CHAPTER 8

“Good god that was deadly…”

Well I just managed to survive a close brush with death. How it had happened well it goes like this

I was climbing the mountain where the said primordial dragon resided in. few weeks after I began the climb yes you heard that right few weeks. You see although I have an enormous amount of strength compared to a normal person even though I am still not fully healed. This mountain was ridiculously big and the road ahead was not paved in any way. I needed to take detours and find different passages in order to climb but a few hundred meters. The chasms found here and there also force me to take an even longer rout Even the creatures that reside here are strong beyond belief. But in the end they were all delicious. However, it seem that they become less and less the higher I climbed.

I heard the roar of a dragon and believe me when I tell you that damn thing was huge. It covered the glowing dark star with its size and managed to shake my body to the bones with its screech. Its appearance made the already too heavy of a pressure that I have been suffering under for the past thirty or so days of climb tenfold itself. I was almost crushed by the terrifying aura that this creature was releasing yet it seems that something was wrong.

I have been feeling the pressure coming from the mountain that the old man had said to be home of the primordial dragon for too many days to count that now I can fully distinguish it. This newfound pressure was strange to me, so I instantly assumed that this was in fact the second dragon, the one that went mad from this prison.

Another screech and roar was heard from within the mountain range this one coming from a different source.

I tried to climb higher to have a better view of the dragon thus I climbed through a steep cliff and hid within a congregation of large boulders and rocks

The thing was circling the mountain and would only show up for few seconds every time it made a full turn and believe me although this dragon was big the time it took him to make a full circle at this altitude was long this just shows how enormous this mountain really is, his scales were gray and his body was enormous, his wings although large had few holes in them but he still managed to fly. He had four horns on his head two were tilting backward sprouting from its forehead and the other two were sprouting from its temple to the side of his mouth. Its eyes were white as milk and he had a purple jewel on his forehead.

Unluckily for me the creature that was facing forward somehow managed to notice me. He then roared again with an unprecedented force followed up with the gathering of huge amounts of energy in his mouth. He shot forward a beam of light that was aimed perfectly at me.

Not caring for how high I was situated, I actually used all of my energy to shoot myself backwards and down through the cliff I just climbed

I acted on instinct and jumped away from the attack that managed to destroy the huge rock coagulation I was hiding behind, it was like a blowtorch was aimed at thick piece of butter the rocks proved to be of no resistance against the attack and the spot I was using for cover was soon flattened to the ground. However, the searing heat was still felt even under the clothing that I was wearing I felt that I was going to be cooked alive if this would had continued any longer

I stumbled and crashed on some of the rocks on the cliff and barely managed to grab one of the swords I had in my bag while the bag itself shattered and lost its contents. I struck the sword on the side of the cliff stopping to a halt a few meters after. The content of the bag were but meat and a few claws and some herbs but the most important was saved in the ring that belonged to the old man.

I still feared for my life as if I climbed back up right now I might end up dead so here I am back to my predicament.

I waited a few hours until I felt that the pressure emanating from the second dragon lessened a bit.

I then resumed my climb. Fear actually makes a person focus and be on edge at the same time, once I reached the top of the cliff again I noticed the damage that the dragon had done. The dragon actually shot his attack diagonally it did not only wreck the cliff but the beam managed to rip through several layers of stone and dirt creating a still burning chasm at the base of the mountain. It seems that the reason behind all those holes I saw once I entered the mountain range were due to this creature.

It was still a long way to the top but I could make it in few more days if in these days I get lucky enough not to encounter that crazy dragon again…

But one thing is still bugging me. I wonder what the other dragon truly has to say about this place and the way to get out…I hope it is truly worth the trouble and the time it took me to come back here. Considering that I only know of the spell that would get me into the void and not the one that would open a way out…ah damn if only I still had my eye…but no problem I just need to hope that he actually is as the old man described.

…

After three more days of sleepless and tireless climb I managed to reach the top

And oh my god what was there was mind blowing.

