The Regressed NoBody

I wrapped myself with the cosy and warm embrace of my blanket which had a soft smell of detergent mixed together which seemed to make me sink deeper into my slumber, similar to being wrapped inside a cocoon of gentleness and relieving allure which caused my head to relax and plunge deeper.

‘How long has it been since I got to feel this relaxed?’ I questioned through the wonderful sleep which was shrouding me.

But suddenly, I felt my entire body tense up as I left a sensation similar to being haunted by a monster which children believed to having lived under their bed, before it vanished when the bedsheets were raised and it being nothing but a creation of our own fears and nightmares.

I grabbed the blanket firmly as I felt my feet getting slowly exposed and a slender touch of fair skin prickled past my calve as I stirred from my sleep and felt a deep fatigue taking a frim hold over me. My mind was currently being gnawed by a sharp headache as each and every part of my body winced in pain from the soreness for training for several days without so much of a break and only being given a few hours to either eat or sleep.

“S-Stop,—Yawnnnn—,”I said with a long yawn which perfectly displayed my accumulated weariness from the last several days, undergoing hellish training.

“No, I will not.” The crisp and warm voice which I always loved hearing now sounded stern and with a sharp edge to it as I finally let go of the corner of the blanket and it effortlessly slid of my body, causing the cold atmosphere which pervaded around me make me shudder as I groaned from the soreness in my muscles.

“Can’t I sleep for just five more minutes?” I retorted, my eyes feeling like lead, as I slowly opened them with great effort of not falling back into the warm embrace of my comfortable bed. I looked up and saw the slender and athletic figure of Fujimoto draped in a vibrate linen grey yukata with a dark grey obi around his waist.

His hair was styled in a braid which rested over his shoulder with his vibrate auburn bangs tumbling over his forehead, with his eyes still displaying a bright youthfulness.

“PLEASE!!!” I clasped both hands and made puppy like eyes as I tried making an innocent expression to beguile Fujimoto. He made an exasperated frown as he sighed and shook his head. I took that movement and with my quiet and nimble movements I slowly slipped the blanket out of his hands as I rolled myself up into it like a caterpillar.

“That’s exactly what you said half an hour ago. Its already past ten, its not a good habit to sleep almost until afternoon. I didn’t raise you to be such a snob, Shun.”

“Ahh...come on, you know just how much those two devils push me during our training sessions.” I retorted again in frustration as I rolled on the floor avoiding Fujimoto’s arm by a hair’s breadth. “And I’m sore all over. Just let me sleep for a little bit longer, you devil.”

“The way you’re moving so doesn’t make it all too convincing, you know.” He raised a brow in suspicion.

“It really is...” I shot back as Fujimoto grew more agitated.

“Amamiya Shun, you better get up this instant young man, or else...” Fujimoto said as his face fumed with anger and his bright mature eyes glared down at me as I rolled on the tatami floor playfully like a worm.

“Chill Fujimoto, no need to get so mad, or you’ll start getting wrinkles all over your pretty face even before Master does,” I mused with a smirk playing on my lips.

But I felt the hair at the back of my neck stand as I pushed my body straight and with wide, horrified eyes looked at Fujimoto who was making a solemn face with his eyes narrowed which only projected nothing but danger to me.

“Oh I see...its seems dealing with two grown-up children has indeed put quite the burden over me.” He jabbed. “Shun...” He said with his tone cold as a shiver run down my spine.

“I am sorry! I was just joking around!” I shouted as I started to clean my bed and fold the bedsheets neatly as Fujimoto stood with his arms crossed. And I didn’t dare look back at him.

After I was done, I spun with a yawn and walked closer to Fujimoto who now stood at the entrance of my room with an expression akin to triumph over his face.

With a slight smile over his face, I saw his hand draw closer to me as he patted my head with his slender and soft hand and then with a content smile over his delicate features he withdrew his arm.

“I am not a kid anymore. You don’t have to pat my head every time.” I said.

