Reincarnated With A Glitched System: Why Is My MP Not Running Out? Chapter 2005: Of Gods And Dragons

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"Well, most of my siblings have never been interested," Ignatius elaborated. "They typically remain on their territories within the Demon Continent. Though occasionally, a few oddballs try something else. Such as that foolish Leviathan, a cousin of mine from the Sea Dragon Family. He served as the Demon Lord of the Sea under the previous Demon King and battled the Heroes beside the Demons."

"Leviathan..." I whispered, recalling the single occasion I encountered him. Amid the assault from that cursed skeleton, he rescued Aquarina’s life, shielding her against all odds. "Deep inside, he was a compassionate dragon. He even took pains to defend Aquarina back then."

"..." Ignatius shook his head while clicking his tongue. "Tsk."

"He reincarnated into Aquarina’s present sea dragon spirit, didn’t he?" Yggdra inquired. "Well, his fate wasn’t entirely tragic. Even if he lacks recollection of his former life..."

"I wouldn’t label it a true reincarnation. It’s more like Leviathan’s offspring," I clarified. "That event occurred some time back. No need to linger on it."

"Yeah, yeah. As for the dragons in general, many pursue their individual paths," Ignatius sighed. "Take the lineage that forged an alliance with Yggdrasil and guards it to this day. They consist of the Nature Dragons, Fairy Dragons, and Earth Dragons."

"I-I’ve never heard of them before!" I exclaimed.

"Well, their presence isn’t widely acknowledged among the masses, I suppose," Ignatius shrugged. "Apparently it’s for their safeguard or some such reason. I lack the specifics. Regardless, I stood out as... unusual myself. I wandered the realms in search of trials to boost my power. Never even became a Demon Lord or similar."

"Yeah, I get it. You were simply youthful and foolish," I chuckled.

"I-I wasn’t!" he protested furiously. "I... Ah, who am I fooling? I was truly naive and green. And now I’m trapped in this form, a wretched spirit..."

"And eternally an egg," Beelzebub taunted.

"You’re in no position to judge, you pest—or should I call you adorable butterfly?!" Ignatius retorted with a guffaw.

"Mock away, but Sylphy vowed to elevate me to the mightiest Demon Lord. I’m biding my time for her to fulfill that oath. She never fails to deliver!" Beelzebub chortled.

"Indeed, I’ll honor it. In time, you’ll command every demon, Beelzebub," I affirmed with a nod.

"Hahahaha!" Beelzebub cackled maliciously. "You ought to have bargained for more, fool."

"Damn it!" Ignatius griped. "I just crave evolution! LET ME EVOLVE!"

"Not yet! Ugh, show some restraint!" I snapped. "Patience remains a virtue, Ignatius, after all."

"Ugh, alright, alright!" he grumbled, folding his minuscule arms in annoyance.

"Besides, you’re the one insisting on that petite baby dragon shape. You could shift to your actual advanced form anytime," I pointed out.

"I know, but I hate it!" he snapped irritably. "It resembles a juvenile dragon more and saps my strength. Better to remain compact and agile!"

"You’re such a complainer. Can’t you ever be content?" Furoh sighed.

"Who’re you labeling a complainer, you mimic?!" Ignatius snarled.

"Heh. In contrast to you, I’ve accepted my nature without inner turmoil," Furoh declared assuredly. He morphed into Ignatius’s likeness and prodded his snout with a digit.

"Quit copying my shape!" Ignatius bellowed, spewing flames all around.

Their squabbling faded from my attention as I steered back to the primary topic, zeroing in on the final detail that had genuinely sparked my interest.

"Concerning the Demon King and the Heroes, it amounts to the gods’ method of warfare against the world—a gradual one," Nephilim detailed.

"Yeah," Armageddon concurred. "It forms an endless loop of demise and ruin without true conclusion or aim, save to embody the rival sides: the gods versus the world’s vitality. Everyone’s compelled to clash and perish. Think of it as a frigid standoff, with you mere pieces on the board. The true forces observe from afar, awaiting exhaustion. This feud spans millions of years."

Everything fell into clarity as I nodded. "I’d long sensed we were mere tools to them, yet this reframes the whole strife entirely. It’s yet another motive to defy their commands and pursue our paths freely."

"Strictly speaking, that’s not completely true," Nephilim replied. "The gods don’t force you themselves. They bestow a blessing and guide you on your path, but they can’t just possess your bodies... unless certain conditions are met. What really compels Heroes to battle and Demon Kings to safeguard their realms is culture and society. The immense pressure from society thrusts the chosen into their destined roles. They usually begin powerless, so rejecting it means the influential leaders who rule society and serve the gods will merely slay the novice Hero. Then the god reclaims the blessing and picks another."

"...Oh." I stayed quiet for a second.

"The main reason nothing has shifted as you might imagine stems from this deeply entrenched society devoted to the gods, lasting as far back as memory goes..." Armageddon grumbled. "Though it doesn’t always appear so, the Church of the Gods dominates much of the world. Even the Elven Kingdom wasn’t fully independent from their influence and had allied with the Church for ages—until lately, when your grandfather declared your Kingdom free from their grip. Churches linger everywhere still, yet no holy leaders dictate the populace now. Therefore... Heroes born here on this continent should be fairly secure, in my view. But consider Heroes born in other places? Like the Human Continent? Heh? Hahaha! Oh, they’re in for pure torment."

"I suppose... I never questioned my parents on this," I sighed. "I believe my father was somewhat coerced into his Hero role. Aquarina’s mother as well. They lacked any true choice and couldn’t resist since they were too young or weak at the time. Yet we stand apart, we Heroes here. We possess the power to resist. Should the Church ever show up, they’d confront every one of us united if they dare try to compel us."

"Precisely," Yggdra agreed. "In any case, that sums up the current state. But there’s another matter I wish to discuss with you, Sylphy. This protracted war—while it seems they merely deploy expendable pieces outwardly—now that we’ve entered the realm of gods and received an invitation to the Avalonian Court, we could find ourselves deeply entangled in this eternal struggle."

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