The mountain I have been climbing had a natural heaven inside it although it was far below, I still managed to see it. Trees and grass growing with many creatures running around having their fun in this small garden inside the mountain. Yet strangely no sign of this dragon I was supposed to meet.

My stomach began to grumble after a few moments of staring so I decided to get down the steep cliff.

I have been munching on some dried meat I was saving inside some of my pockets but now I need more nutrients and those animals would probably prove to be more than satisfying.

It took me a couple hours to get all the way down to where the greenery was at. If I considered the fact that the mountain would be at least a dozen kilometer in height this patch of grass would be at least at the eight kilometer mark. It is strange to find something like this at this height but the fact that not even ice was formed on this mountain top made it clear that the laws of this world worked in their own special way for example I never suffered from the lack of oxygen that I usually did when I was traveling with my old master and when we climbed to high platforms.

A lone dear ran through the plane without a care in the world stopping only to eat grass but this day was not his lucky day, as I was really hungry and this would prove to be a very nutrient meal.

I was able to throw a small rock at it and managed to instantly kill it. He made a great delicacy almost comparable to the taste of the dear meat I eat that time with Yuna…

Anyway. I managed to find a pond that was being fed through a small stream coming from underground. I drank and swam to my heart’s content washing away the dirt and the tiredness. But what was thought of me to be a blissful moment of relaxation soon turned into a disaster.

Another roar, this one however was very close. The dears began to flee in terror as for me, I looked up and saw it. It was the same ashen dragon of that time and it was flying above the patch of land. He then opened his mouth wide and began channeling the same attack that ripped through the boulders that time.

I am unable to do anything once this attack hit not even me or the animals inside will be spared from the destructiveness of its might. Is this how I die? After all that trouble…

“FEAR NOT YOUNGLING I AM STILL HERE”…

I know that voice.

A second before the ashen dragon could shoot its ray, another dragon crashed in it midair and sent both of them reeling toward the ground. Once they made contact the ground itself shook from their weight.

The other dragon had the color of blood, he looked imposing and mighty his wings well-made and in impeccable shape and his body without a single scratch on it. His scales were almost glistening under the dark star but his eyes were crimson and focused on his target. He had only two horns on his head, but they were much bigger than the ashen dragon’s.

Two titans began to fight each other claw and fang were traded with none of them showing any sign of withdrawal, they disengaged and roared at each other while the red dragon would move cautiously around his opponent the ashen one would screech and look furiously at his enemy.

The ashen dragon once again opened its mouth this time to shoot another beam of light but was again stopped by the red dragon that crashed once again into it with its head. The shock sent the heavy ashen dragon reeling but was clearly not enough to defeat him. They continued battling each other causing earthquakes with the sheer amount of their power. Each hit and each impact resounded throughout the valley.

I want to assist but what could an ant do in a fight between elephants? I probably won’t be able to even scratch the scales on the ashen dragon’s body with the remaining claw I have. As for magic I would have more chance with farting and hoping that the dragon would die from gas poisoning than to try the low tiered spells I can handle now without suffering massive rebounds.

I then remembered what the old man once said in his books void magic is the origin of all magic and this is the void so if I can use this world’s energy I might be able to do something…however the problem with the rebound still remains…there is still a solution though…I hope that it would work anyway if not I might end up killing myself for nothing and I can’t seem to recall that the red dragon had even asked me to assist him…should I really do it?

Well what is the worse that could happen?

I left the pond without wearing anything but my boxers and grabbed the storage ring and pulled out some herbs. Yes the herbs that had the ability to suppress the effect of magic poisoning. Then I began to shove them in my mouth.

I began to feel dizzy but I paid it no mind. I slowly started casting a spell.

