CHAPTER 4

SLAM!!

Greetman struck both his hands on the table of the meeting that was being held at the school’s meeting room.

It was a rectangular room about ten meters by five and held in it but few decorations on the walls and a big round table with chairs to match

“You brought me all the way to here to tell me this nonsense! You are pushing your new position too far, kid!” roared Greetman

“I AM SPEAKING THE TRUTH!” replied Yuna with the same tone.

“Preposterous!” replied Greetman “His soul is linked to a damn Zephra stone! He died that day! Don’t you dare mock me with these witless lies!”

“I don’t know about that, but he lives, he is in the crucible! I don’t care if you are to forgive me or not but once he leaves you will see it with your own eyes.” Replied Yuna

“Hang on a moment...”said Osfor “it might actually be possible for that stone to have turned that way if we take into consideration him being in the crucible…”

“What do you mean Osfor?” replied Greetman.

“Well…the crucible is a link to other worlds I don’t think that the stone is capable of reaching him when he is there but there is a problem you see…the crucible only rose a few months ago while Asura left us before that…so the question is if it is truly as Yuna says…where was he in the time before the crucible rose?”

“What do you have to say about that Kid?” Said Greetman.

“I don’t know, alright I don’t know. But what I saw is true! He is there.”

“You say that you parted ways at the fiftieth floor?” said Takeda

“Yes…”

“Why didn’t he leave with you?”

“I don’t know…the voice inside the crucible had only permitted one of us to exit…I think that was the condition for leaving.”

“No.” said Greetman” the last time I challenged the crucible I left with the former head of the lightning clan…there is no condition to be met if one clears a checkpoint and decides to leave….either you are lying or there was something preventing him from leaving with you… however this puts us back into the same situation as before…if he decides to stay there…then it is as good as if he never lived…” said Greetman

“You are mistaken…” said Yuna

“What do you mean” replied Greetman with a bit of interest that was mimicked by the rest of the attendants.

“Asura is strong…too strong actually”

“What does that have to do with anything little girl” said Ousay. “We know he is strong but he did lose his eye I mean there is a bastard of a usurper that is using it…literally”

“I know. I was informed but it is not his eye, no, I saw his face he didn’t have it, he had but a gaping hole on his right side.”

To this statement Greetman grunted.

“But…I don’t know how to explain it but he is frighteningly strong now, I don’t know how he did it but I don’t think that if he uses his full power all of your power combined will pale in comparison to his…”

“What a load of bull.” Said Greetman

“I know my disciple better than anyone here. He was strong I know that but he still needs more to be able to take on one of the seven so don’t mock me with these over-exaggerations.”

“No. I am not exaggerating anything…he is able to scare away hundreds of monsters and king class sacred beasts with but his presence….he even killed them in less of a time that a cup would take to drop from this table to the ground…he is strong…frighteningly so.”

…

Silence protruded throughout the room with none of the seven speaking.

“If it is him…then he will definitely leave the crucible…” said Yuna and stood up.

“I know this does nothing to lessen the weight of my sin. But I thought that you should at least know…Asura lives.”

Then the white haired girl left.

***

“This is stupid…”I said to myself “really, really stupid and an utterly horrible idea what the hell was I thinking!”

I was inside the beast’s body, the neck area for now…I think I mean it is hard to know where you are once you are in…if you know what I mean.

And to be honest there was no room to move. I considered cutting away at it but decided against it because getting inside was the whole point. Thinking back at it, it was the only way to kill this thing…I mean it may have ten heads…it must only have one heart.

Once I got deeper and by the way my skin was getting burned from the acid inside this thing’s body.

The cloths I was wearing managed to remain intact, but it seriously burns.

Once I fell into his ‘probably’ stomach I managed to stand up barely as his insides were slimy and wiggling a whole lot.

I took a look around, it was utter darkness but I still managed to see once I created a purple flame inside

Unable to know which way to go or to crawl toward I had to focus my hearing. I then began to clearly hear the beating of this thing’s heart. And it was beating rather fast.

