Chapter 500: Ysera

Was it a shout?

A roar?

A howl at the end of the road?

Or a cry from the depths of despair?

Duke couldn't tell!

And he didn't want to tell!

He needed to vent! He wanted to rewrite everything!

21% deviation, is that enough?

If not, I'll help you push it to 100%, 200%... 1000%!

Today, I'll turn Neltharion into a bald fool; tomorrow, I'll turn him into a cheerful sprite!

Bah!

I don't believe it!

Is power truly everything?

Is fate truly unshakable?

No!

Never!

Everyone has the right to dream!

I have given so much!

I have changed this world so much!

Why am I not entitled to break fate and turn dreams into reality?

In a realm unseen by Duke, centered around his soul, a strange ripple spread. The calm spiritual world began to stir up a storm, causing towering waves and igniting every dream.

Numerous images rushed at him, but they were not his dreams... They were the dreams of others. In an instant, Duke saw humans, elves, dwarves, and even orcs and goblins, along with their desires and pleas. He endured the pain their nightmares brought, tasting their sweet feelings.

If Duke's previous memories could create dreams of a mere 10TB in capacity, the dreams now stirring were countless billions, countless trillions.

Though there were countless dreams, Duke's dream of destiny managed to stand out amongst them all, struggling forward, leaving all other dreams behind.

"AAAAH!"

A cry that transcended the mortal realm!

"AAAAAAH!!"

A shout that shook the world of dreams!

"AAAAAAAAAAH!"

A roar that shook the river of fate—

Every time the voice seemed to reach its peak, as if it could rise no higher, a higher peak would appear, for it to surpass, to trample underfoot, as evidence of overcoming.

Countless dreams began to resonate with Duke's, sending out a sound that could spread to the entire dream world.

Suddenly, Duke felt himself being pulled up, pulled to a place filled with light and color.

Almost at the same moment, his heavy, oppressive breathing eased, and his frozen thoughts began to flow.

Without opening his eyes, he felt immersed in a verdant world, filled with a dreamy sensation.

In that flowing green space, another illusion appeared. Unlike the other mixed images surrounding him, it maintained a shape and began to grow, utterly dwarfing his small figure in a mage's robe.

Yes!

Compared to the being before him, Duke was nothing.

An elegant dragon appeared, both tangible and illusory. She spread her wings as if just waking up. Her body was clothed in the pale green of a twilight forest. Duke looked up, expecting to meet her eyes, but found them closed in slumber. However, he did not doubt that the Lady of Dreams could fully sense his presence.

The green dragon's mouth curved slightly, forming an incredibly gentle arc for a dragon.

"To see me, you would actually drink the Potion of Death's Dream? You wish to sacrifice yourself to change fate? Fate is not as easily altered as you think! Besides, I won't let you make that sacrifice, Duke Marcus. From the day you arrived in this world, entered my realm, you have been the dreamer who interests me most."

The most charming dreamer...

As a guardian of the Emerald Dream for untold years, the legendary dragon, what kind of dreams hadn't Ysera seen?

Monotonous dreams, shallow dreams, they bored Ysera.

If not seeking excitement, at least something fresh would be nice.

Duke's dreams occasionally entered Ysera's view.

That was merely attention, far from prompting her appearance.

Today was different. The intense dreams that could change millions of lives deeply attracted her, leading to her appearance.

Seeing Ysera's arrival, Duke instinctively tried to stand firm on the ground, or rather, find a foothold. But from the beginning, the ground around Duke was not real.

It felt like stepping on unformed rice cake, unable to exert force, easily deformed.

But Duke was no naïve country bumpkin. He almost subconsciously thought of astronauts.

This was the Emerald Dream, a place made of 'dreams.'

If that was the case...

Duke dreamed, or rather imagined, in front of Ysera. She watched him with interest, not stopping his actions.

Soon Ysera was surprised. She saw the almost formless dream, which she referred to as the primal dream, solidify under Duke's powerful mental intent, forming something that seemed like wind but had already become a solid chair.

Duke sat down, adjusting himself to be at eye level with her massive dragon head, facing her at a distance of less than ten meters.

Duke apologized simply, "I'm sorry, I did not mean to intrude on your realm, but the inability to find footing makes me uneasy."

"It's alright, Duke."

"Thank you, Ysera..."

"What brings you here so suddenly today?" The expression on the green dragon's face must have been a smile.

Duke sighed, not having time to go in circles with Ysera. In the Emerald Dream, where 'dreams' were elusive, and Ysera, the master and guardian of this world, inherited almost identical traits.

Going in circles with her, she could chat for a hundred years without repetition.

"You are so graceful, so polite, even to a mere mortal like me, without showing the airs of the Dragon Aspects. Why pretend not to see everything? Why, when Krasus, or rather, Korialstrasz, sought you out, did you repeatedly reject the pleas of a great red dragon?"

"Korialstrasz, eh! Duke, it seems you know much," Ysera neither confirmed nor denied.

"Knowledge and history are found in books." Duke pointed to his head, "Alright, can you answer my question?"

Ysera's massive form seemed to drift backward.

The vision of the green dragon became hazy, her body showing some illusory ripples, as if she and Duke were separated by water. When a droplet fell into a tranquil pond, the ripples hindered their view of each other.

Her eyes were closed, yet her face never left this intruder of the dream.