Rebirth as a Time Dragon

"Garon Aurelius!"

In the shadows, a frenzied whisper hissed, chanting Garon's name.

Immediately, the Primordial Shadows moved.

They left a long trail of afterimages in the air as they raced towards places untouched by the sunlight, where natural shadows lingered.

Garon's four wings flapped vigorously. As he cast the sun's radiance to dispel the shadows, he pursued them relentlessly.

"This is a perfect opportunity. We can't let them escape. Each one is a potential disaster."

The Primordial Shadows were exceedingly dangerous.

If not for Garon's current solar powers, relying solely on his temporal abilities might not have been enough to subdue the ninefold Primordial Shadow.

Light spread across the sky, chasing the shadows.

But the Primordial Shadows were faster, rapidly approaching the edge of the light Garon had created.

Even in their sevenfold form, the Primordial Shadows were incredibly swift.

Had they fled at the start, when still ninefold, Garon would have struggled to deal with them. However, their desire to confront Garon resulted in two of their kind falling under the sun's light.

The remaining seven shadows were filled with regret and seething hatred for Garon after witnessing the death of their long-time companions.

Whoosh!

The Primordial Shadows crossed the boundary of the sunlight, slipping into the shadows.

Just as they crossed into the darkness, at the very moment they passed the light's edge, the silver dragon's eyes narrowed. Garon's time-dragon wings sliced through the river of time, and he leaped forward.

In a Material Plane...

The Primordial Shadows had just arrived, only to be greeted by the brilliant radiance of the sun.

Sunlight swirled around the silver dragon's claws as he struck down.

Alarmed, the Primordial Shadows darted back into the shadows.

The ongoing war between the Primordials and the gods cast ripples across all the worlds, muddling perceptions with various divine powers. So, the Primordial Shadows continued to flee into other Material Planes.

But this had little effect on Garon.

To Garon's senses, their time marks shone brightly, clear as fireflies in the dark night.

No matter which Material Plane they fled to, Garon could instantly pinpoint their location and even anticipate their movements, thanks to the combination of the time marks and his Time Gaze.

The chase spanned countless Material Planes.

They passed many battlefields where the Primordials clashed with the gods.

The brilliant red dragon Jose was pressing a mid-tier deity of desolation hard.

Suddenly, the sevenfold Primordial Shadows erupted.

The sheer presence of this form was overwhelmingly powerful, causing the red dragon to pause in alarm, abandoning its desolate opponent and bracing itself for the impending threat.

But to the red dragon's surprise, the Primordial Shadows weren't coming for it.

They seemed like mice fleeing from a cat, utterly terrified.

In the next moment, the majestic silver dragon crossed the river of time, descending in all its radiant glory.

Once again, the Primordial Shadows fled this world.

And Garon followed close behind.

With each brief encounter, Garon's experience in hunting his prey grew.

Despite the Primordial Shadows' quick reflexes, Garon's persistent attacks managed to inflict minor wounds over repeated encounters.

Although these injuries were rarely severe due to the short engagements, it was enough for Garon.

Against a foe intent on fleeing, the best approach was to gradually wear down its strength and accumulate damage until the prey weakened enough to be captured.

After nearly a thousand different Material Planes...

The shadows on the Primordial Shadows grew thinner.

In a particularly perilous moment during their escape, another shadow sacrificed itself to block Garon.

Of the ancient Primordial Shadows, only six remained.

Four had perished aiding the Night Goddess to regain her strength and due to the changing environments, and three had fallen to Garon's claws.

Given Garon's tendencies, he would likely try to keep one Primordial Shadow as a trophy.

In his way, this was a form of conservation for a near-extinct species.

"Keep running, and you'll all meet your end."

"Why not stop and let me seal you? Become my trophy and enjoy eternity."

Under the silver dragon's imposing threat, the Primordial Shadows recalled the Night Goddess's words.

