Chapter 22: Change of Mind

In a vast cavern, tranquility and peace reigned. A greenish-blue lake in the middle of the cavern flowed gently, adding a mysterious atmosphere to the space. The light splashing sounds of the lake’s water against the banks created a light mist that rose into the air. This mist further added to the sense of mystery, as there was no wind blowing across the lake. Outside sounds had no way of penetrating this place, making it seem as though it were in another dimension.

If one looked carefully, they would see two silhouettes at the right end of the cavern. One appeared to be a tall and handsome man standing like a statue, watching the other. The other silhouette was short and sat motionless, even the breathing so shallow it seemed as if it had forgotten how to breathe—or perhaps was in a position where there was no need to breathe.

“It has been almost a week since he took the Seed to awaken his legacy. I knew it would take some time, but this duration feels longer than expected,” Lorvak muttered in a low voice while looking at his son.

As Azalon was engrossed in the memories transmitted by the Seed, a week passed in the real world. His body was covered by a layer of dust. The breaths he took occasionally were so weak they barely disturbed the dust settled on his body. Not a muscle moved within him.

Inside his Dantian, the small Dragon Seed slowly rotated in the vast empty space. A small, colorless stream of energy was continuously being released into his body. Occasionally, it would flash brightly before returning to its idle state.

…Inside the Consciousness…

Azalon, or more accurately, the avatar of Azalon’s consciousness, sat on the edge of a cliff, looking over the vast expanse of land spread below his feet. A deep, contemplative expression adorned his face, contrasting with the childish and naïve contours of his physique.

“The current mindset I have is not suitable for the world I’m living in. The events created by the memories of the Soul in the Dragon Seed have shown me what to expect from this world. The people here, or more specifically, the cultivators, embody the Law of Nature. They stand on the heads of those weaker than themselves while groveling and flattering those more powerful.”

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“I have more knowledge about understanding and creating things. I have the mind of a scientist, peacefully pursuing the workings of the world and its various phenomena without concern for anyone or anything. Given the possibilities this world offers, I believe I can shock everyone with what I create using my knowledge.”

“But there’s a problem. Even if I can create worldly treasures, the current me cannot protect myself from the greed of those around me. The relentless pursuit of strength by people will be the bane of my existence.”

“The only way I can pursue my passion without concern is to increase my strength. If I am stronger than anyone else, I can create a carefree life for myself and roam the world without fear. To achieve that, I must carve my way through countless bodies. I have to get my hands dirty with blood. The real question is: can I be that ruthless and decisive? Can I take a person’s life without a pang of conscience?”

The incident that made him question himself was the memory that played after the first memory of the fight involving the spear-wielding man and the nine people. This memory served as an eye-opener regarding the behavior of the people in this world.

A Few Moments Ago…

I felt a strange sensation standing on the cliff edge. Although the strong wind seemed to push me off the cliff, it also felt strangely pleasant. Tilting my head to the sky, I saw the moon shining brightly, emitting brilliant blue rays directly onto the earth. The scene illuminated by the moonlight brought a great sense of tranquility.

A loud horn sound suddenly shattered the tranquility. A human army regiment in a square formation marched forward bravely. Knights armed with spears and swords, their weapons glittering in the moonlight, gave a cold and indifferent feeling to all living things in their path.

Unlike the previous fight I experienced, this memory included all the background sounds and effects.

Behind the knights, a group of Spirit Power Houses marched slowly in a separate formation at the back, concentrating their energy according to their arrangement.

Suddenly, all the cultivators’ bodies began shaking rhythmically as they floated into the air, following a specific arrangement. A massive fireball appeared above the formation, causing the surrounding temperature to soar.

In the bright light of the fireball, I was amazed to see what the human army was facing: a giant dragon. The dragon was coiled, making its full length difficult to determine, but I estimated it to be around 200-300 meters long and about 2 meters thick.

With a 'tsing-tsing' sound, the fireball struck the dragon. The dragon lifted its massive head and roared loudly. The roar was so intense it felt like my eardrums might burst. The human army was instantly blown away by the shockwave of the earth-shaking roar.

As the dragon lifted its head, I saw several warriors below its massive body waving their shields and steel swords. With a fierce intent to kill, they let out a loud war cry towards the human army.

The dragon spread its enormous blood-red wings and soared into the sky, charging at the floating cultivators. An invisible shield around them repelled the dragon’s desperate charge.

Meanwhile, the knights charged into the 'Dragon Warriors,' creating an opening in the warriors’ formation. In a short time, the heads of the dragon warriors began rolling off.

The surrounded dragon warriors fought desperately, piercing the charging knights with their weapons. Their bodies were covered in blood from their mortal wounds. Even the critically wounded warriors struggled to rise and fight. But the number of knights seemed endless.

At a greater distance, behind the giant dragon and dragon warriors, a hidden group of women and children watched the battle nervously. They were clearly the ones the dragon and its warriors were protecting with their lives.

As the women and children watched anxiously, several shadowy figures that had been hiding suddenly appeared beside them. The cold tips of daggers could be seen beneath their black clothes as they struck, causing red light to splash from the sliced necks.

With their deaths, the dragon warriors' frenzied attack was soon defeated by the orderly defense of the knights. The dragon was killed by the cultivators, who surrounded it and mounted a barrage of attacks. The assassins’ appearance had turned the tide of the battle in an instant!

Far behind the gruesome scene, a group of old men watched the bloody battle. They were apparently the main instigators of this conflict. Each wore a snow-white robe with a bright red ‘+’ symbol on their backs. They watched the battle with almost fanatical eyes. I immediately surmised that this group might be the Church my father spoke about. If my assumption is correct, then the scene I was witnessing could be the war from over 10,000 years ago.

This is the war that led to the annihilation of the race I was born into...

This is the war that brought my father to the state he is in...

This is the war that started it all—or maybe ended it all...

As I pondered my situation, I suddenly heard a thunderous roar from the peak of the mountain opposite the cliff where I stood. All the knights, cultivators, and even the group of old men turned their heads towards the source of the sound.

I also looked up to see a figure standing straight on the mountain. Even the strong wind blowing across him failed to make him stagger. I could see his posture, but his face was somewhat blurry, as if it were a corrupted part of the memory.

He looked down at the massacre below with sorrowful eyes. Two streams of tears ran down his face as his gaze rested on the bodies of the women and children far from the battlefield. His sad eyes then blazed red with rage, and his entire body began to shake. He growled in a trembling voice that resonated across the area.

“I will remember this. I WILL remember the face of every person on this battlefield. You massacred my entire family. You mercilessly slashed the throats of even babies in the arms of their mothers. I will make your entire generations remember that their suffering was caused by the choices you made this very day. I, Alvark Dragonet, will show you the consequences of this massacre.”