days after Nix and Layla woke up as Queens whether of Fairies or Spirits, I was carrying a passed out Ibuki in my arms into the mansion, my romantic encounters with her always end in eating something or training, but if that makes her happy who I'm the one to criticize.
"Master, let me take her to her quarters, Alice is looking for you." (Sophia)
"Is this about Luminus' gift again?" (I)
"No, it looks like it's about Karina." (Sophia)
"Where is she?" (I)
"She and Vanessa said they were going to the Communal Temple, they took Karina with them." (Sophia)
"Thanks for letting me know, I'll meet them there, see you later." (I)
In the last few days, I had a lot to think about, whatever Nicole told me, the gift of Luminus, the fact that my Familiars changed their importance within their races by acquiring the power of leaders, the strange Cocoon waiting inside my shadow, the failed attempt to try and kick the 3 Saints out of the Dungeon and about my own future.
It wasn't until the day after the Ascension of Nix and Layla as Queens that I went to see the system notifications, for starters there were changes in the titles and abilities that link me to these two Familiars.
It changed to things like Fairy Queen's Contractor or Spirit Queen's Contractor and such things, I used my ability to identify these abilities and titles which changed their names, but in the end, their function was the same.
Of course that was just the function of these titles and abilities, in practice things were very different, just like with Sakura becoming a Titan, my bond with Nix and Layla was even stronger.
Not only that, but they now have their own Authority as well as Holy Power, so long as they can still use my Authority.
The two's Aura is much stronger and heavier than before, but the changes weren't just on them, my Aura also strengthened by a large margin, and my Holy Power also acquired traces of the Holy Power of these two, it seems to be because I helped in the building of the Temples of Fairies and Spirits since their founding as Cradles, I was closely connected with them now.
Layla can now switch between large and small form, but it seems that her large form is the real thing, she has surprised me by being responsible for the first time in her life as she tries to understand her own changes and guide the Fae that follow her.
Nix has always been someone in charge, so nothing she was doing now surprised me, but just like Layla has been trying to understand her new power and her changes.
Because of the Temples of the Fairies and Spirits having doors that lead directly to their respective worlds, many Spirits and Fairies have come to visit, some of them acquaintances from when I was still on the Morror Continent and others that I don't remember meeting.
"Let's see what's going on." (I)
While thinking about these things I arrived at the Communal Temple, I entered and went straight to the place where I felt the presence of Vanessa and Alice's Aura.
I took the shortest path I remembered while imitating going to these two on the top floor of the Communal Temple, if I remember correctly it is an area where ceremonies of various kinds are performed, a room as if it were a hall used by several of the Religions that live together in this Communal Temple. When I entered I didn't see anyone but Vanessa and Alice near the cocoon where Karina had been sleeping for days I was lying floating above an Altar a little bigger than the cocoon where Karina is.
"Very good you two, what's going on?" (I)
"Good afternoon, Father." (Vanessa)
"Good afternoon Mister Zenos." (Alice)
"What is happening is that Karina will awaken, all the Saints in the Dungeon have received this Oracle of the Gods, but we ask you to leave it in our hands." (Vanessa)
"I know you try to keep away from the 3 Saints, also their presence this time would be of little importance as it doesn't involve their Religions or them personally." (Alice)
"I see..." (I)
While talking to them I was seeing the cocoon, I could understand some things by probing the cocoon with my Aura and exploring my connection with Karina.
I didn't realize it, but the presence emanating from the Cocoon was more stable and stronger today than I felt it yesterday during my visit, I also feel the connection with Karina getting stronger even now, I don't know how I didn't realize it before.
"How much time do we have left?" (I)
"The time it takes for your hand to touch the cocoon come..." (Alice)
"..." (I)
Without saying anything else, I go over to them, who are on either side of me while they wait for me to touch the cocoon.
"Just touch?" (I)
"Yes." (Alice)
Without looking at any of them I place my hand directly on the cocoon, for my approach the energy leaking from the cocoon and Aura enveloping the cocoon only make way until my hand touches its scaled surface.
At that moment I felt my hand get trapped due to the suction when all my energy was sucked up to the last drop leaving my body dry of energy, I was almost taken to lose consciousness by the complete depletion of energy.
The girls who were waiting by my side had to hold my body so I wouldn't fall when finally my hand was released, luckily this time there was no loss of blood or vitality, but other than that I lost all my Mana, Ki, Spiritual Energy, Holy Power, and even my Aura along with the power of my Authority.
As soon as the girls held me each in one arm, I was pulled back as every cocoon began to crack, a black mist with different glows within its darkness coming out of the cracks that stretched across the entire surface in a few tens of seconds.
We all stand still until the entire cocoon seems to turn to stone, losing its sheen as it crumbles as Karina's body rises to its feet as if ignoring the cocoon shell that has trapped her body for so long.
The Karina that emerged from inside the cocoon surprised me because her scales, horns, and wings had disappeared, other than that her dark skin and old hair had the same characteristics as me, with the only difference being the tattoos on her body, a central element, a tattoo of a Dragon chasing its tail forming a circle with its wings spread to one side and with an eclipse inside the circle with a jewel in the shape of a drop of blood in the middle of the Eclipse.
That tattoo was on her chest when she opened her Dragon eyes her eyes were like mine but I could see a depth in her gaze that wasn't there before.
When her eyes opened I had the impression of seeing a Dragon behind her that I couldn't quite make out.
She was completely naked, but even with her stunning beauty, there were other things that brought my attention elsewhere, a feeling similar to the one I possess with Alice arose between me and Karina.
She had been floating in the air ever since she came out of the cocoon, but when the glimmer of awareness returned to her eyes, she landed and looked only at me with a simply happy smile as she knelt down along with the emergence of a system notification.
Ding!
<[ Individual Karina (Dragon High Priestess) has transcended her limits to ascend as a Blood Eclipse Dragon Saint ]>
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<[ Individual Karina (Blood Eclipse Dragon Saint) received the power of a True Dragon in her Soul Evolving into a True Eclipse Dragon ]>
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<[ Her connection with Individual Karina (Blood Eclipse Dragon Saint) has been strengthened ]>
I glanced at the messages, I was tired but already getting a claw of blood in my mouth to recover so my eyes landed on Karina.
I extend my hand to her which she holds firmly as I pull her weakly to her feet.
"It was... time to... wake up..." (I)
"I'm back, Zenos." (Karina)
She holds my head between her hands and steals my lips, with that contact I could finally feel her Aura, nothing that a Dragonewt should be was in her Aura, quite the contrary, the only thing I felt was the imposing presence that the Races of the True Dragons possess naturally.
"All Dragons are descended from Akatosh, to worship a Dragon is to worship the race and thus Akatosh, but today I declare to worship the True Dragon Zenos not below Akatosh, but alongside the Dragon God." (Karina)
Her words were charged with emotion and resolution, her Aura a testament to her will and the truth that arose in her heart, with what felt like an oath taken not to me but to herself.
I, who was already recovering at least a little bit of my energy, remove a tunic that I use to cover Karina's body, who accepts my kindness.
"While undergoing my tests I was brought before the God Akatosh and with him, a message was sent to you." (Karina)
"An invitation we can't refuse to go to the Dragon Castle for the introduction of the new Dragon King and the founding of a new tribe among the True Dragons." (Karina)
"..." (I)