025: Nagas A History
Divyat spun around and slammed his fist into the massive boulder in front of him, he ignored the ache in his fists, and took a step backwards. Breathing hard before moving back in, releasing a series of soft looking yet swift punches that carried with them a deep blue glow and left behind moisture on the surface of the rock. Cao Man and Cao Lin watched on, with one having a dull look on his face and the other being way too excited than was normal. Cao Lin turned to Cao Man with a pitch in her voice.
"He's not in the elemental manifestation realm father, yet he's able to leave faint traces of the elements when he utilizes his technique. That's absolutely insane!"
"It is not just a matter of insanity daughter, he is naturally gifted with powerful comprehensive abilities. Normally that is not considered a talent suitable for cultivation, but of all his current gifts, they pale in comparison to it. I believe there will be no technique he won't be able to master and master quickly. In fact Divyat here is the stuff sect master's and technique pioneers are made of. Should his comprehensive abilities get stronger, then he would be able to make techniques of his own, and such a skill is invaluable, he could outfit an army. But my vision goes beyond that, I believe it is time I begin my indoctrination… Boy! Come here!"
Divyat scowled, for a moment he imagined riving his fist deep into the chest of the Naga, however just as quickly as the thought came to his mind, an unbearable pain lanced through his chest. It was as if someone had wrapped thorn vines around his heart, and was now pulling at it from one loose end to the other. He grunted and stumbled forwards, but gritted his teeth through the pain and walked up to Cao Man.
The Naga ignored him, not at all registering the fact that Divyat had probably thought negative of him, and his seal on him had reacted. Cao Lin as usual looked amused, and that just made Divyat hate her more. But in the end there was nothing he could do about his current situation. He turned to look up at Cao Man, preparing himself for pain and whatever unpleasantness that came with the so called indoctrination, he remembered Cao Man telling the bandit lord Zeres that he needed Divyat to utilize a spell that would make him subservient and it was going to be a painful experience.
"You can rest assured Boy, but there is no spell and no torture for you from my hands, not unless you have done something to warrant it."
"My name is Divyat! Not Boy!" Divyat said to him in a pathetic attempt at rebellion.
"I know, but I don't care much for it. I will call you whatever I see fit until I seem you worthy enough to be addressed by your human name, assuming of course you don't lose all identity of yourself by the time I'm done with you. Nevertheless, I see that you have regained some of your spirit, that's good. Grooming a broken tool is not worth the effort, but at the same time for what is to come, I need to break you, thoroughly. However, that time is close but not now, I do have a question for you however as you seem to be a man of knowledge rather than one of war."
Cao Man paused as he rested on his coils, looking extremely fearsome while Divyat raised an eyebrow in confusion, not expecting the compliment but for some reason feeling good about it. When he realized that like some pet or slave he was giddy due to approval from his 'master' his stomach twisted into nuts and he almost went into a rampage. But the twinge of phantom pain in his heart stayed made him keep his hands to himself. In response he just nodded his head as an answer.
"Speak Boy! You are talking to the living not the dead! Lesson number one! Whether he or she is above or below you; you will acknowledge all Individuals as existences that can and will threaten your life. You will respect their power, no matter how little or how great it is, and you will speak! Respect is reciprocal! That is the true measure of a man with power! You give respect and you genuinely earn it back. Now talk before I rip your tongue out of your mouth and hang your gums as it regenerates."
That threat was very real, Divyat could feel it, Cao Man's intent. The Naga had no qualms with going through with his threat if Divyat proved stubborn, and beyond all that, Divyat had a healing factor… Cao man could torture him as many times as possible in order to get his point across.
"Y-yes! You can ask me a question." Divyat answered, swallowing hard in the process.
"What do you know about Nagas?" Cao Man asked, shocking Divyat who did not expect that question, but he still rushed to answer any ways.
"Not much really, while I did have a thorough overview of all the demons, demi-human and beast races… or at least those that have been documented. I didn't go deep enough into those studies as I previously thought there wasn't any use as there definitely would not have been a chance for me to come across a Naga within any known territories. And basically because we were told and I thought that the demi-human and Demon races were…"
"Vanquished from the continent by humanity." Divyat almost nodded before he quickly opened his mouth to reply yes.
"Well I guess you do know the basics. But Nagas are also called two names by matter of Fame and Infamy. We were known as War-Masters and Kingmakers. We nurture tyrants, we nurture kings, and at some point we were the single most powerful race over the face of the planet. We're drawn to power like a moth to a flame, we can't help ourselves but to shape it, direct it, nurture it and then unleash it onto the world. Amongst the Naga society ,I'm something of an outcast. It's because the current generation has lost their edge, they have forgotten a time when our glory resounded across the world and all who was in our presence shook with fear, now we're just advisors, and second in command to common bandits who have no ambition beyond when would be their next score.
Zeres as a Devil drew me to his side. Devils are rare, and it didn't matter that he was a half breed, a Nephilim. Half devil half human, his devil and human nature should give him a drive and a zeal to want much more than this frozen wasteland could offer. Yet instead! He embodies the sin of sloth, a devil too lazy to do anything that would take him out of his comfort zone, too much power and not will to use it…he's a failure. And when I was considering cutting my losses you came along, a human, with endless potential and a destiny to Dragon hood! A mortal god.
I intend to put you through a trial by blood and darkness, nurturing matters not if you have no idea how to do the most important thing. I want you to learn the most important thing to any ruler in this era." Cao Man paused as he stepped or rather slithered his way out, stopping just before he crossed the threshold to turn and say.
"You have to learn how to Kill!"