The barrier quietly dissipated, and the reality of the physical world sharpened once more. Rhodes slowly opened his eyes, waking from an infinitely beautiful dream.
Man, my back is killing me! It wasn't just ordinary fatigue; it was the kind of exhaustion that even Holy Light and healing spells couldn't quite touch. It had been exhilarating, but bloody hell, it was draining—the Green Dragon Queen was no joke.
Ysera remained standing before Rhodes, her visage as breathtakingly beautiful as ever. However, there was an indescribable, subtle shift in her aura. Deep within those emerald eyes lay a newfound depth, and her expression was calm and satisfied, carrying the contentment of someone who had fulfilled a vital mission.
Clearly, the Green Dragon Queen was extremely pleased with Rhodes's performance. This particular "reproductive exercise" had lasted a full ten days. Her usual green dragon consorts rarely lasted a single day; three days was a fantasy for them. There was no helping it—an Aspect's power far exceeded that of an ordinary dragon, making it difficult for them to ever truly feel satisfied.
Rhodes had given her a rare taste of true fulfillment, to the point where Ysera briefly entertained the idea of keeping him by her side to guard the Emerald Dream together. After all, Rhodes was now a deity of the Life path. However, knowing his personality, she doubted he would accept having a harem of green dragons. Furthermore, to ensure the expansion of her flight, she would have to "increase the intensity" of her efforts. It was a nice thought, but a permanent partnership was unlikely.
"Rhodes, you performed exceptionally well. I have been very happy during this time," Ysera's voice regained its usual ethereal quality, yet it seemed to carry a trace of warmth. Her tone had become noticeably gentler. "I will carefully nurture this result within the Emerald Dream. When the appointed time arrives, you will meet your scion—one who will be a guardian of the Dream and a bridge between two eras."
She raised her hand slightly, and a rune shimmering with emerald light—shaped like a curled hatchling—slowly manifested and floated toward Rhodes.
"This is my token. It is also the key to the coordinates of the Green Dragonflight's territories within the Emerald Dream. Ten thousand years from now, bring it to our nesting grounds in the Dream. I will be waiting for you there to fulfill the promise of the blessing."
At this very moment, a new life was already beginning to stir within the Green Dragon Queen. This life was so powerful that Ysera would have to devote her full strength to gestating it. She would need to return to the Emerald Dream and remain there, bathing in its natural life energies, until the child matured.
According to dragon tradition, after laying an egg, the task of raising it would usually fall to the male. But since Rhodes was a special case, she would have to keep this child by her side. It was worth it, though—the child would be incredibly powerful, born at a level no lower than her own. After all, both parents were demigod-level entities—both were "Dragon Kings."
Rhodes nodded and reached out to take the rune. It was warm to the touch, pulsing with a faint, rhythmic vitality. He tucked it away securely and gave a solemn nod. "The pact is made. See you in ten thousand years, Ysera."
So, I've actually gone and gotten the Green Dragon Queen pregnant, Rhodes thought. Can she even still participate in the War of the Ancients? Can she still pour her power into the Dragon Soul? Wait, at this point in time, the Aspects should have already created the Dragon Soul. Neltharion had already tricked the other Aspects into imbuing it with their essence. But as for the coming battles, Ysera likely wouldn't be able to join the front lines. You couldn't exactly send a pregnant woman with a massive belly into war, could you?
"Then, I look forward to reuniting with you in the future's 'now.'" A faint smile played on Ysera's lips as her figure began to turn transparent, blending into the light and shadows of the surrounding trees. "Go and fulfill your mission in this era, Rhodes. The loom of history is turning, and you and I have both become indispensable threads within it."
As her voice faded, she vanished completely, leaving behind only a lingering scent of fresh life and the warm emerald rune in Rhodes's hand—proof that that conversation and contract, which transcended time and mortal understanding, was no mere dream.
Rhodes stood there and took a deep breath of the sweet, fresh air. He felt a shift in his state of mind. The increase in power brought responsibility and limitations, but it also opened unexpected possibilities. He looked toward the distance, in the direction of the Well of Eternity's energy fluctuations—the site of his historical mission.
"I feel like I just did a 'rich lady seeks heir' quest. Kind of hilarious," Rhodes chuckled to himself. He wondered when Alexstrasza, the Life-Binder, would show up. She was the subject of a massive meme back in his original time. But given his current state... forget it. He needed to rest first.
Even the strongest bull can't keep plowing forever, he mused. Even at a demigod level, some things remained true.
