Blood Type: Dragon

And throughout their discussion, Elric listened intently to every word that grandma Kahayag said. He knew how important this information is considering that he is learning not just to win an exam but to come out alive from that enigmatic realm!

He made sure not just to know them but understand deeply and apply them when the times comes that he finally has to step foot into their own domain.

It was already close to nine in the evening when Elric was finally satisfied after bombarding Kahayag with questions after questions which she patiently answered.

After all, the realm of Darkness was full of mystery that even the World Knowledge he got was not enough to expose the deeper secrets of their terrifying existence.

"Before I forget..." Elric halted just before he was about to open the door. 

"Those two that you are taking care of, I a.s.sume you already know how we met..." Elric asked and Kahayag nodded with a smile in confirmation.

"Why are you helping them?" Elric added with another question.

Hearing his questions, Kahayag seems to have remembered something in the past as she heigved a deep sigh. A glint of sadness can be seen in between her beady black eyes.

"As you have seen in your Ancestor Lapu-Lapu"s memories from the past, we were actually quite in good terms with the Dragons of the Eastern Regions. They don"t just appear in front of ordinary men unless they acknowledge your strength. Only Lapu-Lapu and I were able to be reach their requirement though as we have the strength to back our talks." Kahayag muttered as Elric recalled his great Ancestor Lapu-Lapu wielding those golden flaming swords and fought head to head against those brutal Anak.

He remembered his wild hacks reminiscent of a G.o.d of war. Together with his twelve brave men, the help of the natural spiritual possession, they took down those giants and defended the Maharlikan islands according to their fated mission.

"Anyway, to know more about humans, some of the Dragons disguised themselves as humans and worked under the facade of traveling merchants. Lang, the eastern King Dragon was a good friend of mine and Lapu-Lapu." Kahayag explained with longing eyes.

"And protecting them is your duty? Do you know how those arrogant Dragons? They look down on normal humans and even treated us like rat! Surely there must be something else why you are keen to protect them." Elric replied with a hint of disappointment.

"I know them well and how prideful they are. And you are right. There is something else why I chose to protect them." Kahayag replied.

"I am listening," Elric said, waiting for Kahayag to finish.

"After your rampage as a corrupted Ancestral Black Dragon, most of the Dragon Kings and Queens of the four regions ended up injured so bad that they went into years of hibernation just to recover from their severe injuries from you and the G.o.d Reckoning Tribulation. While the King Dragon of the West was the most unfortunate one as he was only found the next day with his head severed. The rest of the Dragon regions blamed the Eastern Dragon for the untimely appearance of the Ancestral  Eastern Dragon and the death of Arthur, the King Dragon of the Western Region." 

Hearing those words, Elric"s eyes revealed a hint of surprise and guilt. Indeed, those King Dragon fought against him but he still won at the end due to his overwhelming advantage as an Ancestral Dragon that is not supposed to exist in the Human Realm.

"After that night, everyone went crazy from the large scale damage and the countless lives lost. Thanks to the Guardian"s cover, every living witnesses had been silenced by their own means while the different Dragon tribes went on scavenging hunt to find you. Which, of course, ended up futile since you were immediately taken to the Elemental realm by that turtle." Kahayag added while Elric nodded as he had expected that much.

Continuing, Kahayag sat on her rocking chair and faced the wooden window with the faint light of the Milkyway glowing behind. Her eyes reflected sadness as she recalled a certain time that brought her into tears while watching.

"Failing to find Elric, the remaining Dragon tribes decided to vent their anger to the Eastern region. Launching a ma.s.sive war against them, three to one. The result was inevitable. The Eastern Region Dragon tried to fight back in retaliation but they only ended up shredded into pieces from the hands of the angry enemy Dragons."

Facing the direction towards Lesse and Long"s room, Kahayag heaved a deep sigh.

"And those two youngsters are probably the last of the two remaining Eastern Dragons in the whole world. And losing them means the complete eradication of the whole Eastern Dragon race." Kahayag explained and hearing her answer, Elric crossed his arms, deep in his own thought. He was obviously guilty.

