Divine Beast Ascension

“... Warak. Due to your answer, there’s one last thing I must ask you. Can you please send Young Master Belma away first?”

Warak was quiet but nodded, shooing Belma away with his hand. She complied and offered them each a bow before exiting the silent formation and returning to the young candidates.

Right away, not wasting even a second, Bradok asked, “How fast can we get to your clan totem and back?”

“HUH?! What are you-”

“Trust me, Bro Warak. I need to confirm this one thing, and then I can promise that the dreams of your clan can be achieved. Do you trust me?” Bradok questioned as he got up, extending his hand.

The Razor Prefecture Lord looked at Bradok’s hand like it was a free sample of the most exquisite, foreign meal. It seemed too good to be true without some sort of hidden motive or flaw in the prize.

.....

“Bradok, why are you asking about our totem? That’s taboo, even among fellow dragon clans,” mentioned Warak. “Only clan members are allowed to speak of our totems, let alone visit them.”

Nodding, Bradok sighed, “I know that. But I must ask you for this, Bro Warak. We’re already allies, but I believe we could be more than just allies. And I’m certain you’ll feel the same way very soon. But I must visit your clan totem and call out to your great-great-grandpa.”

“What?! Even speaking of the totem is hard to swallow. But you think you’re powerful enough to invoke my Great-great-grandpa’s soul?! Even I struggle to reach him and I rarely get a response!” blurted Warak, dumbstruck and furious. “Why, in Dominus’s name, should I dare speak with you about this? Forget showing you!”

“...” Bradok nodded and shrugged. “I understand that feeling. But I only ask because I must. If you want to know the full scope of my clan’s abilities and future plans, I need to go and call out to your great-great-grandpa. And I have a way to get there and back before dinner is ready.”

“That- WHAT?!”

“HUHH!!?”

Warak was about to say something else but was too hung up on Bradok’s final statement to speak. Treeda was also left stunned and confused by Bradok’s words.

“If I can guarantee that the three of us, or at least just you and I are able to get there and back, will you allow me to call out to your great-great-grandpa?” Bradok remained firm and resolute, never flinching before the absurdly powerful dragons. “You said you liked our boldness and brazen desire to overturn the heavens. Well, for that reason, I need to do this. Permit me to call out your Great-great-grandfather and I assure you that Kartzal and the quadrant system will be overturned in your lifetime.”

“...”

Warak’s mouth hung open to speak. But, again, he couldn’t form any words as Bradok’s word’s lingered in his mind.

“... This... What do you mean, Bradok? ... How can you promise such-”

“I can. And you’ll believe me after I get to see your great-great-grandpa.”

The jovial tone from earlier was nonexistent. A solemn air hung over the lead table as Treeda refused to get in between the two of them. Warak leered at Bradok for his insensitive, ignorant request. And Bradok’s gaze remained steadfast, immovable, and unshakable.

“Warak. I must. But I can only explain after calling on your great-great-grandpa,” Bradok repeated himself. “If it’s easier, I’m willing to make it a bet.”

“Bet on what? Your fight? What on earth can you offer that’s-”

“I’m willing to bet the enslavement and subservience of my entire clan. But only in exchange for being able to access your clan totem. If you didn’t believe I was serious before, then you know now. What will it be, Bro Warak?”

Warak finally noticed how tightly his heart was clenched. It felt like his heartbeat was stalling and slowing his body’s reactions to everything around him. Warak needed a moment to breathe and forcefully release the tension overtaking his body. Warak never bothered looking at Treeda’s paling reaction, since it wasn’t any of her business, and Warak was too wound up to do anything apart from meet Bradok’s domineering stare.

As an all-mighty dragon god, Warak was unquestionably one of the world’s strongest living experts. Apart from the four quadrant gods, Warak looked up to no one and could only peer down at the endless abyss of lower-level cultivators.

However, Warak felt his heart stir. His heartbeat grew even more irregular. His breathing followed an off-beat, fluctuating rhythm. And his eyes were unable to look away. There was no fear or worry in his heart either. But seeing Bradok stand unwaveringly and hearing the gorilla’s boastful and ludicrous claims filled with the deepest levels of confidence... Warak could only sit and marvel. Despite all logic and status, Warak felt an inkling of desire to test Bradok’s crazy claims for himself.

“... You’d bet the entire clan’s subservience and enslavement? Are you certain of that?” Finally, Warak managed to pull his eyes away while taking down the silent formation. “Ania, could you come here for a brief moment?”

Treeda blinked and tried her best to understand what Bradok was after. But she learned and deduced nothing.

Ania left one of the support chefs in charge of her stove and sauntered over. The moment the silent formation took shape again, she bowed to the lords, “I’m sorry for my father’s stupidity. He’s-”

“Quiet, Ania!” Bradok roared, startling all three of them. “My words stand and you’re welcome to ask Ania if she’ll disagree.”

Nodding, Warak looked to Ania and explained, “Your father wants to change our bet. In doing so, he’s putting up the enslavement of your entire clan. But can he-”

“He has that power,” Ania replied calmly, flooring both dragon lords. “As the clan chief, we follow him implicitly. That’s also because he’s earned our undying trust from decades of service and protection for our clan. Before Dioro took over, my father led this clan for almost a century. And as the clan chief yet again, he’s more than able to bet such a thing.”