We traveled through time together, but I'm the only dragon? The others are all beautiful girls?

Akalion, however, felt no guilt whatsoever. He met the two gazes with composure, as if declaring that his heart and actions were as clear as a mirror and that all his deeds were righteous.

"Even if I don't transform into a dragon, I still can't control that instinct that comes from the deepest part of my being and... my attack speed when facing the two of you, understand!"

"Cough cough!"

Artoria coughed twice, attempting to forcefully pull the conversational vessel, which was about to enter unknown waters, back on track.

“Akaleion, I don’t think now is the time to dwell on these issues!”

"......"*3

Three gazes, each distinct in nature, instantly focused on Artoria. She straightened her back, her emerald eyes gleaming with the rational light unique to a queen.

“Based on the current situation of the ‘Blue Heir’ group, Ying’s existence has the greatest strategic value for us.”

Her voice was steady and solemn, as if she were holding a meeting that would decide the future of the kingdom.

"The world of Akalion, 'Eldra,' has entered a frozen apocalypse. Although hope remains, the hidden danger is even greater. The end-of-the-world phenomenon known as 'Calamity' could return at any time. In terms of resources, apart from the special vegetarian food and magical ores that bring happiness and peace of mind, everything else is in a state of extreme scarcity."

"Eleanor's world is the game Dark Souls 1. Although high-quality resources are not theoretically scarce, she can only carry things formed from her soul's obsession. Moreover, due to her status as an 'undead' and a cursed being, she finds it difficult to establish herself in normal human society. She can only take refuge in Lordran, which has long been transformed by Gwyn into a 'trial ground for selecting the successor to the Flame,' and its danger level is far greater than that of Eldra now."

“And the most crucial point is that although she is currently the weakest among us, her growth curve is the most rapid. She can reach a level of strength that none of us—including Akalion—can achieve in a very short time by devouring 'souls.'” Her gaze swept over Eleanor. “But the only problem is, won't absorbing those foreign souls negatively interfere with Eleanor's own existence?”

“No,” Eleanor stepped out from behind Akalion, her ruby ​​eyes calm and undisturbed. When it came to serious matters, she regained the composure and seriousness befitting royalty. “Otherwise, the moment I seize an enemy’s soul in battle, a huge blank would appear in my consciousness. Devouring souls is essentially done through the fragments of the Dark Lord’s Soul—[Humanity].

“Then, our next course of action is clear: First, to help Eleanor acquire a large number of souls as soon as possible to complete the initial accumulation of power.” As Artoria spoke, her gaze involuntarily moved to Akalion, then quickly looked away as if burned by lightning.

"Secondly, we need to find stable and controllable 'rules' that allow us to travel to each other's worlds."

"that!"

Suddenly, Ying reached out and lightly placed her hand on Artoria's shoulder. She poked her sweet dimple with her fingertip and said in a relaxed tone:

"Actually, there's no need to rush. For now, I can provide you with a large amount of food supplies, enough to sustain the entire Britannia. Thanks to the Wind God's 'Millennium Grand Symphony,' Mondstadt's food production is incredibly high; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many giant babies in the game."

At this moment, Britain's population was around one million. Although the land's yields were becoming increasingly barren due to the decline of the Age of Gods, the most deadly guillotine hanging over the heads of all Britons was still the barbarian army led by Vortigern, which swept in like a natural disaster.

Food shortages can be solved through trade, or even plunder.

Faced with Vortigern's army, which aimed to 'cleanse humanity,' there was no other option but to defeat them head-on.

Even if the princes of Britain were willing to grovel and offer tribute, acknowledging His rule, Vortigern would absolutely not accept it.

His purpose, from beginning to end, was for the island itself, so that the last echo of the 'Age of Gods' could linger here.

However, this incarnation of the white dragon, after defeating King Uther, has been entrenched in Camelot, and no one can fathom its true intentions.

“I know, with Akalion—”

At this moment, Artoria's voice suddenly became extremely low, so low that only Akalion, who possessed the hearing of dragons, could hear it clearly.

"—Doing 'that' is a very painful thing. But I won't force any of you. Just let..."

She took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the emptiness of the entire dark space into her lungs.

"...I'll help everyone figure out this 'rule'."

"Actually, it's not that painful."

Ying couldn't bring herself to reveal all the inside scoops, so she could only give a slightly awkward smile and look to Eleanor for help.

"Right, Eleanor! So, you don't need to force yourself."

"you--"

Eleanor's rebuttal, which was about to spill from her lips, stopped abruptly the moment she met Akalion's gaze. She simply stated a fact calmly.

"All I can say is that Akalion truly lives up to his name as a dragon. He won't give you any chance to catch your breath. Even if you pass out, he won't stop."

“I’ll stop!” Akalion quickly interjected, trying to salvage his already dwindling reputation. “I’m not that much of a beast!”