I pulled my sword toward me and began by pushing the stomach flesh to get more of a space to make a proper swing at its heart. Then as if it had knew what I was going to do the stomach began to move probably trying to puke me out. But I can’t let it do so.

I struck at it with a dragon earth shattering smash and made the entire being shudder from pain and screamed so loud that I managed to hear it while still inside.

I was holding my breath for the whole process and will probably only last few more minutes.

The movements of its stomach became even more chaotic and I decided that it will be now time to kill this thing.

I began slicing at the flesh that instantly repaired itself making my efforts useless.

“God damn it!” I screamed.

I pierced my sword in the direction of the beating heart and placed my hands there before the flesh would mend.

I then placed my hand forward and began channeling the disintegration spell. This is the only way I would be able to kill this thing considering how sturdy it is and how huge his body is. thankfully i no longer need to suffre the unconsiousness that follows after. Equilibrium is permitting me to remain consious and regain stamina and energy instantly.

However before I could complete the formula the stomach rumbled again making me lose my balance.

This is not going to work…

The acid now began to burn at the cloths I was wearing and the scales on my hands began to melt from its potency.

I have to hurry up…the regeneration of this thing is ridiculous...

I then had an idea….another of my not so bright idea.

I used whatever air I had in my lungs and mixed it with mana

“Dragon fire breath!”

And cooked the thing from within while I was still inside…really not a good idea.

However it seemed to be working as once I luckily managed to not cook myself to death it seems that the flames had burnt a great portion of the beast’s insides and now it was screaming from pain while blood and burnt flesh was being mended and slowly began to heal I took the opportunity to resume my previous activity.

I pierced once again in the direction of the heard while my hand was almost transformed to but bones and tendons and shot the same spell.

This time it was a success as the spell managed to easily penetrate through its tender flesh and tore at its heart instantly. It stopped moving and the movement of the stomach stopped right after.

A moment after the whole world, or just the inside of the stomach rolled over, and a huge thud was heard probably caused by the falling of the same beast.

I began to dig my way out of the fallen monster’s flesh and finally exited. I saw a huge pool of dark blood while the beast that I thought had died was still spasming…I don’t know if it could regenerate the heart I just passed through but I really don’t want to take any risks. So I began by (and by began I mean I was going at it full speed fearing that it might stand up once again) cutting its head one by one…this time (luckily) it didn’t regenerate and the spasms stopped.

That was really close, now looking back at it from this point. This thing was probably the strongest creature I had ever fought and to be honest If I didn’t go inside it I don’t think for the life of me that I would have been able to beat it…and there are four more floors…man this is actually turning to be a true challenge…how would anyone even manage such a feat without the power I currently hold is beyond me…

A portal soon opened and I was thinking of leaving until an idea struck me…

This thing is very big…and very strong…stronger than the Imoogies I fought here and more so than any creature I fought back at the void…

I emptied my ring from the flesh of the other creatures and tried to store its body inside…it seems impossible I don’t think the ring has enough space…

I then began cutting it. I started by going directly toward the heart. Although in bad condition as an S class spell just shot right through it I still ripped it off and pulled it out. Being covered in blood and gore was not that distracting despite the smell.

Once the heart was out that was by the way, way smaller than Arvion’s but still the taste was marvelous.

It took me a few hours before I finished it and then began cutting away at the rest of the body. I took a huge chunk of his flesh and began to store them piece by piece.

The ring was almost full once I had placed about one third of the thing then I began by eating what was left.

After I had my fill. I decided to leave while still a huge amount of its flesh was there.

However before I got to the gate a small object caught my eyes.

It was an oval black and silver rock…an egg?

I went toward it and grabbed it…

It was heavy almost if it was made of stone but…it has life in it…I can clearly see from the heat emanating from within it.

