The Head Elder appeared calm and confident, but deep inside, his mind has gone to a wild mess. The fact that a spy had infiltrated them for who knows when. Just how much of their internal meetings had been secretly recorded? The information and technology they have secure, and is the real sixth Elder even still alive?No wonder why the Ancient humans had been so silent for how many years!
They were a selfish race who craves intelligence, to the point that they are responsible for the sudden disappearance of promising humans. Extracting their talents and intelligence before dispatching them like dead animals.
And no matter how the Guardians would try to capture them, the suspects would always be one step ahead. Before they could even send their soldiers, the Ancient humans could swiftly react and escape! The scent, camera recording, footsteps, you name it - not an ounce of traces are left behind.
Although he had suspicions of a possibility that there is a spy among them. But after several secret investigations, his people, including the elders, would always all turn out to be clean. Even to point that they would scan their minds.
Never in his mind that the enemy would abduct the sixth Elder who happens to be one of their experts when it comes to mental prowess. If not for Elric"s move, they would remain under the laughing a.s.ses of the Ancient Humans until this day!
"No wonder they have those kinds of technology..." The elder thought, thinking about the futuristic armor that Arkhoz used in his fight against Elric. Although it was not as refined with the one in their a.r.s.enal, the bases of such technology are still from them!
Keeping a calm and peaceful facade, the Elder finally faced Elric and said,
"Yes. On behalf of the Guardian race, I thank you. However, if you do not mind me asking, how did you know he was different from us?"
Elric without hesitation replied,
"The soul. No matter the disguise, your soul would always remain the same."
"I see. So it is the soul, the one where we choose to abandon in pursuit of more worldly intelligence."
Sighing, Elric added,
"Unlike you guys who have plain gray souls that seem to have dwindled over time, that one has a much more different hue. It was a mixed color, probably from the numerous human essence he had absorbed. There was hostility in his aura and he even tried to slowly seep into my mind like an invisible Boa snake, slowly positioning its body before it strangles me to take control."
Everyone in the room watched with curious eyes. Indeed, as races of superior intelligence, they have long got rid of the deeper study of their soul considering its unfathomable nature and chose the more tangible science and technology instead.
It seems that the Ancient Humans are even working with the application of spiritual manipulation, maybe it is time for them to reconsider their study on the souls and its practical use again.
"Actually, if it was anyone else, he could have easily overtaken their body. I just happen to have an extraordinary soul that is far bigger and stronger than anyone I know so far." Elric casually said with a tinge of bragging in his voice.
"It appears to be so. Again, thank you. Now let us get back to the real purpose why we invited you here." The Head Elder said with an unbothered face.
"I am only interested in saving my grandma and those two Eastern siblings."
"We know. However, you saving your human family will be very crucial in the next events that are to come. After all, it is exactly for this reason why they have chosen to secure her amongst all the possible victims." The Head Elder said as he slowly sat down at the marble stone behind him.
His hand gesture for Elric to sit down to another smooth and glistening stone in the middle. Elric found nothing wrong with the chair but he still cautiously sat down.
The moment his body touched these marble stones, he could feel a surge of healing and warmth that seems to relax all of his senses without interrupting his focus. Furthermore, his mind became more relaxed and sensitive to his surroundings that he is able to think more clearly while sitting on it.
"I a.s.sume you have been to the Elemental Realm. That is why you have those ability to conjure the fire and water elements according to your will. Am I right?"
"It"s too obvious isn"t it?" Elric replied calmly.
"Based on our a.n.a.lysis, you are actually holding off from using too much of your powers. Could it be related to the Ancestral Dragon"s essence that may start another rampage like before?"
Elric nodded in confirmation.
"Nevertheless, you still manage to control a part of it. If you do not mind telling us, how much can you control as of the moment?"
"Is this a job interview? You keep asking me questions and not even bothering about mine." Standing up with a calm yet hostile voice, he added, " If you don"t mind telling me and before we continue, do you have a method for me to find and save my grandma"s body and soul? Can you start scribbling some figures and at least give me a clue?"
Keeping his calm, the Head Elder answered, "I am sorry. But my questions are part of the solutions that we will be providing you later on. As you know, we are intelligent species who rely on factual data and real-time information. Our calculations, strategy, and technology, which where we excel the most, are all results of our thousands of years of your so-called "scribbling figures." - the main reason that we manage to save humankind from the shadows."
Keeping his cool, the Head Elder added, "To tell you the truth, if not for our works on this world, you normal humans would have been long extinct already five thousand years ago- your birth is basically because of us securing your world. Your selfishness, ego, abusive nature, and so-called ident.i.ty are the few of the hundreds of reasons for your race deterioration."
Then with a flick of its long pale hand, a hologram of an advance looking city appeared right above its palm. It expanded to a single meter and revealed a detailed exact graphical representation of the whole modern city they are currently pa.s.sing by.
Now with a slow and solemn voice, the Elder Guardian added,
"You people, including the other races, were too busy fighting each other that you forgot the real threat coming your way. Like two small spiders flexing their legs and jaws just to outdo the other only to fail to see the bigger bird diving from above."
"You fail to see your chances to unite because of your own selfish interest. Just like how you are too focused in trying to save your only family only to fail the thousands of innocent families dying under the trampling of your reckless tail. Some of them are not from you, but the point of its momentum traces back to your intention and will."
Elric listened without any contradicting reaction. His eyes are focused on the scene that is currently being played in the holographic scene in the palm of the Head Elder.
Rampaging and wrecking the whole holographic city is a ma.s.sive Dragon. It"s size simply toppled down even the hundred-floored buildings. With its every step, cars, shops and even innocent people would end up in crushed paste.
The loud roar, the destructive flames, and the overwhelming physical prowess itched in every muscle brought forth destruction in every angle. Evident in his surroundings, is the crushed lives of countless people and buildings ravaged beyond recognition.
Elric could see himself on this Dragon.
As a matter of fact, it was indeed him. Although it was far from the darker scene that the Great Seer Mhata showed him, but the meaning was still the same.
He is the Dragon of Destruction. And right now, he has the power to trample the whole world.
"The reason why I asked those questions is fairly simple. Unless you reached one hundred percent control of your Ancestral Dragon power, the probability of the scene to happen in actuality is at an absolute ninety-nine point seven percent."
The Head Elder faced Elric with graveness in its eyes. Although their faces remained emotionless, his eyes betrayed him of the deep-seated sadness and fear through a glimpse of the light.
Elric knew this too. It was for such reason that he is trying his best to find ways to fully controlling the Ancestral Dragon"s power. But with the things unfolding before he could even finish each journey, he is stuck with the current control level of only fifty percent.
"And let me add this to you. I am willing to bet my life on this calculation - if you move now with your turtle friend to the Elemental Realm, you will be able to save your grandmother with a hundred ninety-six percent chance of success from the hands of your mysterious enemies."
Hearing this, Elric"s eyes shone for a while before the next few words from the Elder shut him.
"Unfortunately, by the time you did that, there is a five hundred-nine percent chance of you accidentally killing her in the next three seconds."