“It doesn’t matter even if you grow up to be an old man, to me you will always be a snotty kid I raised and whose wet bed sheets I cleaned.” Fujimoto said as he checked my bedsheets once, giving them a quick glance. “Good boy. Now go on and wash your hands and face and come to the dining hall, breakfast is ready and everyone is waiting for you.” Just as he finished I nodded as I ruffled my hair and yawned again as I saw Fujimoto stride away in the corridor and take a sharp right turn as he made way to the kitchen.

“Well sleeping for just five more minutes wouldn’t have hurt,” I said with a grimace as I gave a side eye to the folded sheets and made bed. “Oh well, I wouldn’t want to anger the Supreme One again. Or hell might get loose, or something.”

Well no one was able to deal with an angered Fujimoto. Even Master who was always aloof and acting however he wanted corrected his actions when Fujimoto was angry.

Well Fujimoto was far worse and horror inducing than any monster or demon when he was angry. I smirked as I thought so.

The air felt fresh and humid as the bright rays of sunlight illuminated the long corridor as the apricity in the atmosphere made a sense of relief to shrouded my body and made me comfortable, alluring me to go back to sleep.

I shooed the thought away as I reached the bathroom and washed my hands and face with cold water. Taking a towel hung on the side of the faucet I wiped my face dry as I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

I touched my dirt-blondish brown bangs which were slightly grown to my shoulders with bags under my eyes.

Sighing, I gave myself a flitting gaze and exited the bathroom and quickly made way to the dining hall.

As I strode closer to it, I started hearing two voices holding a steady conversation.

“—Union is making some changes in their regulatory and hierarchy system as I presume. So how’s work going back in England for you?” Master asked with an attentive tone.

“Well, I wouldn’t say its been too good for us freelancers in the past few years, unless we get affiliated with some well-known organisation, but in the end, those organisation guys also ask for a person with a certain criteria and set of skill and experiences.” The other man’s voice murmured through the corridor which was laced with annoyance and frustration. “But I guess Edward being the successor of Owens—who was the previous leader of the Union—I have high hopes for the guys—and hopefully he isn't too bad in doing his job—I mean his implemented ideas have brought forth quite a lot of drastic changes in the rudimentary hunter system and other affairs regarding the general public as well."

I slid the door open and saw Master and Gabriel sitting on the dining table, facing each other while eating breakfast.

“Bah...you’re still here. Shouldn’t you have gone back to England like yesterday or something?” I didn’t try to hide my disgust one bit as I wore a frown moving closer to the dining table full of different dishes. “Just go back home. How long are you thinking of crashing at our place, you damn hobo.”

“Oy, try to be a little respectful of your mentor, you snotty brat,” Gabriel said with a nasty frown as he pointed his chopsticks in my direction. “And I’m only here again because Akito begged me to teach you how to use mana because of your sorry of an attempt at using it is just nothing short of pathetic.” He shot back as he leaned in his seat.

“When did I beg you, huh?” Master retorted as his brows knitted slightly, he took rice from his bowl with the help of his chopsticks and took a bite. Gabriel looked at him for a second as he clicked his tongue and turned his gaze away like a petulant child who had just been ignored by an adult.

His built was pretty average and lean, with long and vibrant locks of mahogany hair and chestnut eyes which burned subtlety with a sense of mysterious prestige to them.

He was wearing a linen white shirt with a black vest on top with a pair of black trousers. He looked to be in his early forties without any wrinkle or imperfections over his sharp features which made him look close to a person who had just entered adulthood.

Gabriel Katz was an old acquaintance and friend of Master and this quake head teacher of mine was appointed for teaching me how to use mana. His reputation was known world wide and he was quite a sought-after person—people even paid him millions in sums of money, or either artifacts to invite him to an event which comprised of mages and mysticism enthusiasts who wanted to in-depth their knowledge over mana and the certain unknown phenomenon which people didn't understand till this day—, who was a mage recognised by the World Union for his achievements in understanding mana and unlocking the mysteries shrouding the supernatural power.

