Douluo Dalu 3 | Divine Destruction

Beneath the city of Shrek, there was a secret few were aware of. Teal blue grass grew freely, pale blue leaves waves in the faint breeze, and an artificial sun cast a gentle glow onto the idyllic garden hidden away from the world.

It was an amazing sight, one whose beauty could hardly be compared with, and yet it couldn't even begin to compare to the site deeper within. Pulsing with emerald light a single tree of winding blue leaves stood proud in the center of the garden, its leaves hanging low and gently caressing the ground below like a mother would their child. 

And standing only a few short feet away, a single youth looked upon the tree warmly. His hair was a striking gold, almost as though the purest of gold had been spurned into thread, his skin was unblemished and pale despite the unhidden strength his body carried. 

The boy was young, just a bit older than thirteen, and was showing clear signs of being a handsome man in the future. He wore an amicable expression as he gazed upon the tree yet there was something about him that couldn't be explained, an instinctive feeling of power and malevolence that radiated off of him.

"It took a while to get here." The golden haired youth chuckled, his crimson eyes wandering freely as he took in the garden he had only entered twice. The first time was long ago, three years ago now despite how it had only felt like a matter of days, and he had grown quite a bit since then, and only now could he see the magnificent that was this garden.

Energies so thick that it could drown even a Limit Douluo filled the air, making the very atmosphere a tangible object that could be felt with every step. Despite that though, the energy was soft and warm as it gently welcomed him. Rather than suffocating him, it gently soothed his tired body and caressed his skin like an overprotective relative.

"…" The boy looked distracted for a moment as he pondered something, the shimmering light of the teal tree creating a small rift as a pale leg stepped through. "Alright, I'll let you go first." A playful grin lit up his face as amusement danced in his crimson irises that slowly began muddled with a deep sea blue hue.

The boy's entire demeanor changed in an instant, the proud yet relaxed youth was suddenly replaced by an entity that could only be considered ethereal. Refined, strong, and composed it was immediately obvious that this entity was not the boy.

"…It's been a while, Mother." Facing the woman who stepped from the core of the planet, the boy wore an awkward smile. Any trace of that previous ethereal demeanor was gone and in its place was a son, a son who hadn't seen his parents in far too long.

For a moment, the woman didn't speak. Her pale blue hair fluttered in the wind that suddenly burst to life as she gazed upon the boy, her lips quivering. But then a relieved smile graced her features as she stepped forward, embracing the young boy.

"…Yes it has, son." Relief filled her voice as she embraced the boy tightly, relief that he was back and fear that he would leave again filling her very soul. Gently rubbing her back, an apologetic grin formed along the boy's features.

This entire situation was all too familiar, it had happened once in the past after all. The Atlas Douluo led them down to this hidden sanctuary to meet their relative and a scene nearly identical to this one had occurred. But there was a difference this time. Tang San could now indwell this body for a brief period and that meant the world to the both.

One had discarded their flesh and one incarnated in the body of another but in this moment, the Sea God Tang San and the Life Core of their planet Ah Yin had reunited at last. It had taken them over a decade, a decade in which neither knew the fate of the other, but finally, they were together again.

"I didn't expect to see you in person until you returned with the God Realm." Speaking softly, there was a mix of hope and resignation in Ah Yin wore a hesitant smile. A black hole was dubbed the Graveyard of the God Realms for a reason. Not a single one had returned.

"Neither did I however my son is far more generous than I expected." An awkward chuckle left the current user of Tang Wulin's body. It was hard to move a body that wasn't his own, much less one that was so domineering that it could even reach the soul, but his son was busying himself to limit those restrictions for these brief yet beautiful few moments.

"I'm proud to have a grandson like him." A soft giggle left Ah Yin's lips as she gently ran her hands through Wulin's golden locks, a warm smile on her face. Wulin was truly a grandchild to be proud of though she wouldn't have been disappointed even if he was a child. She did wish he was a bit more childish and a little less busy though… 

"And I'm proud to have a son so strong." Smiling wryly, disappointment flared in Wulin's reddened eyes as he gazed upon his callous hands. No scars littered his flesh with the Golden Dragon Emperor's natural regeneration but Tang San felt as though he could see the many this body would have sported anyway.

"...So, what brings you here? I doubt you'd visit without reason." Though Ah Yin was more than happy to visit her family, she was the Life Core of a dying planet. She didn't have the ability to walk the world freely anymore. Even the life force contained in this garden was far less than what it once was.

"You've felt it, haven't you? The merging of universes." A frown marred Wulin's face as Tang San's worries showed themselves once more. The merging of universes was a never before seen occurrence, one that Tang San had never even considered planning for. But it was here and it was unavoidable. If it weren't for Wulin being a pseudo-god, this world would have already ended by now.

"...I suppose this is the best time to say this." Sighing Ah Yin turned away, her head hung low as she struggled to find a way to word this. "I…"

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Hey there, hope you liked the chapter.

I really like this chapter even if not much happened in it because I feel like Tang San needs some screen time. He is an important character but he never gets to be fleshed out even when he's in the scenes so this was a necessary evil. Besides, I thought this chapter was rather wholesome.

If you want more chapters, head to patre*on.com/TrapOverlord for up to 25 extra chapters. It isn't required but it'd be much appreciated.