Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei Returns from Sekiro

On April 23, 2012, Nibiru's domain had enveloped the entirety of Russia, plunging the world's largest country into eternal darkness.

The sun will never rise again; only dreamlike bands of light dance in the pitch-black sky. The powerful ionization phenomenon renders communication and signal devices unusable, and Russia's wireless network completely ineffective.

Without sunlight, Russia, already cold, entered an ice age. All light and heat were absorbed by Nibiru, and not a single ray of sunlight could penetrate that black barrier.

Although it is April and May, the surface temperature has been dropping, with the normal temperature already as low as -22 degrees Celsius. It is predicted that the average temperature will drop by 10 degrees Celsius each month over the next ten months, and the surface temperature will reach -100 degrees Celsius in the tenth month.

On the day of the prophecy, the average temperature on the Earth's surface will reach -80 degrees Celsius, making it unsuitable for any life to survive, and the Earth will enter a completely desolate era.

Most of Russia’s residents moved to underground shelters. The government hadn’t prepared enough shelters, but Angers brought Fenrir. With the help of this giant dragon, Russia built shelters capable of accommodating almost its entire population in just one month at an astonishing speed.

Each shelter relies on the nuclear power plant for electricity, and people's lives have plummeted. This disaster is closely related to everyone.

That great life had not yet awakened, yet it had already brought such a terrible disaster.

Since the nuclear bombs were ineffective, the United Nations abandoned all actions against Nibiru and instead focused on preserving human civilization as much as possible. At the same time, they launched the "Drifting Project" to do their utmost to send all information about human species and races on Earth, including all data on human civilization, into space.

The world's most powerful nations have joined forces to build a spaceship. This ship will carry the most outstanding scientists, hoping that they can find a new home and continue human civilization during their space travels. This spaceship, named "Drifter," will take off before Nibiru's domain completely envelops the Earth.

The only organization still trying to stop the Black King's resurgence is Cassel.

Although the United Nations abandoned its operation against Nibiru, it still granted Kassel the authority to call upon its troops.

Hybrids with special abilities have been fighting against dragons since ancient times. No one understands dragons better than hybrids. Even if there is only a tiny possibility of stopping the Black King's resurrection, humans are willing to try.

Since Nibiru appeared, all the dragons that revived two years ago have been integrated into Nibiru and disappeared.

On April 30, the North Pole was silent. The crater created by the ten hydrogen bombs was once again filled with ice. Several icebreakers were exploring around Nibiru. Kassel had been searching for the entrance to the Rocky Nepollungen in recent days.

According to the crew of the Moniach, the entrance to the Nibelungen was probably related to white fog and water, but after various attempts, they were unable to find a way to enter the Nibelungen.

There were also attempts to infiltrate Nibirune using drones, but the aircraft crashed directly into the smooth, jewel-like black surface, shattering it beyond even a nuclear bomb's reach; other methods of infiltration were simply impossible.

They couldn't find the key to breaking the deadlock until this day, when Su Enxi contacted Angers.

"The entrance to the Nibelungen is underwater."

“But we’ve dived underwater to explore, and we haven’t found anything,” Angers said.

Under Nibiru's influence, almost all electronic devices become ineffective, and equipment such as unmanned underwater vehicles or submarines are difficult to use; only human personnel can be sent down to dive.

Because of the "Glanling Ice Sea Incident," they dare not send ordinary people to dive. The extreme low temperature also prevents ordinary people from diving. Even A-level hybrids would be at an extreme disadvantage underwater.

But some of them can freely explore underwater—the emperor, who is beyond the scope of hybrid races.

During February, March, and April, Erii, Genjiro, and Genjiro searched the entire North Pole and the area where the Moniach disappeared, including the nearby sea.

For three months, they searched almost the entire Arctic Ocean, but still couldn't find the entrance to the Nibelungen.

But Su Enxi remained confident: "I have absolutely reliable information that the entrance is underwater. The reason you can't find the door is because the divers you sent are too skilled."

"Too high bloodline?" Angers looked puzzled.

"Before the Nibelungen was built, there had to be a rule that could transcend the boundaries. This was the foundation for the creation of the Nibelungen, and even the master of the Nibelungen could not violate it."

Just like the riddle the Sphinx posed to Oedipus, it too was a Nibelungen constructed through alchemy, only this time using 'language' as its material. Oedipus answered the riddle, and the Sphinx was destined to fall to its death, even if it was far more powerful than Oedipus; it could not renege, for this was the constraint of the 'rules'.

"So, what are the rules for Loki's Nibelungen when it crosses its boundaries?"

