Under One Person: Starting from the Inheritance of Gods

Chapter 443 The King of Bronze and Fire, Norton Awakens Ahead of Schedule

Old Tang's chopsticks clattered onto the table, and he stammered, "Of course! Any request is fine!"

Dixia pulled a yellowed map from her pocket and pointed to a certain mark: "This is an underwater ruin, and I need you to get something from it."

"Of course, we will provide you with the relevant equipment, and the reward for this is ten million... Dao Le."

The marked location is the Three Gorges Reservoir.

I wonder what it will be like when Norton, the Dragon King, meets Constantine first?

That's really something to look forward to!

------

Three Gorges Reservoir, late at night.

Old Tang, wearing a diving suit, squatted on the edge of the boat, checking the oxygen gauge for the 108th time: "Miss Dixia, are you sure this is just an ordinary ruin? I've heard that there are always some strange things at the bottom of the reservoirs in Shenzhou, like water ghosts..."

Dixia was tying a rope around her waist when she heard this and raised an eyebrow: "Scared?"

"Are you kidding? What haven't I, Ronald Don, seen?"

Old Tang regretted it as soon as he finished speaking, because he saw Dixia pull out a giant sword as big as a door panel from the equipment box.

The moment the water splashed up, Old Tang suddenly remembered something critical: he didn't seem to have brought his oxygen tank!
"Help—gurgle gurgle!"

The suffocating feeling I had imagined did not materialize.

When Old Tang opened his eyes, he found himself enveloped in a pale blue bubble, with a petite girl wearing a wizard's hat floating beside him.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Mona."

The girl's planetarium spun automatically in the water, and she laughed, "According to the stars, because of Dixia's carelessness, you will have a water calamity today."

Just then, an oxygen cylinder came crashing down on Old Tang. Luckily, Old Tang reacted quickly and grabbed it, preventing him from getting hurt.

Clutching the oxygen tank, Old Tang looked around, still shaken. Pale blue bubbles emitted a faint glow in the deep water, illuminating the blurry outline ahead.

It was a majestic ancient bronze city, standing silently at the bottom of the dark water, like a sleeping giant beast.

Located on the north bank of the Yangtze River at the mouth of the Qutang Gorge, this place is bordered by the Kuimen Gate to the east and the Eight Trigrams Formation to the west. Surrounded by water on three sides, it occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of land and water, making it a battleground for military strategists throughout history.

It was forged by Norton using his power to command metal and fire, and then poured into a hollowed-out mountain. It is actually a Nibelungen, a replica of Norton's bronze city in Norse mythology.

"That's... Baidi City?" Old Tang swallowed hard, his voice muffled in the bubbles.

Mona's planetarium flickered faintly, and she nodded: "According to the celestial guidance, what we're looking for is inside. However..."

She suddenly frowned. "Strange, the stars indicate that another force is approaching."

Before Old Tang could even ask what was going on, Dixia had already swum to their side, her greatsword drawing a sharp arc in the water, its intense flames capable of melting any metal.

"Stop dawdling, time is of the essence."

She pointed to a crack that had just opened above the Bronze City. "We'll go in through there."

The three swam toward the crevice. As they approached the Bronze City, Old Tang suddenly felt a pang of unease, as if something was watching him. He instinctively turned around, only to see a vast expanse of dark water.

Upon entering the crevice, the interior was surprisingly dry, as if an invisible barrier kept the water out. Old Tang took off his diving suit and looked around.

The bronze walls are covered with ancient dragon script, faintly glowing with a dark golden light.

“These words…” Old Tang couldn’t help but reach out and touch them.

"Don't touch it!" Mona hurriedly grabbed him, but it was too late. The dragon pattern suddenly lit up, and the entire passage began to shake.

Dixia gripped her greatsword tightly, warily glancing around: "The mechanism has been triggered!"

The dragon patterns on the wall seemed to move as if alive, converging into a giant bronze serpent that lunged at the three. Dixia swung her sword to meet it, the blade clashing with the bronze, sparks flying everywhere.

"Old Tang, run forward!" Mona grabbed Old Tang's hand and ran deeper into the passage.

The sounds of fighting behind them gradually faded away. Old Tang, panting, asked, "What exactly was that thing?"

"The alchemical golems guarding White Emperor City." Mona's planetarium spun rapidly. "We must find Constantine before Kassel College!"

Old Tang scratched his head: "What is Kassel College?"

