Beneath the massive form of the silver dragon, the layered heaps of various treasures stirred.
Clink, clank. A pair of dragon horns poked out first, followed by a small head, a graceful and elongated neck, and scales that gleamed like diamonds and gemstones.
"Garon, you're finally awake from your slumber."
"You've been sleeping for three hundred years—a very long time."
Feeling the profound, eternal aura emanating from Garon, Yona leapt with joy.
Despite her happiness, Yona hesitated momentarily, as if uncertain whether to leap toward the silver dragon. In her perception, although the silver dragon was clearly visible, he seemed vaguely unreal, as if not truly existing in the physical world, as if he might vanish or depart at any moment.
Garon noticed his mate's hesitation.
He understood that his current state was not fully stabilized. Having become a temporal manifestation, some of his essence was unintentionally leaking out.
Buzz!
Garon concentrated, and his form flickered, then solidified.
The sense of detachment from reality vanished.
"Yona, I've successfully broken through to quasi-strong divine power, but I'm not yet in perfect control of my powers, which is why you felt something strange."
"But there's no need to worry. I'm still me; nothing has changed."
Garon spoke gently.
Seeing the softness in the silver dragon's eyes, Yona no longer hesitated. With a flap of her wings, she leapt to Garon's side, pressing her head against his, her neck entwining with his, feeling the subtle friction of their scales, sharing a moment of tender intimacy.
For three hundred years, Garon had been in slumber.
Even for dragons, this was a significant stretch of time.
Although Garon and Yona were akin to gods, they were not ancient beings. Garon himself had experienced lengthy periods in alternate timelines, but Yona, a real ancient dragon not yet a millennium old, found the duration especially long.
This three-century slumber occupied a third of Yona's current lifespan.
During Garon's slumber, Yona often slept too, especially due to her pregnancy. However, her naps never exceeded ten years, and countless times she awoke to find her mate still asleep, his awakening seemingly far off.
Now, Garon had finally awakened.
The dragon couple snuggled closely, joyfully catching up.
"Garon, how does it feel to become a quasi-strong divine power?"
Yona asked curiously.
"It feels almost omnipotent and omniscient."
"Events witnessed by the River of Time, hidden histories… As long as I actively seek them out, they are laid bare before me. Knowledge recorded by time, arcane secrets, even the powers of deities and quasi-divine beings—I can make them my own."
Ascending to quasi-strong divine power had exponentially enhanced all of Garon's innate abilities, granting him formidable new time-related powers he had yet to fully utilize.
Moreover, Garon's past ability to learn had evolved into a terrifyingly powerful authority.
Any ability recorded by the River of Time could be utilized by Garon, albeit with certain limitations.
First, using another's power required more temporal energy than the original wielder. Second, the effectiveness might not reach a hundred percent and would be slightly weaker.
Thus, Garon described himself as nearly omnipotent.
Only within the sections of the River of Time he completely controlled, such as the Heroic Domain, could he act with total freedom.
If the Nine-Faced Dragon God used its breath of rules in the Heroic Domain, and it was imprinted into the River of Time, Garon could replicate it by expending an equivalent amount of temporal energy.
One day, if I perfectly master the River of Time of the Grand Ring Multiverse, I will be truly omnipotent within it, Garon mused silently.
"It is a wondrous feeling."
Yona blinked her pale purple eyes, a hint of envy in her voice. "I don't know when I'll become a quasi-strong divine power. I can feel my growth slowing significantly."
Garon looked at Yona and noticed that she was still at the peak of quasi-weak divine power, just a step away from becoming a quasi-medium divine power.
"Very slow" meant that over three hundred years, she had progressed from the initial stage to the peak of quasi-weak divine power.
"We force dragons can typically reach quasi-medium divine power without issue, but going beyond that is incredibly difficult. Perhaps only the progenitor dragon has achieved quasi-strong divine power."
Yona added.
Ordinary force dragons could continue to grow after reaching quasi-medium divine power, becoming dominant in their tier. But advancing to quasi-strong divine power was another matter—no regular force dragon had yet accomplished it. Even if they could dominate within the quasi-medium divine power tier, they would struggle against a quasi-strong divine power without extraordinary abilities like Time Dragon Reversal.
"Don't worry."
"With me around, you'll become a quasi-strong divine power sooner or later."
The silver dragon smiled slightly, gently stroking his mate's head with his wing.
At the same time, the life energy in the surrounding space began to converge, flowing into Yona's body.
As the life energy poured in, Yona felt a soothing, nurturing warmth, a tingling sensation coursing through her, bringing a blissful expression to her face as she narrowed her eyes in contentment.
"The life energy of the Heroic Domain… feels wonderful."
Yona murmured lazily.
"Aren't these energies supposed to be accessible only to the plane's ruler?"
After a moment, Yona asked, puzzled.
Under his mate's gaze, Garon calmly explained, "To be precise, only the plane's ruler can harness and control them."
The Heroic Domain did not willingly let many beings tap into its life energy, as it was the plane's essence.
Even when Garon was a quasi-medium divine power, he could theoretically channel the life energy to another being by his will. However, due to the Heroic Domain's resistance, the effect was minimal.
