Abyss Draconis

"Cultivating... or just relaxing?" the voice echoed out through the area.

An area that was one of the highest on the island.

Green grasses covered the land, a single long tree close to the edge, and facing these trees was the endless blue sea that spread in all directions.

Sitting and reclining peacefully on this tree was Ryuk, whose eyes were closed, as the breeze swept his hair around his face.

But then he opened his eyes and turned, sighting Antares peeking from the edge.

"Just relaxing, Antares," Ryuk replied with a smile as Antares collapsed onto the ground beside him, the first thing he saw being the clear blue sky.

"Weird, for a rapist who is declared wanted..." he mocked, as Ryuk rolled his eyes.

"Tell me, Antares. If it was you, and your tribe declared you a rapist, what would you have done?" he asked, as Antares chuckled loudly.

"I can't be declared a rapist in my own tribe, you idiot. It's called a tribe for a reason. The people know you more than you know yourself."

"If I was declared a rapist, they would dismiss it as rubbish in an instant and punish the one who says so. I probably wouldn't even hear of it... HAHAHA!" Antares said, laughing, as Ryuk smiled.

"Seems like a tribe is a blessing," he said, earning a serious nod from Antares.

"Yes."

"In the Upper World, you will barely find an expert without a tribe of his own as they offer safety. They offer protection. And when you're in a pinch—and useful enough—some would lay their lives down just for you to be able to see the light of day," he said, as Ryuk's eyes drifted toward the distant sea, a memory flashing in his mind.

The memories of the dragons confronting the Knulls as they fought to their deaths to let the Draconis be able to survive.

And he—Ryuk—was the Draconis.

As for being useful, he didn't even know whether he was or not. But it was clear that the dragons were his people. They were his tribe.

Silence enveloped the space for about five minutes before...

"Thank you, Ryuk," Antares suddenly said, as Ryuk turned to look at the man who had sat up, eyes fixed on the sea.

"For what?"

"Many things. But the one I'm grateful for right now is you sparing the life of Raksasha. If you never brought her back, or had chosen to kill her instead... I never would have known my tribe still lives on."

"I thought they all died in the explosion and that my attempt to teleport them all at the last second must have failed."

"But now... I see it worked. And to know they're all safe..."

"It gives me more hope, Ryuk. A reason to keep going," he said, as Ryuk nodded his head.

"Now that you know they're good, I can guess you plan on going to see them soon, no?" he asked, and Antares nodded.

"Yes. I already deemed searching for the traces of their life to be my existential purpose."

"But now that I know they're alive, and even aware of the planet, where I can at least get a clue to where they are..."

"Then, of course, I want to go meet them."

"Good. But 600 years have passed since then. You sure they'll welcome you back with open arms?" he asked, as Antares quieted down for a while before replying.

"I hope. And even if they don't... I just need to see that they're all alive and doing well." He said with reconciliation and hope.

The silence came once more, the breeze sending both their hairs flapping before__

"You can leave now, Antares," Ryuk said, as Antares looked at him, watching Ryuk look back into his eyes.

"Not like I'm chasing you away or anything. I'm sure you too can tell that."

"But if you know where your people are, then I see no reason why you shouldn't be leaving straight for them."

"If I were you, I would have left the second I received the news..." Ryuk said, as Antares hummed.

"Your words make sense, and I do plan on leaving soon... but I want to bring you back to them," he said, as Ryuk raised an eyebrow.

"I want them to see the one who made me alive still. I know they'll pay any price to see it," he said, as Ryuk shook his head.

"My path is still very far, Antares," he replied, as Antares furrowed his brows.

"I can sense you don't belong to this world, Ryuk. Your source aura is not the same as the one here. You're like me too—an alien."

"Have you never dreamed of going out there... and finding your own people? Your own tribe?" he asked, as Ryuk settled on his back on the palm tree.

"I do," he replied curtly.

"Then, it's settled. I don't know what world you are from, but everyone seeking to go from any world to another must first stop at the Planetary Port."

"That place is where you'll get access to your own world."

"If we reach there, we can take a quick detour to the Yomir world, and you get to see my race before continuing on your own path," Antares said, as Ryuk's brows creased slightly.

[His plan makes some sense. You won't be dying on Endearth one day, Ryuk. You will leave.]

[So, why not live with him? He knows the direction back to the Planetary Port, which is like a port where you'll be able to go anywhere in the universe. And he knows the Upper realms too.]

[You won't be lost being with him, and you could be affiliated with an upper race too.]

[You will get protection, and with their help, you could figure out your next direction. And for sure, they'll be willing to pay you back for your mercy—and find you a route to where it is you need to go.

[It's a win-win situation,] the system notification panel flashed before him.

"And I'm not in a rush either. If you wish to save this world from invasion from the Knulls, like it seems you're trying to do, then do it. In fact, I'll be by your side and aid you to the best of my power."

"After all, you just cut me about a century of aimless searching simply by bringing the lady back alive. The least I can do is fight to make sure one of your goals is achieved..." he said, as Ryuk nodded his head before a thought appeared and he asked:

"I have a question, Aetheris."

"What's that?"

"How are the Knulls viewed in the Upper Realm?"