Rebirth as a Time Dragon

The cold wind howled, and snowflakes flew.

Bathed in the swirling snow, the silver dragon looked down from the sky. Below, the land was covered in a white blanket, with occasional signs of intelligent life, mostly living under the protection of demigods.

On the continent of Valoran, many intelligent demigods roamed the surface.

When the Four Pillar Gods first established their faith, the other demigods were puzzled why Ornn and the others would waste time and effort protecting weak, insignificant creatures.

To the average demigod, aside from themselves and the mindless demigod beasts, all other beings were just insignificant insects, unworthy of attention. They might amuse themselves by bestowing power on these creatures or crush them in bad moods for fun.

However, intelligent demigods were not fools like the beasts.

As the Four Pillar Gods' faith grew, these demigods gradually developed a mysterious power, and their overall strength increased rapidly. Eventually, due to the initial surge of faith, their power leaped in a short time, making them objects of fear and envy among other intelligent demigods.

The power of the demigods on Valoran was generally fixed and difficult to increase.

As they secretly explored why the Four Pillar Gods' power grew so quickly, they discovered the source: the faith of the protected beings. They began to imitate them.

More demigods started to protect intelligent creatures, extracting faith and gaining benefits.

Initially, some demigods united against the Four Pillar Gods to seize their territory and followers, but the now-established Four Pillar Gods defeated them, deterring further challenges.

Valoran was vast.

The defeated demigods retreated far from the Four Pillar Gods' territory, establishing their domains and gathering followers.

From Ornn and Volibear's accounts, Garon learned that even Anivia had differing opinions.

Ornn felt that other demigods' imitation was harmless as long as they did not interfere with the Four Pillar Gods.

Anivia believed that demigods protecting creatures and gaining followers was beneficial for the struggling intelligent beings on Valoran. She suggested sharing teachings and conversion techniques.

Volibear thought that although Valoran was vast, it had limits. Resources like territory and population were finite. Other demigods spreading their teachings would compete with the Four Pillar Gods for future growth. He proposed leading their followers to war and eliminating these competitors.

"Ornn and Anivia still don't understand the harshness of divine faith competition."

"This is a solid bottom line, even if it means their own death."

Garon shook his head slightly, observing the snowy landscape below and pondering.

Ornn, Anivia, and Volibear represented the neutral, good, and evil alignments respectively.

In the main timeline, regardless of alignment, faith was a matter of life and dignity for gods.

"Differing alignments and a lack of understanding of faith's importance lead to disagreements."

"Over time, this may cause conflicts, possibly even separation."

They were not true kin and lacked genuine blood ties. Severe conflicts could shake the Four Pillar Gods, affecting Garon's plans to harvest divinity. He needed enough backing to protect his followers until new gods were born.

However, Garon would not stay long in Valoran and had no good solutions. He could only wait and see.

In the biting wind, the silver dragon's silhouette tore through the sky, leaving a long trail, casting a fleeting dragon-shaped shadow on the ground.

After a few minutes.

Hovering above a glacier-strewn mountain range, the dragon's eyes narrowed as he stopped flapping his wings, looking down at a group of lurking purple creatures.

After some searching, Garon finally saw the true form of the purple creatures.

They were covered in a layer of white camouflage, blending seamlessly with the snow at the base of a mountain, their aura almost completely concealed, making them appear dead. Even Garon almost missed them.

Peering through the disguise, Garon first saw their insect-like exoskeleton.

Purple veins crisscrossed their exoskeleton, with a blood-like liquid flowing inside, providing them with life force and supporting their bodies, much like the veins formed in the corrupted earth.

This was a group of about five hundred purple creatures.

The majority were insect-like, with segmented, hard exoskeletons, resembling sci-fi creatures, out of place in this world.

These insect-like creatures made up 99% of the group, varying in size.

The rest were different, each uniquely shaped.

