But before he could react, Cua's tail—wreathed in the essence of the void—slammed into him with the force of an extinction-level event.
The heavens shattered.
The Celestial Dragon plummeted from the sky, slamming into the ground with a thunderous impact that sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
The light in his eyes faded.
Then—one by one, the dragons lowered their heads.
They had witnessed the rise of a true king—one whose power surpassed all others.
Asher exhaled, shaking his head. "Damn brat, you're too strong."
Cua turned to him, smirking. "And I've only just begun."
Thus, at the age of fifteen, the Ancient Nether Dragon Cua was crowned the Dragon King—the strongest in his generation.
Back in the Dragon Queen's lair, Valeris sat atop her pile of gold, watching as Cua returned. She smirked as she lifted him in his dragon form as if he weighed nothing.
"You are back," she said, her voice filled with amusement. "My baby sure has grown."
Cua blushed heavily, his massive form trembling slightly under her grip. Valeris chuckled, enjoying his reaction.
Turning to Asher, she raised an eyebrow. "And how are you, father of my child?"
Asher rolled his eyes, clearly used to her teasing. "I'm fine."
Valeris's sharp gaze swept over him, her amusement fading slightly. "You don't look fine," she noted, spotting burn marks on his arms and clothes.
"Nothing serious," Asher replied. "No other dragons dared to challenge me after Cua defeated them, but some still tried their luck."
She hummed in approval, then motioned to a massive pile of dragon cores and rare treasures behind her. "Anyway, you came here for resources, didn't you? You'll find over six ancient dragon cores here. They belonged to some of the strongest, but I handled them easily."
Asher's eyes widened slightly. "Handled them easily?" he muttered, knowing full well how powerful Ancient Dragons were.
Valeris stretched lazily, her golden scales glinting in the dim light. "I am the Dragon Queen, after all," she said as if it were obvious.
Asher examined the treasures, nodding in satisfaction. "With these, I can finally reach the peak of my cultivation."
Valeris grinned, her piercing gaze locking onto him. "So, you're finally ready to battle me properly, then?"
Asher looked up at her and smirked. "You're beautiful and strong. I wouldn't mind having a wife like you."
Valeris let out a deep, satisfied chuckle. "Good."
Just then, Sylva entered the lair, frowning as she saw the scene. She huffed and crossed her arms.
" what are you doing here?" Asher asked as Valeris answered.
Valeris laughed. "Nothing much. This little girl here is just my maid, according to tradition."
Sylva pouted, then looked at Asher with a smirk. "Well, I think I've waited long enough. When will you finally mate with me?" she teased, leaning in.
Asher sighed, rubbing his temple. "You really don't give up, do you?"
Sylva simply grinned. "Of course not!"
Asher ignored Sylva's teasing as he walked past her, his focus entirely on the dragon cores.
"I'm going to cultivate in peace now," he said firmly, picking up the ancient cores.
Valeris nodded, her golden eyes watching him with amusement. "Do as you wish. Just don't die while breaking through."
Without another word, Asher left the chamber and made his way to a secluded area, preparing to enter deep cultivation. Meanwhile, Cua and Sylva exchanged glances before Sylva huffed in frustration.
"Tch, he's always running away from me."
Cua chuckled, shaking his head. "You're too pushy."
Sylva pouted. "I just know what I want." This chapter is updated by Novel~Fire. (n)et
Asher, however, was already seated in a meditative pose, activating his cultivation technique as the vast energy of the dragon cores surged into his body. The power of Ancient Dragons flooded his veins, pushing him closer to the next realm.
Asher sat in a secluded cavern, deep within the Dragon Queen's domain, as he began his breakthrough cultivation session. The ancient dragon cores radiated immense energy, and the moment he activated his technique, the power surged into his body like a tidal wave.
The sheer density of draconic energy was overwhelming, but Asher gritted his teeth and focused.
As the energy flowed through his meridians, his bones cracked and reformed, becoming denser and stronger. His muscles tightened like tempered steel, and his skin hardened, taking on a faint golden sheen.
The dragon cores exploded with power, sending a torrent of heat through his veins. Asher's breath came out in short bursts, his body feeling like it was being forged in divine fire.
A pulse of dragon aura erupted from him as he shattered into the sixth stage. The entire cavern rumbled, and cracks spread across the stone walls.
Now, the real challenge began. The black and gold energy surrounding Asher thickened, turning into a swirling storm of destruction. His very existence began to waver as if he was being reborn.
His veins glowed crimson and gold, the draconic bloodline inside him awakening further. A phantom dragon coiled around his form, roaring into the void as Asher's power surged once more.
The heat was unbearable. His mind teetered on the edge of collapse, but he pushed forward. His will burned brighter than the suffering, forging his soul anew.
Suddenly, a black flame ignited within his core.
"What... is this?" he muttered.
It wasn't normal fire. It was Nihility Flame—the power of nothingness, capable of erasing anything in existence. A terrifying new force now slumbered within him.
With a deep breath, he stabilized the energy and broke into the eighth stage.
The energy inside him had now become almost uncontrollable. The power of an Ancient Nether Dragon—Cua's own bloodline—seemed to be resonating with him, as if accepting him as an equal.
His body expanded slightly before compressing, his physique now perfectly refined, as if carved from divine stone. His hair grew slightly longer, its strands glowing faintly with golden and black streaks. His eyes became sharper, glowing with an abyssal depth.
And then, the final surge of power arrived.
The dragon cores shattered completely, releasing an explosion of energy that caused the entire cavern to collapse.
A shockwave spread across the Dragon Queen's domain, alerting every powerful being in the region.
Asher floated in midair, surrounded by swirling gold and black flames, his entire being undergoing the final transformation.
His aura became boundless, his presence immeasurable. He could feel the laws of existence bending around him. His body had now stepped into the realm of true legends.
At long last, he had become a True Transcendent.