Mona didn't answer him, but just kept leading Old Tang forward. When they turned a corner, the view opened up before them, and they stood in the center of a huge bronze palace.

The palace ceiling was inlaid with countless luminous pearls, resembling a starry sky. And on the altar in the very center, an egg-shaped object, like a bronze pot, floated, its surface covered with vein-like patterns, shaped like a Möbius strip, symbolizing the cycle of life and death.

“That is…” Old Tang murmured.

Suddenly, the entire palace shook violently, and a dragon's roar came from deep within. Mona's expression changed drastically: "Oh no, Samson has awakened!"

The bronze floor beneath the altar cracked open, spewing forth molten lava. A colossal crimson dragon rose from the lava, its golden pupils fixed intently on the egg on the altar.

“Humans, you should not be here,” Samson’s voice boomed like thunder.

Desia rushed out from behind, her greatsword pointed directly at Samson: "Old Tang, go get the eggs! We'll hold him off!"

Old Tang gritted his teeth and charged towards the altar. Samson roared, unleashing a torrent of dragon breath. Mona quickly created a curtain of water, barely managing to block the attack.

Just as Old Tang was about to touch the egg, the shell suddenly cracked open, and a pale little hand reached out. A boy's voice softly said, "Brother..."

Old Tang was stunned. He stared at the boy who had crawled out of the egg, and a strange sense of familiarity welled up in his heart.

Samson's roar abruptly ceased. His gaze fell upon Old Tang, his massive body trembling slightly: "Master?"

Old Tang raised his head and met Samson's eyes. Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The faint rumble of ships could be heard on the water. Mona's expression changed: "The people from Kassel College are here!"

Dixia spat out, "Damn it, of all times!"

Old Tang seemed not to hear.

He stared blankly at Constantine, fragments of memory gradually piecing together in his mind. He suddenly understood why this place felt so familiar.

Because he once belonged here.

“Brother…” Constantine reached out his hand to him, revealing a vulnerable smile.

Old Tang's pupils suddenly contracted, golden light swirling within them.

Old Tang suddenly felt a splitting headache. Countless images exploded in his mind: the Bronze City, the towering trees, and the boy smiling at him from under the trees.

Dixia and Mona exchanged a glance, nodded, and immediately left, as they were no longer needed for the rest of the scene.

A moment later, the once pitch-black seabed glowed with a molten red light. The bronze city trembled and disintegrated, and a figure with bone wings on its back slowly rose.

"Brother," the boy whispered from within the flames.

Old Tang's golden eyes ignited uncontrollably, and Norton's memories flooded back like a tide. He clutched his head in agony, unaware that his skin was transforming into a dragon. Meanwhile, on the water's surface...

The Moniach from Kassel College had just arrived and was about to explore the surrounding waters when suddenly the entire body of water began to churn violently, like boiling water.

"What's going on?!" Professor Mans gripped the ship's railing tightly, staring at the crimson light spreading below. "Something underwater is heating up!"

"Professor! Sonar indicates that Bronze City is disintegrating!" Ye Sheng's voice trembled slightly. "Something... is rising to the surface!"

Before the words were even finished, a massive column of water shot into the sky, and scorching steam instantly filled the air. The Moniach shook violently, almost capsizing.

"Hold on!" Mans shouted, but the next second, his pupils suddenly contracted.

Amidst the mist, a massive black shadow slowly rose—a pair of bony wings that blotted out the sky, their membranes flowing with lava-like patterns.

In the center of those wings, a figure floated silently, its golden eyes like a burning sun.

“Norton…” Mance’s voice almost choked.

The dark figure slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the Moniach, but not lingering, as if the ship wasn't worth a second glance. In his arms, he held a thin boy, Constantine.

“Brother…” Constantine’s voice was weak but filled with joy, “You’re finally back.”

Norton, or rather, Old Tang's consciousness, was still struggling. Human memories and the authority of the Dragon King were tearing at his mind, causing him to growl in pain.

"No...I'm Ronald Don...I'm not..."

But the next second, Constantine's hand gently touched his face, and the memories of the dragon race completely took over.

"Brother, let's go home."

Norton's golden eyes blazed brightly, and he roared to the sky, his dragon's cry echoing throughout the Three Gorges.

Everyone on board the Moniach instinctively covered their ears; the sound seemed to pierce their very souls.