"If faced with mortal danger, retreat to the Howling Abyss. The Shadow Nexus is hidden well and can shield you from divine pursuit."

The Shadow Nexus was where the Primordial Shadows had initially slumbered, a sanctuary created by the Night Goddess. In the Shadow Nexus, the Primordial Shadows could halt their decay and survive in secret.

However, they couldn't leave the Shadow Nexus on their own and had to wait for the Night Goddess to open it.

Having been dormant for so long, they were reluctant to return to the Shadow Nexus, especially in such a defeated and humiliated state.

But given their current plight, they had little choice.

They fled back into the shadows, heading for the Shadow Nexus.

Garon's gaze sharpened as he realized they were heading to the Howling Abyss and stopping there.

Unhesitating, he decided to continue the chase.

But the time marks became blurred, interfered with by some force. Though they still existed, Garon couldn't pinpoint their exact location.

With a calm demeanor, Garon's temporal power threaded through the river of time, focusing on finding the precise coordinates of the time marks.

In the Howling Abyss, within the Shadow Nexus, a world of pervasive darkness and shadow...

Upon their return, the Primordial Shadows first saw the stunningly beautiful Night Goddess.

Her dark radiance solidified into a throne, on which she lounged gracefully. The sheer fabric slipped from the throne's edge, revealing a long, slender, and exquisitely smooth leg.

"Back so soon?"

The Night Goddess's purple eyes gleamed with malice as she spoke.

"Sharr, we failed."

The Primordial Shadows separated into six entities, merging into the surrounding shadows as they responded.

They recounted their harrowing chase and heavy losses to the Night Goddess.

"Rest easy. The Shadow Nexus is hidden well. You're safe here."

The Night Goddess's gaze swept over the Primordial Shadows, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Suddenly...

The entire Shadow Nexus shook violently.

The darkness and shadows cracked, forming a rift hundreds of miles long.

From the rift, a massive dragon's claw emerged, slowly pushing through.

The claw was covered in iridescent scales, exuding various draconic auras.

The Night Goddess's face changed, her expression turning tense.

"The Nine-faced Dragon God! How did he find us?"

"Damn, he must have noticed you after finishing his battle with the Lord of Terror."

"If he learns that we are aiding the Primordials, he will not spare us."

Hearing the Night Goddess's anxious tone, the six Primordial Shadows felt a deep sense of dread.

"Sharr, run."

"The space is sealed. I need your power to break free."

The six Primordial Shadows hesitated. The last time they gave their power to the Night Goddess, it led to four of their kin's deaths. They still harbored resentment over this.

"Quick!"

"What are you waiting for?"

Under the Night Goddess's urgent cries, the dragon's claw advanced further into the Shadow Nexus.

"Alright, Sharr, we trust you once more."

The six Primordial Shadows flew towards the Night Goddess.

One by one, they merged with her, enveloping her in dense shadows.

Then, the Night Goddess's anxious expression vanished.

The dragon's claw dissolved into darkness, merging into the Shadow Nexus, and the previously trembling realm stabilized.

"Sharr, you..."

A voice filled with confusion and suspicion emerged from the shadows around the Night Goddess.

They sensed something was wrong.

As the shadows twisted, trying to distance themselves from the Night Goddess, it was to no avail.

Amidst the Primordial Shadows' curses, the shadows gradually became part of the Night Goddess's being.

Her aura soared, the dark veil around her billowing. She appeared utterly satisfied, her low moans resonating as the darkness flowed around her.

In the early days of the Primordial Era...

The Primordial Shadows had once merged with the Night Goddess to restore her strength, providing her with their shadowy essence.

Darkness and shadow were inherently intertwined, and the Primordial Shadows' power was nourishing to the Night Goddess.

If not given willingly, even in their weakened state, the Night Goddess couldn't take their essence forcefully.

She greedily absorbed their power, and only stopped when the Primordial Shadows felt weak and forced her to. Eventually, they had to tear themselves away using their once formidable strength.

