Chapter 95: The Cycle’s Embrace

Within a small room inside the magnificent castle of the Witch Guild, Gern’s eyes slowly widened.

He gazed at the two individuals standing before him, asking a question tinged with disbelief.

“You’ve already deciphered the specific origin of the Kindling within me?”

Snow and Selina exchanged glances before Snow stepped forward to explain to Gern.

“Whether it’s definitive still requires further calculation. That’s precisely why we’ve asked you to come here.”

“And how will you perform that calculation?”

Snow gave Selina a subtle look, prompting Selina to retrieve a vial of potion from a nearby table.

“This is the fruit of our recent research,” Selina stated. “Its purpose is to harmonize your compatibility with the Kindling, and simultaneously, it will verify our hypotheses regarding the Kindling within you.”

Selina’s cheeks were etched with a grave expression, clearly indicating her profound dedication to this matter.

After a moment of silence, Gern accepted the vial from Selina’s hand and tilted his head back, drinking it down.

“Alright, please lie down,” Selina instructed. “The potion will take some time to take effect, and we need to monitor your body.”

“Understood.”

Gern nodded, obediently settling onto the specialized medical bed. In the next instant, several chains extended from beneath the bed, firmly securing him.

“Huh?!”

“What is this for?”

Seeing the restraints, Gern reacted instinctively, attempting to break free. However, Snow gently pressed her hand against his forehead.

“Don’t worry,” she reassured him. “This is to prevent any complications with your body while the potion takes effect.”

“Oh… alright.”

Gern nodded reluctantly, patiently awaiting the potion’s onset.

During this time, he observed Selina meticulously adjusting a sophisticated instrument, which already displayed the outline of his body.

“Miss Snow, what is this device?”

Snow glanced at the instrument, then offered a slight smile.

“This instrument was crafted by the Witch Guild, integrating knowledge left behind by Kaled. After improvements, it can now detect Battle Aura.”

It can also detect Holy Light fluctuations. Many of our current experiments are conducted using similar instruments.

Gern nodded, half-understanding, as the potion’s effects gradually began to manifest. He felt the Kindling within him stir, growing increasingly active.

In particular, the Silver Dragon Kindling he had first bonded with now radiated an intensely scorching aura, as if threatening to incinerate his entire body.

He began to convulse involuntarily. The power within his Dantian surged, growing ever stronger, and cold sweat beaded on Gern’s forehead.

The searing sensation was truly unbearable. He gritted his teeth, veins bulging across his skin.

His purple eyes, now bloodshot, could no longer withstand the torment. Finally, he cried out.

“Agh—!”

Snow stood by, watching the struggling, writhing boy, her heart aching for him.

She channeled her magic into Gern’s body, simultaneously wiping the sweat from his brow.

“Just a little longer, hold on a little longer.”

Gern’s consciousness slowly faded into darkness, and his struggles ceased. Snow, filled with concern, turned to Selina and inquired.

“Selina, what’s the situation?”

“Don’t fret, Vice-President,” Selina replied. “Gern’s vital signs are all normal. The Kindling’s power is gradually merging further with his own being. Let’s hope our calculations prove accurate.”

****

Within the darkness, a beam of light pierced through. Gern slowly opened his eyes, directing his gaze towards that solitary glow.

He instinctively moved towards the light ahead, as the surrounding darkness slowly receded.

Until the light consumed his entire vision, and a scene abruptly unfolded before his eyes.

As far as he could see, everything was a vibrant azure, blurring the distinction between sky and ground.

In the center of this vast blue expanse, a girl clad in pristine white stood.

The girl’s back was turned to Gern, her silver-white hair flowing freely without a breeze. Two dragon horns adorned her forehead.

She seemed to sense the newcomer behind her, slowly turning her head to look. Upon seeing Gern’s face, a flicker of surprise crossed her features, quickly followed by an expression of delight.

Her pale golden, slit dragon pupils, combined with her cool yet youthful face, bore an uncanny resemblance to Gern in his dragoness form.

Gern’s own expression was one of utter astonishment upon seeing her. He instinctively glanced at his hands, and finding himself still in his own form, his brows furrowed deeply.

“Who are you?”

The Silver Dragon Girl smiled, slowly approaching Gern and playfully tapping his head.

“Who I am isn’t important. What matters is that you’ve arrived here.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Gern was utterly bewildered by her words, unable to comprehend what she was saying.

The Silver Dragon Girl’s smile broadened at Gern’s confusion, no longer able to conceal her amusement.

“I presume Aunt Selina and Aunt Snow sent you here, didn’t they?”

“Huh? How did you…”

“Little brother, there’s no need to be so surprised.”

“I know you have many questions right now. Don’t rush; I’ll answer them for you, little by little.”

“Let me first introduce you to this place. This is a small world, detached from the Sea of Consciousness, nestled within the Path of Professions. We call it the Cycle’s Embrace.”

“The Cycle’s Embrace?”

“Hmm… how should I explain it to you?”

The Silver Dragon Girl propped her chin on one hand, contemplating for a brief moment before speaking.

“Consider this a secluded paradise, a place where successive Kindling masters return after their deaths.”

“We inherit the memories of the previous Kindling’s life, integrating ourselves into the Kindling itself. When the next Kindling inheritor appears, we merge with the Kindling in the current world, thereby gaining even greater power.”

“In my memories, I’ve lost count of how many cycles I’ve been through.”

“I’ve witnessed countless individuals, time and again, take up the Kindling, only to fall in pools of blood.”

“I no longer remember their names, so you don’t need to remember mine either. Just remember that I once existed.”

As the Silver Dragon Girl recounted these events, a smile played on her lips, as if these matters held little personal significance to her.

Yet, within her pale golden dragon pupils, there was an unmistakable glimmer of hope for the future.

“You are the most unique among us, for in my memories, no male Kindling inheritor has ever wielded the Kindling’s power.”

“I hope this cycle will be different. Now, it is time for you to do what you must.”

As the Silver Dragon Girl spoke, she extended her small, pristine white hand towards Gern.

“Take my hand, and you shall obtain the true power of the Kindling. But remember to preserve your true self, and do not let our power cloud your judgment.”

Gern gazed at the beautiful small hand extended before him, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

He recalled the events of his previous life. Although the girl before him differed slightly from the image in his memory, he could still discern her shadow within this figure.

“Will you… disappear?”

Upon hearing Gern’s question, Miss Silver Dragon’s expression clearly froze for a moment.

As an orphan in her past life, she had never been cared for by anyone; even after becoming a vessel for the Kindling, she was merely treated as an experimental subject.

Gern’s words, however, allowed her to feel a rare warmth from the world, a sensation she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She smiled, then nodded.

“You will inherit my memories, as well as the memories of those who came before. And once I complete this task, I will naturally dissipate.”

“Is that so?”

Gern’s purple eyes blinked, and he took a step back.