Previously on Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me...
Walterk and his army were annihilated, leaving only destruction in their wake. The cursed tree's fruit rapidly grew, absorbing the immense life force. Elisira, witnessing Daniel's calm indifference to the carnage, grappled with his true nature. Daniel then offered to answer her three promised questions.
"You may now ask the three questions I promised."
Elisira was rendered speechless for several moments. Following the incredible events she had witnessed, a multitude of inquiries flooded her mind.
Yet, despite everything that had transpired, her most pressing question remained unchanged. It was, without a doubt, the most crucial query among all her concerns.
This was also the very reason she had dared to seek out the book.
All of it – the risk, the effort – was solely to uncover the true nature of this formidable being.
"What... are you, truly?"
Daniel remained still for a notable duration. A gentle breeze rustled through the colossal roots of the ancient tree.
"My name is Daniel. I was once human, but now? Although my core being is still human, I no longer believe I can be classified as such," he stated plainly.
His words held no deception. Emotionally, he was still remarkably akin to a human, possessing all the feelings and emotional capacities of one.
But did that truly make him human? His essence, his very existence, and his fundamental nature had transcended humanity, belonging to an entirely different race.
The very blood coursing through his veins was not human; it was the ichor of a god.
And his soul? Even his soul was no longer human, but that of a dragon.
This realization even caused him a moment of profound introspection. Could he honestly still consider himself human? Beyond his emotions and sentiments, what remained of him that was truly human?
Elisira blinked, anticipating further revelations: his race, his origins, his homeland. However, Daniel offered no additional details.
This silence weighed heavily on Elisira's heart, prompting a sigh. It seemed her high hopes had been misplaced.
"...He only revealed his name."
"It feels as though the rest is not mine to know."
Notwithstanding, from that solitary answer, much could be inferred. Particularly for someone like her, an astute observer of detail. She recognized that his name did not belong to this continent.
She had never encountered the name Daniel before, and such a name was never used in this land. It was entirely unfamiliar. Thus, her conjecture had been accurate.
This young man was likely a survivor from one of the devastated continents, who had somehow managed to endure. His survival was likely attributable to his remarkable power.
"What is this gate the book spoke of? Do you know, and is it connected to this tree? Does the tree intend to save the world or bring about its destruction?" she inquired, taking a quiet breath for her second question.
This particular question had not been among her initial choices, but after perusing the book's ancient text, it had become an inescapable query.
This time, Daniel's response was not immediate.
"I am not entirely certain myself, but I surmise it refers to the portal through which the corrupted beasts, or perhaps even the entity that annihilated the continents, emerged."
"And I highly doubt this tree harbors any ill intentions towards this world."
"On the contrary," his eyes slowly narrowed.
"I am almost convinced that this tree represents this world's singular hope for salvation."
Elisira gasped, her breath catching. Her entire life, she had been taught that the accursed tree was the genesis of disaster.
Yet, here was someone who had single-handedly vanquished an Eternal Warrior, confidently asserting that this very tree was the world's salvation.
Suddenly, a passage from the book resurfaced in her mind:
"Until the fruit is complete, the gate shall not be sealed."
Doubt and apprehension began to fester within her, leaving her uncertain of what to believe. This uncertainty was profound.
It was so potent that it even unsettled her deep-seated faith.
What if the Divine Prophet had been mistaken, and this tree, far from being a catastrophe, was indeed the world's sole hope?
She sighed. Even if that were the case, she was powerless to protect the tree. She possessed no strength, and no one would heed her words.
"So... you are truly protecting this world?" she softly posed her third and final question.
Daniel remained conspicuously silent for an extended period.
The wind whispered through the tree's pale branches, and the golden luminescence of the fruit cast flickering shadows upon his face.
"It matters not," he finally declared.
Elisira's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Because I am incapable of doing either." Daniel elaborated.
Elisira's eyebrows drew together.
Saving the world?
Or destroying it?
Daniel's tone conveyed that both outcomes were beyond his influence. It was not a matter of his inability to save the world or a lack of power.
Rather, it was because this world, in all likelihood, had already perished, and what he perceived was merely a lingering echo – a simulation of a world that once existed.
However, Elisira was unaware of this profound truth, and Daniel neither could nor had the patience to explain such complexities.
"In any case, I have answered your questions. Now, I have matters to inquire about. Is eternal power an inherent attribute of all Eternal Warriors?" This question had been burning in his mind since his confrontation with Walterk.
