Rebirth as a Time Dragon

In the Hero's Domain.

The Dragon Gods gathered in the Dragon Court dimension, not as avatars or projections, but in their true forms. Their auras fluctuated, extraordinary divine power stirred within them, and the divine light on their bodies flickered, revealing their excitement and restlessness.

How many years had passed since the Dawn War?

The time span was so vast that even the Dragon Gods couldn't recall.

To the Dragon Gods, the fall of the Nine-faced Dragon God had happened so long ago. Before the multiverse flourished, before every inch of the planar worlds bloomed with the flower of life, at the end of the primordial era, the Nine-faced Dragon God had perished. Without the protection of their main deity, the Dragon Gods, though strong, had faced many setbacks and perils.

Besides the newly ascended gods like the Stone Dragon God, the Mechanical Dragon God, and the Time Dragon God, all other Dragon Gods were ancient beings, created by the Nine-faced Dragon God himself. The Metallic Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen were even parts of his body.

The trust the Dragon Gods had in the Nine-faced Dragon God was beyond question.

Now, the creator of all dragons, the primordial true dragon, the Nine-faced Dragon God, had resurrected and returned to the world.

The Dragon Gods felt as if they had a backbone once again. The anxiety, unease, and tension about the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict vanished.

At this moment, within the Dragon Court, the revered and proud Dragon Gods stood before the Nine-faced Dragon God with a childlike innocence, while the Nine-faced Dragon God exuded a fatherly radiance, his gaze gentle and all-encompassing.

Like the other Dragon Gods, Garon gazed at the Nine-faced Dragon God.

The most remarkable feature of this greatest of Dragon Gods was his visage. His face did not adhere to any specific form but was ever-changing, displaying all dragon traits. In Garon's eyes, he saw characteristics of chromatic dragons, metallic dragons, gem dragons, and even rare dragons like sun dragons, moon dragons, and mirror dragons.

Every dragon trait could be found on the Nine-faced Dragon God.

This is why he was called the Nine-faced Dragon God.

The number nine symbolized the nine alignments, indicating that the Nine-faced Dragon God encompassed all dragon alignments, not just nine faces.

Apart from his visage, the outline of the Nine-faced Dragon God's body resembled an elegant and noble silver dragon. His muscles were lean but not bulky, and his scales were a sacred white, with hues of red, gold, blue, purple, and black flowing and shifting at their edges.

"Dragonfall War, Glory War, Giant Extinction War, Pact of Non-Conflict, Heavenly Court Pantheon, Haotian Shangdi..."

The Nine-faced Dragon God's eyes were deep, seemingly reflecting all things in the heavens.

Almost immediately upon his unsealing, without the Dragon Gods explaining the state of the multiverse or the challenges facing the Dragon God faction during his absence, he comprehended everything. The Nine-faced Dragon God had participated in shaping the rules of the multiverse and was instrumental in the creation of the vibrant and intelligent species that now populated the endless worlds. He was revered as the Shaper, omniscient about the happenings in the multiverse.

Only powerful deities could shield themselves from Io's unconscious perception.

If he consciously tried to sense something, only beings of equal rank could evade him.

There were few beings with such exaggerated perceptive abilities, all top-tier entities who had shaped the multiverse as it is today.

Among the gods' knowledge, only three such beings were known.

The Shaper, creator of all dragons, the Nine-faced Dragon God Io, who shaped the main rules of the multiverse.

The Creator, the Father of All Worlds, Annan, who created countless worlds.

The Twin Serpents of Order and Chaos, the Primeval Serpents, who separated the primordial chaos and created order and chaos, extending into the nine alignments.

Fewer gods knew about the Primeval Serpents compared to Io and Annan. Due to their contradictory natures, they had split into two serpents, one of good and one of evil, hiding from each other, each seeking to devour the other without being discovered.

Perhaps, an unremarkable god or devil could be a disguise for either the good serpent or the evil serpent.

"Lord God, there's less than ten years until the third round of the Pact of Non-Conflict."

"You've just been resurrected. Can you secure a victory in the duel?"

The Metallic Dragon God asked.

The Nine-faced Dragon God looked at the Metallic Dragon God and softly said, "Haotian Shangdi did not exist in my era."

After a pause, he continued, "The avatar of the God of Gods? I look forward to our duel."

His tone was calm but carried the unique pride of a true dragon.

