Epic Of Ice Dragon: Reborn As An Ice Dragon With A System

Chapter 2461: Epilogue 2: A Meeting Between Worlds

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"Dad, are we there yet?"

"We'll get there when we get there! Leave your father alone, Midra."

"Daaad, when do we get there?"

"Hedra, please stop asking the same question over and over. We'll arrive soon, dear."

"Huh? Wow! Look at the sky, Mom! It's so bright!"

"I know, Becky. It's beautiful."

Ten years had passed since Loki's defeat and the salvation of our world through our united efforts. Though some of those years had felt heavy with strain, now that peace had settled and the children had grown, everything seemed far more manageable.

For dragons like us, time races by in a blur. To me, those ten years felt like barely one, perhaps even less. My perception of time had grown distorted, no doubt because of my powers.

Yet everyone had changed so much. The four little ones were now teenagers, showing far more maturity than before. Fortunately, Hel had proven an exceptional mother to Hedra, and our daughter had become much less destructive.

Watching them grow year after year brought both deep relief and a quiet ache. Raising them had presented countless challenges, but the rewards were beyond measure. Being a father was never easy, yet the joy it yielded made every struggle worthwhile.

"Ah, there it is. Is that the Palace Between Worlds, Dad?"

Benladra pointed into the distance. She was already a young woman, nearly as tall as her mother, with long blonde hair, radiant golden eyes, and clear blue skin dotted by a few white scales. She wore an elegant white and blue dress, crystalline heels, and subtle makeup that, truthfully, she hardly needed.

She was beautiful. Pride swelled in my chest whenever I looked at her. Memories flooded back of the tiny baby she once was, always craving our attention. Now, seeing the strong, graceful woman she had become, I could not hold back a quiet tear of overwhelming emotion.

"Dad?"

"Ah! Yes, dear. That's it."

We gazed through the windows of Fuyu, our faithful companion who carried us swiftly into the High Heavens above the ordinary ones—a divine realm that had formed over the years as Yggdrasil merged with Zipangu's Nine Heavens.

Earth remained the world least connected to ours, though occasional gates still appeared. I had closed them personally to preserve their stability. Over the past few years, I have visited many old friends across the realms, but Earth itself remained beyond my reach.

The Palace Between Worlds, however, had been constructed for a different purpose: not to link with Earth, but to bridge our realm with another.

Spiritias.

This enigmatic world, largely inhabited by humans, was as fascinating as it was mysterious, a "Fragment of Heaven" that had fallen from the domain of a False God, evolving into its own realm governed by Elemental Holy Spirits.

Its people awakened their Spirit Orbs early in life, gaining the ability to summon soul-bound and life-bound Spirits that grew alongside them. As they mastered their Orbs, they could call forth more Spirits, growing ever stronger and more attuned to the world.

Though Spiritias was only a quarter the size of Yggdrasil, its abundant Spirit Energy had greatly accelerated our world's recovery through this single connection.

Its ruler, a cryptic being known as the "Scarlet King of Heavenly Chaos," reigned from the skies above. He wished for his family to meet ours.

I had spoken with him before. His voice was deep and grave, devoid of humor—he never appreciated my jokes. Yet he had never seemed hostile, only pragmatic, willing to cooperate for mutual gain.

Yggdrasil supplied resources to help Spiritias thrive and expand, while Spiritias channeled vast Spirit Energy to stabilize Yggdrasil and prevent its collapse.

For now, neither he nor I could cross into the other's world. Our children could, in theory, but we had chosen not to allow it.

Thus, we erected this grand palace as a neutral bridge, built from materials of both Spiritias and Yggdrasil, enabling us to meet face to face at last.

This would be the first time I saw his true appearance. In our prior exchanges through the Void Realm, he had manifested as a swirling mass of darkness, blood, light, and flame.

Interdimensional beings could be profoundly strange, but he assured me he possessed a more "compact" form. I hoped it would not prove too unsettling.

He had three wives and three children—two daughters and one son—who were, he said, far more eager for this gathering than he was. He had agreed only because his family insisted.

Despite his somber, emotionless tone and eldritch nature, he remained a devoted family man. For that alone, he had earned my sincere respect.

"It wasn't easy to build that palace, right, Dad?"

Kate glanced at me with a gentle smile. She had grown into a remarkable young woman, just a bit younger than her big sister. Her short silver hair had been that way since birth, but now she favored metallic dresses crafted from steel plates. Tiny drones always hovered around her, ready to assist with anything she needed. They were more than tools; they were her companions.

