Versatile: Alternate World

915  Waking in a Long Dream

My eyes slowly adapted and soon, only the surroundings were filled with light and nothing else. But this time around, I can now feel my body and I can move again compared to before when I am forced to watch inside the dragon's body.

"I am able to move again but where is this place?" I murmured to myself as I tried to walk around.

"You are in my consciousness, wielder."

I looked around and saw the black dragon that I possessed just now. It is as big as I thought it would be and seeing the dragon in person is just something. And the fact that it is calling me a wielder nails the confirmation of my assumption earlier.

"Looks like you are the pet dragon of the Goddess of Death."

"I see. So you managed to peek into my memories and saw what I experienced? Well, it's too late to deny so I will only say that it is indeed a yes. I am the one who they called the Black Dragon that ruined the world during the war. But since I have been with you for how long, I already know that my existence has also been erased after the war. I am not even surprised knowing how the people who allied with the Goddess of Life used their position to manipulate history and paint the people who believe in the Goddess of Death the traitors who abandoned humanity. Can't believe they try to use that to us who are merely defending their antics from their goddess who caused all of this."

"So you didn't end up seeing the end of the Primordial War?"

"Nope. I bet you saw the last moments before my death, yeah? My consciousness has been divided into Seven Parts. After the division of my body into several pieces, you can say all I have left is my ability to devour and absorb. Even my whole body wasn't that solid back then and that's why you are calling me the Shadow Dragon as well."

Indeed. In the beginning. The Shadow Dragon is basically just a black shadow so greedy in devouring things. I didn't expect that was the main reason why the Shadow Dragon was being like that at first. The only time he changed drastically in both body and mannerisms was during the first time I let the Versatile Weapon devour a Seven Deadly Sin weapon, the Weapon of Pride. That's when it hit me.

"Does that mean all seven deadly sins weapon series were all the seven weapons that were scattered around?"

"I don't know what it was called but whatever weapons you have been feeding me that slowly completing me are indeed the weapons I need to become complete again and my abilities will slowly return as well. Based on what I receive every time I devour those kinds of weapons, it seems those seven were my main abilities back when I was still a dragon, and they just manifested into the weapon. No one who is tough in their minds can completely wield those weapons unless they are totally compatible or if they have been absorbed by myself which is why you can freely wield them as you please."

"Does that mean you will leave the Versatile Weapon once you devoured all seven weapons?" I asked.

"No. My body has disappeared and I have become material in this weapon now. Even if I devoured all of them, I wouldn't manifest again as a dragon once more. The only time I can physically manifest is during the time you allowed me to fight during battles and during times you want me to eat something. Other than that, I don't have any means to move around anymore. My soul is bound in this weapon forever."

"Isn't that pretty sad? Being dead but remaining conscious and remaining alive in a sword?"

"Nope. If I lived as a dragon, I might be as well as an immortal as well. If not for the sacrifice I made, I would be still alive and well today as long as I don't fight against enemies, especially on that goddess herself."

"You mean the goddess of life?"

"Yes. If not for her, then the peace in this world would remain and the balance and evil in this world wouldn't be too prevalent. Now, I don't think that is the main case. This world has become more dangerous as time goes on. Even the demons that worship the Goddess of Death before have become mindless evil that seems to be dancing from the palm of the Goddess of Life."

"What about the guy? The one who helped to forge the Versatile Weapon and the seven deadly sins weapons?"

"He said before that he will have to use his life to fuel the forge and build the weapons right? Then that means that guy has already died. He used his soul to power up that forge that holds the will of the Elder Gods to forge the weapons and allow them to materialize as something out of this world."

"Elder Gods... I first heard it in your memories but I don't think I know any info on them. Is there anything you can tell me about it?"

"Even I don't have any idea who they are. However, according to my knowledge, they are the ones who created the world and the ones who created both the Goddess of Life and Death. In short, they are the True Gods that have made this world, and only the goddesses flourished them. However, they don't seem to interfere in the affairs of the world. They are just bystanders. Only during that last time in my life that they decide to interfere and move to make the Versatile Weapon. It seems they found it pretty entertaining what we will have to do next."

I grit my teeth hearing that. Even though they are the ones responsible for making the weapon that I keep on using, I still can't believe that they would just remain as bystanders as one is hellbent on eliminating her sister while the other is currently hiding and is making sure that she won't be seen. We are just the playthings of these gods.

"But why did I see all of this? I may have fought too hard during the battle against the Barghest, but that doesn't mean I have died right?"

"Nope, you are still alive. You just synchronized with me which resulted in you receiving my memories. You can even say that you are my human incarnation now, hahaha!"

I scratch my head hearing that. Even though I have basically lived through the whole life of the Shadow Dragon, it doesn't mean I am basically the dragon himself.

"Anyways, wielder. I think it is time for you to wake up. Leaving your consciousness for too long by staying here won't be good for your body and also for me as well. Don't worry, you can talk to me again. But for now, let's get you back to your body. You need to wake up."

"Will I forget everything that happened here?"

"Unlike my Master who knows how to do that, I don't have that ability. Even if you wish to forget about it, you can't forget about it, understood? Now, go back."

And before I can say anything, I was pulled by a sudden great force that eventually sucked me in. Then, everything went black.

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I slowly opened my eyes. I don't know how long I was out but I felt like a few years have passed since then. Must be the side-effects of watching the memories of the dragon and simulating him during the process. I can't even say I don't feel old now. Everything felt so different as well.

But my body remains the same. I guess only my consciousness has advanced but my body remained the same.

Once I got my stretches, I checked around the surroundings and realized that I seemed to be placed in a room. The bed is a bit primitive but it felt soft so it's fine to sleep on. I checked the surroundings and soon realized why I felt so familiar with this place. It was Ragga's house that I investigated using my Shikigami. Who would have thought I would be back here but physically this time? It seems everything went all in control and all in my favor and we won."

I have a few scars on my body after the battle as well but thankfully, they are not that big. It's fine now. I grabbed all of my equipment and reequiped them all. Now that I am good to go, I have to go and look for everyone else. I can hear their voices next door. Perhaps they are currently there.

As for the information I have obtained from the Memories of the Shadow Dragon, all of them are for me for now. Until then, those things will remain a secret between myself and the Shadow Dragon. The right time will come in the future.