"It's a screening process. Only those who meet the screening rules set by Loki can find the corresponding door. Fingel, Chu Tianjiao, and Chu Zihang, you can try to summarize the characteristics of the Nibelung people who have broken into Loki's Nibelung in the past."

Angers thought for a moment and said, "It's the heart. They all have a heart that is not afraid of death. But since you mentioned bloodline, I think it is related to bloodline. However, when Chu Zihang broke into Loki Nibelungen, he had not even awakened his bloodline yet. So, Loki set a rule that bloodline limit? Hybrids above a certain threshold cannot see the door?"

“That’s right. Loki uses the rules of the Nibelungen to select his followers, while sealing off his own domain. Everyone who has entered the Nibelungen will be marked by him. As time goes by, the mark will take root and sprout like a seed, giving his followers a new power. When the fruit ripens, Loki will take away those who have been marked and make them his subordinates.”

Su Enxi explained, "Loki has set two selection rules. First, the creature that can see the door is not necessarily human, and its bloodline cannot exceed the critical blood limit."

The second rule doesn't apply to the heart, but rather to the strength of the soul and spirit. Those selected must possess a spiritual and soul strength similar to that of dragons; this is usually innate, and such beings are more common among humans, though exceptions occasionally occur among other species. …

The first rule is an absolute, unchangeable fundamental rule, while the second is an additional rule, not mandatory. While collecting powerful scrolls, he is also creating a considerable number of Dead Servants. You should know the Hunter website; that's the talent market he uses to select scrolls and Dead Servants.

"The Hunter website was created by Loki?"

"For thousands of years, he has been building his own power, which is not surprising. The hunter website was a bounty market or something similar thousands of years ago. In essence, the talent market has not changed."

"So, in order to find the entrance to the Nibelungen, we must send out someone like Chu Zihang or Chu Tianjiao?"

"No, Loki has achieved his goal. He no longer wants anyone to trespass on his territory. The reason the Moniach was sent two years later is because he noticed that someone had accidentally broken in. He used some means to seal off his Nibelungen for two years."

During this period, Nibelungen theoretically did not exist, so the Moniach also ceased to exist. The reappearance of the Moniach means that Nibelungen has reopened; as long as we follow the rules, we can find the door.

"So we should send ordinary hybrids to find the entrance?"

"As long as the bloodline does not exceed the critical blood limit, it's fine."

"But people like Qiao Weini and Lu Lincheng also went down, and they didn't see the door. Is the coordinates wrong?"

"The coordinates are correct. The 'door' is in the sea area where the Moniach disappeared, but Loki doesn't want to be discovered, so he added new rules. He made the 'door' hidden, and the door will constantly change its location over time to avoid those being selected. This is exploiting a loophole in the rules. The divers we need must have the ability to detect things so that they can find the hidden 'door'."

“What good is it for a diver to find the door? Are we going to send a half-blood who isn’t of the right bloodline to confront Loki and his army head-on? Under these rules, he’s practically invincible.” Angers frowned deeply.

“We just need to find the door,” Su Enxi said. “Rules can be deceived. In the past three months, we have completed the tools to deceive the rules. As long as one person finds the door, we can make everyone find the door. The most important thing is to pull that door out of the unseen icy sea.”

I knew this information three months ago, but I'm only telling you today because the props aren't finished yet. Sending out divers before they're complete would be suicide, and Loki will also change the rules, so there probably won't be any similar loopholes then.

Does this mean we only have one chance?

"You're right, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

2012 5 Month 4 Day.

Three-fifths of Eurasia were shrouded in darkness.

Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, temperatures plummeted to -34 degrees Celsius. Skyscrapers were covered in frost, and in the darkness, only the sound of the storm could be heard. The ground was deserted, and the plants and animals that remained on the ground could not survive the harsh winter; no living creatures could be seen.

Inside a room in the shelter, Aki and Ye Sheng gazed at the baby sleeping soundly in the crib.

Two-year-old Ye Qiuyi can already call out "daddy" and "mommy" in her baby voice. She is growing up very healthily, with dark, grape-like eyes and chubby cheeks. She has inherited the genes of mixed race very well, and is cute and beautiful.

Yaki and Ye Sheng stood around the crib and picked up Qiuyi.

Qiu Yi opened her big eyes and saw her father and mother waving happily.

"Papamama hug," she called out awkwardly.

Aki and Ye Sheng kissed her cheeks and stroked her head.

A moment later, the door opened, revealing Crow and his girlfriend, Hanako Hanako.

"Thank you for coming so quickly," Ye Sheng said.

