Chapter 405: Current Position, Revisiting the Doorway

The white dragon, wings beating, set Wang Yu down by the lake at the heart of Dragon Island before shifting his colossal form into the likeness of a man.

"Lord Wang Yu, might I have a word with you?"

The request halted Wang Yu as he turned toward his temporary quarters; he nodded in casual agreement.

He had intended to discuss the dragons' future plans with them anyway, having originally thought to learn through Arelian and Noelle, but if this silver-haired youth wished to speak, that was fine as well.

"My thanks. I am the patriarch of the White Dragon clan; you may call me Mystrix. As it stands, I am likely the only patriarch remaining on Dragon Island. Shall we find a place to sit?"

The dragon’s demeanor was exceedingly courteous. Dragons were known for an arrogance etched into their very bones—a fact Wang Yu had encountered in many texts—but that was long ago. This race, having suffered such catastrophe, likely lacked the luxury to maintain such pride.

"No need. Here is fine, if secrecy isn't required."

Wang Yu waved a hand dismissively and sat cross-legged on the ground. The area had been churned up by the recent conflict; there were no "proper" places to sit, so a patch of relatively flat earth would suffice.

One thing had occupied Wang Yu’s mind for some time. He glanced at the handsome man—shoulders draped in white hair, features refined, bearing distinguished. Why did these powerful non-human entities possess the ability to assume humanoid forms? And why were individuals like Sieg, Noelle, and Arelian so strikingly beautiful?

Most non-human intelligent species, save for a rare few magical beasts, were inseparable from the "humanoid" archetype. Though they differed in many ways, digging deeper suggested they were all variations on a human template. Could it be that they shared a common ancestor, with these differences emerging only later?

Mystrix, naturally, could not fathom the thoughts of the man sitting on the ground. He smiled and sat down opposite him.

"Allow me to express my gratitude once more. This is not merely my own sentiment, but that of all the dragons. Had you not intervened, even the remnants of our kind would not exist today."

Mystrix spoke with earnest gravity, unconcerned with whether the dragons laboring nearby might overhear. He was exceptionally candid.

"I merely provided healing to the wounded. There is no need to heap so much credit upon me; Arelian and Noelle contributed far more than I."

Wang Yu’s response was simple, unchanged from his previous stance.

Mystrix paused, sighed, a touch of helplessness coloring his smile, and continued.

"Lord Wang Yu, do you know what that figure meant to us?"

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow. The remark was intriguing; it seemed the dragon race had indeed recognized that he had piloted the Dragon King’s husk.

"We have etched into our hearts all those who contributed to the liberation, including your great friend. We simply choose not to deify them, and thus, we do not speak of it in whispers."

There was no resentment in his words regarding Wang Yu’s use of their King’s remains; he spoke with sincerity. The "friend" he referred to was clear: Sieg.

Wang Yu said nothing, merely nodding. He agreed with that sentiment; he had never understood the reasons behind the emergence of those chaotic deities.

If the dragons were to turn Sieg—the one who ended Melos—into some sort of "Sieg-god" through oral tradition, he would only find it repulsive.

"Therefore, you need not deny your contribution. Though it may be shameless, our dragon race has little else to offer."

"I come not to offer payment, but because I learned of your identity from Arelian and wish to make a request."

Mystrix seemed to grasp Wang Yu’s style of conduct, labeling himself "shameless" before getting straight to the point.

"Go ahead."

Curious about what these dragons might ask of him, a member of another race, Wang Yu was not about to refuse outright.

"You are a god’s chosen, and a bishop of that church. I wish, on behalf of the dragon race, to request your permission for us to join the church you lead."

"Join the Nightfall Church?"

Wang Yu chewed on the request. On the surface, it was merely a desire for the surviving dragons to join the organization.

In reality, however, it was an expression of their intent to bind the fate of the dragons to the Nightfall Church—or rather, to him personally. And he would be the one at the helm.

What merit did he possess that would lead the dragon race to entrust their future to him? He could see that Mystrix had placed his hopes in him, but why?

"...No problem. There is no need to ask me for permission. To join the Nightfall Church, one need only believe in the Lady of the Night. If you require the Nightfall Scripture, I can provide a batch."

He had no reason to refuse. It would bolster the Nightfall Church and, at the very least, secure a group of dragon allies. Wang Yu agreed naturally.

"My thanks, Lord. With the help of the Nightfall Church, the dragon race’s path through these difficult times will surely be easier. I look forward to your guidance, Mr. Wang Yu."

Mystrix spoke with a sincere smile; he was genuinely pleased to join the church.

Wang Yu felt a bit strange. Though he was the "boss" of the Nightfall Church—an organization of modest size—he had always been a hands-off leader. He rarely managed affairs, only stepping in when a problem arose that he alone could solve. He lacked any real sense of being a "leader."

