Uldran (1)
The mind to think, or the will to think.
The word for thoughts, ideas, and the like.
Jeonghyeon had never formed a deep bond with Uldran's minions, so he had no idea.
He'd simply assumed they were fighting over territory because they all wielded the same flames.
"Now it all clicks—that shitty idea finally makes sense. I should've realized it when those Rock Dwarf bastards called Elkalabi 'Uldran'!"
Nus, who'd been eavesdropping for who knows how long, suddenly butted in, oozing displeasure.
"Ugh, those pathetic dragon shits. Gotta give 'em credit for being sneaky as hell, right? What do you say, fire lizard?"
"...A familiar who talks too damn much. Think my sword can't cut mana constructs?"
"Oh nooo, scary! With a sword like that?"
True to form as the all-hater slime, Nus was ready to throw down with Garibaldi the moment he appeared.
Jeonghyeon tuned out their bickering and sank into his own thoughts.
The Mind Dragon.... That Mind Dragon?
As if driving the point home, Garibaldi added, "I've never even seen Ignirn in person. But you—you've glimpsed Uldran's form, even if just in a vision."
"How'd you know that?"
Philip jumped in from behind at Garibaldi's words.
"Uldran's awakener, eh? Yeah, dragons rarely show their true forms."
Philip swallowed hard.
"No physical body means manifesting one takes insane mana. Even the strongest human couldn't withstand that much power up close."
"But...!"
Philip started to protest, but Jeonghyeon shook his head.
Garibaldi was right.
Solgaleh had told him the same thing several times.
"Um, I've never seen Mirtus's form either."
"Mirtus's awakener, are you? Jo family, then. Pleased to meet you."
Garibaldi gave Jeonghu a curt greeting before turning back to Jeonghyeon.
"Now do you get it? That's proof Uldran's the most dangerous dragon."
Philip muttered blankly at Garibaldi's definitive statement.
"Dangerous... how?"
"Exactly. Unlike other dragons, Uldran can send thoughts and ideas to his minions—control them."
The shocking revelation continued. With every word from Garibaldi, the doubts Jeonghyeon had harbored began unraveling one by one.
Why Mirtus never appeared when he dominated Jeonghu.
Why he felt no voice or power from the dragons when facing Serin and Junseok.
And before that—why only Uldran's voice reached him.
"Hold up."
Jeonghyeon paused the questions and let Uldran's mana flow through his body.
No scorching heat like Ignirn's. No crushing pressure.
Just a damp, enveloping mist over his skin.
"Haa...."
Now he understood why Uldran's awakeners had to be so physically tough.
Uldran couldn't grant raw physical strength or flashy techniques. So he'd chosen the sturdiest bastards and bestowed his grace on them.
'And he's still playing dead, huh?'
As if to prove it all true, Uldran stayed silent.
'Always shows up after the shit hits the fan. And only when it suits him.'
Jeonghyeon shook off the tangled thoughts and asked Garibaldi, "So, what does Uldran want?"
"No clue. Could be some childish world conquest of Afraksas. Or just winning the dragon pecking order."
Garibaldi was already in a daze.
"I trained in Afraksas for a year for this mission. Yeah, threatening the Rock Dwarves was my sin."
He admitted it all—his doing, on Ignirn's orders, his solo call.
"But... I wanted to protect humans. No more pointless blood from dragon rivalries."
"Then how do you explain killing Uldran's awakeners?!"
Garibaldi's response to Philip's outburst was earth-shattering.
"They... had no sense of self."
***
Uldran's awakeners without egos had roamed like zombies, hunting Rock Dwarves.
"Remember how those Rock Dwarves loved their booze?"
Jeonghyeon ground his teeth at Garibaldi's words.
"Loved? That's putting it mild. I still wake up in cold sweats thinking about it."
Garibaldi chuckled. He could imagine the dwarves' drinking.
"Yeah, they lived Elkalabi's last words. But they didn't start chugging like maniacs. You think their livers and stomachs survived that?"
"Then what? I thought they just enjoyed getting wasted. Hell, I got tipsy too."
Nus, emerging from tidying the sanctuary, chimed in on the intriguing chat.
Jeonghyeon nodded—rare agreement with Nus.
"Believe Elkalabi's safeguard against his awakeners losing themselves was booze?"
Jeonghyeon grumbled at Garibaldi.
"Those drunks as security?"
