Rebirth as a Time Dragon

Valclas Continent.

In a remote border town of the Eternal Empire.

The night had just receded, and the morning light was faint.

"Chester, Arcane Level, three, unqualified."

Recalling the arcane level test from the previous day, the boy's expression became exceedingly bitter. His fists clenched tightly, nails nearly piercing his flesh without him realizing it.

This border town was controlled by a noble family, with the eldest son of the local count, named Chester, walking aimlessly through the bustling streets, lost in thought, his body swaying with uncertainty as people passed by him.

Chester, the eldest son of the count, was once a prodigy in the arcane arts. At the age of five, he was discovered to have an innate talent for arcane magic. By six, he had become a formal arcane practitioner, gifted with arcane gems and badges. A year later, his arcane level reached three, allowing him to use three arcane gems simultaneously, earning him the title of a prodigy.

As a prodigy and the count's eldest son, Chester naturally became the hope of the town's residents.

However, tragedy struck at age seven when he fell off a horse and hit his head on a rock, sustaining severe injuries. Though he eventually recovered, his arcane talent vanished. Eight years later, his arcane abilities remained stagnant at the level he reached at age seven.

Now, at fifteen, Chester faced the family rule that if he did not reach level ten by sixteen, he would be stripped of his status as the heir.

In the past, Chester clung to a sliver of hope that his talent might return, allowing him to meet the standard before his sixteenth birthday.

But time after time, he woke from dreams to the harsh reality that nothing had changed.

What stung the most was the scorn from his once-adoring cousins, who, realizing his fall from grace, treated him with coldness and malice, attacking him for his former glory.

The gap between being a prodigy and a failure, the reversal of people's attitudes, had forged a mature spirit within Chester despite his youth.

Yet, the most unbearable blow came from his betrothed, the daughter of a neighboring count, who came to annul their engagement. This brought great shame to Chester's father, who, though humiliated, had no choice but to agree given Chester's situation.

Chester could endure personal scorn, but causing his father, who continued to support him, such humiliation was unbearable.

In a daze, Chester found himself at the city gates.

Bathing in the bright sunlight, he stopped and looked up at the sun, feeling its warmth as a cold, piercing light.

"Perhaps leaving Rocco City is the best choice."

"My presence only brings trouble for my father, the count."

Sighing deeply, Chester resolved to leave, harboring thoughts of ending his life.

The wilderness beyond the city was perilous, teeming with savage beasts, far beyond the capability of a mere level three arcane practitioner.

Staring at the vast world outside the city, Chester hesitated.

Then, he laughed at himself, "I thought I was strong, but in the face of death, I'm no different from anyone else, still fearful and hesitant."

"But as a disgrace to my family, death might be a relief. Living holds no meaning."

With this thought, Chester's resolve hardened.

His frail body swayed as he stepped out of the city gates, heading into the dangerous wild, toward his fate.

Little did Chester know, this decision would drastically alter his life's trajectory.

Time flowed steadily.

The sky darkened, night replacing day, and the sun sank below the horizon.

Unknowingly, Chester entered a dark forest surrounding Rocco City.

Cold winds blew, shaking the treetops. Distant roars of wild beasts echoed, the rustling leaves creating a chilling atmosphere.

In the pitch-black forest, even the moonlight was obscured by thick foliage, leaving visibility at near zero.

Chester held a finely crafted brass short staff, embedded with three glowing arcane gems, the only source of light allowing him to barely see two meters ahead.

Though he intended to die, Chester didn't want a pathetic end. He sought a glorious death in battle against a beast, as was the noble way.

"But isn't the deep Balak Forest supposed to be dangerous, filled with ferocious beasts?"

"So why haven't I encountered any?"

"Am I not even worthy of a noble death?"

Chester sank into self-doubt.

Normally, a level three arcane practitioner venturing into Balak Forest would have encountered dangerous beasts long ago. Yet, apart from a vague sense of dread and oppression, Chester saw no beasts.

It seemed as if all the beasts had fled overnight.

Experienced adventurers would realize this indicated the presence of a formidable entity, driving the beasts away. But Chester, a noble, and a first-time traveler outside the city, was unaware.

Anyone with a normal survival instinct would have retreated at the feeling of dread, but Chester, resolved to die, pressed on.

The wind rustled the leaves continuously.

Step by step, Chester ventured deeper into the forest until midnight.

Exhausted and hungry, Chester's vision blurred, his consciousness fading.

"Will I die alone, unnoticed, in the dark forest?"

Feeling desolate, Chester stopped and stared ahead.

