"Do you understand now?"
The ethereal and majestic voice echoed in Arkhan's ears like a demonic whisper.
"You're nothing more than a weapon. That incubus and that king don't care whether you live or die."
Arkhan lowered his gaze to the lifeless baby at his feet, saying nothing.
Somewhere along the way, deep darkness had shrouded the entire world, creeping slowly and patiently towards its target, like the most cunning of hunters.
"Without parents, without loved ones, from the day you were born, you were fated to be alone.
"The one who created you abandoned you, and the world has also abandoned you. You, like me, are both forbidden existences."
"Are you angry? The heartless abandonment, the icy embrace of death—your birth, a laughable joke!"
"Are you in despair? Those beautiful dreams are nothing but illusions; the hands of death won't shelter any hope."
The flowing darkness engulfed the world, and countless twisted, snake-like silhouettes gradually closed in around Arkhan.
"Only monsters like me can understand you."
"Because we're the same, puppets pulled by the threads of fate, unable to escape this chaos no matter how hard we try."
"So, give up, cast aside those ridiculous emotions, and merge with me, unleash your true nature!"
"Let me bear your despair and anger, and we'll exact revenge on those hypocrites!"
The dark surged, swallowing all light, and countless twisted silhouettes moved closer to Arkhan.
"Are you done with your bullshit?"
A sudden voice of Arkhan halted the darkness.
"You?!" Nidhogg exclaimed in astonishment.
Arkhan lifted his head slowly, and in the depths of his deep-black eyes, clarity emerged.
Somewhere in this colorless world, a bright crimson appeared.
It was a flurry of scarlet feathers, descending from nowhere and disappearing into nothingness, as if they had never existed, yet etching themselves deep into the minds of all who watched.
"What!? This is..."
"A weapon? A human? A monster? I don't give a fuck. It's all about how you choose to live. Who am I only matters if I say so. Abandoned? So what? Instead of hating the unfairness of fate, it's better to use your own hands to get what you want and forge a new future. Despair? Anger? Hah!"
Arkhan's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Don't make me laugh! I came back to this world from beyond death, and it wasn't for such a boring thing as revenge. Besides, even if I were seeking revenge, what does it have to do with you, you big black worm?"
*ROARRR—!!!*
The dark world shattered, and the Dragon of Despair appeared before Arkhan once more.
"Ignorant! Foolish!"
Nidhogg's voice carried an unmistakable rage.
"Humans truly are a bunch of uncivilized monkeys! Since you won't willingly give me your body, I'll take it myself!"
It opened its grotesque mouth, spewing scorching dragon's breath, and wherever it passed, even space itself shattered!
"Tremble, you puny human! This is the power of the Dragon of Despair, the one who brought the world to its knees!"
The pitch-black dragon's eyes flickered with mockery, then quickly shifted to sheer astonishment.
A purple petal-like shield unfurled before Arkhan, layer upon layer, and it managed to block the dragon's breath entirely!
"What is that!?" Nidhogg shouted in anger.
"Nidhogg, you've been trying to distract me from the very beginning, all in an effort to keep me from discovering the truth about this world we are in. But I'm sorry to say that I've known this from the start."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Nidhogg roared, though a subtle hint of fear flickered in its eyes.
Arkhan raised his head, gazing at the massive black dragon, and smiled with mockery. "This place is actually my mental world, isn't it?"
"How could you..."
Arkhan only smiled calmly and went on:
"In the mental world, anything is possible, and the extent of one's power depends entirely on their will and imagination.
In the beginning, you showed me the form of Yggdrasil and even appeared in your true form to intimidate me. Your goal was to keep me in fear because as long as I feared you, I would never be able to defeat you in this world.
But you were also concerned that devouring me directly would lead to resistance on my part. So, you chose a gentler approach, showing me my past experiences and stirring up my emotions of despair, anger, and the desire for revenge. This way, you could easily consume me without much effort. Am I right?"
Arkhan's smile remained unchanged.
Nidhogg suddenly flapped its wings, and its massive form, like a meteor, rushed toward Arkhan. In its jet-black eyes, madness gleamed.
*Buzz—*
As if someone had pressed the pause button, the entire world suddenly froze. Less than five meters away from Arkhan, Nidhogg was suspended in mid-air like a statue, its monstrous dragon mouth wide open and its eyes filled with astonishment.
"Did you want to devour me before I could take control of my mental world? It's indeed a clever plan, but you made a mistake, Nidhogg."
Crimson feathers danced around Arkhan, resembling fiery spirits.
"As long as I'm here, I am invincible!"
Fiery flames emerged from nothingness, coalescing into the shape of a great sword in Arkhan's hand. It seemed as though a sun was hidden within it, and the scorching heat distorted even the void.
Panic filled Nidhogg's eyes.
"Dragon of Despair, witness the brilliance of the Might of An-Utu!"
Arkhan swung the massive sword in his hand with all his might, and flames hotter than the limit of a star erupted forth, filling the entire world. In an instant, Nidhogg's form was completely engulfed by the blinding radiance!
*ROARRR—!!!*
In this light, too intense for ordinary eyes to bear, Arkhan suddenly saw a scene—the continuation of the memory projection.
"Why are you bringing this child to the Land of Shadows?" Merlin looked helpless as he gazed at the middle-aged man beside him.
Uther rode on horseback, cradling a lifeless baby in his arms. His face remained calm, showing no sign of emotion.
Merlin scratched his head. "I know there are legends of resurrection in the Land of Shadows, but this child carries the power of Nidhogg within. Any life will be repelled it, so resurrection is impossible."
"Merlin, I have indeed lost the emotions of a parent and can't shed tears for my own child's birth."
Uther replied calmly as he gazed at his son in his arms.
"But at least I know my responsibility as a father. I brought him into this world, so... even if it's just for a glance, I want him to see this world."