Chapter 17

Other Children of the Ancient Gods are returning to Natural Phenomena, and Erebus has fled as well.

I gazed upon the other Dragons in such a situation.

Dragons that had transformed from Dinosaurs by receiving Scales. The offspring born from those Dragons coupling thrived and were born as Dragons.

There were so many Dragons that they covered this land.

The vast majority of those Dragons were kneeling before me.

“Do you know of your mistakes?”

I spoke in a low Voice.

But no Answer returned.

Even with thousands of Mouths, no Answer would come.

If they truly understand their errors, they should cease them—why do they keep repeating the same mistakes?

Is it because they are Creatures? If only they could shed the shell of life and abandon the seven emotions and six desires, would they find satisfaction?

But then, could they still be considered alive?

I looked at the Dragons with sorrowful Eyes.

“What shall I do with you? How can I accept your wrongdoings? I truly do not know. What is it you desire so much that you rot my Heart like this?”

I don’t even understand myself—how could I understand Others?

As I looked down on the Dragons, one Dragon lifted its Head from the front.

It was the old Blue Dragon who first received Tethys’ Scales.

“I apologize, Creator Dragon God.”

“I didn’t ask for an apology. Why have you waged war desiring such things?”

Killing them all would not be difficult.

But I didn’t want to.

They are the children of my children’s creations. The descendants of those children.

I did not wish to take their All Life.

“We… wish to become Perfect Existences.”

“Perfect Existences?”

Suddenly, the Blue Dragon spouts an absurd statement.

“What defines a Perfect Existence? Are you not already complete as you are?”

“Regrettably… we are not.”

“Ho…”

Their Divine Bodies? Capable of flying freely, robust, wielding Magic effortlessly, breathing powerful Breath—these bodies are imperfect?

“Why do you call yourselves incomplete?”

“The Creator Dragon God granted us some level of perfection through Magic, but our physical forms remain shackles preventing true completeness. Our Parents promised that victory in war would grant us this Wish.”

“Shackles? Your Bodies?”

The Blue Dragon quietly bowed its Head.

“How can one who feels hunger with time, succumbs to sleep, and seeks mates for Descendants ever be called perfect? Perfection must mean a state where one needs Absolutely Nothing, correct?”

To need nothing, to exist solely alone—is that what you call perfection?

“All we desire is to be as the Creator Dragon God is.”

“Do you truly believe that to be perfection?”

How foolish can you be?

To claim that the instincts of life are imperfections…

“If you were to give up these things, do you know what will happen?”

“We believe we will become wholly independent, solitary beings.”

I turned my gaze from the Blue Dragon and looked around while speaking.

“Do you all think the same?”

Surprisingly, a significant number of Dragons agreed with the old Blue Dragon.

Truly, they believed this—that existing without sustenance, without sleep, without Descendants is perfection.

In the perfection they speak of, I sense déjà vu.

If that is perfection, then I, and my seven Children, are also perfect, aren’t we?

Ah… Is that it? These Children have seen their Parents.

They wished to become like their Parents.

They wanted to transcend being mere Creatures.

I gave a small nod.

This was the hope of these Children.

“If that is the case, what do you wish to become?”

“Just as the Creator Dragon God transformed us into Dragons, we wish to be transformed into even more perfect beings.”

By “transformed,” do you mean when I adjusted the ratio allowing Dragons to exist through Magical Power?

Currently, 80% of Dragons consist of Natural Phenomena.

Are you asking to adjust that ratio to 100% Natural Phenomena?

Do you understand what that entails?

You’re willing to forsake being a Creature?

I felt immense Sadness.

“Do all of you share this thought?”

A considerable number of Dragons nodded.

“Are there any who do not wish this? Raise your Hands.”

Some Dragons raised their Hands.

No, some are being reprimanded by nearby Dragons and lowering their Hands.

So sorrowful, so very sorrowful.

“I understand. If this is your Wish…”

I said without showing my Sadness.

