Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 1265 - 1264 - Broken Bonds

Lind scoured the limit of his aura but it was still chaotic. His dantian was freshly drained so only his stamina was keeping him afloat. He was pushing his limits as he was still acclimating to having a body after being without it.

He had no idea how long he was gone also. The visions he had seen may have still come to pass but he sincerely hoped it had not.

He had a lot to answer for. He could not shirk that aspect of his choices but if they were dead, he would have to confront that as well.

The sky above him was full of tears but he ignored the beings looking on. He had no concern for them but was glad they at least cared to check on the 3rd layer.

He tried to check his connections to his loved ones but a new shock filled him. They were gone!

Ethry, Chu, Kora, and even the connections he had to his children were just gone! Why?

Terror filled him as he thought he was too late! They would have fought to protect life. They would not have hidden and they could be dead or worse down there. The Fiends could have ripped their souls apart such that nothing was left!

[Master.] A voice suddenly entered his mind he had not heard in a long time. He swiveled his massive head around until he felt a tug on his soul. Lightning struck from above and a black ring with a sinuous emerald dragon on it appeared in front of him!

Joy filled him as he extended his claw and the ring grew to go onto what would be his right hand as a human.

[Haro?] The connection returned but it was the only one.

[I knew you could find your way back to being a True Lord, Master. I have refused to be reset until you were gone. I knew you would make it!] Haro was weak but he was in far better shape than when he was taken away.

[Were you punished?] Lind knew Haro had interfered in his tribulation which led to some of his complications but the spirit gave a negative response.

[Acting in my Lord's safety is considered normal. Your situation was unique enough that only being stripped away was the worst of it.] Lind nodded as he guided pure Qi into the ring. Haro felt shocked as he recovered at a shocking pace.

The changes in Lind only became apparent at that moment. A new body!

Haro also felt his concerns, it seemed.

"If you had to recreate your body, the old bonds would be shattered as it is considered a form of rebirth. Your soul is not quite the same either as it had survived the shock of body death. In a real sense, you are an entirely new being, Master.] That brought some hope to Lind but the devastation below kept him tempered.

His Qi had recovered enough to transform to his human shape. He thought it would be difficult but instead there was a flash and he was human instantly! His body was much taller but the proportions were relatively normal.

He was at least 7 meters tall!

His body was well muscled but not overly so, yet the power in his body was undeniable. He was also stark naked! He quickly checked the ring and realized only mismatched robes would be in it.

Still, it was better than nothing!

A set of dark gray robes did not fully fit. He essentially could only wear the lower half as the upper half was too small. He ripped the sleeves and looked more like a wandering monk at that moment.

His vibrant emerald hair shimmered with all 18 elemental colors but his eyes were pure emerald. His harmony roared at the heart of his new crystal.

His meridians were insanely stronger compared to before. His very flesh seemed distant from even the dragon race as a whole. He had been a progenitor before but now he was carving out a path none would be able to replicate ever again.

He pushed further analysis aside as he quickly moved to getting to work. With Haro back, he had materials he could use to help. Elixirs and other artifacts were stored inside but he also noticed he had more access than before.

The ring could now easily store the entirety of the treasury of the Sanctuary Empire with room to spare!

It had mountains of herbs, ores, and crystals from before but added to that were materials he saw from across the realms. Nothing above the Immortal realm was present but a small percentage was materials he had never seen.

He did not spend time on them as he had to act efficiently.

He descended where he still felt life and got to work. He not only began to administer elixirs but conjured water to make more! While several cultivators were trying to find living among the dead, all were shocked by his arrival and actions.

They all saw the dragon end the frenzy but now he was healing people with ease. Due to the sparse areas inhabited over a thousand years ago, and mostly by demons, the humans did not recognize Lind.

A flash of silver, however, they did recognize and scattered. Lind was feeding an elixir to a Sliver Tier Immortal on the brink of body death when a scent entered his nostrils.

He quickly healed the boy before slowly looking up as a shadow loomed over him. A massive prismatic dragon stared down at him. She was kilometers long but he knew she could be larger than that.

Further, unlike him, she had no claws but her mane was far more robust than his. He also knew for a fact her tail was far more devastating.

A puff of dragon flame left her mouth as her prismatic eyes stared down at him.

"Eh, hi Ethry! If you want to hit–" He scratched the back of his head as he waved at her but then was swept up by her Qi. She pulled him into the sky and flew around him at an extremely uncomfortable range.

He could feel her breath on his skin and also, her rage. He knew her well enough to know she was very angry but likely confirming he was himself before unleashing it.

She was a low Radiant Tier but based on her progress, she would breakthrough soon to mid Radiant Tier. Her Divine bloodline was showing its power.

[You smell nothing like him. There is no bond between us. Your soul is different too. So is your dantian. I can tell. You will explain why you like my mate or I will tear you apart right here.] She was serious so he did the only thing he could think of.

He held up his right hand and Haro appeared kneeling in midair.

"It is good to see you again, Mistress Ethry. This is truly Lord Frey–" Haro suddenly stopped as he realized he was alone. He looked behind him only to see a distant dot that called to him.

"Ah, Master, may the spirits watch over you." He then dispersed as he raced after the ring.

Lind had not quite caught when Ethry moved and by the time he did, he was slammed onto a stone floor. Cracks spread from the impact but familiar scents reached him. Some were wounded!

His eyes snapped open to see a group of very familiar frozen people but at the heart of them was a waif. A human woman with once vibrant dark hair and green eyes. She looked like a shell of herself.

The world blurred before he stood in front of his mother once more. His wives were not all present but many of them were.

Chu was weeping while missing an arm and the others were mostly intact otherwise. Their souls were all intact!

Despite that reassuring fact, his mother was not well at all! She was not reacting to her surroundings!

There was no injury to her soul or body, but her mind! Her heart had taken a hit she was unprepared for.

"Mother, this unworthy son has returned late once more. I can only beg forgiveness from everyone for that and so much more." He spoke loudly and clearly but she did not even look at him!

He waved his hands in front of her face but she did not even blink. No one spoke as Lind looked almost broken himself at that moment.

"Mom, I am here." He whispered as tears fell. He was too late! He took her into his embrace. He was unsure what to do as nothing he had for elixirs or skills could help her. He just could only hold her as he began to cry.

The group of women around him looked down as while they were justifiably angry with him, it was a moment they would not wish on anyone.

He was about to get up when he found a firm grip on his arms. Her tiny hands had dug into his muscles and would not let go as she slowly looked up at him. Her once dead eyes had a spark in them.

It was faint but she slowly blinked and took her hands to grasp his face. She stood up slowly and he let her accept he was there. Ever so slowly, her face came alive as tears began to stream down her face.

"Is–is this a dream?" Lind shook his head.

"No, Mom. I am back. It took me a long time to come back but I am back! I am so–" He could not finish as she firmly pulled him into her embrace. Mother and son broke down in happiness and even the most stoic warrior watching had to let a tear fall as Mira was aware again!

The group embraced the mother and son pair and quietly welcomed the fact they were together again. There was much to do but for that one moment, the rest of the world fell away. Lind had come home.