VAST POSSIBILITY IN TIME-part two

chapter: The Argument and the Decision

Washt: "That's ridiculous! You already built your own world—you basically became a god! You already made that!"

Milan: "No, no, no, that's not the case. It's just my imagination. I don't get anything from it. I just always wanted to have a world like that—it's all in my mind. I'm not creating anything. This world exists only inside my PC. I built the structure of this world in a game called Minecraft. You don't know it? It's a game on Earth where you can build whatever you imagine—your world, your home, your structures."

He pauses, looking at them with sincerity.

"I always think about this world and write about it—how it's going to be, what it's going to have, or what it's going to become. I don't really know how, but this world has always lived in my imagination."

Time chuckles softly. "It's all Possibility's doing."

Washt: "Hah! Possibility always comes up with dirty tricks."

Milan: "Then what do you think? You already know everything about this universe, right? So let's jump straight into my new universe—or I should say your new universe. You're higher beings after all, higher even than the story cards themselves."

He takes a deep breath and adds with calm authority:

"But I have one request. You should disconnect yourselves from your omnipotence. That way, you can enjoy the world and truly understand what it means to be human."

The room falls silent. Then, in unison, the three cosmic beings step toward the glowing PC screen. The digital light begins to swirl and pull them in.

The monitor flashes brightly as their forms dissolve into streaks of luminous energy, disappearing into the world Milan built in his imagination.

Milan's Awakening in the Ravine

A faint hum echoes through the endless stone walls of the ravine. The air glows faintly blue, veins of mana coursing through the rock like living rivers.

Milan opens his eyes slowly. His body feels heavy, alien.

He raises a trembling hand—and stops. Scales shimmer faintly under dim light, silver mixed with icy blue. His reflection in a puddle shows unfamiliar eyes—dragon eyes.

"This… isn't human," he whispers.

The memories of the round table, the blinding fall, the cosmic beings—all blur like a distant dream. Only this silence remains.

He stands, his heart pounding unevenly. The air grows thicker around him. Mana feels alive here, almost suffocating.

Suddenly, his chest burns. A mark glows beneath his skin—the Dragon Crest.

"What is this…?"

Before he can question more, a mechanical tone rings in his mind.

[Initializing System Protocol…]

[Authority Type: Dragon Core Detected]

[Constructing Interface… Complete]

[System Active.]

A translucent panel flickers before his eyes.

[Welcome, Milan.]

[Lineage: Demon (Half) / Dragon (Half)]

[Condition: Dragon Crest – Active (Cursed)]

[Warning: System detected conflict between Demon Heart and Dragon Core.]

Milan blinks, startled but calm. "System? What are you?"

[Response: A construct born from your Dragon Authority. I exist to stabilize and translate your power.]

"So… you were created by me."

[Affirmative.]

He scrolls through the glowing blue menu, each symbol pulsating with raw mana.

[Stats Overview]

Race: Half-Blood (Demon / Dragon)

Vitality: Stable

Magic Flow: Severely Restricted

Heart Condition: Dragon Crest (Cursed)

Potential: S-Class — Sealed

[Analysis: The Dragon Crest is both your power and curse. It binds your heart to both lineages, limiting mana absorption.]

[If left untreated, the curse will gradually weaken your dragon side, leading to decay.]

Milan clenches his chest. "So even if I'm immortal… I'll die."

[Affirmative. The curse prevents full mana circulation. Demon lineage demands physical sustenance; dragon lineage requires ambient mana. Due to high mana density within this ravine, your heart cannot balance both — sealing your dragon core.]

He looks up at the glowing walls of the ravine. The mana rivers pulse wildly, as if rejecting his presence.

"So this place is killing me slowly."

[Warning: Dimensional Drift Detected.]

[The Ravine connecting between continents is closing. Estimated Time Remaining: 48 hours.]

His eyes narrow. "Then I have no choice."

The mark on his chest pulses again, faintly resonating with his heartbeat. The system's glow stabilizes, guiding him toward an exit.

"I'll climb. No matter how deep the curse… or how heavy this blood feels."

With each step upward, his body shifts, adapting.

His demon bloodline merges with the cold surrounding mana, manifesting as ice energy. Frost follows his movements; stone hardens beneath his feet.

After long hours and days, he reaches the edge of the ravine.

The wind of the upper world hits his face, fresh and sharp.

He takes a long breath and glances at the faint system panel that still hovers nearby.

[Update: Dragon Crest Stabilized at 22%. Curse Contained.]

[Goal: Locate source of Crest or Dragon Temple to remove seal.]

He exhales slowly. "I understand… So this journey isn't about power. It's survival."

Event: The Lesser Dragon's Wrath

Peace doesn't last. The system's tone breaks the silence.

[Warning: High Mana Fluctuation Detected.]

[Entity Detected: Lesser Dragon — Age: 50 years.]

Milan turns his head toward the southern ridge.

The sky burns red as a colossal figure bursts from the clouds—a true dragon, alive and uncorrupted. Scales gleam with molten gold.

The Lesser Dragon is not a corrupted creature—it is a proud, living dragon, matured by fifty years of dominance.

Yet its crimson eyes burn with disdain.

Dragons despise half-bloods.

To them, Milan's existence is a sin against purity.

The dragon lands, cracking the earth beneath its claws. Its voice thunders through the valley:

"Half-blood… desecrator of scales… you do not deserve the heart of our kind."

Milan stands firm, his frost aura swirling. "Then come see how undeserving I am."

The Dragon Crest flares.

[Authority Command: Subjugation Protocol – Activate]

The system lights up, synchronizing with his will. Ice chains of ancient script form midair, clashing against the dragon's flames.

Fire and frost twist violently, shaking the heavens.

[Warning: Crest Overload Risk – 87%]

[Power Output Limited by Curse]

Milan grits his teeth, forcing his mana through. "You're not my enemy! I'm proving that I belong!"

The dragon roars again—but then, as the authority spreads, its flame weakens. Slowly, the massive creature kneels.

[Taming Successful.]

[Lesser Dragon Registered as Companion.]

Milan's body collapses to his knees, breath uneven.

He rests a trembling hand on the dragon's snout.

"You hate what I am. But maybe one day… you'll see what I can become."

The 50-year-old Lesser Dragon, born of pride and hate, bows to Milan—not to his power alone, but to his resolve.

From that moment, it becomes his first ally, and proof that even cursed blood can command the purest of dragons.

After the Battle — The March Through Hell

Milan's vision fades, his breath shallow. The air smells of ash and molten rock.

His body collapses to the ground as the last flicker of his Dragon Authority fades from his chest.

[Warning: Vitality Critically Low.]

[Heart Output: 9%.]

[Command Override: Initiating Emergency Transport Protocol.]

The Lesser Dragon, now subdued, raises its massive head as the system's mechanical tone resonates from Milan's core.

[Command: Protect and relocate Milan to nearest life-bearing zone.]

The dragon lowers its head, gently picking Milan up between its claws.

It spreads its wings and roars — the sound shaking the molten valleys beneath them.

The ravine and its surroundings are nothing short of hell itself.

Rivers of lava flow through cracked ground; mountains spew magma and smoke endlessly.

Every breath burns like fire.

[Environmental Scan: Region classified as Infernal Rift Zone.]

[High threat detected — dragon presence density 4. Probability of encounter: 78%.]

The Lesser Dragon snorts, uneasy. Though proud, it is still young — only fifty years old. In the eyes of true dragons, it is a hatchling.

If another dragon were to appear here, both it and Milan would be annihilated instantly.

Flames roar as it takes flight, cutting through the thick ash-filled clouds. Hours pass. The sky begins to darken — no stars, only smoke and shadow.

At last, faint lights appear ahead — a demon settlement, their homes carved from black stone and glowing crystals.

The dragon lands heavily on the outskirts, folding its wings as it lowers Milan to the ground.

The demons nearby freeze in terror.

Their crimson eyes narrow. Whispers ripple through the crowd.

"A dragon? Here?"

"Impossible… that's a death sentence…"

"And that figure… half-dragon? Filthy hybrid."

Milan's body stirs weakly, his scales flickering between blue and pale gray. His disguise barely holds — his draconic form partially showing.

[Warning: Hostile intent detected from surrounding lifeforms.]

[Initiating Threat Display.]

The system's voice amplifies, echoing through the town.

Ancient runes flare above Milan's body, casting a radiant sigil in the air — the mark of Dragon Authority.

[Notice to Hostile Entities: The one before you carries a bound dragon. Interference will result in extermination.]

The demons stumble back, fear spreading through the crowd.

Some drop their weapons. Others simply run. None dare to approach.

And then — amidst the silence — a soft voice cuts through the air.

A hooded figure steps forward from the shadows, her movements graceful yet firm. Her aura feels different — calm, protective.

She kneels beside Milan's unconscious form, gently brushing the ash from his face.

"You poor thing…" she whispers, voice warm but heavy with sorrow. "I'll take care of you, little dragon."

The Lesser Dragon growls instinctively, a low, threatening rumble — but freezes mid-sound as the system's command tone echoes.

[Override Protocol: Passive State Engaged.]

The dragon lowers its head obediently. Its eyes soften, as though recognizing her intent.

The hooded woman lifts Milan carefully into her arms, holding him close as the air cools around them.

The demons watch in silence, not daring to interfere.

[Caution: Disclosure of host's nature is forbidden.]

[Note: In this world, dragons cannot breed with any race beyond their own. Discovery of hybrid lineage will result in immediate execution.]

As the hooded woman turns away with Milan in her arms, the system dims its voice.

The Lesser Dragon follows at a distance, silent guardian under the ashen sky.

Chapter: The Haven Beneath the Demon Lands

the woman's arms are warm despite the cold stone air around them. Milan's consciousness flickers in and out as she carries him through the scorched outskirts of the demon lands.

The Lesser Dragon follows close behind, its wings folded and steps careful, obedient only because of the system's command to protect its weakened master.

