"Human, this matter today shall end here." Carefully said the sea-dragon. Had it known that this man was the vessel for the primordial chaos, it would never have fought with him.
"What 'end here' bullshit is this?" Farmer was astonished! This beast actually believed it could provoke him and just end things with a simple sentence.
"Do not take me for a weakling, human! I may be injured, but so are ye! I am giving ye face by acknowledging ye as strong and voluntarily not pursuing today's events to a bitter end, so ye better accept my good graces!"
This statement was as much of a lie as saying that the Sun rises from the West every morning. The sea-dragon had used up all of its remaining strength just to shift its massive body behind Farmer. Even though the space art was immensely powerful, the energy expenditure was far too great. The sea-dragon didn't even have the energy necessary for it to escape, let alone fight back. If Farmer decided to attack, there was no doubt in its draconic mind that death would ensue.
That was an intolerable fate!
It was a mighty sea-dragon! A proud member of the dragon race, who lorded over all creation as the sovereign appointed by the Heavens themselves! How could it allow itself to die at the hands of a measly human?! How could it face its ancestors, its entire race, if that happened?! There was no way it would allow it!
Thus, right now all it wanted to do was leave this accursed place and recuperate. Once it regained its prowess, it would make every effort for the whole world to find out that the vessel for the primordial chaos was a pirate on these seas. Every hidden expert, every holy beast, and every political power would then do all they could to slay him. Even if he survived, his entire life would become one of being hunted!
The sea-dragon secretly prayed to Naosh that Farmer would take the bait and agree with it. Only then would it allow itself to breathe a sigh of relief. To its dismay, Farmer made no move to leave and, in fact, seemed poised to lash out at any moment.
"Foolish creature." Mocked Farmer, causing the sea-dragon's blood to boil and churn with rage. It was a mighty dragon! How dare this man insult it like so! But Farmer cared not for the sea-dragon's injured pride; since they had come to this point, he knew all too well that an irreversible feud had been set between him and the sea-dragon. Hence, he would never allow it to leave this place alive. "Your blood is a priceless elixir. Every one of your scales can be sold for a fortune. Your fangs can be forged into heaven-defying weapons. And your eyes can be refined into one's own body to gain great arcane arts. Tell me, knowing that, why should I agree with you when killing you would bring me so many benefits?"
"Would ye be so greedy as to risk your death for some benefits?" It asked warily.
"Aye, that I would. Only when risking one's life can one obtain something good in return. It is only surmounting the odds that the Heavens will bless us with a reward. This has been the truth since time immemorial! Plus, I'm a pirate. I like gold." Righteously preached Farmer. He spoke as if his were Naosh's own edicts, causing the sea-dragon to cough up a mouthful of blood in rage and embarrassment. How could one shamelessly mention the glory of the Heavens in the same breath as being a thief?!
Truly, this human was more troublesome than the sea-dragon had initially thought. Yet this was also good for it. The dragon had lived for thousands of years and had survived by slowly becoming more devious by the day. Right now, all it feared was that Farmer would lash out without warning. If they could converse like this, it was confident it could trick Farmer with ease.
"Ironic that ye speak of the Heavens with such piousness. Ye are the vessel of primordial chaos. The Heavens and ye are fated to be at odds for as long as time exists." Nonchalantly commented the dragon. However, it quickly changed the subject without giving Farmer time to respond. "But ye are powerful. Because of this, let us come to an agreement. I will lead ye to my lair and ye will be able to leave with any treasure that strikes your fancy. What say ye?"
"I could always go to your lair after I kill you." He replied after a moment of thought.
"It would be impossible for ye to find it. This, I swear."
"How do I know there's something there that I might want?"
"Ye cannot know this. I could lower myself to describe my treasures, but ye will not believe in my words. The only course left, then, is for ye to accompany me. Worry not, I was heading back from a long trip when our fates brought us together; it is not far from here." Chuckled the sea-dragon.
It had known humans for a very long time and knew of their numerous legends surrounding a draconic being's lair. To humans, inside would be filled with arcane artefacts of untold value. However, that could be nothing further than the truth. Draconic beings would eat and refine any treasure they came across and would only store away herbs and other resources that were beneficial to them. Some of these resources did indeed hold a high value for humans, but most would cause their delicate bodies to implode if consumed.
