Chapter 5: (The Deal Between The Two individual)
"That is how I came to this world," I explained.
Then i asked, "Now it is my turn to ask, who are you and what are you exactly?"
"It would be hard to explain, so I will simply introduced myself."
"I was called in many different names, like *The One That Lays Waste to Realms*, *The Indomitable Deity of Destruction*, *One of the Apocalyptic Gods Who Holds Dominion Over Destruction*, *The Erstwhile Platinum Dragon That Once Towered Above All Others*, *The Dazzling Diety Whose Countless Orbs Illuminate the Firmament with Celestial Splendor,* *The Sovereign supreme lord of all dragons,* and etc..."
"But among my people, I was known as Lord Bahamut."
as I heard these names, they seemed to slip from my memory and keep buzzing in my ears, except for one - *Bahamut.*
As I tried to remember the names he mentioned, He suddenly speak. "I have some options for you. Would you be interested in hearing them?" I hesitantly replied, "Yes, sure." He then asked me a puzzling question, "Would you be willing to become my vessel?"
Confusion clouded my mind as I inquired, "What exactly does being a vessel entail?" He elaborated, saying, "By accepting me, you could gain strength/power that are beyond human comprehension, that will help you survive in this world. Since you seem unsure of what to do after getting out of this place, would you consider becoming my vessel and also ruling as the *undisputed ruler/absolute ruler/ supreme ruler* of my domain [draconis Aeternum]?"
The idea of becoming intertwined with this mysterious entity raised red flags in my mind. I pondered on why he chose me specifically and what his true intentions might be. The fear of being used for evil purposes lingered in my thoughts.
But realizing that my refusal could lead to dire consequences, I carefully weighed my options. Taking a deep breath, I finally spoke up, "I will agree under two conditions. First, ensure my survival no matter what happens. Second, you cannot exert control over me if I become your vessel. Should you uphold your end of the bargain, I am willing to accept your offer."
Bahamut thought to himself, "This child has a strong will to survive. I guess a promise or two is no big deal, i guess it won't hurt my image as the God of Destruction for having a promise with a human child, thankfully there was no one other than us here, but if my people are still alive they might riot over my decision making a promise, after that they will kill this child without me knowing."
"I promise to protect you with my life and my name on the line, creating an unbreakable promise as the *Dragon Oath* I'll always be there to keep you safe."
When I asked about the second condition "how about the second one?" Bahamut reassured, "Once you become my vessel, I won't control you. I'll simply provide you with power. However, you must help restore this kingdom to its former glory and retrieve my stolen treasures from those demons."
"The *Tome of dragons wisdom*, *Cloak/Armor of the oldest rising stars*, and lastly the *indestructible platinum orbs* retrieve this 3 treasures for me"
"I swear on my life," I whispered. And just like that, a golden chain shot out from my chest, wrapping around my heart. It felt like the chain was linked to the glowing Bahamut orb in a scary way. The chain tightened with each thump of my heart, making me feel like I couldn't break my promise. It was like a snake that slithered around my heart, warning me of consequences if I didn't keep my word.
"All your questions are answered and a vow is sealed, is there still a question haunting your mind?"
"My final question, what exactly is this world and what's it's origin?"
"This place is known as the *the first and the last, the beyond World*, created by powerful beings who offered parts of themselves in sacrifice to create it."
"Their body parts transformed into the land, their hair grew into the towering trees, their tears flowed as rivers, their blood formed the vast seas, their eyes became the suns and moons that light our way, their bones rose as mountains and volcanoes, their ears filled the air with natural melodies, their tongues birthed the diverse languages spoken by the inhabitants, their heart became the people, their brain gave rise to humanoids, their lungs teemed with creatures of the sea, and their teeth spawned harmless animals."
"Yet the other gods, of a darker nature, wove a different tapestry. Their flesh and blood birthed demonic entities thirsting for flesh and blood, their fangs created deadly venomous beasts, their eyes fashioned monsters with murderous intent, their bones erected forbidding structures, their brains created the forbidden knowledge, their hearts spawned races that held disdain for humanity, and their stomachs unleashed ravenous pests upon the world."
"Every inch of this world, from the soil to its inhabitants, was born from the sacrifices of different deities."
