“This will take us to thousands years ago.” Ogen cleared his throat. “Once upon time, the mighty Grand Dragons ruled Nazula. Everything lived in harmony, until the Goddess created more intelligent creatures. Human, the nomaden race. Moasrahn, the fierce warrior race. Ocea, the seafolk. Nubilum, the cloudwalker, and other minor races. At first, the diversity was beautiful. But it turned 180 degrees when they grew into a big population. The harmony fell off, war after war erupted. As the Goddess didn't do anything, so was her first living creation, the Grand Dragons. War, peace, war, peace, the cycle kept repeating for thousands of years. Kingdom after kingdom, ruler after ruler, heroes, villains, hero turned into villain, villain turned into savior and so on. The breakpoint was when our faith shifted. When ocea started to worship Ulstena as their God, and nubilum worshipped Rakhel, the Grand Dragon of Skypiercer Mountain. Also moasrahn, chose their ancestors in their prayer rather than their creator. After that, almost all Grand Dragons were worshipped, except one, Arxeo.”

Ogen sipped his drink. They eyes that focused on him were eager to hear more. He used to it, after all he was a professor at Heldar University.

“Then one day, it happened, the Abysmal Grand Dragon Arxeo obliterated a kingdom. Out of jealousy! Because no one worshipped him. Why there’s no one worshipped him? Because there was a prophecy, a prophecy of a Grand Dragon that would turn Nazula asunder, that was Arxeo, the Bringer of Destruction. When the prophecy was spread out to every corner of the world, the world became wary of Arxeo’s existence. But no one dared to make a move, not even Arxeo’s fellow Grand Dragons, because the Abysmal Grand Dragon was the strongest among Goddess’s creation. One thing that the races of world did, to prevent the prophecy to become true, they hunted the hellbent Goddess’s creation that supported the destruction of Nazula, be it human, moasrahn, or from other races, they killed them all. They did that for over hundreds of years, without Arxeo knowing. But what they did was a terrible mistake, when Arxeo finally knew what happened to his to-be worshippers, he snapped. Arxeo gave the true meaning of terror to half of the world with his unstoppable rampage. The Grand Dragons had no choice but to interfere, when they did that, Arxeo agreed to stop, but he demanded to have fight just between Grand Dragons because he thought the other Grand Dragons were the ones to blame. The Grand Dragons agreed, they had no choice but to have a fight with the strongest of their kind in a week. Hope Grand Dragon Luxigrum was the leader of the Grand Dragons that would subdue Arxeo, he was confident because no matter how strong Arxeo was, they would outnumber him. He rallied all Grand Dragons to oppose Arxeo.”

“So far it’s no different from what I’ve read,” mumbled Rugo.

“A week had passed. Finally, Arxeo battled his own kin, And Hope Grand Dragon’s confidence was shattered when Abysmal Grand Dragon’s power exceeded his calculation, Arxeo was too strong! More than twenty Grand Dragons couldn't stop his power, they only managed to slow him, but not strong enough to stop him,” Ogen stroked his beard, “let me remind you that the power of even just one Grand Dragon was ridiculous, to pulverize a big city with fully prepared defense was an easy task for one of them, so you could imagine how strong Arxeo was.”

Some bodyguards gulped, thinking about Arxeo’s power.

“The nightmare did not stop at that, when six Grand Dragons chose to side with Arxeo because his foul coercion, it complicated the situation for Luxigrum. But Luxigrum was cunning, he already enlisted the help of humans, his back up plan. He broke the agreement, but he did not care because Arxeo would obliterate the world if they agree to Arxeo’s term; to fight only between Grand Dragons. The preparation of the help couldn't be completed quickly, Luxigrum’s side had no choice but to wait and fight on. The war between the Grand Dragons lasted for full two years! For two years they kept battling each other!”

“Damn, how strong these Grand Dragons actually were!?” said Bogram.

“Why only human helped Luxigrum?” asked Rugo.

“According to ‘The Fall of The Mightiest’ history book, that’s because humans offered themselves to help Luxigrum, and Luxigrum took the help with open arms unlike Rakhel and Ulstena, who forbade other races to join them to fight Arxeo,” Ogen replied.

Rugo nodded lightly a couple of times.

