The air inside the ancient cavern pulsed with hidden power. The barrier that held Veldora shimmered faintly as Varvatos stood before the mighty dragon, both curious and intrigued. After listening to Veldora's tale of being sealed, the Astralborn Sovereign's eyes glinted with interest.
He folded his arms, leaning slightly against the rough cavern wall as he began to speak.
"Well, if we're trading stories… I suppose it's only fair I share mine."
Veldora lifted his head slightly, eyes gleaming with expectation.
"Oh? Do tell."
Varvatos smiled, though there was a trace of melancholy behind his confident gaze.
"In my world, I was a Demon Lord. Not just any Demon Lord—the Demon Lord. Ruler of countless realms, bearer of ultimate magic, feared and worshipped by all. But…"
He trailed off, his gaze drifting toward the magicule-filled air, swirling faintly around them.
"Eventually, it all grew… dull. Ruling, fighting, scheming—it became predictable. The world bent to my will too easily. So, I made a choice. I sealed my fate myself and reincarnated… leaving everything behind, searching for something new."
Veldora raised a brow.
"Heh. A Demon Lord choosing to be reborn? That's something."
Varvatos nodded.
"And yet… it seems fate has a sense of humor. I find myself in a world overflowing with power, with beings whose strength rivals even the mightiest of my old world. Perhaps destiny isn't done with me yet. Perhaps I'm meant to keep ruling, after all."
There was a spark of mischief in his voice, but the conviction behind it was clear.
Veldora grinned, his interest growing with each word.
"So you were a Demon Lord, huh? That's interesting. Because… we have Demon Lords in this world too."
That made Varvatos perk up. His eyes gleamed.
"Oh? Now this I'd like to hear more about."
Veldora puffed up slightly, happy to be the one with valuable knowledge.
"Well, there's quite a few of them. But I'll start with the big ones."
He raised a claw, counting off each name.
"First, there's Guy Crimson. He's a Primordial Demon—ancient, powerful, dangerous. Many consider him the strongest Demon Lord alive. Ruthless, but not reckless. He rules over the Ice Continent."
"Then there's Milim Nava, my dear niece—the daughter of my brother. She's a true force of destruction. Energetic, wild, but don't let that fool you. She's one of the strongest beings in this world. Her title isn't just for show."
Varvatos listened intently, intrigued by the mention of a "Primordial" and a "daughter of a dragon."
"Next is Draguel, a giant and Demon Lord in his own right. A warrior through and through. Not as flashy as the others, but his strength is the real deal."
"Then there's Leon Cromwell—used to be a Hero. He walked a different path and became a Demon Lord instead. Some call him the Platinum Saber. Cold and calculating, but strong."
"Luminous Valentine—the Vampire Queen. Elegant, old, and terrifying when provoked. Her nation thrives in the shadows."
"Dino, the Lazy Demon Lord. Used to be an angel, actually. But after my brother Veldanava died… he fell. Became a Demon Lord too. Not very ambitious, but still strong."
"Then there's Frey, the Harpy Queen. Graceful and tactical. Rules the skies of her domain."
"Carrion, the Beast King. Fierce, loyal, and strong. Leads his beastmen with pride."
Veldora's tone turned a bit unimpressed.
"And finally… Clayman. He's a schemer, always pulling strings behind the scenes. Not exactly strong, but he's sly."
He leaned back, the barrier crackling slightly as he moved.
"Each of them has their own territory, their own armies. Most of them aren't worth worrying about in a one-on-one fight—but Guy, Milim, and Draguel are definitely top-tier. Even I would be cautious around them."
Varvatos let out a soft whistle, genuinely intrigued.
"Sounds like a fun crowd."
Veldora smirked.
"Oh, it gets better. You've met one True Dragon already—me. But I have two sisters: Velzard, the White Ice Dragon, and Velgrynd, the Scorch Dragon. And then there was our elder brother… Veldanava—the Creator of this world."
His voice softened slightly.
"He was the strongest of us all… but he's gone now. With him gone, only us three remain."
Varvatos remained quiet for a moment, letting all the information settle. The power of this world… the layers of conflict… the ancient dragons, and the intriguing Demon Lords.
He closed his eyes and smirked.
"This world may be far more entertaining than I ever expected."
Veldora chuckled.
"Glad you think so. Because you're already neck-deep in it, whether you like it or not."
Veldora shifted within the shimmering magicule barrier, the ambient energy crackling like distant thunder as he continued sharing the truth of this world.
"Oh, and I almost forgot… there's also Ramiris, the Pixie Queen."
Varvatos raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the shift in tone.
"Pixie Queen? Doesn't sound particularly threatening."
Veldora waved a claw dismissively, but his tone carried a note of genuine respect.
"She used to be far stronger than she looks now. A true Ancient. But during one of the more chaotic battles between Guy Crimson and Milim Nava, she got caught in the crossfire. Absorbed corrupted magicules—bad ones. It drained most of her powers."
He paused, voice softening slightly.
"Still, she's a Demon Lord in title. And she holds a special kind of wisdom. Her connection to the spirits and the Labyrinth she controls makes her… unique. Not to be underestimated."
Varvatos nodded thoughtfully. "So even the weakest among your Demon Lords carry legacies."
Veldora grinned proudly, the aura around him flaring with draconic majesty.
"Exactly. But let me make one thing perfectly clear…"
His tone grew heavier, deeper, vibrating through the cave walls like rolling thunder.
"In this world… the True Dragons are the height of power. There is no throne higher, no magic purer, no existence more divine. We were born from Veldanava's will, each of us embodying a primal force of nature."
He jabbed a massive claw toward his chest, scales shimmering.
"I am Veldora, the Storm Dragon. My sister Velzard governs eternal frost. My sister Velgrynd brings forth unrelenting flames. Together, we stood just beneath our brother Veldanava, the Supreme One—creator of all that exists here."
The magic in the cavern rippled with pride and ancient force as he spoke, and even Varvatos—used to godlike beings—acknowledged the weight in Veldora's words.
Varvatos closed his eyes briefly, feeling the hum of Veldora's restrained power, and then smirked.
"So… at the top of this world stands the True Dragons."
He opened his eyes, gleaming with excitement.
"Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."
Veldora's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't seem intimidated."
Varvatos chuckled.
"Intimidated? No. But entertained? Definitely. You dragons may be at the top now… but perhaps, there's still room for someone else to climb that peak."
That statement made Veldora pause for a moment—then he burst into a deep, three-stage laugh once more.
"Haha! Haha! Hahaha! You've got guts, Astralborn! I like that! I really do!"
The cavern echoed with their voices, one ancient and proud, the other mysterious and bold—two mighty beings, each from a different world, but bound by fate.