Leaving Storm's End

"That old man seems to have an ulterior motive…"

Aerion looked up to the Dragon. "Everyone has a motive… a goal, that is what drives people forward. But, alas, I could care less what his goals are. I have ambitions of my own to complete."

"That is true, perhaps I am too concerned over a few words he spoke. He seems more of an ally than foe."

"There is nothing to worry about, Dragon."

"Only time will tell… just be cautious."

Hmph, what could his goal be anyway? He's thousands of times stronger than I… currently, anyway. In the future, however, no man will be able to stand in my way. He might require my assistance then. I would cheerfully comply, as long as his request is reasonable. He is rather mysterious, though… I'll keep the Dragon's advise in mind.

Aerion entered the Seventh Floor through the gate. As usual, the cloaked man awaited him on the very first platform. It has been a long time since they had a transaction, so he some-what tried to get Aerion to give away his gold. He made various gestures for Aerion to walk to him.

"You see, this rich merchant needs some gold..."

"Why do you need it? You are rich, surely..."

"That gold can buy me something nothing else can."

"And that is?"

"Life. Once I gather enough of it, I can live again. You are the one and only person who can do so. Do you understand now?"

"Fair enough, since I am kind man, you can have it. Just give me something useful in exchange."

"Hmm... alright. By the way, what I just said was just a half-truth. On what world do I need you more than you need me? I can live again? I am already alive! Hahaha... you looked rather compassionate for a few seconds there."

"... Damn you, your little ploy worked perfectly."

How am I to know whether he is alive or not? I planned on spending the gold upon my return to the Profound Sky Continent, after defeating Rotias... oh well.

"I am a genius merchant indeed. Kind, too. I feel as if your pride is getting in the way of progress..."

"How so?"

"Hmph, you already know. It was hard enough for you to take those Tyrant Profound pills... and that was out of need. Ah... that is the reason why you don't cash out as of recent, you want to defeat Rotias with your own strength. Is this not true?"

"It is, more or less."

"Hahahaha, have it your way." He tossed back the ring. "I'll return in a few months."

The dungeon ring slid back into Aerion's finger. He looked into the clear, heavenly blue sky of the Seventh Floor.

Pride, a weakness? Hmph.

Aerion went only upwards, passing all obstacles in his path with relative ease. This time, instead of entering through the portal, Aerion remained on the last platform. The third gate, Purgatory, burst open. The plan was to keep it open, for as long as possibly. This was to erase one of his weaknesses in battle. Consistency... a hard thing to achieve when using anything above Draconic Heart.

In battle, I shall have no weaknesses...

That is the goal, anyway. How will one reach the very peak, his goals and ambitions, if he does not strive for it? I will aim for it... and, by the end, grasp it with my bare hands! I have many goals, far more than just defeating Rotias... such as self-improvement... I have many things in mind. Let's see...

A perfect and undefeatable Warrior I shall be. A great, ambitious and wise Ruler I shall be. A passionate and chivalrous husband... an encouraging and caring father... I shall be!

Seems about right, I should start with the warrior part.

After exhausting himself for a long, very long, period of time, he moved onto the Arena.

He woke after a long night in the Arena with a headache, but his body seemed to have recovered well from the long spar. He wasn't quite 100% but that would come with a day or two of rest.

Izanami is a lifesaver… if it weren't for her, I would be washed up on some island. Or worse, floating in the middle of the Narrow Sea. In that case, returning to Storm's End would have taken some time.

He got dressed into another set of clothes as his previous clothing was not in the best condition. It was torn by wind and stained by fire and wind in the spar. His right arm seemed to be back to normal, apart from the fact that it felt rather stiff. That goes away after some time.

After a few days were spent in Storm's End, Aerion started a long and treacherous journey to Dorne. Well… it wasn't actually going to be long, nor treacherous, quite the opposite actually. He decided that it was a good time to bring out his dragon, after all, a journey to Dorne by foot would waste a few months, time that Aerion would rather use on something more productive. If he were traveling alone, then it would take only a few hours, a day at the very most- a laughably short journey. But, he wasn't going alone.

Aerion finally entered the Sky Poison Pearl, scanning his surroundings.

Rhaegal was, of course, larger than before and his crimson scales looked sharper than ever. His crimson tone did emit a menacing aura… yet for some, it can be seen as something beautiful. Beauty is subjective, after all.

