As Abby looks down at her hands, still in awe of the power surging through her now that her yellow core is fully saturated, footsteps echo through the room.
Ember steps out from the isolation pod, and not a single thread of divine energy seeps from his body.
However, there's a new aura about him, one that exudes pride and excitement, sending ripples through my purple barrier.
The silver and golden threads have vanished back into the center of his core, now impossible to see unless I focus my perception closely. Instead, a brilliant white and yellow ball of light burns in his chest.
Ember halts in the center of the room, his crimson eyes glowing fiercely to match his flowing hair. They gleam golden as he stretches his arms and surveys the room, making eye contact with me first before glancing at Raven and Maria, who are beginning to stir as their hibernation ends. He turns his gaze back to me and speaks.
"I'm impressed. This planet isn't resource-rich at all, yet you've improved a lot while I was resting. There must not be many True Cores left..."
He chuckles and his aura sweeps through me, assessing my core's progress, before shifting his gaze to Abby.
He stares at her for a moment.
"I overheard your conversation earlier. The Form of The Immortal Healer—that's a buff you really have?"
Abby raises an eyebrow but nods.
Ember crosses his arms, grinning.
"It's been a long time since I've heard that name..."
As he speaks, both Maria and Raven's white hibernation light fades completely, and their eyes open, taking in their surroundings.
Raven looks startled at first, but I hold back the reflexive pulse of my true core's energy, keeping it behind my purple barrier to ensure everyone remains safe.
Maria turns to Raven, and the two exchange smiles, as if they've already become friends.
They stand and extend hands to shake.
Raven speaks first.
"So it was a draw."
Maria nods as they release their grip.
"It seems so. I like your fighting style. We should go again."
Raven smirks before responding.
"You know, I have a few artifacts back in my region you could use... I've never met anyone with such a strong ice affinity. They were meant for one of the big three named Elara, but I think they'd suit you better."
Ember's eyes shift from Abby to Maria for a moment, looking deep into her Soul Energy Core, grinning and nodding once, before settling his gaze on Raven.
"You're a new one... what an odd aura you have."
He steps forward, extending a hand, and they shake as well.
I speak up as they do, debating whether or not to tell Raven that Ember is a dragon.
"Ember, this is Raven, another True Core on our side. Raven, this is Ember, he's a—Well, let's just say he's a powerful addition to the team. A fellow True Core."
I decide not to reveal more, and from the amused aura radiating from Ember, I can tell it was the right choice. Once we fight together, she'll figure it out on her own.
Over the next few minutes, we catch up. I brief everyone on what I learned during my journey to Central, recounting the events after the B-Class exams that led me to meet Raven and take over the 8 Great Regions for expansion. Finally, I outline my plans for the next 36 hours before the big three return.
Maria and Raven plan to head back to the volcanic region to retrieve unique artifacts Raven hasn't touched in decades, which might prove useful. Plus, she still has over 180 yellow fragments, which she's more than happy to share with her new sparring partner.
By the end of our conversation, they're acting bubbly and friendly with each other, their bond clearly strengthened.
Fisher and Lydia, their cores about one-third saturated, listen in too, though they're primarily focused on amassing more power.
Ember breaks the silence.
"Well, in that case, I'd like to spar with Abby. That buff intrigues me; I think I can push it to its limit."
I raise an eyebrow.
"Hey, there's still a lot I want to ask you."
He points to the bunker's ceiling.
"Well, we can fly to a sparring ground the long way. I'd like some fresh air."
Before I can point out the issue in the room, I watch Ember's right hand glow with bright white and yellow light.
"Stand back. This will fix the circulation problem while we're gone."
Pure divine energy flows from his fingertip, forming a string of dense, silky yellow light. The tips connect, creating a circle.
Then, A faint silver light flashes in his eyes, and miniature silver threads form within the floating energy construct. He expands it, allowing it to rotate around the room at the same rate I control the excess yellow threads, then releases it. Yet, it continues to spin.
I can feel it tugging at all the threads in the room, so I release my true core's ability, and the spinning threads keep moving on their own.
