Chapter 36: Royal Griffin

Edea had a slight blush on her face, but her satisfied smile was refreshing and pleasing to the eyes. Her Dao Heart had finally awakened, and she was becoming a useful ally to Lian. She possessed a fortification-type Dao Heart, a common ability in the Divine Plane.

However, thanks to Edea's bold nature, this power took on a unique form, allowing her to directly attack targets on the front line and always take the initiative in combat. She had the ability to infuse her body with a power that could break the vacuum around her, similar to spatial laws. With her Dao Heart, she had the potential to master these laws that were dominated by only a few in the divine realm. The effort of training her properly was bearing fruit, and Lian felt confident about her future.

Edea turned around and returned to the battlefield. Meanwhile, Lian approached the Griffin and examined its wounds. Quickly, he reached an inevitable conclusion: the Griffin was doomed. The shining liquid it possessed could heal physical wounds and even regenerate the meridians that could only be healed by the laws of light. However, the Griffin had used up all its blood energy and vitality to fight and survive.

With a deep sigh, Lian asked, "Was Griffin's nest destroyed? Where are the others?" The Griffin could barely keep its eyes open, and it seemed to be on the verge of death. At that moment, Lian made a hand gesture. Multicolored runes formed and began to spin in a mesmerizing manner until, suddenly, they flew toward the dying Griffin. The runes connected to its lineage, causing its entire being to be filled with new vitality, and its eyes shone brightly. It tried to get up, but its bones were almost all broken, and only its wings remained firm, covering and protecting something inside it.

"I have just awakened your lineage; you will have a precious few minutes of energy. Use this time to answer my questions. I am your only hope to protect your race," Lian said calmly, pausing between the words. The Griffin was stunned to understand Lian's words. All the Griffins that inhabited the nest for centuries had desperately tried to awaken their lineages, seeking greater power. However, the shackles on their lineages kept them imprisoned as punishment for sins of the past committed by their ancestors.

"Yes, I have removed your restrictions. It has been a long time, and I am forgiving the sins of your ancestors. I intend to release your race, but there will be no other opportunity if you attempt to dominate and enslave other races again. If that happens, I will completely sever your lineages," Lian declared in a serious tone.

The Griffin began to tremble uncontrollably, its blood splattering in all directions, but it struggled to bow, similar to a human kneeling. Its eyes glistened with tears, and it said, "Sovereign, you have finally returned... We have waited for generations, never doubting. The divine altar left by you revealed your return to us."

Lian was intrigued by its last words and asked, "What happened to the nest? Why are you fleeing? What was the revelation?"

The Griffin quickly responded, "The nest has been under attack by demons throughout the centuries. We have always been able to defend ourselves with the blessings of the Sovereign Lord, but recently a terrifying demon was created by humans. We have managed to survive only because of the barrier within the nest, but it is slowly being destroyed. That's why the leaders decided to send me out, according to the revelation from the Divine Altar," its words reflected the weight of the deaths of hundreds of Griffins in battle.

"The words of the altar stated that the Sovereign would finally return to guide us to a glorious future. That day would come when a Royal Griffin is born among us," the Griffin spoke with noticeable excitement. Then, the Griffin spread its wings, revealing a human-looking girl, unconscious and with some injuries, the same age as Lian.

While she may appear human at first glance, her true nature is revealed through her distinct features. Her short hair is black as night, and a faint aura emanates from her closed eyes, prominently indicating her lion-like amber eyes, radiating a captivating aura. Her most distinctive features are her short Griffin wings, adorned with divine orange feathers that shimmer with celestial splendor.

Her attire is a true manifestation of her royal lineage and bestial nature. She wears a dress made of feathers, perfectly harmonizing with the color of her wings. Each plume seems to have been carefully placed, forming an elegant and majestic garment. The combination of divine feathers and the gracefulness of her demeanor gives her an imposing and noble presence.

The power of her lineage and blood energy leaves no doubt—she is a pure Royal Griffin.

A great surprise fills Lian's eyes. He had killed all the Royal Griffins that existed in the past. Only a few descendants who were common Griffins, with very thin lineages, had survived. It should be impossible for a new Royal Griffin to arise from these descendants.

"The Qi of the forests and stars has always bowed before her splendor. Despite being young, the princess has always exuded an aura of leadership and the power of a king, revealing the inherent strength of her divine lineage," the emotional Griffin spoke.

"When she was born, we knew your return would be soon, so we sacrificed ourselves to protect her. Since the barrier would be destroyed soon, it was decided that she had to be taken away, close to humans if possible. We were certain that the Sovereign would appear to save our race," the Griffin bowed even deeper.

His eyes were starting to lose their color again, his end was near. So, Lian asked seriously, "How was this powerful Demon created by humans? And how do you know about it?"

"In the stories passed down by our ancestors, it was said that a few hundred years after the Great Rapture, demonic Qi emerged in the forest. Over the centuries, its intensity increased. Humans discovered a great concentration of that black Qi in a certain part of the forest and guarded that place as if it were a treasure."

"In my generation, I witnessed humans entering the forest with a large number of chained and emaciated elves. After they reached the location, for days and nights, screams of pain and suffering could be heard throughout the area."

"A few weeks later, only a few surviving elves returned with the humans. The smell of blood and death emanated from them, their skins turned dark, and their Qi exerted tremendous pressure on me," the Griffin spoke slowly, nearing death.

"When the extremely powerful Demon emerged, we were certain that he had pointed ears and dark skin. He was connected to those humans. But after a while of defending ourselves, the humans from the Enchant clan themselves came to seek an alliance. They were attacked and killed by the evil they created themselves."

"For a long time, we wished to completely destroy that clan of humans, those beast tamers who wanted to enslave us and make us fight for them. But due to the revelations from the altar, we survived on our own with all our strength until the princess was born."

Tears once again flowed from the Griffin's eyes; he was in his last breaths. With great effort, he lifted the small princess in human Griffin form and reached out toward Lian's arms.

"Sovereign... please... take care of the Princess... she has a strong personality... but she is still lovable..." Memories seemed to have appeared in Griffin's eyes; he must have personally cared for and raised this princess. "Saya... that's her name..."

Lian held the young girl in his arms while the Griffin closed his eyes with a gentle aura of tranquility and happiness, finally fulfilling his duty.

Lian couldn't help but fall into a deep thought. Suddenly, the battlefield fell silent. All the demons have been killed, and soon four auras approached him with fervent intent.

Lian turned around and felt the penetrating and jealous gazes of the four girls on him as he held a new, enchanting, and beautiful young girl in his arms.