Chapter 2198: Teaching

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"Stop calling me weird! I’m eating perfectly fine right now!" Triton said angrily, taking a big bite out of a large meat skewer Drake had made for him.

"I know it might sound weird, but I believe that’s how your special physiology works," Drake explained. "Now, how do we solve this problem? I believe there’s a solution. We have to make it so your consciousness remains strong as you transform. The first step would be to individually boost the power of your True Soul so it’s strong enough that your mind doesn’t melt."

"Hmm, ok..." Triton nodded. "What’s next?"

"Next, we move to making Soul Gear. It’ll boost both your True Soul and your Soul Body. In fact, you’re one of the few who could equip a double set of Soul Gear!" Drake said.

"Eh? What’s even Soul Gear?" Triton asked, confused.

"I’ll explain that later," Drake said. "Ahem, as I was saying... once steps one and two are done, we move to step three. You’ll continuously transform and get used to that form. We’ll also go through meditation classes, and you’ll learn to eat souls."

"Eat souls?!" Triton gasped. "I-Isn’t that weird and bad?!"

"Well, not that bad. You’ll eat the souls of monsters," Drake said. "Calm down."

"Even then..." Triton seemed conflicted.

"You’ll have to do this if you want to become stronger," Drake said. "I believe that if you eat souls, your Soul Body and your True Soul will stabilize and become larger than they would with just Soul Treasures."

"Ok..." Triton sighed. "And what’s next?"

"Right now? I’ll help you forge a Soul Titan Heart. That’ll make your True Soul stronger. Wait, maybe we can give you two?" Drake wondered.

"Eh?" Triton was confused.

However, the ritual went quite well. After Triton finished his meal, Drake went ahead and forged not one but two Titan Soul Hearts for Triton.

One went to his True Soul, and the other to his Soul Body. Both were of the same Element of Oceans and Ice, the latter element which Drake imbued, discovering Triton was very compatible with his main element.

In fact, Drake was quite happy that he had finally found a disciple he could teach Ice Spells. He looked forward to doing that in the near future.

"Wow, it sure feels more stable now..." Triton nodded. "Ah, it’s already night?"

"Yeah, we’ll continue our training tomorrow," Drake said. "Take it easy for now, kid. Let’s go have dinner."

Like that, Drake had dinner with his family and his two apprentices. Once everyone went to sleep, he quickly teleported to Muspelheim, where he had already contacted his two other disciples, telling them he wanted to meet them for something important.

He teleported into the middle of the jungles, where Surtr and Emerald had been waiting for him for a few minutes already.

"Ah, master! You’re back! How has your journey been so far?" Surtr asked.

"We were wondering what you wanted to discuss..." Emerald said.

"It has been fruitful. There are two new disciples I want to show you later," Drake said. "But for now, I want to go to the Dragon Realms of your mothers. Surtr, is it possible to meet with Muspelheim right now?"

"Yes, the Draconic Realm of Fire Dragons still exists!" Surtr nodded. "Contrary to what some may have thought, even though their souls also exist within my own Ascendancy Law, the Draconic Realm of Fire Dragons became something like my own Divine Realm too. Or, well, it merged with it but is also still connected."

"Sounds great! We have to go there. I need to ask your mother a small favor," Drake said. "You too, Emerald. I’d like to meet your mother again."

"Sure..." Emerald nodded. "Let’s go after Surtr then, Master."

"Uh, but what do you want to ask my mother?" Surtr raised an eyebrow. "Master... I know my mother may seem attractive to old dragons like you, but you already have three... or four wives? I think that’s enough..."

"Surtr! I don’t want to do anything like that to your mother!" Drake said, feeling embarrassed. "Ugh, that’s not my intention for yours either, Emerald."

"Ahh! Phew..." Emerald sighed in relief. It seemed he was also thinking that. "That’s, uh, a relief."

"A relief?!" Drake asked. "Ah, whatever, let’s just go."

Drake quickly opened a portal with Surtr, and Emerald was invited into the Realm of Flames and Fire Dragons. Volcanic landscapes, even more intense and enormous than Muspelheim, spread across the world in front of them.

It didn’t take them long to reach Muspel’s soul, blazing with intensity. Behind her was a glowing crimson ring, Surtr’s Ascendancy Law, which seemed to have grown stronger since then. The young dragon had already forged a second ring too, which glowed with an orange color, also composed of Fire Dragon Souls and various other materials, from Soul Treasures to the Divine Treasures he had found in Muspelheim.

"I see you’ve come back, young king! Welcome to our new Realm," said Muspel. "As you can see, my son has not stopped working hard and growing stronger, preparing for what’s to come in advance. Admire his efforts! His second Ascendancy Ring!"

"I see, it’s quite strong!" Drake nodded. "Well done, Surtr! What Law does it govern?"

"Blazing Forges," Surtr explained. "I’ve been trying to make new and stronger equipment than ever before with it. It’s working. But for now, I can’t reveal more, heh."

"Oh? Alright then, I’m looking forward to it. You indeed outclass me in creating equipment at this point," Drake laughed. "Now, well, I came here to ask for a favor, Muspel."

"Yes, of course," Muspel nodded. "Nifl told me already. You’ve done a lot for us, my dear king, so this is no problem for me."

"Really? I thought that because you merged with Surtr’s..." Drake muttered.

"Oh no, don’t worry. My reserves remain! And they’ve begun to recover as if I were alive ever since too!" Muspel said. "Though this Draconic Record Realm has become rather different, part of my son’s own Divine Realm and yet still connected to Mother’s Main Soul Dimension. I suppose she really didn’t want us to go away from her side."

"I see..." Drake nodded.

"Now!" Muspel touched Drake’s head with her blazing claw, imbuing him with fiery primordial energies.

FLASH!

Drake felt his power rapidly rising. This energy became more and more a part of his own existence, merging with his flesh, blood, and soul.

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