Dragon Raja——
Inside the Love Hotel.
"It feels like Danfeng's being a bit too harsh," Erii wrote in her notebook.
"Hmm… it's like he's trying to guilt-trip him, isn't it?" Lu Mingfei chose his words carefully, unsure if Erii would understand "guilt-trip." After all, she was as pure as a blank sheet of paper, but after thinking for a while, he couldn't find a better term.
Not only did Danfeng pop up out of nowhere like Lu Mingze, but as the former Dragon Sovereign and the instigator of the Drinking Moon Rebellion, he didn't even give Dan Heng, his reincarnated self, a shred of courtesy. His face was cold the whole time, threatening and attacking… Come on, Dan Heng doesn't owe you anything, does he?
Lu Mingfei grumbled silently to himself. Whatever sins from the past life, whether atoned or not, had nothing to do with Dan Heng. Even if he inherited the Dragon Sovereign's power, that was the Dragon Masters' fault for meddling. The real target should be the Dragon Masters, not Dan Heng!
"I hope Dan Heng wins," Erii continued writing.
"Same here."
——
[Danfeng raised one hand, and the vast waters transformed into countless shimmering jade spears, like a torrential rain from the heavens!]
[Sharp and relentless, the rain seemed as if a deity's wrath sought to overturn the ancient sea, all-encompassing and inescapable!]
[Yet Dan Heng's figure pierced through the rain.]
[—Clang!!]
[Cloud-Piercer clashed with the myriad water spears, erupting in a sound like shattering jade. As he charged toward Danfeng, the latter remained calm and composed, unruffled.]
[Danfeng slowly raised his hand, and the Abyssal Pearl in his palm burst into radiant light.]
[In an instant, it was as if the starry sky collapsed and the sea of clouds reversed. The vast ancient waters surged, lifting Danfeng to a height that could only be looked up to.]
["Sinful prisoner Dan Heng, stubbornly defiant, you shall face eternal punishment!"]
[Danfeng coldly looked down at him as the tidal prison formed by the sea tightened around Dan Heng. Within the jade-green waves, several dark dragon shadows swam, eyeing him menacingly.]
["You have nowhere left to escape."]
[Danfeng's voice echoed, now distant, now near. In the next moment, the mighty water dragons roared from the tide, engulfing the unprepared Dan Heng!]
[The icy water flooded his nose and mouth, pouring into his lungs.]
[Dan Heng kept his eyes open, watching the light above grow fainter. The ripples distorted the sky's glow, like a hazy veil. He sank slowly, and in the dark depths, countless voices scattered, threading into his mind.]
["Sinful prisoner Danfeng, guilty of the ten heinous crimes. In light of past merits, you are granted rebirth through scale-shedding. Exiled beyond, never to return for eternity."]
["Why must you be so stubborn?"]
["Hand over the Transmutation Arcanum, and the Dragon Masters can still spare your life."]
["Lord Danfeng, why did you do this?"]
["All of this began because of you."]
["…"]
——
One Piece——
"That guy named Dan Heng lost, huh."
—Luffy's sudden comment quieted the lively deck considerably.
Zoro, wiping his sword Wado Ichimonji, let out a cold huff. "Losing to his past self… But losing to a Dragon Sovereign isn't exactly shameful."
Sanji exhaled a slow ring of smoke. "Oi, mosshead, don't sound so casual about it. Sure, the opponent's a Dragon Sovereign, but it's a 'past' he has to overcome."
"But what happens if he loses? Will Dan Heng really have to give in to Danfeng's will, leave the Express, and go back to being the Dragon Sovereign? What about Bailu then?" Nami asked curiously.
"Lose? Heh… He's someone who fought alongside General Jing Yuan and Stelle to defeat Phantylia. He won't go down that easily."
Though his tone was light, Sanji's eyes were deadly serious as he watched the black-haired youth sinking slowly on the Celestial Screen.
"If I were Dan Heng, thinking about adventuring with Himeko, March 7th, Miss Stelle… so many lovely ladies, I'd definitely stand back up no matter what!"
"Eh? So that's where your focus is, Sanji!?"
——
[No… It's not over yet…]
[Suddenly, Dan Heng's fingers clenched spasmodically as countless fragmented voices poured into his mind through the current.]
["From today, you're part of the Express crew."]
["Dan Heng, I'll leave the rest to you!"]
["Get ready, the jump's about to start, pa!"]
[His consciousness sharpened, and Dan Heng began to thrash his arms, swimming toward the surface. Bubbles escaped his lips, his lungs burning with pain, but he pushed forward relentlessly, stubbornly—]
[Reaching for that faint glimmer of light above.]
["That's right, you're my past, but you… are not my future!"]
[The moment his fingertips broke the surface, dazzling golden light poured down.]
[A radiant burst of golden light surged, instantly scattering the water dragons. Gripping Cloud-Piercer tightly, he shot forward like an arrow, fearless and unstoppable!]
["Obstinate fool!"]
[Danfeng let out a low shout, summoning more water dragons to block Dan Heng's fierce advance. But water splashed through the air, and Dan Heng, like a bird breaking free from its cage of feathers, landed lightly behind him.]
[The storm of "rain" abruptly ceased.]
[Only the sound of waves lingered, echoing endlessly in their ears.]
[Danfeng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said slowly, "Then… leave this place. Don't look back."]
[With that, Danfeng's figure dissolved into a stream of golden light and vanished.]
[Dan Heng was momentarily stunned but soon understood his intent. He closed his eyes and smiled faintly.]
["Dan Heng, what're you spacing out for?"]
[March 7th leaned in, and seeing the expression on Dan Heng's face, the girl raised her camera in surprise. "Whoa! It's rare to see you smile! One more—say cheese~"]
[Welt asked with concern, "Remembered something?"]
[Dan Heng looked toward the shimmering ancient sea in the distance.]
["…Just some old memories."]
[—This time, his voice held no loneliness, only a warm, lingering sense of comfort.]
——
Konosuba——
"Ahh~ Danfeng's cold, merciless suppression, crushing Dan Heng without a shred of pity…"
Darkness clutched her cheeks, her face flushed. The thought of Danfeng's ruthless demeanor made her voice tremble, her legs instinctively pressing together.
Megumin rolled her eyes from the side. "Here we go again, you perverted knight…"
"The most thrilling part was when Dan Heng got swept into the water by the dragon!" Darkness ignored her companion's jab, hugging herself tightly. "That suffocating feeling of being choked by the sins of his past life, the painful struggle of being drowned in past memories… Just imagining that despair makes me… makes me…"
Megumin silently raised her staff. "I propose we shut her up with Explosion Magic."
Yunyun quickly grabbed her arm. "No way! Explosion Magic's banned in town! And you'd only hurt Darkness—she'd probably enjoy it!"
As they spoke, the scene on the Celestial Screen suddenly shifted.
"Five Dragons' Exile…? What's that mean?"
Kazuma's eyes widened with curiosity.