The Villain's Story

Chapter 437 [437] Eyes as deep as the abyss[3]

[Raise your head, Elijah.]

Instead of being alarmed, a soothing, comfortable warmth covered my body, shielding it from the cold of the night.

I looked up to see a large man, dressed in regal clothing with hair as vibrant as fire and eyes as deep as blood. Two, menacing red horns popped out of his forehead and went back around his head, as if creating a natural crown. He also had a great beard.

"...?"

Somehow, I knew who this man was...I had inkling at least.

I looked up at him, still crying and he took a seat beside me.

This man...No, this dragon was the Supreme of Fire, the King of the Fire dragons, Agri.

Who had descended onto Earth in order to comfort his successor.

"Agri...I..."

Elijah, still filled with tears, tried to explain himself but Agri stopped him.

[It's ok.]

He used the sleeve of his regal robe to clean Elijah's face, not minding the snot and tears that would dirty his supreme attire.

It was an act unbefitting of a supreme being, who were absolute hegemons.

[Stop crying now.]

He said, and his hand began to glow red. A butterfly made with the element of flame popped out and hovered around Elijah.

'That butterfly...'

I was sure it had some mind calming effects, Elijah had calmed down immediately when his eyes laid sight upon it.

It was not easy to calm a crying 10 year old kid...it wasn't easy at all.

[Why are you crying, you're the successor of the Supreme of Fire, the king of Fire dragons! Hold your head high with pride!]

He was going to great lengths to calm his successor down, I was even somewhat jealous.

"I don't know."

[If you don't know, then stop crying!]

"..."

However, Although Elijah had stopped crying he was still depressed. Very depressed.

Seeing this, Agri sighed.

"Why are you here?"

[...]

Asked Elijah, well aware that Agri was in pain being here.

Heck, even I knew. Suleras had been forced to go to sleep just because he said a few words to me in the tower...For Agri to descend in a form as weak as an ant compared to his original form, on a planet that could not support his power...

It was suicidal really.

Supreme beings are bound by laws, not just those of the universe. Because of their immense power each and every movement of theirs is monitored closely by almost every faction. Agri sneaking up here would not only lead to disastrous consequences for himself but also for his planet, the fire dragons, and dragons as a whole.

Yet, in order to brighten up the mood of a child, he still came here, regardless of the consequences.

[Be proud, Elijah.]

Agri ignored Elijah's previous statement.

"..."

[You held your own against a demon that destroyed an entire city, for quite a while as well.]

Elijah, however, was silent. Agri continued.

[The orcs, the dwarves, the beast men, the elves, the draconians, the nagas...]

He listed a bunch of different species, and finally arrived at his own and one more.

[Even among the dragons and God beasts, I have not seen anyone your age...or even twice your age hold their own against an opponent a dozen times stronger than them. Alone at that as well. I have lived for millennia, and not once have I encountered someone who was able to do what you did.

Even the ones who were hailed as the geniuses of the millennia...not one was able to do it.

So be proud.]

Even Agri's voice held a hint of pride. Pride that it was his successor who accomplished such an impossible feat. He would definitely boast about this whenever he had the opportunity.

However, Elijah had a different opinion.

"What use is that pride when I was unable to protect my own family..."

[...]

At this, Agri went silent for a while, aimlessly staring at the starry sky.

Sighing, he said after a while.

[Be glad no one died, you were able to prevent someone from your family dying...many in your city were unable to do that.]

He said as he tilted his head towards the destroyed Aror, which was currently akin to a beacon of light from all the fires and smoke it was spewing. It was hard to believe a majority of people were still alive there...

[Many failed to save their family, whilst you were able to save them.]

"...Elton has the curse of a demon on him...and his legs...are gone."

[So?]

"...?"

Agri's response shocked Elijah, he hadn't expected that. Who would respond with a 'So?' in this situation?

The king of Fire dragons would.

[Have you forgotten what you just accomplished?]

However, Agri was not finished.

[You held your own against the demon who inflicted that curse...at the mere age of ten.

All you need is time. Time to get stronger and remove the curse.]

Agri's hand started to fade away, he quickly hid it from Elijah, not wanting to worry the child more.

"..."

[Get stronger, and cure your brother, come on!]

He used his remaining hand and ruffled Elijah's head, whilst also casting a number of skills on him, all in order to calm his body and mind.

Elijah was unaware of what Agri had done, but I wasn't. I knew from the flow of mana.

He wasn't just casting a few or a dozen skills...but rather hundreds, all at once and also making sure they were incredibly hard to detect.

Supreme beings truly are scary.

However, due to his efforts, Elijah's mood had improved.

[Now go on, go to your family, do you want them to worry over another son?]

Agri's words awakened Elijah and soon he began to run towards his family, of course after saying goodbye to Agri, his mentor with a bright smile on his face.

Agri watched Elijah's figure disappear, and his body slowly disintegrated as well.

Taking a large sigh, he looked at the night sky, filled with stars one more time, and muttered.

His eyes were filled with regret and sorrow, and his body finally disappeared.