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

"That should be the case." Ying nodded affirmatively upon hearing this. This explanation was undoubtedly the most reasonable at present. If it were completely random, it would be too much of a psychological and physiological shock to people.

"The lighthouse... can't possibly keep requiring us to use this method to 'travel' forever, can it?"

Akalion's voice sounded somewhat hollow in the pure white silence. This was not resistance; quite the opposite, the ultimate pleasure derived from the collision of soul and body had already left an indelible mark on his soul.

But he hoped that such a union would stem from the pure concept of "love," rather than an exchange mixed with the cold purpose of utilitarianism.

Although this is also very enjoyable, what is 'Lan Si's' deepest desire at the very end?

However, I just hope that one day I can hear someone sincerely say "I love you" to me.

"Probably not."

Artoria's golden ahoge pointed at Eleanor, and her gaze followed.

"The first change to the Lighthouse occurred after you and Eleanor were united on the real world. The Stable Realm was thus created, and we were able to exchange and support resources among ourselves."

"So, based on this, if we introduce a new variable and combine it a second time, the lighthouse's function will likely undergo a second change."

"Then I'll take care of this new variable!"

Ying stepped forward, her face radiating unwavering confidence. However, Artoria reached out and stopped her.

"Leave it to me, Ying."

Artoria's voice was calm, yet resolute.

“Eleanor has paved the way for us. Now, it’s my turn to pay the price. Your physical strength is incomparable to mine. Even if I came to your world, I wouldn’t be able to do it. Moreover, I’m the third person to do this for the first time. So, will there be any new changes in the Lighthouse?”

Her gaze met Akalion's calmly, her emerald eyes unwavering.

"Furthermore, that pleasure is real. But that pain, which is enough to tear existence apart, is also real."

“I’m prepared. I can’t let you and Eleanor be the only ones who suffer.”

"...Since you've put it that way..."

Ying gazed into Artoria's determined eyes for a long time, then smiled gently. Her figure, like light and shadow scattered by the wind, slowly dissipated.

"Then it's up to you. Hopefully, Akalion can ease your constant tension a little."

"I will guard Akalion's body." Eleanor's figure then disappeared into the pure white space.

In an instant, the pure white, stable realm was left with only Akalion and Artoria.

Artoria slowly turned around to face the silent dragon. The moment her eyes met those gray dragon eyes, a captivating blush, like the sunset, immediately appeared on her fair cheeks.

"Please, please be gentle."

“Ahem—” Akalion glanced at the enormous dragon head, avoiding the gaze that had captivated him. “This, I really…can’t guarantee.”

"Yeah......"

Upon hearing this, Artoria seemed relieved. As the 'Blue Heir,' how could she not know that this was somewhat unreasonable? If Akalion had actually agreed, her heart would probably have been pounding.

"Then please be as rough as possible."

"Just let me pass out."

Volume 1 Snowfield Dragon Lord: Chapter 39. The Time Travel Research with Artoria

Faced with Artoria's request, Akalion had no time to think too much.

Artoria's determination, her will, and her domineering spirit have all been fully conveyed to Akalion's heart.

What else is there to say?

Today—I, the Supreme True Dragon! A Transmigrator! Lord of Ansershion! Akalion Virminax Pantokrator Lansi, will fight her to the very end!

Within this pure white and tranquil realm constructed by the lighthouse's glow, there were no superfluous noises or impure colors. It was as if it were a top-tier forge prepared specifically for the sacred act of "forging," and the temperature was rising rapidly.

Artoria closed her eyes, her emotions reaching their peak in that instant.

Her memories of the time travel made her feel as if she had been transformed into a sturdy and precise metal vise, firmly fixed in the center of the workshop by Akalion, waiting in an unshakeable posture for the red-hot dragon iron core that was destined to be sent into it.

Then--

The frenzied forging has begun.

There was no pre-launch activity.

Akalion, as a 'blacksmith,' had absolutely no skills, relying solely on brute force and passion to relentlessly force the scorching iron core—a symbol of the existence of a 'dragon'—into the vise, far exceeding the required specifications.

The size is completely wrong.

"!!!!!!"

The vise emitted a mournful, incoherent wail, as if it were on the verge of its limit.

That was neither joy nor pain!

Rather, it is the purest physical noise emitted by steel when it is subjected to enormous pressure exceeding its design limits.

In order not to be completely destroyed by this brute force, every part of the vise instinctively and desperately contracted, clamped, and tried to completely fix the foreign intruder.

— Tighten the vise.

—Firmly fix that restless iron core in place.

This is the only mission she, as a "prop," needs to complete.

Akalion was held firmly in the hot, sturdy, yet slightly trembling vise, almost unable to move.

All he could feel was the suffocating, strangling sensation emanating from inside the vise, and the scorching heat that seemed to melt everything.

A spark of passion suddenly ignited.

This is the most primal release of energy generated by the intense friction and collision between steel and steel, between concepts.

"—"

The vise is tightening, tightening, and tightening continuously.

Artoria had long since completely abandoned the will called self.

She was merely a vise, faithfully and mechanically carrying out this single command to tighten. She could feel her existence being melted, reshaped, and covered by the more ancient and powerful laws of order that accompanied the dragon's iron core.

So hot.

So hot.

It's going to break.

Consciousness is being evaporated by that immense heat.

Just before the vise named Artoria was about to completely break down, the forging was completed.

The lighthouse's light instantly increased several notches in brightness, turning the entire dark space pure white.