Despite her mother's impressive height, Kate remained the smallest among her siblings, only slightly taller than the younger ones who had yet to reach full adulthood. Her little brother, Andra, might end up around her height too, which puzzled me. Both Andromeda and I were tall, so why weren't they? Perhaps their kind represented a new race of spirit dragons, naturally more compact. It didn't matter, though. It was endearing, honestly.

Even at her stature, Kate exuded the presence of a mature young woman. She was no longer a child. Her responsibility and quiet strength made her someone I relied on deeply.

Truth be told, though I had no favorites, Kate felt more dependable than her older sister, who now vanished on worldly adventures without warning, only to return weeks or months later as if nothing had happened.

"Yeah, it wasn't easy at all. But thanks to your help, we made it possible."

"Well, Uncle Augustus and Uncle Surtr helped a lot too."

"You're right. I wish Surtr could have joined us, but he was truly busy."

Surtr's children were already in their late teens, and they kept him constantly on edge. Yes, he had welcomed three more over the past ten years, bringing his total to five.

He often complained that they treated Muspelheim like their personal playground, toppling entire mountains or triggering volcanic eruptions. Ignisefer would occasionally pound on the great mountain where they lived, delivering one of Surtr's wayward kids with an utterly exasperated expression. They loved sneaking into Muspelheim's Underworld and wreaking havoc there.

Surtr insisted he dealt with some new crisis every day, yet he still beamed with pride at having five new fire dragons in the world. All the same, he was considering stopping there, and I couldn't agree more.

I certainly wasn't planning any more children. These were more than enough.

"Busy with his destructive little monsters? Hehe."

Yudra giggled playfully behind me, resting her chin on my shoulder like the spoiled princess she still loved to be.

She was in her late teens now, on the cusp of full adulthood, and remained the fluffiest and undeniably one of the cutest among them. She had grown beautifully, becoming a kind and attentive older sister to her four younger siblings. Her playful spirit never faded, so she bonded effortlessly with Becky and Hadra, who shared her energy, if not her slightly milder destructiveness.

"Don't you have two very destructive siblings yourself, Yudra?"

Yuki laughed softly beside her, patting our daughter's head. Yudra's fluffy ears twitched adorably in response.

My sweet Yudra wore a thick white cotton coat despite the warm day, paired with matching white boots. She adored the color white and always dressed as if winter had arrived.

"Aw, but they're such cuties!" Yudra laughed, pulling Becky and Hadra into a tight hug. The two immediately snuggled closer, giggling with their big sister. "Hehe!"

Seeing my eldest daughters grown into such wonderful young women filled my heart with quiet joy.

None had found their partner yet, but when the time came, that person had better be truly exceptional. I wouldn't let just anyone hold their hands.

Yes, I was an overprotective father, and I wore that title proudly.

"We're getting close now. I wonder if they're strong fighters. Dad, can we spar with them once we arrive? You mentioned he has kids too, right?"

A tall, muscular yet elegantly slender young man called out to me. His long black-and-red hair was tied into a ponytail, sharp crimson eyes gleamed with intensity, and black-and-red scales traced patterns across his blue skin.

Adorned with striking red-and-black horns and a gaze that blended seriousness with playful mischief, he was none other than my beloved son, Drakda.

"No, Drakda. We shouldn't challenge them unless they truly want to spar. Avoid rushing into conflict, all right? You're an adult now. Act with responsibility."

"Sure, sure, I get it. I'm just bored. I wish Amethyst had come along."

"She specifically said she didn't want to, son. What more can we do? We can't force her."

Amethyst and Drakda had begun a relationship just last year. It was still tender and new, limited to occasional shy kisses.

They clicked remarkably well. Though Amethyst had never initially seen him as a potential mate, after Drakda matured into a powerful and confidently masculine young man, she fell for his persistent, heartfelt efforts to win her over.

They loved traveling together, hunting side by side, and testing their limits through intense sparring sessions.

My son made me immensely proud, yet I sometimes wished he would shed a bit more of that lingering rebellious teenage spark and embrace fuller responsibility.

Even so, my love for him remained as fierce and unwavering as the day he was born.

"I miss her already..." Drakda yawned. "Couldn't Triton come too?"

Drakda had grown close to Triton over the years. The merman had become like an older brother to him, always eager to hunt together through the vast oceans.

As for Triton, he had married Eleanor, and she was now expecting their child, due perhaps by the end of the year. I often found myself curious about what kind of dragon would emerge from their union.

