Chapter 409: After Two Months, the Titan Finally Awakens?!

1st Day of Autumnus 11th Month, Year 50,001 — Dusk Era

Within the Lightning Valley, where dark thunderclouds could still be seen gathering overhead, an enormous black cocoon remained motionless at the center of the devastated landscape, showing no signs of activity even after two months.

The surrounding area was unusually silent, with only a few beasts occasionally appearing in the distance to observe the mysterious cocoon, although none dared to approach it.

After all, a dangerous woman was sitting upon the branch of a nearby tree, continuously releasing her draconic pressure into the surroundings, which was more than enough to discourage any curious creature from coming closer.

"Luke..."

Emberlyn quietly murmured his name, her voice carrying a sense of longing as she recalled the time they had spent together, especially his occasional jokes, laughter, and the companionship she had grown accustomed to during their journey.

"Hahhh..."

She released a sigh while looking toward the black cocoon, which had remained unchanged throughout the past two months, leaving her increasingly worried about Luke's condition and what might be happening to him inside.

However, just as she was thinking about him, the sound of powerful wings flapping suddenly echoed across the valley.

FWOOOSHHH!

A gigantic crimson dragon appeared above the surrounding hills, its arrival immediately frightening the beasts watching from afar and causing them to flee.

THUD!

Rhaenyra reverted to her humanoid form before landing a short distance from the tree where Emberlyn was sitting, then turned her attention toward the black cocoon without revealing any noticeable emotions.

At least, that was how her expression appeared to Emberlyn.

Unfortunately, seeing her elder sister's arrival didn't make Emberlyn particularly happy, especially since the longer she waited for Luke to awaken, the more she began questioning why Rhaenyra was the one married to him instead of her.

During the past two months, Rhaenyra had visited the valley only a few times to check Luke's condition, spending most of her time clearing the monsters throughout the Bravaryn region under their father's orders.

Emberlyn, on the other hand, had remained near the cocoon, waiting for Luke to return while her feelings toward him continued growing stronger.

And today, after keeping those thoughts to herself for so long, she finally decided to confront her elder sister.

"Rhaenyra, you should be happy now, that soon the chain connecting you to Luke will break, right?"

Hearing those words, Rhaenyra's expression darkened, and she turned toward Emberlyn, clearly unwilling to start another argument over her marriage.

Unfortunately, Emberlyn had no intention of letting the matter end there.

"You are selfish, Rhaenyra, not caring about Luke at all!"

Emberlyn shouted as she rose from the tree branch, staring at her elder sister with hatred that she had never openly displayed toward her before.

After all, Rhaenyra already knew that breaking the golden marriage chains would cause Luke to lose a portion of everything he possessed, including his talent, lifespan, and other aspects of his existence.

Yet despite knowing those consequences, she still intended to break them.

"I said earlier, that it's between him and me."

Rhaenyra responded firmly, making it clear that she didn't appreciate her younger sister interfering in something she considered a private matter.

"And yet you are hell-bent on taking everything from him!"

Emberlyn shouted again, becoming even angrier upon hearing her response, since she couldn't understand how Rhaenyra could claim that Luke belonged to her while preparing to do something that would harm him.

She had already promised herself that she would protect Luke, and if something happened to him again because she had failed to intervene, Emberlyn knew she would never forgive herself.

This time, Rhaenyra fully turned toward her younger sister, studying her expression with an unreadable gaze before narrowing her eyes.

"Don't tell me, Ember, that you have fallen for him completely."

"Yes, I am! As in the first place, it should have been me who was supposed to marry him!"

Emberlyn answered without hesitation, openly acknowledging her feelings for Luke rather than attempting to conceal them as she had done previously.

"But you are not, since I got married to him."

Rhaenyra immediately confronted her, stepping closer until the two sisters were standing directly before each other.

"Do you understand?"

However, Emberlyn refused to back down, meeting her elder sister's gaze without showing the slightest intention of retreating.

"But you don't accept this marriage at all."

"I said earlier, that it's a matter between u—"

CRACK!

Before Rhaenyra could finish speaking or Emberlyn could respond, a faint cracking sound suddenly reached their ears, immediately interrupting the argument.

Despite how quiet the sound was, both Dragon Princesses heard it clearly and instinctively turned toward the black cocoon.

Unlike its original appearance, the cocoon had gradually solidified throughout the past two months, developing a firm outer surface that had remained completely unchanged until now.

However, at the side facing them, a thin crack had finally appeared upon that dark surface, and it was slowly growing larger with every passing moment.