In the dark forest, he saw a strangely shaped hill, glowing with a sacred silver light, seemingly made of mithril, adorned with rings of obsidian. It stood out starkly against the forest.

This mystical sight in the dark forest seemed like a dream.

Half-conscious, Chester could not discern the hill's details, dragging his tired body closer until he collapsed within the silver glow.

"At least I didn't die in darkness..."

With this thought, Chester closed his eyes peacefully.

Meanwhile, the 'silver hill' moved.

A massive dragon head lifted, its gaze falling on the fallen boy.

It was none other than Garon Aurelius, Lord of the Dragon Court, Lord of Spirits, Dragon God of Time, Eternal Dragon of Time and Light.

Garon's eyes glowed as he scanned Chester's body.

In Garon's platinum eyes, images flashed rapidly in a second.

Instantly, Garon saw Chester's fifteen-year life.

"No wonder he reached me; he's seeking death."

Garon mused.

When Chester entered the range of Garon's dragon aura, Garon noticed him and, like a human observing an ant, watched with curiosity as Chester approached.

The dragon, crouched like a hill, stroked his chin thoughtfully with a claw.

"A childhood prodigy, turned failure, spurned by fiancée, and now finds himself before me. A fate like many chosen ones across worlds."

"Interesting, you'll be my shepherd."

A shepherd was needed to protect the divine pastures, ensuring Garon's faith persisted in the current timeline to birth divine spirits.

Dealing with deities might incite hostility, especially with Garon's otherworldly origin, which most deities could discern.

As for protectors like Iolum or the Four Pillars, deep connections were required.

These were difficult to pursue actively, and Garon needed to establish divine pastures efficiently.

Thus, Garon decided to cultivate his shepherds, his emissaries, to spread and protect his faith.

Garon could conquer worlds, establishing divine rule through fear, but he had to leave eventually, so extreme methods weren't viable. A cultivated force was necessary for repeated divine harvests in a timeline.

Loyalty was the key trait for shepherds. Garon's current abilities and resources could cultivate legendary or demigod beings, needing only basic talent.

Choosing shepherds was based on interest or affinity, essentially a matter of fate with Garon.

The next morning.

In the damp environment, a dew drop slid from a leaf, gleaming in the sunlight, and fell, shattering on Chester's forehead.

Awakened from a nightmare, Chester opened his eyes to see a colossal silhouette becoming clearer as he regained consciousness.

Soon, the form solidified in his vision.

A dragon's head, as large as a house, covered in silver scales, with three pairs of majestic horns like a crown, and platinum eyes reflecting Chester's startled figure.

"Am I still dreaming?"

"This dream is too real."

"No, it's not a dream."

Terrified, Chester rolled on the ground, trying to distance himself from the dragon, struggling to stand.

The full form of the mountainous dragon came into view.

Glistening silver scales, a majestic body, rings of dark scales, and deep, calm eyes that seemed to see through him.

Chester felt breathless, yet exhilarated.

Realizing the 'silver hill' from last night was this terrifying beast!

"To die under such a creature's claws, I'd die without regret!"

"Dying in battle, a noble's honor, here I come!"

Clutching his brass short staff, Chester aimed at the dragon.

The three gems glowed, intertwining.

Fireball spell.

Double arcane effect.

Burning spell.

The combined effects formed two fireballs, hurling at the dragon's chest.

The fireballs shattered like soap bubbles on steel, leaving the dragon's scales unscathed.

Chester closed his eyes, breathing heavily, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

He opened his arms, ready to embrace the dragon's wrath.

But the dragon remained unmoved, silently watching Chester's amusing reaction, not angry at all.

Garon pondered the fireball spell Chester cast.

Though harmless to Garon, its principles were intriguing.

Different from the arcane system Garon knew.

Chester's fireball was a combination of three spells, perfectly fused to create burning fireballs.

Garon's gaze shifted to Chester's brass short staff, specifically the three embedded gems.

"The fascinating spell reaction stems from these gems."

"This world holds unexpected surprises."

Garon mused.

Having just arrived, Garon hadn't explored this world's details, resting after frequent time travel.

"According to Chester's memory, this world lacks outer planes or prime material plane concepts, with only legends of two gods, one good and one evil."

"The two gods fought and, according to legend, perished, with only temples remaining. Their presence is elusive."

Garon had attempted to locate Mount Celestia or the Abyss without success.

The world seemed to have only two gods, both vanished.

Clearly, this was another timeline divergent from the prime timeline.

"Eternal Empire, Holy Sect of Good and Evil, Arcane Practitioners..."