For this, the Night Goddess had sincerely apologized and created the Shadow Nexus for them, gaining their forgiveness.

Over the ages, the Night Goddess had not only presided over darkness but had also developed domains of deception and trickery. She often manipulated her followers like pawns, using deceit and ruses to wreak havoc across the multiverse.

Now, to fully regain her strength, she had deceived the Primordial Shadows.

"Still a bit short..."

"But with the Primordial Sun God, it will be enough."

The Night Goddess licked her lips.

Capturing the Primordial Sun God would restore her to her peak and perhaps beyond, allowing her to rival the Nine-faced Dragon God and even influence the outcome of the Dawn War.

Though indifferent to the ancient era, the gods were indeed obstacles to the Night Goddess's goals. If she could strike at them by allying with the Primordials, she would do so. What to do with the Primordials afterward could be dealt with later; one step at a time.

"I will take your power and return to the tranquility and void of the primordial times."

She spoke to the

 Primordial Shadows now a part of her.

Suddenly, she looked up, her eyes tracking the ripples in the river of time.

"The final piece is here."

The Night Goddess smiled.

Garon pinpointed the time marks and teleported into the Shadow Nexus.

As he arrived, he found himself in a world of endless darkness and shadow, vast and seemingly a dark mirror of the universe.

At the center of this dark cosmos stood the Night Goddess, smiling like a hopeful maiden, her purple eyes clear, her shadowy dress billowing as if dancing on its own.

"Garon Aurelius, we meet again."

The silver dragon frowned at the Night Goddess.

The Primordial Shadows were gone, and instead, he encountered the Night Goddess. Moreover, the time marks were now aligned with her.

"I knew you would find your way here."

Darkness surged, enveloping the Night Goddess. The time marks shattered as they melded with her.

"Night Goddess, why are you here?"

The Night Goddess, in high spirits, even let out a playful laugh, saying, "I took care of the Primordial Shadows for you. In return, how about you give me the Primordial Sun God?"

She added, "All my previous promises to you still stand."

Garon knew deep down that the truth was likely far from what the Night Goddess claimed.

"They're just some insignificant shadow creatures, of no value to me."

"And besides, I can handle them without your help."

The darkness grew thicker around Garon.

As the silver dragon flapped his wings of sunlight, the radiant light was contained to a small space around him.

The Night Goddess's smile faded, her face turning cold and malicious as she said, "Do you think you still have a choice?"

As she spoke, the darkness extinguished the light around Garon.

In the dense blackness, Garon moved his wings and limbs but felt as if he were trapped in thick glue. Even his temporal powers struggled to manipulate the river of time within this darkness.

Aside from the difficulty in moving...

Garon felt no other harm.

"This is my domain."

"Do you think you can resist me?"

The Night Goddess chuckled softly.

Then, her voice turned cold as she said, "I know your trump card. I won't kill you, but I won't let you leave either."

"Believe me, in my domain, even if you wanted to, you couldn't take your own life."

The silver dragon ceased his futile struggles, speaking calmly, "You plan to imprison me? The Nine-faced Dragon God will notice my absence and find this place."

The Night Goddess's expression softened, a playful smile returning as she said, "So, to avoid the Nine-faced Dragon God's detection, I will also remain here, using darkness to obscure everything."

"Unless you swear on the River Styx to give me the Primordial Sun God."

With a delicate motion, the Night Goddess glided closer to the silver dragon, sitting atop his head and caressing his horns, she whispered, "Otherwise, stay with me in this dark world forever. Consider it an honor."

The Night Goddess was confident.

Garon wouldn't choose to fight to the death over a mere Primordial Sun God.

Once she had the Primordial Sun God, her power would be fully restored, surpassing her peak. At that point, she wouldn't need to fear Garon or the Nine-faced Dragon God. She would be one of the highest powers, just below the supreme beings.

"It's just a Primordial Sun God, insignificant to me."

