EPISODE 221: SPOILER

— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7292. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

It was quiet. The only sounds were the several pairs of footsteps resounding across the stone grey floor and my and Madria's breathing. There was no dragon in this large hall—nothing but dull lantern banisters and large columns that held up the mountain. The pillars that held up the weight of the mountain held scratches within them, Kair-unian scribbles that only a madman could understand. Margret paused with every few pillars, eyes aligned on the scribbles before she hurriedly caught up.

It didn't matter that this place was empty; I knew where Rasheed and the rest would be. Nine of us entered deep into the Mountain of Final Hope, the large halls more than accommodating for the [Path Walkers] and their expanded sizes. I see now that this place had been built for individuals of their stature in mind—humans… mortals… were just an afterthought.

We found a door at the end of a hall, crimson in color, split down the middle with intricately carved dragon scales. At the center of each door was a half-open dragon eye that gave the appearance of bashfulness. The doors swung open as we approached seamlessly, inviting us further in.

My hand tightened around Madria's, and she looked at me and gave me a comforting smile. Together, we stepped in, steps echoing off the grey-stoned floor.

We entered the familiar servants' quarters, Madria's steps slowing as we passed our former room. She looked at me and smiled sadly, but her expression quickly changed as we moved forward, our steps halting at the domain of Vita and Mors.

"Should we," Madria hesitated, looking at the entrance.

"Yeah, just in case," I responded.

We entered their abode, the familiar trees and cycle of Life and Death a sight for sore eyes. Vita calmly tended to her garden, but the femme golem turned in surprise, a smile alighting on her features as she saw us.

"Madria, Lawruthian, it's good that you've returned—I'm sorry you left on such bad… circumstances the last time," she clasped her hands together, her smile bringing life to the room. "The Aspect had a fit of… difficulties, but it seems to be resolved now," Vita finished her greeting with warmth and life radiating from her. She turned her attention to the large figures behind us, her brows raising as she peered at them. "A Demigoddess of Love, Battle-Magic, and Spell-Crafting—how rare, but beautiful. I presume you must be Lawruthian's mother and you Madria's… your souls…," Vita didn't seem to notice the light shining from the three demigoddesses as she addressed the women.

Queen Titiana was silent for a moment, before ultimately she responded. "…That, I am."

Before anyone else could speak, I spoke out. "Vita, it's good to see you," I began, but strangely, a tinge of sadness entered my heart. It was unexplainable, similar to the feeling of déjà vu I felt when first entering the mountain. "I've returned to bring Minerva home and… perhaps make a deal with Rasheed. Do…," I hesitated, unsure of how to word this. "Is he…"

"The Aspect is residing in his library. He's been waiting for your arrival ever since the ruckus in Wyvern's Roost began."

I frowned. This was not what I understood from Minerva the last time she contacted me. They were confronting the Aspect in his lab… back… when there was a thrum of magic.

A thrum that was now missing. The inverted magic was also gone, and nothing seemed out of place. The voice of Madria interrupted my thoughts, bringing me back to reality. "It's nice to see you, Vita, and you as well, Mors, but… can you tell us of the Aspect and what has happened these last few hours? Lawruthian doesn't seem to be able to contact Minerva."

Vita frowned. She hesitated, turning a calm gaze from me to Madria. There seemed to be an internal struggle that she eventually overcame as she next spoke, a heavy sigh escaping first. "I truly cannot tell you anything—just know everything has been resolved… and," Vita looked toward me, her expression unreadable. It seemed to have traces of sadness, hope, and an acceptance I didn't know what for. "I'm sure all parties will leave satisfied."

Vita gave a short bow and withdrew deeper into her domain, deeper into the forest. The conversation was over, but just seeing her allowed me to know my favorite golem would likely be in his blacksmith.

We continued to make our way through the empty halls of the mountain. A wind blew through the halls, bringing fresh mountain air with it as I sensed the powers of another [Realm Guard]. They were the prison guards of this place but also its caretakers. My steps slowed to a halt as we finally found the entrance to Ignis's blacksmith. The large blacksmith hammer, golden in color, decorated the heavy double doors with an imposing presence. The heat from the flames of a star escaped from underneath, gentle but able to reach impossible temperatures should they choose to.

I hesitated outside the door, hand inches away from pushing it open. I couldn't explain it, but this felt like a goodbye. Vita's words, the general atmosphere here gave me the sense that none of this would be here much longer. I didn't come to destroy the Mountain of Final Hope—I came to kill the [Final Dragon], but perhaps doing so was one and the same.

"Well lad, what are ya waiting for? Open da door."

Hearing the voice of Ignis, inviting me in, I opened and entered hand in hand with Madria while my mother and the rest followed behind. They'd been silent most of the journey. Perhaps they communicated through another medium.

