Reborn as a DRAGON

"What is it that you want from us, exactly?" I asked.

Qhalta seemed to hesitate, but Yrvai's eyes shone as he replied, "Join the resistance," he said.

Sidus frowned, and I could see him struggling to keep his aura under control. Immy was no better, an icy expression on her face. Ynos, on the other hand, was surprisingly calm with an almost bored expression.

Little Essie worriedly glanced at me, and I used my mana to gently pat her head reassuringly.

"And If we refuse?" I asked.

The old Dragon frowned, his eyes bearing into me with unpreceded intensity, before he replied, "Then so be it. You will die, not by our hands. The King and his faction will kill you, and we will continue to wait for the next pillars and pray that they are wiser than you."

"You seem very sure of that," I answered.

"Child, you seem to misunderstand something. We are not your enemies. We are the Pillars' loyal retainers. This city, everything here, is for the sake of helping them fulfill their final wish."

Qhalta nodded, "The old lizard's words may be crude, but he means no harm, young ones. If you wish to survive, then you must wrest control of your fate from the King and control over your elements. That's the only way we can win."

Yrvai looked at Sidus and Immy before continuing, "What you two control is but a fraction of the Primordials' power. The rest of that power remains within the mana stream."

His eyes moved to me, "You," he said, pausing as he stared deep into my eyes, "The seed of cosmic mana is already inside you. You just need to control it."

"This is ridiculous," Sidus shook his head.

"Denying the truth isn't going to change it," Yvrai shook his head. "If you want to live, then you must accept who you are."

"I am no traitor!" Sidus shot back.

"Enough," Qhalta interrupted.

"Thousand of years waiting, and this is what we get?" Yrvai grumbled. "A pillar who grew comfortable with the chains binding him. What a joke."

"Watch your words," I growled.

Although I had an inkling that the old Dragon's words held some truth, but his blatant disrespect had gone too far.

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"Or what?" He mocked.

The cosmic mana in our surroundings seemed to shift, drawn by his response. I didn't understand how he wielded such power, but its danger was palpable. Yet, as an older brother, could I truly retreat? I could sense Sidus, Immy, Ynos, and even little Essie's expectant gaze on my back.

I exhaled heavily. I didn't want to try this, but It was past time we regained some resemblance of respect from this old lizard.

Perhaps sensing my shift in mood, the cosmic elements manifested themselves before me. They seemed to hesitate on whether or not to follow me or follow the old Dragon.

His eyes held a mocking gleam as he stared at me, but I couldn't care less. I focused my attention on the elements. I was sure he couldn't see them. Whatever power he used to control them didn't afford him the ability to do so.

I reached out to them, and they flurried almost excitedly. But some sort of force was bounding them to their place. It was present throughout the entire temple.

The sight of it was fascinating. It looked like a web of cosmic mana, interconnected in a way I had never seen before. I exerted my control over it. Before, I was concerned about what might happen If I were to fail, or rather, If we antagonized the old Dragon and Goddess.

Now, however, I didn't care. Why should I care? Why should I take his disrespect? He may be my elder, but he wasn't worthy of disrespecting me or my family. No one was.

What sort of Dragon would I be If I allowed my fear to control me?

Another sigh escaped my mouth.

"You know," I spoke slowly.

Yrvai raised his brow, "Oh? What is this now? Finally grown some fangs?"

"You sitting there all high and mighty really pisses me off."

"And?" He chuckled. Qhalta, sitting by his side, shook her head but otherwise didn't interfere.

"I tried to be civil since we are guests here after all. But my patience has limits."

"What are you going to do about it, child?" He asked again, his eyes gleaming dangerously.

"First of all," I said and exerted all my power on that interconnected web of cosmic mana.

The previous pillar was dead. I was the only Cosmic pillar. His constructs may remain, but they held no power over me. I refused.

I forcefully changed the flow of the web. The elements struggled against it. Perhaps If It was when the previous pillar had just died, things might have gone differently, but not now. Not anymore. Whatever influence he still held over this realm, It was only a matter of time before I wrest control over all of It!

Yrvai's expression suddenly changed as he felt the shift in cosmic mana. Control over the entire temple was still impossible. It needed time, but It would happen.

For now, I didn't need to control the entire place. Just momentary control over the hall was all I needed. A savage grin extended and made its way to my face as I spoke, "Let's get you down from there."

Yrvai tried to speak, but his words died in his mouth as he felt the entirety of cosmic mana in the hall turn against him. His expression turned grim under the pressure, and he quickly tried to retaliate, but It was useless.

If it were merely my mana, the impact wouldn’t have reverberated so profoundly. However, the cosmic mana permeating this hall, infusing every stone of this ancient temple, was more ancient than all of us.

Yrvau emitted a mere grunt, the once-mighty throne he was coiled around now reduced to shards. With a forceful descent, he met the ground.

"You say you are the Pillars' loyal retainer? Then I suppose It Is my duty as your master to teach you manners," I said and slowly walked toward him. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Once I was right before him, the old Dragon struggled to raise his head under the sheer pressure of Cosmic mana. What I was doing was akin to a gamble. Anywhere else, and he would easily flatten me with a sneeze. Here, however, I was a cheat.

"Do not take my kindness for weakness, Yrvai," I added.

With a hideous grin, Yrvai answered; "About damn time."