Sacrifice: Time of Mine

Dragons are known as myths only and there is a reason for such a thing to happen. This is because they are scarce and are always hiding somewhere letting their rank increase until they can fearlessly roam the world.

However, when they got stronger, they have already turned into wise beings about being alone for centuries. They would only leave their abode where they will search for a strong partner.

Sometimes they do not. They are so strong that their body is not programmed to procreate. After all, only those beings that are weak have strong lusts. This keeps their species exist even after a long time.

That was not true for dragons. They are the paragon of strength and never depended on one another to survive. They are only stationed in their own place until they die. Only when they are at the edge of their lifespan would they feel the need to have a child.

Once the egg hatched, they will leave. This is the nature of the strong. But it is also natural that there is some exception. For example, in the continent of Great Darea, when the dragon that will become Sheran in the future hatched out of its egg, its mother failed to leave for she found an Apexial Beast, wanting both the dragon and her egg.

Of course, the dragon fought and won. However, her child had seen her face and grew attached which isn't supposed to happen. A dependent dragon should not exist as who will it depend on in the future?

The mother escapes it, wanting for it to grow up accustomed to being alone. It did not feel love but her child does the moment it was born.

A weak dragon was nurtured, trying to find its mother. However, when it did, it was only thrown away. The baby dragon pleaded but was banished. Heartbroken, the baby dragon went to another of its relatives for the same thing to happen.

"Grew stronger first and I will think of letting you inside my cave."

...

"What a weak dragon you are? How did you become so dependable? But shoo, I'm not that interested to see a disappointing dragon."

...

"A dragon that seeks others? Grow up. That will make you weak. Strengthen yourself first before you can think of getting close to me."

...

They were all the same. Unsocialized beings who hate creating a connection towards their own kind.

This lets the baby dragon develop a sense of inferiority. Being called the only weak dragon in all of its species made it feel worthless, deterring its growth. Eventually, it developed fear towards lower beings. 

This sense of inferiority grew as even beasts that shouldn't threaten a dragon can kill it.

That was until it met a human. A weak little human. Chasing this human and defeating her, the baby dragon felt a sense of victory. That's why it didn't kill the human, it let her live that it can defeat the human again and again.

However, of course, you already know the story. Sheran was the catalyst to make Darea stronger and stronger until she was finally unable to reach this human.

Right now, Sheran felt so little in front of Darea who was standing atop the mountain of corpses. Corpses of powerhouses. The person that Darea was standing on can crush Sheran easily for this person was a legendary Rank Es Elementalist.

Even after Sheran changed, she couldn't reach this human.

Who was the monster now?

"Sheran, what are you doing here?"

"You... you left me..."

"Hm, that's because you will only die if you continued following me." Darea said while her wounds closed up. The variance of a warrior could be seen exuding from her while Sheran couldn't only subconsciously lower her head.

Seeing this Darea heavily remarked.

"If only you would raise your head in front of stronger people, I would've let you join me. But seeing that you're still the same as before, if you fought these people, you would only get killed. Sorry, Sheran, but our path divides here."

Darea left Sheran after that harsh truth.

This made Sheran felt anger within her. Anger that is directed at herself. Why is she a coward? Why does she have no confidence?

After months of contemplation, she finally found it.

"Why do I need to chase after her? I've finally realized it. I'm weak because of me depending on others."

So she did the opposite. Sheran traveled and found people that she wanted to lead, to depend on her. However, all of them were unable to meet her expectation and after a decade, she found herself in the continent of Arcansas which she met Mer.

Since Mer is already Rank Ey, he was able to keep up, becoming Sheran's faithful servant. Remembering Darea's words, she titled herself a Rank Es Dragon. Even as a Rank Ey, she tried to fight other Rank Es Elementalists.

At first, she was losing but as time passes, she finally defeats others and took revenge. In a span of a few years, she was finally regarded as a legend and was named "Dragonian Sheran"

However, she was still Rank Ey and that was when she received the news of Darea conquering three continents, uniting it as one.

The Great Ruler.

The Conqueress.

Queen of Twelve Apexial Beasts.

There were many titles given to her. Darea still stood a league above Sheran. Sheran felt defeat but she didn't give up. When she learned that Darea was finally on the move to conquer the whole world, she traveled to go to her fellow legends. Trusting her instincts, she gathered the strongest Rank Es Elementalists on the continent.

The Lord Sorcerer could not be found, however, she felt that it was enough.

Against Darea's army, Sheran finally reached Rank Es after her companions' help. Defeating Apexial Beasts, she finally felt that she had done it, she reached Darea's league!

But soon, reality hits her.

Darea easily killed her companions. Now it was her time to die, ending her lifetime chase. Should she regret not killing this human back then?