We entered Ignis's blacksmith, the heat of the forge growing as it blasted into our faces. Hundreds of weapons, perhaps thousands, hung on the walls—nothing had changed. Ignis stood at his forge, but there was no metal being worked on. Only the light of the [Realm Guard] and heat… accompanied him.

"It's… been awhile Ignis."

"That it has lad, that it has. You've come for Minerva?"

I nodded in response to his questions. The golem stood, and the people behind us shifted, sensing its power.

"G'evening Madria—you've both grown since we last saw ya," Ignis smiled.

Madria politely curtsied. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Ignis—I do wish it could be under… different circumstances."

Ignis chuckled. "'Eres a gift for you, consider it me making up for not having it ready your last visit."

He tossed over an object—a staff forged from the heat of a star, its metal gun-grey but shining with the same star-light as [Legacy]. Madria caught the staff, giving thanks to its creator as she inspected it. Her eyes widened in surprise and I voiced the question I held in my heart.

"The… [End of Adventure]… he can't be defeated, can he? Not by mortals?"

"Can ants take down an elephant?" Ignis questioned. He shook his head. "Rasheed is at the level of a Low God—to even face him properly, a minimum of ten demigods close to apotheosis would be needed, with tens of others necessary as cannon fodder. He, however, can be reasoned with—as most Gods—he can make deals of equivalent exchange."

The words of Ignis released hidden tension in my shoulders. I'd summarized Rasheed's strength from the words of Carno and thoughts and guesses, but to hear it confirmed by Ignis truly gave me a sense of relief. The nameless golem told me a story of a Lawruthian who fought against the dragon with such strength but still lost. It showed me the possibility of connecting man and golem on a deeper, more intimate level. Now, I was ready to face Rasheed.

The Library of Final Hope doors were shaped like that of an open book, its seams the slit that opened the doors. A large golem with a crown of precious gems from the earth stood behind a desk, calmly waiting. I nodded at Terra, passing it as it gave a single warning.

"No books are to be damaged in the library."

I chuckled and moved on. It was time to put an end to this adventure. Age-yellowed eyes aligned on my body while black vertical pupils carelessly observed the approaching group. My eyes aligned on Minerva, who was perched upon a large egg like a mother hen incubating her brood. She seemed despondent but outwardly completely fine. I know now that she was just keeping silent as I attempted to contact her, waiting for me to arrive.

I studied the creature, dragon . The master of this place was taller than Terra, with two ibex horns shooting up toward the ceiling while a second pair more similar to bulls emerged from the side of his head. Scales covered most of his body, including his face, but left the central features such as his eyes, mouth, nose, and more open to reveal human-like light brown-reddish skin. He wore no clothes, nor did he need to as the scales acted as such.

Dragon . The dragon, who was used as a fairytale to scare children to bed, gestured to the sole chair across from him. I looked to Minerva, who gave me a sullen but relieved smile.

Precious seconds passed as we studied one another while a steady, uninterrupted silence extended its clutches throughout the area.

"Greetings, Rasheed—[Aspect of Knowledge], [Final Dragon], and [End of Adventure]. I, Crown Prince Lawruthian, [Chosen of Madris], [Holy Prince of Edryani], and the [Forefather of Edryani Innovation] have come to bargain ."

The dragon did not respond, but his eyes flickered to the seat across from him. I nodded, moving forward to sit on the chair several times too large for me. The moment I did, the atmosphere changed.

"Knowledge is a powerful thing… a blessing in the right hands," Rasheed clenched a clawed fist before looking toward me.

He was old, at least, he gave off that feeling as one observed him. Old, tired, but strangely… satisfied. There was a burst of energy deeply hidden within his frame, but it seemed to be stuck behind a fog called Time and History. Both objects, whether they be Laws or another form of esoteric powers in this strange world seemed to have taken their toll on him. His dues were paid and now he'd come to collect.

"But a curse in others," I finished.

"What you see behind me is the culmination of my tens of thousands of years of research, completed with the help of Minerva—all for the sake of bringing what once was, what should have been… back ."

My eyes aligned on the large dragon egg, larger than the Aspect. It was translucent, and five distinct dragon eggs could be seen inside. It held rooms for tens of more and could easily fit a dozen people within. I didn't respond to the Aspect's words, sensing he had more to say.

"That possibility has only become a reality now—and, now… there is one final step before completion," Rasheed's voice was tired, but it could not hide the excitement within it. His eyes aligned on me. He did not speak but I understood all too well what he was waiting on.

The last time I was here, I took something away. Something that seemed to be exchanged equivalently with Minerva.

I looked at my spatial bracelet, and slowly, I removed the final dragon egg within. The one I stole, and in exchange, Minerva was taken. It was lifeless, and when I looked at the five eggs within the large one, I could see a stark difference between them. The eggs were once stone grey, heavy, cold, and dull without a hint of anything emerging from them. The eggs within the large one glowed with the power of the ten Primary Elements. Each held sway over one color than another but they very much gave the appearance of life.