The woman's hood shifts slightly, revealing faintly pointed ears and a single curved horn—a mark of her mixed blood. Her presence radiates calm, yet her mana feels ancient and restrained.

They move past the border of the demon settlement, where hateful eyes had glared moments ago, and descend into an underground path veiled by living vines.

Each vine hums with faint light—the warding roots of the Holy Demon Tree, the brother of the World Tree.

As the air grows cooler, the walls begin to glow faintly gold and green. The harsh heat of the lava plains fades, replaced by a serene warmth that feels alive.

Finally, they enter a cavern illuminated by gentle crystals and branches that pulse with mana.

This is her home—a sanctuary built where nature and infernal energy coexist.

She lays Milan on a bed woven from soft moss and dragonhide fabric. The Lesser Dragon settles nearby, curling protectively around the chamber's entrance.

"You poor thing…" she whispers, brushing his hair aside.

"Even your scales are burning with pain."

The hum of the Holy Demon Tree's roots fills the chamber, soft and rhythmic—like a heartbeat that belongs to the world itself.

The warmth seeps into Milan's body, easing the tremors left by the curse in his heart.

The woman sits beside him quietly, her eyes glimmering faintly with both infernal red and forest green.

She holds Milan gently, her touch steady, motherly—neither demon nor elf, but something between the two.

His breathing slows. The chaotic energy inside him finally begins to calm.

"Sleep, little one," she whispers, her voice a soft melody echoing through the living cavern.

"Let the curse rest for now."

She brings him close, nurturing him as a mother would her own child.

Milan, too weak to resist or question, drifts into her warmth, his head resting against her chest.

The faint scent of life energy fills the air—a sacred exchange between caregiver and child, restoring what his cursed heart could not absorb.

The frost in his veins melts away as warmth replaces it.

For the first time since awakening, Milan sleeps peacefully—no pain, no visions, no storm of energy tearing him apart.

When his eyes open again, gentle light filters through the glowing vines. The Lesser Dragon still lies near the entrance, silent but watchful.

Milan sits up slowly, feeling stronger than before.

"You're awake," the woman says softly.

He nods, then glances around—the wood and walls seem alive, breathing faintly with each pulse of energy.

"This place… it feels alive. Even the air moves like it's listening."

She smiles faintly, brushing her long, golden-brown hair aside.

"It is alive. You are sitting within one of the sacred chambers connected to the Holy Demon Tree—the brother of the World Tree. This domain listens and breathes because it is part of nature itself."

Milan touches the wooden wall. It responds with a faint ripple of green light.

"So this is what protects you… and now, me."

"Yes," she replies, her tone calm but distant. "These roots shelter those the world itself has not rejected yet."

There's silence for a moment. Then Milan turns to her with curiosity.

"How did you know about me? You appeared right when I needed help… even before the dragon could finish me."

She looks at him quietly for a while, then her left eye glows faintly gold, while the right remains deep crimson.

"Because I saw you long before you fell here."

"My eye… was born with me. It's called the World Eye—a rare gift from the line of elves, passed down by my mother."

Milan listens, still weak but alert.

"Your mother…?"

She nods.

"She was of royal blood. But I never knew her truly. I was born in the aftermath of war—an orphan at birth, left with a name that could not be spoken, a royal title I could not bear."

"My demon father kept me hidden. My mother's blood gave me this eye… and through it, I see fragments of time, and the flow of life itself."

The vines around them glow brighter for a moment, resonating with her emotion.

"So you saw me before I came?" Milan asks softly.

"I saw a flame of frost falling through the sky," she says with a faint smile. "A cursed soul bound to the world by both life and death. I knew I had to reach you."

He lowers his gaze. "Why help me? The others… they hate half-bloods. Even the dragon attacked me for it."

"Because you're like me," she answers simply.

"We who are born between worlds are rejected by both—but perhaps chosen by something greater. The world remembers balance, even when people forget it."

Her hand touches his shoulder gently.

"You are safe here, Milan. You don't need a name yet. In this world, names hold weight—they bind fate and awaken power. Let yours wait until your heart is ready to carry it."

Milan looks into her dual-colored eyes and nods faintly. For the first time, he doesn't feel lost.

The hum of the Holy Demon Tree deepens, like a lullaby beneath the earth.

As he leans back, the system's faint whisper echoes through his mind once again:

[Stabilization complete.]

[Sanctuary recognized: Holy Demon Tree — Secondary Root Core.]

[New Bond Detected: Maternal Guardian — Status: Protective Link Established.]

The woman smiles faintly as the light fades from his eyes.

"Rest again, little dragon. You will need your strength soon."

And in that quiet sanctuary beneath the demon lands, Milan drifts once more into peaceful sleep—

this time, not alone, but in the care of the only being who could truly understand him.

The roots above hum softly as the air shifts between warmth and calm silence.

Time seems to flow differently here—slow, forgiving.

Milan slowly opens his eyes once again, feeling the warmth of the place wrapped around him. The woman is sitting beside him, her long hair cascading like a river of gold-brown light, the faint green glow of the vines dancing across her face.

For a moment, he just watches her. There is something peaceful about the way she moves—steady, quiet, nurturing.

Then, a faint mechanical chime echoes in his mind:

[System Notification]

[Host's Vitality Stable — Curse Progress: 27%]

[Warning: Current Guardian Exhibits Unknown Power Signature.]

[Suggestion: Utilize "Dragon Authority" to Subjugate and Bind the Entity for Absolute Control.]

The tone of the system is calm, factual—cold and emotionless.

Milan's expression tightens.

"Control her…?" he mutters under his breath.

"She saved me. She cared for me when even my own power tried to kill me."

He stares at the faint light reflecting on his scaled hands, a quiet anger stirring behind his calm eyes.

"System, I'm not that kind of being. I won't enslave kindness."

For a long moment, the system remains silent—then a single new line appears, flickering softly:

[Acknowledged. Moral resistance detected. Recording decision: Refusal of Forced Subjugation.]

He exhales slowly and looks toward the woman again. She is still quietly tending to the roots of the wooden walls, unaware of the command that almost altered her fate.

The silence grows warm again. Milan's voice finally breaks it.

"Hey… I've been thinking. You said earlier that names have power here. What exactly does that mean?"

The woman looks up, her golden-brown eyes glimmering softly.

"In this world, a name isn't just a word. It's a fragment of your soul shared by the one who gives it. When someone bestows a name, they offer a part of their life force, binding fates together."

"So… it's like creating a bond?"

"Yes," she nods. "A deep one. It grants strength to the named, but also connects both spirits forever. If one breaks the bond, the other suffers. That's why names are sacred."

Milan nods slowly. "I see… like Tensura."

She tilts her head. "Ten…sura?"

He smiles faintly, shaking his head. "A story from another world. It spoke about naming, bonds, and the strength born from connection."

The system's faint voice returns:

[Caution: Naming Ritual requires massive spiritual energy. Risk of curse backlash.]

But Milan doesn't hesitate. He raises his hand, and the faint cosmic glow of his true essence leaks through—muted, barely visible, yet vast enough to make the air vibrate.

"Then let me give you one," he says softly. "Not to control you… but to protect you."

The woman looks startled, her eyes widening slightly.

"You… would give me a name? But that's—"

"Yes," he interrupts gently, his tone warm. "A gift, not a chain."

He closes his eyes, and the light of the cosmos flickers across the chamber—stars, space, time itself bending softly around them.

"From this moment… your name shall be Khushi."

A surge of warm light bursts outward, wrapping around her like a living aura. Her body trembles as the name etches itself into her soul. The roots of the Holy Demon Tree react too, glowing brighter, humming in resonance with the bond just formed.

[System Alert: Unique Naming Detected — "Khushi."]

[Bond Type: Cosmic-Dragon Pact Established.]

[Effect: Protection, Trust, Power Amplification — Mutual Spirit Link Active.]

Khushi kneels slowly, clutching her chest as the power settles within her. Her voice trembles as she looks up at him.

"This… warmth… it's unlike anything I've ever felt."

Milan's cosmic aura fades back into silence, and for the first time, he looks truly peaceful.

"You said names bind hearts. Then let it bind us with trust. So you'll never have to be alone again… and neither will I."

She blinks, stunned. Then, softly—

"You… long for something, don't you?"

He looks away, his voice almost a whisper.

"On the world I came from… I never had a mother's touch. Never felt what it meant to be cared for like this."

Khushi's expression softens, and she reaches forward, gently placing her hand over his heart.

"Then from this day onward, little one, let that emptiness fade. You've given me a name—and in return, I'll give you what you've always needed. A home… and a mother's warmth."

The chamber glows brighter once more, like the world itself acknowledging their bond.

[System Update:]

[Maternal Link Strengthened — Cosmic Resonance Stable.]

[Warning: Dimensional Drift Detected — The Ravine between Continents is Closing.]

[Recommendation: Evacuate the Area within 24 hours.]

Milan looks up at the system notification and sighs. "Even peace doesn't last long, does it?"

Khushi smiles faintly, brushing his hair aside.

"Peace never lasts… but it's enough to give us strength for what comes next."

And with that, beneath the quiet hum of the Holy Demon Tree,

Milan finally finds what he never had—a mother's love, born from cosmic light and half-blood pain.

Chapter: The Rift Tremor — When Worlds Begin to Collide

The calm hum of the Holy Demon Tree fades, replaced by a deep, echoing rumble that shakes the ground.

Dust falls from the living wooden ceiling. The roots groan as if the world itself is straining under invisible pressure.

Milan raises his head sharply. The system chime sounds again—urgent, cold, unfeeling.

[System Warning: Dimensional Rift Instability Detected.]

[Ravine Collapse Sequence Initiated.]

[Cause: Continental Convergence — External Force Manipulation Detected.]

[Result: Mountain Formation Event Expected.]

[Recommendation: Evacuate the Region Immediately.]

The earth quakes again, louder this time. The glowing vines flicker, and the Holy Demon Tree's deep hum turns into a painful moan that resonates through every root.

Milan steadies himself against the trembling floor.

"System… what's happening? Why is the ravine closing? You said it was just a drift!"

