Damien had no choice but to leave his distracting thoughts in the back of his mind. He rocked his head to the side acting like he was considering what happened. After a few moments he nodded his head in comprehension.
“Yes I do know! I didn’t like his attitude or how he treated you two so I challenged him! I’m positive that by the end of the year I will become stronger. Did you forget my level of talent?”
Yuki’ and Cal’s stiff expression twitched uncontrollably with anxiety. They couldn’t help but think what goes through his head even after Yuki warned him personally beforehand.
“Damien, while I do appreciate your concern and standing up for us, I just want to say with every ounce of disrespect I can give… you are an absolute dolt! Your brain must be fried since the moment you got your talent evaluation! You think it’s so easy to catch up to him, but you don’t even know why I told you to let it go from the beginning! You think you’re stronger than me? You might be more talented than me, but I’m half-dragon, half-human. Do you even know what that means? It means I mature incredibly faster than a full-fledged dragon! I surge with mana every day reaching new heights without a sweat. While it takes pure dragons countless decades, maybe even centuries to reach their prime, I do it with ease by more than half that time. That’s why it’s near impossible for a human and dragon to mate! Do you get it or are you just too dumb…”
Damien’s face was reeking with pain. Every second that went by destroyed his hidden pride to shreds. He wanted to call it quits but Yuki was relentless with her attacks. She did more damage than any physical attack she had done. By the end Damien was slumped like his soul had left his body. His thoughts have long disappeared along with his ego.
Cal switched sides to sit next to Damien and support him back up. Damien was clearly out cold so Cal did what he did best and that was to talk.
“Since you already made it public you should know who you are dealing with. Zurat has his reasons to be confident and they are darn good ones. Have you ever heard of the Worldeater Rat?”
Damien dug deep into his memories and flipped through every book he had read while he stayed with his grandfather. He had read of countless species and stories but never of a Worldeater Rat.
“I don’t recall ever hearing about it, but it's a pretentious name, isn’t it?”
“No, it actually isn’t. It fits them perfectly. Unlike other rat species that hold strength in numbers, this particular race is very solitary. They don’t need numbers because they have their innate ability to devour anything. When I say anything I mean it, okay? The more they devour the stronger their body and mana becomes without cultivation. Essentially they only need to eat to cultivate. They don’t need to waste their time comprehending the dao because their ability is great enough to put them on top of the pyramid. Just like Yuki, Zurat is a freak of nature!”
Cal expected a violent reaction from Yuki so he preemptively lifted his legs to a crossed position on the chair. Her legs whizzed by leaving a ferocious sound of wind in its wake.
“If they’re that amazing why haven’t I heard of them, and why is he in an academy if they prefer solitude?”
“You are asking the right person! First of all they have only been identified in recent history, and it coincides with Zurat’s enrollment to the academy! I’m surprised your grandfather, Veron, didn’t tell you this story. It goes back 30 years or so when Zurat’s mother was at the end of her lifespan. To continue her bloodline she needed to conceive her successor. To do that she needed to devour endlessly causing catastrophic damage hundreds of miles around her. The kingdom got thousands of complaints of a natural disaster wrecking havoc and causing many to die. It went on for days so they sent out Veron along with Headmaster Sord and their company. They reached the center of the destruction to find her burrowed deeply into the earth, concentrating on devouring. By the time they reached her with great difficulty, she had already finished her goal. Veron slayed her so the people of the kingdom would have their justice. Her last wish was to have her child taken care of and surprisingly Headmaster Sord agreed to it. He took care of the egg until it hatched years later to be Zurat. Due to her mother’s display of power, Veron and Sord dubbed their species as the Worldeater Rat, granting him the title in his name. He is no joke Damien, just the fact alone that Headmaster Sord acknowledges his potential is enough for
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everyone to fear!”
Damien’s eyes were lit up throughout the entire story. It was like a folklore legend that was impossible to think he would encounter it himself. Once he was finished imagining the devastation caused and his grandfather slaying the culprit did he shudder from helplessness.