"I'm here to conduct a trade," I began, my voice halted as Rasheed waved his hand.

"Yes, and yes—you're not here to conduct a trade Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani… I am ."

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I frowned, closing my mouth and allowing the [Final Dragon] to speak.

"Thrice you and your," Rasheed gestured to those behind me. "…party invaded my halls and attempted to slay me."

"Thrice, we have failed," I whispered. "…a finality ."

"Yes, in the traditions of the magi, this is a finality," Rasheed's aged eyes locked into mine. "But not yours."

"( Reality Overwrite ) is a powerful Mythical perk not many ever get the option of choosing—similar to your ( Codex of Earth ). It allows its user to sacrifice several levels and more in exchange for clearing and overwriting the previous reality—should you get the qualifications to upgrade a perk, then it can achieve a much-coveted ability—( Reality Writing )—directly allowing you to edit the events of reality instead of passively following along with the knowledge of what is to come. Should there be no Gods or powerful beings in the region, then the past, present, and future are yours to control."

My throat grew dry at his words. Three attempts, none I remembered, if not for the faith and the golem, then perhaps I would be in an endless cycle until Rasheed ran out of levels, or perhaps he would truly kill us and end it before such a point.

"I did this for two reasons," Rasheed said as he held up two fingers. "The first is to absorb all the Potential of those realities—every person, every animal, even the bugs into G.E.N.E.S.I.S.—the second is to create an opportunity for the eyes of the Gods to be veiled."

Rasheed's sharp shark-like teeth showed a heart-devouring grin. He held up three fingers as he continued to speak. "I will give you three opportunities, Lawruthian... and one of them is the chance to be the next [Realm Lord], the very thing these New Gods fight over."

I sighed. Something like this was far from free, but it did explain why I could no longer connect with the Goddess. Rasheed had planned this out from start to end. So much so it held me wondering if I truly ever held any free will in the matter—perhaps I was a pawn the entire time.

Unless I become a God or something equivalent, then I will never possess the right to be a [Player].

"If you are telling me this, it is because you already understand the outcome. So, what are these," I waved my hand as I spoke. "…great opportunities."

"The first is to become an Ascendant , you and Madria. The second is my [Dragon's Tear]. The third is to become the [First Dragon]—you have no choice but to accept—(Law of Knowledge: Calamity Cage)."

My breath stopped, and the world seemed to end in my eyes. Before I could register anything, I found myself looking into the eyes of my mother and her captured companions—each surrounded by a heavy mana-dense cage that seemed ready to set off at a moment's notice.

It happened so quickly that I don't even think my mother and her cohort held the chance to register it, as only after the appearance of the cage around them did most begin to react. And, only after I saw them reacting did I fully understand what Rasheed had just done.

"Think carefully before you next speak," Rasheed warned— threatened —before falling silent. "This time, I will truly kill them."

For several seconds, there was nothing but the sound of my heavy breathing. My voice emerged hoarse as I next spoke. "Who is to take care of your… children."

Rasheed smiled, sharp shark-like incisors displayed for all to see. "You already know the answer to that."

"Then, two final questions… why me?"

"In this world, there are only two others in a position of yours—I know who you are, and thus, I chose it to be you. Not to mention, it was your perk and the knowledge it holds that made this possible," Rasheed said. He chuckled, waving his hand and the final egg flew into it. "Consider it a… gift… for my inhospitable welcoming your previous visit."

"Did… did Carno Edryani succeed? Have you always been dying?"

"Yes, but you and your people hold the achievement of killing me, congratulations."

I looked to Minerva. "Was this part of your plan?"

"I planned to drain Rasheed enough to give you an actual chance. Unfortunately, I do not understand the change that occurs once you reach demigod and even further beyond," Minerva chirped. "I… I'm sorry. I failed," she whispered. "I failed."

I sighed and looked at Madria. "Could you help me with my armor?"

She nodded and I slowly lowered myself from the overly large chair to the ground. The Aspect of Knowledge didn't pay attention to me, instead, he stood to deposit the final egg into its place.

"I'm sorry I brought you into this mess," I commented.

"I followed you Lawruthian. Not by force or duty," Madria responded. "Do you understand what is going to happen to us? What is an Ascendant ?"

Although she did her best to keep the worry from her voice, it couldn't hide from me. I didn't have an answer. Thrice previous… selves? If I could call them that…, they attempted to defeat Rasheed. And, thrice, they failed, but strangely, if I was the fourth… I succeeded. A rebirth after a finality. A new [Path] that would open new possibilities and prospects. It was not envisioned this way by me, but no plan survives execution.

"I don't know," I responded, shaking my head. If Rasheed wanted us dead, then it would have happened.

