I looked at her from my throne, resting my face in my fingers. She bowed deeply.
"Yuki Chibana. I control the Rebellion Legion. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Black Dragon Emperor."
I regarded her in silence for a moment before speaking.
"Would you accept me turning you, Yuki—becoming one of us? Whatever form you take would reflect who you truly are."
I paused, watching her closely.
"And would you truly be willing to marry me? I already have six wives. If it comes to it, would you accept becoming one of them?"
"I already went through the Eternal Super Soldier Programme, pushing my body to its full potential as a human. I am willing to accept your gift as well—it is what I truly desire.
My family also wishes for me to marry you. I understand my duties, and it would be a blessing to do so, Black Dragon Emperor. I have served the Eternal Empire for as long as I can remember, ever since I was a child—rising to become a general, a commander of one of its legions."
"Your family said the marriage should happen as soon as possible. We'll get it over and done with—we'll make it quick. You're not the type to care about an extravagant wedding, so we'll just marry now."
I summoned Nara. He came forward and handed her a marriage contract. She took it and signed without a second glance.
I met her gaze—ice-steel blue eyes, cold and unflinching. She was looking at me, but not really toward me; it was simply her natural expression.
"Nara, give her a room to stay in. This is her home now. Make sure she has whatever she needs to feel welcome and satisfied."
I looked back at Yuki.
"You may ask for whatever you wish—from me or from him. I am your husband now, and you are my wife. I should be able to give you what you desire, just as you will do the same for me. Don't you agree?"
She said nothing, only nodded.
"Then how about we go outside to the gardens?" I continued. "It's a warm day. I'd like to spend some time with you."
I teleported near her and offered my hand. She glanced at it for a moment before taking it.
Together, we teleported to the gardens. They stretched endlessly in every direction, land I owned as far as the eye could see.
"Might I ask you, Black Dragon Emperor, what made you want to conquer all of Earth?"
We were sitting on a boat that moved with my intent, surrounded by countless flowers—different kinds, all created by Ena herself. I picked one and spoke.
"I just felt like I could. I didn't care about what people thought or whether they agreed with my decision. I created Earth—the place humans live—because I willed it. I created everything that exists, including God themself. Does that answer your question sufficiently?"
"I suppose, Black Dragon Emperor," she replied.
"Does fate exist?" she asked me.
"In some ways, yes—and in others, no. For example, if someone says something happened because of fate… did it really, or is it just an excuse to make yourself feel better, to avoid taking accountability for your actions? To me, fate does not exist. To others, it might—but you and I both know the real answer, don't we, Yuki Chibana? Do you believe in fate, or does it not exist to you either?"
"I… I don't know," she admitted.
"It doesn't really matter either way. Well, I suppose it either does or it doesn't. Humans always question everything—it's better to just accept it, or not. Either way… it doesn't matter. By my way of thinking, most would probably see it as completely wrong."
"Here—take this flower, Yuki, and eat it. It will grant you true immortality. You will never die from this moment onward.
Once you accept it, you won't be able to change your mind… unless you ask me to take that eternal life from you. So you need to think carefully before you decide."
"I meant every word I said, Black Dragon Emperor."
She took the flower from my hand and ate it in a single bite. As she swallowed, the lake instantly froze over, and snow began to fall. Even the sun seemed to freeze in the sky.
She looked at me, and within her eyes, delicate snowflakes seemed to shimmer. Part of her hair had also turned a brighter, snow-white streak, slightly thicker than before, as if reflecting the power now coursing through her.
Her hair had turned completely snow-white. From the boat, she gazed at her reflection in the frozen lake. Tentatively, she touched her hair—it felt icy at first. Gradually, the cold faded, and she no longer sensed it; instead, it felt warm, like normal hair.
She looked back at me, her eyes meeting mine beneath the Black Dragon helm.
Slowly, I unleashed my spiritual pressure. Pitch-black, dark flames flowed from me, melting all the ice and snow around us.
"Looks like the shape that reflected you was a Yuki-onna. It's best you take a rest in your room and sleep. I'll take you there."
She took my hand as I escorted her to her room. She didn't speak. Once she entered and closed the door, I walked through the estate to see Aihan Min.
I knocked at her door.
"Come in, Ren."
I entered. She was lying on her bed in bed robes, calmly drinking tea.
I sat beside her.
"How is your room?" I asked.
"It's good, Ren. Comfortable. It will be my home now, since I intend to stay here. I don't need to return to the Void Realm—my father is governing it in my stead." She paused, then looked at me. "So… where is the marriage contract? I waited an eternity for your return. You took your time."
I placed the marriage contract gently on her lap.
She took it without hesitation. Darkness gathered around her fingers as she wrote her name upon the parchment, the shadows responding to her will.
"I will be giving my empire and the power of the Void Realm to you, as you already knew I would," she said calmly. "It is now part of the Eternal Empire. I have already informed my father, and he has decreed it in my stead."
She looked at me with her void-dark eyes.
"You know the others will come here eventually," she said quietly. "Or we will go to them instead. I heard you're planning to go to Mìngjiè Xiānlù—the cultivation realm. From what I know, that was the last place you were before you left and returned to Earth. I kept an eye on you during that time."
"I do. It just depends on what happens—and when we'll be ready for it."
I looked up at the sky, observing the countless worlds and realms above. I saw Beatrix, the Elf Empress, playing her harp. She paused mid-note and looked up.
"Is that you, Ren?"
A man beside her spoke.
"Mother… who are you talking about?"
"I am talking about your father," she replied. "He allowed me to sense his presence.
I looked elsewhere—at the Mìngjiè Xiānlù realm, at the Nether Realm that resided there. The Nether Empress, with her dark green hair and eyes, opened her eyes.
"So, True Immortal," she said softly. I can't wait to see you again, my love. It makes me happy."
I shifted my gaze to another place. The goddess of marriage, Hera, stood beside her husband, Zeus. He was unaware of my presence, but she sensed it. Though she did not show it outwardly, joy glimmered in her eyes. She looked toward one of her secret children, a child she had borne for me behind Zeus's back.
I didn't look at them any longer. I looked away. Aihan Min also looked away from where I had been observing. She continued sipping her tea and spoke calmly.
"I'm guessing those three women were the ones who would have searched for you, just like I did, Ren. To think you slept with Zeus's wife… I read about her in the library here. She's the goddess of marriage. No surprise you could break her free from Zeus's marriage and her title as the goddess of marriage.
"You have a lot of confidence to handle her. From what I've read, she's a jealous woman who would have killed Zeus's bastard children he had behind her back."
I simply replied, "It'll be fine. I can handle it."
"I know that, silly. I was just teasing. Tell me, Ren—you left for your reasons. You told me it was because you were losing your humanity, and the part of you that cared about that didn't want to lose it completely. How fair is that, Ren?"
I answered simply, "It's fine. He is dormant for now, in a deep sleep.
Emperor Shadow sat upon his throne, wreathed in flames and enveloped in darkness, slumbering in a deep, unbroken sleep.