Prime Originator

A Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon!

Moreover, it was a Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon that could fly!

"This Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon most likely possessed a superior bloodline than ordinary flood dragons. We lucked out this time," Leon stated seriously.

"A flying Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon… This was not something I would expect to find in a heavy blizzard…" Duke Blizzardpaw said wryly.

Flood Dragons were water-attribute creatures of the sea.

However, the Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon they had a close encounter with didn't just fly; it also used frost breath.

This Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon was particularly special. It had a superior bloodline on top of having the superior frost ability.

"Right… A flying Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon with a frost ability is quite uncommon. It might be a variant specie of the Flood Dragon Race or a product of mutation created by the Cataclysm," Leon speculated.

"Nevertheless, it seems this Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon only swims in the blizzard sea," Leon continued before saying, "So we should be safe outside of the blizzard storm region."

"That's quite the relief to hear, Lord Leon. That situation just now was too close for comfort," Duke Blizzardpaw cracked a wry smile.

Suddenly, Duke Blizzardpaw thought of something.

"I wonder if Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon was also responsible for my frostbite," Duke Blizzardpaw thought.

"I can't say for sure, but the chances are high. The Half-step Divine Beast-level Flood Dragon's frost breath did seem like something that will give you frostbite," Leon inserted his opinion.

"In that case, I was quite fortunate to get away with such a small frostbite," Duke Blizzardpaw said with a self-deprecating smile.

Duke Blizzardpaw knew he had a close shave with death back then. But looking back on it again now, he realized it was much closer than he thought.

"How do you know about Flood Dragons, Duke Blizzardpaw?" Faelyn curiously asked before she mentioned, "I thought your tribe had no contact with other creatures in the north besides sea monsters and the Ice Phoenix Tribe."

"That is correct," Duke Blizzardpaw admitted with a nod.

Shortly after, Duke Blizzardpaw added with a smile, "However, you're more curious about how I know about Flood Dragons than how I learned to speak the human tongue, Miss Faelyn?"

"Uh…" Faelyn was struck speechless.

It suddenly dawned on her that she had been hanging around a talking cat, and she didn't realize that particular detail until now.

"This…  How did you learn how to speak the human tongue, if you don't mind me asking, Duke Blizzardpaw?" Faelyn inquired wryly.

"You might not believe me, but the knowledge came to me when my strength ascended to the Paragon level and opened the Gate of Wisdom. You could even say that I inherited the knowledge from my ancestral bloodline," Duke Blizzardpaw stated.

"Inherited knowledge from one's ancestral bloodline? Is that even possible?" Faelyn wondered with amazement.

"Definitely," Leon inserted while driving the ice sleigh.

Faelyn immediately turned to Leon after seeing he was also knowledgeable on the topic. At the same time, Leon also noticed Faelyn wanted to learn more about it.

"It is said that there are ten parts to a soul, nine parts mortal and one part immortal. The body makes up one part of it. As such, there are knowledge and memories contained within one's bloodline, passed on from their ancestors. However, only beasts can innately tap into it upon reaching a certain level."

Leon shared what he knew.

Of course, what he said was just a theory from one of the soul records in the Archive. It was more widely accepted that there were only nine mortal parts.

That is because the immortal soul part, the origin soul, could not be proven to exist.

Nevertheless, Faelyn and Duke Blizzardpaw quickly showed interest in the soul topic. But before either of them could say something, they arrived at the widened entrance to the Winter Cat Tribe.

"We're back," Leon informed them.

"Let's move the frozen Winter Cats to the tribe first. I will set up a defrost chamber and work on reviving them afterward."

"Understood, Lord Leon," Duke Blizzard replied gratefully.

…

…

…

Grassland Region, New Capital

Shortly after Elizabeth returned to the heart of the Crawford Empire with Darlene and Aria, three separated.

Or rather, it was just Aria leaving.

"Mother, I won't be following you back to the palace. I am going to visit my birth parents," Aria said.

"Mm, alright. Go and see them," Elizabeth nodded with consent before adding, "You've been away for quite a while. I'm sure they'll be overjoyed to see their precious daughter again."

"Yes."

Right after Aria left, Elizabeth turned to ask Darlene, "Do you have somewhere you want to go too, Darlene?"

"No," Darlene shook her head and said, "I will accompany you to the palace, Your Majesty."

"Hm?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.

"M-mother," Darlene corrected.

"Alright," Elizabeth smiled.

Elizabeth arrived at the new palace a few minutes later with Darlene.

Then, she headed straight for Heinrich's study room and barged inside, where the person could be seen going through some documents.

"Dear, I got some good news to share," Elizabeth informed.

"Oh?"

Heinrich exclaimed pleasantly as Elizabeth's return temporarily lifted his stress and eased some of his worries.

"It's great that you are back and well. Where are the others?" Heinrich noticed that Leon and the other ladies didn't return with his wife.

"Aria went to check on her parents in the city. Leon and Faelyn are still in the far north with the Winter Cat Tribe, which I was going to tell you about. Nevertheless, you won't blame for arbitrarily conferring the Duke rank to a Paragon-level Winter Cat, right?" Elizabeth asked.

Heinrich immediately paused to process her words.

"Hold on. Did you just mention a cat, dear? Did you talk to it?" Heinrich inquired with doubt.

"Obviously. Why? Is it hard to believe there's a talking cat when there's been a talking wolf?" Elizabeth asked rhetorically.

However, Heinrich wryly responded, "Well, that talking wolf doesn't talk anymore, dear."

"Whatever. I'm not here to bicker on that. Anyway, is there a problem, Hein? You don't look well," Elizabeth noticed Heinrich's stress.

"Haiz…" Heinrich gave a long sigh after hearing Elizabeth mention the matter before saying, "It's the Geyser Kingdom's envoys."