Far Northeast from where Caelus' and Tomoko's group separated. A camp was erected in the ruin.
If any human saw this camp, they would run away as far as they could or freeze in fear.
The camp has less than two hundred Dragon Riders. Still that wasn't the scary thing about it, it also housed more than five hundred humans who had chains in their neck. The humans looked pitiful with wounds all around their body and their empty eyes tell the story no one wanted to know.
Just one look and anyone could tell that these humans lost all hope to life. Even if they wanted to die, they couldn't do so.
And if they tried to die, there was far cruel torture waiting for them.
That's how helpless their situation was.
Two towering Dragons sleeping near the camp might look tamed at the moment. But once given the command, the Dragons would mercilessly chew on the human until they wished they didn't get birthed.
It had been two months since most of these humans became slaves of Dragon Riders. They have seen far too cruel things they wished they didn't see.
They were too broken to even use their minds now. They were like machines who only listened to what was commanded to them. It was the escape they learned after suffering too much.
Inside the biggest structure on the camp, a group of four Dragon Riders were kneeling before a Dragon Rider seated at a sturdy tall chair. One look at the being would shake anyone's soul. One word could describe the being.
Domineering.
It was not because of his Dragon plated armor and pants, it was just the Dragon Rider himself that was domineering.
"Interesting." the Dragon Rider growled with a Dragonair accent. The male Dragon Rider then turned at the human kneeling in four beside his chair. The Dragon Rider endearingly caressed the human's hair. "It seems some of your race didn't give up yet. What do you think I should do?"
The man showed no emotion as he remained kneeling with his palms and knees.
"Show them power. Crush them." Anyone who could hear the human would be shocked as he just talked in Elsean, the common language in the world of Dragon Riders. Even the four Dragon Riders were shocked at the discovery, not just too long they met another human who can talk Elsean.
The Dragon Rider in the sturdy chair chuckled interjected with his growl. "Interesting. Do you want to do it?"
"Master Arcon, I'm too weak for this task. I'll just disappoint you."
"Since you are the most interesting human I've ever seen, I'll give you a chance to be stronger. Don't you want to do it? This way, we can purify your race."
The emotionless man suddenly had a flashed of anger in his eyes. "I'll do it. It would be my honor."
The Dragon Rider named Arcon faced the four other Dragon Riders, if Caelus would see the four, he would immediately recognize them as the one who he just encountered.
"Since this is an entertainment for the young, Draco Keil, leave the matter with my servant and Lisia Esta."
"But Drago Arcon–"
"I know what you are worrying about. But the young'n should learn how to adapt with the new world. They also need to learn how this other race reacts. Knowing them would make it easier to crush them. Enslave them. Lisia Esta might be young'n, but she's the heir of our race, if she's seen as weak by the other Drago, they wouldn't hesitate to remove her title. Know that only with strength one could survive."
"Is it wise, Drago Arcon? She's only nine…"
If Caelus knew of this, he would be shocked. With their standard of human age, the tall Dragon Rider didn't seem like nine years old at all. However, he would understand immediately that she was indeed just nine years old. Her boundless curiosity was a sign of childhood, and there was also an air of youth around her.
"You worry too much. Let the young'n fly. We are Dragon Riders, we are destined to rule."
"I understand. Can we trust this human to keep her Lisia safe?"
Arcon caressed the human hair once again. "I've seen what he's capable of. And you know our rules. Only those with abilities could live by our side. And only those who are strong can be in the same room as us."
***
Somewhere near what used to be the capital of the country Yamato, Earth. Two figures can be seen walking in the vast ruins towards the West.
The two were Caelus and Hiroto.
Caelus while continuously walking was having a headache with Hiroto. He accepted the man's company because he had little choice. And even if he wanted to shake off the man, his conscience won't let him just throw off this opportunist.
He knew that keeping the man beside him was very dangerous, but he also didn't have the heart to let the man die. He knew that he should just stop caring about the guy. But thinking that if he would leave Hiroto alone, he would surely die or be captured by Dragon Riders, his heart ached with guilt.
*I'm too weak. Damn it.*
And so, he was stuck with the predicament of having someone beside him that could betray him any time.
He knew his past self had a lot of experience, but even knowing that doesn't help because he had no memories of those past experiences. The only thing he could do is be on high alert with Hiroto on his side.
*Well… it's a good thing that I've readied a disguise. He mocked himself.*
He had already canceled his Qi Cloak. Now, he was wearing a bonnet, face mask and a hooded-robe cloak. Only his eyes could be seen. Even those who previously knew who he was won't be able to tell him from Sho's appearance. Far from the anti-social and introverted Sho, he exuded the aura of a mysterious and dangerous man who shouldn't be messed around. Even he, himself, couldn't think of Sho with his disguise.
There was also the fact that he had gained 5 cm height and his muscles became firm after training himself.
"Hey, hey… where are we going? How long are we going to walk? I'm tired, can we have a rest?" Hiroto's pestering voice snapped Caelus out of his thoughts.
He looked at the man with no emotion as he portrayed Caelus' character. Hiroto immediately shut up, seeing his glance, he involuntarily shivered. Caelus looked like a coldblood murderer.
"S-sorry. We've just been walking for four hours. I'm still human, you know? A-also, the Dragon Riders that caught us had been making us walk non-stop for six hours or so already. Man, I'm just so tired." Hiroto's voice slowly quieted down seeing how emotionless Caelus was.
"That's why I told you that you shouldn't come with me. I have a long road ahead of me. I can't afford to leisurely rest around."
"Come on, Brother Caelus. We can at least–"
"Stop."