Chapter 286: The Scene Unfolds

Chapter 286: The Scene Unfolds

On the rooftop, the fierce and robust "Dick Treadwell" clashed with the ghostly "Murasame."

Both transformed into near-invisible phantasmal lights at high speed, engaging in a deadly battle that resembled a graceful dance performance. This fight had long surpassed the standards of a typical student confrontation, as both combatants were geniuses far superior to their peers.

Just then, Lu Ke's voice reverberated throughout the entire school.

"Attention everyone, S-level freshman Lu Mingfei has successfully entered Norton Hall."

In the midst of the intense battle, Caesar, his blood boiling, revealed the golden eyes unique to half-breeds and the Dragon Clan. A hint of aggression emanated from his body.

"Another S-level."

He couldn't understand how someone named Lu Mingfei had managed to pass through the blockade; even he couldn't have done it.

The area was teeming with elite members of the Lionheart Society and the Student Council, and with several alchemical sniper rifles aimed at them, theoretically, only he and Chu Zihan could determine the victor. The winner would then lead their remaining forces to extinguish the enemy and enter Norton Hall.

Could it be that Lu Mingfei was an exceptionally powerful individual like Lu Ke, and was there really such a significant gap between S-level and A-level? Caesar pondered the situation, and in his peripheral vision, he noticed Chu Zihan's momentary hesitation. Chu Zihan waved Dick Treadwell to shake off Murasame and create some distance.

"Do you know someone named Lu Mingfei?"

Chu Zihan's eyebrows furrowed. Indeed, he was aware of a junior named Lu Mingfei at Shilan High School. On that fateful night of torrential rain, which changed his destiny, every detail was etched into his memory.

The sky poured down a heavy downpour, and a small, younger student pleaded with a female classmate from the same class to give him a ride. The girl refused, and the dejected boy, with his neck crooked and head hanging low, slowly walked away along the eaves.

Chu Zihan sensed the boy's loneliness and was about to offer him a ride when the boy put on his outerwear, resembling a stray dog, and rushed into the rain. The pouring rain then cut off all communication between the two.

In hindsight, it was probably for the best. If Lu Mingfei had gotten into his car that day, the outcome might not have been pleasant. Perhaps he would have met the same fate as that man, dying at the hands of "God."

"I don't really know him; it might just be a coincidence of names."

Chu Zihan forced himself to detach from that nightmare-like rainy night. Sheathing Murasame, he noticed Caesar across from him seemed to have lost his fighting spirit.

"You're not continuing?"

"My bottom line is to be the first to enter Norton Hall. For me, Free Day has already lost."

Caesar responded coldly, raising his chin in a challenging manner, "Shall we go inside and take a look?"

Chu Zihan remained silent, not because of Caesar's provocation, but because he had his own reasons for going in.

When the two arrived at Norton Hall, the members of the Lionheart Society and the Student Council no longer concealed themselves. Both sides openly confronted each other, while Susie and Nonno stood on opposite sides, controlling the situation.

Caesar noticed that neither side had suffered significant injuries, and his eyes flickered with curiosity. "How did you let a newcomer pass through?"

Everyone fell silent for a moment, feeling that being deceived so easily would be a blemish on their impressive resumes.

"Forget it, I'll go ask myself."

Impatient, Caesar strode forward, his body disappearing into the darkness, closely followed by Chu Zihan's shadow.

Nonno seemed slightly tempted, her sharp eyes fixed on the black curtain, also wanting to step inside. Susie held her back, dissuading her.

"It's not safe in there."

"But you didn't stop Chu Zihan either."

"I can't convince him, but you're different." Susie frowned, unsure of Nonno's wish and knowing that Lu Ke would never grant it.

"Just as you said, he's a terrible person."

"We should at least try. Even if he's terrible, I've never seen him hit a girl."

"I know several junior sisters who shared with me that Lu Ke liked them to kneel and lean forward on the bed, grabbing their arms from behind while slapping their buttocks with his other hand..."

The vivid description sparked a series of images in Nonno's mind, and she stopped, looking at Susie with a hint of frustration.