"Fire! Fire immediately!" Professor Mans finally reacted and roared.

However, it's too late.

Norton's bone wings suddenly unfurled, and scorching flames exploded on the water's surface like a meteorite falling to earth. The Moniach's defense systems didn't even have time to activate before the shockwave capsized the ship, causing it to list and its crew to fall into the water.

Amidst the flames, Norton, carrying Constantine, soared into the sky and flew towards the distant horizon.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Meanwhile, on the distant cliffs...

Desia put away her binoculars, a smile playing on her lips: "Mission accomplished."

Mona's planetarium slowly stopped spinning, and she whispered, "The stars have changed... A new storm is coming."

Dixia shrugged: "That's not something we should worry about."

The night wind swept across the cliffs, and the two figures vanished silently, leaving only the flames still burning on the Three Gorges Reservoir and the bronze remains gradually sinking to the bottom of the water.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

And above the higher layers of clouds.

Norton, holding Constantine, flew towards the far north.

Constantine nestled against him and whispered, "Brother, where are we going?"

Norton was silent for a moment, then looked up at the sky with his golden eyes.

"Go and take back... everything that belongs to us."

-----

But halfway through the flight, they were suddenly stopped.

Norton could sense the unique dragon aura emanating from the other party, yet it was different from theirs.

From the world of Genshin Impact, the Water Dragon King wields complete authority over the Elder Dragons.

Navelette hovered among the clouds, his long, silvery-white hair fluttering in the wind, his deep dragon eyes fixed on Norton. His presence seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding sea of ​​clouds, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

“Norton, how about we talk?” Villette’s voice was calm and deep, yet it contained an undeniable power.

Norton's golden eyes narrowed slightly as he warily shielded Constantine behind him. "Who are you?"

His voice carried the majesty of a dragon king, but his heart was trembling from the oppressive aura emanating from the other party.

"I am Navelette, the Water Dragon King of Teyvat." Navelette slowly raised his hand, and endless water vapor spread around him, turning into a vast cloud.

Constantine peeked out from behind Norton and said weakly but firmly, "Brother, he's strong. Be careful."

Norton snorted coldly, and the lava patterns on his bone wings suddenly lit up, with blazing flames swirling around him. "What Water Dragon King? Never heard of him! Anyone who stands in my way shall die!"

He is Norton, the Dragon King, the first generation of dragons directly descended from Nidhogg, the Black King, and the ruler of the Bronze and Fire Kings.

As the most tyrannical of the four monarchs, he naturally didn't speak kindly to Navelette, who had appeared out of nowhere.

Before he could finish speaking, Norton suddenly flapped his bone wings, and a blazing flame, like a fire dragon, swept towards Vilette. Wherever the flame passed, the clouds evaporated, and the air distorted due to the intense heat.

Villette remained expressionless, simply raising her hand slightly. A curtain of water appeared out of thin air, and the moment it collided with the flames, it erupted into a massive cloud of steam. The energy of water and fire exploded in the air, and the shockwave completely tore apart the surrounding clouds.

“Your power has not yet fully recovered, Norton,” Navelette’s voice pierced through the steam. “You are no match for me now.”

Norton gritted his teeth; he could feel the stagnation of power within him. Having just awakened, he was indeed unable to unleash his full strength.

But for Constantine, he could not back down.

“Brother, let’s go the other way,” Constantine tugged at Norton’s sleeve and whispered.

Norton glanced down at his brother, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. When he looked up again, a resolute flame ignited in his golden pupils.

"Villette, is that you? I'll remember you!"

After saying that, Norton suddenly flapped his wings, his figure transforming into a streak of crimson light, and sped off in another direction.

Navelette did not pursue them, but simply watched them leave in the direction they went, his brow slightly furrowed. It seemed that his kinsman was not easy to talk to.

The task of persuading the eight dragon lords to surrender is arduous and has a long way to go!

Navelette shook her head: "If you won't listen to reason, then you'll have to suffer the consequences. I hope you'll learn to speak properly in the future."

Meanwhile, the command center at Kassel College was in complete chaos.

"Norton and Constantine have escaped! And another powerful energy reaction has just been detected!" the technician's voice crackled over the communication channel.

Principal Angers stood in front of the screen, staring at the images of Norton and Constantine transmitted back by the satellite. His face was grave, and he said angrily, "Damn it, someone interfered with the Dragon King's resurrection before us."

(End of this chapter)