Eren was taken aback, his heart pounding wildly in his chest as the enormity of the situation sank in. The truth he had kept hidden, even from his parents, had now been laid bare before the all-seeing eyes of the dragon.
The surroundings echoed with the crackling of the once warm fire, now transformed into a raging inferno that seemed to mirror the turmoil in Eren's mind.
"..."
In the midst of the intense heat, Eren pondered the meaning of the dragon's words - 'The soul of the future dwelling in the body of the past.' It was a cryptic revelation that resonated deeply within him, and he understood its significance without needing further explanation.
Eren had always heard tales of the dragons' omnipotence, but he never imagined they could peer into a person's very soul. Though he didn't attempt to make excuses, he couldn't help but express his surprise at the extent of the dragon's powers.
"The dragon's eyes are renowned for their ability to see through everything, but I never knew it was to such an extent!" Eren admitted, his voice tinged with awe and apprehension.
Indeed, the dragon eyes were an exceptional skill exclusive to their race, capable of unraveling illusions and falsehoods. Eren was well aware of this fact, but the revelation that they could delve into the depths of a person's soul astonished him.
[You are not going to pretend like you don't know, huh? Then tell me, who are you?]
An incredible pressure was emitted from the fire dragon's body with its word which descended crushing on Eren! For a movement, the whole volcanic mountain rumbled as if it would collapse.
"Arhh!"
The pressure exerted by the dragon intensified, bearing down on Eren like an insurmountable weight. His attempts to resist were futile, and he found himself brought to his knees. The power he possessed seemed insignificant in the face of the dragon's invincibility. Still, he stared defiantly into the creature's fiery crimson eyes, even as the mental strain threatened to overwhelm him.
[Answer my question, who are you?]
But instead of relenting, the dragon demanded an answer from Eren.
The pressure on Eren intensified, threatening to crush him further. Before long he was completely prostrated on the ground and could barely withstand the strain of fire dragon's might.
"Ghaa-!"
His eyes rolled back and he was about to lose consciousness when the dragon revoked some of its pressure.
It was clearly giving him a chance to Eren and he wasn't foolish enough to let it go.
Summoning every ounce of courage, he managed to answer, "I am Eren, Eren Pendragon, the heir of the Pendragon family." His words resonated with determination, leaving the dragon momentarily silenced.
There was a reason for its silence. Dragons, the ultimate species possessed number of incredible skills and among them was the <Dragon eyes>.
A powerful detection skill that lets the dragons accurately access the target, which includes a target's skills, physical condition, mental state and the very soul of it.
It was also the reason for the dragon to notice abnormalities in Eren's soul.
And there was one more effect to the skill <Dragon Eyes>, it was the <Truth seeking sight>
This ability did not possess any ability to damage or harm the target. However, it was even more precious than a lot of other Mystical Powers that had the ability to attack, because it would allow one to see through all kinds of false illusions and see the real truth.
And right now, the dragon's eyes were detecting no falsehood in Eren's statement.
'How can that be?' Fire dragon Ugram thought astonished!
The Fire dragon had noticed abnormalities in Eren's soul and speculated that someone might have used dark magic on him, possibly even replacing his soul. However, despite its suspicions, the dragon couldn't find any lies in Eren's words.
The dragon, still intrigued, probed further, asking a different question this time, [What are you?]
"..."
This time, Eren hesitated, aware that his response could have profound consequences. The dragon did not push him for an immediate answer, allowing him time to gather his thoughts.
Eventually, Eren revealed the undeniable truth, "I am a returner, I came back from the future."
"..."
The dragon's silence enveloped the surroundings, the crackling fire becoming the only sound in the moment. It seemed that even the dragon's all-seeing eyes were confused by this revelation.
The dragon became silent, before it said, "It seems like my dragon eye skill is not working, wait here for a bit."
"..."
Now it was Eren who fell silent. He knew that his words would sound unbelievable, but he couldn't think of any other way to explain it.
He grappled with how to make the fire dragon understand the truth without it sounding like utter nonsense. His mind raced as the dragon turned away from him and started rummaging through its treasury, an action that piqued Eren's curiosity.
After a minute of searching, the dragon retrieved a white-colored orb, clutching it firmly between its massive claws.
[Now, say that once again.]
It prompted Eren to repeat his claim, holding the orb as if it held some significance.
Eren glanced at the delicate orb, appearing almost fragile as it lay trapped between the dragon's powerful claws. Nonetheless, he reaffirmed his statement, "I am a returner, I came back from the future."
To Eren's surprise, there was no immediate reaction from the orb, and the dragon remained silent as well. Doubt crept into Eren's mind, wondering if the dragon believed him at all. However, the dragon's subsequent expression of shock dispelled his uncertainty.
[... No way… you are really telling the truth? ], the fire dragon queried, its voice betraying an uncharacteristic sense of awe.
Surprisingly, the fire dragon displayed an expression that didn't befit its status as one of the most superior species. The fact that this ultimate creature, believed to have witnessed everything in the world, was now expressing emotions in front of a mere child held great significance.
[You! … Are you related to the Time dragon.]
"...The Time dragon?"
For the first time, Eren heard of something called the Time dragon, and it came as no surprise that he wasn't familiar with such a concept in either of his lives. The Time dragon was a being rumored to have complete control over time, defying the very laws of nature. Its existence remained shrouded in mystery, unknown even to humans, and among dragons, it was regarded as a myth of uncertain validity.
Yet, as the fire dragon observed Eren, it couldn't help but consider the possibility that he might have a connection to this legendary creature.
"I don't know what the Time dragon is, but an artifact helped me come back to the past," Eren answered truthfully.
"An artifact?" the dragon inquired, seeking further understanding.
Artifacts, as known by the masses, were incredible objects that stored immense power, and the difference between someone who possessed an artifact and someone who didn't was very noticeable. Such common knowledge didn't warrant mentioning to a dragon, an all-knowing species.
What truly baffled the fire dragon, Ugram, was the notion that an artifact could bring someone back in time. Even for a transcendent species like dragons, it was something considered impossible.
As an individual's power increased, they became capable of manipulating space, but time remained an elusive realm beyond their reach.
Time, often regarded as impenetrable, held a status beyond the reach of even the most powerful beings. It was deemed unachievable, an aspect of existence that could not be altered.
But the revelation that Eren had transcended time left the dragon utterly bewildered.
[Show me that artifact!], the fire dragon demanded, but Eren found himself at a loss.
He had never laid eyes on the artifact himself, having unwittingly swallowed it, making it impossible to present it to the dragon.
"I haven't seen the artifact myself, as I accidentally ingested it without knowing its nature. However, I can demonstrate something related to its power," Eren replied, preparing one of his skills, <Black Sun>.
Obsidian energy surged from his body, gathering at his fingertips. The energy was very noticeable as it was eating away the very light in its vicinity spreading darkness but it wasn't demonic, rather it excluded the divine power.
As Eren turned to gauge the dragon's reaction, he was met with an expression of complete astonishment on the creature's majestic face. "....The death god's power!!" the dragon exclaimed, clearly recognizing the dark energy Eren wielded.
—***---
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