"Triton's busy with his wife. She's pregnant, remember?" I asked.

"Ah, yeah..." Drakda nodded. "I guess he'll turn boring once he becomes a dad. Ugh, I don't want kids, honestly."

"Boring?" I protested, feigning offense. "Are you saying your great father is boring, young man? I saved the world, you know!"

"Haha, I was joking, Dad. Don't take it so seriously," he laughed, playfully slapping the top of my head.

"Hmm..." I let it pass without further comment, my heart too full of affection for him to truly mind.

"At least Ruby came!" Midra exclaimed cheerfully. Drakda's little brother smiled up at her with pure adoration as she sat quietly beside him, absorbed in a book from Earth.

It was titled something like "1000 Shades of Gray," and I had no intention of asking what it was about.

In recent years, Ruby had become an avid reader and writer, far more than I ever expected. Last year, she published a short autobiography detailing her life as a vampire and all the hardships she had endured.

It quickly became a bestseller in the capitals of Alfheim and Midgard, where books found their largest audiences.

"Hm? Oh, yes," Ruby murmured, gently patting Midra's head. The boy was especially attached to her, both as his aunt and his teacher. When his vampiric powers first awakened, he had turned somewhat feral, but she patiently guided him toward better control. "All Venerables were invited, after all. I could hardly miss this meeting. I'm quite curious about these beings from another world."

She meant every Venerable. The Ice Queen, Belle, and Augustus traveled with us as well. As Guardians of Yggdrasil, we were all required to attend together.

"We're almost there," the Ice Queen announced. "All right, Belle. Are you ready?"

"I suppose so," Belle yawned. "Though I could have napped a little longer..."

"Are you serious? You slept for an entire decade!" Augustus objected.

In those ten years, that fox spirit had done almost nothing but sleep. I still found it hard to believe when Skadi first told me, yet she had spent most of the time in deep slumber.

"Anyway, here we are. Fuyu, stay here."

Fuyu halted before the radiant palace, its walls shimmering with countless glowing hues, crafted primarily from my own crystallized Fantasy Essence and the Scarlet King's Divine and Demonic Spiritual Essence.

Once we dismounted Fuyu, we passed through the grand gates. Blake and his family were already waiting on the other side, leisurely enjoying drinks and dishes prepared in advance by my Cooking Spirits.

The interior resembled an opulent hall where nobles might host grand balls and celebrations. His family was impressively large.

"At last, we meet face to face, Dragon King Drake, Supreme Ruler of Yggdrasil."

His voice resonated through the vast space. Sharp crimson eyes fixed on me while his face remained impassive.

I had half-expected a human-like appearance, yet his ordinariness still caught me off guard. He was simply a tall man with long black hair, red eyes, curved horns atop his head, and black feathered wings at his back.

He evoked both demon and angel appearances at once. The blood energy radiating from him surpassed anything I had ever sensed, even greater than that of our own Blood Venerable.

Was he originally a vampire? The thought struck me as strangely fitting.

"Greetings, Scarlet King of Heavenly Chaos. May I address you by your true name? Blakechsmdeuru."

"That was a ridiculous name my father invented to sound intimidating. He's just Blake!" one of his daughters suddenly interrupted, a girl with short pink hair and red eyes who giggled innocently from behind him.

"Honestly, it's a pretty lame name, Dad..." his red-haired son sighed. Slender and far less muscular than my own son, he was also considerably smaller. All of them were human-sized, while most of us towered in our predominant ice giant-like Dragonoid forms.

"..." A faint crack appeared in Blake's stoic expression. He covered his face with one hand in clear embarrassment yet offered no rebuke to his children.

"Althea, Damien! Don't interrupt Father when he's speaking with someone as important as the Dragon King. It's terribly disrespectful. I can't imagine what goes through your heads. Ugh, I'm so sorry about this, Lord Drake. I promise they'll behave better," his third child interjected, a beautiful blonde girl with red eyes and an almost saintly aura. "I am Stella, by the way. It is truly an honor to welcome you here."

"Ah, thank you," I replied with a warm smile. "I don't think Blake is such a bad name at all. It sounds rather similar to my own, don't you think?"

"..." Blake remained silent, his face completely stoic and expressionless for a few seconds before he finally spoke. "...I suppose."

What is going through his mind? Is he truly that serious, or is he angry with me? He is impossible to read.

