บท 18: 18. Persuading Ddraig.
│1st Person POV of Meliodas's Clone│
[Human World, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro…]
"Boss, what should I do?" I questioned.
Boss didn't answer immediately. He seemed to ponder things for a moment before saying, "There's no change in the plan. Extract her Sacred Gear after talking with Ddraig before sending the girl back to her home.
"Also, mark her with the dummy sigil and make it so that the sigil is always in concealment mode. And you know what functions of the sigil she should be given access to, right?"
"Alright, Boss. I am off then."
After receiving my answer, he cut off the telepathic link between us.
I looked at the little girl in front of me and with a deep breath, I got started.
First, I reached out with Telepathy, enhanced by Senjutsu so that it can work on souls, into the little girl's soul.
Deep within her soul, I sensed the presence I was searching for.
He was in deep slumber, waiting for the day his hosts would awaken the Sacred Gear and unlock the Boosted Gear Gift form.
Right now, I was inside the little girl's soul, in the form of a phantom whose appearance was the same as the disguise I was using.
I was here trying to wake the Dragon up to make a deal with him.
After all, the Red Dragon of Domination may not cooperate with me if I extract the Boosted Gear out of the little girl without getting his permission first.
I gently nudged the sleeping Dragon's soul with my Senjutsu-enhanced Telepathy a few times.
After a moment, I sensed the activity of his soul increased gradually, and in a few moments, the formless soul took the shape of a big red Western Dragon.
The Dragon looked at me with his green jewel-like eyes and even in his current state, I could sense a heavy aura radiating out of him.
I was keeping the aura contained around the two of us so as to not affect the little girl's souls in any way.
For a moment, both of us just stared at each other without taking any action.
"I can sense that you are not my host, Human. How and why have you awakened me? And what have you done to my current host?"
Ddraig broke the silence, his booming voice reverberating around us.
'It seems that he can't sense past my disguised form.' Such a thought crossed my mind as I comprehended Ddraig's initial remark.
This means that either Universal Shapeshift is a powerful enough ability to fool even the likes of Heavenly Dragon level beings or it's Ddraig who is weaker now.
"First, I am not a Human. This form is just a disguise. Let me show you my real appearance."
Saying so, I shed my disguise. Once I extract the Boosted Gear and deliver it to the original, Ddraig would know my real appearance anyway.
With me taking the initiative to reveal my true face, I may even gain a bit of Ddraig's trust. Who knows.
"Now, I am sure you can sense what I am. Allow me to introduce myself." I bowed my head slightly and continued, "I am Meliodas Valefor-Zagan. Well, one of his clones actually."
As I straightened up, I sensed Ddraig's emotion fluctuating from calm to surprise for a brief moment with my Senjutsu.
"Now to answer your first question, I awakened you using the powers related to my Clan Traits in tandem. And the reason I awakened you is to make a deal with you.
"Lastly, your current host is fine but unconscious. I came across a group of Rogue Magicians taking her someplace to sacrifice her using some shady ritual because they sensed the aura of Dragon from her.
"After I dealt with the shitstains, I was checking your current hosts to find the reason behind her Dragon Aura and stumbled upon you."
Ddraig didn't say anything for a few seconds. Fortunately, his emotions were still registering as calm to my senses.
"A clone, you say? The original must be quite strong if even a clone has this much power, even at such a young age." Ddraig finally remarked.
"He is." And still growing stronger with every passing moment. Even us clones are getting stronger because of all of us being marked with Binder Essence.
Honestly, if the original doesn't dispel us, then in a few years he will have an army of at least Satan/Leader Class clones under him.
And I don't think after the reality check he just got, he is going to dispel us anytime soon.
"So, what deal were you talking about?"
I quickly answered Ddraig's question, "Well, you see, the original came up with a method to extract Sacred Gears from Humans without killing them.
"Then, he sent his clones to various different cities to search for Sacred Gear users to collect data on Low and Mid-tier Sacred Gears and extract the High-tier or Longinus Sacred Gears if their hosts haven't awakened them yet.
"That's how I came across the scene of your host being kidnapped."
Sensing the Dragon getting upset, I hastened my speech, "With your permission, I would like to extract the Boosted Gear from your current host. I promise that the little girl won't be harmed at all.
"The Boosted Gear will then be delivered to the original, who will then give it to one of his close ones to strengthen them.
"In exchange for your corporation, the original has promised that one day in the future, he will free you from the Boosted Gear."
Ddraig glare didn't diminish one bit even after hearing the last bit as he said, "You expect me to believe in a promise conveyed by a clone?"