My eyes widen, but for some reason, no one else in the room seems impressed—they're either dazed or uninterested.
This strange sensation, paired with the feeling I had near the tower in the center of the dark continent and the dragon's words about memories of the Fallen One being fuzzy or non-existent, only adds to the list of questions swirling in my mind.
I decide not to bring it up and open the hatch above us to leave the bunker, as planned.
-
Maria and Raven use teleport crystals to return to the Volcanic base to check out her artifacts, while Abby, Ember, and I head off in the same direction, though taking the long way.
Once we're far from the Crimson City, I start a new conversation.
"So why are you so interested in Abby's buff?"
While Ember thinks, and the three of us airstep through the sky, I add Abby to my Rising Emperor's domain as my second general.
He responds.
"It's a rare one. Usually paired with the Restore skill."
He turns to Abby.
"I'm sure you know by now, but that's no ordinary healing ability. It's a unique skill, like Jay's Absorption. Only one entity can possess it in the system at a time."
I raise an eyebrow, but Ember continues.
"I remember the last holder of this skill. It brings back memories, so I want to see if you have what it takes to wield it this time."
Abby nods.
"I assumed it was unique. But don't compare me to whoever had it last—I want to learn to use it my own way."
Ember laughs, murmuring under his breath.
"That's exactly what she would've said."
Then, he speaks up louder.
"Fine, fine. We'll spar until you figure it out. I have a new ability I need to get used to as well. I'll limit myself to yellow core usage for now."
Abby shrugs, as she's clearly heard his first snarky remark back, and replies with a similar tone.
"Good."
She turns to me, asking about the new notification she heard. I briefly explain how the general perk works, but Abby decides to test her yellow core's base power first.
Ember speaks again.
"The system calls them generals? Interesting. Demons have the same ranking system."
My head snaps his way. I hadn't filled anyone in on the conversation I had with the demon and dragon in the labyrinth, but Ember's words pique my interest.
"What do you know about the demonic realm? And the dragons being intertwined with the system? And this throne created by a divine beast? -And... well- there's a lot of questions I have actually, but I'm more curious why you never told me the full truth about this world."
The three of us stop mid-air, hovering over the large crater training grounds where Maria and Raven sparred earlier.
Ember grins, and the golden light shimmers in his eyes again.
"It seems you've learned a lot while I was healing. It's not that I've kept information from you, but certain knowledge cannot be brought into this universe by me. Just as I was reborn as a fragile baby dragon, there's many more limits to my abilities in this life, that only scratches the surface. There's only so much I can share at certain levels."
I stare, trying to process his words.
"Here, I'll show you what I mean. The source is—"
The moment the words leave his lips, a blinding golden light engulfs my vision, and a loud white noise fills my ears.
I quickly sift through my body doubles' memories to see if they registered anything, but all three are blank, distorted like my own.
As seconds pass, even the memory of what just happened fades, leaving only the recollection of trying to understand.
Abby is floating nearby in a daze as well, equally if not more stumped at what just happened.
I look at Ember, shocked, and feel a faint aura of sadness from him.
"See, it's not that I'm keeping things from you. It's that there are things I cannot share yet until you are more powerful or have learned them on your own. These aren't my rules. Well, actually—"
Another flash of blinding golden light hits me. This time, I don't bother checking my doubles' memories. The golden image fades away again.
Ember sighs and speaks.
"Believe it or not, this isn't the first time I've told you about the labyrinths, demonic realm, the system's true purpose, and the intricacies of divine beasts. It's just the first time you're strong enough or knowledgeable enough to remember us talking about this much of the truth. Your first steps in controlling divine energy have definitely helped, but for us to talk this openly about demons and the system, you must have met another dragon with exceptional knowledge...."
He thinks to himself, and whispers again. "At least level 5000 to know this much."
I pause, considering his words.
"It's true. A dragon did tell me about the system. And a demon spoke of the five great families within the Demonic Realm. I can see the silver divine light that the throne is made of. But there are still too many things that don't add up. Who are you really? What did you do to earn the title of The Fallen One?"
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Author's Note:
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