Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei finds a Freylian

Even S-rank individuals still fall under the category of "hybrids." The classification of "super hybrids" is not recorded in the known bloodline hierarchy framework.

Caesar frowned: "Could it be an existence beyond S-class? SS-class? This naming method is far too frivolous."

"The so-called 'Emperor' is a hybrid race that is beyond our usual understanding," Chu Zihang's voice brought Caesar back from his thoughts.

“We all know that no matter how excellent a hybrid is, it cannot cross the critical bloodline limit. That is the boundary between dragons and humans. Once crossed, dragon blood will erode the mind and turn it into a bloodthirsty, deadly servant. This is an ironclad rule in hybrid research, as inviolable as the laws of physics.”

Chu Zihang raised his hand, his fingertips lightly touching the edge of the mural. "But according to the records in these murals, there were once hybrids in Japan who were able to break through the critical blood limit. They possessed talents comparable to the Dragon King and were destined to lead the Snake Clan from the very beginning."

Caesar raised an eyebrow, his expression revealing doubt: "There's so much information hidden in these gold-edged patterns? Chu Zihang, I know you're always meticulous, but isn't this deduction a bit too far-fetched?"

“You can’t tell from the picture alone,” Chu Zihang said, unconcerned by his question. “You need to look at the inscriptions on the side, which are filled with praises for the emperor. His arrival is called ‘descent into the world,’ and its significance is compared to Prometheus stealing fire and Christ atoning for his sins with blood. He is the chosen one, the destined emperor, and his titles include ‘Eastern Emperor,’ ‘Radiant Emperor,’ ‘Thunder Emperor,’ ‘Lord of the Great Subtle’…”

Chu Zihang paused briefly, then turned to look directly at Caesar. "He embodies all the virtues of humanity and possesses great power to rival the gods. Does this remind you of anyone?"

Caesar crossed his arms and widened his eyes dramatically: "How could I possibly know someone of Christ's stature? Haven't I mentioned it? My whole family are devout Catholics. If such a person truly existed, I would probably have no choice but to bow my head in prayer and become his follower. Of course, that would be on the condition that he proves himself worthy of my faith."

His tone was light and teasing, but his heart was in turmoil. Chu Zihang never spoke without evidence; this description of the emperor vaguely pointed to someone they knew well.

“The emperor’s mission is innate,” Chu Zihang said. “Therefore, he was destined to rule the eastern territory from a young age. Despite his youth, he enjoys an extremely high status within the family, and even his elders must obey him. He is the young lord of the family.”

He uttered the last five words one by one.

A profound shock exploded in Caesar's mind. He trembled slightly, a chill running down his spine: "The tortoise? His men call him their young lord!"

Fragments of information rapidly pieced together in my mind.

Genjiro was only twenty-six years old, yet he was already the young master of the Snake-Headed Eight Families. Was it solely due to his achievements in the Executive Bureau? Recalling their meeting with the other family heads: when the patriarch Tachibana Masamune rose, all the other family heads followed suit, except for Genjiro, who remained seated. At the time, Caesar thought this was a uniquely Japanese custom, or perhaps it was due to his aloof personality; now, however…

“That wasn’t arrogance or rudeness, but rather his normal behavior. He is of equal status to Tachibana Masamune, so he doesn’t need to move when Tachibana Masamune gets up. He is the one who inherits the divine bloodline, and he will be the future ruler of the Snake-Headed Eight Families,” Chu Zihang slowly stated his conclusion, his voice echoing in the secret room. “The future ruler naturally doesn’t need to bow down to the current ruler.”

Caesar was speechless for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing tightly.

Could that perpetually weary and taciturn Japanese man actually be an emperor who reigns supreme over all mixed-race individuals? Beneath his calm exterior lies the supreme power of mixed-race people? And Genjiro, who possesses such power, has a life goal of selling sunscreen? This absurdity is comparable to Alexander the Great saying that his life's wish was not to conquer the world, but to become a fisherman shucking oysters on the beach.