Chester, a noble from a remote town, knew some but not all of this world.

For instance, this world had only one empire, the Eternal Empire. Given Garon's title, he found the empire intriguing and potentially worth conquering.

"The Eternal Empire stands atop power and authority, its prosperity built on the flesh and blood of the conquered, and endless time as the witness of fairness and justice."

This was a poet's description of the Eternal Empire from Chester's memory.

The Eternal Empire was the dominant power, though other nations existed.

Chester's father, a count on the empire's fringe, held moderate status. Chester lacked a clear concept of the empire's strength or the abilities of its greatest arcane practitioners.

Meanwhile.

The expected death didn't come. Chester, confused and nervous, opened his eyes, meeting the dragon's platinum gaze.

Excitement fading, fear gripped Chester, his limbs weak, collapsing.

Garon had withdrawn all dragon aura to prevent overwhelming Chester.

But even without the aura, the sheer presence of the giant beast caused discomfort, palpitations, suffocation, accelerated blood flow, and a blank mind, barely keeping Chester conscious.

Under Chester's gaze, the silver dragon smiled and spoke, "Boy, do you desire power?"

Having mastered the common tongue of the Eternal Empire from Chester's memory in a second, Garon's words left Chester stunned, easing his fear slightly.

Lying on the ground, one hand on the earth, the other clutching his pounding heart, Chester looked up at the towering silver dragon blocking the light.

In his view, the dragon's face was blurred against the light, but the deep, calm eyes revealed a divine presence.

The dragon's teeth gleamed as it spoke, yet Chester's fear diminished.

"Are you a messenger of the gods?"

Chester asked hoarsely.

The dragon shook its head, serene as ever, "Messenger? No, mortals revere me as the Eternal and Time Dragon, seeing me as a god."

Eternal and Time Dragon, a god...

Chester had only heard of the good and evil gods, never of the Eternal and Time Dragon.

But under the dragon's shadow, Chester felt no doubt, completely captivated by Garon's presence.

"Set aside your doubts and answer my question."

"I'll ask again."

"Boy, do you desire power?"

Facing the solemn dragon, Chester was momentarily stunned.

Recalling his cousins' scorn, the humiliation of his broken engagement, and the pride of being a celebrated prodigy, Chester realized—power was the only truth.

"Yes."

He answered firmly, his voice resolute.

Garon smiled, "Good, from now on, you are my shepherd."

"I will bestow upon you great power."

A shepherd?

Chester looked puzzled, not understanding the term.

The dragon's eyes seemed to pierce his soul, seeing Chester's confusion, and explained, "You are chosen by the god, the people are your flock. You will lead them to green pastures, to restful waters, awakening their souls, guiding them to pious faith."

Chester understood.

This unknown god intended to make him an emissary.

In the dragon's shadow, Chester knelt, gazing up at the dragon, and said softly, "I am willing to be your shepherd, to follow your will."

"But why did you choose a worthless person like me?"

Garon smiled faintly, releasing some dragon aura. To Chester, the dragon seemed infinitely majestic, like a towering mountain, like the sun and stars.

"Because you have seen me, and I have mercy and grace for lost lambs."

Garon's goal was faith.

A shepherd needed to be subdued in a way that inspired genuine piety and loyalty, to follow Garon's will, spread his teachings, and devote everything.

Hearing Garon's ethereal voice, Chester felt as if he heard a divine sound, his body trembling.

His head bowed, touching the earth.

Smelling the unique scent of soil and grass, tears flowed from Chester's eyes as he whispered, "I was humble, wandering in the dark forest, seeking death, but having seen the god, I received mercy and grace, and became the god's emissary."

"God, I will bear your light, illuminating those still in darkness, letting them hear your gospel, and feel your glory."

Satisfied, the dragon nodded, retracting the mind-affecting aura.

Dragon aura, a true dragon's essential ability from birth to death, had various effects.

It could kill en masse, convey will, and subdue followers.

Garon didn't need exceptional talent or great power from Chester, just his piety and loyalty. After some subtle influence, Chester was nearly qualified.

"Chester, my shepherd, receive my blessing."

The dragon extended a claw, touching Chester's forehead with a sharp talon.

A light blossomed.

Instantly, countless knowledge flooded Chester's mind.

Various spells, understanding of all things, the power of time... Chester's level rose, stopping at the threshold of legendary.

Raising a legendary apostle was easy for Garon now.

Chester's dazed eyes cleared gradually.

"Thank you for your great power, my lord."

"I will spread your light, your gospel, guiding lost lambs."

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