But each time, he refused their offers and remained in seclusion and didn’t appear in the general publics eyes. He acted on his own minute made decisions and whims.

But people described him as a ghost that only resurfaced for a couple of days before disappearing again into thin air without anyone knowing—and he'd been staying with us in our house for the last two months.

I scoffed, whilst rolling my eyes in displeasure and turned my head away from him as I sat beside Master and soon saw Fujimoto entering with a tray which had a kettle and four cups as he walked closer to the table and poured a cup for everyone.

“I’ll have you know, I’m a very important figure in the hunter community so being able to receive any lesson from me should be a great deal of honour for you, brat.” Gabriel said as he puffed his chest and peeked open an eye towards Master.

But receiving no reaction whatsoever from him, he cursed under his breath and returned to eating breakfast again.

And this guy for some reason respected Master quite a lot. He always looked for an opportunity to talk to him and have him praise him.

Could he be gay? I have had thoughts like these. But this guys simply respected my Master, nothing else.

Master had met this guy when he had went to an auction which was held in England, to buy a material for his sword which was being exclusively auctioned there and during his trip he had met this lanky mage who’d taken a liking to him.

I'd asked Master before and he said that this guy was quite the arrogant piece of work—I think he still is—and he challenged Master to a duel, in which he lost pathetically.

And since back then they both had made quite a good bond and were good friends.

“Takeru, I gotta say, you’re culinary skills have gone up,” Gabriel praised as he ate the grilled fish together with rice.

My eyes strolled to the dining table which was filled with a variety of foods. Starting from steamed rice, miso soup, grilled fish—cooked until medium golden and sprinkled with celery and different spices. Rolled omelettes and a variety of side dishes consisting of several vegetables, tofu or salad which was gracefully arranged in a plate and placed in the middle of table and sprinkled with water to maintain its freshness.

“Then just eat and go back to England.” I said right after as I took my chopsticks and grabbed my bowl.

“Shun!” Fujimoto said in an exaggerated tone as he looked at me with his brows knitted.

“Yes, thank you Gabriel. I tried using a different mixture of herbs and spices which I thought would’ve been to your liking. I hope the food is to your palate.” Fujimoto said as Gabriel asked for another bowl of rice and Fujimoto filled it and passed it back.

But Master remained silent throughout the conversations which happened, he simply ate his breakfast. But I felt like he was under some deep cognition as his serene azure eyes looked conflicted. It was unlike him to be so quietly eating his breakfast without passing a comment here and there, or making some bad pun.

Fujimoto and Gabriel seemed to also have taken notice of his behaviour a while ago but didn’t point it out.

Master placed his chopsticks down in a horizontal position over the table and thanked Fujimoto for the food as he slightly barfed and gracefully leaned forward to grab his cup of herbal tea.

After breakfast concluded and Fujimoto cleared the table, all four of us sat inside the dining hall which was warm and cosy during the winter, Master started speaking with a certain seriousness creasing his sharp features.

“I have been thinking about this for a while now—honestly speaking for the last few months.” He said, looking slightly conflicted. Master drew a breath as he slowly turned his head in my direction, his arms crossed and brows knitted solemnly. “But...I have thought about it and have decided its about time I allowed Shun to enter dungeon gates.”

Fujimoto shot up from his spot and interjected right away with a deep concern palpable in his eyes. “Akito-san are you serious? Don’t you know yourself just how dangerous it is inside a dungeon. Its even made aware to the public that hunters entering such dungeons in the line of work threaten their own life on a daily basis, knowing full well of the repercussions of their actions. There is a high chance of death in there even if they go in fully prepared, the probability of something unexpected happening is dangerously high.” Fujimoto said as his voice took a sharp edge and strained as he threw the facts at Master. “Its a completely different environment and habitat and there are such hideous and grotesques monstrosities in there, and, and they—”

Master held up an arm and Fujimoto hushed as his lips bobbed for some form of interjection again, but after seeing the solemn expression over Master’s face he sat back down and took a deep breath as his eyes peered to me, which were laced heavy with worry and fear.

