Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei Returns from Sekiro

Chapter Ninety-Five: Slaying the Dragon

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and lightning flashed and pierced through them, producing a deafening roar.

Fortunately, it didn't rain, but the wind was getting stronger and stronger, and waves were splashing on the water. The sweltering heat felt like a hot towel was stuffed in my chest, but the technicians continued to type on their keyboards and exchange information without stopping.

The water cups were right next to us, within easy reach, but everyone's lips were dry and cracked.

Underwater, Mans changed into the maternity wetsuit and, following the signal lights on the steel fork, arrived at the entrance to the Bronze City once again.

The creature's mouth was agape, and the deep, well-like passage was still open, but it had begun to shrink and was no longer as wide as before.

Two lifelines ran through the dark passage, but they had broken. Trying to climb out of such a passage by grabbing onto the ropes would be extremely physically demanding.

A figure swam behind Mans; it was Lu Mingfei.

Mans had thought this untrained recruit would be a burden, but he didn't expect Lu Mingfei's skills to be no less than his. Even though he was wearing an oversized diving suit that made it difficult to move, and his diving experience was much richer than most people in the world, Lu Mingfei was able to maintain a following distance of about 2 meters without him having to slow down.

Mans knew Lu Mingfei's resume by heart, perhaps even better than his parents. Lu Mingfei had never played deep-sea diving games before, so his amazing performance could only be explained by his extraordinary talent.

Anything can happen to hybrids, because dragons are such gifted beings, and hybrids who inherit dragon blood will also inherit this power.

"Word of Power - Dustless Land!" Professor Mans once again opened the transparent barrier.

The river water was completely pushed aside by a mysterious force, and eddies swirled on the surface, preventing even a single drop of water from penetrating.

Inside the Bronze City.

Ye Sheng took off his mask. Jiu Deyaji's oxygen had run out, and they only had half an oxygen cylinder left.

Even if there is only a one in ten thousand chance of escaping, this oxygen tank will play a crucial role.

They fled through the city's passageways, the copper coins they could step on one second flipping over the next.

Flames ignited on the walls, and ancient, exquisite oil lamps burned—eternal lamps, said to be refined by mermaids and capable of burning for a thousand years, used only in the emperor's palace.

The firelight polished the bronze to a luster, and in the dimly lit passageway, the white beams of spotlights swayed.

Inside this ever-changing super-mechanical structure, the two can only move around constantly to find a safe location. However, Ye Sheng must manipulate the "snake" to connect with the Moniach, which will consume all his attention. Once he is distracted, he will no longer have the power to control the snake to form a signal current. They will be trapped in an unsolvable predicament, completely losing the help of the human world and becoming isolated from the world.

"Aki...don't worry...there will be a way," Ye Sheng said softly. He was on Aki's back, their hearts were at the same level, and he could feel Aki's heartbeat and breathing rhythm accelerating.

In the murky air, the girl's faint fragrance was particularly clear.

The girl carried him everywhere, like a real-life obstacle course adventure with extremely high weights.

As a mixed-race individual, Shudeya's physical strength far surpasses that of ordinary people, but carrying a large man weighing 150 pounds with equipment on his back while running is still an extremely difficult task.

“Don’t get distracted, I’ll protect you,” said Shudeya.

This has always been their method of cooperation. When did they start to get used to her protection?

He was eighteen when he first entered university, having just flown from China to the United States. He was the best swimmer in his class, and the following year he became the captain of the sailing team. While the clumsy Aki was still warming up halfway through the 1,000-meter race, he had already finished the race and gotten a sunbath along the way. He said, "Are Japanese people naturally short-legged, which is why they can't swim fast?"

He stood on the beach with his back to Shudeya, who was about to come ashore, and patted his buttocks with an expression that was utterly despicable.

Those days seem like they were just yesterday. The damp sea breeze brushed against the girl's puffed-up face, and the salty seawater splashed onto his face.

Ye Sheng silently closed his eyes. He suddenly regretted not reaching out to the girl in the water on that scorching midday sun. If he missed that chance, he would never have another.

All he could do was transmit every change in the Bronze City detected by the snake to the technicians on the water.

However, there was one spot where the snake never dared to approach, a spot behind them. Ye Sheng suddenly felt a chill, as if a predator at the top of the food chain had its eyes on them, these fleeing rats.

The loudspeaker blared continuously, the vibrations grew stronger, and a pillar of fire shot up from behind, the red flames illuminating Ye Sheng and Jiu Deya's faces.

...

"Are Ye Sheng and the others inside?" Lu Mingfei pointed to the deep passage.

“That’s right.” Mans took the key out of the transparent pouch. The little guy wiped his snot and tears everywhere, his body twitched slightly, but he didn’t cry out.

"Then let's go in quickly." Lu Mingfei walked to the side, seemingly preparing to leap in.

“Bronze City has already been activated. If we go in, there will only be two more rabbits trapped in cages.” Mans crouched down.

The key didn't react to the spirit at all. Instead, it clung tightly to Mans's wetsuit, burying its head in Mans's chest as if it were in its mother's arms, not daring to show its face. It was as if the person didn't exist if it couldn't see them.

Lu Mingfei gazed into the deep passageway: "If the knife doesn't strike, you'll only ever be left crying in the same spot."

“This is a living being that is integrated with the Bronze City. More or less, it can manipulate the mechanisms inside the Bronze City,” Mans said. “It is wiser to follow a path than to wander around aimlessly.”

"So what? Do you think the mechanism will stop just because I tell it to?" Lu Mingfei pulled out the wedge and used the tip of the knife to stab the living creature's eyes.

