[Vol. 8] Chapter 332: The Serpent, the Light, and the Dragon
The power of the Serpent was extremely deep and mysterious. The word “Devour” was only a shallow way for people to describe it, without understanding its true nature. In truth, it was one of the essences of the world, the source that could control and transform all powers. It could not be described with just one simple idea.
The [Ring of Heaven and Earth] was exactly such a wonder.
Because of this, Leonis could actively absorb the faith of living beings and reshape it into the form he needed. Even though time had stopped, this process could not be blocked. The countless shining lights floating around him looked beautiful, but each one actually carried the true power of a soul.
Gathering the power of all those lives to fight against the ruler of the current laws of the world, without doubt, this meant using all living beings as his shield. If this fight dragged on, those believers who were giving him strength would be the first to die.
This was his open scheme, and also a test.
“Now then, how will you respond?”
Even though he was gambling with countless lives, Leonis’s voice did not change at all. While he kept reshaping the [Ring of Heaven and Earth], he secretly observed, waiting to see how the other side would react.
Even [White] only guessed about the world’s manager of rules. No one had ever seen it with their own eyes. This was Leonis’s first time facing such a being. He knew nothing about its true power or hidden cards. If he could learn its style and way of acting, then he could plan and prepare his next moves.
[......]
But to his disappointment, even though he had sacrificed the lives of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, in one move to block the attack, something that even he felt was going too far, the figure hidden in the light still gave no reaction.
The endless holy glow wrapped around it made it impossible for Leonis to see its appearance. But through an invisible sense, he still felt a clear and direct gaze on him. This mysterious being, like the will of the world itself, definitely had its own thoughts and will.
With such a high status, it surely knew at once what method he had used. Since its aura didn’t change, that meant it probably didn’t care about the lives of mortals at all.
This was not good news for Leonis.
As long as someone cared about something, there would be a weakness. But if such an existence acted without any hesitation, treating all beings like grass or dogs, that would be the real trouble.
While Leonis was still thinking about how to handle the situation, the Light suddenly attacked again!
There was no preparation. The glow around it quickly shaped into golden arrows. Ten became a hundred, a hundred became a thousand. In an instant, countless arrows of light filled the sky, shooting down like a storm toward the great serpent.
Leonis’s heart shook. He could feel the terrifying power within each arrow. If the first attack had been a test, then this one was a true full attack, meant to destroy.
“Devour—Heaven—Earth!”
The serpent’s huge mouth suddenly opened. In the black-and-white silent world, every element seemed to be pulled in, forming a massive phantom of devouring power that bit down at the Light.
It was as if the Light either didn’t notice the attack or couldn’t avoid it at all. The endless golden arrows were swallowed in one bite, and even the holy glow disappeared inside the serpent’s mouth.
The Serpent and the Light seemed locked in a temporary stalemate. The [Ring of Heaven and Earth] stopped expanding and floated quietly, while the mysterious glow hidden inside the serpent’s shadow also stayed still.
At last, time in the world began flowing again.
Only now did the mythical beings, led by the Dragon Kings, finally realize what had happened. The changes had come too fast. The sudden exit of the Twilight Council, and then the arrival of the mysterious Light, were all beyond their expectations.
These proud mythical races, who were supposed to save the world from danger, looked at each other in confusion. They hadn’t even recovered from the feeling that they had been bystanders the whole time, when suddenly, from the Star-Gazing Tower, the golden-haired girl, whose mysterious power and background had shocked everyone when she punched and dominated the battlefield earlier, once again leapt into the air!
Her speed was still frightening, like golden lightning cutting through the twilight sky. Before the dragons could react, she had already landed right in front of the equally confused White Dragon Queen.
“Be careful!”
The Dragon Kings didn’t know the girl’s true intention, so their expressions changed slightly and they were about to step forward to stop her. But the White Dragon girl, who had just changed back into human form and recovered from the shock, quickly waved her hand, signaling them not to worry. She only looked at the newcomer quietly, her eyes showing both respect and curiosity.
“You…”
“You must be Cielru White, the leader of the Holy White Dragon Clan of this generation, right?”
The golden-haired girl clearly had never met her before, yet she said her name and title in one breath. Cielru’s spirit lifted. Her expression said, As I thought!, and she quickly nodded.
“Yes, I am Cielru. Then… may I ask, how should I address you?”
“Just call me Xiao Guang. No need to be so formal. I’m not the one you know, and I won’t put on that arrogant face like she always did. I know you probably don’t fully understand what I’m saying, but let’s just say our relationship is… complicated. This isn’t the time for small talk.”
She glanced at the White Dragon Princess’s beautiful, pure face, then at the huge dragon army behind her. Xiao Guang spoke simply and directly.
“I helped that mortal carry out such a heaven-defying act for deeper reasons. You saw it yourself, things here have already gone far beyond what mortals can handle, even more than three hundred years ago. While you still can, take your people and leave. Leave the rest to us.”
“Us…”
Cielru repeated softly. She looked up at the stalemate in the sky between the Great Serpent and the Light. After witnessing such impossible, unreal events, she knew Xiao Guang was not trying to scare her. The dragons had prepared for this return, but now it was clear. It was still not enough.
Three hundred years had passed. The world really had changed too much.
“Since you say so… I understand. But the dragons have only just returned to the Origin Realm. More than three hundred years have gone by, our old homeland must have long been ruined. Right now, we have nowhere…”
As if she had expected this concern, the Dragon Goddess raised her hand and pointed west, nodding slightly.
“From here, if you fly three thousand li west, you’ll see a great mountain range. That has been the home of dragon believers for generations. You can take your tribe there first, settle down, recover for a while, and only then decide your next move after learning about today’s world.”