As Bahamut spoke, he noticed my skin turned as pale as a ghost and thin lines of blue veins started to pop up all over my body. It was like a spider weaving its web under my skin, spreading from my arms to my legs, my fingers, and even creeping around my neck. Even i could see them clearly, as if my skin had turned see-through.
And then, my lips became dry and cracked, a metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. It started as a faint trickle, a hot sticky crimson stream escaped from my nose.
In response, Bahamut cast once again the healing spell. A green, glowing energy entered my body, making me feel instantly rejuvenated. It was like a gentle wave of powerful energy flowing through me, restoring my strength and vitality.
I gazed at my skin and saw it return to its normal color, feeling relief.
"It seems that you might not able last long here anymore, but thanks to the clothes you're wearing that were once wear by the previous Dragon born chieftain/king. These garments have *platinum dragon blessings* woven into them and are shielded by a special runic magical barrier. This barrier has the ability to protect you from my potent energy, preventing any harm from coming to you when you're near me."
Without these clothes, my magical energy could potentially be harmful to you if you get too close due to the very rare nature of my mana. However, when you wear these clothes, you are safeguarded and can be in my presence for an extended period without any risk. If someone else wishes to approach me without risk, they can do so by making an offering, sharing food, or showing devotion while wearing these sacred clothes. This ensures their safety and protection in my presence." Bahamut explained.
"But remember, my mana is still powerful enough and could still be risky for you. If you get too close, even with the protection of those special clothes, it could potentially harm you physically, mentally or even worse the 7 orb/core inside your body might accidently explode, killing you in an instant. You're fortunate to have these items, as without them, you could have disintegrated just by being near me."
"So, I'll give you the *Divine platinum dragon blessings* to help you endure my mana for a longer time, possibly up to five hours."
As my body glowed with a deep red hue, I couldn't help but feel like it was more of a curse than a blessing, given its ominous color.
I thought to myself, "Since receiving the blessing, my breathing has improved and the strange sensation I've been feeling since arriving here is fading. Even the healing green aura hasn't completely dispelled it."
Bahamut advised me, saying, "You must venture outside and push your body to its limits. Channel the energy of mana to strengthen yourself. Eventually, you will need to hunt down a dragon and consume its heart. However, it seems like you may not be ready for such a daunting task at this moment."
"Training your body will make it stronger and more resilient, allowing you to endure physical pain. Accessing mana will unlock magical power within you, giving you incredible strength and abilities. But the most crucial step is consuming a dragon's heart, drinking the blooming tears of dragons and lastly injecting the Devine essence of the last leaf, of the great dragon's tree to the 7 cores of human body. Without completing this ritual, your very existence could be in grave danger. If any of these elements are missing, attempting to channel power through an incomplete vessel could have disastrous consequences. Your body may be torn apart, your mind could spiral into madness, and you may face a swift and certain death. It is essential to achieve all of the components to truly harness power, protect yourself."
"I will be performing the last ritual so you don't have to gather items like true dragons lungs, bones, cores, and scales."
Bahamut then add, "But still, to be able to achieve it all, I shall provide you with books that might help you outside."
Suddenly, a mysterious tome materialized before me. Its aged cover bore tattered edges and dark stains resembling blood, along with fingerprints as if it had seen many hands over the ages, the title on its cover was written in a cryptic script.
As the old book float and landed in my hand, I opened it slowly and saw words that were strange to me. But the pictures that are drawn in black ink caught my eye. The first page showed people throwing each other in a way that reminded me of aikido or wrestling. Their opponents bodies looked twisted and tangled. The next page looked like capoeira or taekwondo, with lots of kicking. Then there were punches and hooks, like in boxing. Each page showed a different martial art from my old world.
But something was different. The way they moved their bodies seems to be very uncomfortable, their balance, and how they fought - it was all unfamiliar. It felt like a whole new world of fighting styles. And as I turned each page.
Bahamut explained, "That book belonged to one of my guardians the *egoistic war commander* when he was still in the human world in the *Kingdom of Lunastra.* After becoming one of my guardians, he upgraded and perfected his fighting style. The book contains his techniques from his human past, showcasing his early skills. Despite being the weakest in physical strength among my guardians, he possessed great self-defense abilities. His self-defense move involved throwing opponents to the ground, stunning them and disrupting their balance, making him a formidable opponent in close combat.