I began slowly by creating a magic text in midair then transformed it into a Mahojin. I poured more mana into the small Mahojin making it grow, I then recalled all the necessary words and began to write them slowly and respectfully they were by the hundreds. But thankfully the fight between the two dragons was a bit far from me although I think that something like a safe distance with these dragons should not exist, I began to feel the rebound once I was using too much mana although I don’t have a lot I am using whatever my body can produce at this state.

The original spell needs more than three times the amount of mana I originally have but I will have to make do with this customized one. After finishing the necessary texts and luckily managed to dodge a rock the size of a house that passed right above me without losing focus on the spell in front of me I added the final touch. The spell contained two elements. Light and fire however this one is using three. I added the void element and hoped that it would work. According to the old man the void word should only be added as a powering source to the spell and not an actual element. So now the spell not only will it consume the user’s mana but also the surrounding void energy which in its all exists everywhere. And especially in this place it is heavily present.

Considering the low amount of mana I had provided and the fact that this is a stupid idea and I have never even attempted something like this before the chances of this spell to function are almost none existent. But what do I have to lose huh? My life? I already lost that.

Waiting for a chance the red dragon managed to once again throw back the ashen dragon and this time he clawed at his forehead shattering a piece of the enormous jewel imbedded on it. This gave great pain and suffering to the white dragon but still managed to retaliate with a swift claw to the red dragon’s abdomen. It was not deep but it still made a gashed wound. Blood began to poor outside those wounds but the red dragon gave them no mined.

At this moment the two dragons were apart from each other and this was the chance for me to test this spell

I aimed and prayed that this would work.

“Void ray of disintegration”…

The Mahojin turned the words shone bright but nothing happened.

However as if it was fate’s way of telling a joke the Mahojin began to gather mana. It sucked me dry almost killing me in the process and began to suck the needed energy from the outside world. The ashen dragon picked up on the gathering of mana but was a tad bit too late.

The veins on my hands began to blister and my head was spinning as the effect of the herbs began to recede. If the spell continued any longer I would die before I can do anything.

Then it shot forward.

A purple ray of death shot toward the ashen dragon. It took a defensive stance and shouldered the damage with its side. The amount of energy that came out from the spell was enormous. The thought of this happening while I still had the eye even frightened me. However, this attack although destructive and even few times stronger than Osfor-sensei’s original spell…it proved to be very lacking against a true dragon.

Not only had I not been able to even make it bleed, the damn thing took all of the attack only suffering from minor burns to the shoulder.

I almost died standing from the sudden feebleness I felt. The rebound was surprisingly not that high but the fact that almost all of my mana was used up coupled with my right hand that I used to cast this spell being charred to a crisp with but some few tendons and burnt flesh holding it together was going to kill me soon enough.

I used my other hand to get another batch of herbs to eat but was slowly losing consciousness. The herbs however made sure I was still up in order to see how this fight would unfold.

The red dragon was thankfully not one to let a chance like this escape its notice. He soon jumped on the white dragon and managed to lock its jaw on the still defending dragon’s neck.

The ashen dragon squirmed and wriggled trying to release itself from the clutch of death but was surprisingly knocked down with the enormous amount of power shown by the red dragon.

He kept his jaws locked onto the ashen dragon’s neck and even managed to harness more power to squeeze harder resulting in some of his fangs being broken but ultimately it was all he needed to break the ashen dragon’s neck.

With a loud snap the life of a once terrorizing dragon ended. And with its death the red dragon roared to the heavens claiming his position once again and this time securing it as the strongest in this world.

I gradually began to lose consciousness but the red dragon did not allow me my well-deserved rest.

He shouted at me saying

“Wake up youngling. There is not much time to lose. Come here”

The sound of this dragon was being broadcasted inside my head so I had no way to ignore it and continue on with my sleep. So I gathered whatever power I had and stood back up. The amount of damage and corrosion that happened to my right hand made me unable to feel it. Now that I noticed it if I were to sleep with wound this sever I would probably not wake up afterword. I need to treat this, I probably can get something from this mountain to help me fix my right arm.