"Moreover, although I know little about Haotian Shangdi and cannot guarantee victory, my children, I can assure you that even if we lose the Pact of Non-Conflict, with me here, the dragon race will not face utter destruction."

Upon hearing this, the Dragon Gods were invigorated.

"Do you mean you can break the rules of the Pact of Non-Conflict?"

The Immortal Dragon Queen flicked her tail and asked.

"The many rules governing the world were created by me. How can they become shackles that bind me?"

The Nine-faced Dragon God smiled slightly and said, "I have been silent for too long. The gods have forgotten my name. Now that I have returned, the final round of the Pact of Non-Conflict will be the prelude to my reappearance on the stage of the multiverse."

The Nine-faced Dragon God's presence exuded an aura of absolute confidence.

Even though he hadn't fully recovered his peak state.

It felt as though he could solve any problem and clear the path for his people. With him, the Dragon God faction seemed invincible and unstoppable.

This was the extraordinary demeanor of a top-tier ancient deity born with the multiverse.

At the same time, Io looked at the silver giant dragon with three pairs of dragon horns atop his head. His gaze lingered on the crown-like horns for a moment before he spoke, "Garon Aurelian, I am pleased to see your birth. Previously, I only had a faint expectation for the Dragon of Time."

Garon felt a familiar and intimate aura from the Nine-faced Dragon God, somewhat similar to his own.

However, since Io could display the traits of all dragons, Garon didn't think much of it.

Upon hearing Io's words, Garon was slightly taken aback.

"Lord God, do you know the origin of my birth?"

Garon, curious and puzzled, asked.

Legendary dragon species were unique, transcendent. Though they possessed standard dragon abilities like dragon might, dragon breath, and inheritance, their attributes far surpassed those of ordinary dragons, making them seem like entirely different beings.

Garon, now in his prime, had already achieved mid-tier divine power, making him a mid-upper level powerhouse among the gods.

The state of an ordinary prime dragon was not even worth mentioning.

"During the Dawn War, I was besieged by the Great Demon Lord Eric and elite Wild Gods, falling into a crisis. I fought back, killing many Wild Gods until I was exhausted, realizing there was no way to turn the tide."

Io was powerful, but so was the Lord of Terror, a top-tier Wild God representing all terror in the multiverse.

At that time, the Lord of Terror had unfairly besieged Io with many Wild Gods, and the support from other gods was delayed. Facing many strong enemies, Io's defeat was inevitable.

"In the final moments, to leave behind a spark and a protector for the dragons, I used the sharpness of the Darkest Black Axe to divide myself into three parts."

In a tone of reminiscence, Io narrated.

Listening to Io's account, the Dragon Gods gradually understood everything.

It was known that during the Dawn War, Io was split in two by the Lord of Terror and fell on the eve of the gods' victory.

During the war, Io's remnants transformed into the Metallic Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen. The two new Dragon Gods tore apart the heavily injured and exhausted Lord of Terror. Despite being besieged, Io's counterattacks were formidable.

The Metallic Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen were guardians Io had prepared for the dragons during his absence.

Additionally, he had planted a seed.

The Metallic Dragon God represented Io's goodness, and the Immortal Dragon Queen represented his evil.

However, Io encompassed all alignments, and he had a neutral side.

Io's neutral part was divided into three and integrated into three cosmic miracles that even he couldn't control in his prime, intending to create three types of dragons he had envisioned.

The world force that formed the foundation of endless worlds.

The river of time that set the worlds in motion.

The realm of light that gave the world its brilliant hues.

These miraculous places were domains that top-tier individual powers could hardly control.

Long ago, Io had envisioned investing part of himself into these places to exert more influence, spreading from points to surfaces, using long periods to merge and control these three miraculous realms.

However, dividing his essence wasn't a decision Io could make lightly. When the war between the Wild Gods and deities began, in the face of life and death, Io acted according to his vision.

"My plan was to create three innately divine dragon species."

"Now, it seems that the Force Dragon and the Prismatic Dragon have succeeded, as their bloodlines can be inherited. However, the river of time is the most mysterious and profound of the three miracles, involving infinite alternate timelines. Perhaps only one can exist per timeline."

So that's how it

 is...

Garon gradually understood everything.

Based on Io's narration and his knowledge of alternate timelines and the river of time, Garon had his thoughts.

For the Time Dragons, time wasn't a linear path but a river to travel freely.

In Garon's perspective, the states of time weren't centered on the present. To him, the past, present, and future were concurrent and simultaneous.

