The dragon's harem

Arad looked at Yggdrasil and asked with a confused face.

“Are you saying there are multiple universes?”

AO created the universe, and in that universe, many smaller worlds were born. The mortal universe is one of them, just one of many, countless worlds.

The abominations are attacking the universe from the outer void. So, where are they coming from? It would be safe to assume they didn’t spawn out of nothing, but Arad has his void magic and knows that he can spawn things out of nothing.

What were the abominations doing before coming to the universe? What did they consume to exist? Are there other universes, ones that the abominations attacked and consumed?

“That I don’t know. Trees aren’t supposed to move. AO planted me in his garden, and I can’t see past the fences.” The brilliant branches rustled and burned with power.

“I’ve been cultivating and accumulating power for billions of years. This universe and I have become one. Our fates entangle and conjoin like earth and roots. Without the dirt, the tree would die, and without the tree’s roots, the earth would slide and crumble.”

Yggdrasil’s voice grew louder and louder in Arad’s head, to the point it became painful. He winced and recoiled, stumbled, but the tree never shut up.

“I have grown large enough and spread to every single world, small and big, dead and alive.” The tree’s magic grew stronger, and the whole desert burned with enough power to emmolate the whole universe.

“If Nyar dares to attack, I’ll kill him myself. If you think the gods alone could protect the universe, you’re wrong. I’ve been doing my job for all of those lost eons. And that abominable horror won’t dare stick his neck into our universe.”

The voice quieted down, “This world, this mirage, it’s just a vestige of my will taken shape inside your dreams. Sorry for the headache, your brain can’t fathom or imagine my power, so it struggles.”

Arad gasped for air, “Finally noticed? I almost died here.”

“I know you won’t die.” She spoke, went silent for a long moment, and then continued. “To liberate the worlds, you’ll need to revitalize my branches in those worlds. Trees as massive and majestic as the one in the elvish kingdom.”

A golden seed burned with enough power to put the collective power of the divines to shame, “A golden seed of my power, climb my branches with Cerilla, and I shall grant you it. With its power, saving those worlds will be possible.” She almost seemed to smile.

“Once my full power is restored, and the web of my roots connected, this universe shall be safe for a while longer, a few billions of years at least. This is the mission the gods want you to finish, reconnaissance soldier.”

Arad thought about her words. First, he can already guess that Yggdrasil is a different being from everyone else.

She isn’t a mortal. She isn’t a being of flesh. She isn’t a god, a devil, a demon, or an abomination. She didn’t die and was reborn like Kali and Isabelle.

Yggdrasil is AO’s first creation that wasn’t based on an abomination. Beings like Yog, Kali, and Isabelle, even the fates, were closer to eldritch abominations than mortals or gods, far too powerful.

But Yggdrasil, she is the real deal. She is the same Yggdrasil that was born at the start of the universe. She didn’t die, didn’t go anywhere, and didn’t close her eyes.

The powerful tree watched over the whole world, the many worlds, the entire universe for untold billions of years. She isn’t old, she isn’t ancient, she was born before time was born. She is older than time, as wide as the universe, and more powerful than the collective of the gods.

“You’ve asked Aria about the way you’ll use to visit other worlds.” Yggdrasil’s voice rang inside Arad’s head; this time, it was gentle and soothing. “You’ll use Vorvadoss’s teleportation magic, but I’ll be your navigator, putting a little dot in the empty space for you to follow, the spark of life my branches leave in those worlds.”

Arad could finally understand a few things. It seemed strange for the gods to leave him and not send him to the front lines like they do to everyone else, but his mission seemed important.

But he has one question left.

“Won’t this get done faster if a god did it?”

The tree remained silent for a long time. “It would be done faster, but that won’t be right. With the amount of abominations in those dead worlds, Alexander’s incident might repeat itself. I bet Yog would’ve already found a way to prevent it, but that’s only specific to the way Alexander was infected. Nothing prevents Nyar from developing new methods. You’re the only one we’re certain can’t get infected.”

“Now I wonder why that is the case.” Arad looked at her with a smile, “I bet you know exactly why. As far as I know, if it’s only void dragons, the gods have many more that are older and stronger than I.”

“I’ll answer half of your question. The fates have taken a liking to you. That means you have the best chance of success, even if we don’t understand why. So do your best. I’ll see you again at the top of my branches.”

Arad blinked, “Wait, you’re the tree. How could I see you at the top of the branches?”

“I take on a semi-humanoid vessel from time to time. You’ll find me with Sylph, the elvish goddess. Be sure to bring Cerilla, Jasmine, and Plum with you.” The tree’s voice slowly faded from Arad’s mind, and his body stirred.

The world crumbled before Arad’s eyes as the brilliant tree disappeared and only left sparks of golden light scattered across the sky like embers, radiant stars burning with life and light.

When Arad opened his eyes, several hours had already passed. He was on the bed, asleep, with the girls taking a nap around him, the angel serving Eris was asleep upside down, with her massive butt right on his chest.

Arad could swear her ass would’ve been on his face, if Eris’s but wasn’t already covering his face whole. Gabriel gave them a large bed, but it was not large enough. Some of Arad’s wives moved a lot in their sleep. Eris was one of them.

He wanted to move, but they’ll probably wake up, so he remained still and waited, letting them sleep for a while longer.