Chapter 321: Are you a Refiner...

Chapter 321: Are you a Refiner...

The coastal scene resembled hell, with countless Shi Shou emerging from the water, their shriveled and hideous bodies emitting a wailing sound that made one's scalp tingle.

Hanae and Kusanagi Etsu stood at the edge of a cliff, the latter blocking the way, cursing the little punk who had kidnapped his daughter a thousand times in his mind as he faced the dense crowd of Shi Shou.

Was this dangerous place really where they were supposed to be? Why didn't that punk handle it all by himself if he was so capable!

"Don't be afraid, Hanae, Dad will protect you."

The former supreme leader of the underworld, now a nervous father, managed a smile for his recently acknowledged daughter.

He was inwardly panicking but dared not show it, fearing to appear weak before his daughter and make her think him useless. However, aside from his potent Imperial Blood, he felt he had little to be proud of.

Before his awakening, Kusanagi Etsu had been a timid and fearful child. After awakening, everyone treated him with utmost respect, and they elevated him to the position of 'Shadow Emperor'. They offered him seven or eight wives, hoping he would continue the 'Emperor' bloodline, but he failed in this task.

The only time he had mustered the courage to take action in his life was when the leader of the European Secret Party was about to come to Japan for the half-breeds. As a result, he was beaten repeatedly with two wooden swords by Ange, and then he wasted sixty years of his life at a ramen stall, becoming an old man on the brink of death.

But suddenly one day, this man who had been a failure his entire life was informed that he had three children—a girl and twin boys. Each was a dragon among men, the boys handsome and the girl beautiful. This news made it impossible for him to remain a failure any longer.

"You leave here immediately, and let me handle everything."

Hanae blinked her clear eyes and shook her head. "Lu Ke said this is a parent-child activity prepared for us, and we have to play together."

What kind of parent-child activity was this? Where playing with Shi Shou was the activity! Kusanagi Etsu's lips twitched a few times. He guessed that Hanae probably didn't understand the danger of the situation. After a sigh, his Golden Eye, dormant for sixty years, shone with ancient dragon-like authority. He uttered an ancient and solemn Dragon Language.

A black sun abruptly appeared in the seawater, slowly rotating. The massive Incantation effect had long surpassed the capabilities of a half-breed, and the Shi Shou, capable of fighting A-level half-breeds, disintegrated upon contact. The enormous gravity altered the wind direction, pulling the Shi Shou into its grasp.

This commotion naturally attracted the attention of the Shi Shou leader, a giant dragon-like creature. Its deep eyes, likely belonging to a superior subspecies in its previous life, let out a deafening roar, and the invisible sound waves caused ripples on the black sun, slightly affecting the domain.

Kusanagi Etsu's eyes narrowed, ready to counterattack his formidable opponent. Suddenly, a massive ice spear descended from above, piercing the Shi Shou leader in an instant, instantly killing it!

The massive corpse, over ten meters long, sank into the sea. Without their leader, the Shi Shou horde didn't retreat or show fear. Instead, they rioted even more fiercely, climbing the steep cliff with their sharp claws, writhing like snakes and emitting hoarse howls.

Kusanagi Etsu looked at Hanae in astonishment, and she pointed with her right hand at the spot where the dragon-like Shi Shou had been. It was clear that she was responsible for that strike.

"It's a parent-child activity."

Hanae spoke seriously, and without even chanting the Dragon Language, she unleashed her Incantation, effortlessly manipulating the elements like a Dragon King. Her 'Judgment' domain expanded rapidly, covering an area of over a hundred meters. All Shi Shou within the domain were instantly deprived of life, releasing their grip and falling back into the sea.

"Hanae, one hundred and twenty-one points!"

Hanae smiled faintly and uttered an incomprehensible sentence.

Several seconds later, Kusanagi Etsu realized that his daughter was treating the fallen Shi Shou as game scores. He smiled bitterly, feeling both proud and amused.

Indeed, she was his daughter. The effect of her Incantation was beyond the reach of even a traditional 'Emperor' like him. No wonder that punk had sent them here, and no wonder Hanae wasn't afraid, treating it all as a game.

"Alright, let's compete then!"

He laughed exuberantly, chanting the Dragon Language with even greater vigor. Under his full power, the domain of the black sun rapidly expanded.

'Judgment', the Incantation that ruthlessly took all life within its domain!

'Black Sun', the Incantation that annihilated all physical forms!

