Chapter 89: Creators of the planet
Chapter 89: Creators of the planet
The creature was the very embodiment of horror. Its colossal wings stretched across the sky with a span of nearly two kilometers, casting an enormous shadow over the ocean beneath it.
Every movement of those massive wings distorted the surrounding air, while an overwhelming aura radiated from its body like an endless tide of destruction. Even the strongest S Rank monsters that humanity had ever encountered were nothing more than insignificant insects compared to this terrifying existence.
Diana’s dark eyes slowly returned to their normal color as the overwhelming aura spread across the battlefield. The chaotic power raging inside her body was completely suppressed, as though an invisible force had sealed it away. She regained her senses almost instantly, but the moment clarity returned to her mind, fear filled her eyes.
It was not because of the creature’s appearance alone.
It was because of what Nova had just told her.
"That creature is an Elemental Lord class monster," Nova said in a serious voice. "It belongs to the Demonic Dragon bloodline from the Andromeda Galaxy."
Diana felt as though her heart had stopped beating for a moment. She had always known that the apocalypse would eventually arrive. Ever since receiving fragments of forgotten memories and strange visions, she had prepared herself for the inevitable disaster. However, she had never imagined that it would arrive so soon.
"What am I supposed to do?" Diana whispered while staring at the terrifying dragon floating above the ocean. "Humanity will disappear if that monster is allowed to rampage across the world before the true apocalypse even begins."
Her voice carried both despair and frustration.
She possessed incredible strength, but none of the abilities at her disposal were capable of defeating an existence of this level.
The monstrous dragon suddenly opened its enormous jaws.
"ROAR!"
The deafening roar echoed across the heavens and the sea alike. It was far more than an ordinary sound. The invisible force contained within that roar directly assaulted the souls of everyone present.
Every Sage felt their minds tremble violently.
An irresistible urge to kneel before the dragon appeared inside their hearts. Their instincts screamed at them to bow before a superior lifeform. Even their bodies began to shake uncontrollably as they struggled to resist the overwhelming pressure.
Diana frowned in confusion.
"What is happening, Nova?" she asked. "Why are they reacting like this?"
Nova’s expression became serious.
"It is the pressure created by a superior bloodline," she explained calmly. "The humans on Ethereum possess only a Grade One bloodline. It is among the weakest bloodlines that exist throughout the universe."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"The Demonic Dragon bloodline, however, is a Grade Seven bloodline. It is considered the strongest bloodline in the entire Andromeda Galaxy. The difference between those two bloodlines is so vast that ordinary beings instinctively submit before it."
Diana looked around once more.
Every Sage continued to struggle under the invisible pressure, yet she did not feel anything unusual herself.
"What kind of pressure are you talking about?" Diana asked with genuine confusion. "I am not feeling anything at all."
Nova blinked several times.
"You are not feeling it?"
She stared at Diana with growing curiosity.
"That is... strange."
The tiny Ai fell silent as countless possibilities flashed through her mind. Suddenly, her eyes widened with realization.
"Could it be..." she thought.
"Could that mysterious power inside her actually originate from a bloodline that is even stronger than the Demonic Dragon bloodline? One that she has not awakened completely?"
Excitement appeared on Nova’s face for only a brief moment before it disappeared completely.
Her expression turned pale.
If Diana truly remained unaffected by the pressure of a Grade Seven bloodline, then there was only one logical explanation.
She possessed a bloodline above Grade Seven.
A Grade Eight bloodline.
Even thinking about such a possibility sent chills throughout Nova’s body.
Only the supreme races that ruled the universe possessed bloodlines of that level. Those races stood at the very peak of existence. Even Nova’s former master, who had once been respected throughout countless galaxies, would have been forced to lower his head before a member of those ancient races.
Nova chose not to reveal her thoughts.
Instead, she focused on the far more immediate danger standing before them.
"Diana," she said with an unusually serious expression, "if this creature has truly arrived here, then the Demonic Dragon Race has already set its eyes on this planet."
Her voice grew heavier with every word.