"Wait! Wait a minute!" Caesar raised his voice, slapping his forehead as if trying to regain his senses. "Isn't this absurd? I'd rather believe that Super Saiyans exist!"

His feelings suddenly became complicated, as if he had just heard that there was a more dazzling and radiant nobleman in the world than himself. Although he was unwilling to admit it, this possibility did make him feel a little restless.

Caesar Gattuso has always firmly believed in his own excellence. Perhaps only Chu Zihang can steal some of his glory, but if there really are super hybrids in this world... damn it! In that case, wouldn't the young master of the Gattuso family become a mortal below the bloodline limit? And that Genji, who is smoking a lady's cigarette, is the real chosen one among hybrids?

That's completely wrong! It certainly can't be Caesar Gattuso who's at fault, so something must be wrong with the world!

“How could anyone ignore the critical blood limit?” Caesar turned to Chu Zihang, his face full of suspicion, his tone almost interrogative. “That’s an insurmountable chasm. Anyone who crosses that line will have their mind swallowed by the dragon blood. But Genji looks perfectly normal, doesn’t he? Dragon blood is supposed to be exciting and aggressive, right? But his lazy appearance makes him seem like he has a hormone deficiency!”

Caesar himself was unaware that he had never been so dedicated to exploring an academic question, much less engaged in such a discussion with Chu Zihang, whom he considered a rival. But the concept of a super hybrid touched upon a fundamental truth deep within him: about bloodlines, about power, and about his place in the world.

Chu Zihang did not answer immediately, but silently stared at Caesar for several seconds.

What is the character for "emperor" if you break it down?

Caesar was stunned. He stared intently at the ancient seal script on the mural, his mind racing. As an heir to the Gattuso family, who had received an elite education and was knowledgeable in many cultures, he was no stranger to the structure of Chinese characters.

After a moment, he slowly and laboriously uttered two words: "White, King?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the secret room fell silent. Caesar felt his heart race and a chill creep up his spine.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, "They're descendants of the White King? These Japanese are descendants of the White King?"

“Yes,” Chu Zihang nodded affirmatively. “They are the White King’s bloodline, which the Secret Party believes to have long since disappeared. This set of murals is titled ‘The Jataka of the White Emperor,’ which recounts the history of the White Emperor and his descendants.”

He raised his hand and gently stroked the edge of the mural. "The ancestors of the Snake-Headed Eight Families learned the character '皇' (huang) from China. They believed that this character was created for a super hybrid race. '皇' implies the meaning of a god, like 'Donghuang Taiyi' in the Chu Ci. Moreover, it also hides the name of the White Emperor."

Chu Zihang paused briefly, giving Caesar time to process the information, before explaining, "The Emperor is the person closest to God in this world. He inherited the blood of the White King. The White King is the Dragon King who controls the spiritual elements, able to manipulate the minds of others while maintaining his own eternally clear mind. The Emperor inherited this talent, and even if he crosses the critical bloodline limit, his spiritual power can protect his consciousness from the corruption of the dragon blood."

Caesar exhaled slowly, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. Chu Zihang's reasoning was logically sound, and the evidence was intricately linked, almost flawless. But it was precisely because of this that the truth was all the more chilling.

Chu Zihang added at the end: "A unique anomaly, its body filled with the blood of the dragon race, yet possessing the heart of a human."

A long silence enveloped the secret chamber. The gold lines on the murals flowed with intricate patterns in the dim light, as if whispering tales of a thousand years ago.

Caesar stood rooted to the spot, processing this revolutionary information. He thought of Yuan Zhisheng's perpetually expressionless face, the occasional glint in his eyes when he discussed the sunscreen business, and his terrifying strength, potentially far exceeding that of an ordinary A-rank...

All the clues intertwine at this moment, pointing to an incredible yet irrefutable conclusion.

“Monster!” Caesar uttered through gritted teeth after a long silence.

