Within the darkness, two perfect figures embraced each other, standing silently in their place. Nyx couldn't find a right moment to speak, and out of respect, Aaron couldn't bring himself to say anything.
Unable to bear it any longer, Aaron softly said, "Yet, you still came here. I am grateful, my goddess."
"No need for gratitude. I can do anything for you. Trust me," Nyx replied, holding him tightly.
"I understand..." Aaron thought, feeling love, sadness, and thoughts in their purest form. Just then, a system notification appeared:
"Aaron Light Corbyn, you have successfully defeated your only enemy in your mind - the golden age of your mind is at your doorstep. Congratulations to the user.
Appropriate rewards will be granted."
Though he felt happy about growing stronger, his sorrow was enough to break through his happiness. Disregarding the notification, he closed it and calmly said, "This egg..."
"If you don't want it, I can take it away. You won't have to see it again," the goddess said with a hint of hostility.
After hearing Nyx's words, Aaron looked at the egg once more. His hair and eyes had turned into the darkest shade of black. He despised the dragon inside, but he also knew that there was no purpose in hating it, as there was no guarantee that the offspring would commit the same crimes as its ancestors in any reality.
"I will raise this dragon as humanity's ally. Despite my hatred for it, I am certain that I can achieve something," Aaron declared with a cold demeanor.
Nyx was astonished by the maturity of the young man before her, as if he had been freed from a great demon. She had been one of the few entities observing him closely from the beginning, and like all the others, she knew how peculiar he was. He was stingy, yet thoughtful and polite enough to dispel that stinginess. His ability to easily forgive one of the perpetrators of such a massacre and consider using them for the benefit of humanity emphasized once again why all the sacred beings should hold him in high regard.
"Are you sure?" Goddess Nyx asked, smiling.
"More than ever, my dear lady," Aaron replied with unwavering determination.
"If this is your wish, I hope you can find a way to raise it properly," Goddess Nyx said as she slowly stood up.
"I suppose you're leaving?" he said with his blurry eyes.
"Of course, I can't stay here for long," Goddess Nyx added.
"I understand. Please take care of yourself," Aaron said, looking at the goddess with respect and affection.
After she smiled to him the goddess returned the gaze and disappeared into the darkness. Now, Aaron had to figure out what he would do with this egg. He began contemplating how to raise it. After all, it was a Dragon, and not just any Dragon, but a Supreme Dragon.
After a brief brainstorming session yielded no results, Aaron thought about examining the egg's properties. He attempted to place it in his inventory, even though normally, living beings couldn't be placed in there. Naturally, the egg was alive, but the system must have granted him a special permission, as the egg easily entered Aaron's inventory. Just then, another system notification appeared:
"Personal Quest: Unlocking the Strengthening Gate/Hidden \(COMPLETED)
Quest Reward: Incubation Knowledge
Quest Penalty: Level Loss"
Immediately after the notification appeared and Aaron saw it, he felt his vision blur, and his eyes slowly closed.
-----
-----
Aaron slowly opened his eyes and realized that he was in a different place. He quickly stood up and searched for his sword, but it was nowhere to be found. Voices could be heard from below where he was:
"Sir, he's not waking up. What if something serious happened to him?" said the redhead girl.
"Yes, I'm worried too. We wanted to follow him," said the blond young man, and the whole group agreed. Then, for a moment, they trembled as a terrifying energy spread from the upper floor of the room.
"Has the sir awakened? Bring his belongings to him immediately!" shouted the redhead girl.
"No need for that," came a voice from the entrance of the room. It was Aaron, and he was slightly annoyed.
"I'm glad you woke up, my Lord," said the blond young man.
"You? Wait a second, what are you doing here?" Aaron asked, putting his nerves aside. He knew very well who these people were. They were the young ones he had helped in front of the Tower.
"Forgive our rudeness, sir, but we have been searching for you for a short while. We saw this monster with our own eyes, and that's why we were worried. Please forgive us," said the blond young man.
"You were searching for me? Do you know how dangerous this is?"
"We can't say for sure if it's dangerous or not, dear sir, but when we were fighting the monsters, you helped us. We're certain we could have escaped from there, but we might have suffered losses. That's why we decided to follow you," said the blond young man.
"One moment... I'm not looking for followers or anything. Please go back to the tower," Aaron said, looking at the group of kids with a mix of astonishment and amusement.
"But!" protested the blond young man.
"No 'buts.' I appreciate your courage, but it was unnecessary for you to carry me. That area was a safe zone, there were no monsters there that could harm me. There might have been only humans, and I could have handled that."
"But, sir... you were unconscious," said the blond young man. Aaron was slightly surprised by these words because he hadn't realized he was unconscious. He thought he had simply fallen asleep due to the influx of information.
As Aaron pondered over these thoughts, his balance momentarily faltered, and he fell to the ground. All the young ones moved instantly to help him, but he stopped their movements with a single gesture. What was happening to him wasn't harming him; his mind was just preoccupied with organizing information.
As Aaron's head spun, a system notification suddenly appeared before his eyes:
"Recipe:
The incubation period of the Supreme Dragon egg depends on the user's power. By directing any element towards the egg, the user can obtain a Supreme Dragon of that element.
For example, if nourished with ice element, a Supreme Dragon will become impervious to ice spells and its ice attacks will be maximized.
The required elemental energy is at a very high level, hence the incubation period is proportionate to the user's power.
Wishing you good care of your Supreme Dragon."
"Understood, the system not only freed me from my shackles but also provided me with a companion that will assist me further," Aaron thought, standing up and looking at the young ones. Then, he sighed and spoke:
"Alright, you can follow me, but I have rules and principles. If I see that you break any of them while following me, I will personally kill you with my own hands."
All the young ones were frightened by his words, but they had no intention of retreating. They had spent much of their lives withdrawing and choosing to stay in the background, but each of them genuinely wanted to follow someone, to fight alongside them and be with them. One by one, they knelt down, and finally, with a loud voice, they shouted:
"Please tell us!"
Aaron's plan was simple. He would train these children and create another shield to protect people. Besides, he currently needed a guardian because he would allocate some time to choose his new sponsor, the Fallen Angel Lucifer. Most likely, he would faint again, so he needed to keep these children under his wing.
He looked at the children and smiled, then said:
"Alright then, listen carefully."
As Aaron looked into the eyes of each young person, he couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude and excitement. He realized that this newfound connection had the potential to bring about wonderful things. The prospect of shaping and guiding these individuals, instilling in them a sense of purpose and resilience, filled him with hope for a brighter future.
The genuine interest and eagerness radiating from the young ones ignited Aaron's passion once again. He saw in them the potential for greatness, a chance to nurture their talents and help them unlock their true potential. The thought of witnessing their growth, witnessing them blossom into strong and capable individuals, brought him a profound sense of fulfillment.
In that moment, Aaron knew that he had found not only companions but also allies. Together, they would face the challenges that lay ahead, united by a common goal and driven by unwavering determination. The bond they were forging was more than just a mere alliance—it was a family, a support system that would carry them through even the darkest of times.
As Aaron embarked on this new chapter, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. The weight of his past burdens seemed to lift, replaced by a renewed vigor and a burning desire to make a positive impact on the lives of those around him. With his newfound comrades by his side, he knew that together, they could overcome any obstacle and create a better world for themselves and others.
In this journey of growth and companionship, Aaron had not only found a group of followers but also discovered the true meaning of friendship and the power of unity. The joy and fulfillment he experienced in that moment were immeasurable, and he couldn't wait to see what they would achieve together.
That was the begenning of a friendship that will last for a million life-times.