I opened my mouth to respond, but Ddraig cut me off as he continued, "Setting that aside, why is the original collecting Sacred Gears?
"As you admitted, he is stronger than you and I can sense your strength is at the level of Satans. A Satan Class Devil at what age? 11? 12?
"In the next decade or so, he should be able to reach my peak strength, and maybe even surpass it. With such strength as a deterrent, no one sane will dare to harm him or his allies.
"So tell me, what is he planning to do that requires him to collect Sacred Gears to strengthen his allies?"
"First of all, If the original had the intention of deceiving you, he wouldn't have instructed me to ask for your permission first."
Ddraig's glare intensified after hearing my remark, however, I didn't stop speaking, "Second, the reason behind his actions is that one of his other clones came across an interesting piece of information.
"Ophis, the Dragon God of Infinity, is creating an organization for some reason. Whatever that reason may be, the original doesn't care.
"He only knows that not being prepared can lead to disastrous consequences. So, he came up with the decision of strengthening his families and friends by giving them Sacred Gears."
I took a pause to let that information sink in before continuing, "Anyway, just think about the benefits of having a Devil host and tell me that you aren't tempted.
"You know, the original isn't going to give the Boosted Gear to someone untalented. With a talented Devil host, the Strongest Red Dragon Emperor ever will be born.
"Barring the slight chance of your rival, Albion's new host being someone with half-human and half-supernatural lineage, your new host will absolutely crush them.
"And then his next wielder, and the next, and the next, and the next will probably have to deal with a Red Dragon Emperor who has been alive for a long time."
Oh, would you look at that? Someone's finally getting interested.
"And let's be real here. It's not like you chose your current host that you feel reluctant to part with her. It was the Heaven System that chose her as your new host, the system that was created by the God of the Bible.
"The same person who had a hand in killing you and then proceeded to imprison your soul into an artifact.
"I don't think you should have a problem with being taken out of the girl, especially when she won't suffer even the least bit during the process."
Even though he was already convinced by me, he continued to glare at me for dozens of seconds.
Finally, he gave me a slow nod while saying, "Fine, I agree to cooperate with you.
"However, know this, if the original doesn't fulfill his promise within the next hundred years, I will do everything within my power to lead my chosen host to their death."
I nodded, easily agreeing with the Dragon. The original won't need a hundred years to free Ddraig from the Boosted Gear, however, there's no need for me to inform him about this tidbit.
"Alright, be ready. I will start the process within a few seconds." Saying my piece, I retreated from the girl's soul.
Outside, I took a deep breath before extending my hand and gently pressing it against the little girl's chest.
The next moment, a bright green orb of light was expelled out of her back.
What I did was use Astral Projection in conjunction with Senjutsu, I ejected the Boosted Gear out of the girl.
However, with Senjutsu, I can sense that there was still a thread of connection between the Sacred Gear and the little girl.
I have the perfect solution for this.
First, I surrounded the bright green orb of light with different types of barriers from all sides, effectively encasing it within an airtight cage made up of magical barriers.
Then, pointing at the thread, I used Crack to sever it.
Crack is the Clan Trait of the Extra Demon Clan, Belphegor. It is an ability that allows you to create a tear in anything within the range of the user, provided that the user is powerful enough to do so.
With the strength difference between me and her, it was easy to make a tear in the connection between her and her Sacred Gear, permanently separating the two.
The next moment, the bright green orb of light shook slightly before it slowly took the form of Boosted Gear Gift, becoming a tangible gauntlet.
[Image]
'It seems the barriers weren't necessary in the end.' I thought with a smile.
The barriers were deployed as a precaution, in case the Sacred Gear gets called back to the Heaven System after being extracted.
'Still, I should not remove them.' I decided and then created a clone using the Demonic Shadow Clone Technique.
Looking at the clone, I gestured to the Sacred Gear suspended within the barrier cage. The clone nodded and walked forward before placing his right hand on the cage.
I didn't have to verbalize the task for which the clone created as he already knew it.
Once the clone was in position, I marked him with Binder before telepathically calling Boss and saying, "Boss, it's done."
"Alright."
That was the response I got before the clone and the barrier cage abruptly disappeared.
Then, I turned my attention to the former host of the Red Dragon Emperor. It was time I sent her back home, after ensuring that she was alright and marking her with the dummy sigil.
The sigil is for her protection. It will ensure that she won't get entangled with the Supernatural World.
Even if she somehow did, all the clones in the city would get alerted and one of them would take care of things for her in case of an unpleasant or undesirable encounter.
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