"Drunk off their asses, they can't move—Uldran can't use them. Half-pickled even sober? Ironclad defense."
Arak and the Rock Dwarves' habits were an instinctive shield to keep Elkalabi's orb from Uldran's puppets.
Garibaldi's take, anyway.
"So, what now?"
Jeonghyeon asked.
"You'll gain massive power soon. Uldran's temptations will hit hard."
"That's it?"
"...Huh?"
"Haa. Good. Thought it was apocalypse o'clock."
Jeonghyeon sighed in relief; Garibaldi panicked instead.
"You get how serious this is?"
"Don't worry. I don't get swayed by that crap."
No immediate crisis for him or Philip? Relief.
Really.
Jeonghyeon, as Demon King, was somewhat immune. But Philip—Uldran's awakener—might force his hand someday.
That was his worry.
"Everyone thinks that at first! Brainwashing starts subtle!"
With his mind eased, Jeonghyeon saw Garibaldi's concern as genuine. The young face echoed the old Garibaldi's gravity.
"Hey, Garibaldi. Who trusts humans more than you? Past actions, mistakes—they can change. You said it yourself."
Garibaldi blanked at the convincing words.
"...I never said that?"
Ah. Wrong vibe for the moment.
"...So you don't think that?"
"I do, but..."
"Then we're good. Trust me. Tell Ignirn—I'll handle Uldran."
"How?!"
"Uldran brainwashed the Rock Dwarves. He'll do me next."
"Yeah. He'll try."
"If his mana's tied to thoughts, my thoughts reaching him should work, right?"
Garibaldi gaped again.
"You're gonna talk to Uldran directly?!"
Escape brainwashing? Sure. But chat with it?
Mind could melt away.
Jeonghyeon replied casually, weight or no.
"Yeah. Got words for him about Elkalabi anyway."
***
Jeonghyeon left the rest to sort out, stationing Jeonghu, Philip, and Nus there before heading back to Dragon Falls Gorge and the Rock Dwarves.
"You're back, messenger of Uldran!"
Arak greeted him in perfect formal speech, dialect gone.
"Yes. Can I see Elkal... I mean, Uldran's sanctuary?"
"Of course."
"Oh, and some booze."
"Ah! A drink, sir?!"
"No—for Uldran."
"Got it! We'll prepare!"
Moments later.
The cave-sanctuary Arak led him to reeked of eerie energy now.
Empty coffins lined up like a massive underground tomb.
"Good..."
Jeonghyeon closed his eyes and called.
—You listening, Uldran?
....
—I know you are. Answer.
He repeated it hundreds of times, hours passing.
What answer do you expect?
—Finally. You heard everything.
Indeed. What will you ask me?
—Everything Garibaldi said—true?
True or not, does it change anything?
—What the hell?
You're believing Garibaldi anyway.
—You... sulking?
....
Uldran went silent.
"This guy's actually sulking?"
I can hear everything.
Jeonghyeon chuckled inwardly at the petulant tone. Answering his actual voice, not even thoughts.
"Sulking over that? Could be a misunderstanding."
If the misunderstanding runs too deep and long, it may solidify as truth.
"So spill—what's the deal?"
Jeonghyeon plopped down, pulling out booze.
Like sharing drinks to cheer a sulky friend.
That is...
Shhrrk...
Light gathered before Jeonghyeon, and his voice echoed.
"An old tale."
Uldran's form materialized again before him.
"..."
Garibaldi was right—Uldran's unique power.
'Manifestation.'
A virtual reality in Jeonghyeon's illusion, but the presence was overwhelming.
Even Jeonghyeon tensed at the sight.
"Can you believe my story?"
"...Let's hear it."
Jeonghyeon downed a shot.
He hoped the dragon who'd graced Philip wasn't erased from his previous life's history for this reason—but separately...
'Quest ain't cleared yet. More secrets coming.'
Jeonghyeon was sharper than he seemed.
If Garibaldi's tale was the full truth, quest done.
Uldran's quest, Elkalabi's orb, Romanell's ancient dragon lore.
Too much unexplained.
So listen. Then think.
"You know my power. Now, I'll interfere with your thoughts."
Uldran extended a hand, poking Jeonghyeon's forehead.
Zap—!
Instantly, Jeonghyeon stood in primordial Afraksas, thousands of years past.
A museum of memories.
Uldran beside him spoke softly.
"This was when we first came to Afraksas."
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