Yet, this scheme it had developed had never once failed it. The lure of grand treasures was too enticing for any human to resist. Their greed was far greater than any other creature's. The sea-dragon had no doubt that Farmer was just like every other human that had fallen to it in the past.
It was completely wrong.
Farmer chuckled to himself and began acting as if he was pondering the matter seriously. Even though both man and sea-dragon were now silently observing each other well below the water's surface, neither had any trouble withstanding the lack of air or the high pressure. Their only concern was making sure their injuries didn't worsen. Thus, they both remained locked in place, Farmer quietly coming up with a plan to eliminate the sea-dragon as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Finally, he thought of something.
Shaking his head as if he had just realised something, Farmer sighed and summoned his staff into his hand. The sea-dragon was taken aback for a moment, thinking that Farmer had decided to attack. It was extremely relieved when it saw that Farmer wasn't planning to kill it because he tied the staff on his back and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Alright, I agree. And let this matter end here." He said nonchalantly. "In the future, after this day, let us swear an oath to stay out of each other's way. I will only go with you if you agree to this condition."
"I agree." The sea-dragon did not hesitate to say. It would have suggested something similar had Farmer not spoken up. It truly didn't have any confidence in being able defeat Farmer if he came back in the future. Plus, staying out of each other's way didn't mean it couldn't spread the news of this man's nature and add a few false rumours that he had raided its lair. Just a few comments in the right ears would ensure that Farmer's life became a living hell! "Then I, Shallock the sea-dragon, named Lightning Serpent in my native tongue, swear to stay out of ye way for the rest of my life after this day. If I go against these words, may Naosh's wolf devour my soul and strike me from the annals of history!"
"And I, Farmer the pirate lord, formerly known as Red Wolf in my master's tongue, swear to not seek you out after this day. I swear to stay out of your way and not seek vengeance or resolution of the matters taking place on this day. If I go against these words, may Naosh's wolf devour my soul and strike me from the annals of history!"
These oaths resounded loudly over a one-hundred-mile radius. With each new utterance, a strange glow would descend from the Heavens and land on their bodies. Finally, as Farmer finished speaking, each of the two sent out a drop of blood that merged together and then disappeared up into the Heavens. This was the confirmation that their respective swearing had bound them to their words. If either of them went against their oath, they would die a miserable death.
Satisfied at the outcome, the sea-dragon Shallock nodded friendlily at Farmer and beckoned him to follow it. Farmer obeyed and swam beside Shallock's head. For a long time, they moved without muttering a word, only casting each other a passing glance from time to time. Together, they crossed many miles and different areas.
Eventually, they reached a series of underwater gorges that cut the sea-bed into sinewy trenches in a manner that made them look like the aftermath of some supreme existences fighting. What these supreme beings were, however, was something not even Farmer dared imagine.
Pointing at one gorge in particular with a nod of its head, Shallock began heading in that direction. Farmer, however, stuck rooted on the spot. He had long since sent out his spiritual will and had been able to ascertain that there indeed was a cave there filled to the brim with arcane herbs and other resources. This cave was surely the sea-dragon's abode. Now was the perfect time to carry out his plan.
"What is it, Farmer?" The dragon cast out a suspicious glare. It still couldn't completely shake the feeling that it was in extreme danger, but it simply wasn't able to fathom where the danger stemmed from. "My cave is right here."
"Forgive me, Shallock. But, as a child, I was sold around as a slave a lot and kept inside dark wooden boxes all the time. Because of that, I'm afraid of confined spaces." He explained in a trembling voice. "Just give me a moment, and I'll come."
Shallock had to use every iota of its dignified composure to not bellow in laughter. He could see the honesty in Farmer's eyes and didn't doubt his words. This was a humiliating weakness if ever there was one! How pathetic of this human pirate. How utterly disgraceful! However, the sea-dragon said nothing and proceeded to patiently wait for Farmer.
In fact, the longer Farmer took, the better. Because they were less than twenty miles away from its cave, Shallock could already feel the ache of his body subside significantly from the restorative properties of his resources. If it could heal to a certain point, then it would even be able to sneakily strike at Farmer when he was distracted.
How could Farmer not know of the devious thoughts crossing the sea-dragon's mind? However, he still played the part of one mentally preparing to do something earth-shattering. In the meantime, he hid a hand behind his back and carved powerful runes into the surroundings. He was currently setting up his strongest sealing array completely unbeknownst to Shallock. After about half an hour, he was finished and smiled to himself widely.