“At last, the long-awaited help was finally completed, it was a spell, and a pit, an enormous deep pit that even bigger than an upside down mountain. A perfect sealing spell and a massive area to contain the Abysmal Grand Dragon, because Luxigrum realized he couldn't beat Arxeo, so, all he could do was seal him,” Ogen continued, “Luxigrum lured Arxeo to the pit and let the humans sacrificed themselves to activate the spell. It worked.”

Ogen stared the moon. “Arxeo struggled, resulting nothing. The spell was specifically designed for him to trap him for the eternity. With the Bringer of Destruction sealed, the War of the Dragons came to an end. The war brought heavy casualties to the Grand Dragons and the world. All of the Grand Dragons went to deep slumber including the traitorous six Grand Dragons, away from the eyes of living beings, except Luxigrum.”

“What happened to him?” asked Rugo.

“After he sealed Arxeo in the deepest pit human ever made, Luxigrum never left the pit, he’s standing guard, but also ignored anything around him. He’s not moving, not even breathing, and his eyes closed. But you still can hear the faint sound of his heartbeat.”

“And the other Grand Dragons?” asked Rugo.

“Haven't been seen since the war ended,” answered Ogen.

“And where are Luxigrum and Arxeo?”

“In Dragon’s Pit, in the wasteland of Libelishe Kingdom,” said Cain, “it’s in the top three of my destinations,” Cain shrugged.

“Interesting,” responded Rugo. “I’m also wondering why Goddess Nazula did not intervene all of those,” said Rugo.

“Who knows, Rugo,” Ogen sighed, “some say the divine being is too complex for our little minds to comprehend. Some also say, that the Goddess chose to observe only, and let us resolve our own problems because we are gifted with mind to think, freedom to choose and the ability to differentiate what is right and wrong, that is what separate us to animals after all.”

“Hmm… maybe that’s why in the past our faith… ah, nevermind,” said Rugo.

“That’s it, boys! Get some rest!” said Ogen, he dismissed the bodyguards.

“The night is just getting started, Sir!” exclaimed Bogram.

“Whatever, just don't overdo it, we’ll set out in the morning,” said Ogen.

“No problem, Sir!” said Dearg. The bodyguards went back to their activities again, drinking and chatting.

“Oi, you! Rugo, isn't it? Come with us,” said Bogram, Dearg was next to him. Also some bodyguards behind them looked eager.

“Hrrh, why?” responded Rugo.

“Just come, it’s a game!” said Dearg.

“It’d better be good,” said Rugo as he stood up.

“Ahh… I still can’t believe I met a moasrahn,” said Ogen to Cain while watching Rugo went with the bodyguards.

“Uh-huh, moasrahn is really interesting,” responded Cain.

Rugo and the bodyguards stopped not far from Ogen and Cain. In front of them, two barrels were being put down side by side by two bodyguards, then a wide flat wooden board placed on the barrels. They just made a table from whatever they could use.

“I heard moasrahn is fierce and strong. Are you, Rugo?” Bogram stretched out his arm, then he put his right arm on the board with his elbow as the base. “Let’s find out!” he said.

Rugo stared at Bogram for a few seconds. Then the edge of his mouth was pulled wide, he was grinning. “Arm wrestling? The classic that never gets old! Sure, Baldy!” exclaimed Rugo.

The bodyguards around them cheered, they attracted more bodyguards.

Rugo also stretched out his right arm.

“Let’s make a bet!” said Dearg.

“For sure!” said Bogram, he retracted his right arm and reached his pouch. He threw the pouch onto the board.

“Money, huh? I don’t have your currency, human,” said Rugo.

“You can bet anything, Rugo!” said Bogram.

“Heh, alright,” Rugo reached his khukris and put them on the board. “I know you’ve been eyeing my knives,” Rugo grinned at Bogram.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” Bogram was so excited. “Let’s do this!”

“Hmm… wait,” said Rugo, then he looked at Dearg. “Do you have money as well?”

“Yeah, of course!” Dearg replied.

Rugo grinned. “Let’s raise the bet!” he said. Rugo took his crossbow and put it on the board.

He tapped the crossbow. “High tech from my people,” he said.

The bodyguards looked at the crossbow they had never seen before, it looked complicated.

“It can blow an ogre’s head with one bolt, and you can rapid fire its 24 bolts before reloading,” said Rugo.

The bodyguards gasped when they heard Rugo’s words.

“I’m in!” Dearg threw his coin pouch. “But how we do this? You’ll take me on after Bogram?”

“No need!” Rugo put his both elbows on the board. “I’ll take you both at the same time,” said Rugo with a sharp smile.

