Epic of Ice Dragon: Reborn As An Ice Dragon With A System

Chapter 2429: The Beginning Of The End [10]

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"Welcome, Drake. I have gifted you a fragment of my own self. I call this the Void Realm, a Primordial Realm of the Mind. This is where I have meditated for eons."

"You’re... Hel?!"

"This is my Dragonoid Form. I thought it would suit you better."

"I... suppose. You’re beautiful."

"Thank you. You are kind to say that to an old dragon like myself... Is this the first time you’ve seen a Dragonoid form among my sisters?"

"I think so... I don’t remember. Did I ever see one from my mother? Uh."

"Whatever the case, this is a special Realm, a fusion of my Soul, my Mind, and my Primordial Authority. It is a Void within your own Mind, where time flows infinitely slower."

"What? That means..."

"Yes. We will train together so you can master your power. A minute outside is one year here."

"A whole year?!"

"Will it be enough?"

"...Yeah. It’s more than enough."

"We cannot use this for more than ten years, or the pressure will destroy your mind. But I believe we can finish in less than two."

"Then I don’t have to worry about what’s happening outside?"

"Not for now. I am watching over you. Stop thinking about everything beyond your reach."

Drake stood in his Dragonoid form.

"Close your eyes. Inhale and exhale."

"..."

Drake closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

"Sit down, cross-legged. Spread your arms and let your wings rest."

Drake followed her instructions and began meditating.

"Now, let us peer into your mind and soul, Drake. You are the culmination of all your experiences and memories, the embodiment of your journey. Show me what your path has forged within you."

Hel gently touched Drake’s forehead. Countless images flooded her vision—memories of his entire life.

Her red eyes widened in awe.

"A short yet beautiful life you’ve lived... And even a first life as a human. So simple, yet endearing. It shaped your character and gave you strength where most would find none."

"Hel..."

"Shh. Do not speak. Listen."

"..."

"You are so young, Drake... I feel sorrow for dragging you into this. You deserved another life, one of peace with your parents. You deserved to live thousands of years without burden, yet here you are, fighting for the world with no time to spare."

"..."

Drake’s calm expression shifted to annoyance, stress, and exhaustion.

"I know you’re tired. This is a sanctuary where you can truly rest. Do not think about the outside world. Sleep now, my child. You need it."

Hel held Drake’s hand tenderly. Despite her cold touch, her motherly, soothing voice eased him until he drifted into sleep.

He slept for an entire week.

When he awoke, he felt refreshed. The pain, annoyance, and stress that had weighed on him were gone.

"Hel... How long did I sleep? It’s strange—I don’t feel hungry or thirsty here."

"Indeed. This is a world of mind and soul. You are free from your body’s demands."

Hel approached, her expressionless face softening slightly. She struggled to smile, but Drake could sense the deep kindness beneath her somber presence.

"What now?"

"We begin your training. First, let me see them."

"Um, what?"

"The Rings, Drake. Let me see them."

"..."

Drake extended his hand, and eleven rings materialized.

Hel studied them and nodded.

Each ring represented a Law he had forged.

"Primary Law Ring of the System."

"Secondary Law Ring of Creation."

"Tertiary Law Ring of Demonic Chaos."

"Quaternary Law Ring of Eternal Heaven."

"Quinary Law Ring of Limitless Eternal Soul Path."

"Senary Law Ring of Primordial Ascendant Heart."

"Septenary Law Ring of Immortal Dragon Tree of Life."

"Octonary Law Ring of Celestial Fortune."

"Nonary Law Ring of the Immortal Soul Blade."

"Denary Law Ring of the Primordial Dragon King."

"Undenary Law Ring of Primordial Beginning and End."

Hel closed her eyes and nodded.

"You possess true potential. You have chosen excellent Laws, each enhancing your strength to immense heights. Yet you must delve deeper into them. I possess no Law Rings, but as a Primordial, I understand their nature. I will guide you to tap into each one. You will enter a world shaped by them."

"What?"

"These worlds will challenge you and help you master each Law. We will begin. You will reforge all your Ascendancy Law Rings, and I will support you."

"...Very well."

And so Drake’s training in the Void Realm began.

Eleven worlds manifested, each embodying one of his Law Rings.

He entered the first world of the System—a realm of technology, data, digital chaos, and endless numbers.

He adapted quickly, drawing on memories of Andromeda, though she could not join him here.

He battled glitches and machines born from this digital realm, using only System magic and technomancy derived from it.