"If they intend to conquer Ethereum, then that threat is even greater than the Elemental Sovereign sleeping beneath this world."
Diana slowly inhaled before releasing a long breath.
She felt as though the entire burden of humanity had been placed upon her shoulders. Standing before that dragon made her feel completely isolated, as though she alone had to face the approaching end of civilization.
The gigantic dragon calmly observed everyone below.
Countless monsters scattered throughout the battlefield had already lowered their heads. Every single one of them knelt before the dragon without the slightest hesitation, treating it as their absolute ruler.
The dragon slowly emerged from the ocean.
Instead of standing upon the water, its enormous body floated effortlessly through the sky. Its golden eyes silently examined the humans gathered beneath it, almost as though it was deciding whether they deserved to continue existing.
"This creature is still only a baby," Nova suddenly said.
Diana stared at her in disbelief.
"A baby?"
Nova nodded.
"It probably hatched only recently. Despite that, it has already reached the Elemental Lord class. If it is allowed to continue growing, it will eventually become an Elemental Sovereign."
The news struck Diana harder than anything she had heard before.
If this terrifying monster was merely an infant, then what kind of monsters existed among fully matured members of the Demonic Dragon Race?
For the first time in her life, genuine hopelessness began creeping into her heart.
Far away from the battlefield, inside the mysterious White Room, Victor floated silently in the air.
His entire body radiated brilliant white light.
Every bone, muscle, and nerve within him was being reconstructed by the World System while his martial technique continued operating at its absolute limit. Since the System continuously repaired every injury the instant it appeared, he could no longer feel any pain.
A glowing notification floated before him.
[Synchronization: 57%]
Victor clenched his fists.
Although his body remained trapped inside the White Room, he could still observe everything happening outside. He watched the enormous dragon descend upon Earth while humanity stood on the edge of extinction.
Helplessness filled his heart.
He turned toward the glowing presence of the World System.
"Can you speed up the synchronization process?" he asked urgently.
The mechanical voice answered without hesitation.
[It is possible. However, the healing limit will be exceeded. You will experience unbearable pain, and there is a high probability that your nervous system will collapse instantly. Death is a possible outcome.]
Victor swallowed nervously.
His breathing became heavier as he stared at the notification.
"Is there really nothing else that we can do?"
The World System remained silent for several moments, as though it was carefully calculating every possible outcome. Countless streams of information flowed through the glowing space around Victor before the calm mechanical voice finally answered.
[There is one possible solution.]
Victor immediately lifted his head.
His eyes were filled with hope despite knowing that every solution offered by the World System always came with an unimaginable price.
"What is it?" he asked without hesitation. "Tell me."
The World System responded in the same emotionless tone.
[Diana Morningstar possesses a Supreme Bloodline. It is the bloodline of the creators of this planet. If her bloodline is awakened completely, she will immediately reach the Elemental Sovereign Realm.]
Victor’s eyes widened.
For a brief moment, he thought he had finally found a way to save humanity.
However, the System had not finished speaking.
[Once her bloodline is awakened, the creators will instantly sense her presence. They will descend upon this world and take her away.]
Victor remained frozen.
His expression slowly darkened as those words echoed inside his mind. The possibility of saving Ethereum existed, but it would cost him Diana.
He tightened his fists until his knuckles turned white.
"Who are these creators?" he asked in a cold voice. "What exactly are you talking about?"
The World System answered without delay.
[The creators are known as the Heavenly Demon Race. They originate from the Demonic Domain, one of the supreme regions of the universe. Long before humanity existed, they created countless planets similar to this one.]
[After creating these worlds, they planted fragments of their own bloodline within selected lifeforms. They also sent an Elemental Sovereign to each world as the final trial.]
Victor listened quietly.
The truth sounded unbelievable, yet he knew the World System had no reason to deceive him.
"So this entire planet has always been nothing more than an experiment?"
His voice was filled with anger.
The System continued explaining.
[Only a native lifeform capable of defeating the Elemental Sovereign within one million years after the race’s birth can completely awaken the Heavenly Demon Bloodline. Those who succeed become eligible to join the Heavenly Demon Race.]