Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 564: Half caste

Chapter 564: Half caste

Within the lightless pseudo dimension, illuminated only by the intermittent flashes of lightning bolts, Ana, Ulysses, and Humphrey found themselves momentarily lost in their thoughts as they studied what they considered remnants of the lost kingdom of Atlantis.

Letting out a sigh, Alex intoned. "Alright, that’s enough; we aren’t here for sightseeing; there is fate to be fulfilled, so we can get out of here."

"But, it’s history," Ana revealed an unwilling expression.

"Except this was what your divination informed you about, I would much rather we focus on the task..." Alex trailed off as he sensed a gaze in their direction.

Ana and Humphrey sensed it as well, leaving Ulysses as the last one to detect it.

Moments passed before several lightning bolts struck a spot in the air at the same time, causing a mighty illumination that momentarily blinded the party.

When their vision returned, they were met with the brilliance of a great serpent floating in the sky without the aid of wings.

Blue draconic scales lined its back and its head, though resembling that of a dragon, also shared similarities with an Umibozo.

Its body crackled with lightning and its eyes flashed as it opened them, revealing a pair of reptilian eyes filled with lightning.

The majestic creature regarded the group for a moment before shifting its attention to Ana who met its gaze with a smile on her lips.

"Alex, it’s real. It’s a dragon and it’s not an egg, but a fully grown dragon!" She remarked in excitement.

Alex furrowed his brows. "It doesn’t resemble your dragon form though."

According to myth, two dragon species persisted before the War of Desolation. There were the Aeternitas, otherwise known as the Time Dragons, which looked like Ana, and the Immensus, otherwise known as the Space Dragons, who were said to have a more serpentine form.

"So that’s an Immensus?" Alex asked as the serpent seemed to be contemplating something while scrutinizing them.

It should be, but it appears to be a half-caste based on what I can tell.

"Does it matter?" Ana asked, clearly still excited. "Half-caste or not, I have someone I can call my kin!"

"Let’s calm down now, Ana; we don’t know if it is friend or foe," Alex warned, though Ana was quick to rebuff him.

"He is a friend. Just wait here, I’ll go talk to him." She remarked before proceeding to take off from the ground, transforming into her dragon form before approaching the serpent.

Alex frowned at Ana’s lack of caution but he couldn’t exactly blame her.

A thousand years of loneliness would do that to a person.

"Be prepared," Alex remarked as he stood in place, poised to snap should the serpent make any funny moves.

Meanwhile, Ana quickly arrived at the same level as the ’dragon’ and said. "Hey, can you understand me?"

The dragon gave no response, instead tilting its head to the left and then to the right, still considering something.

Facepalming, Ana chided herself. "What am I doing?... If it’s been trapped here, naturally, there’s no way it would understand Razan. But then how do we communicate?"

Pursing her lips, she quickly figured out a solution.

There was still dragontongue which involved directly imprinting her Will on the aether and conveying it to the recipient.

It wasn’t an ideal way to communicate for a prolonged period but a short conversation wouldn’t hurt.

Hello, can you understand me?

The serpent stopped moving for a moment before responding.

Indeed. Tell me, are you a true dragon?

Excited that she’d cracked down on the language barrier, Ana was quick to respond.

Yes, are you?

Unfortunately not. I am but a serpent lucky enough to devour the remains of a dragon, enabling me to gain sentience and achieve great power.

Oh... well, it doesn’t matter. As long as I say, you are a dragon, then you are one. So would you like to leave this place with my friends?... I promise we won’t hurt you.

The blue serpent glanced down at the castle for a moment before replying.

The ritual is not yet completed.

What ritual?

One that would allow the mistress to challenge the Enclave.

Mistress?... Do you have a master?

The serpent shook its head.

We merely share similar interests which is to see the Enclave fall.

But why?

They are unworthy to rule the sea. Unfortunately, we are not strong enough to contend with them. At least not yet. But now, with the ritual and you, we might be able to gain the necessary power.

Ana furrowed her brows or at least she tried to.

I don’t understand. How do I fit into your agenda?

I evolved from devouring the carcass of a dragon. I do wonder what would happen if I devoured the body of a living dragon.

Ana immediately felt a sense of alarm, causing her to try to evade, but despite her efforts... The attack still struck home.

"Ana!" Alex exclaimed as he watched the serpent’s tail impale Ana through the chest in a manner that completely defied the laws of physics.

As the serpent opened its maw, intent on biting off Ana’s head, Alex snapped while Humphrey transmuted the space, attempting to take her away only to find that his control of space was wrested from him.

It is adept at space manipulation!

Alex also found himself back where he had teleported from, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, Ana, though shocked by the initial assault, didn’t hesitate to hit back as she paused time for the serpent before transforming back into her human form and putting some distance between her and the serpent.

Her chest was bloody, and blood trailed down the side of her lips, but other than that, she seemed fine.

"Ana!" Alex called out to her.

"I’m fine. Ulysses shifted my heart away before it was pierced through." Ana said with Alex glancing at Ulysses, the latter of which seemed to be completely exhausted.

"10 minutes," Ulysses muttered as he struggled to catch his breath. "That’s how much longer I can keep up with the changes to your lungs."