The day went by rapidly as we talked and had a huge feast with Surtr's family. When the night came, I decided to bring Surtr along to my Divine Realm, while Benladann, Miranda, and our daughters stayed in the Fire Giant Village, deciding to sleep in the huge house Surtr had built using his Skills.
It was also a beautiful starry night in my Divine Realm, I had invited Surtr to my Divine Realm for the rather unique reason. I wanted to gauge his strength more accurately. And how to do that easily? Well, we needed to have a battle.
"So this is a Divine Realm! It is huge." He said, looking around on his dragon form. "I assume you haven't invited me here just to sightsee though…"
"Yeah, at least you're quite sharp." I smiled, I was also on my basic Divine Ice Dragon form, much larger than him. "Because I'll take you as something like a disciple, I need to first gauge your strength and see how strong you are, Surtr. I know you're quite talented already, but I want to see the full potential of it."
"F-Full potential? But even then, I simply don't stand a chance against you…" He said.
"Of course you don't, but that's the point. I want you to go all-out, with the sole intent of trying to kill me." I smiled. "I need to gauge how powerful you can be, so I can better understand how to help you develop your abilities."
"I-I see… But even then…" Surtr was a bit nervous.
"I've noticed for a while that you harbor great doubt within your heart." I sighed. "Is this related with your shortcomings now… Or is there something else that happened in your previous life which has been weighing on your conscience ever since you reincarnated?"
"I… Something like that." Surtr sighed. "I always think… I'm not strong enough, and I barely can manage to help others. If it wasn't because of you, Drake, everyone… might have died in there. I simply couldn't had been able to win against Trafalh after his transformation, let alone that Chaos Spirit that took over the Mountain Guardian."
"Hmmm… Certainly, that would had not been possible." I nodded. "But even then, you still fought and tried to save everyone, you're reckless, but your heart is in the right place."
"I just wish I could be a bit more like you… But I lack enough talent, or maybe time…" Surtr was looking rather depressed.
"Like me? I wasn't any different than you back then…" I sighed. "I was a helpless young dragon, almost killed at every corner. I was born in the middle of a forest filled with monster. I constantly found myself about to die… I struggled much more than you imagine before reaching the place I am right now. But even then, I wasn't able to do it alone. There were many friends at my side."
"Y-You also struggled? But weren't you the Dragon King?!" He asked.
"I wasn't born a King." I sighed. "I became one, and was given such a Title when I had already achieved divinity. Funnily enough, it was when I fought someone that had stolen the powers of a Fire Dragon, Blaze. He was the one that told me to come here so long ago. And now that I am finally here, I am not even the same as before. But all this strength sometimes isn't enough. My family and the people I've kept at my side have helped me tremendously. Strength is not always just the power you possess, but the strong bonds you create with your family and allies."
"I-I see…" Surtr smiled for a bit, feeling rather surprised with my suddenly, slightly childish response.
"I know it sounds corny and childish." I laughed. "But I couldn't help it. I am too grateful to those people. It could be said my life has been filled with as many hardships as fortunes by meeting so many incredible people. Surtr, your adventure is just starting. I am sure you'll grow so strong, not even you will recognize yourself anymore! Although I'll be even stronger, hahaha!"
"Hahah… You're quite proud." Laughed Surtr. "But I couldn't had expected less from the king of dragons. But yeah… I guess I am rather blessed to have meet the twins, and even Jamar. He's just a recent addition, but he seems to be someone incredible already. And also the souls of my siblings, which I can bring to my side… And my mother, Muspel."
"See? All of that strength you said wasn't enough comes from a lot of people around you, kid!" I said with a smile. "Well now. I know you still have doubts and everything else… But we should first fight. I know it sounds intimidating, but I'll hold back… I will only use my body to battle, and the most basics of magic, mostly mortal-ranked magic. Meanwhile, you will become Rank 6."
"R-Rank 6?! But I haven't leveled up enough- HUH?!"
FLAAAASH!
I imbued into Surtr's body a large quantity of Divine Power into his Mana Core, which swiftly evolved into a Divine Core in mere seconds. He looked slightly tired and exhausted, but quickly recovered his stamina in mere seconds.
"W-What is this?! Ungh…! M-My Mana Core felt like it was about to burst! Argh! M-My body!"
TRUUUUUMMM…!
A forced evolution happened on his body the moment I helped him reach Rank 6, he acquired a divinity, and his body became several times larger, still much smaller than me, but now he could finally call himself a divine dragon.
Darker red scales, black demonic-like horns, another pair of fiery orange-colored eyes, sharp claws, and huge, blazing wings spread out, his long tail now gained three sharp black points, resembling a trident.
"I-I've evolved!" He said in surprise. "S-Such power… I never thought it was even possible to help someone increase their Rank... I shouldn't had expected any less from the Dragon King…"
"You'll take a while to get used to such a new surplus of power, especially now that you'll begin developing a Divine Realm." I laughed. "But while you develop it, let's fight. Come at me with everything you've got, Surtr! Even when I said I won't use any powerful magic, that doesn't mean I'll go easy on you, boy!"
FLAAAASH!
I flew directly towards him, my fists reaching his body.
"Show me what you've got!"
"UNGH?!
CRAAAAAASSSSH!