[Affirmative. However, external interference detected — Origin Signature: Dragon–Demon Hybrid Energy.]

Khushi's expression darkens as she stands beside him, her golden-brown skin glowing faintly in the shaking light.

"I know this energy," she murmurs. "It's him."

Milan turns to her. "Him? Who?"

Her eyes gleam with faint red light, the same as the demon line flowing through her blood.

"The current Dragon Demon King. The monarch who merged the power of dragons and demons through forbidden means. He's forcing the continents together using his own life force and the roots of both holy trees."

Milan's eyes widen in disbelief.

"He's merging continents? That's— that's impossible! Why would anyone do that?"

"Because he believes in absolute dominion," Khushi replies quietly, her tone bitter. "He wants one realm under his rule. But to do that, he's using the Holy Tree and the Demon Tree as anchors—forcing their roots to bind two separate lands together."

The system's voice interrupts again:

[Confirmation: Energy Source — Dragon Demon King "Ra'zeth the Flame Monarch."]

[Warning: Divine Law Violation — The World's Balance is Collapsing.]

[Secondary Alert: Holy Demon Tree Structural Strain at 92%. Imminent Root Fracture Expected.]

The walls groan violently as light cracks through the wood. Khushi clenches her fists, her horn flickering with unstable light.

"The trees are alive," she says. "They are the veins of this world. Using them like ropes to tie continents together is sacrilege. Even the gods once forbade such acts."

Milan looks up at the trembling ceiling, his dragon eyes faintly glowing in the dim light.

"If he's doing this… then the world itself will collapse, won't it?"

"Yes," Khushi whispers. "And the Holy Demon Tree—the one protecting us—is under immense pressure to keep both continents stable. It's crying out."

The vines around them pulse weakly, as if confirming her words.

A faint sound echoes deep underground—a wail, ancient and sorrowful.

[System Notification: Environmental Collapse Approaching.]

[Prediction: Formation of a Massive Mountain Range from Continental Collision.]

[Impact Zone: 240 Miles Radius — Total Annihilation of Local Settlements Anticipated.]

Milan clenches his fists. "So the people here… they have to leave immediately."

Khushi nods gravely. "That's why I built this ward away from the town. I felt this coming through my World Eye days ago."

The floor shakes again, harder this time. A fissure opens near the entrance, glowing with molten lava.

Milan looks toward it and whispers, "Even the world's veins are bleeding…"

[System Directive:]

[User Required to Evacuate. Suggestion: Utilize Dragon Authority to Stabilize Structural Collapse for Limited Time.]

Milan exhales sharply. "Dragon Authority again… so it's my turn to stop what another dragon began."

Khushi's gaze hardens. "Be careful. You're still weak—and if you draw too much from your heart, the curse will flare."

He nods. "If I don't, this place will collapse anyway."

He steps toward the trembling roots, spreading his hands. A faint crimson-gold light emerges from his palms—the power of a dragon, restrained by a cursed heart yet pure in intent.

"If the Demon King can defy the world's law," Milan says quietly, "then maybe I can remind the world it's still alive."

The chamber blazes with dragonlight as Milan channels his authority through the roots. The system flares brightly:

[Dragon Authority Activated.]

[World Stabilization in Progress — Temporary Compression Barrier Formed.]

[Warning: User Vitality Decreasing Rapidly. 17% Remaining.]

Khushi rushes toward him, catching his arm before he collapses.

"Enough! You'll burn yourself out!"

He breathes heavily, barely able to stand, but smiles faintly.

"I can't let your home die, Khushi."

The trembling begins to ease slightly, the roots glowing steady once more. For now, the world stops screaming.

[System Message:]

[World Stabilization Achieved (Temporary).]

[Warning: Rift Sealing Event Continues. Estimated Time: 12 Hours.]

[New Objective: Evacuate the Holy Demon Region Before Full Continental Merge.]

Khushi looks toward the entrance, her eyes glowing softly with determination.

"Then we don't have long. We'll leave before the mountain rises… before the world buries this place beneath it."

Milan nods slowly. "Let's go. We'll find out why your king is tearing the world apart."

And behind them, as they turn toward the tunnel leading upward, the roots of the Holy Demon Tree continue to hum—

faint, wounded, yet alive—holding the world together just a little longer.

Khushi held Milan close, her steps firm yet gentle as she carried him through the trembling forest. The faint glow of Milan's barrier surrounded them — a shimmering dome of pale light that held back falling embers and the fiery winds howling from beyond the ravine.

Milan was barely conscious, his breath shallow. "M… mother…" he whispered weakly, eyes flickering open.

Khushi looked down at him, her expression softening. "Rest now, child. We'll be safe soon."

But the ground beneath them shook again. The rift was closing. From behind, the mountains of lava twisted upward like molten serpents, solidifying into monstrous, jagged peaks — the result of continents colliding and fusing under the power of the current Dragon Demon King.

The System voice echoed within Milan's mind:

[Warning: Spatial Rift Collapse Imminent. Terrain fusion between Demon and Dragon Continents detected.]

[Cause: Dragon Demon King is forcibly merging continental barriers using the Holy Tree's roots.]

[World Law Violation: Yggdrasil's lesser counterpart under extreme strain.]

Khushi gasped as she ran. "That fool king… he's binding worlds together. The Tree itself will bleed if this continues."

"The tree…" Milan murmured faintly. "It's alive?"

Khushi nodded, tightening her grip. "It's sacred — the Holy Demon Tree, brother of the World Tree. It watches over life itself."

As they reached the last cliff edge, the barrier surrounding them pulsed. The System spoke again, its tone urgent:

[Energy reserves critical. Recommend: Sleep Mode for Host survival.]

Khushi felt his body grow colder. "Stay with me, Milan!" she cried.

But before she could do more, the tree's radiant light broke through the clouds. A single branch, glowing with emerald fire, extended from the sky and gently touched Milan's hand. The contact sent a surge of divine energy through the barrier, stabilizing it.

Khushi watched in awe as the branch detached — becoming a seed, pulsating with life, floating beside Milan.

At that instant, the System triggered emergency protocols:

[Emergency Command Activated.]

[Naming sequence initiated for bonded entity: Lesser Dragon.]

[Name Assigned: Crimson.]

[Effect: Rapid maturity and evolution enabled.]

The dragon roared — a young, fierce cry echoing through the chaos. Its scales shimmered red under the stormfire sky as it swooped low, allowing Khushi to climb aboard with Milan in her arms.

"Fly, Crimson!" she shouted.

With one mighty flap, they soared upward through the smoke and ash, the barrier glowing brighter — a shield against molten rain and burning clouds.

The world beneath them was chaos: mountains rose where oceans had been, rivers of magma divided continents, and storms of red lightning tore the skies apart.

But the barrier held.

Khushi looked down at Milan, whose face was pale but peaceful in her arms. "You'll be safe soon, my child," she whispered.

After hours of flight, they reached the center of the Demon Continent — a region still untouched by the merging chaos. There, the seed in Milan's hand began to glow intensely, sprouting roots into the blackened ground.

The land trembled, but this time it wasn't destruction — it was rebirth. The roots spread rapidly, creating a lush green aura amidst the wasteland.

[System Notification:]

[Holy Root Integration Complete.]

[World Tree Branch accepted Milan's soul resonance.]

[New Bond Established — Milan: "Brother of Yggdrasil."]

The forest began to grow around them, shielding the small clearing with divine energy. Khushi and Crimson stood at its heart, watching over Milan as he rested — now connected to something far greater than himself.

The System's final line echoed softly, almost reverently:

[Host Status: Stabilized.]

[Brotherhood with the Tree God Yggdrasil confirmed.]

[Awaiting host awakening.]

The storm above began to fade, replaced by the gentle sound of new leaves rustling — the first breath of life reborn in a world on the edge of collapse.

[Chapter: Evolution of Roots and Bonds of Blood]

The storm above had begun to settle. Only faint trails of crimson lightning lingered in the clouds as the new forest took shape — its roots glowing faintly with divine light, a gift from the Holy Tree's branch.

Milan lay beneath its shade, his body surrounded by threads of mana and divine energy. Khushi knelt beside him, wiping his forehead gently. "You've done enough, my child. Let the world watch over you now."

The System reawakened softly within Milan's consciousness.

[System Update: Host Status — Stabilized.]

[Dragon Curse Interference — Reduced.]

[Reason: Brotherhood bond established with the Tree God Yggdrasil. Shared pain absorption active.]

The black veins across Milan's chest began to fade, replaced by faint emerald lines pulsing with vitality. The curse still existed, but its agony was drawn away — absorbed by the divine roots that now called him brother.

[System Notification: Host access to divine mana network granted.]

[New ability unlocked — "Beyond Elf Manipulation."]

[User may channel Yggdrasil's flow and command spiritual growth.]

Even in his deep slumber, Milan's spirit drifted far beyond his body. He saw endless roots stretching through creation, linking every living soul and realm. He could hear the whisper of spirits, the pulse of mana, and the will of the world itself.

He no longer saw life — he felt it.

[System Log: Host synchronized with Spirit Realm Channel.]

[Adaptive System Evolution Triggered.]

[System entering Evolution Mode: Reconfiguring to match divine host network.]

[Both Host and System entering deep sleep.]

Khushi, unaware of the transformation unfolding, held him close. "Sleep, my son. You've carried too much already."

Beside her, the Lesser Dragon Crimson trembled violently, mana surging painfully through its body. Its scales glowed, veins of molten red forming beneath them. This was no ordinary evolution — it was a forced transformation caused by Milan's Naming Bond.

Khushi sensed its pain. "You protected him… now let me protect you."

The System, before falling into deep stasis, left one final message for her mind:

[Alert: Dragon Entity undergoing forced evolution.]

[Reason: Naming resonance with divine host — insufficient mana density detected.]

[Solution: Provide sustained high-purity mana for stability.]

Understanding, Khushi placed her hands on the dragon's chest. A soft golden glow spread from her palms — her mana, pure and nurturing, connecting with the sacred roots. The forest responded, feeding divine energy into Crimson's core.

