Creation Of All Things-Chapter 174: Darken

Origin Realm

The burst of white faded slowly, like fog pulled back by a gentle wind. Then… colors. Not just colors like blue or red or green—but ones that felt alive. Colors that didn't have names. Colors that shimmered and shifted the longer you stared.

Joshua landed first.

Not hard. Not soft either. Just landed, like the realm decided gravity was optional today. He hovered a few inches above a platform that looked like smooth obsidian, except it reflected stars beneath it like a window into space.

The others dropped in right after. Adam, boots first, arms crossed, as if bored. Jordan stumbled a bit, muttering something about needing a drink. Alexandria just landed like a blade being sheathed.

They all looked around.

The sky—or what passed for one—was a swirling aurora of galaxies and dream-light. Nebulas drifted lazily, like clouds that had forgotten how to rain. In the distance, there were towers—huge, elegant spires that twisted like vines into the stars, glowing with pale silver veins. Bridges of light connected them, and creatures the size of cities floated across the horizon, their wings trailing cosmic dust.

It wasn't loud. But there was sound. A low hum. Like the heartbeat of the universe.

"…This place is insane," Jordan muttered, staring at a glowing koi fish the size of a bus swimming through the air.

"No gravity," Alexandria noted, tapping her foot against the floating platform. "No rules either, apparently."

Adam tilted his head. "Looks like someone's desktop wallpaper threw up."

Joshua didn't say anything. He was just staring.

Because something in him remembered.

Not a full memory. Not words. But a feeling. Like a song he used to know.

He took a slow step forward. The ground responded—expanding, pulsing gently beneath him. The stars beneath his feet blinked, aligning themselves like a map.

"What now?" Alexandria asked, scanning the distance. "Where's your ancient power-up zone or whatever?"

"I don't know," Joshua replied. "I think… it'll come to us."

Adam snorted. "Well that's not ominous at all."

Just then, the platform rumbled. Lines of light shot out in all directions, tracing massive geometric shapes in the void. Circles within circles. Patterns that bent space.

And from the far end of the sky, something moved.

It wasn't flying. It was just… there, suddenly. Like reality skipped a beat.

A figure. Cloaked. Floating above one of the far towers. Too far to see clearly, but somehow, they all felt it. Pressure. Not crushing. Just… old. Like looking at something that had seen the birth of time.

Joshua felt his chest tighten.

Adam just stared. "Friend of yours?"

"Nope," Joshua whispered.

The figure raised a hand.

Veyrion's eyes narrowed slightly, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips.

"Still dramatic as ever, Draken."

The figure stepped out from the glow. His cloak shifted like smoke, shadows slipping off his form as he moved. Eyes gleamed—slitted, ancient. His boots hit the white floor with soft thuds, but the pressure in the air was anything but soft.

Then—whoomph.

The cloak peeled away in an instant. Wings unfurled. Not bat-like. Not leathery. Smooth, shimmering like glass dipped in twilight. His body rippled, scaled and coiled, his neck stretching, horns curling back like black metal.

Draken… wasn't human.

He was a dragon. A real one.

Not just large—but elegant. Regal. Every motion was deliberate, each breath full of weight. His long tail curled lazily behind him, brushing against the edge of the floating stone they stood on.

No one spoke. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Then Draken turned. His golden eyes locked onto Kael'Thar, who stood towering at the edge, half-shadowed, his own colossal wings tucked in, tail wrapped neatly like a resting god.

And then—Draken bowed.

Not a small dip of the head. A full bow. Head to the ground. Wings drawn in. Ancient magic pulsed off him like a deep bass note vibrating in everyone's bones.

Even Joshua blinked. "…Wait, what?"

Aurora's mouth dropped open slightly. "Did a dragon just bow?"

Kael'Thar didn't move at first. His expression was unreadable—dragons were always hard to read—but his eyes flicked with a sharp glint of surprise. Maybe even confusion.

Draken's voice rolled out. Deep. Calm. Unshaking.

"I sensed your return, Kael'Thar. I followed the echo across the strands. I… never thought I'd see you again."

Adam leaned closer to Joshua and whispered, "So uh… is that a normal thing around here? Dragons bowing to dragons?"

Joshua whispered back, "Dude, I don't even know what day it is anymore."

Aria tilted her head. "Kael'Thar… is he important?"

"Very," Veyrion said quietly. "If Draken's bowing… then Kael'Thar isn't just a dragon. He's the dragon."

Jordan stared. "Man, I was just hoping for space sushi or something."

Kael'Thar finally stepped forward, his claws clicking lightly on the ground. His towering frame loomed over Draken. He lowered his head just slightly.

"…Rise."

Draken did, slowly. No arrogance. No challenge. Just deep respect.

"I will follow where you walk," he said simply. "As I once did before the fall."

That made the silence hit harder.

Adam let out a low whistle, grinning like a kid who just poked a sleeping lion.

"Well, if you're bowing to him, then you gotta bow to me too," he said, arms folded, chin raised cockily. "Technically, I created him. Named him too."

The silence cracked.

Draken's eyes narrowed. His lip curled just a little—more confusion than anger—but then it shifted. His clawed hand twitched.

Fwip.

He lashed out. A blur.

But before Adam could even raise a finger to stop him—

CRACK!

A fist slammed into Draken's jaw from the side.

He staggered. Caught off-guard. His wings flared, half-spread as he dug into the ground to steady himself. Dust burst around his feet.

Jordan stood there, arm still extended from the punch, his expression blank—well, kind of annoyed.

"Bro. Chill."

Everyone froze.

Adam blinked. "…Okay, wow."

Draken straightened slowly, his neck cracking as he turned to face Jordan, eyes glowing faintly now. Not furious, just… surprised.

"You struck me," Draken said, voice low, like rolling thunder right before rain.

"Yup." Jordan rubbed his knuckles. "You tried to claw my friend."

There was a pause. You could hear someone gulp. Probably Joshua.

Alfred leaned forward, whispering to Freya. "Jordan just punched a dragon."

"I know," Aria whispered back. "He didn't even flinch."

Draken tilted his head, wings folding back in slowly. His eyes scanned Jordan's face.

Then… a smirk.

It was small. Barely there. But it was there.

"…You've got guts," Draken muttered. "Most mortals would be ash by now."

"Guess I'm not mortal," Jordan said, shrugging.

Adam threw an arm around Jordan's shoulder. "See? That's why I keep this guy around."

Draken glanced back at Kael'Thar, then at Adam again.

"I still don't bow to you," he said flatly.

Adam laughed. "Eh, worth a shot."

Veyrion just shook his head. "Why does every serious moment around you end in violence or sarcasm?"

"Balance," Adam said with a wink.

Kael'Thar watched silently, his giant form unmoving. But his tail flicked once—almost like a silent laugh.

The tension was gone now. But everyone knew: this gathering just got a lot more interesting.