The moment her consciousness returned, Ailaira Green immediately sorted out the current situation.
After receiving the System’s reward, two distinct traits had been implanted into her bloodline.
Unlike before, when she had experimented with bits and pieces of magical traits, this time it was the complete [Devouring Magic] and [Sacred Affinity] that underwent a fusion reaction within her.
As everyone knows, magic is stored within the bloodline of living beings.
And in Ailaira’s body, Andrea’s Red Dragon bloodline still remained, naturally able to extract some of the traits of [End].
Adding on Ailaira’s own traits, multiple kinds of magical power vied against each other, intertwining and merging, each trying to carve out a place within Ailaira.
In the end, this intense reaction struck Ailaira’s spirit, forcing her into slumber, while her body was driven to act purely by instinct.
Yes, at this time, the tentacles that Andrea was so reluctant to part with, in a sense, were an external organ belonging to Ailaira, a function that her body had naturally evolved through magical reaction and adaptation.
Ailaira controlled the tentacles and withdrew them back inside her body.
The Silver Tentacle trembled, unwillingly leaving Andrea and retracting into Ailaira.
At the same moment, the Silver Silk Cocoon that had enveloped the two of them instantly disintegrated, dissolving into countless filaments like powdered snow and merging entirely into the surface of Ailaira’s body.
A special, viscous liquid splashed out, about to ruin the arrangement of the Bookroom.
Ailaira, in time, used her magic to lift it all up, then produced a giant Glass Bottle, compressing the liquid and storing it inside.
Once everything was taken care of, Ailaira finally looked over at Andrea.
Andrea’s clothes were torn and damaged in varying degrees, revealing fair skin with a hint of red.
Her arms were crossed over her chest, shielding the sudden exposure, and her eyes, watery and brimming with anger, glared furiously at Ailaira as she choked out:
“You wicked woman, just what kind of trick are you playing at!”
“If not for me, you would have killed yourself, you know! You better think about how to thank me!”
To be honest, after calming down and thinking it over, Andrea realized that her own willingness to offer herself up hadn’t been carefully considered either.
What if Ailaira had still held something in reserve?
Wouldn’t that make her the fool?!
No, she had to seize the initiative.
No matter what, she had to squeeze some benefits out of Ailaira this time, or she’d never forgive herself for the effort spent!
Ailaira did not deny Andrea’s actions in the slightest and admitted openly, “Things got a little urgent, and it caught me off guard. I really owe you this time. I’ll make up for the life force you spent.”
Luckily, Andrea was a Dragonborn.
If it had been an ordinary person, having that much life force drained would have been enough to turn a beautiful young maiden into a withered old crone.
Yet Andrea’s appearance hadn’t changed at all, except for her legs going a bit weak.
Simply put, this accident was caused by her habitual reliance on experience.
The System’s first reward had only been a bloodline, so Ailaira naturally assumed that this time, the dual rewards would be similar.
Unexpectedly, the System had gone a step further and directly rewarded her with even more advanced traits.
Caught off guard, Ailaira had no time to set up any protection and was forced to endure the pain of trait fusion.
Heh, did that count as helping Vista Green get a preview in advance?
Still, her situation was different from Vista Green’s.
Her own traits and bloodlines were too mixed, so what happened to her couldn’t be used as an example for Vista Green.
Each case would have to be analyzed on its own.
After all, she already possessed two traits before this.
Andrea tugged off her only mostly intact jacket and threw it at Ailaira, who was still calmly naked.
With cheeks flushing, she averted her gaze.
“At least put some clothes on before talking, would you? Have some decency.”
Ailaira caught the jacket, a little dazed, then a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she teased, “Don’t like what you see?”
“Who would like it!” Andrea’s Dragon Tail bristled, smacking the floor hard as if to drown out the furious beating of her Red Dragon heart.
“It’s not like I never have! One day my figure will definitely outshine yours!”
Ailaira slipped Andrea’s jacket over herself.
It was a bit small and could barely cover the most important parts, leaving her slender waist still exposed.
“When we first met, didn’t you stare at my face the whole time? And that night, too—you bit my finger and kept muttering about how much you liked me, or something like that.”
“Ahhh! That’s nonsense! How could I have said something like that!”
Unable to help herself, the Red Dragon Miss lunged at Ailaira, clapping both hands over her mouth to forcefully stop her from exposing more.
She was not! At! All! Curious! About the details of that night!
Ailaira extended the Silver Tentacle from her back, coiling it around Andrea’s waist and pulling her away.
Feeling the familiar sensation, Andrea’s body trembled violently, and she instinctively used her magic to dispel it.
The previously overbearing tentacle, upon coming in contact with Andrea’s magic, immediately shrank back behind Ailaira.
Only then did Andrea recall that her magic suppressed that strange thing, and she asked curiously, “Ailaira, is this thing you’ve grown really alright? It seems to be really afraid of my magic?”
Ailaira, hearing this, let the tentacle wind around her arm like a finely wrought silver bracelet.
She hesitated, unsure whether to tell Andrea the truth.
Before, she had kept silent, fearing that if Andrea learned too much about her abilities, she’d slip out of her control.
But now—
“This thing, after all, is just a magical construct, an external form made from my own magical traits.”
“And Andrea, your trait can be called the nemesis of all magic in this world.”
“It’s more fitting to call it [End]. Your magic can sever the operation of all magic, fundamentally breaking down the very structure of spells. Before, your bloodline was impure, so this trait wasn’t fully awakened, but as you’ve grown, its power has gradually revealed itself.”
In the end, Ailaira decided to tell Andrea the truth.
Given the current situation, she’d be doing more experiments on Andrea in the future—not only to obtain a purer Red Dragon bloodline, but also for rarer magical potion ingredients.
Andrea herself would discover her abilities sooner or later.
No point in trying to hide it—better to tell her herself and bring them closer, making Andrea feel more at ease staying by her side.
Andrea, hearing this, stared blankly at her hands, lips trembling.
“So I wasn’t empty-handed after all?”
Ailaira gently stroked Andrea’s head, her calm voice at that moment giving Andrea hope for the future.
“As long as I’m here, you’ll become someone who can look down on all dragons someday.”
“And even soaring through the skies will no longer be just a dream.”