Gradually, the dragon's agony faded. Its form stabilized, wings glowing faintly crimson-gold.

Khushi looked between the two — Milan and Crimson — both resting peacefully. "My son, my guardian… both burdened with power and pain. I'll stay by you. No matter what."

Time lost its meaning within that divine grove.

While only one month passed in the outer world, within the spiritual domain of the Tree, ten thousand years of divine growth unfolded.

In that eternity condensed into a moment, Milan's soul expanded — mastering ancient flows of magic, understanding the roots of creation, and synchronizing with the spiritual consciousness of the world itself.

[System Notification — One Month Later:]

[Host Spiritual Growth Equivalent: 10,000 years.]

[Dragon Entity Evolution: Complete.]

[Class: Crimson High Dragon.]

[System Evolution: Complete.]

[Host and System awakening sequence initiated.]

The divine forest pulsed like a heart. Branches whispered with sacred life as the world exhaled softly.

And beneath the shining roots, Milan — Brother of Yggdrasil, bearer of divine and demonic blood — began to stir.

The bond of dragon, demon, and divine tree had forged something new — a life strong enough to defy time itself.

[Chapter: Awakening of the Brother of Roots]

Warm light flickered through the canopy of divine leaves. The wind that moved through them carried whispers — not mere sound, but ancient voices of the world. Milan's eyes slowly opened, glowing faintly with two colors — one golden, one crimson.

The curse marks that once spread across his heart were gone, replaced by a faint crest shaped like intertwined roots and flames. His breath was calm. His aura — silent but immeasurable.

He sat up slowly, his head heavy yet clear. The first thing he saw was Khushi, resting by his side, holding his hand even in her sleep. Her expression was soft, peaceful — the expression of a mother who had fought the world to keep her child alive.

And beyond her, the once small Crimson Dragon now stood in its evolved glory — a High Dragon whose scales shimmered between red and gold, wings spreading like molten silk. Despite its immense power, it bowed its head before Milan, a sign of reverence rather than dominance.

A familiar chime echoed within his mind.

[System Online.]

[Version: Celestial Core OS — Evolution Completed.]

[Welcome back, Brother of Yggdrasil.]

Milan blinked. "Brother… of Yggdrasil? What happened while I was asleep?"

[Summary Report:]

Your curse was absorbed and balanced through divine brotherhood link with the Tree God Yggdrasil.

Crimson underwent forced evolution due to Name Resonance and is now registered as a High Dragon-Class Entity.

Host has achieved an equivalent of ten thousand years of divine and spiritual growth within one month of outer-world time.

System has evolved to match divine host structure and can now process cosmic authority input without interference.

Milan slowly touched his chest, feeling the faint rhythm of roots beneath his skin. "So… I'm connected to the world tree now."

[Affirmative.]

You share partial consciousness with the Yggdrasil Core. The divine tree recognizes you as kin — a secondary root and future guardian.

Khushi stirred awake, blinking at him. "You're awake… thank the heavens."

Her eyes glistened, filled with warmth and relief. "You've been sleeping for so long. Even the roots trembled for you."

Milan smiled faintly. "I'm sorry, Mother… I must have worried you."

She shook her head. "You don't need to apologize. You've brought peace to this place — even the holy roots whisper your name now."

The System then projected new data in his sight — faint light symbols flowing in front of him.

[Host Status Check:]

– Species: Half Demon / Half Dragon / Divine Elf (Yggdrasil Lineage)

– Age: 1 Month (Equivalent Experience: 10,000 Years)

– Titles: Brother of Yggdrasil, Dragon of Dual Lineage, Blessed Child of Mana

– Authority: Cosmic Link (Partial Access)

– Power Level: S- (Sealed 82%)

Milan exhaled slowly. "Sealed again, huh?"

[Yes.]

Due to imbalance between demonic heart curse residue and divine flow. Host's current world cannot sustain full cosmic energy.

System recommends gradual power restoration through elemental synchronization.

Milan looked at Crimson — its wings stretched toward the divine canopy, eyes glowing with calm awareness. "Crimson… you really grew up, huh?"

The dragon responded in a deep, resonant tone — words forming in Milan's mind rather than his ears.

"Your will made me strong, my master. My heart burns for your command."

Milan smiled faintly. "Then rest for now, my friend. We've both earned it."

He stood, looking at the world around him. What was once a volcanic wasteland was now transforming — the divine roots had spread across molten rock, cooling magma into fertile soil. Mana mist shimmered in the air, forming new life where there had once been death.

But beyond the horizon, he saw the sky twisted in two directions — one side burning red, the other green. The result of two continents forcibly bound together.

"Mother," Milan said quietly, "it looks like the world itself is crying."

Khushi nodded slowly. "Yes. The merge still isn't stable. The Dragon King's ambition defies even the law of creation. The world is trying to heal, but…"

The System interrupted:

[World Status Alert:]

Continental Rift Closure: 89% Complete.

World Mana Network: Critical Instability Detected.

Yggdrasil Core Strain Level: 77% — nearing overload threshold.

Recommendation: Host should stabilize mana flow between Demon and Dragon realms.

Milan clenched his hand, a faint golden aura flickering through his veins. "So… it's time to move again."

Khushi frowned softly. "You've only just awakened."

He smiled gently. "And the world that gave me a second life needs me now. How can I sleep when my brother is in pain?"

Crimson spread its wings, flames rippling across the sky.

Khushi touched Milan's cheek. "Then let me come with you. Wherever you go, my son, this mother will follow."

Milan nodded. "We'll go together. To the heart of the world — where the roots of fate meet the sky."

The wind shifted. The forest glowed with divine light once more.

And so began Milan's next journey — not as a wanderer or survivor, but as the Brother of Yggdrasil, bearer of three bloodlines, and protector of a world torn between gods and dragons.

[Chapter: The Demon Capital — Shadows of Ragna]

The divine forest behind them glowed faintly, its roots retreating into the earth as though sighing in relief. The sky, however, was still fractured — crimson cracks of mana storms stretching toward the horizon.

Milan stood silently beside Khushi, his gaze calm yet distant. Though his curse no longer burned as before, its presence still coiled deep within his heart — sealing his dragon authority. His demon lineage, however, had matured completely, making his aura heavier, deeper, and far more stable.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the dense flow of demonic mana pulsing beneath his skin. "So this is… my demon blood in its complete form," he whispered.

The System, now resonating faintly within his mind, responded softly:

[Confirmation.]

Demonic lineage stabilized.

Dragon lineage suppressed due to curse interference.

Recommendation: Maintain mana balance. Attempting to use Dragon Authority may cause fatal backlash.

Milan sighed quietly. "So I can't use my dragon power… not yet."

[Affirmative.]

Khushi approached, adjusting her cloak. "We'll find a way, my son. For now, we must keep moving."

As they began their journey toward the heart of the Demon Continent, the world around them shifted — mountains giving way to fields of black sand and glowing magma streams. The air grew dense with demonic energy, yet lifeless in feeling.

While traveling, Milan closed his eyes. Through the bond with the Holy Demon Tree, his mind slipped into a deep trance — connecting to the spiritual network of the demons. The sacred tree was, after all, linked to every living demon soul.

And through that connection, truth began to unfold before his inner sight.

He saw visions — fragments of a woman's life. A young demon maiden, golden-brown skin glowing under starlight, spiky ears, one horn crowning her head, and gentle eyes filled with warmth.

Her childhood among the royal elves.

Her youth — the day she met the Dragon King, the one who ruled both sky and fire.

Her heart — torn between duty and love.

And her final days — swallowed by the crimson flames of the dragon realm.

Milan's breath trembled as the visions faded.

"So… that's who you were, Mother," he whispered. "You loved him. And because of that, I was born."

Khushi glanced back at him, sensing his silence. "You saw it, didn't you?"

Milan nodded. "Yes. The Holy Demon Tree showed me everything… but her connection ended after she met the Dragon King. His power— it severed even the spirit threads."

Khushi looked away, eyes filled with old sorrow. "That's the kind of man he is now — a being who believes only in power."

They continued their path until, finally, the dark horizon opened — revealing the grand spires of a vast city: Ragna, the Holy Demon Capital.

The city shimmered in a blend of crimson and black, its towers reaching high, crowned with flames that never went out. From a distance, it looked magnificent — a symbol of pride for demonkind. But as they descended closer, the illusion broke.

The streets were filled with silence. Markets half-empty. Factories closed. The smell of burned iron and decay floated in the air.

The System displayed a faint red notice.

[Area Analysis — Ragna, Demon Capital.]

Population: 8.4 million (Decreasing).

Economic Activity: 23% of previous era.

Food Crisis: Critical.

Technological Stagnation: 98%.

Power Distribution: Controlled by Ministerial Council.

Ruler: Demon King (Dragon King Incarnate) — Passive Governance.

Milan frowned. "So, this is the great Ragna… The 'holy' capital of demons. It's falling apart."

Khushi sighed. "The current Demon King doesn't care. He only sees power as truth. The ministers and nobles rule in his absence — feeding on what's left of this kingdom. The people have lost their will to fight."

Milan looked around. Demons in tattered robes walked by, lifeless eyes staring at the ground. The once-proud race of chaos now looked hollow.

He clenched his hand. "Mother, this isn't a kingdom… this is rot covered in gold."

Khushi nodded. "And that's why the Holy Demon Tree cries every night. The corruption has spread so deep that even its roots are darkening."

Milan's gaze hardened. "Then I'll cleanse it. Even if I can't use my dragon power… I have my will. I'll use my demon blood and the strength of the world tree to fix what your king destroyed."

The System flickered once again.

[Warning: Direct confrontation with Dragon King prohibited in current state.]

Recommendation: Investigate the royal capital's internal structure first. Identify the ministers' corruption network.

Milan smirked faintly. "Don't worry, System. I don't plan to face him yet. I'll start from the roots — just like a tree."

He looked toward the palace towering above the city — its crimson peak cutting through the clouds like a blade.

