked away in hidden, forgotten corners, or guarding the new regions. There just weren’t enough souls, willing and able to inhabit a dragon’s form and hold its power. Surely, Sehuyun hadn’t been able to get it on the first try, right? Not after waiting for so long to begin creating life.

The answer was, in some ways, all of those.

It was also none of them.

A roar ripped through the Primeval Dragon’s realm, destructive fire lancing through the primodial chaos, expanding and destroying it in equal measure. Alexander swam out of the way, curling around the stream of flame, golden flames billowing from between his teeth as he shot upward, Sehuyun laughing like the maniac she was.

He roared, and flames travelled with it. Rays of holy, golden light streaked through the primordial chaos, shining like the sun as his fire roared down to her, splashing uselessly against Sehuyun’s scales. She laughed, orange eyes glowing brighter than even the heat and fire Alexander wielded. His jaws snapped shut, his breath attack ending, eyes narrowed and raw anger burning his chest as Sehuyun rolled her head, neck cracking audibly.

He’d grown stronger. He knew he had. He had swallowed his divinity, becoming the Spirit Dragon, not just the Dragon God of Spirits, and in the time since he’d last seen her, had continually honed his abilities. So why was he still so useless against Sehuyun? It couldn’t be just because she was an Origin Deity – what was he missing?!

“It feels good to fight another Dragon!” she roared happily, splashing through the remainders of his flames like a dog in a muddy puddle. The spines along her back rustled, her tail thrashing, sending waves through the Primordial Chaos. The few souls that lived here, including the wyvern, were huddled along the very edge of the realm, near the Void, watching the fight carefully as she had instructed. She assumed that the kids watching two dragons fight would inspire something in them. Alexander knew it would, but wasn’t going to tell her that yet. She needed to see it for herself, and also figure out other ways to teach that didn’t involve violence. “But you’re still not good enough. Your breath is too weak!”

Alexander’s scowl deepened, his teeth baring as he curled and twisted through the air, planning his next avenue of attack. Sehuyun watched, eyes glinting with excitement as she stood in the middle of her Realm, wings spread wide, smoke billowing from beneath the membranes, black scales glowing from the heat she exuded.

“A Dragon’s fire is not just mere flame! It is the purest expression of yourself. Feel my fire! Do not flee it!” She roared, breathing in with a sound like a hurricane. Orange burned in her chest, built up through her throat, and rocketed out of her maw like an orange lance. Panic surged through Alexander, death flashing before his eyes, but he couldn’t have dodged even if he wanted to – the flames crashed against him, searing his scales, washing over his form…and bringing with it an argument. It was only one word. One, simple word, carrying with it everything she had put into it. Everything she understood.

Alexander was sent reeling, hissing as pain echoed into his bones, the destructiveness of Sehuyun’s breath burning his scales. The wound had been immediately cauterized, thank the heavens, but his scales still cracked beneath the heat, sending waves of thrumming pain through his side. And yet. And yet. He could feel it, Sehuyun’s being boiled down to a single word, echoing against his soul. She was the ultimate dragon. The pinnacle, and she demanded subjugation and submission. No others could match her, and those that could, she would personally subdue. Kingdoms would burn beneath her, the heavens would tremble, gods would fall, and titans would be slain.

Alexander rejected that idea, to his very core. He was not someone to be subjugated. But Sehuyun wasn’t done, either, and he was not yet strong enough to fight back as much as he wanted, as much as he burned to.

“I am the Dragon. As I live, I rage, as I breathe, I fight! Our breath is our very way of life, distilled! Focus on it; live it! Statera Luotian knew this, and his lungs were missing last we fought!” She snapped, teeth baring, wings flapping once and launching her toward him. Alexander ducked and dove, narrowly avoiding her claws, the tips drawing a scoring line in his scales, but not cracking any more. He roared at her, diving down to make some distance. “Next time we fight, I will drag it out of him if I have to. Do you truly believe his essence is mere Balance? No! But first, you must find yours!” Her tail whipped through the air, stretching impossibly long to smash into Alexander’s forehead, sending him tumbling back down through the primordial chaos, seeing stars.

Golden fire burned in the back of his throat, but Sehuyun was just getting started. He dodged out of the way of another fire blast, calling upon his own energies to swirl about him like the spirit river itself, protecting him from the heat.