The combination of these two dangerous Incantations didn't repel each other; instead, they fused, creating a bizarre synergy. The scorching and dazzling Black Sun and the silent and deadly Judgment brought endless death.

The entire coastline collapsed in an instant!

...

At the tunnel entrance of the Akagawa River.

The crimson fetal blood continued to gush out, and countless dragon subspecies roared as they emerged. All the creatures in the ecosystem nurtured by the blood of Yamata no Orochi had genes that were even more terrifying than those in Takamagahara, with various deformed and horrific fish and mutated aquatic animals that were unrecognizable in their original forms swarming out.

Among the swarm of monsters, the ferocious Dragon Executioner, the Ghost-Toothed Dragon Viper, weaved through the tunnels, their silver-blue bodies undulating with the surging red water. They exhibited an incredible ability to leap, baring their sharp, iron-like teeth as they attempted to break free from the water and rush onto the shore.

Just then, a terrifying pressure descended upon the entire exit of the tunnel, forcing all the creatures trying to escape back into the water. Some of the Ghost-Toothed Dragon Vipers were even crushed into meat paste under the intense pressure.

Incantation of Sovereignty!

Genji Shina coldly observed the invaders in the water. These dragon subspecies had no natural predators, and if they escaped, he didn't know what level of species invasion they might cause. He exerted all his strength to control the range of his incantation, not letting a single Ghost-Toothed Dragon Viper escape.

In the blink of an eye, he had teleported from the shrine to this place, and standing beside him was Old Dad and his younger brother, Genji Shina, who was supposed to be imprisoned in the Black Prison.

There were more people at the scene than just these three. The crowd around them was dense, and several family heads of the Serpent Clan and their members were also present, each with a look of bewilderment and confusion on their faces. Next to them were rows of transport trucks filled with mercury.

Genji Shina maintained the 'Sovereignty' incantation, marveling inwardly.

Spatial transfer was an alchemical technique that existed only in theory, let alone the teleportation of multiple people and objects. Recalling how Lu Ke effortlessly crushed Odin, the Dragon King, he now wouldn't be surprised if someone told him that Lu Ke was a god.

"Do you feel like our strength has deteriorated? It's like Goku encountering Frieza on Planet Namek. We thought 530,000 was the limit, but the Emperor of the Universe had two more stages of transformation, and his power skyrocketed to over a hundred million."

Genji Shina's younger brother, Genji Shina, smiled as he spoke, and the 'Dream Eater' incantation quietly blossomed, enveloping the mentally weak dragon-like creatures in a dream. One by one, they stopped struggling, easing the pressure on Genji Shina.

"At least this time, Frieza is on our side, so it's not too bad."

Genji Shina replied calmly, glancing at his brother, "Do you still watch those shows in the Demonic Hosts?"

"Fujima Ryuuji doesn't kill people every day. When he's not busy, he also looks for ways to pass the time. Watching children's programs reminds me of the days when we used to sit in front of the TV together."

Genji Shina's expression turned somber, "I remember you liked Ultraman Hikari the most. You always wanted to be a partner of justice, but I became a hindrance on your path to justice. I became a demon, and I don't know why I turned into a demon, why I killed those girls, or why I joined the Demonic Hosts."

His voice was gentle and flowing, and tears began to fall without him realizing it. In the life mostly dominated by the Fujima Ryuuji personality, Genji Shina had not grown up well and remained the same gentle and timid child as before.

"It's embarrassing to talk about being a partner of justice now, especially after watching Fate/Zero. I don't want to be like Kiritsugu Emiya or Shirou Emiya; I just want to live a peaceful life."

Genji Shina lit a Soft Seven cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled, speaking amidst the swirling smoke.

"I'm glad you're still alive. Even though you committed a grave crime, I didn't execute you on the spot. A family head who disregards personal feelings can't lead well. After this, I'll pass on the position to someone else and find a beach to sell sunscreen and live my own life."

"Shina, I hope you can also live your own life, free from the shadow of Fujima Ryuuji."

After speaking, he revealed a resolute expression, turned to the members of the Serpent Clan, and raised his voice.

"Everyone, prepare for battle! Be ready for a counterattack from the monsters below. Those with defensive incantations, prepare your domains. Those with sufficient bloodlines, stand in the second row with your offensive incantations. Those who can drive, fill the trucks with mercury. Mercury is highly toxic to dragons!"

"Yes, Family Head!"