"You're really good at persuading people."

"Thank you for the compliment."

...

As Caesar and Chu Zihan stepped into Norton Hall, their vision darkened. Instead of the familiar luxurious displays inside, they found themselves in an unfamiliar setting.

The path they had taken vanished, and both stopped in their tracks. Unconsciously, their golden eyes were activated, and an invisible wave emanated from Caesar, providing feedback on the surrounding information. Chu Zihan, on the other hand, exhaled a breath carrying a scorching aura.

"Discipline" had disappeared!

The dormant spirits suddenly awakened, and the ancient bloodline coursing through their veins quickened. The constraints of their incantations were lifted, and they felt especially vibrant, perhaps due to long-suppressed emotions.

The two exchanged glances, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes, and then silently surveyed the surroundings.

The sky was slightly gray, devoid of the sun, and heavy snow fell. The biting cold gradually cooled their bodies, and as far as the eye could see, everything was blanketed in white.

They seemed to be in a commercial street.

Chu Zihan examined the shops, most of which had a rectangular shape with wood as the primary material, displaying a natural wood color or a deep, treated wood exterior. This gave off a rustic and warm ambiance. Typically, a large sign hung above the shop entrances, and the windows had wooden frames. In a nutshell, the area exuded a vintage yet not antiquated charm.

It was as if an entire architectural complex had been cut out from the past.

However, the most striking feature was...

"Is this a Japanese commercial street?"

Caesar, noticing the Japanese characters and the curtain with "いらしゃいませ" written on it, pointed out the most obvious clue. He looked around, seeing dark clouds overhead and feeling the impending arrival of a heavy downpour. The ground beneath his feet was solid dirt, and the sense of realism was palpable.

"Are we hallucinating, or have we actually traveled through space to Japan?"

"There's a third possibility; we might have stumbled into a different realm."

Caesar gave Chu Zihan a strange look. Although he felt that this hallucination was incredibly real, clear, and coherent, the idea of a different realm seemed a bit far-fetched.

"Are you making a bad joke?"

Chu Zihan didn't seem to be joking. His face was as cold as iron.

"In Norse mythology, the world consists of various realms. Midgard is the Earth, and beyond that, there are Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Helheim, Niflheim, and Muspelheim."

"Additionally, there are other realms, such as Valhalla, the hall of heroes created by Odin, or Niflheim, the land of the dead."

The history of the Dragon Clan was intricately tied to Norse mythology. The Black King Nigghard was the calamitous dragon that devoured the World Tree. Therefore, the existence of a different realm made sense, and Chu Zihan had personally experienced it during that rainy night.

"Our Incantations were not released because we exceeded the influence of Discipline, but because we entered a realm where Discipline's domain has no control—a different realm."

Chu Zihan looked at the commercial street and spoke softly, "In theory, the pinnacle of alchemy can achieve the miracle of opening up space. However, this is not a realm that humans can reach. Even Nicholas Flamel, who created the Philosopher's Stone in the 14th century, was far from achieving this."

If it were truly possible, it would likely be the "Bronze and Flame King" Norton, the most skilled alchemist among the Four Great Kings, who could accomplish it.

Caesar frowned as he listened, "That doesn't sound very scientific. Are you saying that Lu Ke has surpassed that wise man and truly opened up a space?"

"...I'm not sure. In fact, Lu Ke only started taking alchemy courses last semester, and he only studied what was taught at the school. Even if he mastered everything and became proficient in alchemy, he would still be far from achieving the miracle of opening up space."

Chu Zihan thought for a moment and provided the most reasonable explanation, "Norton Hall is the private villa of Mennek Cassel, the first principal of Cassel Academy. It hides many secrets unknown to others. Perhaps this place is a node connected to a different realm, and Lu Ke discovered and activated it."

"That's the best-case scenario. I can't accept that someone could surpass Nicholas Flamel in just one semester; it would make me look foolish."

Caesar, remaining vigilant, walked into the commercial street, observing his surroundings. The shops were decorated in the style of the 70s and 80s, but there was no dust, and no other people were in sight. The place felt empty, like a dead city.