I was walking slowly toward the red dragon but it seem that it would take forever so he actually bit on the neck of the fallen dragon and brought it toward me.

I looked at the dragon and said

“Hi”

The dragon snorted and said

“there is no time for pleasantries you need to eat, now.”

I answered him back

“Eat? I just eat something so I am actually full thank you…and I believe that dragon meat is a bit too tough so I think I would pass…” seeing that even the red dragon broke his tooth fighting this I probably would lose more than one trying to do the same thing.

“No. you need to eat the heart” he said

“The heart?” I asked

And before soon I heard the screeching and loud wailing of several creatures at once.

“Damn they are here.” Said the dragon the proceeded to shoving one of his hands into the dragon’s chest. The penetration of the flesh was easily achieved now that the dragon is dead. I think that their bodies loses its strength and durability when they are alive.

The dragon then ripped out the heart of the dead dragon, the heart was massive and huge almost three time bigger than me once the dragon dropped it to the ground.

He then said

“Eat. Now”

“Euh…even if you say so I think this is a bit too much” I said

The dragon then again said

“Do not worry about the physical and start eating unless you want to become the next meal to those guys.”

Physical? Those guys? what is he talking about?

I looked up and soon understood. The sound that I heard earlier belonged to these things. Imoogies…Yes and shit ton of them too. They were swarming the top of the mountain, they probably were swimming high above and now that the ashen dragon died…they too want the heart. The legend say that once an Imoogi eat a dragon’s heart, they themselves will become a dragon.

I placed my left arm on the still hot heart and tried to tear some of its flesh but to no avail, it was still too tough. Bloodied and tiered I tried to rip a piece of it with my teeth. However once I sank my teeth in the heart the flesh melted and almost disappeared into my mouth, the blood and flesh transformed from raw and disgusting flesh to taste like the nectar of gods. I wanted more, so I sank my teeth again and bit at the heart this time taking a bigger bite. The explosion of tastes washed over me as I continued on biting, I never got to swallow as every time I bit, the flesh would disappear and my body would feel invigorated yet with every bite I craved more, I felt a gluttony like nothing before, I felt hunger like never before. I bit, and bit through the flesh like a mad man. I craved. I eat and I was still unsatisfied.

“Good, good” said the red dragon “I will take care of these nuisances you only have to eat, youngling.”

He then flew off and began to chase away the incoming horde of Imoogies. As for me, well I didn’t really care, I had a feast in front of me and I did not want to share.

After an hour or so I think I was done with the heart.

I actually began to lick the blood off my fingers just to get whatever flavor that was left.

Looking back at my right hand I see it now fully healed. Not only did it change from the charred state to what it was before no it became much better looking and staggeringly more powerful to the feel.

Now that the euphoria I was feeling had ended I can fully sense what is happening to my body.

My skin became stronger and my muscles became much sturdier, my badly broken fingers are now better than ever and my overall state is superb. However only my right eye is still missing…

The dragon descended back after managing to slay a few hundred of those pesky snakes the rest ran away.

“Did the Imoogies crave the heart as well?” I asked

“Imoogies? Ah those sorry excuse of a snake yes they did. They think that with the heart they could become a true dragon, what sad fate await them if they truly did manage in doing so.”

“What do you mean old one?”

“My name is Drakhsis. As for them none would have been able to withstand the power that cometh with the digestion of the heart.”

“I felt that my body’s strength increased a bit but nothing to be lethal…shouldn’t they be more than able to sustain something like this?”

Drakhsis laughed saying

“Oh you have yet to digest its power fully. Now rest. You will need all of your strength for the upcoming night, Ashurian.”

***

“So how did he do?”

Said Mr. V to one of the doctors in his lab

The doctor then enthusiastically answered

“The results were magnificent!! Although the kid lost consciousness soon after using that spell he was picked up by some of our agents and brought back. There was some damage around his eye but nothing too serious I think that those are some minor singes of rejection but they can be treated nevertheless.”

