Awakening

Alexander's soul felt like it was being torn apart. If ever he felt that his goal was too far out of reach, that his path was too difficult it was this 200 years. When he set up the Array to absorb the Dragon's essence and form a Dragon Soul he had expected the pain he had underestimated it but expected it nonetheless. What he was not expecting was the loss of self.

When he had killed the dragon he made sure the soul would not fight back, and it didn't, the problem was the sliver of the Heavenly Saint soul. Integrating such a thing was hard, his soul felt like it had been broken and twisted repaired only to be broken again. It was anguish. His heart was would weaken.

The pain wasn't too bad, it was anguish to be sure but he could feel a purpose to it. He could feel a kind of Ascension through it. Although he wanted to stop right away but the transformation was also strengthening his resolve.

That was not the problem.

The problem was the memories of the Dragon. They clouded his own memories. It was a Saint Dragon after all. Over a thousand years in age. It's memories were intoxicating the feeling of Power the feeling of having the secrets Chaos, the command over pure Yang, the soaring over the clouds. The memories flooded into his psyche until he couldn't differentiate himself from the Dragon. Until he didn't even want to. Why would he want to. He had lived a dull life full of pain and death, the life of the dragon was full of majesty and righteousness. It had followed it own Dao. The start of it life started in fear just like any juvenile god beast. It had been hunted, and it felt it's life on the line more than once, but the evil it experienced was impartial. It was the way of Monsters, to feed on others. The Dragon had done the same until it stood at the top. It had taken vast swaths of Land to have more resources for it own growth so the fact that it had been done onto him did not put much drain in its desire to reach for the Heavens. In fact it strengthened it.

The Dragon lived righteously, it stayed in it's territory, it left smaller monsters to their own devices, only occasionally kicking out larger god beasts that could threaten it.

When it ruinited with it's family it had been a warm reunion.

In contrast he had lived a hallow life for 200 of his more than 250 year life.

The only time his life amounted to happiness was in his 30 year youth. His crusades, his brothers in arm and the accolades he sought. When in that time he elevated his mother's standing and brought peace to his family.

That is the only thing he can say holds his sense of self together. The hope of his family. Even though there are non left the memory is most precious, the sorrow most agonizing, the thought of continuation of that his drive.

Going in and out of that state for 100 years was unimaginable. The last 10 years was spent in darkness and when he became conscious in the month before his awakening he was not even sure who he was.

A year before the formation was set to open he was finally fully awake. But he didn't feel like Alexander, he didn't have his murderous aura. He felt new to the world.

'Okay everything went well. My vitality was boosted by a far bit, My totem has elevated quite a bit... let's see, that realm stone was quite useful, now my cultivation will have a head start... Mmmm, the contract sphere has fused nicely with my soul. My soul temple will be quite full.'

Alexander used the remaining energy on his cultivation. He directed the energy to his Soul Altar. His Pagoda shaped soul altar was down to one only level, but now it's dragon aura was denser it was not sparkling as it should but he directed the energy towards it and the sons of the dragon on its 9 sided came to life. Thier roars shook the remaining confusion out of him. The Heavenly water lake was not as deep as it once was but the energy replenished it. The Longevity Lotuses were a bit wilted because of his rebirth but directing the energy to then they where as good as new.

He directed the newly refined energy out of his Soul Altar into his tiny body causing it to grow and increasing his cultivation. Once the process started it went on semi automatically. He knew the energy accumulated in the Domain he had been refining for the past 100 years would not be enough to grow him fully, not to mention restoring his cultivation to what it one was but at the very least it could get him to the Grandmaster level.

This went on for about 11 months before the energy was used up. He then used the formation to draw the Domain into his contract sphere. When his mind went into the contract sphere he was brought face to face with a giant pheonix.

It was red gold with rainbow tail feathers and a beautiful white gold crown.

"So you are finally awake Alexander", the phoenix's voice was just as beautiful the trace of malice was not lost on him.

"Hello Ekyprys, I see you are conscious",Alexander replied.

"Without you suppressing us it was easy, are going to be doing it again" , Ekyprys said with a resigned hate filed voice.

"No, I have bound this whole space(and all of you) to my soul, there'll be no need for that. I came to give you something" , Alexander waved his hand and the Domain into the empty white space.

Mountains and rivers appeared out of nowhere and spiritual Fruits and small animals where brought in. The Spiritual energy within the space was suddenly lively, filled with a natural aura and a sliver of divine essence.

Ekyprys was shocked, her giant eyes filled with delight

" You found a God kingdom core, that's... " she said. Her eyes clouded with a bit of apprehension she turned to him an looked into his eyes questioning him

"I told you we are soul bound, I will do anything and everything I can for you, and besides this is good for me too, I can finally know what is like to be a demigod", he rolled his eyes at her suspicion.

"Oh... I thought you where gonna ask us to help you in your growth, I guess you do want to start over", She smirked. It was weird because her facial features couldn't do something like that, but you couldn't somehow tell from her eyes.

Alexander almost choked. When he came here that's what he wanted to do in exchange for the Domain, but he couldn't stand the loathing in her eyes and his own guilt towards them.

" I don't ask for much just protect me and my loved ones if we are ever in life threatening danger", Alexander made a complicated expression as he asked

Ekyprys looked at him for a long time and finally answered "Only you and the people who you bring here to meet us"

Alexander wanted to say something but just ended up turning around a left. He knew she did this so he would trust people more but it still left a bad taste in his mouth.

After the God kingdom core was extracted from that land what was left was a large basin. On the side of the Basin was a cave and in it was a Dragon egg. Only a week was left till it hatched.