Now, the White Dragon patriarch’s repeated use of "Lord Wang Yu" and his explicit acknowledgment of Wang Yu’s status as an Archbishop solidified his position: he was the head of an established organization. Even if he had always acted alone, his influence was now undeniable.

"Very well. I look forward to the dragon race joining us. The Nightfall Church will provide whatever assistance it can. I hope to see Dragon Island rebuilt soon."

He shook hands with Mystrix, and confirming there was nothing more to discuss, Wang Yu turned and left. He still had important matters to attend to.

As he walked, rubbing his chin, he began to ponder something he had never faced squarely: how much authority did he actually wield within the Nightfall Church, an organization that was far from monolithic?

Perhaps he could have the church provide some support to the dragons on the island. He didn't know if it would work, but he would try.

Behind him, Mystrix watched Wang Yu’s retreating figure, his eyes filled with an emotion approaching "admiration," yet something more.

"A truly marvelous existence. I believe my choice will bring about some positive change. A friend of Mr. Sieg, one recognized by our King, the 'best friend' mentioned by that silver dragon... so many identities gathered in one person is rare indeed."

Why did Mystrix choose to entrust the future of the dragons to this outsider?

Partly, it stemmed from the power Wang Yu had wielded when he unleashed the sea-cleaving strike using the last of Wendel Mix’s strength.

Though most dragons did not speak of it, they knew who had piloted the Dragon King’s husk, and who had created the wall of lightning that shielded the island from the world’s strife.

On the other hand, Mystrix saw in the Nightfall Church a shadow of their King. The only difference was that the Dragon King was not a true "god," while the Lady of the Night surely was.

The same lack of demands, the same selfless love—the relationship between the god and the believers in the Nightfall Church mirrored that of the Dragon King and his subjects.

As a being of vast experience and intellect, Mystrix—not knowing that the Lady of the Night was a deity one could actually converse with—naturally attributed the unique nature of the church to its Archbishop after reading the *Nightfall Scripture*.

"The dragons have been out of touch with this era for centuries. We need help to keep pace, and there are few we can trust. If you can lead such a church, you are exactly the ally we require."

Mystrix mused to himself, his gaze lingering on Wang Yu’s back. This was the dragons' dilemma: their individual strength was immense, but that was all. Centuries of soul-binding had left a gaping chasm in their knowledge.

This battle had exposed the fatal flaw of relying solely on bloodline. As patriarch, Mystrix understood the path forward better than the others.

A powerful body brought not only advantages but also the covetous eyes of others. The dragons, hidden for centuries, would eventually encounter the powers of the continent. They needed a bridge. Wang Yu, as the "leader" of the Nightfall Church, was the perfect candidate.

"Please forgive my selfishness in choosing you as an ally."

Bowing, Mystrix offered a salute to the departing Wang Yu.

...

"What are you thinking about?"

Avia patted Wang Yu’s face, asking.

"Sigh. I’m thinking about how to tell Shael that the Chronos Hourglass is gone."

Wang Yu sighed. He had been pondering this ever since he started walking toward the girl. He had borrowed the strategic relic from Shael, only for it to vanish along with the Professor’s sacrifice.

"It is fine; although Charles will likely shriek and demand compensation, he is, in truth, entirely capable of understanding."

Opening a rift in space and casting it over Wang Yu’s head, Evia replied as she ushered him into the pocket dimension of the Seed of Eden.

"I understand that much, but the primary function of the Chronos Hourglass is to shield Charles from peril in his capacity as the leader of the Night’s Edge; he is, after all, a mage, and viewed in that light..."

Dragging a stool beneath him to wait for the girl to make her preparations, Wang Yu’s tone grew increasingly perilous as he spoke; it seemed the time had finally come to settle certain long-standing accounts.

"By the way, what weight do you think I carry within the Church of the Night now?"

Struck by a sudden thought, Wang Yu turned the question to Evia, whose intuition he considered far sharper than his own.

"Far more than you imagine, I fear; you need only know that, more often than not, your decisions—provided they are not too outlandish—are already taken as the official decrees of the Church of the Night."

A mischievous glint flickered across the girl’s face as she tapped a finger twice against Wang Yu’s forehead.

"Oh, I see."

Wang Yu nodded, half-comprehending, as various schemes began to take root in his mind.

"Shall we begin then?"

"Yes."

Nodding, he closed his eyes, and Wang Yu’s consciousness sank into the depths of his own mind; this was no void, but his own mental sanctum, where a door now manifested, its transformation further advanced, and this time, with Evia’s collaboration, he intended to delve into its secrets.