Chapter 655 It's not beautiful like this

Beneath the foundations of Genji Heavy Industries, deeper than the Iron Dome, lies a realm where even time stands still. Absolute darkness is pierced by two points of dark red light, and the kana "naraku" on the elevator sign, in this silence where even the air seems to solidify, resembles the half-open eye of an ancient, malevolent being.

"Naraku" is a transliteration from Buddhist scriptures, meaning "Naruka." It refers to the deepest level of hell, an endless abyss of falling into hell. It is said that evil spirits who fall into Naruka can never return to the human world and can only gain eternal life in their eternal fall, an eternity more cruel than death.

The elevator doors slid open, and a gaunt figure stepped into the all-encompassing darkness. There was no light, only the slow hissing of the ventilation fan, twenty revolutions per minute, like the last heartbeat of a dying man. Footsteps echoed in the emptiness, each step landing on some damp surface with a soft splatter.

After walking about thirty steps, the space in front of us was suddenly illuminated.

A massive curtain wall, seven or eight meters high, emitted a cold, eerie blue light. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a giant water tank. The so-called wall was actually a glass curtain wall on one side of the tank, constructed from hundreds of glass bricks, each about one square meter in size, with narrow titanium alloy frames between each pane. At the top of the tank were water turbines several meters in diameter and multi-layered filters, their blades motionless.

This water tank has a volume comparable to the whale shark tank in a large aquarium. Ordinary water supply systems simply cannot meet its needs, so the designers drew water directly from the Iron Dome's sewer system. Wastewater undergoes seven stages of filtration before being injected here, and when replacement is needed, it is pumped out by turbines and reintegrated into Tokyo's underground network.

The dark figure paused before the glass wall, then slowly sat down cross-legged. A pale blue light shone from below, outlining his profile: a jawline as sharp as a classical sculpture, slightly pursed thin lips, and long eyelashes casting feather-like shadows on his cheekbones.

From this angle, the face appears almost feminine. From another angle, it resembles a lonely boy, the kind of child who would spend an entire day alone in an aquarium, just waiting for a beluga whale to occasionally swim past the glass wall.

There are always some children like this. They sit quietly in front of the huge aquarium for hours on end, while the beluga whales only occasionally approach the glass, scrutinizing them with overly profound eyes. Adults hurrying by watch the children's retreating figures, finding the scene unsettlingly profound.

Children are sometimes such peculiar creatures. They can see the most extraordinary universe in the most ordinary things.

The boy took a piece of chewing gum from his pocket and slowly peeled off the silver wrapper. The foil made a soft rustling sound. He put the gum in his mouth and began to chew, showing unusual patience as he faced the seemingly empty water tank.

Because he had already heard the sound of water.

From the depths of the water storage tank, there was first a very slight ripple, like some huge creature turning over in its sleep, and then the sound gradually became clearer.

"Splash... Splash..." The long tail cuts through the water.

It, or rather they, began to accelerate. The sound of the water being stirred grew louder and louder, forming a series of eddies behind the glass wall. The eddies spun, spread, and finally dissipated in the pale blue halo.

The boy pulled a laser pointer from his pocket; it had a black casing and was about the size of a thumb. He pressed the switch, and a red dot of light appeared on the glass wall.

Cat owners often use this to amuse their pets. The laser pointer moves rapidly across the ground, and the kittens chase and pounce on it tirelessly. The boy is doing the same thing now, slowly moving the laser pointer so that the red dot draws an irregular trajectory on the glass wall. Sometimes it rises, sometimes it falls, sometimes it circles, and sometimes it stops abruptly.

Aquatic creatures noticed the red dot.

They swam closer and closer. Not just one, but a school, a massive group of fish. They pressed their flat cheeks against the glass, their grayish-white, pupil-less eyes fixed intently on the mysterious red dot. Faces appeared behind the glass, pale as corpses that had been submerged in seawater for dozens of days.