This alchemical creation, forged from metal, is not afraid of sharp blades; it obeys only its master, a pure-blooded dragon, the noble first-generation creature, Norton, the King of Bronze and Fire.

High-purity dragon blood can command it to relinquish certain privileges, but it can only obey the commands left behind by its noble lord.

Threats have no effect on it, and death is not its fear. The creation of living beings is an extremely cruel process. The soul and spirit will be bound by rules and will never be freed. It even enjoys embracing death.

“Try it with your blood.” Mans sighed. “I know the chances are slim, but the key is a miracle. It has never made a mistake. It fears something about you. It must be something special about you.”

“If it doesn’t work, I hope you won’t stop me from entering the passage.” Lu Mingfei took off his diving suit. “This is my personal decision. You have a recording to prove it. I, Lu Mingfei, hereby declare that I acted entirely voluntarily and take full responsibility for this action.”

"No! There can't be any more pointless deaths!" Mance said. "I won't allow anyone to act on emotion again!"

His voice carried an undeniable authority, as cold as the northern wind.

“I know, Professor,” Lu Mingfei replied. “I won’t let my emotions get the better of me.”

His expression was gentle and calm as he walked slowly on the bronze wall, feeling the intense vibrations beneath his feet.

"Stamped...?"

Lu Mingfei stared at the blade of the wedge-shaped weapon, recalling Lu Mingze's words, and took a deep breath.

"Stop stamping my ass! Do you hear me?!"

He stomped on the infuriating face of the living creature, used the wedge to cut his fingers open, and pressed his bloodied thumb down hard.

The world suddenly paused, and golden light suddenly shone from the dark underwater surface.

"Well done, brother!" Lu Mingze was dressed in ethnic minority clothing, with countless gold and silver ornaments hanging on his clothes, glittering brightly.

The stern voice descended from above, omnipresent.

"The king said, stop!" His expression instantly turned solemn, and his whole body radiated a dazzling golden light.

The foot in the cloth shoe stepped on Huo Ling's face, and he showed a disgusted expression, as if he had stepped in a pile of dog poop.

Inside the Bronze City.

Jiu Deya and Ye Sheng stood supporting each other, gazing at the miracle before them.

That scene can only be described as a miracle.

An endless bronze dome, with pillars of fire rising simultaneously from all directions, the entire bronze city glowing red, the air scorching, the firelight as dreamlike as rosy clouds, and a giant egg rising from the ground, standing before them. It was so, so huge, so large that it seemed to occupy all of space.

All obstacles made way for it, and in the distance, two broken lifelines could be vaguely seen hanging down.

Like a flower bud blooming, the perfectly sealed bronze egg develops four cracks, transforming into four petals, and slowly opens.

The clicking sound of the expansion unit and the turning sound of the gears were ten times faster than before, and all the mechanisms were running at overclocked.

A deafening roar drowned out the noises; it was the ancient ruler who had awoke from its slumber, determined to reclaim the monarch it served.

The black behemoth spread its enormous membranous wings, and its cold-blooded golden eyes reflected the faces of Jiudeya and Ye Sheng. It looked up at the sky and spat out crimson flames.

No one could stand under such majesty, but Ye Sheng and Jiu Deyaji were two different people.

They held each other's hands tightly.

The Moniach, forward cabin.

"Communication with Ye Sheng has been cut off! He sent me his last picture!"

"Oh my god!" The technicians in the front cabin were in complete chaos.

That was a half-open altar, where an ancient object, reborn, was announcing its return!

...

“It’s too late. The dragon’s breath will devour us before we can climb up.” Ye Sheng took the initiative to grasp Jiu Demai’s hand.

Copper is a good conductor of heat. If you use a copper pot to cook meat broth, the mutton will only need to be cooked for a few seconds to turn from bright red raw meat into usable cooked meat.

The intense heat of the dragon flames made this place feel like a pressure cooker.

Saketo Mai was drenched in sweat, her hair clinging to her cheeks. She had been running for a long time and was already sweating a lot. At this moment, she looked just as disheveled as she had been when Ye Sheng left her far behind in the 1,000-meter swimming race many years ago.

But today, instead of patting her bottom in the sunlight, the boy took her hand in the blazing fire.

“I booked movie tickets for next Sunday.” Mai Shude rested her head on the boy’s shoulder. “Up. I was planning to go see it with you.”

They didn't cry or shout; their eyes were as serene as if they were looking at the sea. The flames were beautiful, but scorching.

"The title sounds like a movie for kids." Ye Sheng leaned his head over and put his arm around Jiu Deya.

"I saw online reviews saying it was a love story, and very touching."

"sorry."

Why should I say sorry?

"Your legs are not short at all."

"Isn't there anything else you want to say?"

"I love you." Ye Sheng hugged Aki's strong and slender body tightly.

"I love you too." The girl had a warm smile on her face, and her voice was as soft as melting honey.

So, girls' lips really are like marshmallows, Ye Sheng thought to himself.

They embraced and kissed, awaiting the final moments of their lives.

The giant egg was half-opened, revealing the dragon's majestic body, which resembled a mountain. It stared at the brass jar and let out an angry and regretful roar.

It will break free from its constraints and reduce the invaders to dust.

Its giant claws pressed against the bronze egg, its scales clung tightly, and its muscles, denser than steel, contracted as it went to reclaim what it was guarding!

But a look of astonishment suddenly appeared in those cold, vertical pupils—an emotion that shouldn't exist in the eyes of a creature like it.

The entire Bronze City fell silent.

All the gears stopped, the pillar of fire went out, and the city fell silent again, as if a supreme being had ordered that the toy that had disturbed his sleep be sent back to the factory for repair.