Chapter 919: Giant Dragons? Banquets? Completely Unrelated!
"Tohru, you transferred all life on Earth?" The Emperor of Demise asked his daughter, his eyes wide with astonishment.
"Hmph, wasn't that easy?" Tohru proudly lifted her chin, puffing out her chest. She bared her sharp little fangs in a cheeky grin. "Old man, I can blow you away with a single breath now. I'd advise you not to provoke me!"
Hearing this, a heavy shadow of exasperation fell over the Emperor of Demise's face. Dark lines practically materialized on his forehead.
Ah, yes. True fatherly kindness and filial piety at work.
But he really couldn't voice any complaints. The current Tohru possessed the sheer power to back up her arrogant claims. As a majestic dragon who cared deeply about his reputation, he naturally didn't want to lose face in front of such a large crowd.
"Why are you so strong now?" Elma asked, her expression a complex mix of envy and disbelief.
"Of course, it's because of Ren-kun!" Tohru beamed, her tail swishing happily behind her.
"What about me?"
Right on cue, a familiar voice drifted through the air. Space rippled slightly, and Ren stepped back into the clearing, looking completely unruffled.
"How were you able to come back so fast?" Ilulu tilted her head, her twin tails swaying. She eyed him with heavy suspicion. "You didn't just run away scared, did you? I bet you didn't even go near that lake!"
"Don't talk nonsense! Ren wouldn't be scared of anything!" Tohru immediately bared her teeth, glaring fiercely at the shorter dragon.
Ilulu was not to be outdone. She puffed out her cheeks and glared right back. "He's only human, after all! Humans are timid, cunning, and highly deceptive creatures!"
Her deep-seated prejudice against humanity bled into every word.
Seeing Tohru's temper about to violently flare up into a full-blown dragon brawl, Lucoa stepped in with a gentle, placating smile.
"Mr. Ren, how is the situation?" Lucoa proactively steered the conversation back on track, her heterochromatic eyes curving into warm crescents.
"I've finished investigating," Ren replied casually, dusting off his sleeves. "I've already dealt with that Thousand Lakes and whatever was hiding inside it. Let me send everyone back first."
With a casual wave of his hand, a deep spatial distortion swept across the realm. In an instant, the displaced lives of the world were returned to their rightful places.
"That strange lake is gone?" The Emperor of Demise's eyes lit up with a sharp gleam.
"Hmph, I don't believe it. I'm going in to see for myself right now!" Unwilling to place her trust in a mere human, Ilulu spread her massive, fleshy dragon wings. With a powerful gust of wind, she launched herself into the sky, flying straight toward the Dragon Valley.
Ren merely chuckled. "If you're all that worried, you can go see for yourselves."
The group of dragons, led by Ren, ventured deep into the Dragon Valley.
When they arrived, Ilulu was standing completely dazed at the edge of a massive crater where the Thousand Lakes had once been. The corrosive, world-ending waters were entirely eradicated. Not a single drop remained.
She murmured, her voice trembling slightly, "It really... completely disappeared..."
Elma stood beside her, looking equally shell-shocked. "Where did that world-destroying lake go?"
Ren shoved his hands into his pockets and calmly stated, "You can simply understand it as me destroying it. It has been erased. It will no longer appear in any world, ever again."
"How did you do that?" Elma whipped her head around to stare at him. She didn't question if he could do it anymore; the proof was right in front of her. She desperately wanted to know how.
No one knew better than Elma just how terrifying that corrupted water was. She had personally witnessed her own people gradually descending into madness, the oceans slowly being tainted, and eventually, entire worlds falling into absolute ruin.
What kind of method could possibly eliminate such a bizarre, conceptual horror? She racked her brain, running through every high-tier magic and divine miracle she knew, but came up completely empty.
"How did I do it? You've certainly asked me a difficult question there." Ren rubbed his chin, pretending to think for a moment. Then, he raised his right hand and casually clenched it into a fist. "It's probably just like this."
Didn't he basically say nothing at all?!
Elma blinked her large eyes, her mouth falling open. She had every reason to suspect Ren was just messing with her to lighten the heavy mood.
But what Ren said was the absolute truth. There was really nothing more to explain. It wasn't some complex magical ritual or divine sealing art. It was simply a matter of pure, unadulterated crushing by rank and magnitude. Absolute power erasing a lesser existence.