“You don’t get it yet, do you?” she demanded as Alexander steadied himself. She paused her assault to glare at him with those coal-orange eyes of hers. “Why you’re still behind. Swallowing your divinity isn’t enough. You have to become more. A dragon cannot bear to exist under skies that are not their own!” She growled, advancing, claws digging into the primordial chaos. Alexander braced himself for another attack, for another dodge, watching her as closely as he could.

But the fight fled her before he had to do anything. Her wings drooped, her eyes narrowing as she sat back on her haunches, considering.

“What?” Alexander asked, wary for another attack. Sneak attacks weren’t her style, those were beneath her, but he still wouldn’t trust her. Her desire to win may just win out over her pride about not, as she would say, “cheating.”

“That’s enough for now. Now, I talk, and you listen.” Sehuyun breathed out, showing a rare moment of introspection. Alexander froze in place, simultaneously curious and scared. He had only been in the realm for a few years now, and she never stopped to just…talk. Was she feeling ok? Was she sick? Should he be worried? “Statera Luotian understands this...thing. I, apparently do not.”

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“Father understands what?” Alexander asked.

“How to make dragons.” The statement was blunt, so blunt, in fact, that it took Alexander a moment to process it. Sehuyun’s eyes bored into him, filled with all the rage, anger, and pride that dominated her being. “All of their children are dragons. All four of you first ones, and many of the lesser as well. Reika is a dragon. Keilan and Elvira are dragons. Randus is a dragon. Xing Wu is a dragon. Morgan is a…dumbass.” The way she spit out ‘dumbass’ made Alexander snort out a laugh, his protective technique, the spiritual energy that swirled about him like armor, failing as he let it drop.

She hadn’t even met Morgan for that long, yet she had the wolf pegged so perfectly.

“You all have that essence inside of you and more. Statera Luotian has it, and is also more. They gave this essence to you all, by sacrificing pieces of themself; and now they are growing ever stronger. I am the greatest dragon, yet I cannot bring myself to part with my power. So how? How is it that you are able to inspire souls to grow into dragons? How is Statera Luotian able to do so, and still maintain strength?” Alexander could sense the question was rhetorical, and held his tongue despite desiring to respond. “I know how power works. I know how to grow in strength, even if you do not, but I cannot figure out this?”

Alexander bristled at the accusation, but a sharp look had him quieting once again, despite his discontent. There was wisdom in knowing when and where to speak, and right now he needed to let Sehuyun talk, to get through her thoughts and figure out what she needed to say.

“For beings like us, we grow by removing limitations. Why do you think you grew so much by swallowing your divinity? Becoming more than just a god?” She asked sharply. Her eyes roved over him, searching for something, and she sneered. “That is what your father is doing; he is removing his limitations by severing himself from his realms.” She said, shaking his head. Alexander stiffened, gnashing his teeth together. As he’d thought. Father was separating himself from the Realms. How…worrying. The reaction didn’t go unnoticed by Sehuyun. “You’re afraid of this? You fool.”

Alexander blanched, rising up to his full height at the accusation. How did she – what did she – he couldn’t even deny it, damn it! Father had been cutting Himself off from the Realms routinely for the past while now, it was why he had sought out Morgan in the first place! The wolf had been completely dismissive of the issue, while Alexander only continued to fret and worry – and Sehuyun, battle hungry Sehuyun had seen through him at a glance!

He growled, deep and low, a warning for her to drop it.

“Shut up.” Sehuyun snapped, teeth clacking together as she glared at him. “Be quiet and listen. This is not weakness, nor is it fear. It is strength. Just because the Dragon leaves the den, does not mean that which is there is not still his. And he understands the truth of what he must do better than any of you.”

“What do you know?” Alexander hissed. “Father is –“

“Did I not say it earlier? Dragons cannot bear to exist beneath skies that are not their own. You, and all your siblings, are dragons. And he is aiming to become the very Heavens themselves.” The words she spoke bore down upon Alexander like a physical weight this time, his breath catching in his throat, his entire body stilling as another possibility was presented to him. “So quit fighting it, and become what you were always met to be already. Fool.” He narrowed his eyes at her, but…

He couldn’t deny her words.

That didn’t mean he accepted them, either.

Sehuyun shook her head and stood. “We’ve wasted enough time on this. Come on. Let me introduce you to the…kids, properly.” The way she said “kids” clearly showed her inexperience in raising children, and Alexander huffed. His heart still hung heavy in his chest with unshed emotion, unresolved conflict. But that, at least, could wait a bit longer. Sehuyun may have earned his ire with her preaching, correct though he may come to find it once he’s calmed himself, but her children did not.

