Segato was being escorted by Layla to the address Hooligan provided. Along the way through a location known as Harbringer Valley, they met up with Talenhutt, who was now conversing with Segato.
"I am still quite curious about why everyone is so crazy about you, kid. Hooligan would never let anybody request an immediate meeting outside Layla, and even then, he would not call in all 10 Dragons for it," Talenhutt rambled while he stroked his chin in thought. "Either you somehow pulled some serious weight with him or something bad happened regarding the Potato Wars. Either way... I can say I'm impressed. I don't what sort of training you did in such a short amount of time, but even if your power level hasn't undergone significant changes yet, your confidence and fighting spirit have entered a new dimension of strength."
Segato stopped walking to bow and replied, "I appreciate the compliment. As you said though... I have a long way to go. A very long way."
The last few words were said with a self loathing that made Layla and Talenhutt both briefly wince. How high were Segato's standards now, might one ask? He needed to be able to fight an entire pantheon's worth of Deities. That was how strong I and Origin were back in our prime, as well as our allies and enemies.
It's not like I want to take a shortcut, Hubris, but it's very clear that we're low on time and options. There's just one thing I don't get... WHAT THE HELL IS ORIGIN'S POWER AND WHY HASN'T IT ACTIVATED YET?!
[To answer your question, he gave you his own personal Ordinance. It is called Disaster Mode by everyone else, but it's actual name is Holding Oneself Back. In essence, you permanently get stronger the longer you don't exert yourself. That's why he never trained physically and only trained mentally or in his sleep. When the power awakens in a fight, it is very explosive. You'll have to get used to readjusting to your power each fight.]
So basically I have amazing power but can't really use or control it? How do I create a more powerful body if training actually makes me weaker? Segato thought.
[Origin had a deal with the 10 Primordial Dragons who were tasked with maintaining the various powers that govern the omniverse. These Dragons would call upon him to help deal with threats that everyone else couldn't handle known as the Wisers. In return, Origin was gifted the Primordial Dragons' powers, which made his body awaken and finally become capable of withstanding his Ordinance.]
So it's like he got 10 extra Ordinances, extra elemental affinities, et cetera? Segato's miffed expression confused Talenhutt, who was not aware of my existence. Layla, albeit now unable to see the script thanks to our practiced technique, briefly nodded in acknowledgement of my presence. She concluded that Segato would only think and talk to himself if entities she couldn't easily perceive were also around, and that was good enough for her. I point this out to Segato, who then tries to cover his face with a neutral expression.
[Correct. Although the essences were lost when the original 13 timelines were destroyed, their residues were able to be extracted by none other than Lancaster. He gifted these to Hooligan, since the essences reject all outside forces. Only those who are a part of any of the 13 original families can bequeath the power to their followers or descendants. I'm sure you can guess where I'm going with this.]
I have to get them directly from Hooligan, then. That, and... I have a feeling that if essences could be gathered here, that other universes might also have access to them and found a way to use them, even if not at their fullest potential. Right?
[Spot on. If Hooligan is even half as smart as we all think he should be, he might give the 10 Dragons essences to you without you even asking.]
I have a feeling you're hiding something about the future events from me with the way you are speaking about all of this, but I am guessing that telling me might ruin the odds of success or something.
[...]
Talenhutt took off his top hat and scratched his ruffled grey hair before he intensely stared at Segato and used an appraisal skill. His glowing purple eyes then showed a screen of Segato's past status, present status, and future status. He quickly closed them and pulled out a napkin to stop the blood that started to quickly flow out his eyelids, but Layla and I both noticed this.
"... So? What did you see in my current student?" Layla whispered while as she walked next to Talenhutt. Talenhutt stopped moving, as if he was about to reveal it, but then started walking much faster. Layla's eye twitched in response before she also started to pick up her pace, and both Segato and I laughed within the mind space as we ran after them.
So he can read the future with his eyes or something? Segato asked me out of curiosity.
[He can see how powerful somebody was, is, and will become with his high level Appraisal skill. Talenhutt's Ordinance should be Sensory Stacker. It gives him naturally enhanced senses, and he can further enhance those senses for each one he turns off. Various Ordinances like his can enhance skills, traits, affinities, and fighting techniques if they synergize with what the Ordinance covers. So he can get an appraisal that not even Origin and his friend's could block. It would also be way more detailed. That's why his eyes bled.]