"A-Anyway! Hello there! I am Erika, Blake's wife! It is wonderful to meet you, Lord Drake! Your family is so large, and everyone is so impressively tall!" A woman with a radiant smile and long pink hair greeted us warmly. Her green eyes sparkled with awe as she gazed up at us. "I heard you are all dragons?"

"Only Drake's family," Skadi replied. "I am an Ice Titan. It is nice to meet you, Erika. Since you are his wife, does that make you something like a queen in Spiritias?"

"I... yes! I suppose I am the queen?" Erika tilted her head, pondering as she glanced at the ceiling. "Huh... What exactly am I?"

"Erika, after Yggdrasil passed her Divinity and Authority to you, you became the World Tree Spirit, remember?" A blonde woman with glowing golden eyes spoke gently. She offered us a warm smile. "It is an honor to meet you. I am the Heavenly Saintess of the Holy Spirits, Elizabeth. My husband has told me of your remarkable feats. Despite his appearance, he holds you in high regard and has been looking forward to this meeting."

"..." Blake stayed utterly expressionless as his wives spoke on his behalf.

This guy is truly silent.

But he was looking forward to meeting me? That is reassuring.

Perhaps he is shy when he is not in his monstrous form. I suppose I will have to break the ice myself.

"Well, haha! I am honored to have you here, Blake," I said. "I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for our world. The Spirit Energy you continuously provide has helped it heal far faster than I ever imagined."

"I must thank you as well," Blake replied. "Your resources have enriched our world's Elemental Essence and Divine Energy. The Demonic Treasures were especially valuable. They have made the Demon Continent and its inhabitants feel much more at home by creating an environment suited to them."

"I am glad I could help, friend," I said, extending my hand.

"..." He stared at it for a moment before nodding quickly and accepting the handshake. A faint smile appeared, so subtle I could barely detect it.

"Hah, that is quite a weak grip, King of Spiritias!"

I decided to break the ice the only way I knew how. I tightened my grasp with full force. Blake's eyes widened in surprise as he met my gaze.

"What's wrong? Cannot manage a proper handshake? Like this!"

RUMBLE!

"Ngh?!"

His hand nearly cracked under the pressure as my Aura surged, forcing him to step back.

"Do not play with fire, Dragon King."

TRUUUM!

In an instant, the surroundings plunged into utter darkness. Shadows and blood seeped from Blake's body as he transformed into a towering specter. Thousands of crimson eyes glared at me while blazing wings erupted from his back.

"Unless you wish to be burned."

His shadows enveloped me, crushing with overwhelming pressure. I smiled, unleashing more of my own power.

"Hahaha! Now this is more like it, King of Spiritias!"

RUMBLE!

Our Auras collided fiercely—my vibrant, colorful light against the endless void of his abyss.

Our families watched in shock, panic flashing across their faces.

"Drake, what on earth are you doing?!" Benladann scolded from afar.

"Blake, please stop! You cannot fight him! We must preserve our alliance!" Elizabeth pleaded.

"Heh, not bad, Dragon King."

A third voice rang out. From the shadows behind the others, a figure emerged—composed of countless blood bats that swiftly assembled into a tall, stunning vampire with long red hair tied in a ponytail.

Her crimson eyes fixed on me as black and red scales covered her body. The power of Spiritias' dragons coursed through her, and through Blake as well.

"I see you are dragons too. No, something far more complex—an amalgamation of many things! Hahaha! Is she another of your wives?"

"She is my beloved life partner, Eleanora."

FLUOSH!

Eleanora dissolved into pure energy and merged with him, dramatically amplifying his strength.

Then hundreds of other silhouettes materialized behind him—all vampires. They fused with him one by one.

"Oho, I understand now! This is your true nature!"

Reality fractured as I pulled us into a private dimension of my own making, created solely for this clash.

His full form manifested: an enormous humanoid entity of shadows and crimson energy, adorned with dozens of blazing feathered wings, a radiant halo, and demonic horns.

"Can your power stand against mine now?"

"We shall see!"

BOOOM!

My Aura exploded outward.

I had barely used even one percent until now.

Let us discover how strong this man truly is!

"Sorry, Benladann, but I have been eager for this fight."

I transformed into my complete Primordial Dragon King form, unleashing every ounce of my power without restraint.

I would hold nothing back, because he clearly was not either.

"...?!"

His crimson eyes widened in shock at the sheer magnitude of my strength.

The Essence of Fantasy surged through me, allowing me to shape reality itself.

This dimension, after all, was mine.

"Let us begin."

"Hmph!"

CRAAASH!

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