"So it was my fault all along..." Elric thought.  His fist clenched tightly at how absurd everything ended up after that night. A brutal racial ma.s.sacre happened because they were unable to find him. It was just something that Elric never expected. 

It seems he had done more damage than he initially thought. He may have lost his grandma that night, but realizing an entire Dragon race going into extinction because of his unintended actions was just plainly stupid.

Elric"s hand clenched into a tight fist. His mind recalling all the events that night. He remembered how those majestic looking Dragon appeared out of nowhere and worked together just to face his madness. But thinking about how quick they were to kill their own brethren because of one"s unproven mistake is just plain stupidity.

Elric had made up his mind. In the next five months, not only he will be hunting those Shadows, he will also make sure to protect the two siblings as well. Even if it will take him to risk his life facing all the Dragon Races all over the world.

It is one versus all the Dragons in the world. 

"They really want me? Then come I will to them." Elric thought with a determined look.

Seeing Elric"s constantly changing expression, Kahayag continued.

"But, all of these have something to do with you as well.  Specifically, something to do with you hunting the Shadows."

Hearing her words, Elric looked back to her in full attention.

"If you look deeper in their soul essence, there is actually a curse mark imprinted in their soul and not even them is aware of it." Kahayag waved her hands and an ethereal image of Lesse and Long appeared before Elric.

"Now do you see those dark tribal scriptures written all over their neck?" Kahayag pointed. Elric"s gaze immediately followed and finally saw the marks with his own eyes.

And from their life-like ethereal model, Elric could see a tattoo-like mark in their neck which is only visible in spiritual planes. It was a tattoo with ancient writing symbols that span across their neck like a black chain made of tribal letters.

Looking at them intently, Elric immediately realized what Kahayag meant that it has something to do with his mission to hunt the Shadows.

Elric and Kahayag were just talking about it a few hours ago. The tribal marks in both Lesse and Long were actually Mark of the Shadows, signifying that they are under the watch of the Shadows and the probability of them getting attacked and dragged back to the Realm of Darkness is incredibly high.

Or to be exact, those two are actually being targeted by the Shadows!

And the most probable reason they wanted the siblings is because of the rarety of their Dragon Blood. As the last survivors of the Eastern Dragon race, their physical const.i.tution and bloodline would only become rarer and for the Higher-ups of the Realm of Darkness to get a hold of this rare bloodline could pose a potential over-all advancement in their realm. Not to mention, they could just use them as another powerful vessel!

By forcefully taking over their physical bodies, these Dragons are nothing but bound to be under their own control soon, especially that their powerful Elders who are supposed to be protecting them is long gone!

By marking both of them, the Shadows are obviously declaring their intention to the two. The only unexpected variable was Kahayag"s presence which had been protecting the two from the sides. 

After failing to save grandma Beth last time, Kahayag had taken her job as a Spiritual Guardian very seriously that in the past ten years ever since the mark was imprinted in the Lesse and Long"s soul, she had an estimated of one hundred battles against Shadows who made attempts to drag them down. And the results are always in her win.

She was just one of the most powerful Spiritual from the realm of light after all.

Taking care of those low-level Spirituals was a piece of cake for her. The only time that she lost her soul battle was when that high-ranked Shadow targeted grandma while Kahayag had actually taken her guard down during that time.

Fortunately Kahayag was watching over them. She used every means she knew to detect and deal with Shadows as effeciently as possible. And before the enemy could even touch them, she had them running already with their tails between their knees!

"As you can see, these past two years, the Shadows seem to lay low on their attempts, except for those greedy Dragon hunters of course. The quietness that the Shadows are currently doing must have something to do with what they are preparing. And I doubt that the day will come I will fail to protect both of them at the same time-"

"Actually, that makes it even easier," Elric said with a confident look.

"Easy?" Kahayag looked to Elric. "Don"t you dare underistimate those b.a.s.t.a.r.d Shadows. Remember, they are also after you." She reminded.

"They may be after me, but so am I to them. What matters most is who has the bigger fist to knock each other."

Elric confidently declared as his aura changed from that of a regular guy to a dominating existence. His eyes glowed with depth and unrelenting power. An unfathomable strength hiding within and Kahayag could not help but feel her body shudder in witness.