Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Saphira calmly looked into his eyes, her gaze revealed a certainty to it, as if knowing that Yan Zaizen will agree no matter what. "You will experience many trials and tribulations in your life, but the most important, most defining will all occur in a short span from each other. I would say more if I could, but your fate will definitely shift, and I’ll be breaking my oath. Therefore, I’ll simply tell you this: You will fail in the end."

What?!

Yan Zaizen paused. He would fail? What did that mean? Was it destiny, fate, or whatever? However, while he thought this, his eyes flickered with radiant traces of amber-gold light. An unyielding light surged within, unwilling to relent to any form of destiny or fate, and the desire to control his own choices.

Saphira shook her head, "It’s not that you will fail because of fate, but because you lack the appropriate tools to succeed from the beginning. I will say this, a path of choice, blood, and promise awaits you. I can not guarantee whether you will succeed in either one of these, but I can give you an item to ensure your success in the third and final path."

Yan Zaizen deeply frowned. A path of choice, a path of blood, and a path of promise? He recalled her previous words...three trials. Did she mean he’ll have a trial of choice, blood, and promise? What did it mean to fail those trials, and why did he have to go through them?

"Of course, you can decline. I will not stop you, I will not force you. As an All-Immortal Dragon, I disdain to do such things. The choice is yours and only yours." Saphira’s voice echoed in his ears, and he felt somewhat lightheaded.

In his life, he had always placed emphasis on choices and how they defined destiny and fate. It was these free will-induced choices that allowed all living existences to control the direction they traveled or the end of their path. He has met many enemies and acquaintances in his life and given them choices. To think that one day, he would be faced with something similar.

Two choices: To Accept or To Decline.

He closed his eyes. A throbbing in the depths of his heart echoed endlessly, and his mind attempted to connect to the Non-Verse’s prophetic instinct. This was the first time he was actively trying to seek out the help of a universe. However, he received no response. The universe was as silent as it was when he cultivated the heavens.

It seemed he was truly alone in this.

He wished Pinaka was here, directly beside him to offer him some words. The consequences of taking this were harsh, and the responsibility will definitely be substantially heavy, but if something could help him survive in the future, would she say yes? Or, would she say no? Could he trust this All-Immortal Dragon? There was a lot she knew about him, and very little he knew about her.

There was no instinctual feeling determining whether he should trust this person or not. He calmed down, focused his thoughts, and tried to figure out what was important to him. While the consequences of losing a portion of his soul, forging the life of a Dragon Race, and accepting was unknown, it would definitely not be small.

But what if he refused? What if he can’t handle what comes next? What if...if it...what if he...

Suddenly, a figure emerged in his mind. It was a man in a white, simple robe, with clean white hair and a white beard. His aura was common but ethereal like the ever-present wind. He stood there like a gentle senior, guiding all those who meet him on their paths but never forcefully. He would give them a choice, this way or that way. Whatever they chose, he would wish them the greatest of fortune.

"I’ll explain this, but after... be sure to remember that having faith is not a flaw of the mind, but the strength of the heart." - Words of Eloah(Chapter 267, Earth - 2).

Those words resounded like a thunderbolt to the mind. Yan Zaizen’s eyes abruptly opened, flickering within was a strong determination. An unyielding faith..

"From now on, my path is the path I choose." Recalling those words of his he had left behind on that day, Yan Zaizen realized the meaning of Eloah’s words. Choices were a determinant of fate and free will, it embodied the essence of yourself and your future, including your past, and only existed in the present. Faith in your choices is not a flaw, but a strength.

"Fine, I accept. However, I’ll only do it under two conditions," Yan Zaizen decided to flip the script. Saphira was somewhat shocked. Didn’t she just say she was willing to help him succeed his last trial, what more did he need? If he didn’t trust her, he could simply decline. However, she waited patiently, curious about what he would say.

If he asked to help with all of his trials, she would have to decisively reject. If she interfered more than what fate allowed, it would alter his path and hers.

"First, I’ll only do it after I finished my goal. That will take no more than a hundred years!" His goal of saving Pinaka was always at the forefront. The reason he felt indecisive had to be because of her. If he segregated a portion of his Soul Source at this moment, who knew if he could accomplish his task?

Saphira frowned. That condition was too much. He will definitely fail without her help, so how could she agree? If she did, wouldn’t the entire purpose be rendered moot? She was about to firmly shake her head in refusal as there were reasons why that wouldn’t work, but Yan Zaizen continued.

"Second, I’ll take your Natal Force and the egg with me, and I’ll raise my daughter! If you wish to see her, then you can come with me, but if this place really is a prison, then I’ll shatter this prison. The moment I’m done with what needs to be done, I’ll instill the Natal Force and my Soul Source into her." Yan Zaizen coldly stated. He had no intention of leaving a child without a father, and he had no idea whether this woman would up and disappear.

That being said, even if her words were false, even if there was a nearly infinitely low percentage of a chance that she’s right and he will fail, and if that meant his death, wouldn’t Yan Linzen be raised with a father, mother, or even a brother? Wouldn’t Pinaka, who had the utmost faith in him, be left in despair within literal Hell?

How could he not agree?!?!

Stunned speechless by his words, Saphira couldn’t help but give Yan Zaizen an incredibly deep look. His declaration, if heard by others, would definitely be taken as a joke. However, this caused her words to tremble with significant waves of raw emotion.

"You’re really willing...to shatter this prison?" She asked, her tone was fragile and delicate, as if hope had just emerged within her heart. A weakness seemed to emerge in her eyes as she gently rubbed her belly, a glimmer of wetness sprinkled her gaze.

Yan Zaizen firmly nodded, "I lost my parents when I was young and I know how it feels to be raised without parents. I never want anyone associated with me, especially what could be considered a complicated parent-child relationship, to be subjected to that experience. I will give this child a proper upbringing and a mother. Its rightful mother, you, so of course I won’t allow you to be imprisoned."

Yan Linzen was too complicated to even factor in what she was, so Pinaka could easily take her as a daughter. This egg, however, was less complicated. It may have been borne by two beings, but she was asking for this lifeform to possess a literal portion of his soul. This made her his child by all means, and he will raise it with the love of a parent, just like he would Yan Linzen.

However, Saphira seemed unconcerned by his declaration to take responsibility, but seemed fixated on his words...she repeated, "You’re willing to shatter this prison, for a child...just to have two parents? Do you know the difficulty in this?"

Yan Zaizen shook his head. He didn’t know. How could he? However, even if the Heavens, Gods, Immortals, Devils, and Immortals stood in his path to accomplishing a god, they would all be swept away!

"So, what do you say?" Yan Zaizen solemnly asked.

"YES!" Saphira jumped, her naked twin peaks sloshing about in happiness as her eyes glimmered with bright light. Her beauty at this moment was breathtaking to behold. "Yes, yes, yes! Agreed! Yes!"