“Takeru, I'd never want to deliberately send Shun in dangers way, and I completely understand your concerns and your points are justified—there is always a high chance of something going wrong inside a dungeon and I’m not turning a blind-eye to the danger my decision might bring to the boy—but doing so will only make Shun’s progress to be held back and he is already strong enough to fight several low ranked monsters at once.”

“B-But...” Fujimoto made a desperate expression as his eyes jumped between me and Master.

“Takeru I know you care about shun a lot—knowing you have raised him since he was a child and have a deep fondness for him—and since that dungeon break incident a few years ago you’ve been very protective and worrisome of sending him alone to any dangerous place which might be populated with mana beasts even if for training purposes,” Master said coolly as he looked straight in his eyes.

“But he will soon be turning into a fifteen year old in just a few months,” Master pointed out. “And its all for Shun to gather experience, which is appropriate for his growing strength. And you know he is already reaching nearer to the borderline of the rank day by day, which is extraordinarily fast development for someone in his age group.”

Fujimoto fell silent with no way of interpreting Master, instead a mask of worry and desperation arched his face as he stood up and walked closer to me and sat beside me.

His arm reached out and took a hold of mine as he looked at me with a familial care palpable in his bright eyes.

“I know I’m being unreasonable and greedy, but ever since that day when Akito-san returned with Shun in his arms covered in blood and severely battered up with so many injuries, I finally realised just how much dangerous this world can be for a single child. That day made the realisation to dawn upon me, the fear of losing Shun made me so desperate to hold on to him even more even if I knew I was holding him back.” Fujimoto said, his words gently filled the silent room as his hand grew firmer around mine as his graceful eyes softened and displayed a motherly warmth. “And even till this day—since way back then—even when Shun gets injured in the process of training, the anxiousness of something happening to him makes me incredibly nervous and fearful that I might not be able to see him ever again—some decision I might come to greatly regret later which I made on the whim of a moment just to act logical and understanding.”

“But, I understand your point too,” he added right after. “He is already growing stronger each day under both of yours tutelage. And I wouldn’t want to be the obstacle standing in his way. But I still feel anxious in spite of all that.”

Fujimoto placed a hand over my head and gently patted it as he looked straight at Master.

“But I want to ask Shun first, what he wants to do.” Fujimoto said with a determined face as everyone turned to look at me.

I took a deep breath and exchanged looks with everyone then turned to look back at Fujimoto.

“I perfectly know just weak I’m currently and if this an opportunity for me to grow stronger I wouldn’t want to miss it,” I said with determination lacing each word.

“But I promise, I will try to worry you as little as I can, Fujimoto.” I added with a bright smile pulling at my lips as Fujimoto wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a warm hug as he wore a worrisome smile.

“Already, but try to be careful and remember to do what your Master and Gabriel have taught you if something happens, they’re the experts.” Fujimoto sternly remarked.

“You guys don’t have to worry, until its decided when he will be entering a dungeon gate, I will hammer everything I can into him to help in his progress,” Gabriel said with a smirk which tried to convey reliability, but it only brought me a sense worry on him being unreliable.

“Already then its decided, Shun will be entering a dungeon and I will inform you both when the time is right,” Master said with a solemn tone.

“Now, Gabriel let’s continue on with our drinking contest which we postponed due to Takeru’s scolding yesterday,” Master said in his usual playful and uncharacteristic demeanour which made him look like a completely different person just a few moments ago who held himself with grace and dignity.

“Takeru, you gonna join us,” Gabriel asked as he received a stern look from him as he lowered his gaze as if scolded by some adult for doing something wrong.

“I will bring you both barley tea so you can have a chat like a bunch of civilised folks, unlike the last time when you both almost destroyed the entire house after getting drunk out of your damn minds, causing a major scene.” Fujimoto retorted with his face creased in frustration and annoyance looking at the two like they were some mischievous kids.

