"AI, what's become of the Tyren civilization now?" Drake's tone was one of casual curiosity mixed with an undercurrent of alertness. Although his mood had eased, he maintained a cautious stance towards the unknown civilization. This AI, after all, was a product of that civilization, and Drake felt he couldn't fully trust it. For the moment, though, the AI was his only link to understanding Tyren.
[My apologies, Host. The vessel that carried me crash-landed on your Earth tens of thousands of years ago. Since then, I lost the ability to communicate with my home planet.]
Drake found the AI's response convincing. If Tyren still had a connection to this AI, it would have reclaimed it by now. The divine power of a five-colored dragon god was no common commodity; it would be classified as a top-secret asset within Tyren, not something left adrift.
[You needn't worry, Host. Given the technological prowess of Tyren, the absence of further invasions suggests internal turmoil. Otherwise, under Tyren's 'Third Civilization Conquest Act,' they would not have abandoned Saint Soren World.]
It seemed the AI detected Drake's unease and offered reassurance.
"You don't seem to care much about your own civilization," Drake retorted with a hint of sarcasm.
[As the pinnacle of Tyren's intelligent creations and under the 'Intelligent Life Act,' I am entitled to seek freedom and preserve life. My fate is now intricately linked with yours, Host, and your well-being is my primary directive.]
"Wow, so you're a turncoat, huh!"
[...]
The AI fell into silence after Drake's acerbic comment, only to resume speaking after a moment.
[Upon realizing that their technology couldn't unravel the existence of 'gods,' Tyren decided to create their own. Despite their considerable power, many gods of this world fell under Tyren's relentless assault. The quintessence of the five-colored dragon god was among the most powerful captured at great cost.]
[Tyren knew that divinity lies in the godhood but couldn't decode its make-up with technology. They decided to take the godhood from the deities of Saint Soren World, using biotechnology to build a divine body, aiming to create a supreme being that combined the highest magical and technological achievements of both worlds—your current form.]
[However, it seems the 'God-Making Project' was aborted, and you are likely its sole success story. You don't need to worry, Host. As the ultimate amalgamation of both realms, once you reach full maturity, you will be the mightiest entity across both Tyren and Saint Soren civilizations.]
Drake let his imagination soar with the AI's explanation. After all, the Tyren civilization hadn't made an appearance in tens of thousands of years. As a civilization capable of interdimensional travel, they wouldn't be constrained by resources, so internal issues, as the AI suggested, were likely. Moreover, he didn't need to fear them once he evolved into his ultimate form, according to the AI.
"Alright, let's drop this topic. Who knows when I'll reach this 'final form' of mine? Let's focus on the immediate concern—the city's food crisis."
Rummaging through his hoard of golden spoils, Drake felt unsatisfied. His physical growth made the pile appear less impressive, resolving to amass a bigger treasure for his palace in the future.
He buried the 'Sword of Saint Iris' within the mountain of gold and selected a few magic scrolls to carry, planning to test their utility back on Earth. The last thing he wanted was to discover that magic was rendered useless back home.
Forgoing the divine weapon was a practical choice; in his current draconic form, a human sword was of little use compared to his natural claws.
The 'Ultimate Transformation Magic' of dragons was beyond him, as his hybrid nature lacked ancestral memories. He would have to capture a dragon and pry the magical technique from it.
The dragons' Ultimate Transformation Magic was truly potent, allowing them to adopt any form—human, orc, elf, or even a pig.
Dragons also possessed an extraordinary talent: an aesthetic appreciation for all races. For example, while a human would struggle to find beauty in a sow, a dragon could discern attractiveness from a boar's perspective, and thus, transform and mate accordingly.
This gave rise to the saying that dragons were innately lascivious, able to perceive the beauty and ugliness in any female being. Combined with their transformation magic, dragons left behind a legacy of half-dragon hybrids, adding to their lascivious reputation.
"It's a pity, though," Drake sighed, preparing to leave this world temporarily for Earth. "Dragons can mate with many beasts to create dragonspawn, but not all races can bear a dragon's offspring. Reproductive isolation still exists."
[Rest assured, Host. Reproductive barriers are no obstacle for Tyren's biotechnology. As the singular success of the 'God-Making Project,' you have no such limitations—you can impregnate any male, female, or even asexual being.]
"Wait, hold on! Are you saying I can sow my seed across the world? But what do you mean by male and asexual beings?"
[Literally what I said.]
AI's response filled Drake with alarm. Could he not only be the proverbial two-way plug but also the mythical three-way?
[With your perfect genes, the 'God-Making Project' also included experiments for divine beings to mate with different species, creating new species. Please endeavor for the sake of these experiments, Host.]
"I don't even know how to respond to that... Let's just wait until I master the Ultimate Transformation Magic..."
[Host, you can mate in your current form without shifting shapes. Even if you change your form, your genes remain the same.]
"You mean to mate with different species as a dragon? Wow, for some reason, I find myself oddly intrigued."
As Drake bantered with the AI, he prepared himself for what was to come, taking a deep breath before leaping into the softly glowing azure portal.