Dragon Raja: Lu Mingfei Returns from the Elden Ring

......

When Lao Tang entered the hall, the broadcasting equipment in the corner started playing the Dragon Mantra chanting, not hidden in the melody like during the 3E exam, but played directly.

In Lu Mingfei and the others' eyes, Old Tang suddenly walked forward blankly, almost to the center of the alchemical matrix.

He suddenly bent over, as if enduring some terrifying pain, then tore at his hair and let out a silent roar.

“Brother!” Constantine suddenly shouted.

Chapter 59 The Heart of the Dragon King

Old Tang straightened up, and his whole demeanor changed. He was still wearing discounted clothes from a no-name brand and still had his messy, unkempt hair, but he seemed to be standing on a mountaintop, looking down at the white steam rising like a sea of ​​clouds at his feet.

He slowly turned his head to look at Lu Mingfei, his expression silent and dignified, a fiery aura emanating from him. The cowardly man who had just been timid now revealed a molten majesty in his eyes. "This human is not my brother. You killed Constantine."

Lu Mingfei immediately threw Constantine aside, and the same heat ignited on his body, but his eyes remained dark brown and utterly calm.

The alchemical matrix was fully activated, and the execution department's helicopters roared in from the distant horizon.

"Senior brother!" Lu Mingfei called out in a low voice.

“I’m here!” Fingel’s voice came from behind him.

Fingel aimed at "Old Tang's" heart, pulled the trigger, and the dark red bullet left a bright trail.

The bullet struck the skin of the Bronze and Fire King, whose scales had not yet grown. The reaction occurred immediately. The flesh and blood that came into contact with the pure spirit inside the bullet turned gray and crumbled, disintegrating and falling off the body in large chunks. Norton's face quickly turned pale, and the half-grown scales made him look like some kind of bizarre sculpture.

However, Lu Mingfei felt no sense of relief whatsoever. Norton, who was facing him, had a mocking smile on his face.

"Human, you know nothing about alchemy."

In an instant, time slowed to a standstill, then quickly reversed, like an accelerated silent film. The shattered bullet was expelled from his body and condensed, retreating back into the gun barrel. Fingel retreated step by step with a solemn expression. The mercury in the alchemical matrix flowed backward, and mercury vapor fell back to the ground. Lu Mingfei and Lao Tang began to retreat until they stepped into the matrix at the same time.

In human cognition, the arrow of time distinguishes the past from the future, giving time a direction. Theoretically, there are at least three types of arrows of time. First, there is the thermodynamic arrow of time, in which disorder or entropy increases; then there is the psychological arrow of time, which is the direction in which we perceive the passage of time, and in which we can remember the past rather than the future; and finally, there is the cosmological arrow of time, in which the universe expands rather than contracts.

Now, in this abandoned building that has been transformed into an alchemical cage, the first generation of dragons has achieved what is known as time reversal. Even if it is only for a few seconds, it is a power that human science can only define but not reach.

"For thousands of years, you still dare to defy the gods?" Norton said calmly, an overwhelming dragon's might emanating from him, pressing down in all directions.

Fingel seemed somewhat disoriented due to the time reversal and was caught off guard by the dragon's might. He lost his grip on the gun, and the weapon that was supposed to activate the Philosopher's Stone fell to the ground, seemingly decaying over countless years and turning to ashes in an instant.

Only Lu Mingfei picked up Chixiao the instant the time reversal ended, condensing flames in his hand that flowed along the sword's blade.

That's the kind of person he is. Even if the world were to end the next second, he would pick up any usable weapons and prepare for battle, no matter who the enemy is.

This is the heart of a warrior.

The alchemical matrices on the ground and the surrounding pillars changed; the patterns twisted, and the materials used to make the grooves and pillars began to dissolve or decompose. Unknown components mixed into the mercury, giving it a bluish-black color. The building's overall frame began to shake, and the concrete and steel bars emitted eerie twisting and cracking sounds under some kind of force.

The lights went out.

The flames on Lu Mingfei's sword illuminated Norton's blurry black figure not far away.

It was no longer in human form; enormous wings spread out behind him, and his joints were reversed, clearly indicating that he had entered either the enraged Constantine or the state of Lu Mingfei in his third blood explosion.

Lu Mingfei glanced back one last time. Constantine was kneeling on the ground with lifeless eyes, while Fingel's body was covered in bulging, bluish-black muscles as he struggled to kneel on one knee.

The next second, the two figures disappeared from sight, like fading mist or shadows falling into water.

The sound of endless water surged from afar, and a torrent of water vapor seeped in from all directions, as if a storm had suddenly enveloped the small building.

A sudden burst of light appeared, and blazing flames rose into the air around Norton's body, exploding high in the sky as if wings were spreading out.

Lu Mingfei then realized that he and Norton had returned to Bronze City, where the patterns of the alchemical matrix had turned into a kind of ash that was stiffly embedded in the bronze walls and floors, having been drained of its power and decayed.

