A parade of dragons came out of the portal near the mountains.

  The opportunity to send the old dragon away was also brought to Deveralna, who asked the lamias to follow her.

  Breaching the water's surface, Velridar's massive head sat still on the beach, solemnly resting in all its majesty.

  One by one, the dragons stopped in front of their father and progenitor, their hearts grieving at the sight of his resting body.

  Seeing the oldest and youngest of the dragons bow their heads to Velridar caused everyone to reflect on what death truly was.

  Out of everyone present, Deveralna was feeling the most affected.

  Moving across the sand, she came closer, even going past Monolavir and Ruminona, who were the closest.

  "So... This is the last goodbye."

  With a sorrowful heart, she placed her right hand on the head of the gigantic dragon.

  "Have everyone said their farewell?"

  The dragons stared at her with a sad expression, while the lamias solemnly closed their eyes with their right hand over their hearts.

  She took a deep breath, ignoring the pain she felt at the idea of devouring her predecessor.

  "Are you certain this is what you want?"

  Turning to Ruminona, she sent a sharp glare at her to confirm her intent.

  "Please."

  Her pink head dropped lower than the other dragons. One glance was enough to understand the agony she was enduring after making that choice.

  Velridar was her direct father. As the last first-generation dragon, she was attached to him more than anyone.

  "I'll do it. If somebody wants me to stop, speak now."

  Deveralna had a stern expression. This was putting a lot of pressure on her shoulders, but she had to accept the reality.

  She was the Remnant of Strength. Only she could do this.

  Ophion writhed around her forearm, slowly rising from its slumbering state.

  Sliding toward her hand, it opened its eyes.

  "Could you do it for me?"

  Smiling at the snake made of plasma, she asked him.

  "Sssssh."

  Letting his tongue out of his mouth, it looked at the massive white mass in front of her.

  Deveralna recalled the first time she saw Ophion.

  It was the day she fought for Lahro. The day she lost control over her power and failed to responsibly consider the consequences of being her overflowing emotions.

  That day, the creature she invoked from another plane of existence was monstrously massive. Its size was, for better or for worse, equivalent to Velridar.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Maybe Ophion's body was leaner than the white dragon, causing a massive difference in builds. Nonetheless, his length was mind-breaking.

  That's why, when lightning crackled around Ophion, no one felt surprised when it devoured a large portion of Deveralna's Remnant energy to exponentially grow.

  Orion lifted his right hand in front of him, isolating Velridar from the sea to avoid electrocuting it.

  Taking magical energy as sustenance, Ophion's body flashed out of existence. Replaced by a sphere of energy, he moved toward the skies.

  *FLASH*

  A blinding light and an ionized smell immediately followed, as a high-pitched rumble resonated into every being present in the area.

  When the light collapsed toward its center, the true form and size of Ophion appeared to everyone.

  The true form of this otherworldly creature was a Plasma Python. In this world, he was the only entity to ever cross between planes and reach the realm of Triazils.

  "Devour him."

  Diving toward the remains of the previous Remnant of Strength, Ophion opened his mouth.

  A sizzling noise echoed as the water evaporated as plasma met it.

  Nothing remained, not even salt.

  Rapidly swallowing the white dragon, Ophion disintegrated the large body of the gigantic dragon between his jaws before swallowing the matter.

  Quickly making work of the remains, Velridar's remains were gone from this planet.

  This sight was both terrifying and mystifying for everyone who witnessed it.

  Was Ophion part of Deveralna's power, or was it an entirely distinct entity? The next event quickly answered that answer.

  As her massive friend gradually became smaller, it returned to her forearm.

  "..."

  With this conclusion, Orion released his power over the sea, making the water fill the massive hole left behind by Ophion.

  As the wave crashed, Deveralna turned around.

  "Orion."

  Hearing his name being called, he walked forward and stopped close to her.

  (I don't want them to hear this.)

  She whispered very softly. Hearing this, he changed his posture and made it look like Deveralna had asked him to support her emotionally with his presence.

  (Velridar's flesh was burned by Ophion.)

  He looked at her without saying a word.

  (But his scales were kept intact. Ophion was unable to destroy them, so he stored them somewhere inside him.)

