Chapter 78: Chapter 78: No mercy. Chapter 78 — This world is mine. Noah appeared once again in the White Realm. Elira looked up from where she sat, her white hair flowing around her like a river of light. She smiled warmly, an eyebrow arching with gentle amusement. "Do you need something, dear?" Noah simply smiled and sat beside her, close enough to feel her warmth. "Well," he said lazily, "I might need you to go capture the Saintess for me soon." "But before that..." He turned toward her, his ice-silver eyes locking onto her pure white ones. There was a softness there. "I realized..." he said with a chuckle, a bit self-deprecating, "I don’t even know you, Elira. You’re my lover, yet all I know is your name and your soul affinity." Elira’s heart tightened. She lowered her gaze, guilt washing over her. ’How could I forget?’ she scolded herself. She remembered how hurt she had been when Noah kept his talent a secret from her. And now... she was doing the same. She smiled ruefully and reached out to him, gently guiding his head into her lap. Her fingers threaded through his hair — slow, tender, filled with unspoken devotion. "You’re right," she whispered. "You know almost nothing about me." She stroked his hair lovingly, each gesture heavy with care. The White Realm itself seemed to hum with the emotions between them. "I’ll tell you everything, Noah. I’ll bare my soul to you, completely." She paused, gathering herself, before speaking again. "My name is indeed Elira Varnis. And I am... a dragon." Noah’s eyes widened slightly, mock surprise flickering across his face. "A dragon?" he echoed. Elira smiled, her fingers never stopping their soothing motion. "Yes. But not just any dragon." "I am the first, and only, Soul Dragon to ever exist." Her voice carried a certain pride — "I was blessed directly by the essence of Soul itself. Blessed so deeply that even my parents’ blood could not manifest in me. Only my dragon nature... and the pure power of Soul." She smiled faintly. "And, as you might guess, I’m not from this world. Not from Laeh." At that, Noah instinctively tried to sit up — but Elira gently pushed him back down. "Stay like this," she said softly. "It’s easier for me... to open up when you’re in this position." Noah nodded silently, respecting her wish. Elira continued, her voice almost dreamy. "My home... is a world of dragons. Only dragons. No humans, no elves, no dwarves. Just countless breeds: Fire Dragons, Shadow Dragons, Fate Dragons... and many more." "It’s a world far beyond this one." "There, SSS-rank is not the limit. It’s only the beginning." She smirked. "Many have stepped beyond. Into realms of divinity." "And me..." She smiled mischievously, tapping Noah’s forehead lightly. "Your dear master and lover... I too have crossed that threshold." "I am Supreme Rank. A being no longer mortal — but on the path to true divinity." Noah frowned slightly, thinking. "If the ceiling of this world is SSS... how are you even here?" he asked. Elira chuckled, a sound like soft bells. "Because I sealed my power, dear." "Otherwise... just looking at me would have crushed you." Her words were teasing, but the truth behind them was cold and sharp. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎 Noah smirked. "Yeah... I can imagine." He paused. Then, more seriously: "This Supreme Rank... how does one reach it?" Elira’s smile softened into something almost maternal. "It’s too soon for you to know," she said gently. "Just know this — the path is cruel. Harder than anything you’ve ever faced." Noah simply nodded. He hadn’t expected an easy answer. "And why did you come to this world?" he asked next. Elira hesitated. Then sighed. "It involves higher beings," she admitted, "things mortals aren’t meant to know." "But I’ll still tell you a little." She caressed his cheek, her touch featherlight. "It’s the same reason the Celestial chose Elijah." "We dragons...We needed a champion too." "A champion?" Noah asked, confused. Elira nodded. "To conquer and claim worlds. The more worlds a faction controls, the more resources, the more strength they gain." "It’s... a cosmic war, Noah." "Not just here. Everywhere." "And Elijah is not the only champion. He’s simply the most visible. Because the one backing him — the Celestial — is arrogant, prideful." "But others lurk in the shadows. Demons... and more." "And if they don’t have yet a champions, do they are looking for one. Like me." Noah fell silent, piecing the puzzle together. "So this world..." "It’s just a playground for you higher beings?" he asked bitterly. Elira flinched at the coldness in his voice. "...It might seem like that to you," she admitted softly. "And... maybe you’re right." She tightened her grip slightly, as if afraid he might pull away. "And killing a champion? It’s almost impossible. We higher beings have ways to protect our chosen ones — even under restrictions." "That’s why I admire your courage," she whispered. "But it won’t be easy." She paused, her expression somber. "Being here... is like living in a cage for me. I had to seal everything just to stay. While that arrogant Celestial’s situation is more dire because she is stronger than me cannot intervene freely." "If you go too far, Noah..." "She might descend herself." Noah frowned. "I thought killing Elijah inside a dungeon would weaken the Celestial’s influence?" Elira laughed sadly. "They’ve accounted for that. They aren’t fools, dear." Noah stared at nothing, thoughts swirling in a storm. ’Is there really no other way?’ he thought. He could already sense where this was heading. And he was right. Elira’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke next: "Become our champion, Noah. Let the dragons protect you." "I once considered Alice... she has dragon blood, even if it’s not very pure." "We could have purified it." "But after I met you..." "It was inevitable." "You were the one." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Be our champion, Noah. We will give you everything." "And I, Elira Varnis — First Soul Dragon, Matriarch of the Soul Clan —I will stand by your side. Because I love you." Her voice cracked slightly with emotion. "I love you... more than you could ever imagine." She gazed down at him, pleading. But Noah... Noah slowly sat up. He rose from her lap, facing her directly. His eyes — icy silver— were utterly calm. Still. Cold. Unbreakable. There was no anger. No fear. No hesitation. Only resolve. Elira’s heart sank. She already knew what was coming. "I know you mean well," Noah said softly. "But I can’t accept that." His voice cut like a blade. This world —The place where he had found purpose, family, ambition. Where his mother lived, where Sophie, Elizabeth, Yuki lived — was NOT a toy. NOT a battlefield for gods. And the people here were NOT background characters destined to die as a collateral damage between their champions fights. A cold, merciless smile crept across Noah’s lips. The White Realm trembled. The air itself froze. The very fabric of reality screamed. In an instant — everything turned to ice. Sword aura flared around Noah — sharp, severing, absolute. His shadow surged, drowning the realm in writhing darkness. And then — nothingness bloomed — devouring light, air, existence itself. Elira’s eyes widened in terror and awe. ’What... what is this?!’ she thought, breathless. Noah stood there — A being made of contradiction: Shadow, sword, Ice, Nothingness — a storm given human form. When he spoke, his voice was law. Limitless. "I will kill anyone who stands in my way." "I will show no mercy." "They will either kneel..." "Or be erased from existence." "This world is mine." "And no one will touch it." He smiled. A devil’s smile. The smile of someone who had chosen war without a shred of hesitation. "And if they want war..." He spread his arms slightly, as if welcoming the chaos. "Then by all means..." "Be my guest." —End of Chapter 78—