Parallel Vol. 5

Chapter 56: A Thousand Years I Waited...

"Zeno," Kashi softly repeated the name that held so much history. He only had to look at Rider's quiet desperation and Skyrm's determined glare to know how much this meant to the two men. If he could not deliver on his promise, Kashi knew the two would likely obliterate him on the spot.

Fortunately, this was one promise of which Kashi was entirely sure.

The draconian issued a relaxed smile as he faced the two juggernauts. "I'll take you to her now." He then paused and looked at Zeing. "I believe you should come too."

"Me?" Zeing questioned, brows furrowed in confusion.

"You will understand when we get there." Kashi did not want to waste too much time explaining. Genesis' deadline loomed in memory. If he did not hurry up, he might get logged out in the middle of the ocean. So, he looked at Skyrm, the fastest of them all, and pleaded, "If you would, please."

Skyrm nodded and released Rex, who flew into Kashi's arms before transforming into a 140 meters-long, dirty-gold dragon.

Kashi frowned as he admired the magnificent being. This figure, while still terrifyingly regal, was a far cry from the Divine Dragon's true form. It was obvious that Skyrm still had a long way to go before he could return to his true power.

Fortunately, this form was more than enough for the current purpose. Kashi, Suzuki, Kira, Lucius, and Zeing hopped onto Skyrm's spacious back, and then sat against protruding bone spurs several stories tall.

'What are the coordinates?'

Kashi winced when he heard Skyrm's booming voice like a thousand pounding drums in his mind.

Fortunately, Kashi expected the intrusion. Still, he had to clutch his head to ease the pain, before replying telepathically. With good reason, Skyrm did not want anyone else knowing the location.

"Hold on tight." Skyrm warned. BOOM! BOOM! All of Oni Hill trembled as Skyrm gallopped to gain momentum.

"Wait!"

Just before Skyrm spread his wings, a larger, fiery-red scaled dragon swooped down and landed before him. Despite his greater size, Nornesh wasted no time before tucking his wings and lowering his head before the older dragon.

"M-May I join you?" Nornesh meekly requested of Skyrm. Despite being larger, and almost certainly stronger at the moment, the younger Divine Dragon was surprisingly humble.

Skyrm wordlessly observed Nornesh. "I see. You were to be my replacement."

"Sorry?"

"It is nothing. You may join us. I shall answer your questions after we complete our affairs."

Nornesh's eyes widened, brightly shining with delight. "Yes, my Lord!" Then, without hesitation, he shrunk to his humanoid form, and landed on Skyrm's back. Even if he could keep up with Skyrm's speed, he thought it disrespectful to lord his larger frame over Skyrm.

Skyrm smirked as he looked at Nornesh. The youngling was overthinking it. Skyrm was too old to hang onto something as useless as pride. Still, he did not say anything as it might have an adverse effect if he told Nornesh to maintain his dragon form. The younger dragon could misconstrue it as Skyrm alienating him.

And so, with all passengers accounted for, Kashi glanced at the remaining five Broken Swords. Cathek wore a teasing smile, starkly contrasting Bert's deadpan gaze. Fladnag was murmuring unknown nonsense under his breath as he observed the draconian, leaving Niye and the Holy Mother with complicated gazes, as if they were unsure how to react to Kashi.

Kashi bitterly smiled. Razznik had left him one hell of a present. The Chaos God made sure to name him as his stand-in debtor. So, Kashi had to make things right with all five. The most annoying part was that Kashi did not even have the option to escape. He needed to revive Yggdrasil, so he had to gain their approval. There was no avoidance.