“So… he’s here as well,” Xyrran spoke first, his voice deep and calm, but layered with a subtle edge that only another dragon could pick up on.
The silence that had settled around them broke like a fragile shell, his words carrying weight.
“It is… rather unexpected, after all this time.”
“Is it now?” Alphox responded with a cold undertone, his voice low and measured.
The dark smoke curling from his body twisted like tendrils of shadow, his eyes blazing with a slow-burning intensity.
“Hm.”
No one else spoke.
The other dragons present watched silently, keeping their distance, instinctively understanding that this was not a moment for them to intrude on.
Xyrran’s gaze narrowed slightly.
“I’m guessing you were there the whole time, hidden away, but we simply couldn’t sense you?”
Alphox didn’t respond with words.
Instead, he gave a small, knowing grin.
That grin was more than enough.
It had been said many times before, but dragons could sense each other.
It was in their nature, something primal and instinctual.
The stronger a dragon was, the more impossible it became to hide their draconic presence.
But Alphox had been right under their noses the entire time, concealed within Alex’s body.
There was only one explanation.
Back when they had been in [Dragon City], the air itself had been thick with draconic power.
So saturated with auras that no one could sense clearly, it was like trying to spot a single candle in the middle of a raging wildfire.
Even the most acute senses would’ve failed.
And then, during the chaos with the [Hatred Demon], the aura of the [Hatred Domain] had drowned out everything else.
That place had been so utterly twisted, so charged with rage and divine malice, that Alphox’s presence had remained completely hidden.
But now there were no distractions, and so, they had sensed him almost instantly.
Xyrran’s tone shifted slightly, lower now, heavier.
“So… what is it that you want?”
His eyes darkened, and his tail curled slowly behind him in a restrained motion.
“You can see for yourself, can’t you? Dragon City is destroyed. Our people have scattered.”
The other dragons gave faint nods, their eyes downcast or focused on the city ruins around them.
This kind of destruction… it had never happened before, not like this.
“What could you possibly want from us?” Xyrran asked again, each word sharpened like the edge of a blade, letting his aura stretch out with slow menace, “Revenge? On us? On me?”
“You killed me,” Alphox replied, his voice cold but not loud.
He stepped forward once, and the ground beneath his feet cracked under the pressure.
“Did you really think I’d just forget that? That I’d walk away and let it go?”
“I knew you would return someday,” Xyrran said, his eyes steady, “That’s why I didn’t destroy your soul. I could have. But I didn’t.”
He exhaled slowly, wings folding behind his back.
“I let it go, because I believed you might still have a role to play. But let’s not pretend, I’m still the strongest of the Primordial Dragons. You know it.
Alex stood nearby, silent, watching the exchange unfold.
He glanced at Alphox, then at Xyrran.
And even without needing his skills, he could tell, Xyrran was right.
Alphox had grown immensely.
But he wasn’t ready, not yet.
There was no way he could defeat Xyrran here, not alone, not with the other Primordial Dragons present.
Unless, of course, Alex joined in.
But before he could speak, Xyrran turned his attention directly to him.
“And you, human,” he said, stepping closer, the immense dragon’s shadow falling over Alex.
With a sudden snap of his claws, a burst of draconic energy swept out through the air, and the moment he did, all the other Primordial Dragons around them lowered their heads slightly.
A gesture of respect.
“To make things clear, we will honor what we said,” Xyrran continued, “We will not attack humanity and we will not wage war. Our focus will be on rebuilding our home, and locating the others who have been lost.”
Alex’s [Cursed Eyes of Truth] flared for a brief moment.
[Truth!]
They were speaking sincerely.
“If you need anything from us,” Xyrran added, his voice still as calm as before, “Let us know. We may not be able to do the impossible, but we’ll do what we can.”
[Truth!]
Alex shrugged lightly, offering a brief smile.
“As long as you don’t side with the gods, I don’t mind.”
“So be it, then.”
Without another word, Alex turned his back to the dragons.
