Chapter 385:Near the meeting.
The weeks passed faster than either of them expected. The palace returned to its ordinary rhythm. Atheline and Lilith spent much of their time reviewing reports.
The disappearance cases remained unresolved and investigators found no obvious connection. Some villages reported no further incidents, while others experienced another disappearance.
The corrupted activity along the mainland continued. It remained relatively small, but it never stopped. The Blood Sea continued distributing corrupted creatures through the ocean.
Fortunately, the numbers remained manageable. The Water Elemental Division monitored the coast constantly. Whenever something was discovered, the information was immediately forwarded to the relevant authorities.
The Beastmen Continent became increasingly restless, and so did the Human Continent. Yet the kingdoms managed to avoid direct conflict.
For now.
Atheline also spent time training. The breakthrough he had experienced within the Doom Cave had changed everything. He was still learning how to control his increased power.
Sometimes he deliberately restricted himself during training. Other times, he tested how much force his body could withstand.
The mysterious element that had seemed close to awakening remained inaccessible. He could feel it, something was there, buried deep within his core.
But whenever he tried to reach it, the connection disappeared. Lilith encouraged him not to force it.
"If it hasn’t awakened yet, there is probably a reason."
Atheline agreed.
He could wait.
They had enough mysteries already. Their stores of Moon and Sun Crystals were secured. They had not yet decided what to do with them.
The Goddess had sent them to acquire the resources, but the reason remained unclear. They also continued studying the information they had gathered from the fairy sanctuary.
And the strange connection between the ancient world and the world that existed now.
Then came the message, the Dragonic Meeting was approaching.
One month after receiving the invitation, the palace became noticeably busier; diplomatic preparations began, documents were reviewed, travel arrangements were finalized, and the kingdom’s official representatives were selected.
Atheline and Lilith, however, would be attending personally. There was no question about that.
.
.
.
They did not leave for the Dragonic Island immediately.
The morning preparations had already been completed, and the necessary documents had been gathered, but Lilith had one final matter she wanted to settle before they departed.
It was something she had been carrying with her for quite some time. A small, dark container rested on the table inside their private chamber.
Atheline looked at it curiously.
"You brought that out, finally. I thought you had forgotten. "
Lilith nodded.
She opened the container. Inside was a dark crystal that seemed to absorb the light around it. It wasn’t large, in fact, it was barely bigger than her palm.
Yet the moment it appeared, the atmosphere inside the room changed.
Atheline’s expression immediately became serious. He recognized the feeling now. It was the same oppressive sensation he had felt when the darkness Sovereign had used their power.
Lilith had obtained it during their journey to the Storm Islands, and she had kept it carefully sealed ever since. Atheline wondered how everything had come to be especially with the vision they had seen at the blood ocean island.
She had never tried to use it, until now. Atheline stared at the core.
"You’re going to integrate it."
"Yes."
He immediately frowned.
"Are you certain?"
Lilith looked at him calmly.
"I’ve thought about it for a long time."
"That doesn’t mean it’s safe."
"No." She smiled faintly. "It doesn’t."
Atheline walked closer.
"You don’t know what will happen when you merge your core with that thing."
"I know."
"Two cores aren’t meant to occupy the same body, you remember what happened to be. It completely destroyed my first core."
"I know that too."
He stared at her.
"Then why?"
Lilith’s expression became more serious.
"Because we’re going to meet the dragons, Atheline. This isn’t the time to worry about the disadvantages."
Atheline didn’t answer.
Lilith continued.
"We don’t know what the new corrupted variant is, we don’t know what the dragons know, and we certainly don’t know what might happen if the situation becomes hostile."
She placed one hand over the container.
"I’ve spent too long relying on my current strength. After what we saw in the ancient world, I don’t want to enter a gathering of the world’s strongest beings while knowing I could become stronger beforehand."
Atheline understood, but he still didn’t like it.
"You could die."
Lilith smiled.
"So could you."
"That’s different."
"How?"
"Because I’m not about to shove a Sovereign’s core into my body consciously."
Lilith laughed softly.
"You’re impossible."
"I’m serious."
"So am I." She reached for his hand. "I won’t do it recklessly. You survived when you were far weaker than anything"
Atheline looked into her eyes.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
He remained silent for several seconds, finally, he sighed.
"Then I’m staying, I don’t want you helpless."
"I expected you to."
He moved beside her.
"If something goes wrong, I’m stopping you."
Lilith smiled.
"Very well."
She sat down.
The room had already been cleared of unnecessary objects. Lilith had also prepared several defensive circles around the chamber.
Atheline checked each one himself. He wasn’t taking any chances. Once everything was ready, Lilith placed the Sovereign’s core before her.