She added casually, “Oh, and someone you want to meet is also living there.”
“......”
Cielru was clearly moved, but as clan leader and acting Dragon Emperor, she still had responsibilities. After hesitating for a moment, she lowered her voice and asked carefully.
“This is too important. May I discuss it with the other Dragon Kings and the leaders of other races, and then give you a formal answer?”
“Of course. But you’d better hurry. I don’t know exactly how much time we still have with that thing up there, and I can’t promise it will last.”
“I understand. Please wait a moment.”
Not daring to delay, the White Dragon Princess went back to her people and began discussing Xiao Guang’s suggestion with the other leaders. As expected, the result was not surprising, everyone wanted to survive. No one wanted to act like a hero against such an overwhelming enemy when the chance of winning was so small.
Their only doubts were about Xiao Guang’s true position and whether her suggestion was really as simple as it sounded.
But with Cielru’s guarantee, those worries were quickly pushed aside. Led by the dragons, the mythical races began retreating toward the western Dragon Mountains. Only Cielru herself stood firm, choosing to stay behind, leaving the command to the other Dragon Kings.
Her reason was simple.
“This chaos caused by the World-Devouring Serpent has haunted our race for over three hundred years. Almost an entire generation of our ancestors gave their lives for it. As acting Dragon Emperor, I have a duty to personally witness its end. No matter the result, please allow me this.”
“…I see.”
Watching her leave her people and hover alone with wings spread, Xiao Guang fell silent for a moment. Then she nodded slightly.
“You do have some of that dragon pride. Do as you wish. But let me be clear, I can’t predict what will happen next. If a danger comes that you cannot handle, I will not protect you. So take care of yourself.”
“Of course!”
Cielru quickly nodded like a pecking chick. Seeing her like this, Xiao Guang didn’t waste more words. The two dragon girls, one in front and one behind, stood in the air. Their eyes were fixed on the golden light sphere, which was half-swallowed by the giant Serpent yet still pulsing like a beating heart, as if waiting for some destined moment to arrive.
Waiting in silence is always hard. After the first wave of tension faded, and noticing that the two beings locked in some unknown clash hadn’t moved at all, Cielru’s attention began to drift a little, falling vaguely on the golden-haired dragon girl ahead of her.
“Um… so how should I call you? Saying your name directly feels a bit too disrespectful. Between you and the Dragon God…”
At this probing question, the Dragon God lady, who had been lost in thought, turned her head. Inside, she sighed at the young White Dragon Queen’s curious nature, but on the surface she answered casually.
“Call me however you want. However you call her, just call me the same.”
Cielru acted as if she didn’t notice the careless reply. Her face lit up with joy, and she nodded again and again.
“You really are the Dragon God! I knew that feeling couldn’t be wrong… To tell you the truth, I once got the chance to take the Dragon God trial. Back then, when I felt another dragon rising to godhood outside the sealed land, I was so shocked…”
For some reason, she suddenly showed a hidden “talkative” side, mumbling on like a neighbor chatting idly. The Dragon God, listening with a dark expression, was just about to tell her to be quiet when her face suddenly changed and she turned her head sharply.
From deep inside the giant Serpent’s head, silent ever since it swallowed the light, golden rays suddenly burst through muscle and scales, exploding with a vast, terrifying energy!
Right after, beam after beam of golden light pierced through the Serpent’s head, as if countless golden spears had stabbed into a mountain. Like a bomb pushed to its limit, it finally exploded—
“BOOM!!!”
Broken flesh and scales scattered everywhere. From within the dazzling light, the little dragon girl’s figure rose again. With a wave of her slender hand, a surge of power swept away the incoming chunks of flesh like missiles. Looking at the Serpent’s body, now twisting without a head, the Dragon God smirked with disdain.
“Useless. After paying such a big price to get here, is that all the strength you have?”
[It’s just mutual damage. The ritual itself was incomplete, and rushed too. This form is still far from the true “Ring of Heaven and Earth”. And instead of just mocking, shouldn’t you be helping?]
The headless Serpent’s body writhed, while white lights from across the world kept pouring into the wound, making its flesh grow back quickly. Above it appeared the phantom of Leonis in human form, his face dark as he spoke.
[Now I’m certain. This must be the manager of this world’s rules, the thing you’re searching for. The “World Ring” isn’t fully formed yet, but its power is far beyond what ordinary beings can fight. If we take it down together, your group, the ‘World Sustainers,’ will have reached your goal.]
“Tch…”
The Dragon God replied with an uninterested sound, then looked up at the rising figure that, as expected, no longer dragged the surroundings into silent time. She shook her head and said,
“When did you get the idea that I belong to the ‘World Sustainers’?”
Hearing this, Leonis’s phantom face stiffened slightly.
[What do you mean?]
The dragon girl said calmly,
“I mean... I did make a deal with ‘White,’ and agreed to help you evolve, to draw out the hidden rule guardian. But that doesn’t include fighting it for you. Do you really think we’re on the same side?”
[Hmph. After betraying to this degree, do you think turning back now will be forgiven? Playing both sides usually ends with pleasing neither.]
But the Dragon God only sneered.
“That’s why you and ‘White’ don’t really understand the true bond between me and my master. Betrayal? I have never betrayed my master, and I never will. Without my master’s permission, do you really think I could come here on my own? Do you think the contract is just for show?”
“It’s just that… we never said these things openly. What you see is not the whole truth.”
The moment her words ended, a streak of blood-red light shot across the sky like a rainbow, suddenly flashing from the void and rushing straight toward the emperor’s phantom!
[…You!!]