The life spring baptism

(3rd, POV, Random)

Inside a large space that appears to be a conference room that can accommodate multiple people. In the room, there's also a massive rectangular table. A massive iron door encircled the area, the door opens a few moments later, allowing a swarm of people to enter.

The first ones to enter were four elderly men, with white, deep blue, dark brown, and black hair moreover, they all have long beards too. Although they appear to be old, their skin is with any wrinkles, and they are also breaming with power. Following behind them are four squads of people with a similar complexion. The four old men are the four archdukes of the endless sea, they are also the elder's council and wield the greatest authority over the region; after Tiamat and her four daughters. The people behind them are their offspring, also the dukes and duchess serving under the four great kingdoms.

The members of the elder's council, are all ancient powerhouses of the same era as Tiamat and they too have participated in the ancient war, the oldest of them all is roughly the same age as Tiamat. They are all peak monarchs in terms of strength. Every one of the elders has four children, working as the head of their house and helping the four princesses in managing their respective kingdom.

The house of Weiss is the clan entrusted to oversee the Internal affairs, administration of the region. Unlike humans, dragons don't have surnames so to avoid confusion the founder of the house Weiss, or the White dragon Weiss decided to label his clan as the house of Weiss. The others also followed his example.

The house of Raiden the clan established by the thunder dragon Raiden, the commander of the royal knights is entrusted to maintain the Imperial order and protect the civilians. His children are all the personal guards assigned to aid Tiamat's four daughters.

The house of Barros the clan founded by the earth dragon Barros is assigned to supervise the region's economy and business with the other regimes of the divine beasts. They also own the trade guild, where adventures and hunters can sell their products to earn money or buy commodities they require.

The last and only oriental dragon house is the Umbra clan. Established by the black dragon Umbra. He is a war general, his house is privileged to train the army and troops to defend the regime's borders, in times of crisis. Even though it will probably require someone balls made of steel to even think about attacking the mightiest divine beast's territory.

Moments later, Ethan's four aunts, Tiamat's daughters also entered the room. Nobody took a seat, as if waiting for someone to arrive. However, they still greeted one another, in the meantime.

"It would seem everybody is already here."

All of them heard a feminine cold and indifferent voice and a peerless cold beauty with platinum silver hair and pupils emerged from seemingly out of thin air, she is none other than the leader of the divine beasts and their sovereign Tiamat. Everyone hurriedly put their right hand over their heart and bowed with evident respect and uttered in sync.

"Welcome your Majesty!!! We are here to answer your summon."

Tiamat simply nodded casually and took her seat.

"All of you take your seats before we began discussing the reason, for today's meeting."

She ordered and they all started to take their seats. After that, they all proceed to greet Tiamat separately, to which she also replied politely.

"Mother—can you tell us the reason for such a hasty conference?"

With the initial pleasantries out of the way, Apep concluded to finally move toward the actual subject. No one objected to her word, rather they too looked at Tiamat with curious gazes.

Tiamat also turned seriously and her previous casual demeanor vanished, replaced by the regal and dignified expression of a monarch.

Scanning everyone one last time she opened her mouth and began speaking.

"I assume everybody is aware— that Vritra my fifth child has passed away, in a glorious battle against the new demigod."

Everyone sitting in the room nodded, showing their consensus. A few moments went by, as she didn't speak anything more and let her words sink in.

"You must also be aware he left a child, more precisely a boy. His child— I decided to make him my successor and the next sovereign of the dragon race."

Hearing Tiamat's declaration, all of them widened their eyes, except her daughters. They have a face full of smiles instead. It is truly great news for them as not only will their burdens be lessened, they can get more free time to enjoy their long life.

They had already agreed to promote Vritra as their sole king, years ago. And now that he is no more and Ethan is more talented compared to him, they have no complaint.

Nonetheless, not all folks present in the room are aware that, Ethan is a pure chaos dragon with space affinity and possesses more potential than Vritra.

The eldest of them all archduke Weiss is the first to voice out his opinion.

"Your majesty!! Are you serious about this?"

The others also nodded to his words, although they have all heard, Vritra had a son and he is currently residing here with his grandmother Tiamat. They never paid much attention to this matter, for they all presumed him as a hybrid. And with a mixed bloodline, he can at most achieve the imperial stage, in this lifetime.

They are not aware of the fact that chaos magic, can erase the impurities of the blood. Furthermore, Ethan is a pure-blooded chaos dragon with space and destruction magic, something even his aunts are not aware of. They all speculated Tiamat is only showing affection to him, because of his late father as they all know Vritra was her most adorned child. So, their queen must be reminiscing her son, thought this kid.

Nobody imagined she would announce him as her successor to the throne. Yet, the unthinkable happened.

"I agree with lord Weiss, his Majesty from what we know prince Vritra married a human woman, who bore this child. So, how can you make a mix-blood..."

Thud!!!...

The archduke Raiden was about to call Ethan a hybrid, only for him to kneel on the floor with a thud, as an overwhelming influx of magical power pressured him on the ground, forcing him to bend. The temperature dropped while the atmosphere darkened as Tiamat kept releasing her aura. The others similarly shut their mouths and whatever discontent they had vanished, from their minds like smokes. When the boundless might suppressed them making it difficult for them to breathe.

"It seems like there's some deep misunderstanding about the current situation — When did I ever ask for anyone's approval?"

Tiamat's cold voice swept through the room. It was like a cold winter wind sailed through the hall.