He didn’t feel the same burning hatred he once had.
He didn’t feel the need to fight them anymore.
Not now.
Not after everything that had happened.
The reasons were simple, and they were logical.
First, he was completely exhausted from the battle against the Hatred Demon.
If the dragons hadn’t answered his call at the end, he would have died.
There was no question.
Second, the one who had truly betrayed him, the one who cast him into the abyss, was already dead.
Morgathis, the [Primordial Abyss Dragon], was no more.
And third, fighting that God had given him so much more than he expected.
The [Crown of Calamity], deeper knowledge about the [Chosen Games], the favor of the angels, a divine bloodline, the [Annihilation Crucifix], and even a promise that the angels would aid him if his request was within reason.
So no, Alex had no need to look back, not anymore.
‘Speaking of the angels… I need to speak with them,’ he thought to himself, muttering the words “World Map” under his breath.
Instantly, a massive holographic projection bloomed to life before him, displaying the entire known world of Universal Descent.
He scrolled through the categories, selected the [Cities] section, and tapped [Angel City].
The teleportation prompt appeared, ready and waiting.
But just as his finger hovered over the confirmation, Alex turned to look back once more.
The dragons were still speaking among themselves.
Alphox was with them, standing tall.
“You coming, Alphox?” Alex asked, his tone neutral, but not cold.
It had been a long time since he’d first hatched the Shadow Dragon.
Their bond had changed.
At first, it was strained.
But over time, it had become something more.
A partnership, a real one.
Alphox’s original goal had always been revenge against the other Primordial Dragons.
But Alex, he no longer needed that fight.
And if the dragons could be allies moving forward?
Well, more power to him.
The decision now was Alphox’s to make.
Hearing his name, Alphox turned toward Alex.
The Primordial Shadow Dragon’s expression tightened, grim and unreadable.
He let out a deep, rumbling breath that echoed with restrained fire.
“I shall stay here, human,” Alphox said at last, his voice carrying not bitterness, but purpose, “This is still my city. Rebuilding it is something I must do. The dragons must rise again.”
He glanced at the others, his gaze sharp.
“And these bastards still owe me an explanation.”
Xyrran nodded, seemingly approving.
There was no trace of hostility in his aura now.
“A spot has been freed. It’s only natural someone should fill it.”
“I have no desire to rejoin the Primordial Dragons,” Alphox replied, dark flames curling from his jaw, “I only want to see dragons rise again. What comes after, we’ll see.”
“So be it,” Xyrran said, “Let’s begin.”
With that, all of the Primordial Dragons turned toward the destroyed remnants of the city.
One by one, they vanished in bursts of glowing light, likely teleporting back to Xyrran’s domain to plan the future.
Within seconds, they were gone.
Only Alphox remained.
He turned once more to face Alex, his tall figure silhouetted against the rising sun.
His eyes had softened.
“I cannot help you with the Chosen Games,” Alphox said, his voice heavy with finality, “I’ve already risked more than I should. I’m sorry.”
Dragons rarely apologized.
Their pride was too great.
So when they did, it meant something.
Alex gave a small nod.
“That’s fine. Just make sure you rise and become the [Supreme Primordial Dragon] someday.”
A low chuckle escaped Alphox’s throat.
“I’ll try.”
In the next moment, Alphox disappeared in a flare of shadow.
Ding!
[Alphox has left your party.]
A quiet notification, but one that marked the end of something long-running.
The [Shadow Pet Space] inside Alex closed.
Alphox was no longer classified as a pet or summon.
And that was fine.
They would meet again, after the [Chosen Games], if Alex survived.
That “if” loomed large in his mind.
Deep down, something told him the odds weren’t in his favor.
‘Goodbye, old friend,’ Alex thought, eyes closing for a brief second.
Then, without hesitation, he tapped the teleport button to [Angel City].
His body flashed with light.
And just like that, he was gone, ready to continue what had to be done, even without one of his oldest allies by his side.