???
…Did I just hear something?
"Hey. I know you can hear me."
Fuck. I heard it again.
Am I really that lonely now? That I am seriously starting to have auditory hallucinations?
This is the side effects of not reading fanfictions for sometime.
"DON'T PRETEND. YOU CAN'T FOOL ME, THE ONE WHO STANDS AMONG THE FOUR TRUE DRAGONS, VELDORA."
"…."
"Veldora?"
I repeated the name aloud while immediately activating mana perception.
"I KNEW IT! YOU CAN HEAR ME! HAHAHAHAHA! NOW COME TO ME!"
Even without seeing him, I could clearly imagine the smug, self-satisfied grin on his face.
Shaking my head, I shouted back, "I don't know where you are and I can't sense you either!"
That wasn't a lie. No matter how carefully I searched, my mana perception didn't pick up anything unusual. My range isn't infinite after all.
"HUUHHH? OH, RIGHT. YOU'RE TOO WEAK, AND YOUR SKILL USAGE ISN'T VERY GOOD. THAT WOULD EXPLAIN IT. I'M TO YOUR LEFT, NOW COME QUICKLY."
…He probably didn't mean that as an insult.
Still, it stung.
Well, compared to a True Dragon, I am weak. No point dwelling on it.
"Stay here."
I gave the command to my pet eagle before moving in the direction Veldora indicated.
With the amount of mana in environment and the strong monster spawning in here, I already had a rough idea and hearing Veldora's voice only confirmed it.
This was that cave.
The one where Veldora was sealed. The place where Rimuru Tempest would eventually reincarnate.
I slowed my steps, eyes narrowing slightly.
…How much time was left before his arrival?
Or had he already arrived? Either way, I'd find out once I met the Storm Dragon.
As I went deeper, the magicules became thicker. Breathing felt heavier. The air itself pressed against my skin.
I hadn't come this far into this part of the cave before. The cave is enormous. I hadn't even explored most of it. If my memory was right, Rimuru wandered around for nearly three months before meeting Veldora.
That alone said how ridiculous this place was.
Finally, my Mana Perception picked something up. There was no doubt about it, this presence could only belong to him. I instinctively increased my pace.
Soon, an enormous energy shield came into view. I recognised it immediately, the prison. A barrier designed to prevent whatever was sealed inside from ever escaping.
And within it…
A gigantic body covered in black scales. Bluish wings folded behind his back. Deep golden eyes that felt as if they could pierce straight through me. Four massive horns extended backward from his head, radiating an overwhelming presence.
There was no mistaking it.
It was Veldora.
"SO, YOU'RE HERE, LITTLE ONE."
"Yes." I nodded, activating Analytical Appraisal only for it to fail again and again.
"HMM? Are you using some kind of appraisal skill?" Veldora sounded amused. "BOLD. But you're not going to succeed. The difference between our power is simply too great."
As expected. Trying to analyse a True Dragon with my current level was nothing more than wishful thinking.
"Why did you call me?" I got straight to the point.
"Of course, to talk to you," He replied casually. "I've been watching you, you know. It was fun seeing you with play with that bird and improving at a ridiculous pace. Oh and congratulations on your evolution."
…So he's been violating my privacy since before I even evolved.
"So what do you want to talk about?" I asked, my gaze drifting toward the seal. The one who should be the most pleased with his situation would definitely be Luminous.
"Well… nothing important," Veldora said lightly. "Just some things. Here and there. You know… stuff."
I twitched.
…Is he seriously poking his fingers together?
" Tell me about yourself?" He must be too bored of staying alone.
"Then tell me about yourself," I said. He must be that bored after being alone for so long.
"OHO! So you wish to learn about the GREAT VELDORA?" he boomed proudly. "FEAR NOT! I shall generously bestow upon you some insights on my many glorious deads!"
…By glorious deeds, does he mean mass destruction and indiscriminate massacres?
I wisely kept that thought to myself as he launched straight into talking about himself and sometimes other details.
"So… Demon Lords are strong?" I asked, deliberately playing the part of a clueless rookie.
"Yes! They are among the strongest beings in existence," he declared, then immediately added, "Of course, I am stronger."
Naturally. Of course you are.
"So who are they exactly?" I pressed. I needed to confirm whether this timeline matched what I knew or if some AU nonsense was involved.
Veldora frowned, clearly trying to recall things.
"Hmm… there was one with a vampire butler. What was her name again… Lubilus? Nibulus? Whatever. My niece is one too. Dagruel is part of that council as well, and he's a giant. I also heard of a human hero who joined them centuries ago."
He paused, rubbing his chin.
"My sister came to visit me once and said some new members had joined the council. One was a beastman, and another was a… harpy, I think? And there was one more...he lives with my sister…"
His expression suddenly stiffened.
"I remember red hair…"
Veldora shuddered violently.
"Brrr… why do I suddenly feel cold?" he muttered. "Did something happen to me that I don't remember? Don't tell me he killed me sometime in the past, hah! That shouldn't be possible, right?"
He went quiet for a moment, then laughed nervously.
"…Or maybe it was my sister, when I went to challenge him back then. Forget it. I must have deliberately suppressed those memories. I don't want to remember."
…Yeah. That reaction alone was more than enough for me to figure out who he was talking about.
Guy Crimson.
The strongest demon of the current era. And the only actual Demon Lord.
Veldora hadn't mentioned Dino or Ramiris either. Maybe he didn't remember them being part of the council at all. With his carefree, self centred nature, it wouldn't be surprising if he simply didn't bother keeping track of anyone he didn't personally find interesting.
For a being that ancient, his memory was ....remarkably selective.
"Tell me how you got sealed."
***************
Veldora level in Marvel