“The evacuation work in Japan has been completed. For us, it doesn’t matter where we are in the shelter,” Crow said.

"Please take care of this child." Aki walked over carrying Qiuyi. "I've written down all the things I need to pay attention to in my notebook. She's very obedient. If she doesn't sleep, play Schubert's lullabies for her."

“We will remember,” said the crow.

So Aki handed the child to the crow, but Aki seemed uncomfortable being held by a stranger, and tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

“Mama, mama, hug me.” She waved her arms and legs at Aki.

Aki and Ye Sheng looked at it with pity and stood in front of the door.

"Mom and Dad will be back soon, Qiuyi, be a good girl."

The two kissed Qiuyi's forehead again, and Qiuyi's tears stopped, but she still struggled in Crow's arms.

"Let me do it." Hanako took Akiyo's hand, but she was still struggling, her short legs flailing as if she wanted to jump towards Aki and Ye Sheng.

Ke Yaqi and Ye Sheng didn't look back. They walked out the door, and the moment they closed it, a sobbing sound came from inside.

Aki finally couldn't resist turning back every few steps, but in the end she didn't go back to look again, afraid that if she looked again, she wouldn't be able to leave.

Ye Sheng put his arm around Aki's shoulder and let her lean on his shoulder.

Three days later, the couple appeared within the Arctic Circle.

This is a dark apocalypse, with howling winds and temperatures that have already dropped below -100 degrees Celsius, making it impossible for even icebreakers to break through the solid ice.

There is no longer an icy sea, only an ice field, on which sits a huge ship, its lights shining brightly.

Aki and Ye Sheng traveled by plane and hovercraft, traveling non-stop for three days. The journey was long and tiring.

They were dressed like astronauts; ordinary cold-weather suits couldn't keep out temperatures as low as -100 degrees Celsius, so they had to wear these specially made, completely sealed suits with internal heating.

They are not the only ones gathered here; there are also about 200 mixed-race people from all over the world. What they have in common is that they all possess detective abilities and extensive diving experience.

Among these people, Ye Sheng's bloodline is the highest grade A, and his Word of Power is the most convenient "Snake". He is not the only one who is a user of the Snake. Professor Manstein, the vice principal's son, the bald old man with gold-rimmed glasses, also has the Word of Power "Snake". This old man over fifty years old is also on the list of recruits.

However, while "Snake" is one of the most powerful investigative incantations, it has a fatal flaw: when "Snake" is activated, the user becomes as fragile as an infant and cannot control their body. Therefore, Manstein is also equipped with a temporary assistant.

Ye Sheng's assistant is Aki. To him, there is no one else in the world better than Aki.

Their mission was clear: to find the door to Nibelungen. The 200 people present were divers responsible for seizing that one and only opportunity.

“You have one hour to rest. After that, we will begin our descent,” Angers, who was also wearing a wetsuit, said to everyone standing there.

It wasn't that he didn't want the divers to rest a little longer, but every second that passed could cause problems on Loki's side. If Loki noticed the issue and temporarily added the rules of Nibelungen, then everything would be in vain, and the planet would inevitably be swallowed by darkness until the Black King revived and brought about the end of all things.

They had to risk everything to pursue their only hope.

Chapter 455 Divine Kingdom

Like ice fishing, several large holes were chiseled into the ice, and the searchlights on the ship were deliberately turned so that bright beams pierced through the cold wind and reflected on the dark water.

Ye Sheng and Ya Ji had already changed into their diving suits. After taking off their winter coats, they finally realized how cold the world without sunlight could be.

They huddled together for warmth, lighting up the Golden Boy. The fiery dragon blood, guided by the pulse of their hearts, traveled through their veins to every part of their bodies, slightly dispelling the chill.

The employees, dressed in winter clothing, dragged in a heavy winch machine. A lifeline was attached to the winch, and Aki and Ye Sheng fastened the lifeline buckle around each other's waists.

Each of them was given a brass lock ring and was instructed to find the "door" and lock the ring onto it.

"You haven't forgotten your old profession, have you?"

"How could I forget? For those six months, we did only one thing every day: practice diving."

"You're right, we're the perfect partners. You can't go into the water without me."

Aki tugged hard on the lifeline around Ye Sheng's waist, and nodded after confirming it wouldn't come loose.

"Let's make sure our lifeline doesn't break again this time."

“This time is different from last time; we are the lifeguards.” Ye Sheng smiled. “Lu Mingfei saved our lives that day; today it’s our turn to bring him back.”

"You didn't secretly take Lu Mingfei to see Qiu Yi, did you?"