Chapter 57: The God-King’s Gaze and Rebirth’s Secret

Upon hearing her utter that name, Gern’s mind instantly conjured the image of the dragon girl statue standing behind Kaled.

“Y-you… hello…”

Gern felt a wave of diffidence, for before her stood none other than the Dragon God—the most powerful ancestor of the entire dragon race. In her current state, she wondered if she ought to address her as ‘Old Ancestor.’

‘Ah, perhaps I’m overthinking,’ Gern mused. ‘After all, I’m not a true dragon, so that title might be best avoided.’

“Hmm… theoretically, you should indeed call me ‘Old Ancestor,’ but that was a millennium ago. Now, I am merely a wisp of a residual soul.”

“Eh? Wait, you can hear my thoughts?!”

“Hmm… after all, I was once the Dragon God. Achieving such a feat is quite effortless.”

Alicia’s voice was melodious, a clear tone laced with a hint of coolness, as if she were meticulously analyzing a matter of grave importance.

Gern helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead. She felt utterly devoid of privacy before this being.

“Hmph? Enough of these musings. Let us depart.”

“Depart? To where? Back to reality?”

“I went to such lengths to draw you here. Why would we return? Come, I shall take you to meet him.”

“Ah? Meet whom?”

A faint curve graced Alicia’s lips, as if she were lost in the tender embrace of bygone memories.

“Kaled Rolle, whom your later generations revere as the God-King. Come, join me.”

“Eh? But… isn’t he already deceased?”

“Theoretically, he is indeed gone. Yet, for reasons unknown, a wisp of his soul was preserved. Otherwise, I would not be able to manifest within your very being.”

“After all, my life is intrinsically bound to his. Should he perish, so too shall I; should he thrive, so too shall he.”

“Enough talk. Come with me now.”

Without another word, Alicia took Gern’s slender, soft hand, pulling her forward into a run.

The moment Alicia’s translucent form made contact with Gern, her body solidified, becoming substantial.

Led by Alicia, Gern swiftly arrived before a magnificent throne.

No one was seated upon it; instead, the figure of a young man stood beside the royal seat.

His face was somewhat indistinct, yet his attire unmistakably matched that of the young man from the vision.

“Ali…cia?”

The young man slowly turned, his gaze falling upon the two dragon girls, their hands intertwined.

“You are…?”

“Kaled, I have found our turning point, or perhaps… I have found one who has crossed worlds, just like you.”

At these words, Kaled’s entire demeanor shifted. He descended the dais with hurried steps, approaching Gern and scrutinizing her intently.

“Imperial Jade Nectar?”

“Hmm?”

“You strum the pipa, pluck the zither strings…”

Gern’s lips twitched. ‘Why does it feel as though this esteemed God-King’s aura has utterly plummeted?’ she thought.

“Uh… that is… God-King, what exactly do you mean by that?”

Observing Gern’s bewildered reaction, Kaled turned a questioning gaze upon Alicia.

“Alicia, did you not say she was a transmigrator?”

Alicia pressed a hand to her forehead in exasperation. She realized she hadn’t been clear enough, leading Kaled to misunderstand.

“Cough, she did not cross over from another world, but rather traveled back from the future. In essence, she is a重生者 [reborn individual].”

“Reborn?!”

While it was hardly surprising for Alicia, a deity, to discern the truth of her rebirth, Gern still felt a prickle of unease.

She had always guarded her rebirth as the most crucial secret of this lifetime, and having it exposed so bluntly left her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Kaled, however, seemed rather disappointed upon hearing the news. It appeared that the concept of rebirth held little novelty for him.

“What does mere rebirth signify? You still haven’t uncovered a method to suppress the Chaos.”

“Not entirely. At the very least, Snow and her companions have already developed the Kindling, which preserves the genetic essence of civilization. I have tested it myself; it can indeed resist the erosion of Chaos.”

“But does it not still fail to pose a threat to Chaos?”

“Indeed, but are we not already on our path?”

****

A profound silence descended upon the scene. With two god-like beings present, Gern dared not interject, content to simply observe them in quietude.

After a brief embrace, they reluctantly parted, a lingering tenderness in their movements.