All the elders and dukes/duchesses shuddered as they awakened from their stupid disillusions.

This wasn't a democratic nation.

Their inputs held no weight.

The only reason Tiamat even created this council and divided the regime into four great kingdoms, was for them to deal with most of the administration she found bothersome.

In the end, the absolute power of decision was and would always be in her hands.

As if to drive it in their minds, the atmosphere became even more suffocating while her eyes shone with an eerie light as she looked at all of them. This is the true Tiamat, more precisely the leader of the divine beast and the dragon queen, not the gentle and wise mother or grandmother, but the vicious monster who slaughtered millions of fighters, in the ancient war. If Ethan saw her now, he would definitely reevaluate his impression of her.

"It seems like my long years of absence made you forget the reality."

She smiled,

"Listen well. Discussion and negotiation only happen between peers. You are not my opponent. Therefore—shut up and obey. If you aren't happy, then fight me and win. Simple, right?"

Someone gulped.

Yes.

How could they have forgotten?

This was the Dragon Queen.

The one and only who could stand above all of them with absolute pride and absolute power.

Her whims were the rules and her words were the laws.

Looking at the depressed face of everyone, Apep sighed and gave a bitter smile. Her mother will never change, she is pretty polite and easygoing for the most part making people forget she is the divine beast of pride, and nobody disproves her order.

NO ONE!!!

.

.

.

"Mother— why don't you calm down and explain to them."

"Yes— I know you understand they don't have any ill intentions. They just lack proper information."

Apep and Leviathan spoke on behalf of the archdukes, trying to alleviate the current stifling predicament.

Tiamat only snorted before, she retracted her aura, and the pressure weighing them all down vanishes along with it. Archduke Raiden also stood up, however, he is still trembling as he was the one who bore the majority of Tiamat's suppression.

"I don't need to give any explanations, but if you insist then, let me enlighten these frogs in the well."

"His name is Ethan— he is not a hybrid, but a pure chaos dragon with pure draconic bloodline. He didn't inherit his mother's blood. He awakened the space element, and also mastered his aura. Furthermore, he is still only twelve years old."

.

.

.

After Tiamat's words finished, the whole room went into an uproar.

After all, her statements were akin to a boom, for them. How could they not be taken aback? Vritra was only a chaos dragon with no other magical affinities yet with only his all elemental and curses immunity, he was able to become an unsurmountable existence among not only the dragon race but within the astral realm as a whole.

Yet, his son is even more gifted compared to him, not only he is a pure dragon he also inherited space magic, like his grandmother.

They never doubted Tiamat's words, as she has no reason to lie to them as she said they are not her match, so there is no need to lie.

Her daughters, on the other hand, couldn't help but roll their eyes at their mother, who has an arrogant smirk on her face, as if she had done something commendable. She is also repeatedly nodding her head as if she is pleased with, how the others are reacting.

It is true Tiamat is feeling very proud at the moment, she was the one who trained him from the beginning. So, she is satisfied, because now she can finally brag about her amazing grandson.

The commotion finally died down, and everybody stayed silent for a moment. Noticing the murmurs has quieted down, Tiamat again began to speak.

"However, I do have a proposition that you might find interesting. I'm not going to formally crown him as monarch; instead, he'll be the crown prince. The coronation will take place about two years later. This is where you all come to play, on the day of his crowning Ethan will battle against anyone, who wishes to challenge him.

I require you to vigorously nurture the young members of your family for them to be able to face him. It makes no difference how many people participate; the only requirements are that no one is older than twenty years and that everyone is under/at the expert stage."

Tiamat said no more after that, letting everyone understand her motives and what they are delegated to do.

"If I may ask, Your Majesty, could you clarify what is to be gained from all of this??"

The archduke Barros couldn't help but inquire; he is a born merchant, and business runs through his veins. Tiamat's suggestion was summarized and evaluated, and he realized there was little to gain; the efforts were not worth the benefits. This was also what the other was thinking about. As a result, none of them objected to his words and remained silent. They're waiting for their queen to speak once more.

Hearing the archduke's words, Tiamat snickered, and her eyes flashed with an amused glint.

"Well, of course, there is certainly a prize to pay for everything. Believe me, when I say; I probably understand this principle more than anyone else does.

There is a reward for the winner too, so to say the one who can defeat my grandson."

Hearing the word reward, everybody perked up their ears. Tiamat's grin widened watching their reactions.

"The one who can defeat Ethan, I'll grant him/her a life spring baptism."

When she announced the life spring baptism, another round of turmoil erupted in the council room. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone who aspires to be a peak powerhouse, regardless of their origin. A small spring is located within the tree of life, which gets replenished with the purest concentration of the life tree, every hundred years, and only one extremely blessed individual is given the opportunity to soak in it. The person receives numerous benefits, including extended vitality, improved inherent physique, and the removal of any impurities in their bloodline. Making a person grow as a peerless talent of the ages. Allowing the said person to smooth sail all the stages, their chances of reaching the monarch stage is also set in stone.

Tiamat's smile distorted even more as she watched everyone's expression, overflowing with desire, listening to her offer. This was the effect she expected to produce when she considered what to offer, for them to wholeheartedly comply with her order.

'Now the stage is set, everything is placed perfectly, all there is left for Ethan to return. I truly wonder, what will be his response.

He-he-he-he!!!...

.

.

.

Ha-ha-ha!!!... I can't wait to see him again~ '

[Enjoy the chapter and give power stones.]