When Akalion opened his eyes again, he found that he and Artoria had arrived in the world of Dark Souls.

The flickering campfire, the cold air carrying the scent of decay, and... Eleanor, her face slightly flushed, watching him and Artoria.

Unlike his state in that pure white realm, the [forging] here has not yet begun. His relationship with Artoria remains completely innocent, and Artoria is fully conscious and in a normal state.

The final connection did not occur.

However, Artoria's true nature is that of a Type-Moon Red Dragon in human skin, and she can indeed withstand the power of Akalion in the real world. Just because she can withstand it doesn't mean that she won't be injured internally.

Akalion now possesses a certain healing ability due to his ability to exhale Radiant Breath, but only he can absorb the energy of this Radiant Breath to heal and temporarily strengthen himself.

"In the outside world... about an hour has passed."

Suddenly, Eleanor spoke softly in a complex tone, a mixture of resentment and a touch of self-satisfaction and confidence.

The true meaning behind these words could be instantly understood by every 'Lan Si' present.

"..."

The crimson hue on Artoria's cheeks, burning with shame, seemed to drip blood in the flickering campfire light.

She was no longer the majestic lion, but rather like a startled fawn in the forest, quickly moving away from Akalion and slipping behind Eleanor.

The situation is completely different from that in a pure white field.

In reality, to appear before Akalion in such a naked state, especially after just experiencing such an intense and thorough battle... the stimulation for the Knight King's heart was simply too great.

Do you have any clothes?

"Give!"

Eleanor quickly retrieved a spare set of clothing made of bandages and leather from her soul space. This was the only one she had besides the one she was wearing.

She glanced at Akalion and secretly decided that it was necessary to collect more of this equipment.

He was far too violent.

"I think I've... found a bit of the 'rule'."

Akalion gently rubbed the finer scales on his chin with the tips of his fingertips, making a pleasant, soft sound.

"It seems that at the moment when our consciousnesses simultaneously reach 'selflessness,' the lighthouse's light will suddenly surge, turning the entire world pure white. Then, whoever can still maintain self-awareness will arrive in whose world first."

At this point, he looked at

"Or perhaps someone gave the order to the lighthouse first."

"—So that means," Artoria's voice was filled with disbelief and shock, "Eleanor, that your will was able to hold on until the very end when faced with such an attack?!"

She recalled how, during that "forging" process, her willpower had been completely evaporated in an instant, leaving her utterly powerless. She once again cast a gaze at Eleanor that was a mixture of awe and shock.

“Although I’m reluctant to admit it, thousands of years of imprisonment have indeed honed my will to a level that I never expected.” Eleanor glanced at the enormous dragon, then nodded without hesitation.

On a physical level, she was indeed utterly defeated, utterly and completely.

But in that dark space where only willpower mattered, she persevered.

Volume 1 Snowfield Dragon Lord: Chapter 40. Summary of Crossing Intelligence and Heading to the Undead Town Outside the City

Based on Akalion's current investigation, three pieces of information related to the crossing have been confirmed.

First, the lighthouse's travel function will follow the principle of "first will takes the highest priority" to determine which world to travel to.

The lighthouse will only automatically travel to the world where the first command is given or the first 'Blue Heir' to regain consciousness is located.

This is probably because all the 'Blue Heirs' are different manifestations of the same soul, and there is no difference in authority or priority, only in order of ranking.

However, at present, only Eleanor and Akalion have managed to remain conscious during such a fierce battle.

Neither Artoria nor Ying will work.

Second, regarding travel between worlds, the Lighthouse allows one party to have the freedom to travel between worlds, but currently only Akalion can do this; everyone else can only return voluntarily.

Artoria has already confirmed it.

Third, each time you travel through time, you can only stay in other people's worlds for seven days. When the time limit is about to expire, the lighthouse will give the traveler a vague revelation. If there is a second traveler, then her stay time will be automatically merged into the first traveler's stay time.

Artoria speculated that when the first transmigrator returned to his world, the second transmigrator would also be repatriated.

Although this time limit can be extended, only Eleanor, being an undead, is currently qualified to bear the cost of that extension.

Of these three pieces of information, the first one and the other two were new pieces of information that were only unlocked after he and Eleanor had fought a real-world battle.

Therefore, there is only one conclusion—at present, only World War I, which is actually taking place, is the decisive reason that prompted the change in the beacon.

This has little to do with simple bodily fluid exchange.

Eleanor had tried drinking Akalion's dragon blood and saliva, but it only slightly improved her physical condition.

Artoria's dragon blood has the same effect, even weaker than Akalion's.

As for Eleanor's own blood—it has no extraordinary effects. Her royal bloodline does indeed make her stronger than ordinary people, perhaps because her ancestors received more fragments of the Dark Lord's Soul from the 'Dwarf' progenitor, but by her generation, that's all.

"I need to leave."

Artoria had no intention of lingering in the Dark Souls world; her plans were made in response to Akalion's arrival in her world.

Firstly, like Akalion, Artoria cannot become powerful quickly by consuming the souls of this world, unlike Eleanor.

Perhaps, things will be different after obtaining the fragment of the Dark Lord's Soul, "Humanity"?

But the three Blue Heirs did not know what secret method the progenitor of the dwarves used to integrate the fragments of the Dark King's Soul into the blood of all humans, enabling it to be passed down from generation to generation.

Secondly, Artoria has family members who care about her, so her departure without saying goodbye is considered a farewell.