I then placed it inside the ring and now the ring was officially full.

Once I left the gate I was greeted by the same being…the all-powerful overseer.

“Welcome back Challenger…or should I say Dragon eater…”

Oh that sounds cool

“Well do what you want…by the way what was that thing…I seriously thought I was about to die…ah one more thing I really need one of those potions I want to claim the potion from the fiftieth floor.”

Honestly speaking I was barely managing to remain standing although I ate the heart of that thing, the effects were not the same like what happened when I ate Arvion’s. I thought that considering this things regenerating powers I would probably heal in no time but no…my wounds only got worse and I really don’t think that going back to human form will be a good idea…

“Very well.”

Once he said the words few potions dropped to the ground.

I picked one up and drank it…instantly gaining back my former constitution and energy. God damn this thing is amazing…

“For the beast you had fought it was a Primordial abysmal hydra. It was weakened heavily by its containment and was not even at a tenth of its original power.”

“What! Are you not just saying that as an exaggeration? I mean not even a tenth how the hell is anyone supposed to beat that thing if it was in full power. Wouldn’t it need the strength of another primordial being for it to die? Like a primordial dragon?”

“Although primordial, that being is, even in his utmost and optimum strength, far less powerful than a true dragon…even more so a primordial dragon, that are considered as gods to their kin…only a handful of them are left in the world and you already consumed one…you should be careful as your power is comparable to a hatchling with the disposition to become as powerful as a true primordial…many would turn the world for the chance of getting your body so be very careful…the next challenge will take time to prepare…wait here.”

I have no idea whether this guy is giving me advice or just trying to scare me…but why did he say that the next challenge will take time?...anyway

I pocketed the other potion and sat on the ground…

I reverted back to human form and began meditating.

I remained in that state for almost a day until I was called again by the Overseer.

“Challenger”

Oh, no dragon eater thing…bummer

“Yes.” I said

“Your new challenge is ready. You will be given a task. Complete it and you shall exit that place once you are done.”

I then asked

“What would that task be?”

“It is up to you to figure out.” Said the overseer and I was teleported out of the room. No gate no blinding light I just found myself inside a city filled with people. Yes actual people all minding their things… the buildings had a rather…unique design, mostly houses mad of wood and stone. The roads were unpaved while there was horses and carriages…it was like a medieval era.

I then was startled with the way I looked…I was wearing armor…a black metallic armor that is so dark the light was not reflecting out of it.

A full body armor and wore a damn helmet…I took it off and was surprised that I was able to see with both eyes…the mask was helping me with that task but why am I able to do so without it…

I walked near a small murky pond of water and saw my reflection…that was not me…

I went toward a near clothing shop and saw directly into a mirror.

I was now an old man probably in my forties and had a well-trimmed beard and dark hair. My eyes were brown and my nose was neither too big nor too small…I had a scar on my left cheek but nothing too serious as it only added to the macho looks I had.

I turned to look at the shop keeper that was bewildered by my looks and said to him

“What is this place?”

“Euh…this is the kingdom of Erudith…why are you asking sir?”

“I never heard of it…” I said

The shop keeper then said

“How could you not have heard of it? It is the capital of the biggest kingdom on the Great Plains…”

The hell is going on?

There never was a kingdom of such? Is this some sort of challenge?

“You must be lost sir…what is your name? I may be able to help you find your way. After all you are wearing the armor of the dark blood covenant they are well known here…”

Dark blood? What is he talking about?

“My name is *@/- “I said

What the hell?

“My name is *@/-“I said again

The shop keeper said

“I heard you the first time…”

Well I didn’t! What the hell I can’t even pronounce my own name…

“Any way. You should go to Lady Vivian’s tavern. You will find some of your brethren there. Have a nice day Mr. *@/-“

I give up…I can’t understand what he is saying, the name is unpronounceable it is like if it was meant to be this way... anyway I need to keep going I should understand more once I meet with one of those guys at the tavern.