Dragon Tribulation of All Realms

Chapter 240: Waiting, and Holding onto Hope
Wu Chen opened his eyes and found himself back in that familiar airplane cabin. Outside the window, monotonous clouds drifted by, and a sense of indescribable weakness and weariness flowed through his body and mind.

He didn't want to do anything, didn't want to move anything. He lay quietly in his seat, not even wanting to 'think'.

sleepy……

so tired...

I really want to rest...

He remembered successfully launching the Second Dragonbreak, successfully meeting Milmenir of the Second Age, and gaining her trust. He remembered Milmenir entrusting him with everything as a dragon, leaving only the human form known as 'Mil,' and secretly leaving Windhelm before the battle for Ramaya began. Thus, in the end, it was he, in disguise as Milmenir, who completed the conquest of Ramaya.

Dragon Break is complete; he now possesses the body and power of a dragon.

He saw Hera Morley's ritual successfully complete, and then... a sea of ​​eerie green tentacled eyes descended from the sky.

and so……

—Was it successful? Did the ritual work?

—Hera…where is she? Is she still alive? Or did she also…?

--also……?
He realized something.

He became aware of the weakness and weariness that permeated his entire being. The shadow of death had gripped him lightly yet tightly, like a sweet, gentle dream dragging him down.

So sleepy... I really want to... take a nap...

More drowsiness washed over me, and my eyes, which had been open, trembled as they tried to close. Everything before my eyes became blurry, and my thoughts gradually became viscous like syrup.

I need to... take a nap...

But... before that... senior...

His eyes, which were usually reluctant to move, shifted almost imperceptibly.

He still wanted to see if Hera was still alive and well before he fell asleep.

He saw nothing.

His thoughts and ideas suddenly stopped.

You have done something truly wrong, a very, very wrong thing.

A voice, a form.

Wu Chen's mind suddenly cleared, and the outline of his 'friend' silently appeared beside his seat.

“I—” he took a deep breath.

He turned his head and looked around. Apart from the 'friend' beside him, he did not see a third additional body.

"—Am I dead?"

It seems you're somewhat aware of your situation. Yes, you're dead.

Wu Chen subconsciously raised his hand and looked at his palm. His five fingers were closed, but he did not sense any power.

His strength, stamina, and magic were all completely depleted. He tried to summon his artifact, but to no avail.

"...Where's my senior?"

"That woman? She's dead too." My friend leaned back lazily in his seat and replied. "Her soul disintegrated, her body and spirit annihilated. Just like you are now."

Wu Chen opened his mouth.

He wanted to say something, but in the end, all he could say was a question.

"Why?" He recalled the last glimmer of dark green light in his memory. "Our plan... ultimately failed?"

The friend didn't answer directly, but Wu Chen could almost see the cold smile on its lips.

[I remember telling you before that you must wait one day before you can travel through time. The reason for this isn't because anything is restricting you, but because your soul needs at least a day to recover after each journey; otherwise, you won't be able to withstand it at all.]

"...So, our plan succeeded?" Wu Chen noticed the key point and felt a sense of relief. A subtle sense of accomplishment welled up inside him. "My senior and I... really traveled through worlds?"

A question mark might appear above a friend's head, ready to burst out. But ultimately, it provided an answer.

[Yes, you succeeded. A jumbled mess of theories, a haphazardly cobbled-together ritual, a hastily executed execution—but you succeeded. Before Hermes Mora could capture you, you successfully broke free of the Orbis system. Those in the dream no longer depend on the dream for their existence; and according to the concept you're more familiar with, they have become an everlasting flower.]

The Unfading Flower—in the Elder Scrolls universe, this term is synonymous with transcendence. But…

"But we did not survive..."

"Yes, you didn't," your friend replied. "Your soul couldn't withstand two consecutive transmigrations, so it disintegrated. While her soul was certainly stronger than yours, she didn't have any 'fortuitous encounters,' so even on her first transmigration, she couldn't bear the cost of leaving her original world."

The fish starved to death on the shore because it tried to leap across the ocean.

Wu Chen was able to travel through time because he was carrying a cell phone, not because his soul was particularly resilient or powerful.

However, since even his soul no longer exists, then now... he gently pinched himself.

He didn't feel anything.

"Who am I now...?"

[Phantom, Debris, Record Copy—choose one—your soul has been destroyed. Your current thinking is merely a result of the machine's immense power. But even so, you will soon pay the price. Having lost your soul, you must prove you are worthy of possessing the machine's power once more.]

Are you leaving me?

If you fail.

"So, I still have a chance?"

My friend seemed to sigh silently.

[When a person dies, they become a ghost; when a ghost dies, it becomes a spirit. Your current state is one of complete annihilation, both body and soul, but you do indeed have a chance to continue.]

The plane suddenly shook, and a cracking, roaring sound came from deep inside the cabin.

"...What should I do?"

"This is a question you need to think about yourself," the friend replied, without changing his tone.

If I had to give you advice, I think you should first consider how to survive. You no longer have a soul, nor a body. Therefore, you must find a new anchor to maintain your intellect. Even after that, all your abilities, whether based on the body or the soul, will still be unable to function.

You will also lose access to dreams, and the items you purchased will no longer respond to your voice. They will fall from the dream world, landing in who-knows-where corners of the globe. Of course, if you're lucky, something valuable might be nearby.

"……Thanks."

Why thank me? I didn't do anything.

Will we ever have the chance to meet again?

[If you pass the trial and complete the proof, this machine will naturally appear in your hands. But if you fail... this machine can only guarantee that no one will be able to use it until you are completely dead.]

He understood, he understood completely.

He wanted to say something more, but his friend waved his hand and uttered his last words.

[Finally, some good news: With death comes debt. You can no longer be the Dragon Priest Dastel. Therefore, your repayment deadline is temporarily suspended. And...]

It stood up, but its voice flowed into Wu Chen's ears.

Wait, and hold onto hope.

A new beginning, and perhaps good things will happen to you.

That's all for this.

The feeling of weightlessness in the plane suddenly reached its peak at that moment. And in the next instant—

‘Boom—! ’

Born with a cry.

(End of this chapter)