Because he saw something bad in my future or past?
[He saw too much in your future. If a game screen has trouble loading all the information attached to a single character, that would cause the console to crash, right?]
"You are truly a scary one, Ezzy. I can call you that from now on, right?" A completely undamaged Hooligan whimsically spoke while doing some goofy-looking dance. On the ground in front of him was Ezrah kneeling a single knee. While waiting for everyone else to show up, Ezrah asked for Hooligan to help him train in close-quarter-combat so he'd be less of a hindrance to Segato. To his surprise, Hooligan happily agreed, but he was starting to understand why: the gap between a Deity and a Sacred Wielder was way too huge for him to compensate with just his otherworldly knowledge alone. Even weapons known as "Deity-Killers" from other timelines and universes were having no effect on Hooligan.
Damn it all. How do I bridge the gap-- Ezrah did not have much time to think since he put it all in dodging Hooligan's fist. The ground easily caved in, and within the smoke, he could see Hooligans yellow eyes peering at him. Up until recently, Hooligan never gave off the feeling of a Deity to Ezrah. This opinion changed the more he observed and spent time with him, and with the current sparring session, he was understanding the true nature of what makes a Deity who they are. This is what a high level Deity is like! It felt odd because Hooligan was also giving off the warmth of a doting father to Ezrah. That's right... my father's techniques! Ezrah begun manifesting once more, and like before, Hooligan quickly dashed in to stop him with an attack. The attack by far missed its target, confusing Hooligan.
On the other hand, he was now standing in shock at what was unfolding in front of him. Ezrah seemingly grew a few feet in height. His skin turned into a silvery metal and his previously black, lifeless eyes were now red, enlarged, and sharpened.
"Time for round 2, Hooligan," a mechanized Ezrah spoke in a deeper, robotic-sounding tone.
Hooligan blinked his eyes twice before he exclaimed, "An anime transformation mid-battle? That's cheating!" He shrugged before his signature smile was replaced with a frenzied grin. "I have a feeling I can go all out against you now. Let's begin your actual melee combat training!"
By the time Rei and Jackie had arrived to the meeting spot, most of it was blown away, leaving a table and 2 tired familiar-looking individuals who were chatting about weapons and robotics.
"What exactly happened here, Hooligan? More importantly, this is a 10 Dragons meeting, so why is Ezrah here?" Jackie inquired with her teeth gritted.
"You might be the cutest Dragon, but jealousy is not a good look for you, dear," Hooligan calmly responded while lightly waving at her.
"I am not really jealous. I am simply confused. That's all," Jackie bluntly retorted while she puffed her chest out.
So she is definitely jealous, Rei thought to himself. I am also curious as to why Ezrah is here, but I am sure things will make more sense once the other Dragons show up. He sat down at the table and admired the destruction that contrasted with the nature beyond the once-whole walls.
Speedrun was was the next person to show up. He saw how intimate Hooligan and Ezrah were acting, and just shrugged before he sat down at the far end of the table. There was one thing that bothered him.
If all 10 Dragons are attending this meeting, why are there only 8 chairs? Assuming Ezrah is staying for the meeting, there should be 12 chairs, at least... I have a feeling that I shouldn't be the one to bring this up to Lord Faelength.
We finally arrived at the meeting place (what's left of it, I should say). It would normally take half a day to walk to here, but thanks to everyone else trying to keep up with Talenhutt, we got here in a few hours. Jackie was glaring daggers at Speedrun, who was snoring loudly with his feet on the table.
Hooligan slammed his hand on the table to grab everyone's attention before he spoke with a wicked grin on his face, "Let's start the 6 Dragons conference meeting. I have a feeling everyone has a lot to catch up on."
"Not that I really cared much for them, but why is the number 6 if we are missing 5 people?" Jackie interrogated Hooligan.
"Because Hooligan told me to dispose of the 5 traitors," Ezrah casually responded for Hooligan, which made everyone else's jaws drop. "I'm your new colleague now. Get used to it."
"Be that as it may, watch your tone, brat," Talenhutt warned. "I am still the senior most Dragon--"
"Age don't mean shit, old man," Speedrun interrupted while he wiggled a finger in the air.
Aggravated, Tallenhutt growled, "Why you little--"
"Would it kill you 2 to get along?" Layla screeched while she slapped her forehead.
