Reborn as a DRAGON

Chapter 360: Exploring the Astral plane

As I soared gracefully through the air, accompanied by Breta and my little siblings, the Astral plane unfolded before us like a vast tapestry of cosmic wonders. We passed by nebulous clouds that glowed with ethereal radiance, weaving intricate patterns across the celestial canvas. The stars themselves seemed to dance in unison, creating celestial choreographies that painted the sky with breathtaking beauty.

In the distance, we spotted a cluster of floating islands, each one adorned with luminescent crystals that emitted harmonious melodies as the wind whistled through their crevices. I along with my companions marveled at the sight, the sheer enchantment of the place seeping into our very souls. Ynos was having a hard time keeping the awe from his face while Breta was the only one with a deep frown etched across her features.

It didn't take long before our journey brought us to what seemed like a realm of illusions, where ethereal mirages took form as we flew past. We beheld illusions of what appeared to be some sort of long-forgotten cities, their spires reaching toward the heavens. With my enhanced senses, I could almost hear the whispers of ancient souls that lingered within the illusions.

"How fascinating," I mumbled, but did not stop, or slow down. The others diligently followed after me.

Still, amidst the beauty, the Astral plane held its share of perils. It didn't take us long as we passed by the illusions to reach a shimmering lake, when suddenly, a colossal tentacled creature, emerged from the depths. Its eyes glowed with an eerie luminescence, and its tentacles thrashed with raw power, creating ripples in the very fabric of the Astral plane. Not giving it time to react, Ynos stepped forward and unleashed a blaze that wrapped around the leviathan's tentacles, forcing it to retreat.

"Hey! That was too fast! Why did it run?" He mumbled in an annoyed tone.

"We are not here to fight, leave it be," I answered, causing my brother to sigh as he came back, flying closer to me.

Further along our path, we ended up encountering what Breta called the Spectral Phantoms; ethereal beings of light and shadow that darted through the Astral plane like elusive specters. These phantoms possessed the power to manipulate illusions, attempting to ensnare us in their fantastical dreams.

But with Breta's warning, and the strength of our soul space, it was an easy matter to dispel the phantoms.

Sidus, on the other hand, ended up swallowing a few with an excited gaze on his face, his eyes darting about for more. Although he didn't say it, it was clear that the phantoms were beneficial to him.

Still, unluckily for him, we had no time to waste, so we continue on our way. As we delved deeper into the Astral plane, we chanced upon countless mysterious ancient ruins, one in particular seemed to be carved into a floating asteroid. We had to weave through astral storms that crackled with furious energy. The winds buffeted us with ethereal force, yet our strong bodies guided us safely through the turbulences.

It didn't take us long after that, to find ourselves before a serene and enchanting scene. In this place, the Astral plane seemed to take on a more gentle demeanor, as if it sought to welcome those who sought refuge from its more turbulent reaches.

The place itself was a sprawling expanse of lush, luminescent flora that sparkled like stardust. Trees with slender, silvery branches reached high into the astral sky, their leaves emitting a soft, soothing glow. The ground beneath our feet was covered with delicate petals that shifted in a harmonious dance with the astral breeze.

I took the lead and guided them to land gracefully. As soon as we did, we could instantly feel the warm embrace of this place's energy, imbued with a sense of tranquility and peace. My scales glinted with a newfound radiance as they seem to subconsciously absorb the ethereal essence of our surroundings, lending me an aura of serene majesty.

My eyes were instantly drawn, however, to the heart of it all where a luminescent pool stood, its waters reflecting the ever-changing hues of the astral sky. The pool seemed to hold a close connection to the very fabric of the Astral plane, and just standing close to it seemed to bestow us with a profound sense of renewal and clarity.

As I slowly approached the water's edge, I was suddenly assaulted by a surge of ancient knowledge flowing through me, as if the pool itself was whispering the secrets of the cosmos directly to my soul. Still, I wasn't able to understand, the pain swiftly assaulted me causing my soul space to shake, and the world outside seemed to turn into a blur before me.

My siblings were calling out to me, but I could barely hear them. Their voices sounded far, and muffled. A hand suddenly grabbed me by my tail and dragged me back, causing me to regain my clarity, and the pain to disappear.

"What-"

"Are you stupid!?" Breta cried out as she released my tail. "Don't get close to that again," she continued.

"What is that?" I asked, still confused over what I had just experienced. The sudden influx of information was too much for me to process, It almost caused my entire soul space to collapse.

"I don't know what it is, but I remember coming across a few which were spread out across the Astral plane. The area surrounding each pool can be considered a safe zone of sorts," Breta paused for a moment before she continued, "I don't know why, but no creature fights in the perimeter of the pool."

"I can almost hear someone, or something talking to me!" Ynos said with wide eyes.

"Ignore it," Breta replied coldly.

"Something...?" I muttered as I turned to glance at the alluring pool before I turned my attention to our surroundings.

It was only now that I realized that In this place, ethereal creatures of all sizes roamed freely. Graceful wisps of light danced through the air, creating mesmerizing patterns of colors. Ethereal deer, with their antlers adorned with radiant gemstones, grazed peacefully among the luminous flowers.

A group of radiant butterflies, each wing adorned with intricate patterns of celestial constellations, came fluttering around us spreading an aura of serenity wherever they passed.

"A safe zone, you say...?"

"I never tried to fight inside one, and I do not intend to risk it and do so now," Breta answered with a frown.

"Nobody is going to do such a thing," I shook my head and turned to Ynos who gave me a guilty smile.

"Ah? Yes! Of course, brother, I wasn't planning to attack anyone, or anything either..."