Ed and the others didn't know how to proceed. Should they announce themselves? Or should they wait for him to approach him? Confused, Ed chose to wait in his spot until the old man sitting on a rock moved. They waited for a minute, and then a minute turned into five. Everyone started to become uneasy, but they chose to wait.
After fifteen minutes, Ed could no longer wait, so he took the first step forward. It was then that he noticed something most unusual. Vortigern's head was bobbing up and down. Yes…Vortigern was asleep.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Ed couldn't help but shout. His shout caused the sleeping old man to wake in a daze.
"Ha?! Who is it?! I don't have any money! But I will fight you for it!" The words that were spoken, shocked everyone. The man announced that he was penniless, yet he also announced that he would fight for his money. If that didn't confuse them, then nothing else would have.
However, Ed didn't care about that. The reason he shouted earlier was not that the old man was sleeping. But, it was because the old man overpowered him when he wasn't even awake. 'So this is what it takes to fight the master of Blood sect…Will it be easier now since my grandfather definitely got stronger, or will it be hard since the master also got stronger…?'
Ed fell into deep thinking before he raised his head. He locked eyes with his grandfather, and could immediately notice a change. The hostility was gone and was replaced by warmth.
"Oya?! It can't be? You're Edward aren't you?!" Vortigern recognized Ed even though he hadn't seen him in over ten years. He stood up, throwing his fishing rod into the water before he appeared in front of Ed in an instant.
"You've grown up! And you're not sick anymore! Hahaha! What a joyous day this is!" Vortigern switched his way of talking into one that was braver and more astute. "If I knew this happened I would have returned home earlier! Now I don't have to look for a cure anymore, hahaha!"
Ed was surprised as he heard his grandfather's words. The same was with his companions. No one knew why someone as legendary as Vortigern Avalon, disappeared from his kingdom one day. But now, they did. It was all to find a cure for his eldest grandson. It wasn't an act of selfishness, but an act of love.
"Eh…Sorry for worrying you, grandfather," Ed said as he returned Vortigern's hug. Bella, who was hiding behind Emilia, chose to stare and not approach.
"So, you won't say hello to your grandfather, huh, Bella?" Vortigern spoke solemnly as he stared at Bella's cowering physique. Bella looked up towards Emilia and then at Ed. After noticing their gentle gazes, she gathered her courage and approached Vortigern.
She raised her small arms towards his waist and hugged him. She didn't know what to say, so she chose to convey her feelings by actions instead.
"Ho ho ho, what a strong hug!" Vortigern squatted down and squeezed Bella into a hug. "I'm proud, so proud of you…How is Eric by the way?" He asked as he ruffled the hair of Ed and Bella.
"He's back at Avalon, training."
"I see, I see. Then, come with me, there is much I need to catch up with." Vortigern beckoned them as he looked around to study those that accompanied Ed and Bella.
.
.
.
"I see. So we failed all those years ago…" Vortigern used his left hand as he covered his mouth. The group was now inside a cave only accessible by entering the waterfall. Vortigern used his QI to stop the water's flow, enabling them to enter without a single drop of water on them.
"However, we did what we needed to do 100 years ago. If you're here to convince me to fight with his again, then I refuse. What we've done the last time still isn't clear to us. We don't know if what we did was the right thing, or simply to satisfy out hypocritical side."
"…" Ed and the others listened as the grandfather spoke. They didn't interrupt him, or show any emotional change. They listened.
"That wasn't our purpose for coming here," Ed told him in a resolute tone. "Well, at least it's not the entire reason. I took it upon myself to end Blood sect two years ago, for my own selfish reasons. I certainly accept the help I get, but I wouldn't force anyone to join me." Ed's voice maintained a steady and peaceful tone, yet his message was clear.
"I'm here for three reasons. One, I want to know everything needed about the Blood sect master and his underlings. Information should be simple enough to provide, right?" Ed asked his grandfather, but they both knew the question didn't need an answer, so Ed continued to speak.
"Second, I'm here to look for a monster compatible enough with me, in order to make it my Avatar. I'm still weak, and I know it, but I won't sit down and wait for my family to get murdered."
"And lastly…I wanted Bella to meet her grandfather." Ed smiled warmly as he looked at Bella who was sitting shyly next to Vortigern.
"Ho ho ho. Indeed, I'm proud…Even if I had the chance to redo my life, I wouldn't change anything about it. Especially after seeing how well my grandchildren turned out to be. Arthur did a good job raising you. Of course, it wouldn't be possible without Elizabeth's help, am I right?" Everyone smiled as they understood the meaning behind the question.
"Their marriage, although unconventional, was blessed by everyone. They were a match made in heaven. And I see that you found your heavenly match as well," Vortigern smiled as he closed his eyes. He was talking about Emilia and Ed, the two that blushed.
"Very well. If it's information you need, then I will tell you all what I know from a hundred years ago. I'm guessing you're going to visit Nakamura soon, right?" Vortigern looked at Ed who nodded back at him.
"However, I'll leave it for another time. For now, let's go to find your Avatar."
Hello everyone! Enjoy the chapter!
'Well, that seemed much simpler than I thought.' Ed thought to himself after Vortigern started to lead them away from the cave. He didn't say another word until they exited, and then, he pointed at a mountain in the distance.