Norton borrowed and distorted the alchemical matrix designed by the vice-principal to achieve a kind of spatial transfer, crossing half the Earth.

"Are you Old Tang or Norton?" Lu Mingfei asked.

The Dragon King looked down at him condescendingly, "Usurper, do you think Ronald Don was devoured by me?"

Lu Mingfei remained silent.

The Dragon King continued in a disdainful tone, "You do not yet possess the heart of a Dragon King, and you do not understand. Ronald Tang is indeed a real human being, but humans are like waves, easily changed by the winds of fate. We, on the other hand, are beings standing in the middle of the sea, looking out in all directions, boundless and limitless, with only the reality and loneliness of the world."

“Then you must be Norton,” Lu Mingfei translated for him.

Dragon King Norton chuckled, "Is this important to you? Is this the only way you'll have the resolve to raise your sword? Let me tell you, there's a method in alchemy that can change the course of the world. Those humans you value—friends? teachers? relatives? They'll forget you in the blink of an eye. If you treat them as companions and say to them, 'It's me,' they'll just shoot the Philosopher's Stone into your body."

“I had envisioned that path before,” Lu Mingfei replied calmly. “It is indeed very troublesome. Hybrids are everywhere in human settlements, and they also have that very useful named computer, while you may be hiding in the Nibelungen. Perhaps I will be caught up with by them before I find you.”

It was an unfavorable situation where everyone was against him, but Norton saw no wavering in his eyes, yet sensed something familiar, cold and hard.

He suddenly realized something. The being before him was not the human he had imagined, composed of soft bones and fleeting souls, not an ant bewitched by the ever-changing mists of fate. The other was not a supreme being, but rather another kind of reef in a turbulent sea, unmoved by words, only the solitude of countless years could weather and destroy him.

Norton dispersed some of the flames so he could actually speak face-to-face with Lu Mingfei.

"Young false king, what do you seek?"

Chapter 60 The King's Wish

If long ago, Lu Mingfei, sitting on the throne, merely felt that the world had problems and that he was powerless to change them, now, after returning to Earth, he deeply felt the world's tolerance and beauty, and a concrete vision had formed in his heart—coinciding with the long-cherished wish of a former god:

A world where the weak and the abandoned can also be embraced.

It was a tolerant world where good-for-nothings rode greyhounds to watch the sunrise and sunset, and beautiful girls danced in the sunlight. Everyone did what they wanted to do. Tailors didn't have to fear or lament, potters didn't have to wield swords, blacksmiths and spirit trainers didn't have to die in flames, fathers and daughters didn't have to be separated forever, and sisters didn't have to wait until death to reunite... Pain, despair, curses—all the sins and suffering would never be repeated again.

“Dragon, you’re right, humans are indeed too weak.” Lu Mingfei’s eyes were lowered, filled with a soft and beautiful mist. “But I don’t think being small and fragile is a mistake. Do you know about breakwaters? They are human creations, made of concrete, used to hold back the tides and protect the coast. The lights on the coast are beautiful.”

“If fate is destined to be a turbulent sea, there will always be someone who stands up to block the waves and endure the world’s malice… Now, I am the pillar of this era.” He slowly raised his head and looked at Norton.

At this moment, Lu Mingfei thought he would recall the cries and lamentations, the people who had fallen victim to cruel fate—familiar, unfamiliar, those he had met, and those he had never met. But he didn't. Instead, he thought of an "enemy" he had once fought against—Ratan.

According to records, during the War of the Fragments, Rataln and Malenia engaged in a great battle. In the battle, Malenia unleashed Crimson Corruption, causing the entire Galid to be corrupted and consumed by corruption. Rataln himself was also severely injured, suffering both physical and mental corruption.

Rataen, with his last shred of sanity, ordered the construction of a smoldering wall to stop the Crimson Corruption from spreading further. He then severed his own feet and remained on the Weeping Beach to prevent him from losing control and harming others. Under the influence of the Crimson Corruption, Rataen was in a living hell. His old friend Jellian, wanting him to die a glorious death, organized a grand "Rataen Festival," calling on heroes from all over the world to challenge Rataen.

Despite the attacks of various heroes, Rataen used his power to seal the starry sky until his last breath, preventing threats from the cosmos.

He was the son of a hero, the lion of the war king, and remained the Shattered Star General until his death.

Lu Mingfei once admired his story, finding it illusory, ethereal, and unattainable. Now, standing here, Lu Mingfei has unknowingly become a character in the story.

He then recalled the story of the Red Lions Legion under Ratahn's command:

"The knights who fought alongside General Ratan, defeated by Marlenia's crimson corruption, burned the badge on their left breasts with unwavering resolve—Farewell, distant homeland, we will remain here to suppress corruption."

"They threw themselves into an endless war, so their armor was always rusted and dirty."