“Those who do not wish this, come to my back. There. Do not oppress others. This choice must be made by the Self alone. Do not be swayed by Others’ wills.”

Thus, a few Dragons approached behind me.

Young Dragons. Newly hatched Hatchlings barely out of infancy.

“You alone remain.”

I said with sorrowful Eyes.

“Why are you so sad?”

“How could I not be?”

The perfection these Children speak of—it’s entirely different from what they imagine.

How could it not be sorrowful to watch them make foolish choices without knowing?

And they wouldn’t listen to my words anyway.

Had they listened to me, this War might never have happened.

“Then, let’s begin.”

After sending the young Dragons behind me, I cast Magic on the bowing Dragons.

I altered the ratio of Natural Phenomena and Creature within them, raising the 80% Natural Phenomena to 100%.

The bodies of the Dragons lying on the ground began to writhe.

“Graaaah…!”

“Khuff! Kuuuuhh…!”

“Cough! St-stop…!”

The Dragons cry out in Agony.

But what can be done?

Tearing away the entangled Soul and Spirit embedded in flesh—wouldn’t it cause pain?

That is the Price of resurrection from the Body.

The Dragons claw at the Ground with their Claws. Their pristine Scales are now dirtied with dust.

Still, the Magic does not stop.

When their Hearts stopped, when their flowing Blood halted, when their Bodies ceased—only then did the Dragons leave their Bodies, becoming entities of Natural Phenomena and Spirit.

[Is…this perfection?]

[What is this omnipotence? It feels like I could do anything right now…]

The Dragons, freed from their Bodies, momentarily get drunk on their newfound power.

Perhaps the sensation of shedding a heavy, cumbersome Body?

Yet, how do they not realize that it was their armor protecting their Souls and Spirits?

The change began subtly.

[Hmm?]

The Bodies of the Dragons transformed into various Natural Phenomena gradually lose their Form.

[Ch- Creator Dragon God! Something is wrong!]

[M-my body is dispersing…!]

All I could say was with a sorrowful Voice:

“You didn’t know how fragile a Spirit and Soul are without the armor of Flesh.”

The Body, Spirit, and Soul are inseparable bonds.

Forcing them apart—what could result?

[Ch- Creator Dragon God!!!! Help us!!!!]

[I-I didn’t wish for this!!!!]

[No… No!!!! I don’t want to die!!!]

“You’re not dying.”

I said with a voice drenched in Sadness.

“You are transforming into a form your Souls can bear.”

Though they gained strength from my Children’s Scales, it was based on their original Dinosaur Bodies.

Without such robust Bodies, maintaining that power would be impossible.

The spirit-forms of Dragons transformed into Natural Phenomena began shrinking to an appropriate Size.

With time, as all their Power drained, the Dragons of pure Natural Energy became small beings.

Their appearance resembles their Parents… almost like Elementals.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

The Goddess of Life said to the Foolish Ones:

“Truly, do you believe casting off your lives will make you perfect?”

The Foolish One replied:

“Indeed, once free from the prison of flesh, we will become whole beings.”

“Do you truly believe this?”

“Without a trace of Lie, I believe this.”

The Goddess of Life, saddened, took the Foolish One’s Hand and asked again:

“Is this flesh, this life, not the armor that protects you, rather than a prison? Why do you reject it?”

“How could armor stir meaningless Desires? Once free from this prison of flesh, won’t we escape all trivial Desires and become perfect beings?”

Realizing the Foolish One’s resolve was firm, the Goddess of Life understood their Will could not be swayed.

“Does everyone feel this way?”

There was no Answer.

“Truly, does everyone feel this way?”

Again, there was no Answer.

“For the last time, I ask: Is everyone in agreement?”

Then twelve among the Foolish Ones raised their Hands. The Goddess of Life gathered them.

And the Goddess of Life proclaimed:

“You, come behind me. Watch what results from their folly.”

And the Goddess of Life, shedding Tears over the Foolish Ones, took their Lives from their Bodies.

– An excerpt from the Scriptures of the Church of Life.