"Shut it, Layla. Hooligan made moves without informing us about any of it until now. Are we just gonna ignore that part?!"
The normally melodic voice of Jackie now sounded very much like a witch who lost her broom. Very scratchy and pathetic. If being honest, it was like watching a chihuahua get angry--
"Okay, stop it before I start crying," Segato giggled while clutching his sides. His laughter easily distracted everyone from their previous conversation. After noticing everyone was watching him, he cleared his throat, before he said, "I understand everyone in this room has various reasons to not get along with each other--"
"I don't have an issue with anybody so long as my family isn't involved," Rei confidently interjected.
"--aside from Rei's specific circumstances... but we're wasting time. We are wasting time, right Hooligan?" Everyone turned back to Hooligan, who was eating popcorn silently this whole entire time somehow.
"Don't worry. This is normal around here," he replied. "At the same time, we need to get things taken care of here. Thanks to us being down 4 Dragons, I can give you enough essence to cover the 10 Dragons' Inheritance without any issues. There's just one teensy problem..."
"What's that--" As Segato opened his mouth to ask, Hooligan quickly poured a scalding hot liquid down his throat. "AUGHHHH!" he howled out in pain.
He really is the worst, everyone else thought to themselves.
"I just gave you the essence mixture. You'll meet with one of the 10 Primordial Dragons, and if they like you, you can get their blessing and powers. Also, if you succeed, promise not to kill me later," Hooligan rapidly spoke in between his snickering. As Segato's expression slowly turned blank and lifeless, he turned to his 6 Dragons. "Let's discuss the other thing. Speedrun, Ezrah wants to take your spot in the Potato Wars--"
"HELL. NO," Speedrun yelled in Ezrah's direction.
"Then let's fight for it. Winner takes all," Ezrah sneered back.
"I am placing my bet on Ezrah. Who wants to join in?" Talenhutt called out to the other Dragons while he flashed his gold teeth.
"Nobody is stupid enough to bet against you, since you can see things we can't," Jackie spat out at Talenhutt.
"I honestly don't think it matters who wins so long as they win the Potato Wars," Rei added. "If anything, should Ezrah win, that means he is more likely to win the events." Layla was frowning with her arms crossed.
Hooligan wouldn't actually let these 2 fight over the position unless he is trying to make a statement out of this entire thing. Don't tell me... If she was correct, Ezrah had already surpassed the other Dragons in combat capability a while ago. The damage done to the building wasn't done by Hooligan alone. Ezrah must have acquired one finally-- an Ordinance!
The fight between Ezrah and Speedrun occurred so fast that only the 2 beings in question, Hooligan, and myself could perceive it. Talenhutt most likely foresaw the outcome ahead of time and didn't bother to watch. He had kept his eyes closed and relaxed in his chair since his earlier declaration of betting on Ezrah. I had to make the script temporarily visible once more so everyone else could understand what happened. Speedrun immediately lunged at Ezrah, who slightly tilted his back to dodge. Before Speedrun could readjust himself, Ezrah then quickly kicked him in his chest and sent him flying. It wouldn't normally be enough to one-shot Speedrun. It was because Ezrah temporarily made his entire leg mechanized and quickly launched it forward with the propulsion and force of a rocket that this worked. His leg immediately reverted back into its normal appearance... and all of this happened within a millisecond.
"Relax, I held back so that he'd be able to come back over here quickly," Ezrah reassured everyone.
That wasn't why the remaining 4 Dragons had worried expressions. It was the implication of Ezrah's actions. If they didn't produce a bare minimum level of results to rival Ezrah's growth, Hooligan might deem them useless. Even Layla was sweating nervously at being ditched, killed, or even worse: sold as a slave to another universe.
"Relax, he replaced the traitorous deadweight. He isn't replacing any of you, so just chill," Hooligan spoke with an all-knowing smile. His smile disappeared though when he added, "I do find it interesting how he could exceed your strengths when you all are supposed to be training daily. Right, Speedrun?" Everyone turned to see a heavily panting Speedrun barely holding himself up.
"I am very fine with him taking my spot. If I know you well enough, Lord Faelength, you want us all to come at him at once to help him get training for the Potato Wars, no?" He barely managed to speak.
"Get on with it quickly before Segato wakes up, or I am going to make all of you instead fight me," Hooligan jeered with a serious glare.