"They say a wish-granting dragon resides on that mountain. I've been watching it, waiting for a chance to get a view of the dragon, but I wasn't successful. I don't know if it's there, or if it's a hoax, but, that should be your best bet. Also, remember that dragons are overwhelmingly stronger than other monsters. Even if it's weaker than you, don't drop your guard."
Emilia and the others listened to Vortigern's words. Legends about the strength of dragons were passed down from old generations, and most of the new generation doesn't even know about the shape of dragons. In fact, out of the younger generation, only Ed saw a dragon before, outside of the Tower of Origin.
'Shenron?' While the others were deep in thought, Ed was thinking of useless things. Still, he regained his focus as he turned back toward Vortigern.
"Thank you for the information. I'll head over there right now since we're low on time. We'll be back with positive results, I hope," Ed said as he patted Mehen's head. The latter immediately grew into his largest size and dropped his head down for the others to climb.
"Hmm, if I'm not mistaken, you're the ninth floor's guardian, Mehen, are you not?" Vortigern said as he looked at the behemoth-sized serpent.
"Maybe…" Mehen hissed in a low voice.
"Ho ho ho…Edward." Vortigern laughed Mehen's answer off before he looked at Ed.
"You…you and your comrades. I can see that you're a monster tamer, and a good one at that," Vortigern stated as he studied the cultivation levels of everyone. "In fact, I don't think I've ever encountered a monster hunter with such a unique group of monsters, and that was as deeply loved by them like you. For that, I commend you. But, what will you do about the dragon if you meet him? Will you turn him into your comrade, like those here, or will you make him your avatar?"
Ed fell into silence as heard Vortigern. He knew what he was being asked, was not actually what was stated. Vortigern indirectly asked him, if he was willing to take the life of the dragon, in order to get stronger. If he was willing to rob the dragon, who was much like his companions, to satisfy his search for power.
"…I will kill him. I'm not hypocritical enough to say that I will to talk him into becoming my comrade, I know he won't agree. Dragons are prideful creatures that won't bend to the will of a human so easily. Plus, I need to get an avatar sooner or later. The sooner, the better."
Everyone fell into silence once again. Vortigern smiled and nodded his head as he watched Ed and the other ride away on Mehen's head. Did he accept Ed's answer? Or did he scorn him for such selfish thinking? No one knew. All they knew was that Ed had a purpose and he was going to go through with it.
"Ed, will you be okay against a dragon? I've never encountered one before, nor has anyone I know ever did. But, the tales of their viciousness reached everyone's ears at least once in their lives. Maybe we should look for another Avatar for you…" Emilia squatted near Ed as her hair danced in the wind.
"I don't know if I can win. But, I can tell you that the tales of the viciousness are not correct, yet they are." Emilia wore a confused look on her face. She couldn't comprehend the nonsense Ed was spouting. It was correct, but not correct. This wasn't a Schrödinger's equation!
"I've met two dragons before." Emilia's face turned into a surprised one after Ed spoke. People never met a dragon in their nearly immortal life. Yet, Ed, who was twenty years old at best, met two of them.
"You don't have to look that surprised. Both of my encounters happened two years, and one year ago. The first one happened when I was coming to the academy. It was a dragon with scales darker than the void of space. It exuded such an overwhelming power, that it suffocated me. Back then, I only had Suika and Raikou as my companions, and I thought that would be my end."
Emilia, Bella, and Ed's companions all listened closely. This was a tale unbeknownst to all. A tale that was shared by only three individuals, and a dragon.
"That day I knew what true strength looked like. What it felt like. However, I survived to tell the tale. Although it wasn't by my strength, but by the mercy of that dragon. It, simply, wasn't interested in me." Ed looked up as he talked, the towering mountain getting bigger, as they got closer to it.
"The second encounter happened on the twelfth floor of the Tower of Origin. There, I fought all the previous bosses, and the twelfth one was also a black scaled dragon. I nearly died before the battle even began, and only won thanks to everyone buying me enough time. If the dragon that resides on this mountain is the first one, then I don't know what I will do. Should I spare it, as it spared me? Or should I kill it? I, truly, do not know what I should do…"
Ed's companions chose not to say anything, and instead sit back and wait. How long has it been since they saw Ed waver? They couldn't recall.
Mehen reached the foot of the mountain and started to climb by twisting around it. It was only possible for Mehen with his incredible length. Everyone else felt their hearts thump as they got closer to the top. They broke through the clouds, to find an opening in the mountain. It appeared to be a dormant volcano.
'This is…' Ed felt nostalgic as he looked at the mountain.
"Merry, if I'm not mistaken. This looks like the mountain where I met you." Ed said as a smile appeared on his face.
"I think so…No it definitely does look like it." Merry fluttered her wings as she flew from her position.
Ed failed to notice Emilia glaring at him, but it was for the best.
Mehen got smaller as all of them stood at the middle of the mountain's opening. They looked around for the dragon, but couldn't find it.
'Oh eternal dragon, come out and grant my wish!' Ed threw his hands in the air as he spoke in his mind. 'Of course, that wouldn't work…' Ed ridiculed himself, as his companions looked at him like he was a weird human being.
Suddenly, from the clouds that existed even further beyond the first ones. A long, serpent-like figure twisted around as it got closer to the mountain.
'It can't be…It's really Shenron!"
Hello everyone! Enjoy the chapter! Make sure to check the character cheet in order to read about all the characters in the story so far. Some of them have some information that wasn't told in the story!
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