"Have I run out of luck? How could I be this unlucky?"
Staring into the distant void where an immense and boundless aura of life force emanated, Muria sighed lightly. Encountering another epic-level being capable of freely traversing the void was an exceptionally rare occurrence. Wandering the void for centuries without meeting a single such existence was common.
Of course, this referred to aimless wandering. Charging recklessly into an ancient and well-established world would almost certainly lead to encounters with powerful beings—and possibly one's own demise.
"This kind of energy... it's no surprise it would attract another epic-level being. Let's just hope it's not a chaos god."
Muria glanced at the merging worlds behind him. He had considered setting up a formation to mask the laws' resonance emitted by the worlds' collision.
But the cost of such a formation would have been astronomical—possibly outweighing any benefits he could gain from the event.
So, Muria had simply dispatched a division of himself alongside the largely overlooked ghost fleet. While it might sound unflattering, the ghost fleet was essentially a tool of convenience for Muria—something he wouldn't mourn even if it were entirely wiped out.
Even in the worst-case scenario, where the ghost fleet was obliterated and his division destroyed, the loss would be minimal. The division could be restored over time, and its core artifact, the Terminus Staff, was indestructible.
Besides, it was highly unlikely that such a catastrophic outcome would occur. With a near-divine division of Muria present, the complete annihilation of the fleet was practically impossible.
A deep, resonant sound reverberated across the void, carrying a soothing, calming effect. The epic-level entity drawn by the merging worlds' resonance had sensed Muria's aura and expressed its peaceful intentions.
But rather than easing Muria's tension, the blood-like aura radiating from him only grew denser and more intense.
Sensing this reaction, the approaching entity did not retreat. Instead, it pressed on. Moisture saturated the void as cerulean light bathed the surroundings.
An immense, serene presence emerged—a whale-like void beast with a dark blue body adorned with ancient and intricate glowing runes. A sharp, spiral horn jutted from its broad forehead, surrounded by clusters of luminous blue crystals that resembled a crown.
The creature exuded an aura of vast, boundless power, tinged with gentleness and tranquility. Muria had no doubt this being could summon entire oceans within the void with a mere thought.
As the two faced each other, Muria's rising battle fervor abated slightly. There were no signs of the malevolent curses associated with chaos gods on this being. This wasn't a destructive entity, and negotiations were possible.
Still, caution remained paramount. Behind Muria, the colliding worlds promised resources capable of enhancing even epic-level beings—more than enough to ignite conflict between titans.
"Amazing," the colossal whale said, its mental waves carrying a tone of awe as it gazed at the merging worlds behind Muria. "The fusion of a spirit world from another dimension and a material plane—truly a miracle of the void!"
Its attention shifted to Muria, and its tone turned cordial. "Mighty god of a foreign domain, I mean no harm and wish for no conflict. Since you discovered these worlds before me, most of their spoils rightfully belong to you. I only ask for a small share."
This seemingly amicable proposition immediately made Muria's expression darken. His brows furrowed, and the divine weapons surrounding him began to hum, their edges gleaming with enough power to rend the void.
Who was Muria? A scion of titans and dragons, a being whose very blood carried the greed and dominance of dragonkind.
Now, this stranger had the audacity to suggest splitting the spoils of a miraculous phenomenon he had discovered first?
Ridiculous! Did this whale think Muria was here for charity?
Anything capable of enhancing his strength was non-negotiable. As a dragon king, Muria's instinctive greed and pride left no room for compromise in matters of power.
"If you don't wish to oppose me, then leave," Muria declared bluntly, making his intentions clear.
His tone left no room for doubt. A dragon might share its treasures with loyal followers, but anything that could directly enhance its strength was sacred and untouchable.
"Leave?" The whale's serene mental waves rippled with surprise at Muria's overt declaration of dominance.
To the whale, Muria's stance was unexpectedly aggressive. Among epic-level beings, disputes over resources were usually approached with caution and diplomacy. After all, immortals had infinite time and little need for reckless bloodshed over something that could be obtained elsewhere.
This reasoning was precisely why the whale had made such a modest request. It assumed its willingness to accept a small share would avoid unnecessary conflict.
But Muria's response made it reconsider. Did this newcomer mistake its peaceful approach for weakness?
"This is not your homeworld," the whale finally said, its tone still calm but tinged with firmness. "I sense no connection between your essence and these worlds. Claiming everything for yourself is excessive greed."
"First come, first served," Muria replied coldly. "I was here first, so everything here is mine."
The whale's astonishment deepened. Muria's blatant greed was unusual even among the most avaricious of epic beings.
"Then it seems conflict is the only way," the whale said, its cerulean light dimming slightly as if preparing for battle.
"Correct," Muria replied, his voice brimming with eager anticipation. His golden pupils gleamed with sparks of lightning as his divine weapons resonated with his rising power.
The tension grew palpable, but the whale suddenly withdrew its combative intent. "In that case, forget it," it said, shaking its enormous head. "However, if you want me to leave, you must offer something in return."
"What price?" Muria asked, his hand tightening around his halberd.
"Have a child with me," the whale replied, its calm demeanor unfazed by the absurdity of its request.
Time seemed to freeze around Muria as he processed the statement. For a moment, it felt as though reality itself had paused in shock.
"...What?" Muria finally managed, his voice carrying genuine disbelief.
"Don't be so surprised," the whale replied. "I wish to merge your bloodline with mine to create a stronger lineage. This is mutually beneficial and costs you nothing."
Muria blinked, stunned by the sheer audacity of the proposition. This was entirely outside his expectations—and his comfort zone.
"...You're serious?" he asked, still uncertain whether he had misunderstood.
"Of course," the whale affirmed, as if its request was the most natural thing in the universe. "A union of our bloodlines would produce offspring of unparalleled potential. Surely you see the value in this."
Muria closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if bracing himself for what came next. This was going to be a very, very long day.
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