Reborn as the Last van Ambrose
Chapter 188: Human

Chapter 188: Human

The molten chamber had finally begun to cool, though steam still rose from the areas where Grim’s final technique had melted stone into flowing rivers of lava. The Dragon Emperor remained motionless where he had fallen, his massive body serving as shelter for everyone else as the destruction slowly settled.

Grim stood amid the cooling destruction, Sunfire still glowing in his hand, though the orange radiance was noticeably dimmer than it had been moments before. His scales continued to pulse, but even those seemed to be losing their intensity.

"It is time," the Dragon Emperor said, his voice carried across the chamber. "The power I lent you was never meant to remain in a mortal body indefinitely."

Grim looked down at his transformed body, feeling the energy coursing through him like liquid fire. "I can feel it," he admitted. "It’s starting to burn."

"Because you are human," the Dragon Emperor explained, slowly rising to his full, imposing height. "Your body is not trained enough to handle my mana. Hold onto my power much longer, you will begin to lose your mind and then it will consume you from within."

The ancient dragon extended one massive claw toward Grim. "I must take it back now, before permanent damage is done."

Grim nodded, understanding the necessity even as he felt reluctant to give up the incredible strength he had wielded.

The process was strange rather than painful. Grim felt the mana being drawn out of him like water flowing out of a broken vessel. The scales on his body began to fade, returning his skin to its normal appearance. The overwhelming sense of power that had filled him since his awakening gradually diminished until he felt... normal.

Human.

When it was complete, Grim staggered slightly, the sudden absence of mana making him feel oddly hollow. Sunfire’s glow had dimmed to a barely perceptible warmth, though the sword itself remained as orange as ever.

"Better," the Dragon Emperor observed. "You look like yourself again."

Ao Guang approached, his missing arm still a stark reminder of his battle with Mo Xuan. "How do you feel?"

"Like I just fell from a great height," Grim replied honestly. "But I’m still me."

"Good," the Dragon Emperor said. "Power that changes who you are is power worth avoiding."

Grim sheathed Sunfire, the motion feeling natural despite having drawn the blade for the first time only minutes ago. "I have a question, if you’ll permit it."

"Speak."

"Did you know my great-grandfather, Caius van Ambrose?" Grim asked. "And if so, how strong was he to be able to use Sunfire safely?"

The Dragon Emperor’s ancient eyes grew thoughtful. "Caius van Ambrose. Yes, I knew him. He was... remarkable, even by the standards of his time."

"How so?"

"Your great-grandfather wasn’t just strong," the Dragon Emperor explained. "He was chosen. Not by any single entity, but by multiple forces that recognized his potential. The contracts he formed, the powers he wielded—they required a level of spiritual strength that few mortals have ever possessed."

Ao Shun stepped forward. "Are you saying Grim’s bloodline carries that same potential?"

"I’m saying that Sunfire wouldn’t have responded to him at all if it didn’t," the Dragon Emperor replied. "Your sword has been waiting for someone worthy of its full power. It chose you, Grim, just as it once chose Caius."

"But Caius could use it without help," Grim pointed out.

"Caius spent decades preparing his body and spirit for that privilege," the Dragon Emperor said. "He underwent trials that would have broken lesser men, formed contracts that demanded pieces of his very soul. You have the potential to reach that level, but you’re not there yet."

Grim absorbed this information, feeling both encouraged and daunted by the comparison to his legendary ancestor. "Was my great-grandfather connected to Axem in some way?"

The Dragon Emperor’s expression shifted, becoming distant and somehow pained. "Axem," he repeated, as if the name caused him difficulty. "Yes, there was... a connection. But the details are unclear to me."

"Unclear how?"

"My memories regarding Axem have always been... fragmented," the Dragon Emperor admitted with obvious frustration. "I know he was important to me once. I know we were friends, perhaps even like family. But when I try to recall specifics, the memories slip away like mist."

Ao Run frowned. "That’s not natural, Father. Memory gaps like that are unusual."

"I know," the Dragon Emperor said grimly. "Which suggests that whatever happened between Axem and me was significant enough to require such drastic measures."

The ancient dragon’s gaze fixed on Grim with new intensity. "But I do remember one thing clearly. Axem is dangerous. Not just powerful—dangerous. He represents a threat that extends beyond any single realm or dimension."

"What kind of threat?"

"The kind that required me to sacrifice my own memories to contain," the Dragon Emperor replied. "Which brings me to a request, Grim van Ambrose."

Grim straightened, sensing the gravity in the ancient dragon’s tone. "What do you need?"

"If you encounter Axem in your travels—and I believe you eventually will—I need you to kill him," the Dragon Emperor said with absolute seriousness. "Not capture, not redeem, not attempt to reason with. Just kill him."

"You’re asking me to murder my own ancestor."

"I’m asking you to prevent a catastrophe that could unravel the foundations of reality itself," the Dragon Emperor corrected. "Axem may share your blood, but he is no longer the man your family remembers. Whatever he has become, whatever he is planning, it must be stopped."

Grim stared at the Dragon Emperor, weighing the enormity of what was being asked of him. To kill his own bloodline, the source of his family’s greatest techniques and powers.

"I need to understand more before I can agree to that," he said finally.

"Fair enough," the Dragon Emperor replied. "But remember my words when the time comes. Some threats are too great to allow sentiment to interfere with necessity."

Ao Guang cleared his throat, breaking the heavy tension that had settled over the group. "Perhaps we should focus on more immediate concerns. Father, you’ve been sealed for thousands of years. There are political and practical matters to address regarding the realms."

"Indeed," the Dragon Emperor agreed. "And Grim, you have helped resolve a crisis that could have destroyed everything we’ve built. That service deserves recognition."

"I don’t need rewards," Grim began, but Ao Shun interrupted him.

"Nevertheless, you should have them," the ice dragon said. "What you’ve done here will have consequences that stretch across multiple realms. Refusing appropriate recognition would be ungrateful and have consequences if we didn’t reward you."

"What my brothers are trying to say," Ao Qin added with a slight smile, "Is that we want to thank you properly. And it would be insulting to refuse."

Grim looked around at the assembled Dragon Kings, realizing that this was about more than gratitude.

"What did you have in mind?" he asked.

"First, you should see my realm. You’re the only one here who hasn’t set foot in the East Sea, and I think you’ll find it... educational."

"Educational how?"

"You’ll see," Ao Guang replied with a mysterious smile. "Shall we depart? The others can meet us there."

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