The chaotic energy around Dustin slowly unraveled, and the seven-colored immortal glow dimmed until everything settled again. He felt a massive yet controllable surge of immortal energy inside him.
Instead of feeling triumphant, a heavy knot of emotion settled in his chest. The surge of power inside him carried a cost he couldn’t ignore. Cyran and Terraen had sacrificed themselves, and all that remained of them was the silence they left behind.
Dustin’s gaze swept across the spot where they had vanished. Only scattered motes of greenish-yellow sparks lingered in the air, flickering stubbornly like the last fireflies of summer. They seemed unwilling to fade, carrying a quiet hope that refused to die.
He lowered his head in silent respect, honoring their sacrifice, the protection they had offered, and the enduring spirit that would outlast the world itself.
“Mr. Xalvador and my young friend, rest in peace. The evil here has been purged,” Dustin said quietly. His voice was calm, but carried a quiet resolve, as if his words were a promise that could not be broken.
Just then, he heard hurried footsteps and tear-choked shouting from the edge of the rubble. Supported by Judith, Grace stumbled forward and shouted, “Dustin!”
Her hair was a mess, her clothes streaked with dust and blood, and worry was written all over her face. She looked at him, and for a moment, she barely recognized him. His presence had grown deeper and sharper, carrying an almost otherworldly weight.
“Are… Are you alright?” she asked, her voice trembling. She couldn’t stop herself from glancing at the subdued Malthor. Her gaze then drifted farther, toward the heart of the Vitalis Pool, where the sealing rift still glowed with an ominous energy.
Dustin turned to look at Grace. The cold detachment and authority in his eyes softened slightly, returning to a warmth closer to his usual. But there was still something different about him now, something untouchable, almost otherworldly.
“I’m fine. But Mr. Xalvador and that young friend who helped me suppress this demon They’ve already sacrificed themselves and passed on,” he replied with a sigh.
Grace’s body trembled. She had anticipated it, yet hearing it for herself still struck her. It filled her with an indescribable mix of sorrow and respect. She lowered her head in silent respect toward where the light had faded.
“These demons have been dealt with. Do you think the Dragonblood Fruit could be here?” she asked, hope flickering in her gaze.
Even after learning the truth about the elixir of immortality and witnessing the clash between immortals and demons, her determination to heal her father remained her greatest concern. Dustin sighed and turned his gaze toward the heart of the Vitalis Pool.
The sealed rift gaped like a bleeding wound. Threads of pure yet dangerous Void -Tyrant Dragon malevolent energy still seeped out and flowed into the rainbow-colored spring below.
The Dragonblood Fruit beside the spring had lost some of its luster without Malthor’s power sustaining it. But the corrupting allure hidden within it remained unchanged.
“His Majesty’s condition is a deep-rooted malady, one that has damaged his very life force. No ordinary medicine can cure it.
“The Dragonblood Fruit, and even the Vitalis Pool water contaminated by malevolent energy, contain the Void-Tyrant Dragon’s destructive will. They are corrupt to their very essence.
“Taking them wouldn’t save his life but would accelerate his death, or worse, transform him into a mindless dragon puppet that would bring catastrophe to the world.”
He paused, then changed the subject.
“However… The Vitalis Pool’s core spiritual liquid was originally the world’s purest source of vitality. Even though it has been tainted by malevolent energy, its original essence is still there. With Malthor subdued, the malevolent energy here has lost its master and is gradually settling.”
Dustin turned to Malthor, still restrained by the seven-colored sigils.
“Inside that demon, several types of dragon essence remained unrefined. Though its attributes are ferocious and destructive, fundamentally they still contain boundless life force.”
Dustin raised his hand, letting his immortal essence swirl through his palm, reaching out to guide the natural laws around him.
From the rainbow sigils still holding Malthor down, a thin thread of light peeled away and slithered into his body like a cautious spirit-snake. It carefully drew out a restless, multicolored core of energy, the purified remnants of dragon core with most of its destructive intent neutralized.
At the same time, his other hand reached toward the Vitalis Pool. Invisible forces streamed into the water, filtering out the lingering, malevolent crimson energy and dissolving it completely.
From this process, he distilled a small handful of seven-colored spiritual liquid essence, shimmering with pure vitality and harmonious energy.
By using his own immortal essence as a furnace and his divine sense as flame, Dustin placed the dragon core and the seven-colored spiritual liquid in his palm. The two forces, different in nature but both teeming with life, began to fuse slowly under his control.
As the process continued, the seven-colored spiritual liquid tempered the dragon core’s fury, while its own vitality grew stronger and more abundant, nourished by the dragon essence.
Moments later, a tablet roughly the size of a pigeon egg had formed in his palm. It was perfectly round, glowed with a gentle milky light, and faint cloud-like patterns were swirling across its surface.
The moment it formed, a refreshing, soul-cleansing fragrance spread from it. Its vitality wasn’t as overwhelming as the Dragonblood Fruit’s, but it was deeper and steadier, radiating a righteous, balanced energy.
“This tablet was crafted from purified dragon core and the Vitalis Pool’s spiritual liquid, refined with my immortal essence,” Dustin said, handing it out to Grace.
He went on, “I can’t promise it will bring someone back from the dead, but it should restore his foundation and extend his life by ten years. That should be enough to ensure His Majesty survives this crisis and allows him to live out his remaining years in peace.”
Grace’s hands trembled as she took the tablet. She could feel the abundant yet balanced vitality flowing from it. Her eyes suddenly welled with tears.
She understood that this was the best outcome Dustin could provide without violating the natural order or touching the Void-Tyrant Dragon’s forbidden power. To her, extending her father’s life to another ten years was more than enough.
