[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-first-demonic-dragon":3,"chapter-first-demonic-dragon-first-demonic-dragon-chapter-1228":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","First Demonic Dragon",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1079282,1393,"Chapter 1228: The Apocalypse II","first-demonic-dragon-chapter-1228",1228,"\u003Cp>The bell rang for the final class of the day long after Odie was taken home by Thea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As students streamed out into the streets, they looked up apprehensively at the storm that seemed imminent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had umbrellas took them out of their bags and held them at the ready. Those who were unprepared were forced to crowd under the archway to stay dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She’s not here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t see her either!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crestfallen young boy, holding a note card and chocolates, was the pity of his friend group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After using the last month to work up his courage, he was finally ready to confess his feelings to the girl of his dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only, all of her classmates were reporting that she had gone home sick for the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly... you should probably feel a little bit relieved! Can you imagine if you actually confessed in front of all these people and she said no? It’d be pretty embarrassing, no lie...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy hit one of his friends before stuffing his things into his bag. \"Doesn’t matter. I’m just going to try again whenever she comes back, and... hm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy was surprised to find a white robe in his backpack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a soft thing, divinely so. He could have sworn that it was fashioned from a cloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bits of real, genuine gold were woven along the hood and cape, giving them a luxurious yet modest aesthetic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy blinked as he triple-checked to make sure that the bag was indeed his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused as to how such a thing ended up in his possession, he started to take the robe out of his bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the minute he extracted the fabric, the world was seized by a violent quake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s... It’s almost time. I can feel it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia pants heavily as she forces herself to smile once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I had known that it was going to be this uncomfortable, I would have done more stretches or something in preparation for this day... maybe even gotten more regular massages.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga’s head is low as he clutches Gaia’s hand in his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...How do you possess the bandwidth to joke at a time like this...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Effort, mostly...\" Gaia attempts to shrug. \"You could attempt to reward me for my courage with a smile... or maybe even a laugh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga could not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of their family could not do as she had asked either. No matter how much they might have liked to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia smiles wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As I thought... I was never the most skilled jester. But I had hoped to spin some masterful words one last time and at least amuse you with my whimsy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This will be your last nothing, Gaia.\" Asherah stepped forward on a wooden cane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her wrinkled face bore a sad smile filled with heartache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will not perish here. You will be transformed and renewed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But she will not be herself, will she!?\" Bashenga snaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bash...\" Gaia begins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No... It is fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was stunned to see Asherah shed a tear. Though she quickly dashed it away as if it were accidental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... cannot say for certain. And I am sorry for that. It is a curse I will notwish upon my most hated enemy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And yet you would condemn her to it. The irony is far from lost on me.\" Bash said venomously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bashenga...\" Bekka places a hand on her son’s shoulder. It does nothing to ease the fire in his stomach or the grief in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Asherah does not speak again. She can’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, she backs away, finding that her presence only exacerbates the wounds of the grieving dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Don’t be like that to her.\" Gaia squeezes Bashenga’s hand. \"She’s family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga does not look up. Nor does he budge emotionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Can you at least look at me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I do not think that you would find that scenario preferable right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s probably why you should let me do all of the thinking. Why would I have married you if I could not stand the sight of your face in every capacity?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia looks up at Bekka with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I never did compliment you on your work. I’m a very big fan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bekka is the first to chuckle as she pats her stomach. \"You know how it is. Team effort.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her wives and husband join her in smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia strains to reach across her body and lift her lover’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga does not look like himself. His face is tight and agonized. His eyes are like gates to hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demons high and low would all flee at the sight of him if they were here now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Boop.\" Gaia taps her husband’s nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What is the meaning of-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want you to make me a promise, okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga’s eyes finally soften to a very small degree. \"...You need only name it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whichever form I next take, I want you to find me and love me all the same. Whether or not I remember you or not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t want to do it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, of course I do. But... what am I to do if your feelings are no longer the same?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You woo me, obviously. just like you did the first time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga looks stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He doesn’t know how he wooed you the first time. You’ve been out of his league since you came around.\" Straga blurted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monica and Abaddon each punch him in his sides to make him shut up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia laughs. It is a heartfelt sound. Ironically, she does not sound nearly as tired as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps I was the only one who saw the value of your brother. An entire mine of gold all for my taking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia wipes a tear from her eye. It is bright blue and glowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gently applies more force to her grip to emphasize the severity of her next words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s one last thing.... I kind of... want a wedding. A big one. The grandest and most fantastical that can be imagined. Well, it’s what I want right now, but I don’t know if the me in the future will want it, so maybe you don’t have to-\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You shall have it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga’s voice is delicate and fragile. His gaze was even more so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whatever you desire, in whatever life, you will have it. Even if I must tear it from the hands of another. That is my vow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia is noticeably surprised by the seriousness of his words, but she is not displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So serious. Then if I tell you to lighten up a bit too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I will do my best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t wait to see what that looks like.\" Gaia giggles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, her words unintentionally sting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wishes she could take them back as soon as she said them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silently, the two of them stare at each other with total honesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hurt and fear in their eyes are unveiled for both of them to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia’s veins are beginning to glow. In the dimly lit living room, she shines almost as brightly as a star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again, Bashenga does not consider that to be unusual. As long as he has known her, she has always lit up any room she has walked into.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia raises a finger and taps herself on the cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding, Bashenga leans over and kisses her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips linger on the side of her face for a while, as if he fears that he will never remember this sensation again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he starts to pull away, Gaia grabs him by his necklace and pulls him in for a last kiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is the straw to break the camel’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears rush down the faces of both lovers and mix together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The house around them begins to rumble and shake as the world is transformed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abaddon clutches his youngest daughter and youngest son under each arm to protect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia finally lets go of Bashenga and places her hand over his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One last favor... don’t look.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga bites his lip hard enough to draw blood. His claws burrow deeply into his palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaia sparing him from the sight of her body breaking down is her last act of love. Sparing him from hearing the sound of her screams is Eris’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Bashenga can no longer feel her warmth or her presence, he opens his eyes. But they are nearly dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is a glow, but there is no light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bashenga is nearly an empty shell, unable to do anything but stare into the space where his wife once lay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He does not make a move as Bekka wraps her arms around him and says something that he cannot hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feels the ground rumbling underneath his feet, but he has little to no idea what it means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he turns his gaze toward the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky has begun to change with the shattering of the sixth seal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world was painted red. The sun has turned completely black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the opposite side of the world, the moon is ominous and crimson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the veil between the realms is pulled away. Mountains crumbled, and islands moved from their places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, a blinding white light consumes all of earth, and the sound of distant trumpets can be heard by every ear.\u003C\u002Fp>",1552,"2026-06-03T10:37:20.117Z","2026-06-03T10:37:24.979Z",1,"novelbin.me","025a63e6567cd699886f8ad90f305aed86e5398a433f76fb96c2b78c0f668e21","first-demonic-dragon-chapter-1229","first-demonic-dragon-chapter-1227",1284,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Ffirst-demonic-dragon-cover.jpg"]