Madria didn't respond, but her hand tightly closed around mine as we presented ourselves before the dragon. I turned my head, and I could see the lips of the [Path Walkers] moving, but no sound escaped from the cages. I held no connection to the Goddess and could not call to anyone else for help.

I looked to Madria, who gave me a forced smile. There was fear in her eyes, an emotion I never wanted her to feel again. I didn't possess the strength for that yet—or perhaps my enemies were all old fogies from previous generations. Anyone my age, I was more than confident of eradicating. In the end, it all falls back to TIME. There isn't enough of it. Ten years is too short, at least for what my crusade is. I'd only be twenty-six, a pittance of my magi age. And, should I combine both lives, then I'd be nearly fifty—still a young adult in the Edryan society. My mother was in her sixties and just reached an age where she was considered beyond that level.

I sighed… I'm tired of cleaning up remnants of the past.

"Step forward and touch G.E.N.E.S.I.S. It will not harm you. It will only expand your Potential ," Rasheed whispered as he carefully caressed the exterior of G.E.N.E.S.I.S.

Together, together , we stepped forward, doing as he commanded. Our bodies slowly enter the crystalized egg.

"Minerva, begin Operation S.T.A.R. Go with Sequence B, and ensure Edryan follows along precisely, precisely —Thraag is already aware, and Spatial Valley should have finished its preparations," I hurriedly spoke. "Don't hesitate to use my name… and make sure Operation S.A.F.E is planned and ready to commence upon my return. Ensure you try and invite as many world leaders as possible. I only have one chance—one chance before I let it all go to hell."

Minerva chirped in acknowledgment, flying from her perch atop G.E.N.E.S.I.S and to the table.

"When you next awake, you will… Be. Come. More. You will be Ascendant . You will be the [First Dragon]."

The [End of Adventure] sat down, his eyes drooping. "(Reality Writing)," he whispered but his next words were anything but—they extended far, past the mountains of Edryan and far into Genesis. " After a harrowing, toe-curling, and heart-stopping battle, Lawruthian and crew have finally put an [End of Adventure]. The [Hero], exhausted from his ordeal, finds himself a new blessing or perhaps curse as the dragon's final strike forces him into G.E.N.E.S.I.S—Genetic Engineering: Neo-Embryonic Synthesis Initiating Spawning was the Final Dragon's greatest work, and it was the very thing that would now prevent the hero's demise. It was a spawning and rebirth chamber for a new species of dragon that would arise in the Genesis Realm. Herald by the dawn of a new age—a [Golden Age] of unprecedented might, Lawruthian and Madria fall into a deep slumber as their bodies and Potential—Sols—are reimagined and remade to truly take their first steps beyond mortality. "

The voice of Rasheed paused, a light hum, more of a thrum, escaped from his lips as he mused on the next part. With every word spoken, reality shifted and changed. There were no proper words to describe it other than Rasheed taking a canvas and applying his own coating of paint over an already existing image.

A single tear rolled down his cheek, solidifying into a drop similar to a Prince Rupert's drop. Rasheed picked it up and then tossed it into G.E.N.E.S.I.S, watching as it landed between Madria and me.

" G.E.N.E.S.I.S follows its co-creators programming, it absorbs the attributes of the Final Dragon, Rasheed Reach, as it enters a new stage of evolution. The Aspect of Knowledge smiles, casting one final spell that will stabilize the foundation —long enough for the New Gods and our young [Hero] Lawruthian to find a solution. Then, he gifts the Knowledge of their previous battles so that the [Hero] and his followers may acknowledge their mistakes. Fighting a Dragon the Dragon had cost them—a price they were willing and unwilling to pay. Rasheed Reach's death signals the start of a new age, its name: [Ardent of the End]—golden for some, dull and lifeless for others. The [End of Adventure] exchanged one final look with Lawruthian, then, he passed into the great beyond, Sol searching for Uterra—Sol searching for home. "

The [End of Adventure] eyes slowly closed, the light from them fading as the light of G.E.N.E.S.I.S. grew brighter, denser. My eyes followed his, the warm liquid of the egg slowly forcing me to slumber. Madria was next to me, our hands entwined as darkness consumed us. Perhaps when I awoke, I would be one step closer to becoming a [Player].

" Happy… Birthday Lawruthian ," the [Final Dragon] whispered as his eyes slowly closed for one last time.

" Happy… Birthday Lawruthian ."

Your actions have slain Rasheed Reach, the Aspect of Knowledge alongside unified forces.

You have gained the Feat: [Final Dragon Slayer].

You have leveled up x 25, please assign the level to [Imperius Golemlord] or [Divine Sovereign of Edryan].

EPISODE 221: HAPPY… BIRTHDAY LAWRUTHIAN

End of Part 11

End of Season 6

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