The dark crystal slowly floated upward, and the room grew colder, as darkness spread across the floor.
Lilith closed her eyes.
Her own core began responding. Aether surged through her body. Atheline could feel the pressure increasing.
Then the Sovereign’s core moved, and pressed directly against her chest. Lilith’s body immediately stiffened.
Atheline’s expression changed.
"Lilith."
"I’m fine."
The core began dissolving, as dark energy poured into her body. Lilith’s face twisted with pain.
The two cores were rejecting one another. Her body shook violently. The dark energy surged through her veins, searching for somewhere to settle.
Her own core resisted. For several seconds, nothing happened, then a crack of energy exploded outward.
Atheline immediately raised a barrier, as the walls shook. Lilith’s breathing became ragged.
Atheline stepped closer.
"Lilith!"
She gritted her teeth.
"Don’t."
"You’re in pain."
"I know." Her voice trembled. "But don’t interfere."
The two cores continued colliding. It was not like absorbing ordinary energy. A Sovereign’s core contained an enormous amount of power.
Lilith was trying to force something that had once belonged to another Sovereign to become part of her. The process was tearing through her body from the inside. Her veins burned, bones ached, and the entire core felt as though it were being split apart.
Atheline could only watch, his hands clenched. He hated this. He could fight monsters, and face armies, but none of that helped him now.
This was something happening inside the person he loved, and all he could do was remain beside her. Minutes passed, then more.
Lilith’s breathing became increasingly difficult. Sweat ran down her face. Her hair floated around her as darkness spiraled through the room.
Atheline’s heart tightened.
"Stop if you need to."
Lilith didn’t answer.
The darkness suddenly erupted, a massive pulse of power sweeping through the chamber. Atheline’s barrier shook violently, then everything became still.
Lilith remained seated, her head hanging forward. Atheline rushed toward her.
"Lilith."
She slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes opened. For a moment, they appeared completely black, then the darkness faded. Her familiar eyes returned.
Atheline stared at her.
"Are you..."
Lilith smiled.
"I’m alive."
He exhaled sharply.
"You scared me."
"I know."
She looked down at herself. The darkness surrounding her was different now. It was more refined and powerful. t wasn’t simply an increase in quantity.
Her control had changed, and her connection to darkness had become deeper.
Lilith slowly stood.
A powerful wave of Aether spread through the room. Atheline instinctively stepped back. He felt it immediately, her power had risen enormously.
Lilith closed her eyes, and examined her core, then her eyes widened slightly.
"I succeeded."
Atheline smiled.
"How far?"
She remained silent for a moment, then she looked at him.
"Peak Mystic."
Atheline’s smile widened. He had reached Peak Mystic himself after the ancient orb had entered his body. Now Lilith had reached the same level, but there was something even more important.
She raised one hand.
A small sphere of darkness appeared above her palm. The darkness twisted into a perfect shape before vanishing.
"I’m one step away."
Atheline understood.
"Sovereign."
Lilith nodded.
She had reached the absolute peak of the Mystic Rank, the only realm beyond it was Sovereign.
Atheline laughed.
"That’s incredible."
Lilith smiled.
"So are you."
They stood facing one another. For the first time, their strength was truly comparable. Neither had reached Sovereign yet, but both stood at the very edge.
Atheline looked toward the sealed door.
"The dragons."
Lilith nodded.
"We don’t have to fear them as much anymore."
"They’re still dragons."
"I know." She smiled. "But if things go badly..."
Atheline finished for her.
"We can fight our way out."
Lilith nodded.
That was the important part. They weren’t planning to fight the dragons, they had no reason to. The invitation was diplomatic, but the world was becoming increasingly unpredictable.
The dragons had called every major power together, and neither Atheline nor Lilith knew what awaited them on Dragonic Island. Now, at least, they wouldn’t enter that gathering helpless.
Atheline walked toward Lilith.
"You really should have warned me it would hurt that much."
She smiled.
"If I had, you might have stopped me."
"Exactly."
Lilith laughed.
She leaned against him. For several moments, they simply enjoyed the relief of success, then Atheline looked at her.
"How do you feel?"
"Stronger."
"Anything else?"
Lilith closed her eyes briefly.
"Different."
"How different?"
"My connection to darkness has changed." She looked at her hand. "The core wasn’t merely power, it carried something."
Atheline’s expression became serious.
"Memories?"
"I don’t know."
She shook her head.
"But I can feel traces of something ancient."
Atheline frowned.
"Then we’ll investigate later."
Lilith smiled.
"For now, we get ready for the dragons."
She nodded.
"Agreed."
The world beyond their palace was becoming increasingly dangerous, but whatever awaited them on Dragonic Island... They would face it together.