Chapter 282: The Cosmic War (I)

Chapter 282: The Cosmic War (I)

Chapter 282Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

The Cosmic War (I)

Green pastures stretched everywhere, spanning horizons all around and bleeding into the tall, lush mountains that pierced the clouds. Sounds of rushing rivers and tiding oceans adjoined the natural symphony, wherein the wind would occasionally join with its own voice. All seemed ethereal, all seemed calm.

Cain walked a winding path up a mountain, the surrounding trees stretching up like green giants, blocking the sun. There were no chirps of the birds or the songs of the crickets, and there were no hushes of the rushing critters anywhere to be heard. The only sound, beyond those of nature, were his own boots stomping on the unthreaded path.

He continued walking, unfazed. His goal was the tip of the mountain, the tallest in the surrounding range, and he wasnt going to stop. It felt as though he was in kind of a trance, as though there was a hand beyond guiding him and he gave himself over and let it. It was halfway up the mountain when he heard the first sound beyond those of his ownit was a low growl, an attempt at a majestic roar, and it barely registered in Cains ears. He paused, glancing sideways.

Beyond a tall bush and the surrounding trees, there was a wide and spacious clearing in the middle of the mountain, hosting a rather small lake. Its waters were remarkably tranquil and clear, its bottom barely a ten or so feet deep. It was empty of life, however, but it aided life beside it. There, just north of him, was a tall cave boring into the mountain. Cain carved out a path toward it and walked in, entering the complete darkness unafraid still.

He followed the low growl that led him deeper in through the curving paths, some wider and some narrower, until he likely reached the heart of the mountain. There, the space opened up further, the tall ceiling rising like a skyscraper, over a thousand feet tall altogether. Embedded in the stone walls were shining gems and crystals that formed a small constellation of their own within here, illuminating the massive cave grandly.

At the far edge of the cave, cradled near the dripping droplets of water that formed a tiny pond, Cain spotted an equally tiny figure, its scales ebony-black, eyes like galaxies, shining. He cant have been larger than a cow, Cain mused, seeing the figure. Just then, the tall man appeared next to him, cradled in a skin-dyed shawl.

That was me, he said. Two hundred years of age.

You were alone? Cain asked.

Yes, the Dragon nodded. That was our practice, before the Cosmic War. Newborn babes were left on a new world with enough Mana to feed on for over three hundred years, just enough for our Springrowth. It taught us independence, self-sustainability, strength, among other things. Eventually, though, once the Cosmic War was in full swing, we didnt dare leave our babes alone. Not like this, anyway.

The scenery shifted as though guided by the Dragon voicewhich, admittedly, it likely wasand Cain was now staring at a tiny formation of Dragons. Despite the fact that there were only four, they spanned a sea worth of coverage, and they were all staring at the structure that was taller than the sky itselfthe Tower. The behemoth shone in resplendent cosmic radiance, outshining even the star in the sky during the midday.

Like the beginning of the greatest war in the history of cosmos. He said. It doesnt, huh?

Every war is always started with a single shot, Cain said. Or a single swing of a blade. No matter how big they end up becoming, they all begin with a tiny moment.

That is true indeed, the Dragon said. Nonetheless, the brutal conflict began. And it lasted all my adult life and it shaped me.

So far, in your story, the Dragons seem like innocent rabbits, Cain said. In my experience, especially in long-lasting conflicts, thats never the case.

Innocent to you is killing over a hundred souls who had no means of fighting back?

You know what I mean.

Dragons werentarent innocent. Ive already said, but going by the raw numbers, we are the monsters. All the same, we were not the ones to fire the first shot. Nor the second. We have never actively invaded the Towers or their systems and have only ever retaliated. We have sought peace on numerous occasions, but all of that fell on deaf ears. And that is how we ended up expiring.

Why didnt you? Cain asked. I mean, why didnt you invade their systems and take the fight to them?

Because for every Divine, there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of souls that have nothing to do with our conflict, the Dragon replied. That is how they usually survivedrunning away and hiding among the populous worlds, knowing we wont attack them.

... I think I was much better off not knowing anything, Cain sighed, slumping down. In that blissful ignorance, all I had to do was keep defeating floor bosses, keep climbing, keep getting stronger, all the way until I hit at wall... and then just retire. Now? Now Ive got all this useless info scrambling my brain, telling me to feel stuff. Ugh.

I am not asking anything, really, of you, the Dragon said. Whoever urged you here clearly wanted us to meet. And you... you just happen to pique my interest, is all. I hardly expect much from you, little one. If even the Dragons were unable to alter the course of their fate, I very much doubt that you can exact revenge in our name or such. I have merely afforded you some knowledge so that you are not being led blindly by your ears and eyes. Things are hardly ever as they seem within the cosmos. It will do you well to keep your eyes and ears sharp and hard on the manipulation and lies. Now its time for you to see how my epoch was made.

...

This is how Ive slain the third strongest creature of the Divine Hall and earned my name...