Chapter 108 I'll be watching you, Pyris!
Selene, in perfect synchrony, unleashed a burst of radiant and darkness magic, her wings glowing with celestial light as she delivered the final strike. The combined power of their attacks caused the air to shimmer, the ground trembling beneath their feet.
The Ravager, caught between the full might of a Golden Dragon and a Nepharion, let out a final, pained howl before its body began to crumble, leaving nothing but silence in the clearing.
As they stood in the aftermath of the battle, the air around Pyris shimmered with residual energy from the defeated Nightmare Ravager. He felt the essence of the beast swirling in the air, potent and untamed, waiting to be claimed.
His body hummed with anticipation, and his Essence Devouring ability flared to life, instinctively reaching out to absorb the energy left behind.
Tendrils of energy flowed from the remains of the Ravager into Pyris, its raw power coursing through his veins. The sensation was overwhelming, but Pyris controlled it, focusing the energy inward. His muscles tightened, his aura expanded, and he could feel his power growing with every second.
Selene watched in silence, her eyes narrowing as she observed Pyris absorbing the essence of the beast. She had heard of lust dragons in legends devouring the essence of their prey to grow stronger, but witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely. It was rare to see a being absorb so much power so quickly, and it confirmed her suspicions—Pyris was no ordinary individual.
He wasn't just a Golden Dragon; there was something more lurking beneath the surface.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
As the last of the Ravager's essence entered Pyris's body, a surge of energy exploded outward from him, sending a shockwave through the clearing. His body glowed with a golden light, his scales shimmering momentarily before fading back into his skin.
He had advanced—Rank 11.
Pyris exhaled deeply, the rush of power settling into him. He felt stronger, sharper, his connection to his elements even more precise. He clenched his fist, feeling the raw energy at his fingertips, and smiled.
"So this is what it feels like... breaking through."
Selene stepped forward, her gaze locked on Pyris. "You absorbed the essence of that beast," she said, her voice filled with intrigue. "It's not every day you see someone advance so quickly, even after a battle like that."
Pyris met her eyes, his expression unreadable. "It's part of who I am."
Selene nodded slowly, though she was still processing everything she had witnessed. The combination of his Golden Dragon heritage and his ability to devour essence made him dangerous—more dangerous than she had anticipated.
"You're full of surprises, Pyris Obsidian," she said, her tone carrying a hint of respect.
"And so are you," Pyris replied, his eyes flickering with curiosity as they locked onto hers. "I didn't expect to meet a Nepharion here, let alone one with your strength and status."
For a moment, the two of them stood in silence, the tension between them palpable. They had both revealed parts of themselves that were rarely seen by others—Pyris as a Golden Dragon, and Selene as a Fallen Angel.
There was a mutual understanding now, a recognition of power that bound them in a way neither had anticipated.
The night air grew cooler, the battle long over.
Pyris and Selene found themselves standing at the edge of the clearing, the Grove quiet around them.
Selene's wings had retracted, though the faint glow of her Nepharion powers still lingered in the air. She turned to Pyris, her expression thoughtful. "You're not just some powerful CEO or the heir to House Obsidian," she said, her voice measured. "There's more to you, Pyris."
Pyris chuckled softly, his golden eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "And you're not just a businesswoman who will soon run the largest empire in Argos. It seems we both have layers to uncover."
Selene smiled, a genuine smile that softened her usually sharp demeanor. "I suppose we do."
There was a weight to their words, a mutual understanding that they were both far more than they appeared.
Pyris knew that this encounter with Selene had shifted something—both in his perception of her and in the path they were on.
For now, they were allies, bound by the forces of destiny and power. But there was an unspoken knowledge between them—whether as rivals, partners, or something more, their fates were tied together.
"I'll be watching you, Pyris," Selene said, her tone light but carrying an undercurrent of meaning.
"And I'll be watching you," Pyris replied, his voice equally steady.
With that, Selene turned, her form disappearing into the shadows of the Grove, leaving Pyris alone once more.
As Selene's presence faded into the distance, Pyris stood in the clearing, his mind racing. He had absorbed the essence of a Rank 16 beast, and pushed himself beyond his limits.
But more than that, he had encountered a force in Selene that both intrigued and unsettled him.
A Fallen Angel—a being that commanded both light and darkness, with knowledge of the world and its ancient history that rivaled his own.
But Selene had also seen something in him—a glimpse of his true potential as a Golden Dragon, a being thought to be extinct.
And though she didn't yet know it, there was another side to Pyris that remained hidden—the Lust Dragon bloodline that lurked just beneath the surface, a force that even Pyris had not fully embraced.
The night was quiet, the Grove settling back into its natural state. Pyris stretched his wings once more, testing their strength, feeling the rush of power that came with his advancement.
He had reached Rank 11, but there was still more to come—more power to unlock, more enemies to face, and more mysteries to uncover.
As the moon rose higher in the sky, Pyris took one last look at the clearing before turning toward the horizon. The future was filled with uncertainty, but one thing was clear—his journey had only just begun.
And with beings like Selene in the world, that journey would be anything but ordinary.