Chapter 10 - The Dragon Awakens

In the Eternum Realm, within its vast grasslands beneath silver clouds in the blue sky, was a large cocoon-like dragon-scaled egg.

The surface of the dragon egg looked like pure white scales with multiple-colored patterns pulsing like living veins. The aura released from it distorted its surroundings itself. Whatever was breathing inside it was enough to make a newly born universal realm hold its breath itself, waiting for the exalted being that was inside it.

100 years had passed in the Eternum Realm. Its development was going smoothly after its consciousness was born 99 years ago.

Then—

A crack appeared on the egg.

Crack!

A very heavy aura was released from the crack.

Then another crack appeared.

Crack!

And another.

Crack!

More and more cracks started appearing on the egg, and the aura from it started increasing more and more.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

The cracks spread across the egg like a spiderweb.

Then, from one side, a hand burst forth.

The hand was covered in pure white scales that looked like they could withstand anything, and its claws looked capable of slashing through reality itself.

Boom!

Suddenly, the whole egg exploded, unable to withstand the pressure coming from inside it.

The fragments shot forward and scattered across the grasslands.

A figure was standing in the place of the egg.

It was Ashael.

The heavy pressure coming from him was monstrous.

The Ashael standing there was different from before.

His appearance was completely different.

He had used a dragon and chimera bloodline to evolve himself, but the changes were different in a way no one could imagine.

His pure white hair reached past his waist.

Red vertical slit eyes.

Three pairs of draconic wings unfolding behind him.

A spearhead-like long tail.

White draconic scales around his body.

Crown-shaped horns on his head, making him look like an emperor.

Clawed scaled hands.

The aura surrounding him was shaped like a dragon.

Ashael opened his eyes and looked around with confusion. But even then, his eyes held a ferocity like no other.

Suddenly, as if by instinct, he opened his mouth and roared.

Rooooooaaaaaaaar!

The roar was filled with dominance.

The Eternum Realm itself trembled from Ashael’s draconic roar.

The realm’s consciousness, sitting on a throne in the center of the realm, turned her head toward where the roar came from and disappeared.

She appeared in front of Ashael a short distance away and immediately kneeled before him.

Ashael turned toward her and started walking.

The ground cracked under Ashael’s physical strength.

When Ashael looked down at her, she lowered her head toward the ground, nearly touching it.

She forwarded her hands toward Ashael, in which she held a simple yet luxurious white kimono.

Ashael took the garment from her and wore it since he had been standing naked the whole time.

"My master," Ashael heard the girl’s soft voice filled with reverence.

He looked at her.

She looked like a teenager around 15 years old, with platinum white hair and amber eyes, and was wearing a gown.

Ashael called out her information.

⸻

"Eternum Realm"

Name: - not given yet

Age: - 99

Race: - Realm’s Consciousness

Description: - The consciousness born from the Eternum Realm. Her authority is absolute here. She is second only to you here.

Lifeform rank: - none

Existence level: - 10000000000

Abilities: - [Omnipotence], [Absolute Authority]

⸻

Ashael looked at the girl’s information, but there was not much to see. Her powers were limited to the realm itself, just like his.

She needed a body to cultivate her rank.

Ashael turned his head toward her and said, "How has the realm developed till now?"

Ashael’s voice was more mature and colder than before, while also filled with arrogance.

"It has developed a large planet," the girl answered.

Ashael frowned.

"Only one planet? Why so slow?"

Before Ashael could ask her further, the system answered him.

[It’s because most of the aether was going to you alone. The girl was afraid that it would interfere with your evolution, so she asked me to send it all to you.]

’You finally came back, huh.’

[And you survived. Looks like it.]

’Of course I would. I never doubted myself unlike you,’ Ashael answered arrogantly.

[Looks like you have changed too, and for the worse.]

’Well obviously, that was the whole point of it,’ Ashael answered sarcastically before his tone turned threatening.

’And you, for one, are still as shitty as ever. Know your place, AI.’

[.....Whatever.]

Ashael ignored the system and looked at the girl kneeling before him.

"You don’t have a name?" Ashael asked.

"No, my master. Please grant me one."

Ashael’s expression changed for a second.

"Juli," Ashael muttered.

"Your name will be Juli Nebulas from now on," Ashael said.

"As you wish, my master," Juli said with a happy voice and a beautiful smile.

"Stand up."

Juli stood up in front of Ashael.

"Since I am back, you can continue to develop the realm now."

Juli nodded respectfully and disappeared.

Then, Ashael looked around, and he could sense that the realm had grown bigger.

[Aren’t you going to check your status screen? And you also have other messages to see.]

"I will," Ashael said with a smile before adding, "But first, I will take this body for a test drive."

Ashael looked at the three pairs of wings on his back.

[Do you even know how to fly?]

"I am a dragon. Flying comes instinctively to me."

Ashael unfolded his three pairs of wings, and with one sweep—

He burst forward toward the sky.