A group of fish with human faces peered at the human world through glass. Some were expressionless, their eyes vacant. Some had eerily upturned corners of their mouths, as if they were smiling. Others opened their mouths, revealing fine, sharp teeth, as if they were screaming silently.

They are not all the same. Most have long, python-like tails and bluish-black scales. Some human facefish have bizarre organs attached to their bodies: huge, sickle-like claws protruding from their shoulder blades, knife-shaped bony fins arranged along their spines, and when they breathe, the slit at the base of their necks opens to reveal deep red, gill-like structures.

The boy gently rotated his wrist.

The point of light began to accelerate, drawing chaotic lines on the glass wall. The anthropomorphic fish reacted instantly, gracefully twisting their bodies and vigorously swinging their long tails, chasing after the red dot that they could never reach. The entire tank was stirred up, the water became turbulent, and bubbles churned and rose. A dark golden skeleton rose from the bottom, slowly rotating in the eddy.

The skeleton's shape was somewhere between a human, a fish, and a bird: a humanoid ribcage, a fish tailbone, and extensions resembling wing bones. It was clearly a member of this human-faced fish species in life. The skeleton was covered in deep tooth marks, as if repeatedly hacked by a logging axe. It seems these human-faced fish didn't mind cannibalizing their own kind when hungry, even if the other had been dead for a long time.

The boy turned off the laser pointer.

Losing their target, the human-faced fish were momentarily bewildered. They swam aimlessly in the water for a few seconds, then dispersed and sank into the dark depths of the tank. The tank was enormous, almost like a small underground lake within the rock strata. The filtered groundwater was relatively clear, but once the human-faced fish swam far away, they were reduced to blurry black shadows.

Only one smaller creature remained in the water near the glass wall. It seemed unwilling to give up, still searching for the mysteriously vanished red dot, its pale face pacing back and forth in front of the glass.

The boy stood up and walked to the glass wall. He pressed his palm firmly against the cold glass surface. The reflection in the glass clearly showed how thick the wall was. It was at least half a meter high, a fortress-like barrier made of huge glass bricks.

The human-faced fish noticed the movement.

It swam slowly closer, pressing its face against the glass, its palm touching the boy's. At such close range, its features became increasingly clear; it had once been female. It had long, jet-black hair, the strands swaying slowly in the water like black seaweed. Its face was pale but beautiful, with delicate features, a high nose bridge, and even remarkably graceful lips. Upon closer inspection, one could also discern faint traces of minimally invasive cosmetic surgery on its brow bone and jawline. A highly sophisticated technique, not the product of a cheap clinic.

If you encountered such a face on the streets of Shibuya instead of in such a strange place, it might be considered a minor romantic encounter.

"You are beautiful," the boy whispered, "when you were still human."

The only thing that's beautiful is her face.

The mutation begins below the neck. The shoulders are relatively normal, but the arms have been transformed into limbs covered in scales, with fingers fused into sharp bony claws. Below the chest is a long, python-like tail, densely covered in bluish-black scales, with faint traces of the structure of a human foot, consisting of five small protrusions.

The image of a human-faced, snake-bodied figure appears repeatedly in the myths of various countries around the world. From the legendary ancestors Fuxi and Nuwa to Taihao Emperor, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors; from the Weishe described in Zhuangzi as "wearing purple robes and a red crown, those who see him are almost destined for hegemony," to Zhuyin, the god of Zhongshan in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, described as having "a human face and a snake's body, red in color, with straight eyes and a posture that is dark when it closes its eyes and bright when it opens them"; from the Sanskrit "Naga," to the Greek "Medusa," to the nameless serpents in the Mayan pantheon…

They exist between gods and demons, symbolizing temptation and ultimate mystery. Mythologists still struggle to explain why such monsters appear so consistently in the myths of different civilizations. If they could just look at these creatures, which could even be described as beautiful, they would understand that our ancestors did indeed witness similar things crawling, swimming, or lunging at them.