Since Time Dragons could easily traverse time, each timeline's unique Time Dragon didn't follow a sequential order. In their view, past, present, and future were parts of the river of time, with no distinction.

The young Time Dragons Garon encountered in alternate timelines were, in terms of the main timeline, older than him. However, to them, Garon was the elder, stronger, and the first-born Time Dragon.

As for why Time Dragons existed in timelines without Io, Garon had his thoughts.

"Each timeline is different, but the river of time is the same across them."

"In one timeline, when Io succeeded the first time, the river of time in every timeline might have started nurturing a corresponding Time Dragon."

Garon pondered.

On the surface, Io created the Time Dragons.

But more accurately, Io provided an opportunity, a seed, and then the river of time manifested in dragon form, transforming from a miraculous phenomenon into a true dragon in the world.

Garon's rapid growth, once considered baffling, now seemed logical.

Before his birth, he had been nurtured in the river of time for untold ages, only finally incarnating as a true dragon through his white dragon mother's body.

"Lord God, since the three legendary dragon species originated from you, can you command the Force Dragon and Prismatic Dragon to recognize their identities and fight for the dragon race?"

The Metallic Dragon God's eyes brightened with hope.

Other Dragon Gods also looked curiously at Io.

However, Io shook his head, saying, "They originated from me but possess independent minds and spirits. Given their vast difference from ordinary dragons, their lack of recognition of the dragon race is understandable."

"For these unique and sacred children, I respect their way of life. Moreover, two of them have grown to a level that makes me proud."

Io likely referred to the progenitors of the Force Dragons and Prismatic Dragons, Garon thought.

According to Io, only the progenitors of the Force Dragons and Prismatic Dragons were on the same level as Time Dragons. Their descendants were not as powerful. In terms of growth speed, Garon felt he surpassed even the progenitors, given his extraordinary time.

With a faint smile, Io said confidently, "I believe if the dragon race faces a dire threat, they will not stand by."

"For instance, this time's Pact of Non-Conflict, they are secretly watching."

The three legendary dragon species were seeds Io left for the dragon race, now grown into towering trees.

This brought Io joy and pride, like seeing his descendants grow up. Although these children were aloof, they had the right to be. Despite their aloofness, they had never betrayed their race, merely being indifferent.

"My state has not fully recovered."

"But with nine years until the Pact of Non-Conflict, it should be enough."

Io pondered and said, "Children, I need to acclimate to the current multiverse rules. Although I created the main rules, they have evolved and changed over the years."

"I look forward to the duel with Haotian Shangdi. Moreover, the Great Demon Lord and many Wild Gods have revived and won't let things rest. We must prepare for this."

The Metallic Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen said, "Do you need our help? Lord God, your current state is unstable. We can serve as your guards temporarily."

Io laughed heartily, his voice gentle and joyous, "In that case, let me feel the protection from my children."

Afterwards, accompanied by the Metallic Dragon God and the Immortal Dragon Queen, Io traveled through various planar worlds, familiarizing himself with the current multiverse rules, while continuing to absorb accumulated faith power, rapidly restoring his strength.

He recovered quickly.

Because even without faith, as long as the rules he created remained, his power source would remain. Faith was more like a supplement; the endless rules were his true reliance and foundation.

Top-tier deities did not rely heavily on faith.

For instance, the first-generation Goddess of Magic maintained her magical power as long as magic prospered.

The ancient God of Death was formidable despite weak faith, mastering death's power.

These two weren't even the top deities.

Above them were beings like Annan, the Father of All Worlds, whose power remained as long as his created worlds endured. The giants' extinction meant nothing to him.

The Dragon Gods gradually departed, and the Dragon Court returned to peace.

However, due to Io's resurrection and the reappearance of many long-dead Wild Gods, the multiverse was now in turmoil, a precursor to a great disaster.

Every wise deity sensed an impending storm.

Wild Gods were reviving en masse, secretly plotting horrific plans.

Demons fought in the Abyss for kingship.

The Dragon Gods were fervently engaged in the Pact of Non-Conflict to restore their dominance.

Among these, the imminent third duel between Io and Haotian Shangdi drew the most attention from intelligent beings across the endless worlds, sparking countless discussions.

The main god of the Heavenly Court Pantheon and the main god of the Dragon God faction.

The ancient Lord of Gods versus the current avatar of the God of Gods.

Ten years was a short time, and their duel would soon begin, determining the multiverse's divine order.

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