The path of a hero is destined to be lonely and arduous, no easier than the path to becoming king. Yet, over the long years, those knights have succeeded. It is known to all that there are no cowards among the Red Lions.

Lu Mingfei felt that he had no reason not to be unable to do it, nor should he be unable to do it.

......

Norton was greatly disappointed when he heard Lu Mingfei's wish. He had thought that the usurper in front of him would say something profound enough to be a king's wish, but it turned out to be just a fairy tale that those overconfident humans had longed for over the years.

“Naive,” Norton said coldly. “When you stand at my level, you’ll understand that such thoughts are like a child’s fantasy. Between kings, there is only devouring and being devoured. As for those weak servants, if they obey, they may be granted divine blood; if they rebel, they shall be suppressed and destroyed!”

"Height?" Lu Mingfei laughed. "Indeed, you are born supreme beings, how could you understand the feeling of insignificant people looking up at the peaks?"

Norton remained unmoved, finding it laughable. In his eyes, no matter how a usurper seized God's power, possessing a human heart meant he was nothing but a lowly weakling.

The conversation between the human and the dragon has come to an end.

"Then, pay homage, usurper!" Norton conjured a longsword flowing with lava in his hand, and the domain of flames expanded suddenly from him, compressing the air to form a transparent boundary visible to the naked eye.

Lu Mingfei then swung his sword, unleashing countless sword lights in an instant. Each strike created a channel rich in fire element, and those fire snake-like trajectories were extensions of Lu Mingfei's strikes. The blazing red edges enveloped a bright white core, like an electric current breaking through the air under high pressure, flowing around in space.

Word of Power Imitation - Combat Skill - Cursed Blood Slash.

Originally a power associated with the Mongot Cursed Sword, the blood of the cursed sword was sealed within it by Mongot, who loathed it. This affected the sword, causing it to become abnormally discolored and distorted. When this power is channeled into a strike, the blood-red sword light lingers in the air before triggering a fiery explosion.

Lu Mingfei used the authority of the Dragon King Rune to reproduce the use of flames, incorporating new interpretations.

His killing intent and sword light grew like trees in the space, squeezing and cutting through everything in sight.

Norton and Lu Mingfei looked at each other through the gap in the fire serpent, their eyes clashing like golden ice.

The next second, flames erupted.

Crimson flames erupted from every inch of the "fire serpent's" body, almost filling the entire bronze space.

The flames encountered Norton's domain as if they were facing an invisible wall; the flames flowed along the edge of the domain but could not break through.

However, a crack suddenly appeared in Norton's indifferent expression.

He raised his hand, expressionless, watching the fine, thread-like wounds on his arm heal rapidly.

He blocked the flames, but not the sword light. That was Lu Mingfei's spiritual power condensed in the flames, used to replace the cursed blood. In a sense, this thing was already a new kind of spiritual power.

“Interesting,” Norton complimented.

At the same time, Lu Mingfei conjured a phantom of flame in his hand and pressed it against his chest. The flame burned evenly, forming a fire ring that enveloped his body. The fire ring briefly bloomed and then dissipated, leaving the phantom of the red flame on his body.

His body was covered in undulating scales, his joints twisted, and bone wings spread out behind him.

Words of Power, Prayer, Flame, grant me strength!

This is a high-level prayer practiced by fire-wielding martial artists. It involves igniting flames within the practitioner's body, transforming them into power, and enhancing strength and the ability to wield fire. Because the prayer does not consume the practitioner, it is considered a forbidden technique by the Watchers.

In Lu Mingfei's hands, it became a special type of explosive blood based on the power of the King of Bronze and Fire.

After use, it not only grants the power of a triple-explosive blood attack, but also enhances the mental realm and the control over metal and fire.

Norton had never seen such a Word of Power before. It was clearly the usurper's understanding and control of fire, and could even be described as terrifying, because it had broken taboos.

"Where do you come from?" the Dragon King asked in surprise. "Ragnarok has not yet begun!"

Chapter 61 War Begins

Lu Mingfei did not answer; his hand, which was not holding a sword, seemed to be supporting something and gently pushing upwards.

In Norton's eyes, a terrifying fire element singularity appeared there. The flow of fire element in the entire space paused for a moment the instant it appeared, and then frantically converged towards it.

When the singularity rose into the air, the flames suddenly appeared, first as a small, bright white ball of liquid, then growing into a gaseous outer flame. The terrifying high temperature was restrained by the initial singularity, so that the smooth spherical surface began to show violent flow of flames. Some sparks were flung out of the critical range of the singularity by the colliding fire streams, instantly turning into radial streams of blazing heat.

Norton could sense that this fireball, which resembled a miniature sun, contained energy at the level of the Word of Power Rhine.

When it first gathered its power, even the fire element in Norton's domain showed signs of slipping out of control!

Lu Mingfei released the thing with a movement as gentle as loosening the string of a balloon, but in reality, he was struggling to control this terrifying power.