"That's where it begins… the shadow of Ragna."

Khushi placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let's go, my son. The capital awaits — and the world itself holds its breath."

The journey toward the Holy Demon Tree's main body was long yet steady. Khushi guided Milan through the pulsating roots of the divine tree, each step humming with ancient energy. Though Milan's dragon power remained sealed by the curse, his demon lineage had matured fully during the month-long rest — every fragment of his being now resonated with a deeper, darker energy.

Through the connection of the Holy Demon Tree, visions began to flow into Milan's mind — fragments of his mother's life.

He saw her childhood among the noble elves, her capture during the great conflict, her years of isolation underground, and the moment she met the Dragon King — the man who would become both her captor and her love. But her memories ended in silence the moment she was separated from him, a veil of dragonic energy sealing the truth beyond reach.

As the pair drew closer to the world's center, the Holy Demon Tree's vast trunk appeared like a colossal pillar of life piercing the clouds. From its highest branches, rivers of light poured down, feeding the demon lands. Yet even this sacred sight was tainted — the once-pure aura now flickered with unstable energy, a sign of the Dragon King's distortion.

Khushi looked toward the horizon.

"Milan… the heart of the Demon Realm lies ahead — the Holy Demon Capital of Ragna."

When Milan's eyes lifted, he saw it — a vast city built upon layers of dark stone and glowing crimson crystal, surrounded by veins of black mountains rich with rare minerals. The air shimmered with mana so dense it distorted vision, and the land itself pulsed with buried power.

Ragna was once known as the Crown of the Demon Realm — a sacred city built over the rarest mineral lands in existence. Every inch of soil held treasure: stones that could channel life energy, metals that could pierce divine barriers, and crystals that amplified magic beyond limits.

But now, greed had replaced faith.

The Dragon King ruled as Demon King — aloof and silent — while the ministers governed in corruption. Gold flowed through their palaces while famine consumed the streets. Technology and progress stagnated as the nobility fought over resources, blind to the ruin spreading across their lands.

The Holy Demon Tree's divine network trembled under the Dragon King's manipulation — its roots forced to bind continents, its sacred essence used as chains against the world's will.

Khushi's voice quivered as she held Milan close, "He once wanted to protect everything... now he breaks the laws of creation itself."

Milan looked toward the towering capital bathed in crimson dusk. His eyes glowed faintly — not with hatred, but with purpose.

"The Holy Demon Capital of Ragna — once the heart of power, now the grave of honor."

The Holy Demon Capital of Ragna stretched endlessly beneath the twilight sky. Towers of dark steel and crimson stone glowed faintly under the dim light of the eternal dusk that hung over the demon continent. The closer Milan and Khushi came, the heavier the air grew — saturated with dense mana and the lingering scent of despair.

As they entered the outer districts, Milan saw the truth that the Holy Demon Tree had whispered to him — the suffering of the demon people. Streets that once shimmered with mana lights now lay cracked and lifeless. Merchants sat beside empty stalls. Children scavenged through the ash for scraps of dried food. Even the demons, beings once feared across worlds, now wore faces of defeat.

Khushi whispered softly, "They were the pride of the realm once. But the ministers took everything — trade, crops, mana flow, all diverted to the upper capital. The King… he watches from above but never interferes."

Her words cut like a blade. Milan clenched his fists, the seal in his heart throbbing faintly. He could feel the remnants of his dragon essence react to the suffering around him — the rage of something divine, sealed yet still alive.

The streets ahead were blocked by armored soldiers, their spears engraved with black runes that shimmered faintly in the mana light. They belonged to the Royal Guard of Ragna, elite protectors sworn to the Demon King. Each of them radiated power far beyond the common demons.

One stepped forward. "You two—state your purpose. This sector is forbidden to outsiders."

Khushi bowed her head calmly. "We seek only passage toward the inner capital. I am Khushi, under the ward of the Holy Demon Tree."

The soldier's eyes narrowed, then drifted toward Milan. His aura was strange — faintly divine, faintly cursed, neither fully demon nor dragon. It unsettled them.

"The boy carries an unregistered aura," another guard muttered. "Half-blood filth. Send them back to the outskirts."

Milan didn't speak — but his silence was colder than ice. The system, faintly reactivated in his mind, whispered:

[Warning: Emotional fluctuation detected. Host heart rate rising.]

[System Suggestion: Activate Sub-Authority — Suppression Field.]

He ignored it.

Khushi gently gripped his hand. "Milan, not here," she whispered. "We must reach the tree's root before they sense the curse."

But before they could move, the air around them shook violently — a deep, thunderous roar echoed from the skies above.

Every demon in sight froze. Even the guards who stood proudly moments ago dropped to one knee, trembling. The roar was not from the King. It came from Crimson — the lesser dragon who had evolved beside Milan.

The cry was so immense, it shattered the mana clouds above Ragna. It wasn't aggression — it was a declaration of presence, a warning.

The guards' armor rattled. One of them fell to the ground in terror. "A dragon! Here?! Impossible!"

Khushi's eyes widened as she looked up and saw the familiar crimson shadow soaring across the burning sky. "He's answering your call, Milan… he's protecting you."

[System Message: Lesser Dragon — "Crimson" — has detected host's distress signal.]

[Authority Connection: Confirmed.]

[Warning: High mana density detected. Releasing roar to assert dominance.]

The shockwave from Crimson's roar spread like a storm, knocking back the guards and scattering onlookers. Within seconds, the streets emptied. The demons fled into their homes, whispering prayers of fear.

No one dared to interfere. No one dared to stop them.

Khushi quickly pulled Milan close and whispered, "Let's move before the King's sentries react."

The two vanished into the labyrinth of streets as Crimson soared high above, his massive wings spreading crimson light over the city like a protective shroud. The guards and citizens could only watch from afar — terrified not of the pair who had entered their city, but of the dragon that followed them.

The roar of Crimson faded behind them as Milan and Khushi approached the towering shadow of the Royal Castle of Ragna — the heart of the demon capital, and the place where the roots of the Holy Demon Tree reached deep beneath the land.

The city streets had turned silent, the air heavy with despair. All around, demons begged for scraps of mana stones or stale food. Children clung to their mothers, hollow-eyed. The once glorious realm of demons now felt like a dying ember, slowly fading away.

Milan's expression hardened. "This is what they call a capital?" His voice was low, trembling with anger. "They live in towers of gold while their people starve…"

Khushi placed a gentle hand on his arm. "The corruption runs deep, Milan. But the Holy Tree's entrance is within the castle… we must go."

The massive iron gates of the castle stood before them, engraved with runes older than the continent itself. Dozens of Royal Guards blocked the path, armored in obsidian metal, their spears glowing with dark mana.

"Who dares approach the Demon King's Castle?" one shouted.

Milan didn't answer. The air around him dropped in an instant. Frost began to spread across the ground, crawling up the walls, freezing the guards' armor where they stood. Before they could react, the cold consumed them — locked in place, unmoving.

Khushi's eyes widened slightly. "Milan… your power…"

He exhaled slowly, his breath misting in the air. "I'm not wasting words on the ones who let this happen."

They pushed open the frozen gates and stepped into the grand halls of Ragna Castle — a place once filled with life and light, now draped in silence and shadow. As they descended deeper, toward the heart chamber where the Holy Demon Tree's roots intertwined with the world, a crowd of nobles and royals appeared, blocking their path.

Jewels glimmered on their necks, robes of mana-thread flowed around them — all shining symbols of their untouched luxury while the city suffered.

Milan's fury flared. The ground trembled beneath his feet. Ice began to form again, spreading outward like veins of wrath. "Move… or I'll bury this place with you inside it."

Before he could unleash the freezing storm, one of the nobles fell to his knees. Then another. And another. Within seconds, every royal bowed before him — even the guards dropped their weapons.

At the center stepped forward a young man in dark red robes — his aura faintly noble, his voice trembling but sincere.

"Please, wait… Prince of Ragna!" he cried. "We've waited for your return! That frost, that bloodline — it can only belong to our royal house. The prophecy of the Holy Tree said the Lost Prince would return through frost and flame. We always believed you would come, and now you stand before us!"

Milan blinked, confused but unmoved. "Prince? You call me that while your people starve outside these walls?"

The nobles remained kneeling, but the Prime Minister, an older demon with tired crimson eyes, stepped forward. "My lord… this suffering, this famine — it is not of our making. It began when the King commanded the merging of the continents. The waterways, where all trade once flowed, were destroyed in the chaos. The ships can no longer pass through the burning rifts."

Khushi looked at him sharply. "You mean the people have been cut off from the entire world?"

"Yes," the Prime Minister said, his voice trembling. "We've done all we can — rationed what little we had, sought new sources of mana crops — but the King cares nothing for us. He locks himself in his citadel, using his divine power only for his own ambition."

The young noble beside him added, "We are not loyal to him anymore, my prince. He abandoned the demon kind long ago. His goal is not unity… it is dominance."

Milan's hands curled into fists. "So he destroyed everything just to make himself feel like a god."

The frost that crept around his feet shimmered with fury, but Khushi gently touched his shoulder again. "Milan… if the King is doing this, then the roots of the Holy Tree must be suffering too. We must reach them before the world's balance breaks completely."

Milan closed his eyes, his anger barely contained. "…Fine. Lead the way. But if I see one more starving demon outside these walls while you feast in luxury—"

The nobles bowed lower, trembling. "We understand, my prince. Please… save our realm. You are our last hope."

The nobles led Milan and Khushi through a long corridor, deep beneath the castle — so deep that even the air seemed heavy with the ancient power of the land. Blue mana lights flickered on the walls, casting faint shadows that danced like whispers from forgotten ages.

At the end of the descent, they reached a colossal stone door — engraved with the sigil of the Holy Demon Tree, glowing faintly in hues of green and crimson. It pulsed slowly, as if the Tree itself was breathing.

Khushi stepped forward, her golden-brown skin reflecting the glow of the sacred rune. The mark on her chest shimmered — the sign of the Maiden of the Tree.