"From what I recall, his initial attack could throw monster weighing over hundred million of tons to the ground with a speed comparable or greater to that of a light, stunning or even killing them instantly. The impact of his strikes would disrupt their center of balance, leaving them unable to stand and struggling to breathe. With his immense mana, he was able to enhance this move further, causing insane critical rapture damage upon impact.
"In addition to his signature move, he also utilized kicking, punching, and other techniques that were more human-like compared to the other guardians."
I was amazed by the idea, thinking to myself, "It seems inhumanly impossible for a person to have such incredible strength to throw a creature weighing over hundreds of thousands of tons at such incredible speed."
"But this is different world, maybe anything is possible," I thought.
Bahamut explained, "Yes, it's possible, but when you first start learning the technique, your proficiency may only be around 0.5%. However, as you able to absorb mana and circulate it to your whole body and improve your skills, you could reach a proficiency level of around 2%. This shows how challenging this self-defense move is, even for those with natural talent."
He cautioned, "It's crucial to have a strong and well-prepared body before attempting this kinds of move. Otherwise, you could risk dislocating, mangling, or breaking your arms, experiencing high stress, getting blood shut all over, tearing muscle fibers, and other injuries. So, focus on strengthening your body first before trying to practice the technique."
"Ohh... I almost forgot I have something for you. It's a [historical-grade] silver monocle that can translate the words from the book I gave you."
The monocle is elegantly designed with a silver frame and a gold-like edge. A small silver chain, and a large glass in the center.
When I put on the monocle, it floated in front of my left eye and I could see letters, words, and illustrations flashing before me. The images were visible only in my left eye, making the experience quite magical.
I put the monocle into a small pocket in my clothes, holding the book in my hand.
"Feel free to come back if you have any questions. In the treasure chamber where you saw the statues, you can find potions and choose from various items like swords, books, and clothing. Just remember not to take heavy armor or gemstones, as they won't be of much use outside."
Bahamut said, "In exchange for all the treasures you have received, remove the boulders blocking the dungeon, find one of my guardians, *two headed arachnid serpentine horror*, if it is still inside, and come back alive after 3 years."
I thanked Bahamut and left his den. The air outside was cooler and lighter, making it easier for me to breathe but still stinks.
Luckily, I had chosen light clothes instead of heavy armor, which allowed me to move freely. This decision turned out to be wise. Although I felt uncomfortable without underwear, at least my issue was resolved.
On my way to the treasure chamber, I tried to lift some swords, but they were too heavy for me to use in a fight. Similarly, the armor I found would only slow me down in battle due to its weight.
"I can't find a sword or armor that fits me, they're all too heavy," I said.
"Hmmm.... What are those glowing things?" I wondered while .
I walk towards it, there I saw small glass bottles in the corner it was a potion, i couldn't resist picking up all those small healing potions hidden in the corner, there were more than twenty of them. Each potion was in a glass bottle sealed with a wooden stopper, and inside was a green, glowing liquid. I carefully stashed them all away in my pockets.
Heading up the stairs to the grand library, I was greeted by the fallen books and collapsed shelves scattered around the place.
After Bahamut's explanation about the world left me feeling unsure, I reached for my monocle to read the titles of the books on the shelves. Three titles caught my eye: "The Worlds Creation, and 2 journals, (journey to the northwest) and the greatest mystery [draconis Aeternum] (18) part 1, and lastly (journey to the northwest) and the greatest mystery [draconis Aeternum] (19) part 2.*"
"This 2 books with the numbers was written by the same author, his name is Mr kefir delibro, and the number in it indicates that there are some other parts besides it. "
I grabbed the ancient books and carefully hold them.
The book titled "World's Creation" features a beautiful golden design with intricate world map-like patterns. The two journals have worn-out covers with ink splashes, small slashes, and blood-like stains In it. In the center of the journals is a unique drawing of an eye that seems to move, with the eyeballs shaped like question marks.
As i was getting ready to leave the grand library, I still can't shake this feeling that I forgot something really important. It's like there's something lingering in the back of my mind, making me feel uneasy. It's as if there's still something or someone watching me from afar.