The board was wide and thick, enough to hold two arm wrestling.

The crowd was silent for a few seconds. Dearg and Bogram looked at each other, then they looked at Rugo while grinning. “Don't regret it, Rugo!”

The crowd suddenly cheered with an explosion of excitement. Dearg signaled one of the bodyguards to take the bet off from the board. The bodyguards also made their own bets.

Dearg and Bogram gripped Rugo’s hands. Bogram held Rugo's right hand, Dearg held the other. The three of them put their off-hand on their backs.

“Are you guys ready?” said the bodyguard, she led the the arm wrestling. She tapped Rugo's hands that clasped with Bogram and Dearg's hand.

“Yeaaahh!!!” shouted Dearg and Bogram.

Rugo just grinned and nodded.

“Aaaand… wreck it!!!” shouted the woman. She smacked the board with her palm, producing a loud sound.

Bogram and Dearg unleashed their muscle strength. They were physically muscular, with some veins tightening on their biceps, one could see they had strong arms.

“Hhhhnggg!!!” Dearg and Bogram struggled.

“Hoo, not bad! Just lack concentration!” shouted Rugo.

Rugo began dominating Dearg and Bogram’s pressure. Their hands were slowly moving towards Rugo’s win.

“Gaahhh!!”

“Rraaahh!!”

Bogram gritted his teeth while Dearg struggling with eyes closed.

Rugo just grinned. He effortlessly taking them on.

The crowd cheered both of them. All of the bodyguards were surrounding them.

“What the heck is this monstrous strength!?” said Dearg.

“Shut up, Dearg! Focus!” shouted Bogram.

“It ends now,” said Rugo, he added more pressure.

Slowly, Bogram and Dearg’s hands touched the board.

The crowd cheered Rugo, they even said his name in excitement. “Rugo! Rugo!” cried the bodyguards. Some were upset because they lost the bet.

Dearg and Bogram released their hands from Rugo’s.

“Aw, shit! We lost! said Bogram, he rubbed his elbow.

“Bleh,” Dearg rubbed his wrist.

“Looks like they’re having fun there,” said Cain, looking at the crowd.

“It’s nice to be young!” responded Ogen.

“Oi, Cain! Come here!” shouted Rugo.

“And looks like I’ve been called,” said Cain. “Do you mind holding Beil, Professor?”

“Not at all, actually I wanted to pet him when we were at the carriage!” Ogen took Beil from Cain, Beil stretched in his sleep when Ogen took him.

“Barfer otter, eh?” said Ogen, he stroked Beil’s head gently.

“Yeah,” Cain nodded as he got up and went to the crowd. “What do we have here? asked Cain. The crowd gave him a way to the barrels.

“You know what it is, come on, no bet needed!” said Rugo. His hand was ready on the board, firmly waiting for another hand to clasp against it.

“Arm wrestling? Heh, seems fun!” said Cain.

“Are you serious!? This fuckin’ jaguar beat us both at the same time!” said Bogram.

“Jagupard,” responded Rugo.

“Yeah, whatever that is!” said Bogram.

“It’s a challenge, as a man I shouldn't back down,” said Cain as he took off his coat. He wore a simple white shirt beneath the coat. Then he pulled up the sleeves past the elbows.

“Well said, Cain!” said Dearg, “oh, look at those forearms! Not an ordinary traveler I see!”

Cain’s arms were smaller than Dearg’s or Bogram’s, but his muscle indentation proved he trained his arms.

Cain just smiled. He put his elbow on the board and took Rugo’s hand. Rugo’s hand was bigger than Cain’s.

Rugo and Cain gripped each other hands.

“Hoo?” Rugo was surprised a bit, followed by a grin after. “His grip is stronger than yours,” he sneered at Bogram and Dearg.

“No frickin’ way!” responded Bogram.

“Hila,” said Dearg at the woman bodyguard.

Hila nodded then went closer to the board, she was the one who led the previous match.

The bodyguards made another bet.

“Are you both ready?” shouted Hila.

Both Cain and Rugo nodded.

“Leeeeets… wreck it!” Hila smacked the board.

Rugo went aggressive from the start, he pushed Cain’s hand, half to his win. Rugo’s pressure was constant and stable, but Cain little by little pushed Rugo’s hand towards the opposite.

“What a strength!” said Cain.

“Good! A strong arm!” shouted Rugo.

