Primordial Profound Ark

Aerion had severely overslept. By the time he woke up, everyone had already broken their fast and were waiting for him. He was the sole reason they had not left their rooms yet. He sighed and forced himself out of his bed.

Being late for the opening of the Profound Ark would do me no good. In fact, I might miss out on some valuable treasures.

Aerion put on the same clothes as he wore yesterday and left his room. The Dragonsguard were waiting outside along with his three ladies.

"Forgive me for making you all wait... without further ado, we can proceed to the Profound Ark."

They started to make their way to the Profound Ark and Aerion found the chance to talk to Tai Shu and Fen Juecheng.

"I'm quite proud of you two... although it did not seem that way during the tournament. You beat the odds using everything at your disposal."

"I understand, it would seem odd if you congratulated us for almost killing the 14th prince." Tai Shu remarked.

"Proud... that is good to hear." Fen Juecheng smiled.

Their heroic victory won't go unrewarded, I'll make sure of it. But what kind of reward is suitable? Something to increase their cultivation strength and battle strength, perhaps. A bloodline would be ideal... and I have gathered enough gold to provide each of them with at least one drop.

In a short while, they arrived beneath the Profound Ark. Now all they needed to do was fly up and wait for it to open.

"Heavenly Demon, about the Demon, did you leave him in the Noble Rogue Sect?"

"Yes, as you had ordered."

"Good."

Aerion turned his attention to the Profound Ark. He summoned Rhaegal and Daemon from his Sky Poison Pearl and let his followers choose which they would like to ride. Since Rhaegal saw many of them unfit to do so, Daemon ended up having to carry more. The Heavenly Fire Demon had no issue flying himself. Aurion was left to the care of a few maids.

They all gathered just before the Profound Ark opened.

"A dragon!?" One of the Divine Phoenix Sect elders shouted out loud.

It would seem that having a dragon as a contracted beast was rare... a Sovereign Profound beast should be even rarer. In fact, I've never heard anyone talk of a Sovereign Profound beast, do they even exist on this Profound Sky Continent?

Aerion wondered... were his pets already the strongest beasts in the continent?

Then the Primordial Profound Ark opened and the twenty-four hour countdown started. Aerion's group went first. Once Aerion entered the Profound Ark, he realised just how large the thing was. Its interior seemed almost endless.

"So this is the interior of the Profound Ark... it's enormous!" Daenerys stated.

If it's an Ark... then surely, one can gain control of it? Its speed is superior to every other Profound Ark and is, no doubt, the largest one of them all. Such a thing can be useful for me. Therefore, I shall claim it as my own!

He looked around for a place that could, potentially, be the control centre of the Ark. Since there was nothing of the sort which was to be expected. Otherwise, the Divine Phoenix Sect, along with the Four Great Sacred Grounds would have found it if it were so easy to locate.

"Heavenly Fire Demon, I leave the Dragonsguard to you. You three are going with me."

After tweny-four hours the Profound Ark would send everyone out, as long as they aren't in a sealed space. Rhaegal took to the skies and began to search for the control centre. There were only four people riding him, Aerion, Tai Xia, Izanami and Daenerys. Since Daenerys wasn't especially strong, Aerion made sure that she wouldn't fall off. Every time Rhaegal flapped his wings, a mighty gale of wind would be left behind. Sometimes, when he was bored, Rhaegal would swoop down and grab hold of an unfortunate Tyrant Profound beast with its razor-sharp teeth. Aerion found himself collecting quite a few Profound Cores because of this.

It felt like centuries had passed... yet there was no signs of anything that stood out. Aerion, however, was not one to give up. He was intent on finding it, no matter how large the Profound Ark was. After many hours... something came into his view.

"Rhaegal, do you see it?"

"A flying fortress... yes I see it!"

"Land on top of it," Aerion ordered.

It was absolutely massive, to put it simply. Aerion wondered if there were any beasts or humans roaming it. Once Rhaegal got to it, he could not land on top. There seemed to be some kind of force preventing him from doing so. Aerion scratched his head.

Do we have to go through the front entrance?

"Rhaegal, fly to that gate over there. We'll enter that way."

"What a strange fortress," Daenerys remarked.

Eventually, they did get to the entrance. Aerion opened the gate by simply pushing it. The gate opened and he was finally free to explore it. Aerion returned Rhaegal to the Sky Poison Pearl and walked forward. Now he was unsure of what to do next.

"What do we do now?" Izanami questioned.

"We explore," Aerion replied.

Explore, they did. Until Aerion heard a voice.

"Please... find... her."

The voice was so close... Aerion looked in all directions yet he could not find its source.

Find her?

"That light... what is it?" Tai Xia noticed a ball of light.

Aerion walked over to it. There was nothing special around it... but it was highly possible that there was something beneath the red light. Aerion charged a Crimson Demon Wave at the spear point of Sky Piercer and pointed it downwards, in the direction of the red light.

Boom.

