Chapter 169: Fafnir. (1/2)

”Something more precarious?” Oulan was perplexed. If those monsters weren't the problem, it meant that something completely oblivious to him was actually threatening the entire planet's safety. Something capable of endangering the entire dragon species.

”Yeah,” Arima smirked and directed his gaze toward the ground. Oulan frowned. ”Tell me, do you know what is situated at the heart of your planet?”

”In… our planet?” Oulan was confused. ”I'm not sure to understand what you mean…”

Arima chuckled. ”Well, do you know what is at the center of a planet?”

”Well, the planetary core?”

Arima laughed and Oulan looked at him strangely. ”Sorry, it's just a little funny since I had to deal with some really big cores just before, but you're correct. What I am asking you now is; do you know what is at the kernel of YOUR planet?” He inquired again with a more serious tone.

Oulan hesitated. The center of the planet he had lived on for hundreds of years? If you asked him what was on the surface of this planet, he would have been able to answer. But he had never even thought about what was in its entrails.

He didn't need to in the first place. He also had no reason or way to check it. But now, Arima had managed to root an odd fear in him.

”…I want to be sure if I understood correctly,” Oulan said. ”Are you saying that what is susceptible of destroying our land is situated right in its core?”

Arima smiled. ”Yes. That's what I mean. It's something I sensed when I arrived,” he stated. ”It's weak but certainly there. Furthermore, its aura is rising quickly. You may not be able to feel it since it's still incredibly frail and transparent. But it is definitely getting stronger as we speak.”

”Normally, I'd say that not even I would be able to detect it. But something woke it up,” Arima added. ”So, although the Téra are not a threat to you, it seems that they still bring you misfortune,” he chuckled and Oulan smiled bitterly.

”Do you have any idea of what it is?”

”That's what I should be asking you,” Arima retorted and shrugged. ”I don't know. But it's not like I have no idea either. You know, dragons are a very important and powerful race. They are all noble, strong, wise, and incredibly popular among humans…”

Arima paused and his eye twitched when he spotted Layla and Karma stuffing themselves with cakes next to him. He realized that he would need to eat a tremendous amount of food from now on. He shook his head and cleared his throat.

”There are many legends about them in every world and plane,” he resumed as if nothing happened. ”This place is supposed to be the homeland of dragons. There's no way to guess what kind of disaster would be dwelling at its center,” Arima declared and Oulan stared at the ground with a raised eyebrow. It was peculiar to suddenly learn that there may be a life-threatening entity living right below his home.

”Well, I may not be able to recognize who or what it is, but I know someone who should,” Arima added and Oulan looked up.

”Who is it?”

”The inheritor of Jörmungandr,” Arima replied and Oulan blanked out. ”Well, I could also ask Leviathan but I didn't even meet the guy yet. I could contact Chulainn to know where they are right now but it's not worth it…” he continued to speak and the old dragon listening almost choked.

'How does he have such acquaintances?!' He shouted in his mind.

”I'll ask him after all. Another favor for him is no big deal,” Arima muttered and both Karma and Layla looked at him in curiosity. Both of them weren't present when he met Jorga.

”{So, you're gonna ask Jorga, huh?}” Night was the only one who knew him. Jorga had also sort of been his teacher for a day.

”{Yeah,}” Arima responded and focused on the link he had created with Jorga some time ago.

***

Meanwhile, Jorga was casually getting rid of the Téra around the forest with a lazy expression when he suddenly received Arima's call.

His azure eyes widened to the maximum. Earlier, he had considered calling Arima because of the Téra but he forwent the idea because he didn't want to waste his favor.

”{It's been a while, Arima. Why are you calling?}”

”{I just kind of need your help here.}”

”{'Here'? And where is that?}”

”{Fantasia,}” Arima responded and Jorga gaped.

”{How the hell can you be there…? What happened for you to end up on Fantasia?}” He was shocked. ”{It's like… one billion miles away.}”

”{One hundred billion,}” Arima corrected him and Jorga huffed.

”{That doesn't it make it better!}”

”{It's a long story. Things… happened. Anyway, there's a little problem here and I'd like you to lend me your wisdom. I may have my own share of knowledge right now, but I don't think I can beat Jörmungandr's when it concerns dragons. He was one of the prototypical dragons after all.}”

”{…Fine, I'm willing to go there. But first, you will owe me another one. And two, give me a fucking way to get there. Even if I use all of my mana, I don't think I can make through half of the distance.}”

”{No problem,}” Arima accepted. ”{Just wait a few minutes. I'll call you back.}”