"Good Shallock, I apologise for my weakness."
"Worry not, good Farmer. Every creature has a weakness."
"Aye, you speak the truth." Agreed Farmer eagerly. Shallock held disdain in its heart and almost added that Farmer's weakness was just far too great! But it didn't say that, knowing it was best to play the role of a gracious host. "Forgive me, but could you nudge me?" Suddenly asked Farmer.
"Pardon? What did ye just say?"
"Nudge me. You know, push me towards the gorge with your tail or your head or something. The movement will get me started and we can get this over with." He shyly explained, leaving the sea-dragon almost coughing up a mouthful of blood again. This man was growing to be simply too much to bear!
"Very well." It said with difficulty.
After which, Shallock turned its serpentine body to slowly push Farmer in his direction. However, shock and terror suddenly invaded the sea-dragon when it felt a strange arcane power instantly enveloping its entire body.
It tried to move, but it was unable to budge an inch. It tried to roar, but its voice was stuck in its throat. It had been completely immobilised! Then, Shallock noticed the thousands upon thousands of runes dancing upon its body and multiplying at an alarming rate. Finally, it understood; but that only darkened its heart even more.
Farmer had set up an array. An incredibly strong one at that! The runes looked as simple as could be at first glance. However, they interwove with one another to a level wherein even a grand sea-dragon like Shallock had no way to assuredly state it would be able to break out from the array in a short time. Basically, it had been completely fooled by this despicable human!
"What is this shamelessness?" It sent a mental message to Farmer using the little arcane energy it had left.
"Who is shameless?" Asked Farmer in confusion. "Weren't you just planning to lure me in there so you could strike me down. Or were you going to let me leave only to tell everyone about my existence? Come on, good Shallock, let us not act like we don't know what the world's like. Let me tell you, you're not the first dragon I've crossed paths with. I'm familiar with how you beasts think." He explained nonchalantly.
"What do you intend to do?" Realising it was completely at Farmer's mercy, Shallock discarded all notions of surviving that day and was preparing one final act of defiance.
"Kill you, of course."
"Well, ye will find that hard if I do it myself!"
Shallock ignited its energy centre in an instant, resulting in a gargantuan amount of energy bubbling up inside it, desperately wanting to be released. Shallock was going to self-destruct! The resulting explosion would surely bury both of them in this place for all eternity. However, the sea-dragon regretted ever having crossed paths with this monster of a man! If it hadn't, then it wouldn't die that day.
A cold chuckling broke Shallock's resentful thoughts and the sea-dragon turned its eyes to look at Farmer. What it saw made the blood in its veins freeze in terror. Gone was the smile, as if it had never been there in the first place; and gone was the appearance of a young man. Floating in front of Shallock, Farmer had discarded all pretence to become the embodiment of something dark and powerful.
His eyes shone with a baleful coldness indescribable with words. To the mighty sea-dragon, it was like looking into the eyes of death itself. Even looking at a wooden block with an axe stuck on it on the morning of your execution would have been a warmer sight to behold. There was no kindness, no hate, no resentment or regret, there wasn't even a trace of pity to be found in those violet eyes. Only cold death.
"I am disappointed." Remarked Farmer. "A sovereign, a true dragon, and this is all you amount to. Self- destruction. To think I was going to treat your body with respect."
With that, Farmer extended both arms and held two sources of energy on either hand. One was light, warm, and brimming with happiness; the other was dark, cold, and emitting despair. Instantly, the two energies fused to become one that enveloped Farmer completely. Shallock would have taken a breath of cold air if it was able to, for it recognised these merging energies for what they were.
They were the embodiment of chaotic energy! Both light and darkness, life and death, beginning and end, creation and destruction! Together, they surrounded Farmer and draped him in terrifyingly baleful aura.
According to the heavenly laws of creation, opposites would never be able to coexist within the same vessel. There was only one exception: chaos. Farmer was the man who possessed the primordial chaos! And right now, he was using its power to suppress Shallock to death.
The sea-dragon tried to accelerate its self-destruction. Its only hope now was to try explode before Farmer finished whatever it was that he was doing. Sadly, he was unable to do so. Farmer's eyes shone with a mysterious gleam and a vexing kind of power emerged from them, entering Shallock's mind and muddling it completely.
The once mighty sea-dragon was now no more than a fish on the wooden block, waiting to be sliced up by an uncaring cook.