The Emperor of Demise, however, wasn't nearly as curious about the mechanics. He stepped forward and bowed his head slightly, his tone carrying genuine respect. "Your Excellency Ren, thank you for saving our world."
Lucoa nodded in agreement, her massive chest bouncing slightly with the motion. "Yes, indeed. If it were left to us, we really couldn't have dealt with that lake. Ren-kun's power is truly intriguing."
"If you're curious, then you should come visit my house!" Tohru suddenly invited with a wide, knowing grin.
Lucoa blinked in surprise. "Eh? Is that allowed?"
Tohru shot a sly wink at Ren, sending him a clear signal.
Ren, you must really like Lucoa. You've been secretly peeking at her chest so many times since we got here!
Ren's expression remained perfectly calm and stoic. He wasn't peeking; he was appreciating. There was a distinct difference. Still, Tohru seemed eager to play wingman and create an opportunity for him, which he certainly wouldn't reject.
"If you want to come, feel free," Ren said, his tone relaxed. "But I'm not sure if there will be anything there that interests you."
Kanna, however, excitedly raised her small hands, her fluffy tail wagging. "Brother Ren's house has lots and lots of delicious food! And lots of big sisters who give Kanna delicious snacks all day!"
That was entirely because the girls at home found Kanna far too cute to resist. They couldn't help but want to spoil the little dragon, constantly feeding her treats. Only Kanna, being a giant dragon with a bottomless appetite, could handle that level of pampering. If it were any ordinary person, they would have probably been fed to death by the sheer volume of pastries and sweets.
"It seems Kanna really likes Ren-kun too~" Lucoa smiled warmly, placing a hand on her cheek. "Okay, since Tohru and Ren-kun both welcome me, I will definitely go." She paused, glancing around at the recovering landscape. "But it has to be after this world has stabilized a bit."
"Okay. You're always welcome," Ren replied.
"Cough... um, that..." Elma suddenly interjected, her cheeks flushing a faint pink as she fiddled with her fingers. "Can I also go and see?"
Before anyone could tease her, she quickly waved her hands in a panic. "Don't—don't misunderstand! I'm just a little curious about the human world! That's all!"
"As long as you don't intend to destroy anything, feel free to come," Ren said indifferently.
Now that many things across the multiverse were already under his direct control, there weren't nearly as many restrictions on who could visit his domain. The only things he needed to keep an eye out for were the supreme divinities that could pop up at any time, and the various Kings who lurked in the shadows.
At this moment, after thoroughly confirming that the corrupted lake was truly gone, Ilulu silently walked over.
She lowered her head, her messy pink hair falling over her eyes. Her lips were pressed tightly together.
She whispered to Tohru, her voice barely audible, "I'm sorry. I was overly suspicious of you."
Tohru crossed her arms and snorted coldly. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." She gestured toward the young man standing nearby. "You suspected Ren couldn't do it. You should apologize to him."
"Ugh... I will."
The petite dragon girl turned to face Ren. She planted her feet together and bowed deeply, her voice ringing out with absolute sincerity.
"I apologize! It's all my fault! It was my prejudice against humans that made me mock you!"
"It's a small matter. I'll accept your apology," Ren waved his hand dismissively, not taking her earlier hostility to heart.
This child seemed to harbor such a deep-seated hatred for humans simply because her family had been harmed by them in the past. It was a tragic cycle, but not one he needed to hold against her.
"Since things here are settled, Tohru, Kanna, let's go back."
"Okay!" Tohru chirped happily.
"Mm," Kanna nodded, grabbing onto the hem of Ren's shirt.
Although this world was once their home, they had no lingering attachments to it. Compared to this desolate place, they vastly preferred the warmth of their new family.
"Are you leaving right now?" The Emperor of Demise stepped forward, trying to persuade him to stay a little longer. "We haven't formally thanked Your Excellency Ren yet. For example, by holding a grand banquet in the human way."
Dragons and banquets.
Those were truly two concepts that had absolutely nothing to do with each other.
"No need. I don't like such superficial things," Ren replied smoothly. "You are Tohru's father, so receiving your verbal thanks is more than enough."
Ren had zero interest in attending stuffy banquets with a bunch of strangers. Unless the attendees were all pure, peerless beauties, it was a complete waste of time. Otherwise, he might as well go home and indulge in the soft, fragrant land of tenderness with his girls.
"This..."
Seeing Ren's firm stance, the Emperor of Demise no longer insisted. He bowed his head respectfully. "Everyone, goodbye. I look forward to your eventual return."
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