The guards and nobles behind them fell silent in awe.

The door responded to her presence, vines of light spreading across the walls as the gates began to open with a low rumble. The sound echoed through the halls like thunder rolling beneath the earth.

Beyond it lay the Root Chamber — vast, ancient, and filled with light that didn't belong to this world. The roots of the Holy Demon Tree intertwined with black crystal veins that pulsed with corrupted mana. The air smelled of burnt soil and decay, and the entire place trembled faintly, like a dying heart.

Milan's eyes widened. "This… is what connects the world?"

Khushi nodded slowly, her voice filled with sorrow. "Yes… and look at it now."

The roots were no longer pure green but tainted with streaks of crimson and black. At the center of the chamber, a massive fissure split the ground, leaking mana like blood from a wound.

The system's voice echoed faintly in Milan's mind:

[System Warning: Extreme energy imbalance detected.]

[Cause: Artificial continent merging — interference with world ley lines.]

[Primary Source: Demon King's ritual siphoning through the Holy Demon Tree.]

Milan clenched his jaw. "He's using the Tree as a bridge… forcing the continents together."

Khushi's face darkened. "It's against the law of this world. No being, not even a god, can merge the lands like that. The world rejects it."

The ground trembled again, as if to affirm her words. Cracks ran across the walls, and small bursts of crimson flame seeped from the fissures.

Milan stepped closer to the root center. "He's killing the world to hold his throne."

[System Message: Confirmed. If the ritual continues, the balance of mana will collapse within this region.]

[Additional Warning: Holy Demon Tree's core will corrupt completely within 78 cycles.]

Khushi closed her eyes and reached her hands toward the roots, whispering words in the ancient tongue of the elves. Soft green light flowed from her palms into the dying roots. The chamber brightened slightly, and the trembling subsided.

The nobles gasped. "The Maiden… she's healing the Tree!"

But Milan could see the truth through his system's interface. The healing was only temporary. The corruption ran far deeper, connected to the King's ritual itself — a ritual fed by the Cursed Crest on Milan's own heart.

The curse burned faintly within him, resonating with the same energy that polluted the Tree.

[System Analysis: Curse Source — identical to Demon King's mana signature.]

Milan staggered slightly, clutching his chest. "So it's linked… to him."

Khushi turned quickly. "Milan, your curse is reacting again! Stop using your mana—"

He shook his head, forcing his hand forward toward the fissure. "No… I need to see it for myself."

The frost aura around him ignited, spreading through the roots, momentarily freezing the corrupted veins. For a brief moment, the entire chamber stabilized — the flow of corrupted mana slowed, and the cracks stopped expanding.

[System Notice: Temporary stabilization achieved.]

Khushi exhaled in relief, but the strain was visible in Milan's face. His hands trembled, frost creeping up his arms.

The Prime Minister bowed deeply behind them. "My prince… you've done more in moments than the King has in years. Please — save the Tree. Save the realm."

Milan's voice was cold, steady. "Not yet. First, I need to face the one who caused this."

Khushi looked at him knowingly. "The Demon King."

He nodded. "If his power is linked to my curse, then ending him is the only way to free this world."

[System Objective Updated: Locate and confront the Demon King of Ragna.]

[Priority Level: Absolute.]

Milan turned to the frozen gate of the inner sanctum — beyond it lay the King's chamber, where the heart of the ritual pulsed with stolen power. The nobles lowered their heads, whispering prayers to the Holy Tree.

Khushi stood beside him, her golden eyes firm with resolve. "Then let's end it — together."

Milan's frost aura shimmered faintly in the dim light. "For the world… and for the ones he abandoned."

The ancient gate before them groaned, the air growing colder as the next confrontation awaited.

As Milan and Khushi prepared to move deeper toward the heart of the Demon King's sanctum, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The corrupted roots of the Holy Demon Tree started to shift, groaning as if something ancient and unseen was awakening.

Khushi looked around in alarm. "What's happening?! The Tree— it's moving on its own!"

Before Milan could react, a surge of light erupted from beneath his feet. The roots, glowing with an unnatural brilliance, shot upward and wrapped around him like living tendrils.

"Mother!" he shouted, reaching out toward Khushi, but the roots tightened, pulling him in.

Khushi's eyes widened in horror. "What are you doing!? Release him! Holy Tree, stop!"

But the Tree did not answer. Its entire chamber pulsed with divine and chaotic energy at once — a force far beyond the sacred calm of Yggdrasil's kin. The roots twisted violently, their colors shifting from green and black to radiant white and pink, light overflowing the entire chamber.

[System Alert: Unknown energy signature detected.]

[Warning: This is not the Holy Demon Tree!]

[Source Entity — Unknown. System unable to identify.]

"Milan!" Khushi screamed as the light engulfed him completely. The roots dragged him downward — not into the ground, but through it — through light, ice, and silence.

Inside the luminous vortex, Milan felt his body becoming weightless. A cold wind howled, and shards of frost formed around him. Then, with a sudden flash, everything stopped.

He opened his eyes.

All around him stretched a landscape of endless white — frozen plains that glimmered beneath a soft aurora sky. Mountains of ice rose like silent sentinels, and the air was so cold it burned.

[System Notice: Location changed.]

[Current Coordinates — Frozen Continent.]

Milan blinked slowly. "Frozen… continent? What happened? Where's Khushi? Where's everyone?"

The system's voice flickered faintly in his mind — weaker, static-filled.

[System Response: Do not worry, Master. Crimson and Mother are safe. They are on their way.]

[Estimated Time of Arrival: Ten days.]

Milan frowned. "Then… what dragged me here? Why would the Tree do this?"

[System Clarification: This was not the Demon Tree's doing. Another force, far greater, intervened.]

[Analysis Incomplete. But it seems other Trees' power merged temporarily to help you escape.]

[Warning: The Tree's protection no longer functions here. The Demon lineage cannot withstand this cold.]

Milan looked down at his hands. Frost gathered around them, but it didn't hurt. The curse mark on his chest glowed faintly, dim but calm.

[System Update: Curse weakened significantly. Host has gained natural resistance to cold.]

[Dragon energy adapting efficiently to environment.]

The voice flickered again.

[System Final Notice: Due to host's dragon power fusing with system core, the system must enter update mode.]

[Estimated Downtime: Ten days.]

[Please take care, Master.]

Then, silence.

Milan exhaled slowly. His breath formed crystal mist in the air. He felt a strange warmth building inside him — an ancient force stirring in his heart. His dragon blood began to awaken.

Light burst from his chest, and his body transformed — wings unfurled, black and crimson, tipped with flames that shimmered like dying stars. His scales gleamed with streaks of white and dark cosmic shimmer, as if the universe itself flowed through his veins.

For the first time, Milan saw his true dragon form — magnificent, terrible, and divine.

He spread his wings and leapt into the sky, the frozen wind roaring against him. Higher and higher he soared, feeling power coursing through every cell of his being.

From above, the world looked endless — a vast sea of ice and auroras stretching to infinity. But then, he saw it: far in the distance, rising from the frost, another colossal tree. Its branches reached into the heavens, glowing faintly blue and white.

"The Holy Tree…?" he whispered.

But as he drew near, his strength began to fade. The closer he came, the weaker his dragon aura became — until it nearly vanished.

He landed heavily on the ice, his dragon wings flickering with crimson flame. Then, his demon power began to awaken — dark and heavy, pushing back the frost. He continued on foot, struggling forward through the snow.

In the distance, he spotted faint light — a small settlement buried under the ice cliffs. Through his World Eye, Milan saw traces of life — people, faint mana, and warmth.

He tried to fly again, but his wings refused to move. His energy had drained completely.

The world tilted. His vision blurred.

The last thing he remembered was the snow rushing up to meet him — and the sound of wind howling like a lullaby.

Then, darkness.

Through the blur of his fading consciousness, Milan's eyes fluttered open. The cold wind cut through the air, and faint shapes danced before his vision — figures moving, voices echoing softly.

He could barely move, his body numb and heavy. But then, through the haze, he saw her — an elf, with long pale hair glowing under the aurora light. Her ears were pointed like crystal blades, her skin tinted faintly blue from the frost. She pressed her hands against his chest, whispering something softly as a faint warmth spread through him.

Behind her, others moved quickly. They had the sharp eyes of demons, yet their auras felt calmer, balanced. They weren't pure elves nor demons — something in between.

"Hold him steady," the elf girl said, her voice soft but strong. "He's freezing from inside out."

A shadow passed above them — and Milan saw they were riding a frost dragon, its wings vast, shimmering like glass under the aurora sky. The creature roared gently, gliding through the storm.

From where he lay on the dragon's back, Milan's half-open eyes caught a sight that stole his breath — a magnificent royal palace far away, built of shimmering ice and light, floating between the auroras. The entire sky seemed alive — dragons of frost soaring beside the castle towers, and people like the girl flying on dragons all around, glowing softly in the frozen light.

They descended onto the icy courtyard. Guards rushed forward as the frost dragon landed. The girl jumped down, still holding Milan, her expression urgent.

A tall half-demon man with icy horns and silver scales — clearly a warrior of high status — stepped forward. "Who is he?"

Before anyone could answer, a noble woman's voice broke through. "First, we need to help him!"

Everyone turned. It was the princess — her aura calm but commanding.

Some of the attendants hesitated, fear flashing in their eyes. "Your Highness… he's a dragon… we don't even know—"

"Enough," the princess said sharply. "We will not let anyone die under our watch. Treat him first."

At that moment, another voice echoed — deeper, older, filled with authority. The King of the Frozen Lands stepped out from the glowing archway of the palace. His eyes, bright like frozen stars, gazed down upon Milan.

"Yes," he said slowly. "We will heal him. No creature who falls beneath our skies will be left to perish."

Milan's world faded to black again.

When he next opened his eyes, he was lying on a soft bed covered in furs and silks. The ceiling above him gleamed like carved ice, the air warm and sweet with the scent of frost flowers.