“We weren’t that out of control, were we Gabriel?” Master said looking at Fujimoto, giving a side look to my other mentor.

“Yeah, we just exchanged a few friendly fists.” Gabriel added with a smirk. "You could say it was a display of friends bonding."

The nerves on Fujimoto’s head protruded in anger as his eyes narrowed. “Then if some crap happens this time around, then you both can go apologise to the neighbours for the inconvenience, for which Shun and I had to go last time to apologise for and the time before that as well. And I’ll very clearly let the both of you know that I’m sick of cleaning up after your mess. So try to act a little your age, both of you."

"We are sorry." Both said in unison with their heads bent.

After a half an hour lecture, Master and Gabriel picked up a chain of conversation about the recent incidents happening around the world with Fujimoto gone to do the dishes and start cleaning.

“I heard a rumour from a source that the Evil Eye is making certain movements in this time around, which has put the Union guys on edge.” Master asked Gabriel as he sipped his barely tea with a dissatisfied expression.

“I did the same. But the rumour has it that the number of people making covenants with demons is increasing since recent years, and the Evil Eye is definitely cooking something to shake the Union and the general public somehow. Just how it has been for the WU, its only been a few years since the previous leader disappeared and the new guy rose to power as their current top—and people up in the authorities speculated that he was either demoted through a display of strength or most probably killed by the new guy to make him resign to take control over the organisation."

I quietly listened to their conversation which had many details which caught my interest.

“Then what about their high rankers? Did their ranking remain the same or did their bestowed positions change as well now that the power balance among them has shifted?” Master asked with a curious frown as he placed his cup down and stroked his jaw in thought.

“Could be!” Gabriel answered with half uncertainty. “With the Union's spies having infiltrated the Evil Eye’s ranks, its giving us a upper hand,—that’s what I would like to say—but the question of whether there are spies inside the Union holds a very high possibility of being true. It has many members on edges and making them wary of their inner circles."

“Exactly!” Master acknowledged. “Its as the old saying goes: information in warfare is far more precious and important than any amount of strength and power level or reinforcements. It also goes on to say that: ‘the most dangerous enemy could also be the closest ally.’ But we aren’t just fighting against demons and threats such as mana beasts, but ourselves. In warfare the smallest of betrayals can make lose the biggest of battles, leading to annihilation.”

“Be aware, be awake, see all, hear all and learn to deduce between the certain truths among the countless lies.” Gabriel recited like some scholar as his chestnut eyes turned serious suddenly. “One thing is certain and the rest is lies, this world is nothing but a pendulum of cries. Don’t fall for the sweetness of words, their sharpness even dulls a renowned craft, severing beliefs and arousing doubts.”

Master and Gabriel continued their steady conversation and after exchanging information with each other regarding the things happening in the hunter society or any other topic they were interested in.

I attentively heard their conversation and tried to align the information I heard from the two’s steady conversation with the information that I had been studying and went through which was deeply related to the time of the first cataclysm and times of chaos. Which was given the names of: Sequence 0; also called the Generation 0, a name which was given to the people who survived the first cataclysm through which the hunter society flourished.

This information wasn’t hidden from the public, but after a thorough process of omitting several events following the appearance of dungeons and demons, a part of history had been erased or either altered with false events to hide certain information from the curious eyes of others. That was something I had come to deduce after my in-depth classes over history with Gabriel and my own investigation.

And I had to say, when the subject of teaching was brought to light, this guy was a genius in that aspect. But due to his negligent behaviour and certain whims on which he disappeared for several months due to research without telling anyone made him hated by many.

Gabriel turned to look at me suddenly and spoke as if he had recalled something at the spur of the moment.

“Oh, I just remembered that I agreed to do a seminar in the next coming days—and their paying handsomely for it.” He struck his palm with his hand. “So I guess we should go over with your training sessions shortly because I won’t be coming back for a few months.”

