Chapter 140: The Second True Dragon

Tanaka could still feel the presence. It had been lingering around Varkesh for a few days now. It was similar to Malachiel’s. Not the same but Tanaka could recognize it the moment he sensed it. The ancient weight beneath the aura, the feeling that the creature behind it was of an existence that defied all the other monsters known to men; however there was a difference. The presence was more refined. More controlled. And slightly weaker than Malachiel. Only slightly.

Tanaka was now a Demon Lord Class monster. He had evolved into an Emperor Devour Slime and devoured everything that Rhazek had. Even then, instinct told him the truth the moment he sensed it. He would be unable to defeat this presence. If it were to decide to fight him seriously, Tanaka would be the loser on the battlefield.

As such, he did not search for it. Instead, he remained in Varkesh for a few days, helping in the process of restoring order to the kingdom while the other commanders and Tharven helped calm down their people. The war had ended, the wounds were being treated and the surviving factions had begun the long process of determining what they wanted to do with their future. Tanaka had refrained from forcing them into making yet another decision. Varkesh needed time.

Tanaka eventually found himself strolling through a relatively calm part of the city. His dark-blue body bounced slowly along the road. The city was still in ruins but the worst of the chaos had passed. Shops were opening up, warriors stood guard around the main roads, and monster families were peeking out of their houses. Tanaka looked up at the sky. The presence was still there.

In fact, Tanaka had been wondering about it all these days. Tanaka then felt something. A change in the air. Tanaka halted. A second later, a figure appeared directly in front of him. Upside down. A woman hung in the air, less than a meter from Tanaka’s face, her long hair trailing down. Tanaka could not move. She had not approached. She had simply appeared. His senses had detected nothing.

The woman had beauty in her face but her bright eyes told Tanaka right away that she wasn’t human. She smiled. "I smell his aura on you." Tanaka remained motionless. Her eyes swept over Tanaka’s person. "Tell me, pup." Her voice was feminine, and cheerful. "How do you know Malachiel?" Tanaka’s mind immediately became alert. So she knew Malachiel. She must have been connected to him somehow. That explained the presence. "And where is he now?" Her smile widened. "Your answer might save you." Her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Or destroy you."

Tanaka kept silent for a moment. Then, he answered truthfully. "I know Malachiel." The woman blinked. "That wasn’t the answer." "I met him during the First War." Her expression changed. "Oh?" "He awakened from his seal." The woman’s eyes widened slightly. "He told you about the seal?" "No." The woman became interested. "Then how do you know about it?" "The Voice of the World told me." She stared at him. Tanaka continued. "It identified him as a True Dragon."

The woman tilted her head. "So you know that much." "Yes." "Then what else did he tell you?" Tanaka was silent for a moment. "Nothing." Her smile vanished for a second. "Nothing?" "He never explained what a True Dragon is." She stared at him. Tanaka kept looking at the woman. "How long have you known him?" "Since my nation’s first war, a few months ago" "And he never explained?" "No." The woman looked genuinely offended on Malachiel’s behalf. Then she burst out laughing. Tanaka blinked. The woman spun around in the air and righted herself before landing lightly in front of Tanaka.

"So you really know nothing." Tanaka said nothing. The woman bent down until her face was close to his. "Did he at least tell you why he was sealed?" "No." She looked at him. "And you never asked?" "I did." "What did he say?" "Nothing useful." She burst out laughing again. "That idiot!" Tanaka’s body rippled slightly. The woman was finding all of this much more entertaining than she should have. Then the woman placed a hand against her chest. "I suppose I should properly introduce myself."

She gave Tanaka an exaggerated little bow. "I am Nethaliel." A gentle breeze swept through the street. "I am the True Dragon of Flight." Tanaka stared at the woman. Nethaliel straightened. "And Malachiel?" Tanaka asked. "True Dragon of Flames." Tanaka remembered the Voice of the World identifying Malachiel as a true dragon. True Dragon of Flames. So that was his actual title. Nethaliel smiled. "Now you know two true dragons." Tanaka hesitated. "There are others?" Nethaliel’s eyes sparkled. "Of course." She seemed delighted at his reaction. "There are several of us."

Tanaka remained silent. He had never heard about any of them from any kingdom. There were no records of True Dragons in Eldoris. No stories passed down from the monsters. Nothing at all. Nethaliel seemed to realize something. "Wait." Nethaliel circled him. Her eyes lingered over Tanaka’s form. "That’s why I couldn’t sense him." Tanaka looked at her. "What?" "Malachiel." She indicated Tanaka. "I couldn’t sense his aura while he was sealed."

Tanaka’s eyes widened slightly. "Then you suddenly could?" "Exactly." She smiled. "One day, nothing, then his presence suddenly appeared again." Nethaliel tapped her chin. "I followed it." Her eyes swept over Tanaka. "And it led me here." Tanaka understood. "But how did you find me?" Nethaliel pointed at Tanaka again. "You." Tanaka stared at her. "Your aura isn’t entirely yours." She leaned closer. "His blessing is all over you." Tanaka became more alert instinctively. Nethaliel continued. "Especially those two." Her eyes narrowed. "Your Draconic Aura."

Tanaka was surprised that she knew the skill. "And Dragon Transformation." She smiled. "Those abilities were formed from Malachiel’s blessing, weren’t they?" Tanaka nodded slowly. "Yes." Nethaliel snapped her fingers. "Exactly!" She spun around happily. "That’s how I traced him." Tanaka looked at her. "You could not sense Malachiel directly because he was sealed. After he awakened and blessed me, his power became connected to me through those abilities." "Correct." Nethaliel grinned. "You’re not completely useless after all."

Tanaka stared at her. Nethaliel suddenly looked thoughtful. "Actually..." She leaned close once more. "You are still pretty boring." Tanaka’s expression flattened. "You asked me questions." "And you gave boring answers." "I told you the truth." "Exactly." She laughed. "You know nothing about True Dragons, you don’t know why Malachiel was sealed, you don’t know where he is now..." She counted each finger. "You’re useless." Tanaka stared at her. Nethaliel smiled brightly. "Completely useless." Tanaka was beginning to understand now that Malachiel wasn’t the only strange True Dragon in existence.

Nethaliel’s smile changed slightly. Merely for the briefest of moments, the carefree look was gone from her features. The wind ceased. The entire street became unnaturally still. Tanaka’s instincts screamed. The woman in front of him had not changed shape. She had not released an attack for the world to see. But the pressure in the air had become terrifying. Nethaliel turned her gaze to the distant mountains.

"Malachiel is annoying." Her voice was quiet now. "But he’s still my kind." The wind suddenly returned. It exploded through the street, strong enough to shake the nearby buildings. Tanaka’s body slid backward several meters. Nethaliel’s smile reappeared. "Don’t make me angry, pup." The pressure vanished as quickly as it arrived. Nethaliel was once more cheerful.

Tanaka remained silent. He had just experienced the briefest glimpse of what happened when the fun woman stopped being fun. Nethaliel looked him over. "Now." She crouched down. "Where is Malachiel?" "I told you." Tanaka answered truthfully. "I don’t know." She stared at him. Then laughed.

"You’re really boring." Nethaliel suddenly shot upward. The wind burst beneath her. Before vanishing into the sky, she looked down at Tanaka one last time. "But now that I’ve found his aura..." Her smile widened. "I’m going to find my brother." Tanaka watched her disappear into the clouds. He remained alone in the street. He had learned more about Malachiel in a few minutes than Malachiel had ever told him. But one question remained. If Nethaliel had managed to trace Malachiel through his blessing... Then what was going to happen when the other True Dragons began sensing him too?