Reborn as a Mind-Reading Empress
Chapter 434: Alive Beneath the Earth

Chapter 434: Alive Beneath the Earth

"The Primordial giants were bigger than the mountains you see today. They could reach the clouds when they rose. But the generation following them was half their size. And they grew even smaller in size with time."

Ferdinand told her that there was a point when the world grew scarce and bare of resources for the living that survival of all races became questionable, especially for the weaker ones.

With their kind-hearted nature, it was then the primordial giants believed that the world which was in dire need of resources didn’t need them to be around anymore. For the sake of the younger generations, they chose to sleep and let their mana and bodies provide blessings for the dying earth. It was a selfless sacrifice.

After that, the earth once again grew more than enough resources for everyone.

The sleep they took was unlike the destructive hibernation Ferdinand and the others had. It was just hibernation prolonged to the extremities. The self-destructive hibernation Ferdinand had, aimed to completely destroy them and have their soul return to the cycle of life and be reborn or be completely scattered.

’The giants are indeed kind as Ferdinand said before.’

"Then does that mean, they are not dead yet? Or did they eventually die?"

If Ferdinand, a primordial dragon was still alive until now, then, perhaps the primordial giants too.

"They were gradually covered by the earth through time until they ended up underground. After thousands of years passed, some died when their mana eventually run out and even the protective barrier covering them was gone. But they most likely undid the barrier of their own accord. Their bodies formed mountain ranges that still exist today. Their kind did not retrieve their corpses anymore since they were deep underground and there were already settlers atop them. Likewise, the primordials giants dying meant they chose to pass on to the next life in that manner, so their kin respected their wishes."

’Amazing. They mountain ranges out of their bodies?! They were simply too huge.’

"Then what about the others?"

"Though already in a weakened state after giving their mana for so long, the others remain in hibernation deep beneath the earth. I can still feel their presence, so I know they are alive. They are still providing mana for the areas surrounding them. Once their mana runs out, they will pass on too," Ferdinand said casually like it was nothing.

’I see. Then I don’t have to worry that they might wake up someday and crush everyone underfoot, right? But why is Ferdinand so chill about them dying?’

She asked why he wasn’t bothered by it at all, and her husband said it was the path that the primordial giants chose so he had no say in it. Whether they pass on or not, was their choice, so he did not need to be bothered by it.

"They had already lived the life they wanted. They were satisfied with their life and decided to go. There’s no need to force them back," he said, and Arabella was silenced.

She could tell that Ferdinand understood perfectly what it was like since he was forced back to live when a need for them arose.

"Are you still regretting living this long?" she couldn’t help but ask and her husband flinched.

"Of course not. That was before I met you. I don’t feel that way anymore," Ferdinand quickly responded and held her hands. "I like my life now that I have you."

"That makes me happy," she beamed and got a kiss from him.

"Please don’t worry. I will live a long life with you. I was just stating their case since if they wanted to continue living, they would have awakened from their hibernation. Moreover, they were not the only ones to offer their mana to the earth."

"Eh? Then who else? Can you tell me more about it?" Arabella felt like she was having a forbidden history class. Something that had been hidden from other humans.

[Her eyes are shining. Is it that interesting? It was just something that happened a long time ago.] Ferdinand didn’t understand her curiosity since he saw most of it unfold. Still, he did satisfy her curiosity by telling her more.

"A long time passed after the primordial giants slept, the primordial elves followed when the earth was once again in dire need of mana. They used their powers to make plants grow and let the earth absorb their mana as they hibernated."

Ferdinand said that it was because of a war between humans and elves. Human civilization at that time advanced too much and they became too destructive to the environment. The elves didn’t like it since it affected their abode.

"A war between the two races ensued. The humans back then destroyed the elves’ abode with all the technology they created. The elves were enraged and wiped out all the technology that humans created thus far. Humanity had to start from scratch while the elves had to rebuild a new home. Both sides had a lot of casualties and losses. Likewise, the earth suffered due to their war. The primordial elves chose to give their life to the earth as a way of atoning for the destruction they became part of and to help the living elves to rebuild a new home with the earth’s blessings."

Further, Ferdinand explained that war between the races had happened repeatedly over the years. Various races fought for dominance. And of course, Ferdinand and the other primordial dragons got dragged into it too since the younger generation of their kind wanted to be the most powerful as well.

Everyone took pride in their race and wanted to be at the top. Thus, they kept fighting over who was the most powerful.

"One example was during the human civilization more than 6000 years ago. All races fought for dominance and the dragon race won so they ruled. It was peaceful for a while as one race ruled and maintained the status quo. But it still didn’t end well due to the differences between races. Especially between the long-lived races in general and humanity which had shorter lives."