Journey to Become the Zenith

A Promise Across Lifetimes

He couldn’t completely hide his amazement.

So this is a dragon...

My first time seeing one...

This is incredible...

Summoning really is amazing.

Taking a deep breath, he spoke clearly.

”I’m Eddy Regius.”

”I wish for you to guide me toward becoming the strongest.”

”As long as that goal remains unfulfilled...”

”You shall forever remain my familiar.”

The dragon’s majestic eyes narrowed slightly.

Then...

A pleased laugh echoed throughout the courtyard.

”I accept your terms, Eddy Regius.”

”I...”

”...Dragon Mother Tiamat...”

”...shall form this contract with you!”

”HAHAHA!”

”Eddy...”

”Show me a magnificent future.”

Eddy smiled without hesitation.

”I shall!”

At that very moment...

A warm sensation spread across his chest.

Beneath the silver full moon that symbolized his contract with Tsukiyomi...

Another emblem slowly appeared.

This one resembled a radiant sun surrounded by countless stars.

...

The memory ended there.

Victor slowly opened his eyes.

His hand instinctively rested over the faded marks upon his own chest.

Everything finally made sense.

The moon...

And the sun encircled by stars...

Those symbols were the bonds that connected Tsukiyomi and Dragon Mother Tiamat to his soul across countless incarnations.

Even though they had originally belonged to Eddy...

Victor couldn’t deny the strange warmth filling his heart.

The two of them felt oddly familiar.

Just like Diana.

It was a feeling that couldn’t be explained with words alone.

-------------------------------

After speaking with his past incarnations about a few remaining matters, Victor slowly withdrew his consciousness from the soul realm.

His eyelashes fluttered before his golden eyes gradually opened.

The first thing that came into view was Diana.

She was sitting quietly beside him, her eyes gently closed as if unwilling to disturb his meditation. One of her hands was softly holding his, while her head rested comfortably against his shoulder. She remained perfectly still, patiently waiting for him to awaken.

Feeling the slight movement as he returned to consciousness, she slowly opened her crimson eyes and turned to meet his gaze.

It had been far too long since Victor had last seen her.

A warm smile naturally spread across his face.

”Diana... how are you?”

Her elegant figure gave a graceful bow.

”Very well, Master... now that I’ve seen you.”

Although the dark veil still concealed the upper half of her face, Victor could somehow feel the gentle smile hidden beneath it.

His own smile deepened.

”I feel better seeing you as well.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The quiet breeze drifted through the empty surroundings, carrying with it an unexpected sense of peace.

Then Victor suddenly remembered something.

”Oh, right.”

”Before I forget...”

”Azriel asked me to pass a message to you.”

Diana’s body stiffened ever so slightly.

”Azriel...?”

Hearing that familiar name come from Victor’s lips caught her by surprise.

The emotion only lasted a moment.

She already knew the truth.

Azriel and Victor shared the same soul.

Different lives.

Different names.

Yet beneath everything...

They were still the same existence.

Victor repeated Azriel’s exact words.

”He said...”

”’That promise can only be fulfilled if you put in the effort.’”

For a heartbeat...

Silence lingered.

Then...

A soft laugh escaped Diana’s lips.

”He is right.”

”If I don’t make the effort...”

”...that promise will never come true.”

Her slender fingers slowly reached for the veil covering her face.

With one graceful motion...

She removed it.

Victor’s breathing unconsciously paused.

Her pale skin looked almost porcelain beneath the afternoon light.

Crimson eyes shimmered with a quiet warmth that carried countless years of longing.

Every delicate feature of her face seemed flawlessly sculpted, possessing an elegance that felt almost unreal.

At the same time, her attire began to change.

She wore a breathtaking black-and-red off-shoulder gown that hugged every curve of her body. A daring slit ran high along one side, revealing a long, toned leg with every graceful step she took.

The elegant fabric embraced her full E - Cup breasts, accentuating her narrow waist before flowing over her rounded ass and peach-shaped hips. Her thick thighs gave her figure a healthy, athletic allure, while faint, well-defined muscles beneath her smooth skin spoke of discipline rather than brute strength.

Long legs, flawless proportions, and effortless confidence made every movement captivating. Matching brown boots completed the ensemble, adding a touch of strength to her refined beauty. She looked every bit the elegant woman—graceful, powerful, and impossible to ignore.

Victor had expected Diana to be beautiful.

But...

Not to this extent.

Among every woman he had ever met...

Only Tsukiyomi—the Eternal Moon from Eddy’s memories—could stand beside her in terms of breathtaking beauty.

A quiet chuckle escaped him.

”As expected...”

”You truly are beautiful.”

A faint blush colored Diana’s cheeks.

She lowered her eyes before gathering enough courage to ask the question she had carried within her heart for so long.

”So, Master...”

”Do you think...”

”I’m worthy enough to be your woman?”

Had Victor been a man who denied the feelings inherited from his previous incarnations...

Had he insisted that he was someone entirely different...

Perhaps he would have answered differently.

He could have said—

”I’m not Azriel.”

”We may share the same soul, but I am Victor.”

Perhaps another man would have spoken those words.

A righteous hero might have.

But Victor...

None of his incarnations had ever lived that way.

Each of them followed their own convictions without hesitation.

They accepted their hearts instead of running from them.

The emotions carried across countless lives were just as real as the memories themselves.

Victor looked directly into Diana’s crimson eyes.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of uncertainty in his expression.

”What are you saying?”

A warm smile appeared on his face.

”The moment I brought you out of that mysterious weapon shop...”

”...you were already my woman.”

The words were spoken naturally.

Without embarrassment.

Without hesitation.

Without doubt.

Diana froze.

For an instant...

She simply stared at him.

Then a smile bloomed across her face—gentle, beautiful, and filled with relief.

Tears quietly gathered at the corners of her crimson eyes.