Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1827: Chapter 1826 - Mistake

The Eternal Realm was, by its very name, without end. The concept of death ceased to exist. It was not unusual for long periods of hibernation or simply ignoring the rest of existence as there was a goal all of them strove for.

While there were fights, none had ever been truly serious. Without the threat of death, it was pointless.

In fact, the cultivators had decided that discarding the need to fight was the best choice after an unknown passage of time. They had better things to do and no further worry about an end coming.

They could be killed in one sense, but the power to do it was so insane that a single duel was not sufficient at all!

None of them ever expected that would be a grave mistake until it was far too late.

Around the places they called home an endless sea of realms surrounded them. It was separated from them by a barrier none could pierce save with their minds alone.

Occasionally, slivers of light might emerge and fly to some Eternal Realm. It was a sign of a potential being ascending!

They welcomed that! Someone new! They were so rare!

Again, they made an assumption that was how the process worked. A Divine Realm had to touch on things beyond the Heaven and Earth they had known. Warning signs would announce their arrival to those beyond.

That assumption would also lead to them being a step too slow.

It happened without warning. One of the many realms became sickly and then vanished! They had never seen anything like it before when a figure emerged covered in darkness and a vile feeling flowing off him in waves.

Dark laughter grated on their ears and they watched in shock as a black wave of strange Qi swept up the entirety of the realms!

While not all were righteous or even motivated, there were still some that would not standby!

Yet, the barrier stopped them! They could not save uncountable lives about to be killed. The smokey figure had bright white eyes that squinted in amusement.

[I will get to you all next.] The voice grated on their minds yet none could block him out! Now, even the wicked Eternal Realm cultivators were not standing aside.

It was all too late, sadly.

They were preparing for battle they had not waged in for unknown eras when something strange happened. A powerful flash of light was followed by a scream!

The vile beast was writhing in pain and the very realm he had consumed was restored! Some narrowed their eyes as they realized it was more vital than it had been before.

[Anyone from that realm here?] An ancient voice had called out but before they could answer, it happened again! Time flowed differently but not by that much. The vile creature had sped it up!

They saw a shadow flow into the larger being and he seemed soothed. Yet, the realm was restored and the figure screamed once more.

[It has to be a Talent of Heaven and Earth. A very rare and powerful one. The Pathwalker Talent.] A woman’s whisper filled their minds. Some nodded sagely but others frowned deeply.

They knew that Talents had limits. Eternal Realm cultivators could break them with ease, so why was the vile creature not able to do so?

They hoped it might be a trap he could never escape but that was their final mistake.

[ENOUGH!] He broke away and attacked them. His skills and Arts were unlike anything they had ever encountered.

Almost a dozen of them had been consumed before anyone realized they had no way to stop him!

The battle between Eternal Realm beings was not kind. Despite enduring, the devastation would wipe all the sea of realms with a thought if not for the barrier.

Even so, the barrier was not infinite. The vile man did not seem to care at all and he healed from wounds before anyone could take advantage!

Was his stamina endless?!

A pair of human twins suddenly appeared. They were clearly angry but in control as profound World Artifacts began to contain him and a sneer finally appeared on his face.

[So, you 2 really did ascend? You are too late! I consumed them all!] Realization crossed all present as the twins’ shivered in rage.

[Older, I can contain him with my Sage Binding Elixir. Kill him at that time.] The vile man finally paused and became serious. The twins truly knew how to fight him!

Pure vitality suddenly flowed from a vial in the man’s hands and made the shadowy cover peel away in fear.

[NO!] Vile aura slammed outward yet it could not cross the circle now around him! What followed seemed like an endless cycle of attack and defense that was going nowhere. The previous experience of how useless it was to fight amongst them was creeping back but then the barrier collapsed.

The twins were pale. They had exhausted all their abilities and yet they had been unable to kill the ancient foe of all life!

"FIEND! YOU WILL PAY!" A hoarse voice escaped Younger Twin. Tears flowed down his face and the other Eternal Realm cultivators could not demean him. The feeling of terror in their hearts was flooding them all.

Dark laughter grew loud as the vile figure tilted back in joy.

[There is no one in any world that can stop me! I will live–] An emerald flame suddenly slammed into the figure and made him scream unlike anything before. Power unlike anything the Eternal Realm cultivators had felt before washed over them.

[BASTARD! I WILL KILL YOU FOREVER!] A man with white hair but youthful features appeared. His foundation was severely unstable yet it held together. Emerald flames danced around him so dark it seemed like the jewels would emerge at any time.

He ignored them all as he seemed to wield a harmony like it was an extension of his will. They had never heard of such a thing!

They all traced his aura back to a wrecked realm, the same realm, once more. Unlike previously, it did not immediately reset. Something had changed?

More screams were followed and a rather plain, ash gray skinned figure was revealed with a miserable face as burns spread across his flesh.

[WHAT ARE YOU?! HOW CAN YOU HURT ME?!] The questions only made the old man narrow his dark green eyes.

[Your death!] Just as the vile Fiend had defied their expectations, the harmonic power was beyond anything they had ever seen! Harmonies could be used that way? It seemed to carry the power of various Daos, Laws, and all concepts within it.

How was that possible?

No one could get answers as the initially powerful human was running out of steam. His weak foundation was revealing itself as he was being ripped apart as blood and sweat began to pour from his body.

The Fiend recovered so quickly and went to consume the human. Many tried to move but a strange smile spread on the man’s face.

[Guess we will try again.] He died but his soul was gone! There was nothing to consume! It was pulled back as the realm reformed once more.

It was the start of a vicious cycle and war that seemed to have no end. Finally, one day, the human became a dragon and the vile Fiend was confined. The corpses of the man were still there and were all used as part of the cage!

Hope had bloomed and all the Eternal Realm cultivators that survived began to work hard to try and help the dragon. They educated him on Pathwalker Talent and many subjects as the vile Fiend screamed to let him out.

One day, he looked very tired and told them it would be the last time. They could only do one more loop. He then asked an ancient human a favor. The man stared at him and sighed before nodding.

He took something away and scattered it on the sea of realms.

[Goodbye, my old friend Lind.] The dragon smiled and tried once more to kill the Fiend.

He failed again but his corpse was added to the cage. The realm started over and for the first time in their endless lives, the Eternal Realm cultivators prayed.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Devastation was all around him as he opened his eyes. The thrice cursed ants had defied him for so long and just as final victory was in reach, he was denied again! That bastard had given them so much knowledge and those Twins had run with it with their fellow crafters!

The Great One looked at the sea of realms in frustration. He wanted to consume them! If he could do that the last step was his! He could feel it! Something was lacking in the Eternal Realm cultivators.

Well, most of them. A few nourished him quite well but they were not nearly enough. He needed to consume all of creation!

The stalemate on both sides was irksome but compared to those early days, he was far superior. If he could finally kill Lind Frey, the cycle would break at last!

The barrier was reinforced with his cursed harmonic Qi. It was waning as the final steps of his last incarnation were reaching the threshold.

[Come, little thorn. It is time to be feasted on at last and join all those you condemned to be a part of me. Even your precious ones from your current life. I have them and I will refine them completely right in front of you!]

His vile words were heard by all and they shivered. Hope still burned but it was now a flickering candle.

Lind Frey held the fate of all in his claws one way or the other.