Besides, she so very clearly needed help it was almost pitiful. This was probably the most vulnerable he had ever seen her, and who was he to deny her aid?

I wasn’t sure if the biting snake deserved to be treated as a true threat, or a kid who had never been disciplined in its entire life. The destructive fires that surrounded it burned away everything but my own skin and energy as I held it at arm’s length, giving it an admonishing look. The snake flicked its tongue out at me, watching me with a cautious expression – well, as cautious as a snake that burned with the flames of literal destruction could look – while I gestured at what had once been my garden.

It was now less than dust, returned fully to primordial chaos, with Randus standing in the wreckage. The butler-god of dream’s expression was nothing short of thunderous, tinged with a bit of fear.

“That thing is a menace.” He complained.

“Oh hush, it’s just a little nervous. You would be too, in its situation. Give it time.” I admonished, though I, personally, did agree with his assessment. The destruction-snake did, indeed, act like a menace. Already it had burned down three different sections of my palace, all on relative accident. It was just too young, and couldn’t control its powers properly. I sighed, recalling my own childrens’ bumbling through learning to control their own powers…Alexander, once, burned an entire section of his river when he first learned to breathe fire. Ah, how I missed those days.

The snake hissed and I scratched its chin with my other hand, cooing at it.

Yep. This little one was a menace. An adorable, destructive menace. I didn’t blame Sehuyun for struggling with it; it was difficult on its own, and parenting didn’t come with an instruction booklet. I pulled the little snake closer, allowing it to wrap around one of my arms, its fires tingling against my skin. Randus eyed it cautiously as he edged closer, flinching when it flicked its tongue out at him.

“Don’t be scared. It’s fine.” I told him.

“It burns dreams, Ma’am. I wasn’t even aware dreams could be burnt.” Randus complained.

“Dragons can burn anything they want.” I told him absently. “Just because it doesn’t look like a dragon, doesn’t mean it isn’t. Besides, do you really think I won’t protect you from accidents?” I asked, meeting his eyes. Randus bowed his head and took a step back, none of his caution disappearing despite a bit of tension leaving his shoulders. I sighed at him and shook my head. “Well, that’s enough of that, I suppose. I should probably…” I trailed off, looking out over my Realms. More karmic threads had attached themselves to me while I hadn’t been paying attention, and with a quick burst of power and a frown I resolved nearly all of the new ones. How was I supposed to separate myself from the Realms, when they were trying so hard to stick next to me? It wasn’t like I was abandoning them…though maybe it felt like it.

I scratched the destruction snake’s chin once again, feeling it bite my hand – not hard enough to indicate it was trying to hurt me, just putting its fangs on me to get me to stop.

The Four Realms themselves were growing at exactly the pace I required. The new regions were put in place, the defensive formation was coming together nicely as well. The central regions glowed with power, new regions forming up around it in ever-increasing rings. One in the middle. Four lesser regions in a ring outside it. Eight lesser regions in a ring outside those. Then, sixty four region “seeds” that were steadily growing, cut off from the rest of the Four Realms to be used as a buffer, in case the formation failed. Those would not be inhabited until this crisis was averted.

I focused in on the new regions. Dao Progenitors were beginning to take control of them, gods coloring them to their tune…every little thing that happened only added to our chances of survival, strengthening the defenses.

The Hidden Realm was filling up with energy, crystallizing into massive pillars.

The Original Sin was proceeding just as I had predicted, save for Morgan’s interference. But it was not something for me to worry about.

My eyes turned to the Dao Stars, put in specific spots around the Primordial Chaos, acting as additional nodes for defensive formations, and power sources to fuel them. The power of belief would not be so easily destroyed; hence, they were on the outside of the main defenses. The Realm Sun and Lunar Star rotated slowly around all of creation; I could sense the gods within, nearly ready to hatch, now.

Xing Wu would ascend to becoming a pillar soon, as well, nearly completing the next stage of the pantheon.

Only Solana remained, as one who needed to take the next few steps.

But it all felt good. It felt like, finally, we had a handle on the situation. Even the good karma Alala and I had built up was a good sign. But…but. We couldn’t do much else. I couldn’t do much else than finish my preparations, and take the next step in my journey of power.

The rest would be all up to Yueya. The idea made me more nervous than it had before.