Some resembled mantises, others were large bugs, some like lions or tigers, and others were half-human, half-insect. If not for the similar purple veins, they wouldn't be recognized as the same species.

"Purple creatures start as basic insects, but some individuals can devour and evolve, becoming unique and more powerful. These are the true threats."

Garon recalled known information.

In his detailed perception, the basic insect-like creatures varied from level one to fifteen, while the evolved ones had all reached legendary levels, not to be underestimated.

Garon did not immediately destroy this small group but observed patiently, wanting to see how their devour-and-evolve ability manifested.

Time passed quietly.

The purple creatures waited patiently, unaware that a dragon was also watching them.

Eventually, a powerful beast, a giant wolf at level thirty-two, stronger than any of the ambushers, approached.

The purple creatures remained hidden, undetected by the wolf as it drew closer.

Finally, when the wolf stepped within range, the camouflage fell away, revealing the creatures. Purple blood-like energy surged through their veins.

Shoo, shoo, shoo!

The purple insects lunged, attacking the wolf.

The five legendary individuals led the charge.

One mantis-like creature, not large but incredibly fast, landed on the wolf's back in an instant, its blade-like limbs flashing, cutting through the wolf's fur and flesh, blood spraying.

The mantis tore at the wolf's flesh with its mandibles.

Roar!

The wolf howled in anger and fear, black flames igniting around it, but the mantis leaped away, avoiding the flames.

The other legendary creatures closed in.

A lion-like creature with a thick mane leaped at the wolf, biting and clawing despite the flames.

A half-human, half-insect creature extended its hand, shooting lightning-like arcs at the wolf's head.

Most of the purple insects swarmed the wolf, gnawing at its body.

Their high resistance to the wolf's legendary flames caused their bodies to char but not die immediately, hindering the wolf.

The insects' bites left purple marks that spread, weakening the wolf visibly.

"They cooperate well, using numbers and tactics to overpower stronger foes."

Garon observed silently.

The wolf's strength waned.

The battle's outcome was clear; the wolf's attempts to escape were futile against the relentless swarm.

Finally, the wolf fell.

Hissing, the purple creatures began their feast.

Only a few dozen insects survived, remarkable given their non-legendary status and the wolf's flames.

One insect, driven by hunger, approached the carcass.

But as it opened its jaws, it was split in two.

Nearby, the mantis' blade limbs glinted, issuing a warning.

The other insects hesitated, gnawing on soil and snow instead.

"No intelligence, but a hierarchy exists. They obey higher orders."

Garon noted.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Instead of sharing the high-quality food, the five evolved creatures fought among themselves. One died, three retreated with severe injuries, and only the mantis, badly scarred, claimed the wolf's body.

"In the face of valuable rewards, they turn on each other."

Garon watched silently.

The mantis devoured both the wolf and its fallen kin, its wounds healing rapidly, its exoskeleton shining anew. Its body began to evolve again.

The mantis' blade limbs crackled with lightning, its back sprouting flame-like fur.

Its level rose to thirty.

"This..."

Garon's eyes narrowed.

The mantis started at level twenty-six.

One hunt had raised it by four levels, granting it new abilities.

"No wonder even demigods are wary of them."

"This devour-and-evolve ability is extraordinary."

"If one of them devoured me, would it gain the power to control time?"

Garon knew that Demogorgon could absorb opponents' energy and grow stronger, becoming a Demon Prince with near-greater deity power. Any devour-and-evolve ability should not be underestimated, as allowing such creatures to grow would be disastrous.

"Their limits are unclear, but not every evolved individual can evolve indefinitely."

Garon pondered.

Witnessing this small group's hunt gave Garon a deeper understanding.

The evolved mantis prepared to leave for another hunt but was suddenly cut to pieces in mid-air.

The surviving insects were similarly killed by time cuts.

The injured legendary individuals that had fled exploded from within, marked by Garon's time imprint.

Time imprint, an early ability of Garon's, had evolved, allowing him to mark targets and detonate them at will.