Each fight pushed him to his limits. He began to grasp the System’s true depth and how Andromeda wielded it.

He realized how closely the System tied to Creation itself. After two weeks, he cleared the world.

"That was exhausting..."

Drake collapsed, sleeping for two days before waking. He found himself resting on Hel’s lap, her hands gently caressing his face.

"Have you rested well, Dragon King?"

"Yes... Uh, is this all right?"

"What do you mean?"

"We just met... I didn’t expect you to be so close."

"I am your aunt. Why wouldn’t I treat you with the love I give to all my children? Mother often scolds me for spoiling them too much. Is it wrong?"

"...No. Thank you. Uh, you know Hydra, right?"

"My champion, my brilliant yet eccentric son. Yes, I know him. He is fighting right now, alongside the other dragons, for all of us."

"I thought you had a strained relationship, but I guess he just prefers solitude."

"He does. He has always been... special."

"He is incredible."

Drake smiled, standing and stretching for a moment.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Let’s move to the second world."

Drake continued his training in the Second World of Creation.

He faced a series of challenges, battles, and obstacles that could only be overcome through creation.

It started simply but grew increasingly complex.

At first he created platforms to traverse gaps or weapons to defeat enemies.

Later he solved missing puzzle pieces or repaired broken structures with Creation.

More advanced trials limited what he could create while forcing him to fight mental copies of Oberon.

Through these trials, he discovered new applications for Creation and mastered it further.

In the Third World of Demonic Chaos, he battled endless demons and chaotic spirits, absorbing their powers upon defeat to progress.

Ultimately, he had to heal and befriend them to truly complete the world, learning to channel demonic and chaotic energies into forces of restoration rather than destruction.

There he saw deeper connections to Creation.

In the Fourth World of Eternal Heaven, he fought angels and celestial swords using light. He shaped Eternal Heavenly Light to achieve impossible speeds in timed challenges.

The Fifth World was the Limitless Eternal Soul Path. Drake traversed a mountainous land as a mercenary swordsman without a blade, using only his hands as weapons despite lacking formal training.

He wielded grass leaves, sticks, and roots as swords, discovering that anything could become razor-sharp in his grasp if he infused it with his soul’s edge.

After a brief rest, Drake entered the Sixth World of the Primordial Ascendant Heart. This realm felt different. He connected and controlled hundreds, then thousands, then millions of energy rivers.

It was more exercise than combat, testing his ability to manage vast quantities of diverse energies. He failed countless times, forced to restart.

With unlimited time, Drake persisted. After two grueling months, he unified one million rivers of elemental energies into a single, glowing, beating heart crystal.

Completing this trial awakened something within him. His Ascendant Heart felt refined a hundredfold, overflowing with power and granting far greater control over his energies and those around him.

In the Seventh World of the Immortal Dragon Tree of Life, Drake found a completely desolate land. He expected a garden but discovered only barren earth as vast as Yggdrasil.

His task was to cover it with life using only his bare hands. No magic, no powers, no techniques. He created water and seeds through Creation alone and planted them manually.

It took three months to reach halfway. At the center, a massive tree began to grow. Month by month, it towered higher.

After five months, Drake completed the task. His hands were bruised and scarred—his regeneration disabled, making every effort profoundly challenging yet rewarding. It cleared his mind of all worries.

He smiled peacefully as the dragon tree reached the stars. Wiping sweat from his brow, he stepped out.

"Well done. You have mastered over half your Laws. Each one feels different now, doesn’t it?" Hel greeted him, easing his exhaustion.

"It does... They feel completely transformed. What I had before seems superficial in comparison..." Drake marveled. "I never imagined I could achieve so much more."

"You were given too many tasks with too little time. That’s why you never truly tapped into your potential," Hel explained. "But I am here for that reason. Yggdrasil herself and my mother asked me to guide you as your final teacher."

"Thank you, Hel. I don’t know how I could ever repay you..." Drake smiled.

"There are five more worlds. It’s too soon for victory," Hel replied. "The next Laws are the most recent, the least refined. Now you will truly learn their depths."

"I will," Drake nodded. "All right, let’s go..."

"No, wait." Hel stopped him. "I told you not to push yourself."

She gently pulled him close, embracing him and letting his head rest against her soft chest.

She caressed his hair, urging him to relax.

"You must rest, my dear king. Please take your time. There is no need to hurry."

"A-Ah... Okay..."

Drake felt his cheeks warm, embarrassed despite the gravity of their situation. Hel’s loving tenderness made his heart race.

He was, indeed, quite weak to older women.

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