"Luke!!"

Both women shouted his name at almost the same time, immediately forgetting their previous argument as their attention shifted entirely toward the person inside.

After all, regardless of their disagreement, Luke had already become someone extremely important to both of them.

The same was true for Rhaenyra, who, despite constantly expressing her dislike toward the golden marriage chains, had gradually developed genuine feelings for Luke.

Unfortunately, those feelings hadn't changed her original decision, since she still intended to break the chains connecting them.

As far as she understood, Luke wouldn't die if his wives broke their marriage bonds, and although he would suffer considerable losses, she was already determined to compensate him for whatever he lost.

She would even take care of him afterward, ensuring that he wouldn't have to worry about anything.

After all, Luke belonged to her, and she had no intention of allowing anyone else to take him away.

However, that determination didn't mean she felt completely comfortable with what she was planning.

Deep down, Rhaenyra still carried a sense of guilt, which was precisely why she hadn't told Luke about the agreement concerning the golden chains that she had made with her father.

She also disliked hearing anyone else mention the matter, especially when Emberlyn continued reminding her of the consequences Luke would have to bear.

'Sorry, Luke. I hope you will understand that I can't live in chains.'

Rhaenyra silently apologized to him, knowing that he couldn't hear her thoughts, before returning her attention toward the cocoon.

By now, the original crack had spread across much of its surface, with smaller fractures continuously branching outward until the entire black structure appeared to be approaching its breaking point.

Both Dragon Princesses watched with growing anticipation, their earlier anger completely forgotten as they waited for the person they had missed throughout the past two months.

Finally, after several more moments, the cocoon could no longer maintain its form.

BOOOOM!

The black shell shattered apart, releasing a powerful shockwave that swept across the valley and destroyed the sparse vegetation that had managed to grow during the previous month.

However, instead of allowing the darkness to spread farther, the remaining energy suddenly began withdrawing toward the being concealed at the center.

The darkness originating from the shattered cocoon swirled inward, gathering around Luke's body before gradually merging with him.

As the surrounding shadows continued disappearing, a humanoid silhouette finally became visible within the fading darkness.

"Luke..."

Both princesses murmured his name with happiness upon recognizing his figure, relieved that he had finally emerged from the cocoon after remaining inside for so long.

For the moment, neither approached him, since the darkness was still merging with his body, and they didn't want to interrupt whatever process was taking place.

However, both were already eager to rush forward and embrace him as soon as it ended.

Unfortunately for Rhaenyra, her younger sister reacted first.

"Luke!"

With an excited shout, Emberlyn immediately launched herself forward, crossing the distance between them before Rhaenyra could even react.

Under her elder sister's astonished gaze, Emberlyn threw herself against Luke and wrapped her arms tightly around his body, completely ignoring the fact that his eyes were still closed.

She didn't even bother checking whether anything about him had changed during those two months, since all she cared about at that moment was finally being able to hold him again.

"This bi—! Tch!"

Rhaenyra abruptly stopped herself from cursing her own sister, although her expression made it obvious that she wasn't pleased by what had just happened.

Without wasting another moment, she took a step forward and instantly appeared beside them.

"Move."

Her voice was cold, leaving little doubt that she wanted Emberlyn to release Luke immediately.

Unfortunately, Emberlyn paid no attention to her command and continued embracing him, even burying her face against his body and breathing in his familiar scent, which she hadn't realized she had missed so much throughout their separation.

Seeing her younger sister behave this way, Rhaenyra almost felt as though she were looking at an entirely different person.

After all, Emberlyn had always possessed a rather quiet personality and rarely spoke more than necessary, yet ever since Luke entered their lives, she had gradually become more expressive.

She had started speaking much more frequently, openly arguing with her and even shouting whenever the matter involved Luke.

And now, she was shamelessly embracing and sniffing the scent of her husband right in front of her.

Of course, Rhaenyra still refused to acknowledge Luke as her husband, but that didn't make the sight any less irritating.

For a moment, she was completely speechless at her younger sister's behavior.

And she wasn't the only one.

High above the valley, Zephyrielle had been observing everything that happened after the cocoon shattered, including the argument between her two granddaughters and Emberlyn's enthusiastic reunion with Luke.

"Oh? It seems both my little princesses have fallen for a single person."

Zephyrielle made that observation with a smile, although whether it was truly a smile or concealed something else was something only she herself knew.

And the next instant, her figure disappeared from the sky.