Garon left, continuing his search for purple creatures.

As time passed, Garon located and killed more purple creatures.

He found that some evolved individuals hunted alone, leaving no trace.

He also saw their reproduction.

The purple veins and corrupted areas were their hatcheries, where flowers bloomed at the vein nodes, producing purple larvae.

Ornn and Volibear's "nests" referred to these hatcheries, heavily guarded by the creatures.

Garon scoured the land, destroying nests and killing creatures, traveling from the icy Freljord to other regions of Valoran.

Freljord was the Four Pillar Gods' base.

In other areas, Garon's presence drew attention from intelligent demigods but no interference.

The Four Pillar Gods had a formidable reputation.

Beast demigods, over the past century, had been systematically hunted by intelligent demigods seeking to consolidate their power and secure their faith. As a result, their numbers had dwindled, but they were still present in significant numbers.

Garon traversed various regions, destroying monster nests and eliminating roaming purple monster groups. Ornn and Volibear also made significant progress in their respective efforts. However, Nagakabouros remained elusive, as if it had vanished.

This continued for some time.

Until one day, a demigod allied with the Four Pillar Gods, a boar-like demigod named Iron Tusker who had previously participated in the siege against Nagakabouros, was found dead. His territory had been completely devoured, including Iron Tusker himself.

When nearby intelligent demigods arrived, they found a landscape ravaged and tainted with purple corruption.

Including Anivia, this was the second intelligent demigod to die at the hands of the purple creatures.

It was as if a signal had been given for war to commence.

Nagakabouros began attacking the intelligent demigods who had once besieged it.

Garon, Ornn, and Volibear, active across the continent and focused on destroying nests, became prime targets.

One day, Garon felt a sudden pulse from the Time Alliance contract.

"Nagakabouros, you've finally made your move!"

Without hesitation, Garon used a time teleportation spell to arrive at the specified location.

Near the ocean where they had previously eradicated Nagakabouros, a deafening roar echoed across the sky.

Volibear, having activated his god form, was entangled in a fierce battle with a massive purple octopus-like creature. The ground was shattered, deep fissures crisscrossing the battlefield.

Lightning bolts rained down on Nagakabouros, but they were deflected by a layer of icy crystal and a blood-red aura around its body.

"I'm going to kill you!"

Volibear roared, his bear claws crackling with divine power, smashing at the oncoming tentacles. Though his fighting spirit was high, he was clearly at a disadvantage, struggling to fend off the attacks.

Had he not been wearing armor forged by Ornn, Volibear would have been severely injured by the relentless tentacle strikes.

At that moment, Garon arrived.

He immediately saw the massive purple creature battling Volibear.

Without a doubt, this was the resurrected Nagakabouros, but it was clearly different.

Nagakabouros was covered in purple veins, glowing ominously, and wielded Anivia's icy power, its body covered in crystalline feathers, looking grotesque and bizarre.

Its tentacles lashed out with tremendous force, reminiscent of the chaos when they had first fought.

Volibear, despite being stronger than the previous Nagakabouros, was no match for this transformed entity.

Nagakabouros noticed Garon's arrival.

As the saying goes, enemies are particularly hostile when they meet. Having died by Garon's breath, Nagakabouros, even without its intelligence, still harbored a deep-seated hatred for Garon.

Abandoning Volibear, most of Nagakabouros's tentacles lashed out at Garon.

Garon decisively activated his god form.

With the infusion of time energy, his body swelled, reaching over 2,000 meters in length, with a wingspan of 3,000 meters. His colossal form blotted out the sky, his dragon aura overwhelming.

Volibear's god form stood about 1,000 meters tall.

Nagakabouros's tentacles, each over 1,000 meters long, could barely match Garon's size and were far less robust.

"I don't know how you revived and transformed into this creature."

"But since you've encountered me, you will die again. This time, you won't have another chance to resurrect."