"But you seem unaware of what it means to ride on a true dragon's head."

The silver dragon's voice grew deeper and calmer, like the ocean before a storm.

The Night Goddess was momentarily taken aback.

Then, on Garon's head, the Crown of Heroes began to shine brightly.

In the outer planes, the Heroic Realm...

Boundless life energy gathered, summoned by the Crown of Heroes, crossing planes to pour into the Howling Abyss. The magnitude of this energy shook the entire Heroic Realm.

Normally, energy from one outer plane entering another would be intercepted by the planes themselves.

Buzzing, the Howling Abyss trembled, repelling the influx of life energy.

Only a fraction, less than one-thousandth, of the life energy made it through, merging into Garon.

Garon ignored this, recklessly drawing upon the Heroic Realm's life energy.

Even the consciousness within the Crown of Heroes, tied to the Heroic Realm, resisted but was forcefully subdued by Garon.

Despite the massive waste, the sheer volume of energy crossing over was immense.

A milky-white glow of life energy began to envelop Garon, growing increasingly intense.

"What are you trying to do?"

The Night Goddess's expression changed slightly.

"Even if it means crippling the Heroic Realm, severing its future, or even shattering it, I will not be your puppet."

Merging with his divine form, Garon, already at the peak of mid-tier divine power, sought to temporarily break through to high-tier divine power by channeling an overwhelming amount of life energy.

Reaching high-tier divine power, even at its lowest level, would make it impossible for the Night Goddess to imprison him easily.

This was a desperate, mutually destructive move.

The unchecked absorption of life energy was a burden on Garon, and the conflict between the Heroic Realm and the Howling Abyss meant very little energy could pass through. To reach high-tier divine power, Garon would have to nearly exhaust the Heroic Realm, causing irreversible damage.

But no matter the cost, this was Garon's trump card.

Against a high divine power, Garon now had the means to resist even without relying on Time Dragon's Reversal.

The Night Goddess's face darkened.

"Fine, fine."

"Even if it draws the Nine-faced Dragon God's attention, I'll leave you with a mark of darkness you'll never forget!"

At this point, the Night Goddess's eyes were filled with anger.

She raised her hand, and boundless darkness gathered in her palm, forming a dark full moon that she pressed towards Garon's head.

At that moment...

A blazing golden sun broke through the space of the Shadow Nexus, entering the realm and scattering the shadows with its radiant light.

Both the Night Goddess and Garon paused, taken aback by the sudden intrusion.

Garon looked towards the golden sun.

"Wait, Lathander?"

In the center of the golden sun stood a figure Garon recognized as the Lord of Dawn.

"No, it's not the Lord of Dawn."

Garon noticed the cold and indifferent gaze of the figure, contrasting with the typically bright and optimistic demeanor of the Lord of Dawn.

"Amanatara... you have returned."

The Night Goddess's gaze turned icy, fixing on the figure of 'Lathander.'

Her eyes burned with a tangible hatred, aimed squarely at Amanatara, the Eternal Day.

Amanatara, the first sun of the great multiverse.

In the distant early days of the primordial era, after the creation of the cosmos, the universe was still dark and chaotic, a tranquil void that both the Night Goddess and the Primordial Shadows could endure.

Then...

The Night Goddess's sister...

The Moon Goddess, the Silver Mother, the White Night Goddess, Selune.

Discontent with the darkness, and hearing the plea of a primordial spirit, the nascent Earth Mother, who yearned for a warm, bright world, Selune kindled the first sun.

This sun was the Eternal Day.

Upon its birth, the Eternal Day revered Selune as its mother. To repay her, it lit up more and more suns, spreading endless light and heat, fostering countless life forms.

In many ways, the thriving multiverse owes much to the Eternal Day.

The desolate darkness and tranquil void were no more, replaced by light, thanks to the Moon Goddess indirectly and the Eternal Day directly.

How could the Night Goddess not harbor a deep hatred for them?

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