The eerie atmosphere was unsettling.

After not detecting any movement with his eyes, Caesar furrowed his brows and activated his Incantation.

Incantation: Weasel, Serial Number 59.

Weasel, a wind demon from Japanese mythology, was a trio of brothers hiding in the wind, using the high-speed vacuum created by the wind to slash passersby. The Incantation named after it could enslave the wind in the air, amplifying and reflecting sound a thousandfold.

Caesar unleashed his full domain, issuing a command. The air was filled with the frenzied dance of Weasel, and the sound waves rushing towards him were like a surging sea, with countless sounds overlapping and amplifying hundreds of times.

"Over there!"

Snowflakes could absorb sound, but with the amplification of Weasel, a faint voice could still be heard from a distance. Caesar opened his eyes and rushed forward, with Chu Zihan closely following.

After running for a few minutes, they reached the latter half of the commercial street. Holding their breath, they cautiously approached a... ramen shop.

Caesar deactivated Weasel and didn't lower his footsteps. Even at this close distance, Chu Zihan could hear sounds coming from inside the shop. He, too, was cautious, as it was normal for a store to have people, but in this place, it seemed unusual.

The two approached carefully, nodding when they were close enough.

Bang!

"Don't move! Hands up!"

Caesar kicked open the door, fired a warning shot at the ceiling with his modified Desert Eagle, and aimed his other gun precisely at the humanoid creature inside. Chu Zihan also drew his Murasame, ready to strike, and the two looked like fierce bank robbers.

Inside the ramen shop, everything seemed normal. The warm air dispelled the coldness of the two robbers. There were no terrifying enemies or monsters, only a "girl" standing on a stool, eating ramen with gusto.

The "girl" was pointed at with a sword and knife, and the chopsticks in her hand fell to the ground with a 'crack'. Her face crumpled, and she hugged her head in fear.

"Surrender, don't shoot! We're all on the same side!"

The "girl" pitifully said, "I was just hungry and wanted some ramen."

The situation became awkward for a moment, and everyone looked at each other.

Caesar looked at the "girl" with an astonished gaze, as if observing a new species. Although many women had flat chests, the masculine voice of the "girl" struck a heavy blow to the arrogant young master.

The Gattuso family men were always gentlemen to women, but the creature before them was difficult to categorize. Moreover, in America, there were over two hundred genders to choose from, including armed helicopters or Walmart plastic bags. He was momentarily speechless.

However, Chu Zihan recognized the "girl's" face, sheathed his sword, and spoke in a calm voice.

"Lu Mingfei, it's really you."

Hearing his name, Lu Mingfei tentatively raised his head and saw Chu Zihan, an outstanding graduate of Shilan High School and the former top-ranked target on the Beast To Be Slaughtered List.

"Is... that you, Senior Chu?"

Caesar looked at Lu Mingfei as if he had seen a ghost. The white lace gown had no pockets, and an iPhone 16 Pro was in his hand. Caesar immediately understood how he had entered.

Damn, the new S-Class is a bit too abstract!

After a brief exchange, Lu Mingfei had only arrived a short while before them, and he thought the boss was in Norton Hall, but somehow he ended up on this Japanese commercial street, only realizing there were people when they reached the ramen shop.

"This shop is under Boss Qianchuan's name. He also runs the blacksmith shop next door. He served me a bowl of ramen and then went out to restock."

A blacksmith shop? Are there still such ancient businesses? Caesar raised an eyebrow. Modern craftsmanship is countless times better than ancient methods. Some famous swords are passed down because they were made by ancient alchemists, but most famous swords are just flashy names. Any modern mass-produced sword could easily shatter those famous blades.

"Do you know where we are and why it looks like this?"

"According to Boss Qianchuan, this place is called East Wood City. It's been deserted for a long time due to a gas explosion that happened a long time ago. Everyone else moved away, and only he's left managing the ramen shop his father-in-law left behind."

Chu Zihan, who values logic, frowned. "What does a gas explosion have to do with desolation?"

"With 'East Wood City' and 'gas explosion,' I think Boss Qianchuan is just playing with the plot from Fate. It's like how this ramen shop is called 'Ichiran Ramen.'"