He blinked, confused. "Where… am I?"

A soft laugh came from the side.

"So you're awake, dragon."

He turned his head — the princess stood beside him. Her long silver hair shimmered faintly with blue light, her gown flowing like mist.

"You…" he struggled to sit up, "who are you? And where am I now?"

She smiled. "You're in my room, dragon."

He stared blankly. "Your room?"

"Oh," she said with a light laugh, "how rude of me. You should rest before asking too many questions."

But Milan suddenly moved, grabbing her wrist gently but firmly. "You're not afraid of me? You don't hate dragons?"

Her smile didn't falter. "Why would we? Dragons are our partners. Our clan and the dragons of frost share life and strength. Why should we hate them?"

Milan frowned, still confused. "But… with me, things are different."

She tilted her head. "Different?"

"Yes. You're a flame dragon in an ice dragon clan. Don't you think that's dangerous?"

The princess blinked, then smiled faintly. "And what problem is that, really? You are very naïve, dragon. Opposite flames can still bring warmth."

He looked at her, uncertain — but before he could say more, the world spun again. His body shuddered from exhaustion, and he fell back into the bed, unconscious.

The princess sighed softly. "That's why I told you to rest…"

When Milan woke again, the air felt heavier — yet peaceful. Someone else was in the room.

A tall High Elf stood at the foot of his bed — elegant, ancient, his presence calm and commanding. His golden eyes glowed faintly, and his robes shimmered with frost and flame patterns intertwined.

"Ah," the elf said softly. "The heir of flame is awake."

Milan slowly sat up, tense but silent.

"You're completely safe here," the elf continued. "The King has ensured your protection."

Milan's eyes narrowed. "You… you said heir of flame. And cursed by Yggdrasil. What does that mean?"

The elf's expression darkened slightly. "That old dragon was right… You carry the mark of Yggdrasil's rejection. The Tree has judged you once before, hasn't it?"

Milan's breath caught. "Yggdrasil… rejected me?"

The elf nodded gravely. "It seems your very existence defies the order of life itself. But perhaps… that's why the Trees themselves intervened to save you."

The High Elf moved closer to Milan, his boots barely making a sound on the crystalline floor. The faint hum of mana filled the room as the aurora light outside flickered across his ancient features.

"Milan," the elf said quietly, his voice both calm and grave, "do you truly know what Yggdrasil represents in this world?"

Milan frowned, still weak but attentive. "It's the god of life. The one who gives existence to all beings — elves, demons, dragons, even spirits."

The elf nodded. "Yes. The World Tree Yggdrasil is the balance point of all creation. Its roots spread through every continent — demon, human, elven, and even the frozen one we now stand upon. Every soul born under the sky carries a fragment of its law. That law governs balance — what may exist, and what must not."

He paused, studying Milan's half-demon, half-dragon form.

"But you," the elf continued, "are a contradiction to that law. A being born of three incompatible origins — dragon, demon, and something beyond this world."

Milan's breath caught. "Something beyond…?"

The elf's eyes gleamed faintly. "Yes. The power that seeps through you — the cosmic flow — does not belong to this world's law. It is the power of the realm that lies beyond even time and creation. It is foreign. Yggdrasil's roots could not comprehend it, so they did what all living systems do when faced with the unknown — they rejected it."

He gestured to Milan's chest, where faint glowing veins of crimson and violet energy pulsed softly.

"That mark — that curse — was Yggdrasil's judgment. A seal woven into your heart to suppress the dragon's divinity and your cosmic link. It binds your body to the world's laws so you cannot expand beyond them. In other words… it ensures you will never ascend."

Milan clenched his fists, anger and sorrow trembling in his voice. "Then I was never meant to exist?"

The elf shook his head gently. "Not so. You are not a mistake — you are an anomaly. Life sometimes births contradictions not to destroy balance, but to test it. You may be cursed by Yggdrasil… yet that same tree still sent its roots to protect you when you were near death. The Trees of the world — all of them — respond to you. That means something greater is at play."

Milan lowered his gaze. "The system said the curse was weakening after I became the brother of the demon tree…"

"Indeed," said the elf, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "That brotherhood binds you to life's flow again. Your existence was once rejected, but by forging bonds — by naming, by connecting — you slowly rewrite the law that defines you. Every bond you create is a new root that attaches you back to creation."

The room fell silent. The wind outside howled faintly, rattling the window panes of the frost palace.

"So," Milan said finally, "if I keep creating bonds… if I connect this world together again… maybe I can undo Yggdrasil's curse?"

The elf smiled faintly. "Perhaps. Or perhaps you will evolve beyond it. But heed this — the curse was not meant to destroy you. It was meant to contain your divinity until the world itself is ready for it. You are not bound forever, Milan. You are being tempered."

"Tempered…?"

"Yes," the elf said softly. "Like a blade forged from stars and flame."

At that moment, a faint light shimmered across Milan's chest — a pulse of warmth spreading through his veins. The curse mark flickered, then dimmed. The elf took a step back and whispered, "It seems the Tree's eye is upon you again. But this time… it watches not as judge, but as witness."

The ground shuddered violently, and the High Elf froze mid-sentence.

A distant roar echoed through the ice-covered skies — ancient, furious, alive.

Then, in an instant, a massive burst of black and crimson flame tore across the horizon, shaking the very palace foundations. The ice walls cracked, the aurora overhead twisted into a spiral of chaos, and the sky itself seemed to burn.

The Elf's expression darkened. "Something is attacking the northern dome. All combat units, prepare for engagement!"

Before Milan could stand, his vision flickered —

[SYSTEM ONLINE]

A familiar tone echoed through his mind.

"System restored. Emergency analysis complete."

"Alert: Host location under high-grade draconic assault."

"Crimson has arrived, Master. Reinforcements inbound."

Milan's eyes widened. "Crimson…?!"

But before he could say another word, a deafening explosion tore through the frozen dome above. Shards of enchanted ice rained down as a dark-flamed dragon burst through the storm, its wings spreading wider than any mountain peak. The very air warped around it, melting the ice into steam.

"By the gods…" whispered the princess, standing beside the Elf, her frost-blue eyes widening. "That's not a dragon… that's destruction itself."

The frost dragon knights scrambled into formation, their dragons roaring as they took to the air, their bodies glowing with pale blue runes. The princess shouted, "Hold the line! Stop that beast before it reaches the palace!"

But nothing could slow it down. Every frost dragon that neared was thrown aside, their scales seared by the dark flame. The creature's rage was beyond comprehension. Its eyes — molten gold and blood — locked directly onto the palace.

The dragon's next attack came like the fall of a meteor. The princess tried to shield the dome with her magic, but the flame broke through, shattering her barrier. She was thrown back, falling toward the frozen ground —

Milan's instincts surged. He leapt from the collapsing floor, spreading his wings in a burst of cosmic frost and crimson flame. His dragon form erupted from his body like divine wrath. He dived toward her, trying to catch her mid-fall —

But before he could reach her, another roar filled the air.

A second dragon, vast and white as the frozen sky, shot between them and caught the princess on its back.

The princess gasped, looking at the newcomer. "You… you're—!"

The white dragon's voice thundered softly through the cold, "Hold tight, Princess."

Now two dragons — one wreathed in dark crimson, one shining in frost and light — faced each other across the storm. The entire sky froze in tension.

Then something strange happened.

Both dragons stopped roaring. Their wings slowed. The burning storm around them went silent. The two mighty creatures began to descend slowly, eyes locked as if drawn by an invisible force.

The princess, still on the white dragon's back, frowned. "What's going on? Why did they—"

She raised her hand and began channeling her magic. Time magic flared around her, distorting the air. The crimson dragon staggered, its motion slowing.

"Stop!" the white dragon roared suddenly. "That's my friend!"

The princess gasped and ceased her spell immediately. The crimson dragon, though wounded, beat its wings again. But then its strength failed — it began to fall.

"Crimson!" Milan's voice echoed through the chaos.

Before the crimson dragon hit the ground, the white dragon dove — catching it mid-air with its massive wings. A blinding green light erupted from between them — a surge of life energy so strong that even the shattered sky seemed to breathe again.

When the light faded, the white dragon descended gently onto the frozen plain. Its scales shimmered — then cracked apart like glass — revealing Milan, standing tall amid the mist.

The princess stared in awe. "You… you were the white dragon…"

Milan turned toward the crimson dragon hovering weakly above. "Crimson! Catch me up!"

The crimson dragon let out a deep, relieved roar and swept down, its massive claws carefully lifting Milan.

They landed together on the frost-covered ground, surrounded by dozens of frost dragons and their riders, all ready for combat.

The princess raised her hand. "Stand down! They're not enemies!"

The frost dragons hesitated, then slowly lowered their wings, confusion and awe filling their eyes.

Then, from the shadows of the icy ridge, a familiar voice broke the silence — warm, trembling, and filled with emotion.

"Milan!"

Khushi rushed forward, her eyes glistening with relief. She threw her arms around him before he could speak. "Where have you been? You know how worried we were?!"

Milan froze for a moment, then smiled faintly, his exhaustion softening into warmth. "I guess… I took the long way back."

Crimson rumbled behind them, lowering his massive head with a deep growl of contentment.

The princess and the High Elf exchanged glances — the frost kingdom's defenders lowering their weapons as the snow around them began to fall gently once again.

For the first time since the attack began, peace — fragile and glowing — returned to the frozen skies.

The frozen skies slowly settled after the fierce clash. Steam and frost curled together in the air, forming shimmering clouds above the icy plains. Crimson rested behind Milan, wings half-folded, eyes glowing faintly from the exhaustion of battle.

Before anyone could breathe, the temperature dropped again — lower than ever before. The air became still, heavy, divine. Even the frost dragons around the battlefield instinctively lowered their heads. The ground beneath them began to frost over in intricate, glowing symbols.

A powerful aura — colder and purer than anything Milan had ever felt — descended from above.

From the shimmering aurora, a colossal dragon emerged. Her scales shone with crystal light, reflecting countless hues of winter. Her wings were like shards of frozen sky, and her eyes — deep sapphire, calm but piercing — carried the weight of eternal command.