“Alicia, you still have tasks to attend to, do you not? Then let us not linger here any longer.”

“Hmm, my strength cannot sustain me for much longer. Kaled, do not perish before I do.”

“Ridiculous. We are bound by a pact. Should death claim us, it shall claim us together.”

Gern watched them playfully bickering, feeling like nothing short of a colossal third wheel.

Fortunately, their conversation was brief before they separated. As he prepared to leave, Kaled seemed to recall something suddenly, casting a glance at Gern.

In that instant, the young man’s indistinct features sharpened with startling clarity. The bionic eyes, previously concealed beneath a black cloth, finally revealed their true form, fixed piercingly upon Gern.

She felt a surge of new power within her. Puzzled, she looked up, only to find the entire scene around them beginning to crumble.

“A divine gaze has fallen upon you. Now, you may wield certain extraordinary powers.”

Alicia’s clear, cool voice echoed in her ears, yet within its crispness lay a thread of unexpected tenderness.

Gern nodded, half-comprehending. She had heard tales of individuals with exceptional talent who were sometimes graced by the ‘gaze’ of deities.

Most who received such a gaze were subsequently blessed with the deity’s favor.

For instance, if a person of considerable talent received a glimpse from the Mana Goddess, they would gain complete affinity with all forms of mana.

This meant that regardless of their inherent magical affinity, they would be able to wield all mana-based powers after receiving the gaze.

For other beings who had forged their own cultivation paths, the effect of a divine gaze was similarly profound.

“Very well, my companionship ends here for now. My power is waning.”

“Since the last war, we have remained in a near-death state. The rest… I entrust to you, Gern.”

“Outside… there are still those awaiting your return.”

As her words faded, Gern finally awoke from the darkness. Her eyes opened to a group of anxious witches, especially Snow, whose face bore the tell-tale signs of recent tears.

Gern was utterly bewildered, unsure of what had transpired.

“You’re finally awake, Gern.”

Gern slowly sat up, her long silver hair cascading gently with her movement.

“Hmm… what happened?”

She rubbed her still-throbbing head, feeling as though a torrent of information had abruptly flooded her mind.

“We were just about to ask you that very question.”

“The Projection Stone has no function to absorb souls. Where exactly did you go during that time?”

Gern awkwardly scratched her head. It dawned on her that Snow must have noticed something amiss when Alicia had called her away, leading to the current situation.

After she briefly recounted her recent experiences, all present were left utterly dumbfounded.

Snow, in particular, had shared the deepest bond with Kaled and his companions. When news of Kaled’s demise reached them, her reaction had been the most intense among all the witches.

It was no different now; upon learning that Kaled might still be alive, she was more exhilarated than anyone.

“Gern, are these words you speak truly accurate?”

“Yes, yes, naturally they are true. If you doubt me, you are welcome to examine my body; Alicia’s remnant essence resides within me.”

At this, the witches erupted into a flurry of excitement, their faces alight with boundless joy.

It was as if a grand festival had arrived. After thoroughly confirming Gern’s well-being, the group quickly dispersed.

This day’s events were to be kept a strict secret, for the matter was of immense importance, and Kaled’s situation was far from optimistic. This was not the time for fanfare.

Once everyone had departed, only Snow and Gern remained within the small room.

“Very well, I’ve relayed all the necessary arrangements. You should return and prepare for the academy’s opening.”

“Ah? The academy? Am I to attend classes alongside them?”

“Not precisely. I merely wish for you to immerse yourself further in the realm of magic. Concurrently, you should cultivate deeper bonds with your future companions, for thwarting Chaos is not a victory one can achieve through solitary effort.”

“Furthermore, considering your current state, you are undoubtedly destined for more than one cultivation path in the future. Gaining further knowledge will certainly not be detrimental.”

Gern nodded in understanding. She had indeed begun to discern the distinct characteristics of her three current forms.

Firstly, her true form excelled in martial arts, assassination, and knightly combat. Her Dragon Girl form, on the other hand, was well-balanced in all aspects.

The recently merged Snake Girl form, however, was more adept at magic, and her thought processes became remarkably swift while in that state.

To ensure she could effectively deal with the Heretic God Cult in the future, she truly needed to consider intensively studying all knowledge related to magic.