At the end, my parents had to slowly process everything I just said to them. I later had to explain it to my grandmother, Svartalf, and she took it much more easily. Apparently my mother was just a drama queen and was not used to hearing shocking news all the time due to her doormat personality.
"Well that's really amazing, you two shouldn't act so surprised when your kid tells you something like this! It was obvious Drake was going to become incredibly strong. Maybe you don't have that much faith on him or something?" Svartalf raised a scaly eyebrow.
"What?! We have!" My father groaned.
"I… I can't believe I've had so little faith. Perhaps I thought after he surprised me so much, there wouldn't be anything shocking anymore." Nifl sighed. "I'm so sorry, my little treasure. Mama loves you, I was too overly surprised." She quickly "kissed" me by licking me all over my face.
"Ugh… O-Okay, it's fine. You don't need to treat me like a child though." I sighed. "Anyways, can we hunt Divine Soul Beasts? It's the whole point I came here, and I think we've been wasting a bit too much time on explanations."
"Of course, anything for our Dragon King!" Svartalf nodded. "I don't think if the other Dragon Mothers will let you do that though, but within my Realm, you're allowed."
"Also in mine too, honey, of course." My mother nodded happily. "However, first of all, you must learn a few things, so you are careful when hunting these creatures."
"Indeed, first of all." My grandmother spoke. "The Divine Soul Beasts that are born inside of Etheric Realms such as the Draconic Record's Dragon Realms are created out of the excess of Soul Ether, the energy that creates souls. It is pretty much the "waste energy" the souls of all Dragons in here produce over a very long period of time."
"They, however, are not a plague, but create ecosystems with their existence, hunting one another, dying, and then being born again like any other living being. They exude strong Soul Ether and produce more as they die and leave behind their Soul Corpses, which slowly dissipate into the Realm." My mother said.
"And because of this, as you can tell, you can't hunt as many as you want, as they're precious pillars for the existence of the Dragon Realm." Said grandmother. "They not only give Soul Ether but also release the desired Elemental Essence we require for each Realm."
"I see, it is quite interesting how it works." I nodded. "All of these concepts, I just had no idea they were a thing. I had eaten Soul Beast meat before back in the Earth Dragon's Realm, they had a feast with them. It made my souls really strong."
"Yes, eating it in large quantities can help your soul become stronger and also heal it." My mother said. "It is also the food that the Dragon Souls those bodies died long ago consume too, so because it is our food, you can't take it all away for yourself."
"I understand." I nodded. "How many can I hunt per Realm?"
"Hmm, well, there's tens of millions of them everywhere so you can hunt a few hundred?" My mother shrugged. "But don't go past five hundred, okay?"
"Wait, that much?! I was just going to hunt one or two!" I gasped.
"Eh? That little? You're not making any good Soul Gear with that, foolish grandson!" Laughed Svartalf. "The one you made in the Ice Titan Trial was made of dozens after dozens of them, right? Also Skadi herself helped you make it stronger with her powers, so that one doesn't count. You'll need at least forty Soul Beasts to make a decent piece. And if you want an excellent one, a hundred."
"T-That many… Okay, I guess if we're allowed to hunt that many…" I said. "Only those with awakened Titan Bloodlines can make or equip Soul Gear too. So aside from myself, Benladann and Benladra could equip some too."
"I guess you can make for them too, I think you'll get enough Soul Treasures." My grandmother said. "Now, hunt in both Realms and once you're done, notify us."
"Gotcha! Thanks a lot, grandma!" I said.
"No problem dear~" She licked my face again, as she disappeared into a mass of shadows, going back to her own Dark Dragon Realm.
With that said and done, I came back to my family as I explained them our plan. Like that, we started hunting right away inside of the Ice Dragon Realm. My mother recommended me a really good place within the Realm, where many Soul Beasts and Soul Treasures of all kinds appeared and grew. It was called "Frozen Deep Caves Of Lament", and were right below her own Mountain inside the Realm.
"It could be considered a high-level dungeon, so be careful. The Soul Beasts will not be nice with you, and if you take too much damage from them, your soul might also take damage." My mother warned us. "Drake, take care of your little son, don't let little Drakda be reckless either, he's at that age where he can't recognize what's danger."
"Alright." I nodded. "Hey dad, how about you accompany us? I know mother can't because she's too big."
"A-Ah, me?! Ahahah…" He got slightly nervous. "S-Sure! I was about to ask you to let me go!"
He was definitely afraid and didn't want to come, huh? He's a fairly strong Dark Dragon yet he's still got that cowardly nature. I just want him to spend some time with his grandchildren and show them what he can do.
"Come on then, let's go."
We quickly moved through a series of frozen stairs, until we landed on a gigantic section of many caves, all made of glass-like and near transparent azure ice. These caves resembled a labyrinth of mirrors, more than anything.
Ding!
[You have entered the Ice Dragon Realm's: {Frozen Deep Caves Of Lament}: Recommended Rank: 9. Recommended Soul Ether: S+]
[Powerful Divine Soul Beasts and Divine Soul Treasures can be found in here, be careful! Additionally, there are several "Apex" Soul Beasts roaming through the deeper areas, who govern and control weaker ones, be extra careful!]