Now, as a quasi-strong divine power, and having integrated the River of Time within the Heroic Domain, the plane was as pliable as a docile maiden before Garon, allowing him free rein.
"Due to my absorption, the life energy in the Heroic Domain has significantly thinned."
"But it will gradually replenish."
"In the future, when your strength has reached the peak of quasi-medium divine power and enough life energy has been accumulated, I can help you break through the barrier to quasi-strong divine power."
Not only Yona, but any living being, except those with necrotic attributes, could receive life energy as a reward from Garon now that he had full control over the Heroic Domain.
"Do you want to try it now? You're only a step away from quasi-medium divine power. The current concentration of life energy, though lower, is still sufficient."
Garon offered.
Yona thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Reaching quasi-medium divine power is just a matter of time for me; it's not difficult. If the life energy can indeed help me break through to quasi-strong divine power, I'd rather save it for later."
Garon respected his mate's decision and nodded.
Suddenly, Yona spoke up.
"By the way, I have something to show you."
With the clinking and clattering of precious stones and gold, a silver dragon egg, its surface covered in diamond-like patterns, emerged from the bottom of the hoard, landing at the tip of Yona's tail.
At first glance, it didn't look like a dragon egg but rather an exquisite piece of metal artwork.
"I've already laid the egg. I just don't know when it will hatch."
Whoosh. Yona's tail twirled deftly, causing the egg to spin rapidly.
It seemed less like a delicate dragon egg and more like a playful toy.
Garon observed the egg that Yona was playing with and sensed a life force within it similar to his and Yona's, yet distinct.
Simultaneously, while there was no visible disturbance in the surrounding River of Time, peculiar force field arcs rippled in sync with the egg.
"…As expected, our offspring will be a force dragon."
The silver dragon's gaze softened as he looked at his mate and the egg she was treating like a toy. He did not stop her playful antics.
After all, Yona's control was such that she couldn't possibly harm their yet-to-be-hatched child.
And even if she did, Garon could always use Time Reversal to restore it.
With a flick of her tail, the egg soared through the air and landed on Yona's head between her horns with a crisp clink.
Balancing the egg on her head, Yona swayed playfully, laughing, "During your slumber, whenever I felt bored, I'd bond with our future child like this. It's quite fun."
"I just wonder when the little dragon inside will finally hatch."
Garon looked at Yona and asked, "Do you want to know?"
Not only could he pinpoint the hatching time, but with the Eye of Time, he could foresee the future of the little one as well.
Yona thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Let's keep it a surprise. Not knowing the exact time is part of the excitement."
Yona had laid the egg two hundred years ago.
The incubation period alone was already abnormal for a force dragon. After a hundred years, the egg showed no signs of hatching, and the dragon inside was not yet fully developed.
Garon raised a claw, using the waters of the River of Time to sketch intricate and profound symbols imbued with temporal essence.
With Garon's guidance, the time runes merged with the egg.
With these run
es, the hatchling would grow significantly within the same time frame, giving it a higher starting point.
"…I was lucky. I didn't have a quasi-strong divine power father when I was born."
Garon reflected silently.
He would not give his child excessive help. Dragons raised under the excessive protection and indulgence of their parents often met unfortunate ends. With Garon as its father, the hatchling already had a significant advantage, not to mention the entire Dragon God system as its backing.
However, Garon would not withhold all assistance, as demonstrated by the time runes he had just inscribed.
Thunk.
After embedding the time runes into the egg, Garon casually tossed it, and it landed in a corner of the lair.
The platinum eyes of the silver dragon reflected his mate's graceful and beautiful form as he spread his massive wings, enveloping the surrounding space.
"Let it grow on its own for now."
"Let's not worry about it."
"How about making another dragon baby?"
In the following moments, the egg in the corner, like the numerous treasures in the lair, was subjected to rhythmic vibrations, sometimes rising and falling, sometimes gentle, sometimes intense.
---
Three years later.
The Pantheon convened a grand council in the Heroic Domain.
This session was crucial as it was to determine the Pantheon's future course of action, requiring the presence of the deities themselves, not just their avatars.
Under the proud gaze of countless legendary dragons, numerous star-like streaks of light crossed the sky of the Dragon Court, representing the arrival of gods from various planes and worlds, all converging on the Pantheon located within the Dragon Court layer.
In the grand, majestic, and resplendent hall.
The gods took their seats in an orderly manner on tiered, circular steps, each deity naturally arranging themselves according to their status, leaving the seats closest to the central throne for the gods of strong divine power.
Since the Pantheon was located in the Dragon Court layer, Garon had already arrived.
The dragon gods were not seated among the ordinary deities but had specific seats behind the throne of the Lord of Gods, reflecting their leading role in the Pantheon. The other gods accepted this arrangement without complaint.
In the early days of the Pantheon, there might have been some internal dissent.
But now, after the Dragon Gods successfully led them through the Second Dawn War, any resistance to the dragon hegemony had vanished.
The Dragon Gods had proven themselves as true leaders.
Without the Dragon Gods spearheading the battle against the Primal Wilds, the multiverse might have been shattered back to its primordial state.