“Considering you won’t get to be taught by someone as great me, then you should make the most—”

Gabriel continued speaking as an air of boastfulness grew around him as he crossed his arms with a gleeful smirk over his face.

But all I heard was blah, blah, blah...and blah.

Master moved his hand imitating Gabriel’s mouth as he rolled his eyes. I chuckled seeing this scene, as Master pointed towards the door, as we silently made way out, as Gabriel was busy with his speech of praise directed at himself.

“Listen to what I am saying you bastards,” Gabriel grunted from behind as we rushed through the door and existed giggling.

***

'—ake up!!'

I heard a soft voice, which seemingly sounded like a crisp lullaby which was strong and firm in its tone, yet gentle and kind and full of worry at the same time which filled me with a sense of protectiveness. But there was something odd about that voice or rather energy. It was a voice I’d heard before somewhere, but I wouldn’t recall when.

‘Wake up Jiwoo.”

The powerful ethereal voice stirred my mind awake from the old memory which I dreaming as my eyes fluttered wide open as an unimaginable amount of pain seared through my insides as I crashed against the surface of something sturdy and hard which shattered the bones on my left flank upon impact as I didn’t even have the leisure to scream or groan.

The shrilling noise of my battle robes harshly fluttered through the air as I crashed against the hard surface again which I quickly found to be walls of stone, where I barely noticed some glowing moss which was casting a golden-teal sheen which dimly illuminated the narrows walls of the cavern I was falling into.

I tried to find some gap or placement which I could take hold of, to stop my accelerating descent but I wasn’t able to as I crashed deeper and struck the walls on both sides like a ping pong ball as my bones creaked.

I wasn’t able to steady my body, and all my reserves had ran dry from my battle against the Guardian. I couldn’t concentrate enough to fly. I was completely vulnerable at this moment.

I wistfully frowned as I realized that I wasn’t able to feel my arm where now only a stump was left with the wound over my chest having somehow miraculously stitched closed but the sharp pain in my sternum was still there. I quickly recalled my defeat at the hands of that Guardian as I grounded my teeth but pushed such thoughts to the back of my head for now as I looked for an ability to exploit in my current predicament.

My body cranked with a deep fatigue as I took command of my mana—what little of it had been left—and started focusing it through my body in a fluid motion which took me almost all of my concentration and strength—the entire process proving to be quite tough to do so in my crippled state.

I slowly willed the mana into my palm as I looked below and saw the depth reaching nearer through the dim light. The wind particles heeded my unspoken call and started to coalesce into my palm as my vision blurred and mind squirmed from pain, akin to having rods thrust into my temples.

When the spell was ready and just as I was close to crashing into the ground, I somehow forcefully positioned my body and thrust my arm in any way I could, releasing the howl of wind compressed into my palm as it billowed outward like a rampant beast as the force of it propelled me slightly upward and slowed down my descent to my death.

The howling wind swirled around in the narrow opening like a destructive tornado whirling in the narrow walls of the cavern. It was a spell similar to what Neil—my old companion —had used during our fight with the millipede, and that had been my inspiration for its creation.

And it had worked.

With the remaining mana I casted a protective layer around me and crashed on to the ground as my eyes rolled into my head momentarily—a squeal escaped my mouth unbeknownst to me as I rolled and crashed over the ground mercilessly, then struck something hard which gave off a crystal like cluster—and I blanked in and out of consciousness as the pain enveloped my senses and I felt weak even in my bones—which were shattered. Half of the bones in my body were broken with no signs of recovery in sight.

The damage was simply too excessive and my rate of recovery was hampered.

It took me more than an hour to collect myself and recover from the damage. During that time, I somehow started manipulating the breathing forms and started absorbing the mana and purifying it. The wounds over my body had now started to heal again, but the process was as painstakingly slow as a snail.

But I couldn’t complain in my current situation. It was a very big miracle that I was alive even after my much of a miserable defeat at the hands of that Sentient.