Lu Mingfei shrugged, but the two across from him looked at him with puzzled eyes.

He widened his eyes, "Didn't you have a childhood? Fate Zero and Naruto."

Chu Zihan: "I've only watched Winnie the Pooh and His Friends."

Caesar: "I understand a little about the game, but not anime..."

Lu Mingfei's heart ached. His two teammates were social butterflies, and he was the only otaku, feeling like a husky that had sneaked into a pack of wolves.

But these weren't important. What mattered was how to leave. He looked at Chu Zihan, the only familiar person present.

"Chu... Senior, what do you think we should do next?"

Caesar also looked at Chu Zihan, who seemed more knowledgeable about this.

Facing two pairs of urging eyes, Chu Zihan pursed his lips, "Let's keep moving forward. There should be an end. Lu Ke dislikes riddles, so the clues should be straightforward."

The three stepped out of the shop, and a bone-chilling cold instantly hit them. In the short time they had stopped, the snowstorm outside had intensified, and the temperature had dropped several degrees.

"So cold!"

Lu Mingfei let out a cry, his eyes wide as he wore only a skirt. "It was sunny when I arrived. How did it suddenly get so cold?"

"It was already snowing when we got here."

This didn't make sense. There was less than half an hour between their arrivals, and they had only been in the ramen shop for about ten minutes. Even with a cold snap, the temperature shouldn't have dropped this quickly.

"Maybe the rule here is that the longer you stay, the colder it gets."

Chu Zihan frowned and returned to the ramen shop to remove the door curtain and wrap Lu Mingfei, "We can't stay in this environment for too long. Even a hybrid can't endure it for long."

Caesar quickly made a decision, "Let's run. We can warm up while we run, and if there's a fight, we can get our bodies ready."

The three ran forward quickly, but Lu Mingfei, panting behind them, shouted in embarrassment.

"Can you slow down? I can't keep up."

The two in front stopped, and Caesar's eyes were filled with doubt, "Aren't you S-Class?"

Chu Zihan silently extended a hand to support Lu Mingfei, his tone calm, "There are S-Class individuals who aren't good at physical endurance. The direction of dragon blood enhancement can also be biased towards the brain."

"You owe me one."

"Okay."

Caesar also supported Lu Mingfei, and the two began to sprint together, with Lu Mingfei sandwiched between them like the unlucky one in the middle of a three-legged race, except he wasn't touching the ground.

The snowstorm made it hard for Lu Mingfei to keep his eyes open, and the jostling made his head spin. But Caesar and Chu Zihan soon stopped, though they didn't put him down.

Lu Mingfei could feel the arms holding him tense, and their bodies entered a state of blood rush, as if preparing for battle.

Lu Mingfei opened his eyes, and just as he was about to ask what was happening, he was immediately shocked by the scene before him.

At the end of the road was a vast white expanse. A dragon, about thirty meters in size, with a sacred horn on its head, a pale green shell on its back, and a white feather-like fluttering membrane covering most of its body, like a giant fin, lay on the ground.

The dragon's body continuously exuded a chill, clearly the culprit behind the dropping temperature. It lowered its head slightly, and its eyes, filled with divinity and majesty, gazed at the trio. The pressure was like a mountain, almost tangible, making it hard to breathe.

A dragon!

And it was obviously an extremely powerful pureblood dragon!

It was a third-generation dragon, either a descendant of the Four Great Kings or one of the Four Great Kings themselves!

"Is this your idea of a straightforward clue? It's certainly straightforward."

Caesar's voice was dry. The strength of dragons was something hybrid breeds understood all too well. Even an S-Class individual would feel utterly powerless against a third-generation dragon with their bare hands.

Without alchemical weapons and the Philosopher's Stone, trying to fight a dragon of this caliber was suicidal.

"I'll hold it off."

Chu Zihan's face was ashen, but he remained remarkably calm, gazing at the dragon with a cold stare, as if seeing through it to a great and noble god.

He drew Murasame, and his face was as cold as the blade.

"When I give the signal, you run."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end