381 A Legacy Written In Starlight
Alister’s eyes fluttered open, a faint glow emanating from them as the cocoon that had encased him rippled, cracks spreading across its surface.
With a sound like shattering glass, it broke apart, scattering fragments of ether into the air.
As he emerged, his body shone brightly in a vibrant golden glow, his muscles filled with power.
His body had improved again, his ears were now pointy, his horns curved, and a dragon skull crest appeared in his eyes.
His massive wings spread out in a powerful beat. His scales were denser and had taken on a different form, resembling the armor of a mighty war general.
The system’s voice rang out:
⫷『Congratulations to the player!』⫸
⫷『The player has obtained the EX-ranked skill: Eyes of an Overlord!』⫸
⫷『The player can now further delve into the nature and origin of all things.』⫸
⫷『Notice! All residents of the city have drunk of the player’s blood!』⫸
⫷『All have been registered in the Dragon Stratus Tree!』⫸
The notifications appeared in the peripheral of his vision, but he ignored them, his mind focused on the memories he had recovered.
“Fria…”
“Silver hair… red eyes… I guess Blitz was right about me having a type.”
He chuckled softly, almost nostalgic.
“Hel’Eloreth… I… I have a son… and he’s alive.”
“This… might be a lot to take in…” His mind began racing.
“Where is he? Do I go search for him… obviously… but what do I say when I find him?”
“Isn’t he going to hate me? For letting his mother die? If he has survived this long, does he even need me? Should I… should I even bother searching for him?”
Suddenly, the memory of Fria’s death flashed before his eyes again. He calmed down as he said:
“No, it doesn’t matter what he thinks… I… I want to see him. That is something she would have wanted.”
Alister suddenly paused, a smile gracing his lips as he looked down at his hands. “Look at me, turning into a father already… I haven’t even met mine yet… Huh… I guess I have a long line of fathers… so I should be more specific…”
He slowly stepped out of his cave-like room, only to emerge and see the wyverns flying all around the sky within the dome.
He smiled as he said, “I want to have all my loved ones close…”
A memory flashed in his mind, where he saw Fria laughing after he had asked her why she lived the way she did—avoiding her duties, having fun, and just doing whatever she wanted—while they lay in the grass stargazing.
Her reply was simple, yet shocking.
“I’m greedy, obviously. I want to experience all the amazing things life has to offer… the kind of life I want is one without regrets.”
The memory ended.
“A life without regrets, huh?”
Alister smiled as he said, “I guess I wouldn’t be much of an overlord if I wasn’t greedy as well.”
Just then, the system’s voice echoed in his head:
⫷『Congratulations, player!』⫸
⫷『All your skills have leveled up to Level 4.』⫸
⫷『The effects of Draconic Rage and Draconic Hunger have risen to EX Rank.』⫸
Alister’s gaze sharpened, his breathing slowing as the words sank in. Before he could process what this meant, the system spoke again:
⫷『New skill obtained: Draconic Transformation.』⫸
⫷『The player can now take on dragon form.』⫸
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Draconic Transformation.
“It appears as though my resolve from that memory now burns within me again… How interesting.”
Straightening his posture, he brushed a hand through his hair, his gaze distant as he looked at the darkened sky, the stars slowly twinkling in the night.
” I guess I shoud return back to the mega city, I’m sure Miyu is waiting for me, she mentioned something about an evening outing.”
….
The sky illuminated by countless stars that shimmered like scattered diamonds.
Atop one of the peaks of a castle resembling a fortress carved from obsidian and crimson stone, a young man sat in silence, lost in thought.
His silver hair, streaked with black, caught the faint starlight, giving him an otherworldly glow.
His red eyes gazed at the heavens with a touch of longing and resolve. His pointed ears, had ornate silver moon earrings, twitched slightly in the cool night breeze.
He was Hel’Eloreth, the Asura Overlord.
He was clad in armor as dark as the void, with red accents that pulsed faintly like embers.
A red demonic mask was affixed to the side of his head. In his left hand, he held a massive war hammer, its twin demon-faced markings seeming to glare into the night.
He reached out his free hand as though to pluck a star from the sky.
The act, seemingly whimsical, carried a precious memory behind it.
As his fingertips grazed the cold air, his thoughts drifted to another time—a time when he was just a boy, sitting beside his mother beneath a starry sky much like this one.
He could see her now in his mind’s eye, her silver hair, her red eyes soft with warmth and love.
They had often stargazed together, and her voice echoed in his memory as she pointed at the constellations above.
“Do you see that one, my little star?” she would say, her finger tracing a pattern in the sky.
“That’s the Hunter. They say he was so swift and strong that no prey could escape him. But he was lonely, for no one could keep up with him. He longed for someone who could match his speed… until he met the Wind Spirit, who danced as swiftly as he hunted.”
Hel’Eloreth, as a child, had been enchanted by the stories she told, though he hadn’t always understood them.
He remembered her smile as she continued, her gaze never leaving the stars.
“Do you see that one? The Radiant Star. That was your father,” she said one night, her voice softer, with something deeper than mere fondness.
Her smile turned wistful. “He wasn’t, not really. But to me, he was the brightest light in the sky. Strong, smart, and so far above everyone else.”
“Yet he always came down to share the struggles of his people. He loved the thrill of battle, of growing stronger. I suppose you could say he had a violent side to him… and absolutely no instincts for romance.”
She chuckled. “But… after he met me, well, that changed.”
“Mother, you’re going too far,” he had said, his young face frowned as he watched her blush.
She laughed again, giving him a playful nudge.
“Perhaps I am. But remember this, my little star: whenever you’re in doubt, reach for the stars. Tap into your father’s strength.”
He had looked at her with a frown. “But how do I know he’s strong? I’ve never even met him.”
She smiled, then leaned in, pulling him close. Their foreheads touched, and a golden glow surrounded them.
“Close your eyes, my darling. Let me show you.”
He had obeyed, and in that moment, he felt memories of wrampth flow into him. A laugh had escaped his lips.
“This is really him? This is Father?”
Fria had smiled at his wonder. “It is.”
“He’s amazing!”
The memory faded, and Hel’Eloreth’s hand slowly lowered. “Father… Mother… give me strength.”
The moment was broken as a figure emerged from the shadows of the castle roof. Another Asura, his hair black as night and his ash gray eyes glowing faintly, stepped forward, bowing deeply.
“My Lord,” the newcomer said respectfully, “the gathering is complete. They await your presence.”
Hel’Eloreth stood, the weight of his hammer balanced effortlessly in his grip. His gaze lingered on the stars for a moment longer before he turned.
“Very well,” he said, his voice firm but calm. “Let us not keep them waiting.” he grinned.
With a final glance at the sky, he descended, the echoes of his mother’s words guiding him forward.