  (I don't quite comprehend how it's possible, but since he is already an illogical being, it didn't shock me.)

  Orion gathered what the problem was.

  Her eyes drifted toward him, and with a heartbroken face, she spoke her question.

  (What should I do with these?)

  Deliberating on a response to give her, his thoughts trailed in one direction.

  'Would Velridar care if we were to use his scales?'

  For a brief instant, Orion thought that maybe the idea of using his friend's remains would bring bad karma.

  Then, as a memory surfaced from the depths of his mind, he turned to Ruminona and Monolavir.

  "I have one question."

  "We're currently in a dilemma, so we need an answer to know what to do."

  The two dragons looked toward Orion.

  "What is it?"

  They had finished mourning and were slowly returning to their normal selves.

  "How do dragons see humans or other factions using their scales?"

  Surprised by that question, both realized the underlying issue.

  But not alluding to it was the best choice.

  "If the dragon gave them from one's own volition, there is nothing wrong with using them."

  Objectively thinking on Ruminona's words, Orion nodded.

  "Unless it is used against us, it can be made into a weapon or accessory."

  Again, this was true. Florian's glasses and Eric's gun were made from Monolavir's scale, which they won from their battle against him as a token of their bravery.

  The other dragons seemed to pick up on the conversation, but they were unbothered by the underlying meaning.

  Deveralna had proven that she was a strong leader. They had nothing ill to say about her.

  Orion, on the other side, was their strongest ally. Never would they doubt his actions, even if it concerned their progenitor.

  He had been the one who gave them a chance to make peace with their Progenitor's demise and their feelings of longing for his presence.

  "Thank you. I'll have to reflect on this a little longer before making a choice."

  Having the power to seal or destroy those scales, Orion chose to postpone his decision.

  Being too hasty could be detrimental to his future goal.

  "If you either decide, please come see us."

  He nodded.

  As the surface of the sea finally stabilized, the two factions separated and returned to their homes, finally free of grief.

  ...

  "Dragon scales?"

  Orion, Stella, Deveralna, and Reon were inside the lab, discussing the problem weighting over the lamia's shoulders.

  "Can we even make something with dragon scales?"

  Staring at Reon, Stella asked.

  "Actually, I've never worked with dragon scales. I cannot answer that question without speculating."

  Adjusting his posture, he brought a hand to his chin.

  "Orion, aren't there already items made from a dragon scale? I recall something similar from the time we were inside the bracelet."

  His son uncrossed his arms.

  "That's correct. Florian and Eric have the only items made from a scale."

  "Ah, yes. The glasses and the gun. I remember them now."

  Reon's eyes darted toward Deveralna.

  "I will ask, but would it be possible to get one of these? If it's impossible, feel free to say it."

  Asking with a light heart, he watched as she decided.

  "If it's just one, I suppose it's fine."

  Out of the millions of scales inside Ophion, one wasn't going to change the outcome.

  Ophion wriggled slightly before spitting out an item in her hand. The item in question was covered in plasma.

  Once the plasma dissipated, the scale grew to the size of Orion's chest and fell in her hands.

  "There it is."

  Handing over the scale to Stella, she smiled.

  "Whoa! It's heavier than I thought."

  Placing the large scale on the table, both she and Reon observed it.

  "It has quite the amount of energy inside it. Is it a storage for magic?"

  Tapping his finger on the material, Reon listened to the sound.

  "No sound?"

  Surprised, he leaned toward it.

  "Is it coated with something other than energy?"

  "I have no idea. This requires intensive research."

  They nodded to each other while Orion and Deveralna walked out of the room.

  Leaving the two scientists in their work, they returned to the others, who weren't over the whole event.

  ...

  Somewhere very far, the figure of a woman stared into luminous white skies.

  "What was that?"

  A ripple effect was intercepted, making her question her senses.

  "This feeling of pureness... There is no mistaking."

  Licking her lips, she opened her arms wide.

  "I need to find where it came from before the others find it!"

  "It's been a while since I've hunted somebody."

  Her sharp eyes crazily opened, and as a loud laugh echoed in the surroundings, the woman's figure straightened.

  "I'm getting hungry just thinking about my next meal."