They were so grotesque and terrifying that they could never be a species created by God; they could only be a cruel joke played by demons on humanity. This impression exploded in the minds of our ancestors like lightning, and then, as a collective memory, as a nightmare, as a myth, it was passed down from generation to generation.

The boy lit the laser pointer again.

A red dot appeared, this time landing steadily on the human-faced fish's forehead, like a bright, glistening cinnabar mark, or perhaps a third eye. Its pale face was illuminated, the dot shimmering between its brows, forming a tiny, warm halo in the deep blue water. If one ignored its horrifying lower body, at this moment it almost possessed a captivating, alluring beauty.

It stretched out its deformed claws to grab the red light behind the glass. The claws rubbed against the ultra-hard glass, making a teeth-grinding "squeak" sound, like fingernails scratching a blackboard. Several attempts were in vain, and it suddenly flew into a rage.

Its delicate face contorted instantly, its enormous mouth opening wide—not in a human way, but with its entire lower jaw dislocated downwards, leaving two fissures on either side extending to the base of its ears. When its mouth was fully open, its entire skull cracked open, revealing a dense array of sharp, thorny teeth, with some kind of viscous, thread-like secretion hanging between them.

It let out a silent roar at the boy. The water rippled violently, and bubbles surged wildly from deep within its throat.

“That’s not beautiful,” the boy said calmly.

The roar lasted only a few seconds.

A giant claw attacked from behind and seized its long tail, while another, even larger, human-faced fish launched an attack. Then came a second, a third... more than a dozen human-faced fish that surrounded the smaller of its kind from all directions, biting at various parts of its body: neck, shoulders, waist, abdomen, and long tail.

They thrashed their bodies wildly, using the immense force of their twisting motions to try and tear their prey apart. The scene resembled a group of great white sharks hunting a blue whale calf, dragging it to the seabed, tearing at it relentlessly, until the mother blue whale arrived, leaving only a mangled skeleton.

Prey and predator formed a bizarre, fleshy flower. At its center was a smaller, human-faced fish still struggling, surrounded by its own kind tearing at each other in a frenzy. Each petal writhed, and crimson blood mist rose from the torn wounds, spreading like smoke in the water and gradually staining a patch of water red.

"This world is truly ugly," the boy said calmly. His face was expressionless, as he quietly watched this cannibalistic feast, as if he were watching a movie he had seen countless times before.

Then, the sound came.

A slight "crack" sounded, like the first crack appearing on ice. The sound traveled from top to bottom across the entire glass wall, and the titanium alloy frame supporting the glass bricks began to twist and deform, emitting a groan of metallic fatigue. Tiny sparks flew from the seams of the frame, flashing and disappearing in the pale blue light.

The human-faced fish, while feeding, also sensed the change. They abandoned their bloodied prey and swam towards the glass wall, like prisoners who, upon hearing the sound of prison gates opening, would all look towards the possibility of freedom.

The first glass brick was pushed out of the frame by the water pressure.

It was a colossal object, one square meter in size and half a meter thick, weighing tons. The moment it detached from the frame, water gushed out from the gap, the pressure so great that the water column shot more than ten meters away, crashing heavily against the opposite wall with a thunderous roar.

Then came the second piece, the third piece...

The chain reaction began. Glass blocks fell one after another, like dominoes falling. Each piece of glass made a deafening crash as it hit the ground, scattering shards that reflected a crystal-like gleam in the pale blue light.

A few seconds later, the entire transparent wall collapsed completely.

Tens of thousands of tons of water broke through the final restraints, transforming into a devastating torrent. Countless human-faced fish swam, struggled, and twisted in the rapids, their long black tails appearing and disappearing in the waves, like demons dancing wildly in an apocalyptic painting.

This was both a deadly frenzy and a deadly spectacle. Within the eerie blue light curtain, falling glass bricks reflected countless crystalline rays of light. In the light, dark shadows, resembling dragons and snakes, flew, fell, and shattered. Blood mist spread across the water.

It's as beautiful as the end of the world.