The tiles broke apart and a hole was revealed. Aerion looked down, his violet eyes observing what was beneath. In the very middle of the hole was a red light, this one was slightly different. He jumped down.

So the red light is some sort of protective barrier... I wonder, what is it protecting? Could it be 'her'?

" You… have… finally… come…."

A dim white shadow appeared before him. According to its shape and voice, Aerion could deduce that it was a woman.

"You have been waiting for me?"

"Yes... I have... been... looking... for... you.... for so long... for.. so... long."

I've only lived nineteen years, surely, that can't be that long? Unless its not me she is looking for. The Sky Poison Pearl... a definite possibility, it has many uses.

"You want this?" Aerion showed his arm, the Sky Poison Pearl to be exact.

"Yes... the... Sky Poison... Pearl. I controlled this profound ark… jumping from dimension to dimension… all for the sake of finding the Sky Poison Pearl… now its here... at last..."

This Profound Ark!? She controls it... wonderful! But considering her state, I doubt she can do so anymore.

"Why do you need the Sky Poison Pearl, do you need it to cure some poison?"

"Yes... my little mistress… her body has been inflicted with a terrible devilish poison… that only the... Sky Poison... Pearl can cure. In order... to stop the poison from spreading... our little mistress was sealed into the Coffin of Eternity."

"Mhm. Alright, I can assist your 'little mistress' by dispelling the poison. But. before I do so, I need you to remove the protective barrier."

"Very... well. I... see... now... I can... be... assured of her safety... you have the soul... and body of... a true... Dragon... it would... seem. I will be in another world, praying, for my little mistress and you…"

The lingering spirit dissipated into thin air... as if it never existed. The red light shattered and disappeared. A coffin appeared before Aerion and swung open, revealing a little girl. She looked a little bit like Jasmine.

Not... what I expected.

Aerion didn't let her appearance distract him from detoxifying the poison. He sighed "This is going to take a while..."

The Profound Ark may close by then, I shouldn't waste any time... I can use another method.

Aerion's eyes glowed red as a black four-sided shuriken-like pattern appeared on his eyes.

Izanagi.

Henceforth, you are no longer poisoned!

His left eye started to bleed and instantly lost its glow, leaving nothing but a hollow and blind white eye. Aerion couldn't believe that he had made himself blind in one eye just for some little mistress to be cured of her poison. Still, it was likely that the little mistress has some control over the Profound Ark now that the spirit has dissipated.

The little girl laid dead for a few moments... then, suddenly, her ruby-like red eyes opened. Aerion stepped back. The little mistress smiled, sweetly.

"Hi, Big Brother!"

Eh... this time it is more fitting, I suppose. But the fact that she isn't scared after being sealed in a coffin for a long time is surprising.

"Greetings... I am Aerion Targaryen, what's your name?"

"Aerion... Targaryen... what a weird name. My name... is... does Big Brother know?"

Aerion sighed. "No, I don't know."

"She is so cute... can we take her along?" Daenerys asked.

Tai Xia agreed and so did Izanami.

That was the intention all along. Besides, where else would she go?

"Cute... it is true, I am a little beautiful lady!"

Aerion lifted her out of the coffin and put the coffin into his Sky Poison Pearl, it would be a waste to leave such a thing hanging around. Then he flew out of the hole and helped the girl onto her own feet. She instantly noticed the sword at his side... she took out Blackfyre from its sheath and looked at its blade.

"Why do you want Blackfyre?" Aerion asked, confused.

"Blacky looks... tasty."

She opened her mouth but Aerion swiped it out of her hands.

"Ah... Big Brother is so cruel... now I'm... hungry."

She almost started to cry... which made Aerion feel guilty.

"You eat swords? Fine, give me a moment."

Aerion closed his eyes. Then he dropped one of the Divine Origin Profound Cores into the forge and imagined a sword... then it was forged from the fire. He grabbed it and opened his eyes.

"Here."

"Woah... Big Brother is so kind!"

"Can she really eat swords?" Izanami questioned.

"We'll see." Tai Xia replied.

The little girl stared at the sword and saliva began to drop down from her mouth. Without waiting any longer, she opened her mouth and took a bite out of the sword.

Crunch.

She... really can eat swords. This cultivation world continues to amaze me...

She finished off the sword and Aerion asked a question immediately after. "Can you control this Profound Ark?"

"Huh? I don't know..."

"I guess we'll find out sooner or later."

How much time has it been? Twenty-four hours... it feels like a whole day has passed, how much time do I really have left?

Aerion pondered on whether or not he should hunt for some more treasures... but the Primordial Profound Ark answered for him. Everyone was kicked out and they returned to the Divine Phoenix City. The countdown had ended. The Profound Ark seemed to have disappeared completely... into Aerion's Sky Poison Pearl. Aerion smiled after realising this.

Looks like I achieved my goal, after all. The ultimate source of transport belongs to me now! Although the World Teleportation Portal is superior in almost every way, it can only be used once every two months.

His eyes began to glow.

Now, there isn't much to do... but conquer the entire World, starting with the Illusory Demon Realm!