The members of the data nodded solemnly and began to carry out the tasks assigned by the family head.

Genji Shina stood in place, muttering to herself, "My own life?"

...

"You're more submissive than I thought, and the Dragon King's dignity seems to have faded too quickly."

Lu Ke was slightly surprised. Although it was the shame of the first generation, it was still the proper Earth and Mountain Monarch. This little Dragon Princess had more humanity than he expected.

She pouted, "The survival rule of the dragon race is survival of the fittest. Other methods are calculated separately. The fact that you defeated multiple Dragon Kings single-handedly proves your strength, and you have the right to make me submit."

"And that's how it is." The baby-faced girl pouted, her expression a mix of frustration and defiance, but it quickly faded away.

"With your personality, if I didn't submit, you'd either kill me or torture me with all sorts of weird methods."

She spoke with a hint of resentment and a desire to prove herself.

Watching the dragon race, who was acting like a genuine human girl and expressing her emotions perfectly, Lu Ke raised an eyebrow.

"You speak as if you know me well."

He didn't recall a girl named Xia Mi in his memories, and even if his memories had been tampered with, they should have been restored after his golden finger awakened.

"You were my subject of observation, once upon a time."

Yemengaddi's eyes grew complex, "Imitating humans is a long process. I need to observe all sorts of people—not just men and women, young and old, but also those from different social classes, identities, and backgrounds. I feed off their joys and sorrows, and gradually make them my own."

She paused, her dazzling vertical pupils fixed on Lu Ke's body, her gaze seeming to materialize and lick him from top to bottom.

"I observed you because the television, news, and newspapers were filled with stories about you. Your long-term vision for business and domestic affairs was highly praised, with countless flattering words. I infiltrated your mansion with a humble learning spirit..."

"And then?"

Yemengaddi let out a cold laugh, with a hint of disdain, "At that time, you were bringing the school's beauty queen back to your room. You kissed and caressed her soft lips, undressed her, and then..." She trailed off, "I was hiding in a tree in your courtyard."

Lu Ke felt a bit embarrassed, not expecting that someone had witnessed his intimate moments in the past, but he quickly straightened up with pride.

Wasn't this a form of learning and growth?

"Later, on a certain day, you suddenly changed. Your originally average looks became captivating, and your height shot up from 1.73 meters to 1.9 meters. Your once frail and untrained body became robust and muscular, and even down there..."

Hearing this, Lu Ke interrupted sternly, "Don't talk nonsense. I was a fighter from the start!"

"Anyway, you underwent a significant transformation overnight. What's even stranger is that there's no dragon blood in your body, at least not from the Black Queen, Nigohort. This is something I still can't figure out even now."

Yemengaddi's eyes revealed confusion, curiosity, and a desire to understand, "I was once very curious about this, even considering using my body to get close to you. But your rapidly increasing strength made me hesitate, and then this plan was aborted when you went to Cassel Academy."

"So that happened too."

Lu Ke stroked his chin, realizing that Yemengaddi had been observing him for more than just a day or two. If he traced back further... had she set her sights on him since he was fifteen or sixteen?

"You don't have a special fetish for teenage boys, do you?"

Yemengaddi fell silent, as if she hadn't heard the question. Her eyes shifted, and she looked at the black snake and Odin with longing.

"Since I've chosen to submit to you, can you bestow upon me a Dragon Bone Cross? If I consume it, I can become complete, transform into Hel, the ruler of the Land of the Dead, and my assistance to you will be even greater."

Lu Ke found this amusing, "As for Odin, he's the father of a friend of mine and the enemy of another. The final judgment will be left to those two."

"What about this one?" Yemengaddi pointed at the black snake.

"That might require the permission of its owner." Lu Ke shrugged, his tone casual as he spoke words that sent a chill down Yemengaddi's spine.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

"I did say you were just appetizers."

As soon as he finished speaking, the black snake, which had been writhing and struggling, suddenly shuddered. Its dull eyes regained their brilliance, and its head turned towards a specific direction, like a lost puppy catching the scent of its owner.

The once-calm ground began to shake again, and a loud buzzing sound reverberated through the air, heralding an endless nightmare.

Lu Ke gazed into the distance, his eyes piercing through the earth, the shattered Crimson Well, and the layers of cocoons. He saw a pure white, flawless dragon claw emerge from its cocoon, like a work of art.

"What a night of calamities. I guess Tokyo TV won't be airing any anime."

He spoke softly.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end