Bogram and Dearg were wide-eyed when they saw Cain pushed back Rugo’s hand. They knew very well how strong Rugo’s arm was. The hands now on Cain’s side.

The crowd was getting more excited.

Rugo pushed back Cain’s hand, now the position was in the middle.

“This is interesting!” said Rugo, “great focus and concentration, Cain! But how about this!”

Rugo added more pressure. But their hands were not moving at all.

“Whoaa!? What is that!?” shouted one of the bodyguards when he saw the ground around Cain’s feet cracked.

“You channeled my pressure to your feet? Impressive!” Rugo grinned.

“Not only that!” said Cain. It was Cain’s counter, he also put more pressure. But Rugo just did what Cain did, he channeled Cain’s pressure to his feet. The ground around Rugo also cracked.

Rugo and Cain grinned at each other.

“How the heck this man last this long!?” shouted Bogram. “And to think this man is actually quite strong!”

Their hands were still in the middle. It’s a stalemate.

“It’ll be boring to see who’ll get tired first,” said Rugo. “Left?”

“Sure!” responded Cain.

With a quick movement, They released their hands, they put them on their backs while their left hand struck each other and clasped, then their elbows hit down the board without breaking it.

They traded explosive pressure quickly.

“Whoaaaa!!!” the crowd cheered them.

“Did you see that!?” shouted Dearg at Bogram.

“I saw that! Dammit! That was fast and crazy!” responded Bogram.

Cain and Rugo’s hand were still in the middle, It didn't budge since they used their left hand.

“Both your arms have the same strength! Good!” said Rugo.

“So are yours!” Cain replied.

The hands gripped each other still. Then suddenly, the wooden board split at where their elbows took root. The board broke down and fell to the ground.

Cain and Rugo released their hands.

“What the heck just happened!? The board broke!?” gasped Bogram.

The other bodyguards were also baffled.

“What a strength!” responded Dearg.

“Looks like we don't have a winner,” said Cain.

“Yet,” responded Rugo with a grin.

Cain chuckled.

“Who are you really, Cain!? To have such strength!” asked Dearg.

“No one, just a wandering Hunter,” Cain replied.

“Damn! What rank!?” asked Bogram.

“I’m a newbie, just Aquamarine, Grass.”

“Newcomer!?” Dearg looked so surprised, “well, with that kind of strength, you have an easy road ahead of you, Cain.”

“Thanks, Dearg.”

“And you too, Rugo!” said Bogram, “you’re freaking strong!”

“I am, fierce and strong, you said yourself,” responded Rugo.

“Damn right!” said Bogram.

“Now, lets drink!” exclaimed Dearg.

“Yeaaahhh!!!” shouted the bodyguards.

“Sorry, skip! I don't drink,” said Cain.

“What the f… are you a man, Cain!?” responded Bogram, “ah whatever! How ‘bout you?” Bogram looked at Rugo.

“Let’s see how good your liquor is!” Rugo seemed excited.

“That’s the answer I like!” exclaimed Bogram.

They enjoyed the night with a friendly moasrahn company. Cain only briefly sat with them, he went back to Ogen who yawned while holding Beil. After he handed Beil back to Cain and chatted with him for a while, Ogen went to the carriage to rest for the night. Cain took out his sleeping bag, then put Beil on it near the bonfire.

Cain looked around and went to a quieter place, he did some light sets of push up and sit up under the stars. After a cool down, he went back to the bonfire. He sat down and took a wet cloth to wipe his upper body while watching the bodyguards getting drunk. Bogram and Dearg were about to pass out, they kept trying to keep their balance but failed, they challenged Rugo again Cain thought, Rugo was still sober as he had another sip, he was the last man standing among the passed out bodyguards. Cain smiled as he wore his shirt again.

Cain saw a pair of bodyguards that walked around the camp. They were on night duty ordered by Dearg earlier.

Cain sat beside Beil and looked at the otter who curled up in his sleep. Then he took out Higa’s book and started drawing Beil. But what he just drew was an unrecognizable furry thing with a bandana on it. He just shrugged and put the book back to the bag. He stared the stars for a while then finally yawned. He looked over Rugo who was standing around the passed out bodyguards, Rugo stretched his body, he was done with the liquor. Then Rugo sat down and had his back on a barrel, with crossed arms, he closed his eyes.

Cain just chuckled and then he lay down on the sleeping bag next to Beil. The night was quiet, the sizzling and crackling from the bonfire accompanied Cain, with that, he fell asleep.