After exiting the ring shop, Missio and Dante strolled down the streets of Piazza San Marco. They passed many tourists who were also visiting the historic city center.
"Before we begin your training…" Dante marched ahead. "There's something I have to show you."
Missio tilted his head. "What is it?"
"Follow me." Dante waved.
The brothers passed through the streets of Piazza San Marco. Eventually, they reached the Lido S.M.E terminal. They passed through the gates. Dante moved towards a machine. He pulled out his credit card and inserted it in. The device activated and Dante tapped on its screen. Within a few moments, it spat out two tickets. Dante took his card and gripped the tickets as well.
"Let's go." Dante placed his card back in his wallet.
They headed towards the tenth line. Dante stepped into the line and Missio trailed behind him. They stepped onto the large ferry, climbing the inclined plane. After a few minutes, the captain turned the ship on, blowing the horn. The ship rushed forward quicker than ever, creating ripples in the water.
"Where are we going?" Missio inquired.
"Lido di Venezia." Dante replied.
Hours passed in a blur before they finally docked. A small slope unfolded to let them down. The brothers left the ferry and exited the dock. They strolled through the streets of the island with their hands tucked into their pockets.
"While we call this Lido di Venezia, it's more historic name is West Falkland."
"Why isn't it called that then?" Missio blurted.
"Recreation – Again." Dante replied, gazing at a bus.
"Why? It's like everything is for recreation."
"Most of our history was lost in the Great war so, we can't give a definite answers but… since, Sterling's and Charles research on the forbidden continent last year. It seems our ancestors migrated or were forced out from Pangea to Novopangea." Dante neared the bus.
"It's like we lost something…" Missio muttered, following his brother.
"Might be." Dante stepped on. "Let's not dwell too much on those facts. Leave them to the historians."
Missio nodded. They took the bus to the other side of Lido de Venezia. After an hour, they stepped off and headed towards the beach. The water washed over the coarse sand as they stepped on. The sun hovered above the horizon. Missio gulped, cold sweat rolling off his face as his senses went off.
'What the hell…?'
"Look there." Dante pointed towards the horizon.
Missio trailed the direction of his finger to another island.
"That's Poveglia or what was historically called East Falkland."
Missio's pupils dilated – his eyes stuck to the horizon. His breakers senses went off in a rapid manner as if he were on the verge of death itself. He clutched his chest, gasping for air.
"Don't get too worked up now." Dante turned his head to the side. "You haven't even seen what I have to show you."
Missio lifted his head, sweat dripping off his face. He looked upon the island, seeing a massive peak rising above the ground.
'What's that…?'
His mind raced as his instincts screamed at him to run. Dante coughed, drawing his attention.
"That is Volcano Abaddon."
"Abaddon?" Missio repeated.
"Yes, it's named after the Founder's first dragon. You've heard of him in The Tales of the Storm Chaser – Dragon King of Destruction, Abaddon."
"Yes… Yes, I have." Missio confirmed.
"Eighteen years ago. That exact Volcano erupted, when the Gamma rift opened and something… emerged from it."
Missio's eyes widened, remembering the Gamma class chaos fragment that had turned the world upside down 18 years ago. He caught his breath; the memory of his mother's face covered in blood within the ruins of the city flashing across his mind.
"All cameras were destroyed. All of us saw it – we thought we did… but we didn't. It was merely a shadow of the actual monster… it was a… myth in the flesh."
Missio narrowed his eyes, locking onto his brother.
"The citizens described it as a dark reptilian creature with two massive wings that could breathe fire. It perfectly matched the description of Abaddon mentioned in The Tales of the Storm Chaser but the empire had difficulty confirming its existence."
"How?" Missio blurted. "We're so advanced."
"…It could move beyond light speed – too fast for our cameras to capture. It didn't bleed – didn't get injured. It merely came and went like a natural disaster." Dante shrugged.
Missio looked towards that Volcano once again. His eyes activated instinctively. He pierced the Volcano's exterior but couldn't see any creature within. Additionally, he noticed a massive vortex of chaos swirling around the Volcano like a hurricane. He swallowed his own saliva – fear locking his ability to move.
"Theorists still believe that day the legendary dragon of the Founding Emperor came out to protect us from the invading demons but we don't know for sure. If we had the information our ancestors had before the great war… then, maybe we could know."
As they stood, waves washed over the beach, wetting their shoes. Missio and Dante stepped back as they stared towards Volcano Abaddon.
"If that creature comes back for whatever reason… we need to confirm its existence next time." Dante turned to Missio. "You witnessed that chaos vortex just now, didn't you? It's just an effect of his mere presence. "
"I have a long way to go…" Missio mumbled.
"Yes, you do." Dante chuckled.
Missio locked eyes with his brother.
"Tell me… are you stronger than whatever's in that volcano?"
Dante's smile froze. He paused for a moment, glancing at Volcano Abaddon. Then, he locked eyes with his brother again.
"Is that even a question? Of course, I'm stronger. I'm the strongest." Dante smirked.
Missio let out a slight chuckle. "Of course."
"But I have to admit that thing's raw power… what's been recorded of it at least, is not the least bit inferior to mine."
"Woah…" Missio blurted.
"Anyways, I just wanted to show you the heights you could reach." Dante patted his back. "If you're trained by me, you'll eventually reach this level."
"Then, when does training start?" Missio inquired.
"Tomorrow." Dante replied.