"It will only stop after you are completely satisfied, right?" Ying recalled the battle in the dark space. If this were in reality, she had no doubt that she would have been completely burst apart and perished due to the overwhelming 'existence'.

"That was my first time, I didn't know my own strength." Akalion lay down a little embarrassedly, looking at Ying with a pitiful look, almost like a puppy.

"!"

Recalling her own battle in reality, Eleanor's gaze, filled with intense emotions, instantly turned to Akalion.

Even in reality, you still don't know what is light and what is heavy.

“This…this feels completely different in reality and in the dark space!” Akalion could only turn to Eleanor with the demeanor of a puppy that had made a mistake, “I…I can’t control it.”

“So—” Eleanor didn’t look at Akalion anymore, but instead controlled her pounding heart and turned her gaze to Artoria with utmost seriousness and solemnity, “—even so, you will still insist?”

The golden ahoge on Artoria's head stood straight like the most resolute flag, proclaiming her unwavering determination.

Volume 1 Snowfield Dragon Lord: 37. Differences

For Artoria, Akalion's enormous dragon body still intimidated her somewhat.

Although her very existence is a product of the concept of 'Red Dragon', and her heart is the highest-grade dragon heart, this Red Dragon is not the same as that Red Dragon.

The red dragon in the Type-Moon universe and the true dragon in the D&D universe are not comparable in any way in terms of their origins.

The most fundamental point is that the true dragons in the D&D world exist first as 'individual beings', and only then as living world order and elemental forces.

The Red Dragon in the Type-Moon universe is essentially the manifestation of the planetary will, the ultimate embodiment of the planet's laws and concepts.

Once separated from the specific environmental parameters of the 'Age of Gods', the true dragons in the Type-Moon world will experience an irreversible decline in their functions, until they 'die'.

However, in the world of D&D, true dragons are generally unaffected by most environmental changes. They are either still young dragons or the forces that change the environment are far greater than those of true dragons, such as gods. Otherwise, for true dragons in D&D, as great beings that can even devour soil and convert it into their own nourishment, dying completely would be an extremely difficult thing in itself.

Artoria is a half-dragon with the Red Dragon Factor and a heart made of the highest-grade Dragon Furnace Core, or to put it simply, a Type-Moon Welsh Red Dragon in human skin. This is why Kinoko Nasu used a vise to describe her in Fate/stay night.

This means that, theoretically, her 'compatibility' with Akalion should be excellent. She and Akalion would never experience the kind of 'cycle' from heaven to hell that Ying and Eleanor went through, straddling the line between life and death.

At least that was the case in the dark space, so Eleanor's words earlier exploded in her mind like a thunderclap, leaving her completely stunned.

When the 'stable realm' illuminated by the lighthouse appeared, Eleanor never mentioned that the reason for all of this was her battle with Akalion!

However, before Artoria could recover from this immense shock, the expression on Ying's face shattered instantly, as if the sky had collapsed.

"What? You and Eleanor... fought in real life...?!"

“That’s right,” Eleanor said calmly, as if stating a perfectly ordinary fact, but a barely perceptible hint of pleasure flickered in the depths of her ruby ​​eyes. “That’s why the ‘Lighthouse’ has undergone such a dramatic change.”

"Cuck!"

A piercing scream suddenly emanated from deep within Ying's throat. The sound was just like that of a frog that was peacefully urinating when a giant foot fell from the sky and crushed its back.

"Why? Why? Why?!"

Her body trembled slightly from extreme excitement, and tears of grievance even welled up in her golden eyes.

"Clearly, I was here first!"

"It was me and Akalion who first started fighting! And it was me who was the first to go to Akalion's world!"

"Cuck!"

“Calm down, Ying,” Akalion stepped forward, trying to soothe the 'me' on the verge of going berserk with his deep voice, “We’re all 'Blue Heirs,' it’s no big deal.”

Meanwhile, Artoria looked at Eleanor with a bewildered expression, silently asking, "In reality? Is it really... impossible to die?"

"No," Eleanor replied with the same silent look in her eyes. "I have the power of the campfire; it can instantly heal any 'wound.'"

Recalling the details of that battle, her cheeks flushed slightly involuntarily. Why... why was even that last line of defense healed by the power of the campfire? Otherwise, how could she have experienced such extreme pain?

"I don't care! From now on, you must also be with me—" At this point, Ying seemed to have anticipated all the arguments Akalion might make. She changed her tone and declared in an unquestionable tone, "—I am also invincible next to the Statue of the Seven!"

"That can't be right, can it?" Akalion's giant sword-like dragon tail swayed uneasily behind him. "The Seven Statues' healing power has a definite limit. Even if reality and the game are different, do you really want to do that kind of thing under their watchful eyes?"

"—"

Ying's expression suddenly froze.

Yes, she really can't.

Although, as 'Lan Si', she has a considerable appreciation for 'exposure-themed' works of art, it does not mean that she wants to become the heroine of such works herself!