The Frost Dragon Monarch had arrived.

Every dragon in the air immediately folded their wings and bowed. Even Crimson, the mighty flame dragon who could burn continents, lowered his head in reverence.

Milan felt it — the pressure of an ancient being whose existence radiated absolute authority. His own knees bent involuntarily as the Monarch's presence spread across the land.

Her voice echoed across the blizzard, calm yet filled with timeless power.

"Enough."

The storm itself seemed to obey, dispersing at her single word.

She glared down at Milan and Crimson, her tone sharp and unyielding.

"Fire… always brings ruin. You beings of flame never change."

Her gaze fixed on Milan, who still knelt with one hand on the ground, struggling to withstand her spiritual weight.

"And you — a Heir of the Flame Dragon Clan, Commander of the Scarlet Flames — what are you doing here in my domain?"

"Have you forgotten your place, fire-born?"

Her words carried no hatred, only divine judgment.

Crimson bowed lower, his wings trembling.

"Monarch of Frost… we mean no harm. We came only in search of our master."

The Monarch's eyes narrowed. "Master…? And who is worthy of commanding a Flame Dragon?"

Crimson tilted his head toward Milan, who slowly stood despite the crushing cold. His crimson aura flared faintly against the frost, forming sparks that evaporated in the freezing air.

The Monarch's gaze shifted to him — and in that instant, something in her expression softened. Her voice, though still cold, gained a note of curiosity.

"So… it is true. The one who bears both demon's curse and dragon's blood."

The surrounding frost dragons whispered in shock. Even the princess, standing beside her white dragon, stared in disbelief.

Milan looked up, meeting the Monarch's eyes directly.

"I never sought to disrespect your realm, Monarch. But this power… it's mine to understand. I came not as a conqueror — but as one who must find what he's lost."

For a long, tense moment, silence ruled the air. Then the Monarch exhaled softly, her breath freezing into spirals of snow that fell like feathers.

"Rise, then… Milan, Heir of Fire and Blood. You stand in the presence of the Frost Monarch herself — Queen of the Northern Skies, keeper of the Frozen Throne."

As she spoke, every dragon — frost, flame, and hybrid alike — bowed deeper, their heads nearly touching the ground. The ice plains glimmered like a divine hall.

Milan stood tall, his crimson eyes reflecting both respect and defiance, as the Monarch's gaze weighed the balance of worlds upon him.

The ice plains fell silent. Only the whisper of wind brushing across the snow broke the stillness.

Milan stood facing the Frost Monarch, his crimson aura faint but unwavering. Across from him, the Monarch's presence alone bent the air — every breath around her froze into crystalline mist.

Her sapphire eyes studied Milan with divine calm, but beneath them burned quiet conflict.

"Flame and frost," she said softly, her voice echoing through the blizzard. "Two opposing wills of creation. Never meant to coexist — never meant to live in one soul."

She stepped forward; with each motion, the ice beneath her glowed brighter, forming runes of ancient frost.

"And yet here you stand. The son of ruin and rebirth. Fire of the Dragon King, blood of the Demon Tree, heart of the forbidden bond."

Milan's eyes lowered for a moment. "If I'm a mistake, then why does the world still let me live?"

A brief silence. Then the Monarch spoke again — her tone neither cruel nor kind, only honest.

"Because the world is watching you, child of paradox. You are the only being who can either restore the balance… or burn it forever."

Crimson growled softly from behind, his tail flicking through the snow. "My master would never destroy."

The Monarch glanced at the crimson dragon, her gaze sharp. "And yet every flame begins as a promise — before it consumes what it swore to protect."

Khushi stepped forward then, still holding her protective aura around Milan. "He is not like the others. He carries both warmth and sorrow. He's not here to destroy — he's here because fate chained him."

The Monarch's expression shifted slightly, acknowledging her words. "You… the Holy Demon Tree's maiden. So you are the one they call Khushi — the one bound by both life and corruption."

Khushi bowed her head. "I only wish to protect him."

The Frost Monarch looked between the two of them — the flame-born child and the half-demon mother — and sighed, her voice softening.

"Your bond defies every rule this world knows. Flame and frost should never meet. Demon and dragon should never intertwine. Yet… you all exist — bound by something beyond even my understanding."

She turned her gaze back to Milan.

"Tell me, child of flame and shadow… what do you seek in the land of ice?"

Milan's eyes glowed faintly, his voice steady.

"I seek truth. About myself… about the curse that still binds my heart."

The Monarch's tone darkened, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of respect.

"The curse you bear is not just of Yggdrasil. It is of the world itself. A mark that limits the fire within you — to prevent your power from burning the divine roots."

"Then it's true…" Milan whispered. "I am a threat to the world's balance."

The Monarch nodded slowly.

"And yet, that same curse may be the world's only salvation. You are both sword and seal, Milan."

The snow swirled softly around them, as if listening to her words.

She lifted her head and gazed toward the distant aurora where the continents drifted apart in glowing fragments.

"The world is changing faster than any of us can see. The laws that once kept balance are breaking. And when fire and frost meet again in full — the true storm will begin."

Milan's fists clenched. "Then tell me what to do. How can I stop what's coming?"

The Monarch's lips curved into a faint, sad smile.

"You cannot stop it. But perhaps… you can choose how it ends."

The words lingered in the cold air like prophecy.

Then she turned to her court of frost dragons.

"Prepare the Frozen Hall. Our guests will stay under my protection."

As she began to walk away, her final words carried a quiet warning.

"Be careful, Heir of Fire. The warmth you wield… may melt the very world that fears you."

Milan looked down at his hands, faint streams of steam rising from his skin as the fire beneath the curse began to stir again — no longer in rage, but in quiet resolve.

The Frost Monarch's expression softened, though her eyes held faint regret.

"If you had come here just two months earlier," she said, her voice quiet but sharp as ice, "you might have been freed from your curse."

Milan looked at her in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

The Monarch folded her arms, her aura glowing faintly blue.

"You see, the Frost Princess herself is a hybrid — born of an ice dragon and a frost elf. That bond should have been impossible, yet it happened through pure harmony between their souls. But your case…" she paused, her tone darkening, "…is entirely different. The bond between demons and dragons was never meant to exist. Flame destroys — it never creates. Until you."

Her gaze drifted toward the shimmering aurora above.

"The very fact that you exist means the world has already begun its evolutionary process. Yggdrasil is resisting that change — but no force, not even the world's roots, can stop evolution."

Milan clenched his fists. "So… how do I free myself from this curse?"

"You must name your father," she said gravely. "Or form a link with a higher dragon equal to your father—or to me. Through that bond, you'll forge a connection stronger than Yggdrasil itself."

Milan's eyes widened. "So… you and my father are stronger than the world?"

Emilia nodded slowly.

"You're right, but it's not about power. It's about authority. Dragons can alter the laws of the world itself. Because of that, the world gave us one weakness — life and death. We cannot control them. Only Yggdrasil can. That's why your curse still binds you."

She stepped closer, her frost aura swirling faintly.

"The Demon Tree saved you this time. But next time, no one will. Yggdrasil already knows where you are, brother of the divided flame. And though the Demon Tree protects you, its strength is fading — weakened by your father's wrath. Only the Frost Tree stands strong now."

She sighed, lowering her voice.

"Still, one thing puzzles me. Why haven't you gone to your father?"

Milan's gaze dropped to the icy floor. "He abandoned me… You already know I'm half-blooded."

The Monarch's expression softened, almost sorrowful.

"I don't believe that. He loved his wife dearly, and he was proud of your birth. Something happened — something that drove him mad. I can try to reach him, but it will take time. He's furious with both the Demon Tree and the world itself."

Then, suddenly, the system's voice echoed faintly in Milan's mind:

[System Online: Suggestion – provoke the Frost Monarch to test her limits. Attempt to compare her with your father.]

Milan's eyes narrowed slightly. "It means… you're weaker than my father, then."

Emilia's expression instantly sharpened. "How dare you?"

"Then stop his rampage," Milan replied coldly.

Her aura spiked — shards of ice lifted into the air — but she paused. "And why should I? What benefit would I gain?"

The Frost Princess stepped forward quickly. "Emilia, please. He saved me. Can't you help him?"

Emilia exhaled, her tone softening slightly. "Don't say my name before the Flame Clan," she warned.

The princess smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Emilia. The Frost Monarch's name will not fall to disrespect."

Milan looked up, half-grinning despite his exhaustion. "So, the Frost Monarch… or should I say, Emilia?"

"Stop that, Milan," the princess scolded.

But he continued. "Is it even possible for someone to name you?"

Emilia hesitated, then answered with unexpected calm.

"Chronoa once bore a curse like yours. When her parents brought her to me, I tried to give her a name — but she was stronger than I was. The name reversed upon me, binding me instead. Since that day, our souls have been linked."

Chronoa, standing nearby, smiled faintly. "That's true. I overpowered her because I carry the power of Time itself."

Khushi, watching closely, whispered, "Just like Milan — who bears the power of Possibility."

Emilia looked back at Milan. "So… do you expect my help, then?"

Chronoa stepped forward and placed a hand on Emilia's shoulder. "Emilia, please. Help him. I know the pain of Yggdrasil's curse."

The Frost Monarch's gaze softened, the icy glow around her dimming.

"Very well. But on one condition, Milan — you will not leave this land. This territory is under my protection. Once I depart, Yggdrasil will try to strike again. Do not approach the Frost Tree — it cannot shield you for long."

Milan frowned slightly. "And what threat do you mean?"

Emilia's eyes flicked toward the distant horizon where the snow glowed faintly red. She stopped mid-sentence, her expression turning sharp and silent. The air around her grew colder, and frost formed beneath her feet.

She didn't say another word.

Her wings unfolded with a blinding surge of light and frost, and without a single glance back, Emilia took flight—straight toward Milan's father.

The sky split open under her ascent.

And dragons do not fear anything.

end of part two