‘How am I supposed to catch up to someone who can advance so effortlessly? Should I try my best, but even then will it be enough? Or should I just forfeit when the time comes… I was too emotional at that moment! If only I had calmed my mind with my breathing technique, I would have avoided this.’
When Damien thought he understood the scope of the world he was always surprised that it’s not even close to what he could imagine. He could only accept his careless mistake and deal with it when the time arrives.
Yuki felt conflicted over the predicament Damien was in. From the start she was the one who lost her cool and wedged everyone into the middle of the showdown. She never asked for help but Damien felt the same way she did and was unsure how to react to it.
“Damien, even though you are naive to a fault, we can fix it. I can ask my father to talk to Headmaster Sord and figure out a…”
As Yuki was offering a way out to Damien their slick server arrived at their table with a covered plate. He skillfully and gently placed it down onto the table where everyone could see.
“Hey, we haven't ordered anything yet. Do you have the right table?”
Cal was clearly confused as he had never encountered this situation in all the times he has come here.
“Yes you are correct, esteemed guest. This was a special order graciously sent by the esteemed Zurat. He made it very clear on his way out to have it delivered here.”
The server removed the cover with grand elegance revealing a steaming meat dish. It was cut into several thin pieces placed around a sliced bone. The bone was dissected in half allowing the bone marrow to be shown. Leafy greens surrounded everything completing the plating of the meal.
Everything seemed to be normal to Damien, but Cal and Yuki were festering with indignation.
“You are sure Zurat was the one who sent this to us?”
“Yes, that is completely correct, esteemed guests. You may enjoy this gift as an appetizer while you continue to look through our menu. Please enjoy our highest quality Ground Dragon Meal.”
The server left with a bow leaving the group with no understanding of what had just occurred. Even Damien knew to some extent this was a dirty move to rile them up further.
“How can they serve this here? Are you okay Yuki?”
“That bastard… you don’t understand Damien. I don’t care about some random Ground Dragon. They only got the dragon title because of a slight similarity of appearance. If anything they are just Earth Worms to a real dragon. Either way its survival of the fittest and they are not enlightened spirit beasts. It’s the fact he dares compare me to them and imply we are finished. There’s a change of plans now. You are going to go through with the duel and we will help you get to the point where you can give a good fight!”
“Why didn’t you challenge him to a duel? Maybe you can take my place if you feel that way.”
“Don’t ask dumb questions! He would’ve never accepted a duel with me nor would he allow a sit in. He’s not afraid of me now but he knows I have a good chance of catching up sooner or later. Plus it would be humiliating if he lost to a human!”
Damien was left with no room of negotiation and could only cry internally. As usual Cal was there to console him because he was the only other person that’s ever felt what it’s like to be around Yuki. He covered his mouth and brought himself closely to Damien’s ear.
“It’s a Dragon pride type of thing, but don’t worry we will make sure you can survive in one piece.”
With the debate over they were able to continue their planned celebration without any more headaches. Damien tried the Ground Dragon meat and found it absolutely delicious. He almost cried knowing he was shut out from true culinary exquisiteness for his entire life. After devouring most of the dish he noticed a great surge of energy flow through his body and strengthened every inch of it. It was an intoxicating sensation that made him crave for more.
With Yuki and Cal’s father footing the bill, they ordered dozens of entrees and drinks hoping to make the best of it. Every new dish was a welcoming delight to Damien. He could only think how he would earn money to be able to afford meat like this in the future.
During their celebration, unbeknownst to them, Erik arrived at the restaurant with his entourage. Once he was told he was accidently overbooked, he couldn’t help but to look at the people in the balcony section. He noticed Damien’s group enjoying themselves and felt inexplicable rage that he held in. He had an instinctual feeling that they ruined his plans, but he was smart enough to not cause a scene. He accepted a different table that was not as splendid. The rest of the evening his eyes twitched every time he overheard laughter or talking from them. Eventually they finished and left the restaurant to make it back before they broke curfew. The night came to an end as they each went into their proper dormitory room.