Damn it! Is this really the only option left?!

No, she wasn't going to admit defeat yet!

In Ying's mind, a completely new path was instantly illuminated.

It's decided! Once she leaves this place, she'll head straight for Fontaine!

Ying prepares to acquire the power of the water element, which symbolizes the origin of life and adaptability, as well as harmony and nourishment, to gain the power of flow and change. This power is the foundation upon which Akalion can be built in reality.

Afterwards, they went to Mount Sumeru to seek the grass element, which symbolizes the cycle of life and connection, as well as flourishing and decay, and to obtain the power of growth and connection.

In reality, she wouldn't be bound by that rigid system like in the game!

Using the wind element only creates a powerful whirlwind; using the rock element only creates a fragile elemental crystal around oneself; and using the lightning element only futilely summons three fleeting bolts of lightning...

With four times the aptitude, the power she can wield is amplified in a way that cannot be defined by the base number of 'four'.

Now, she can summon a storm powerful enough to sweep through a small town, and rock element can be condensed into a large number of dazzling gems in her hands—that's what she'll use to... cough cough.

The power of the wind element is not merely about blowing; it can also heal—all seven elements of Teyvat can do so.

However, the world of Teyvat symbolizes the "origin of life," which is ultimately the element of water, and its healing effect is the strongest; just look at Barbara to understand this.

The element of grass can connect with the element of water, greatly accelerating the process of life restoration and regeneration.

The problem that arises is that the real Teyvat continent is far more vast than the game world that was set by data.

With just her own two legs, she would probably have to wring out enough water from her socks to make tea, and her boots would have to smell bad before she could reach her destination.

Although as a traveler who has traversed many worlds, her body only emits a faint fragrance and does not have smelly feet, after this long journey, Eleanor might have already engaged in hundreds of 'battles' with Akalion in order to explore the rules of time travel.

That won't do! So—

"In that case, Akalion, please come and visit my world."

Ying's voice broke the silence, and a faint smile appeared on her face.

"He needs to stay with me a little longer."

Eleanor glanced at Akalion, then directly expressed her unwavering will to Luminous.

"At least, he can't go to you until I have the absolute power to ensure my survival in the Undead Town area."

Volume 1 Snowfield Dragon Lord: Chapter 38. The Determination of the Ahoge (Spirit of the Ahoge)

“Luminous.” This time, Artoria did not side with Luminous. “Have you forgotten? The world of Teyvat, like the world of Dark Souls, was originally ruled by dragons. Although their appearance and powers are not exactly the same, others can see at a glance that Akalion is a dragon.”

“I understand what you’re worried about, Lily.” Ying shook her head with a smile, her golden eyes shining with confidence. “But there’s no need. ‘Heavenly Principle’ has shut down and is no longer in charge. Akalion’s existence poses no threat whatsoever. Isn’t the Water Dragon King of Fontaine carrying out his rule in the human kingdom?”

“The only thing he needs to worry about…” Ying paused slightly, instinctively reaching out to gently stroke her flat stomach, saying in a half-joking tone, “…is my brother. There’s a very high chance he’ll think it’s Akalion—”

She didn't continue speaking, but instead cast a meaningful glance at Akalion.

"It's nothing!" Akalion said dismissively. "I can fly."

He grinned, revealing a confident smile.

"Besides, he's 'my' brother!"

"Well......"

Eleanor fell into a brief moment of contemplation. If her father were still alive, would he accept a dragon as his child and...son-in-law?

In just a moment, she came to a conclusion. If it was something she truly loved, her father would probably offer his sincerest blessings on the surface, and then, in some secluded corner, quietly, like a child, shed tears of sorrow.

However, once his father truly understands Akalion, he will likely accept him soon.

Artoria's situation was similar. However, her adoptive father, Sir Hector, and her brother Kai would absolutely not be able to accept it in the short term. As for Merry... to be honest, she still couldn't fully perceive what that half-dream demon was thinking.

Sometimes, she would hug herself tightly, a blissful smile spreading across her face and in her heart; other times, though her face was smiling, her heart was a bottomless void, impenetrable even to light.

Every time she pointed it out, Mary would turn into a genuine 'smiling face,' triggering the uncanny valley effect in her.

“But the key problem is,” Akalion’s voice drew everyone’s thoughts back to the core mystery, “that the process of my union with Eleanor is not fundamentally different from my previous union with Luminosity. But I ended up in Eleanor’s world, not Luminosity’s. I haven’t yet figured out the specific rules and variables involved.”

"......"*4

The three men and the dragon fell into a long silence.

Just then, a flash of inspiration, like lightning, pierced through Artoria's thoughts.

"Could it be... because Ying was in a 'sealed' state at the time?" Her voice carried a hint of uncertain speculation. "This dark space, or rather, this lighthouse, might have an underlying logic that actively discerns the safety status of each of us, thus avoiding those crossings that pose a great risk?"