Mr. looked pleased with the report and went to speak to the boy directly.

The boy was sitting on a chair inside the lab with some of the doctors around him discussing the event that happened.

Mr. V ignored the lot and spoke directly to the kid.

“So Jamie. How are you feeling?”

The boy happily replied

“I never felt better. The surge of power and the ability to cast spells at will this is magnificent sir!”

Mr. V then answered. “Oh it is great that you are feeling this way. But tell me something. I and some of my comrades have been discussing something. It seem that your participation had turned the tides of the battle and we managed to push back the invaders. We will be needing you again to do another thing for us but can you tell me one thing.”

The boy replied

“What is it? Sir”

“Well you see, the spell you used that time was considered an S class spell. And was developed by Osfor, the heavenly demon that belongs to Alsa. How were you able to reproduce such feat without even encountering that person or being in contact with that spell?”

The boy answered with a naïve look saying

“Well sir, I actually don’t know but if I am not mistaken whoever had this eye before used such a spell. And while I did not actually meet them, the eye somehow managed to ‘remember’ all the spells he had used and believe me when I tell you, the owner of this eye knew a lot.”

Mr. seemed content with the answer and asked one more thing.

“SO tell me again Jaime, How about you become a king?”

The boy seemed a bit shocked at the sudden proposition and knew for a fact that Mr. V never tell jokes, but before he could ask anything the man said

“Well Jamie, you have been with us for a long time so this is our way to repay you for the hardship you had suffered. So what say you?”

The boy seemed to be thinking and said

“If I become a king…Can I get to eat a lot of pie?”

Mr. V then chuckled and said

“You can eat all the pies you want Jamie.”

He then turned around and walked away. Leaving the drooling kid living in his own fantasy.

Mr. V returned to his room and contacted the leaders of the organization, they were already present and mostly waiting for him.

“Mr. V you are once again late.” said Mr. E

“I am sorry for my latency but I have good news.”

“Please do tell” said Ms C “That is the least you can do now that your base was compromised, what a joke it is to have lost your grasp over the base in the Seldia sector and to a lone man…”

Mr. V then rebuked the statement saying

“This is not the time for this, and if I were present there at the time I would not have let it be that way. The man lured most of the forces outside the base and managed to wreak havoc within.”

Mr. E then interrupted

“Go to the heart of the matter Mr. E, and please Ms. C stop bringing the past we had already discussed this.”

With a click of her tong Ms. C then calmed down.

“Well, it seems that we are once again struck with fortune. It seems that the kid is capable of using the spells that the old owner used. And in them the spell to repair the barrier. We can close it at will if we wish so. So please tell us Mr. E what is it that you wish us to do?”

The old man waited and considered the new information then said.

“Well I think that we should lock it down as soon as we can.”

Everyone in the room was shocked at the statement and wouldn’t dare to object without waiting for further information from the leader.

Mr E then added

“I think that we will have our hands tied behind our backs if we do not rush to fix things up. The four countries are now conspiring against our existence. Although we had bribed most of the ministers and high positioned men in most of the countries. We will lose our grasp if the kings themselves decided that our existence is no longer necessary, once we clear away the doubts from the people’s heart and show as the ones that truly saved them…we could then do whatever we like.”

Mr. V then said.

“Then how about the offer I had proposed to you, do you agree to it?”

Ms C then roared

“What offer!!? Are you working behind our backs Mr. V!!?”

Mr E then answered

“Like I said before, calm down Ms. C. Mr. E’s idea is rather brilliant. If we cannot have the backing of the four countries. We only have to make one of them truly ours. We will be presenting a new king to rule over Alikh. King Elior is old and need to be changed. With the only heir being his unfit son and having his country invaded and weakened. Overtaking that country will not be that hard of a matter. Therefore we will provide a new king in which we are ruling from behind him. And in doing so we will have the backing of an entire country. A country that none would dare fight against considering that it boasts with a person capable of closing the ‘breaches’. ”