After resting for a few hours to recover his strength, Rhodes headed back to Cenarius. The Forest Lord was standing beneath the largest Tree of Life, hands behind his back, eyes closed in meditation. Hearing Rhodes's footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes and offered his disciple a smile.
This kid is lucky, Cenarius thought. Because Rhodes possessed the attributes of a dragon, two Dragon Queens could bear him children. Unlike other Wild Gods whose offspring were often relatively weak, every parent hoped for their child to be a god-level being.
Come to think of it, Cenarius himself wasn't a "natural" Wild God either—he was the child of a union between his father and the Great Moon Goddess.
"Teacher," Rhodes stepped forward to salute.
"You've returned." Cenarius nodded, his gaze lingering on Rhodes for a moment. "It seems... your exchange with Ysera was quite thorough."
Rhodes coughed awkwardly. Why was his demigod teacher suddenly being so blunt? "The Green Dragon Queen... she is indeed a very... dedicated Guardian."
Cenarius let out a low chuckle. It was a laugh that contained both an understanding of his foster mother's personality and a bit of lighthearted ribbing for his newly ascended disciple. "Ysera has always been this way. She views things from a different perspective than we do—more direct, more focused on the preservation of the species and the legacy of power. As for a demigod-level entity like yourself, there is no need to concern yourself with the mundane views of mortals. You needn't be troubled by this, Rhodes."
He walked over to a stone bench and sat down, motioning for Rhodes to join him.
"In fact, this may be a blessing in disguise," Cenarius continued. "Wild Gods are powerful, but our ties to the mortal world are often not close enough. Ysera's blessing will grant your mortal companions eternal life. This means you will not have to walk alone through the long ages, nor endure the pain of losing those you love."
Rhodes nodded. He agreed with this point; otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted the Green Dragon Queen's terms.
Cenarius offered a gratified smile. "I have prepared a training plan for you, but before that, you need to rest for a few days." He gave Rhodes a meaningful look. "An exchange of life essence with an Aspect-level being is far more draining than it appears on the surface. Even with a demigod's physique, you need time to recover."
Rhodes's face flushed. He gave a dry cough and said, "Then... I shall follow your arrangements, Teacher."
Over the next few days, Rhodes did indeed rest quietly at the Grove of the Dreamer. The tree-hollow residence Cenarius prepared for him was saturated with life energy, and the scent of Peacebloom in the air helped restore his spirit. Malfurion would visit occasionally, bringing fresh berries and herbs. The two would engage in simple discussions about the Druidic path. While Rhodes's life force was incredibly potent—surpassing even that of Cenarius—he was a complete novice when it came to the actual theory.
In the past, his spells were recorded in a spellbook, and he relied on that artifact to cast. Now, however, Rhodes was determined to learn using his own inherent power.
Rhodes discovered that although the future Archdruid had not yet mastered all nature spells, his understanding of life energy was already profound. Malfurion was especially skilled at communing with plants, sensing the emotions and status of the entire forest.
"Every leaf breathes; every root listens," Malfurion said one day, sitting across from Rhodes while playing with a glowing leaf. "Life is not isolated; it is a network. When we become part of that network, we gain power far beyond the individual."
Rhodes mused, "Like a Ley Line map?"
"Close enough, though I prefer to call it Nature. It's purer, closer to the origin of life," Malfurion nodded. "Teacher Cenarius said you can already enter the heart of the Dream freely. It's truly envious; I've tried many times, but the deepest I can reach is the third layer."
"You will get there," Rhodes said sincerely. "In my timeline, you are the most powerful Druid in Azeroth and one of the Guardians of the Emerald Dream."
In the months that followed, Rhodes entered a period of intensive training.
Every morning, he followed Malfurion to learn the techniques of communing with nature—walking through the forest, listening to the whispers of ancient trees, and feeling the pulse of the earth.
In the afternoon, under Cenarius's guidance, he practiced various applications of life energy: healing wounds, accelerating plant growth, strengthening his biological form, and even siphoning life energy from the environment to replenish himself. For a primordial Wild God like Rhodes, these tasks were quite easy, and he learned rapidly.
Later in the day, he focused on energy fusion training, gradually attempting to merge his new power with his unique Heroes of Might and Magic system. He worked on recreating a spell that was meant to be born of history: Summon Clay Golem. By modifying the Earth Elemental summon, he aimed to create a natural-attribute Clay Golem that could repair itself using the power of the forest.
During this period of cultivation, the bond between Rhodes and Malfurion grew deeper by the day.