He doubted that Walterk was the sort to independently study and cultivate the law of eternity. Considering the title "Eternal Warrior," Daniel was certain it was intrinsically linked to the law of eternity.
"Eternal power?" Elisira questioned, uncertain of his meaning.
Daniel slowly lifted his hand, and in that instant, a fragment of the law of eternity materialized in the air.
Though merely a minuscule piece, its presence was sufficient to warp the very fabric of space.
Elisira’s countenance instantly turned ashen.
This was precisely the same energy Walterk had wielded. Yet, Daniel’s manifestation was noticeably purer, and infinitely more dreadful. Her lips grew parched.
"Are you implying... the might of the gods?"
Daniel remained silent, offering only a nod.
‘So they refer to it as the gods’ power here, I see,’ he mused internally.
Elisira then softly elaborated:
"We are unaware of its true designation. By common consent, it is designated as the power of the gods."
Her gaze flickered towards the golden particle suspended in Daniel’s palm, and a slight tremor ran through her.
"This very power prevents Eternal Warriors from aging, and ensures their survival even if their physical forms are obliterated. To slay them is nigh impossible."
"As long as their soul remains intact... they do not perish."
Daniel tilted his head slightly.
"That explains their title, Eternal Warriors. Due to this quasi-immortality."
Elisira offered a confirming nod.
Daniel returned the gesture, grasping the underlying principle. The law of eternity indeed possessed the capacity to bestow such formidable abilities upon its adherents.
However, he harbored doubts that the Eternal Warriors actively cultivated the law of eternity. It was more probable they received a trifling measure of eternal power as a boon.
"Elaborate further on the top ten," Daniel requested, his curiosity piqued.
Elisira drew a quiet sigh.
"Walterk occupied the seventh position in the rankings."
"Among all Eternal Warriors, his physical prowess was unparalleled."
"The disparity among those ranked from tenth to fourth is negligible," she continued.
"However, the top three stand in a league of their own."
"Each of them, individually, possesses the might to vanquish the other seven."
"Third rank... Valdrak. His epithet is the Silent Dragon, and legend claims he consumed the heart of an ancient dragon."
"He commands no dominion nor army... yet his mere presence can bring nations to the precipice of ruin. His volatility and peculiar disposition render him exceptionally formidable."
"Second rank... Lady Seraphina Alvaris. The Lady of a Thousand Laws."
"Unlike the other warriors, she wields no corporeal strength. Instead, she manipulates the world’s fundamental laws, employing them in combat."
"Whispers even suggest she can momentarily halt the passage of time." Her voice dropped subtly.
"First rank... Lord Ragnar."" And with that, she uttered the final name.
"The King of the End. The preeminent Eternal Warrior across the globe. A century past, he single-handedly annihilated a nation, vanishing thereafter... unseen by any."
"Some speculate he may have transcended the very echelon of Eternal Warrior."
Daniel listened intently throughout her discourse. Elisira’s explanations had furnished him with a wealth of information, offering a comprehensive overview of the established hierarchy.
Yet, it was Seraphina who most captivated his attention. Manipulating the world’s laws? This resonated deeply with the power systems prevalent in the Celestial Domain of his home world.
"And what of the Half Step-Divines?" Daniel inquired after a brief, contemplative silence.
This time, even Elisira’s demeanor shifted to one of grave seriousness as she slowly nodded.
"Their true nature remains shrouded in mystery. They intervene only when their own intentions dictate."
"Not even the Holy Empire boasts a member among them."
"It is as if they exist simultaneously within and yet apart from this plane."
Daniel gave a slight nod in acknowledgment. The information he sought had been acquired, though the enigma of the Half Step-Divines remained unsolved.
His gaze then drifted upwards towards the heavens, now cloaked in darkness.
"It grows late. You should depart."
Elisira hesitated for a fleeting moment. Many questions lingered, yet she comprehended that answers were beyond her reach. Just as she prepared to leave, Daniel’s voice arrested her movement once more.
"Should you procure information regarding the Half Step-Divines, I shall address three additional inquiries on your behalf."
A spark ignited within Elisira’s eyes.
"...Thank you for preserving my life." She spoke the words softly.
Daniel offered no outward reaction.
Elisira lowered her gaze, then, without a backward glance, traversed the somber remnants of the former forest, and gradually faded into the encroaching darkness.