Daemon grew as well, even more drastically than Rhaegal, but not only in size. The snake at his tail breathed deadlier poison, his wings were longer allowing for quicker flight, his claws were much sharper and Aerion estimated that an entire, fully grown, bear could fit in his mouth. Most intriguing of all, he could now breathe flames. These flames are mostly the usual orange shade, but they occasionally display an interesting blue hue.

The blue flames are much more powerful and emit far more heat… interesting. I wonder how they would fare against Rhaegal's scarlet flames.

"It has been a while, father." Rhaegal was the first to speak, his voice seemed to be deeper than Aerion remembered.

"It has been indeed." Aerion agreed.

"Too long, I believe. Can we leave this place?" Daemon asked.

"Yes, you may."

Aerion released them from his Sky Poison Pearl. They were finally free to stretch their wings and fly into the azure sky, which they did. The wind blew loudly, the trees turned and some were violently removed from their roots as the two beasts took flight. Such wild and unrestrained strength… to most they seem mythical, godly, creatures but to Aerion they were no more than his pets.

"Is that a… dragon!?"

"Gods, it is!"

Rhaegal's wings covered Storm's End with ease, starving the mighty castle and all of its inhabitants of the sun's radiant light. Then he flew further away and his shadow dissipated.

They are straying a bit too far… hm, I shall let them have their fun.

"Was that what I thought it was?" Viserys asked, after he found Aerion's whereabouts. He stood at the highest tower which was one of his favorite places. One could observe many things from it, especially the surrounding land.

"Yes, it was. My crimson-scaled dragon, Rhaegal, and… chimera."

"What in seven hells is a chimera?"

"I cannot say for sure… but, I believe it is a mixture between lion, eagle, goat and snake."

"How is that even possible?"

Aerion shrugged. "I don't know, I simply encountered two on one of my adventures… had to kill the parent before it killed me and it turned out that there was a cub in its lair."

"And you decided to raise it?"

"Certainly."

"I wouldn't have done so, but it is a rather magnificent beast. The dragon, however, I have seen before. It has grown rapidly over the months… a frightening sight, to most."

Aerion smiled. "Does he scare you as well, dear uncle?"

"No, I am of the Blood of the Dragon… I fear no such thing."

"That is good, for dragons are our loyal companions and our's only."

~

At last, Rhaegal and Daemon had returned. Aerion told everyone to prepare for departure, so they were all more or less ready. There was no courtyard quite large enough to fit the mighty and towering Rhaegal, so he had to land on the rough hills. Despite this, he was still prideful as ever as he looked down on most of his Father's following.

"I will not carry those fools, you can leave them to Daemon. They would prefer his golden fur over my crimson scales anyway."

Aerion turned to those behind him. "Choose which one you wish to mount."

Turns out that Rhaegal was rather intimidating to the knights, so they all were helped on top of Daemon. The Kingsguard followed when Aerion said he would not judge them on a fairly meaningless decision. Aerion then tamed Rhaegal, allowing those who were less intimidated to mount the crimson-scaled dragon. This group included Margaery, Daenerys and Viserys… a very select group. Izanami flew on her own as usual.

The journey started soon after, though it quickly became a race. Rhaegal and Daemon sped past the lands like there was no tomorrow, trying to one-up each other at each turn. Daemon was naturally faster but he had to carry more people. Aerion stayed behind with Izanami.

"How noble of you, my dragon."

Aerion smiled. "I couldn't leave my lady all alone, for the night is dark and… full of terrors."

Aerion almost forgot that saying, he wasn't the biggest follower of the R'hllor religion. But it was quite popular with Essos… you learn a few things after straying in the Free Cities for years upon years.

"When you are a cultivator, I doubt there are any terrors in this world."

"True enough… I suppose. Either way, I wanted to see a place before going straight to Dorne. Are you coming with me?"

Aerion offered his hand and she accepted his offer without much hesitation.

"I couldn't leave you all alone, you might have found yourself some Dornish woman if that were so…"

Aerion laughed. "Perhaps it is true, I hear they are rather fierce and have a special allure to them. But I don't think any of them are worthy enough to be more bride, and I am a chaste man… so the chances of that happening are low."

"Mhm, go on, fly."

"Alright, prepare yourself."

BOOM.

Aerion went to search for one place and one place only, one he had seen before… though it was only in a vision. The place had some history so he simply wanted to see it in person. It was a building called the Tower of Joy.