But my anxiousness receded shortly after as I saw the stump of my right arm had also started to somehow heal which had regenerated up to the elbow since my fall when I had first noticed. It left me with a weird tingle which I felt through my bones, as my arm had began regenerating, which was nothing short of a miracle.

Then my regenerative capabilities could even heal severed limbs and organs, but alas it took quite a bit of time. But it was good thing.

But where am I?

I snapped my head around, but all I saw was the dry walls of this narrow cavern through the dim moss which illuminated the walls in a sparkle of golden-teal.

I felt a sense of unease rise from the pit of my stomach suddenly as I looked ahead, searching through the area and stretching my senses as I looked for any presence of a mana beast or anything alive or moving.

I saw a bright sheen of light submerge from the cavern just right ahead. The denseness of the mana around me grew more potent as I slowly stood and made way deeper into the narrow opening as my legs shook from the accumulated fatigue.

It was a hard task even to walk right now. I felt like I could blank out any minute even from pacing my steps. The ground was uneven and moist as a nose tingling smell of lavender and something alien mixed with it pervaded the air.

Nonetheless, it was an enriching and sweet smell which seemed to blew my fatigue and stimulated my mind somewhat as I became relaxed.

Soon the narrow opening opened up to a bigger and wider area which was illuminated by countless stalactites stuck to the walls and ceiling as well as several boulder sized crystals on the ground casting a bright pure white light around the cavern. There was vibrant purple grass growing on the ground with green and blue mixed.

I took my time, surveying the area for any threats, but it looked like there were none.

I sighed in relief as I covered each step in caution. The crystals surface acted like a mirror in which I saw my condition, and it was horrible.

My long hair was dishevelled and face and body smeared with stains of blood and mud mixed together. My battle robes ripped and cut into rags. My arm was growing back so very slowly, but aside from that the minor wounds and injuries over my physique had healed, leaving no signs of any scars or lasting concussions.

The cavern was quite large. Filled with these crystals and the vibrate purple grass and the same moss from before growing on the tall walls and crystals alike.

But the hair at the back of my neck stood as my eyes bulged open like full moons and all motion from my body ceased as I looked upon the sight in front of me.

Extreme wariness laced my body as I didn’t even dare to breathe, as a sense of fear prickled out from each pore over my body, each hair standing in alert as I looked upon a might winged beast lying with absolute stillness and poise, occupying a wide area of the cavern, its snout placed gently over its scaly arms with razor sharp claws.

It was a beast whom I had read about in myths and legends which were dated back to even before when mana and monsters were not a common thing back on earth.

The sighting of these mystical monsters were recorded as either folk lore and rumours or some unbelievable myth without much of any evidence available of their existence, but to see one right in front of me made me feel a rush of emotions and conflictions. Even after gotten accustomed to monsters and mana, seeing such a beast made me thrilled and wary.

My eyes followed the mythical beast which seem to start and grow even bigger as I looked closely. From the snout to the end of its long tail it was covered with a vibrant obsidian black coat of shimmering and beautiful scales which seemed to absorb and perfectly reflect the light generated from the crystals in the cavern.

With two sharp horns protruding from the side of its head and the two wings which were pitch black like the night, covering its body like a blanket, I marvelled at the sight. Its scales which were such a rich, opaque black, even made the most precious shiny jewels come pale in comparison.

Its majestic and impressive physique which was bigger than an average sized house stirred slightly as I took a involuntarily step back and stumbled on my quick steps and from the growing pain in my legs, but I was somehow able to hide behind a giant crystal, as the dragon opened its eyes slowly, revealing a pair which seemed to burn like liquid gold and release a bright glow like that of an afternoon sun with a subtle quality of iridescent to them which portrayed such wisdom and egnamtic power which made me freeze in my position without any hope of moving.

“Who goes there?” Its heavy and roaring voice reverberated through the cavern, which was laced with authority and centuries worth of deep wisdom which made me want to bow my head in reverence.