Reborn as a Devouring Dragon with a System-Chapter 140: Lifetimes of Pain, Sorrow and Suffering (1)

Drakion’s pain didn’t end there.

It kept going... and going... and going.

An endless spiral of torment—until everything shattered into darkness.

He awoke in another world—void of memories from the former.

In this new life, he was the only son of the clan head.

Their clan wasn’t the strongest, but it held its ground, respected among the minor powers.

Yet fate struck him cruelly again—he was born with a sickly body, one that could not cultivate.

Silver hair flowed like moonlight, and golden eyes shimmered like the sun—his appearance was undeniably captivating.

As he reached the age of maturity, more people took notice. His beauty was the talk of the clan.

And if he had possessed strength... oh, many beauties would have gathered at his beck and call.

Even without power, he still attracted admirers—not ordinary women, but skilled cultivators drawn to his enigmatic charm.

Then everything began to change... on one fateful day.

The young man was out on a venture beyond the clan, as part of his journey into the outside world.

It was during this expedition that he stumbled upon an unconscious young woman—drenched in blood, her body marred by wounds.

She had clearly been hunted.

His guards immediately grew wary.

They warned him against getting involved.

But something deep within him... an instinct... compelled him to act.

He refused to leave her.

He insisted on taking her in.

Without hesitation, they left the area swiftly.

Not long after their departure, a group of hidden figures emerged from the forest’s shadows.

They crouched around the bloodstained earth.

One of them frowned as he inspected the puddle.

"It’s her blood. She’s still on the run."

They vanished into the trees, silent as ghosts.

Hours passed. They returned—faces grim.

"We’ve searched the forest. No sign of her.

She must’ve been rescued."

"Then let’s search the nearby settlements. She must be eliminated."

Meanwhile, the young man tended to her wounds with great care.

And yet... he found himself constantly staring at her face.

Something about her calmed the storm within him.

A serenity he couldn’t explain.

She had golden hair, and her features were elegant—almost ethereal.

When she finally stirred and opened her eyes—golden and wary—she immediately took a defensive stance.

It took a long while for her to lower her guard, only doing so after the young man gently explained everything.

Even then, she remained cautious.

But as the days passed, walls began to fall.

They grew closer.

And though she didn’t know why, she felt safe around him—as if all her burdens had quietly melted away.

A month passed.

They became inseparable.

During that time, she revealed her truth—

Her parents, her clan... all slaughtered by an unknown group.

She was walking the path of vengeance.

Coincidentally, the young man had been sent by his parents to travel and, if possible, return with a wife.

It was meant to be a test of maturity.

A journey to understand the world.

Time passed.

Six months...

And to the surprise of all—including themselves—they had fallen in love.

It was sudden. Unexpected. Unwritten by fate.

And yet...

It happened.

Eventually, they learned each other’s names.

Her name... was Lyla.

His name... was Drakion.

The young lady continued her journey with the young man, using the opportunity to heal from her injuries. Strangely, her pursuers had not appeared throughout all that time.

The couple spent their days basking in fleeting joy—touring wherever they could, doing whatever their hearts desired.

At some point, the young man revealed his deficiency, the condition that barred him from cultivating.

But she simply smiled and told him not to worry—she would be the one to protect him.

The guards who accompanied them were already silently rooting for the young lady.

They could see it clearly—she was perfect for their young master.

They eagerly anticipated the day she would be introduced to their Madam and Master.

The journey continued, and another six months slipped by, marking a full year since the young man had left home.

Eventually, he decided it was time to return and introduce her to his parents.

But the young lady, face solemn, said she could not go back yet.

She had to take revenge for her family first—or she would never find peace.

Her heart would remain restless.

Before parting, she gave him a necklace that once belonged to her—an item that carried her aura.

She told him to wear it always, to remember her.

She promised with unwavering eyes that once her revenge was fulfilled, she would return and marry him—wholeheartedly.

The young man agreed.

And then... she vanished.

With nothing left to do but wait, he returned home.

