Crossing the azure as a black dragon

"Black Flying Dragon?"

Black Dragon heard Avira's voice in her ear. She opened her eyes and found herself sitting with Avira in a pavilion in the port area. Avira was dressed in a naval uniform, with long black hair cascading down her back. Her elegant demeanor made her look more like a young lady than a soldier.

Where were we?

Black Flying Dragon rubbed her temples. She remembered that she had come to check on Okinawa Island at the request of Azure Dragon, to see if there were any problems with Avira. Yuudachi had come along as well.

She glanced at the stool next to her, but didn't see Yuudachi.

"Yes, let me think. Speaking of which, you can find the two ship girls here."

Avira paused slightly, then a warm smile appeared on her face.

"Found two ship girls, hmm... are they Irai and Den?"

Black Flying Dragon shook her head. She felt her memories were surging, and too many memories were suddenly flooding in, making it difficult to process them all.

"Of course not, Lei and Dian still need to receive you, they can't do without them."

Avira shook her head.

"So, it's Zeppelin and Amagi?"

Black Flying Dragon frowned. Of all the memories that had just surfaced, only these two hadn't appeared.

"Hmm, Zeppelin is reciting poetry in his study, and Amagi is taking a midday nap in the bamboo grove. Would you like me to take you there?"

Avira nodded obediently and gave them their positions.

"Just release them, what use is my going there?"

Black Flying Dragon shook her head, trying to recall what had just happened. If it weren't for Mio's sigh, her consciousness would probably have remained frozen at that moment.

This experience was terrifying.

"Hmm, so have you decided who to go see next?"

Avira didn't refute, but just asked with a smile.

"Akashi."

Black Dragon stood up, and the surrounding space began to distort, blocking everyone's view.

She remembered that she had conducted reconnaissance by plane before arriving, and she didn't want to run into her past self; who knows what might happen.

"Akashi is in the lab. Do you know how to get there?"

Avira stood up and strolled with the black dragon.

"..."

Black Flying Dragon turned his head to look at the maze-like complex of buildings in the distance, and didn't dare to reply for a moment.

She realized she had lost her sense of direction again. Thinking of the ring that would restore her function, Black Dragon turned her head and glanced at Avira's pocket. She remembered that the ring should only be on her.

"No! This is for you now. Akashi has a ship equipment that is more suitable for you."

Avira quickly adopted a gesture of refusal.

Aren't you afraid of encountering three versions of myself at the same time?

Black Dragon's thoughts flashed by. If she had obtained another ship equipment at this point in time, and if her future self had failed, she might very well have returned here from the future.

Avira whistled, pretending not to hear anything.

Black Dragon shook his head helplessly and could only tell Avira to lead the way quickly so as not to miss the deadline.

Ivy wasn't in a hurry at all. She led Black Dragon around the port area and saw Cleveland and Radiant walking in the restaurant. The two nodded to her.

Akashi's laboratory was on the ground, which surprised Black Dragon. Most of the researchers she had encountered worked in the basement, and this was the first time she had met one on the ground.

The lab was filled with equipment, and the sample racks along the wall displayed many finished jewelry-like items. Black Flying Dragon immediately spotted a necklace that reflected light, with a black chain and a simulated knife at its center.

Hello, meow.

Akashi put down what she was holding and came over to the two of them to greet Black Flying Dragon.

"Hello, I heard that there are more suitable ship equipment here. May I ask which one?"

Black Flying Dragon looked at Akashi; she remembered that this was the cutest and most obedient of the three Akashis she had met.

"Meow?"

Akashi looked at Avira beside her. She was just following the instructions given by her commander and didn't know who it was for.

"this."

Avira walked to the sample shelf, picked up the black necklace with her fingers, returned to Black Dragon's side, and looked up to put it around her neck.

"..."

Black Dragon immediately realized that its sense of direction had returned, and all its other abilities were still intact.

Unleashing the reconnaissance function, an unprecedented amount of information flooded into Black Dragon's brain. Fortunately, she was already used to it and immediately categorized it before storing it in the necklace's storage system.

The only ones that weren't filtered out by her were those radiating a strong energy aura.

That experimental space in the distance that hasn't been sealed off yet is one of them; it's currently in space.

The Black Flying Dragon, which is currently known as the "Middle Shuttle," is one of them.

Her reconnaissance range increased from 200 nautical miles to 500 nautical miles, more than doubling. If it were narrowed down to a straight line, it would probably be even farther.

"I'm here now, go and greet her."

Black Flying Dragon used one hand to create a spatial tunnel, connecting it to the pavilion where the two had just been talking.

"Okay, see you in the future."

Avira waved to the black dragon and disappeared into the space tunnel.

Does that mean I'll have to rely on myself from now on?

Black Flying Dragon's gaze swept across the laboratory before locking onto the tablet that Akashi had placed on the desk next to him.

"Can I borrow it for a moment?"

Black Flying Dragon picked up the tablet and waved it at Akashi.

"Please meow."

Akashi had no objection and gestured for Black Flying Dragon to do as he pleased.

A flash of electricity lit up the lab, and the black dragon vanished instantly. The tablet fell to the ground with a thud, its screen chipped at one corner.

"what."

Akashi quickly stepped forward to pick up the tablet, looking at the shattered screen with some heartache.

This is what she uses to surf the internet during her free time; she can't live without it.

"Hmm, the satellite has just been launched, let's make some minor modifications, meow."

Akashi thought for a moment, then walked to the side, picked up some tools, and began to disassemble.

……

Black Dragon re-entered that almost stagnant world. Having entered it the first time, this time, as she resonated, she kept silently chanting in her heart, "Find Akashi, find Akashi."

Almost instantly upon entering this world, she grasped her purpose, and her thoughts began to flow. She recalled the time when she received that 'world' from Akashi to seal off the experimental world.

"Meow!?"

Black Dragon's eyes suddenly lit up, and then he heard Akashi's fur stand on end.

"I've been thinking about it, and I think I should see Avira."

Black Flying Dragon snapped out of his daze, looked down at Akashi, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"I see, meow. This way, please."

Akashi touched his chest to calm his wildly beating heart, then reached out and led Black Dragon into the port area.

"Are thunder and lightning with Avira?"

Black Flying Dragon took two steps and asked.

"It should be here, meow, huh?"

Akashi looked up and responded, then suddenly noticed the necklace around Black Flying Dragon's neck, and then looked down at her right hand and realized that she didn't have a ring!

"Ok?"

The black dragon was rather strange.

"Nothing, meow."

Akashi shook her head. She felt like she had been staying up too late. How could there be two black dragons in one world?

The two arrived at the restaurant overseen by Cleveland, where Avira and Ray-Dian were both.

"Good morning."

Black Dragon waved to Avira.

"Welcome, welcome! Have you had breakfast yet?"

Avira immediately noticed the necklace around Black Dragon's neck and, with a smile, invited him to dine.

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

Black Flying Dragon sat down and drank two bowls of millet porridge with Avira; it tasted quite good.

Do you understand now?

Ivy straightened up, holding her teacup, and asked Black Dragon.

"I think I understand. They can't meet me at the same time, and they can only travel through objects they've touched."

Black Flying Dragon nodded.

"The time loopholes aren't easy to exploit, but they're not particularly difficult either. Who are you planning to go find next?"

Ivy nodded, without trying to stop Black Dragon.

"The remaining two."