The dragon's deep voice rumbled as he flapped his wings, charging at Nagakabouros.

Hiss!

Tentacles coiled toward Garon, accompanied by a storm of ice crystals and an intense cold that seemed to freeze the air.

Undeterred, Garon plunged into the icy storm, using his white dragon bloodline to seize control of the ice storm.

The giant silver dragon, surrounded by endless ice and snow, descended like a silver curtain, pressing down on Nagakabouros with an overwhelming presence.

His time-severing claws slashed, cutting through the obstructing tentacles.

A time-stopping field erupted, freezing Nagakabouros in place like a lifelike statue.

In an instant, Garon closed in, his claws reaching for Nagakabouros's head, his talons sharp as silver peaks.

His time-severing claws shattered the icy defensive layer on Nagakabouros's head and pierced its slick, resistant flesh.

Hiss!

Purple liquid splattered as Garon's claws sank into Nagakabouros's head.

His temporal barrier, constructed in anticipation of the corrosive purple blood, shimmered with ripples where it made contact, resisting the corrosive power.

Garon's forethought paid off as his claws dug deeper into Nagakabouros's head. However, as it neared death, Nagakabouros erupted with a green soul glow and icy frost, breaking free from the time stop.

With a meaningless howl, a blood-red aura enveloped its body.

In that moment, Nagakabouros's previously soft head became almost indestructible. Even Garon's time-severing claws met resistance, unable to completely crush its skull.

Berserk Blood Rage.

This was Iron Tusker's ultimate technique, granting near-invincible defense at the brink of death.

Nagakabouros had absorbed Iron Tusker and gained this ability.

Nagakabouros retaliated with waves of green ethereal shockwaves, affecting Garon and Volibear.

Volibear's face twisted in pain, his brain feeling like it was being pierced by needles, his body convulsing violently.

Garon's expression remained cold as he felt the soul-based attack but remained unaffected.

The soul impact waves crashed against Garon's steadfast spirit like waves against a rock, unable to move him.

Simultaneously, tentacles thrashed wildly, striking Garon's temporal barrier, causing ripples and cracks, but not breaking through.

With his growing mastery of time, Garon's temporal abilities had become stronger in both attack and defense, even under the material world's suppression.

The most rational approach would be to wait until the Berserk Blood Rage subsided and Nagakabouros weakened before killing it.

But Garon didn't wait.

Ignoring the counterattacks, Garon stood firm, his claws digging deeper, the Berserk Blood Rage's defense unable to completely stop him.

"Die!"

The silver dragon took a deep breath, muscles bulging under his scales, pouring immense strength into his claws.

Nagakabouros howled, its counterattacks growing more desperate but unable to shake Garon.

Riiiip!

Nagakabouros, the fearsome purple beast, was torn in half by Garon.

Purple blood gushed like a waterfall, splashing on Garon's temporal barrier.

Nagakabouros's body convulsed, its resistance weakening.

Garon followed up with a close-range time-severing breath, disintegrating the two halves of the body. He then used various detection spells, especially those targeting souls, scanning the surroundings.

Nagakabouros hadn't fully died last time.

Garon suspected it was due to a special soul power.

Sure enough, after careful searching, he detected a faint green and purple soul shadow.

"What a tenacious soul. You survived last time with this."

Garon's eyes narrowed, preparing to crush Nagakabouros's soul.

Unexpectedly, in its soul form, Nagakabouros, previously frenzied and incommunicable, seemed to regain a moment of clarity, trying to convey something with anger and frustration.

"Beware... Void creatures..."

The soul's purple glow intensified, the clarity fading quickly. Before Garon could act, the soul self-destructed.

"Void creatures... referring to the purple monsters."

"So they're called Void creatures. Where did Nagakabouros encounter them and get transformed into a mindless beast?"

Reflecting on Nagakabouros's final words, the dragon's eyes darkened.

Nagakabouros was dead, but Garon had a strong premonition that this was far from over.

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