His heart beat only for her.

His family noticed the change—his smile was brighter, but his eyes often drifted far away, lost in a dream only he could see.

The guards who had traveled with him revealed everything to his parents—how the young master had fallen in love, how she had something important to finish, and how he was waiting patiently for her return.

The parents didn’t miss the opportunity to ask their son about the young woman—who she was, and where she came from.

The young man, ever close to his parents, revealed everything—how he met her, how they journeyed together, every moment of their shared tour.

The parents exchanged a long, knowing glance before turning their eyes back to their son, who was clearly lovestruck.

And with gentle smiles, they gave him their blessing—

promising to stand by him... and protect them both.

A year and a half passed.

Still, the young man waited.

Then, one day, he walked toward his parents’ chambers to ask them something.

But the scent of blood suddenly caught his attention.

It was flowing—thick, metallic—seeping out from beneath their door.

Panic consumed him.

He threw the doors open...

And there, in the gloom of the room, a horrifying scene greeted his eyes.

Even in the darkness, he could see them—his parents—lying lifeless in their own pool of blood.

He stumbled forward, collapsed beside them.

"Mom... Dad..."

His voice trembled.

He wept uncontrollably, the agony tearing at his soul.

But before he could even comprehend the situation... a sharp pain struck his chest.

He looked down—and froze.

A sword had pierced straight through his heart.

A chilling cold flooded his body, numbing his limbs.

Slowly... he turned his head, desperate to see who had done this.

To look upon the face of the one who had ended everything.

As he saw the eyes of the person, a jolt of shock surged through his entire body.

He stared at the face he had longed to see again—

but it was filled with killing intent.

"Lyla... is that you?" he asked, voice trembling with sorrow and suspense.

The killer stiffened in disbelief.

When her gaze met his—when she truly looked at the person before her—

thunder cracked in her mind. Her entire body shivered as she slowly removed her partial hoodie.

When the young man saw her face, he smiled unknowingly, a soft, broken smile.

Meanwhile, the young lady was already trying to pull out the sword.

"No need to stress yourself," the young man whispered with a fading grin.

"So it turns out... my parents were the ones who massacred yours."

His smile twisted into something bitter, something that could make even the coldest soul weep.

The young lady could no longer hold it in—she burst into tears.

"Shhh, don’t cry... You did the right thing by avenging your parents.

I only blame fate for this," he said gently, wiping her tears with trembling fingers.

"Just promise me... you’ll take care of yourself."

The young man smiled toward her, even as his life began to slip away.

Still sobbing, the young lady nodded, but she moved toward him and wrapped her arms around him.

The young man embraced her in return—

until he noticed something.

The tip of the sword had pierced through his chest from the other side.

With her cultivation, it shouldn’t have pierced her—

and yet... he felt something warm against his chest.

He tried to look down, but the young lady gently held his head up.

Then he saw it—her eyes dimming, the light inside them fading.

"Why..." the young man choked, his voice cracking into tears.

"I lived solely for revenge... revenge for my parents.

But meeting you, Drakion, was the greatest moment of my life.

If I had known they were your parents... I would have forsaken my revenge, but—"

Her words were cut short as the young man pulled her into a kiss.

They melted into each other, lips locked in silent, painful goodbye.

Fate was cruel.

Because his parents had hidden him away—shielded his identity due to his weakness,

so that their enemies wouldn’t find or use him—

this cruel twist of destiny had taken root, keeping her unaware of the truth...

until it was too late.

As they slowly parted their lips, he asked softly,

"Do you ever regret loving me?"

The young lady shook her head, tears glistening.

"I didn’t. I never did."

She clung to him as more tears fell from her golden eyes.

"Don’t cry, Lyla..." the young man whispered with a fragile smile.

"I just want you to know... if a next life exists—no matter who or what I am—

I will keep loving you."

And with those final words...

his eyes lost all signs of life.

"I... too..." the young lady whispered back, her own eyes dimming into stillness.

Their corpses remained upright, locked in each other’s embrace.