"Garon, congratulations on ascending to quasi-strong divine power."
"I anticipated this day would come, but I didn't expect it so soon."
"It's wonderful to have another towering figure in the Dragon God system. A joyous occasion."
"Haha, we should soon call upon the gods to celebrate your ascension throughout the multiverse."
The Metal Dragon God, who had also arrived and sat next to Garon, smiled sincerely.
"Likewise, congratulations on reclaiming your peak strength as a deity of strong divine power."
"Other than the Chief Gods and His Majesty Haotian, you, Bahamut, are probably the strongest now."
At his peak, the Metal Dragon God's overall strength was comparable to a god of level nineteen, and he was exceptionally adept in combat, making him a formidable force.
It's worth noting that during the First Dawn War, it was the combined might of the Metal Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen that ultimately tore the Terror Lord apart.
Even though the Terror Lord had been grievously injured at the time, he was still incredibly dangerous, and there were other Primal Wilds surrounding him.
"I am part of the past. The new era belongs to you."
The Metal Dragon God, Bahamut, chuckled, though his heart swelled with pride at Garon's genuine praise. Dragons, after all, had an inherent love for admiration, and dragon gods were no exception.
"Part of the past? Bahamut, you're too modest. The new generation of deities still look up to your glory."
"There's no glory left in me. In the Second Dawn War, aside from Io and His Majesty Haotian, who could surpass your achievements? If not for the alternate dragon legions you summoned, the Prime Material Plane might have collapsed under the Primal Wilds, and we would have been the losers."
"Heh, we all did what was necessary. It's our duty. There's no need to dwell on who performed better."
Garon smiled softly, exchanging compliments with the Metal Dragon God.
Their conversation flowed smoothly and joyfully.
As time passed, the gods gathered in the Pantheon.
The Nine-Faced Dragon God sat at the central throne, his visage a blend of all dragon traits, serene and gentle. The Haotian God sat beside him, exuding a stern and dignified presence, his expression serious and unsmiling.
"Garon Aurelian."
The Nine-Faced Dragon God turned his gaze toward Garon.
The eyes of the assembled gods followed, focusing on the silver dragon.
More inscrutable than ever, he seemed to merge with the River of Time, making him appear simultaneously present and absent. Middle-tier gods were momentarily stunned, realizing that this eternal and temporal dragon had truly become a high-tier being, someone they could only look up to—a supreme ruler of the multiverse, whose thoughts and actions could reshape the destinies of countless worlds.
The high-tier gods, sensing Garon's aura intertwined with the Heroic Domain's River of Time, perceived his quasi-timeless state and regarded him with solemn eyes.
Although Garon had only recently broken through to quasi-strong divine power, comparable to a quasi-divine rank of sixteen, his imposing presence was no less formidable than that of a Chief God. Any entity that underestimated Garon, treating him as an ordinary quasi-divine rank sixteen, would undoubtedly face dire consequences.
At such exalted levels, surpassing one's rank in battle was virtually impossible.
Yet some ancient strong divine powers felt unsure of their chances against Garon Aurelian.
"…Incredible. Could his potential be akin to His Majesty Io, a top-tier existence?"
The gods mused boldly, still underestimating Garon's true capacity.
The Nine-Faced Dragon God looked at Garon with a fatherly gaze, his expression gentle and warm. "Garon Aurelian, in the Second Dawn War, you achieved unparalleled feats, surpassing all the gods in your accomplishments."
"My child, I am proud of you."
The birth of the Time Dragon stemmed from the Nine-Faced Dragon God's desire to transcend his limitations and become a God of Gods. Garon was the product of the Nine-Faced Dragon God's essence interacting with the River of Time.
Strictly speaking, the Nine-Faced Dragon God could be considered Garon's father, with the River of Time as his mother.
The Nine-Faced Dragon God genuinely regarded Garon as his child.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have abandoned the defense of the Prime Material Plane to instantly descend into the Windswept Abyss when he sensed Garon being trapped by the Goddess of Night.
"As the champion of the Second Dawn War, you will receive the champion's reward."
The gods did not object to the Nine-Faced Dragon God's statement.
It was not favoritism but a recognition of facts. They had all witnessed Garon's contributions.
Garon had successfully sealed a quasi-strong divine power and countless quasi-medium and quasi-weak Primal Wilds.
The alternate dragon legions he summoned had turned the tide on the Prime Material Plane, foiling the Primal Wilds' plan to annihilate it and laying the foundation for victory in the Second Dawn War.
"Tell me, what do you desire?"
The silver dragon pondered for a moment before speaking, "Plane Sovereignty. I wish to become the ruler of more outer planes, not just the Heroic Domain."
"For example, I aspire to become the Sovereign of the Astral Plane."
Becoming a plane sovereign was not easy, so Garon decided to seek the Nine-Faced Dragon God's assistance. Although Garon himself had reached quasi-strong divine power, he was still not on par with the Nine-Faced Dragon God. More importantly, the Nine-Faced Dragon God had played a role in shaping the rules of many planes in the Grand Ring Multiverse.
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