Half a month later.
Morin, in his water-form, stared blankly at the data scrolling across the display.
In the world of AI, self-completion was extremely high. Other than turning it on and issuing commands, he barely needed to do anything. Every experimental process was handled autonomously.
One-button, idiot-proof operation.
Sometimes he didn't even need to move-just speak.
This was the power of technology.
Moments like this reminded him of how Samson had once foolishly asked whether he was using "Living Soul" technology.
In Morin's mind, Samson now carried a clear label: cute dummy.
After all, anyone who could be coaxed with a few words into letting their blood be drawn until they needed bed rest... what else could they be?
Of course, it might also be because Samson couldn't beat him.
In that case, whether he was tricked or not didn't really matter. If he resisted, maybe even more blood would've been taken.
Perhaps that's the wisdom of the weak, Morin thought, glancing at Samson, who was currently in his daily state of "playing dead."
At that moment, a faint vibration spread through the air.
It grew rapidly.
From subtle to violent.
Morin turned toward Norton's hatching chamber.
An earthquake was ruled out instantly.
The only one who could disturb a Nibelungen at this scale was Norton himself.
"My King..." Samson struggled to sit up. "Is he finally awakening?"
As a loyal dragon servant, he had to be the first to greet his master.
"I think you should keep lying down," Morin said, looking at Samson's face, which screamed weak.
For some reason, he felt a bit guilty.
Would Norton wake up and think he'd been bullying his dragon servant?
It was just a small amount of blood for testing.
It didn't affect his health at all.
That should be understandable, right?
Inside the hatching chamber.
Countless liquid substances flowed through grooves carved into bronze.
Countless white silken threads soaked into those grooves like living things, absorbing nutrients and transporting them toward the center-two massive white cocoons.
Even dragons could not violate the law of conservation of mass.
To reconstruct their bodies, they needed energy.
A lot of it.
The vibrations came from both cocoons.
They shook in unison.
That meant Norton and Constantine would awaken almost at the same time.
The violent tremors pulled at the entire White Emperor City. A domain expanded outward from the cocoons, and everything in the city responded, trembling as if welcoming the return of their King.
Finally-
Perhaps because the pressure was lower-
The smaller cocoon cracked first.
With a screech like tearing metal, the white cocoon split open.
A dragon claw emerged first.
Iron-gray scales covered it, sharp enough to radiate killing intent-a sign of complete dragonization.
The claw slashed downward.
The screech continued.
Then red fluid flowed slowly.
The heat distorted the air.
It was molten metal.
Inside the cocoon, the peak temperature had nearly reached that of the sun.
The authority of the King of Bronze and Fire.
Absolute dominion over metal.
Ultimate command over flame.
The cocoon was ripped apart.
A figure emerged amid molten metal.
A domain spread outward.
All metal submitted.
It floated up, circling the figure like subjects welcoming their returning monarch.
A dragon.
Iron-gray scales.
Hideous claws and wings.
And yet, there was a strange harmony to its form.
A distorted beauty.
He turned his head toward the other cocoon, still shaking but unbroken.
"Brother..." he called softly.
"The one who revived wasn't your Big King," Morin said to Samson. "It was your Second King."
"By the way, how's Constantine's relationship with Norton?"
"You are not permitted to speak the King's name directly!" Samson said sternly, then added, "The Kings are inseparable."
"Indeed."
Morin glanced at Constantine, who was sitting nearby, staring intently at Norton's cocoon while muttering "Brother" under his breath, looking ready to pounce and hug it.
Samson's assessment was accurate.
This dragon's brother complex was severe.
Cassell College.
Library control room.
A red circle expanded across the main display, centered precisely on Kui Gate.
"A magnitude-three quake and high-energy fluctuations detected," Schneider said heavily. "It is highly likely Norton has fully recovered."
"Do not enter the Nibelungen."
"I repeat-do not enter."
"Are we really supposed to duel a Dragon King in that state?" Luminous's voice came through the channel. "Causing an earthquake is way too scary!"
"Even with dragon-slaying weapons, if he's dozens of meters tall, the blade might not even pierce the skin!"
At the moment, Luminous was wearing a black combat suit in the Maniake's captain's cabin.
Fully armed.
Surprisingly handsome.
As long as one ignored the nonsense he was saying.
"Being larger only makes one clumsier," Johann explained calmly. "Dragon Kings usually fight in a form close to human size."
"That's where the Seven Deadly Sins are effective."
"Too bad we can't use weapons of mass destruction," Caesar remarked.
"This is the Three Gorges," Morin said. "Using that kind of weapon would cause international war."
"Even the Principal's old friends wouldn't agree."
Another violent tremor cut off the discussion.
Stronger than before.
An ancient, drawn-out sound echoed faintly-
A dragon's roar.
"That's the second one..." Schneider's heart sank. "Even stronger readings."
"This time it's Norton."
"The previous one was Constantine."
"In pure numbers, we still have the advantage," Luminous said again. "Four versus two?"
"There's no need to fight," a voice suddenly said.
All four instantly raised their weapons.
Even Luminous reacted in time.
"Boss-no, you're fake!" Luminous blurted out.
"Water has no fixed form," the Water-form said, spreading his hands with a reckless smile. "As water, wanting to look better is normal, right?"
"That actually sounds pretty good," Morin commented.
He approved.
Self-praise felt surprisingly great.
As long as he wasn't exposed.
Otherwise, it would be social suicide.
"The King of Oceans and Water?" Caesar asked.
"I've never admitted that," the Water-form said. "But you can see I mean no harm."
"If I did, I'd have attacked when you were unprepared."
"Or joined Norton and Constantine."
"Let me speak with your commander."
"...Give him the comms," Schneider said.
Morin handed over his headset.
Everyone stayed on guard, but the Water-form looked exactly like Morin, creating an odd sense of dissonance.
"I am the operation's commander. Schneider," Schneider said.
"I am the King of Oceans and Water."
"You just said you weren't!" Luminous couldn't resist.
"I didn't before," the Water-form said smoothly. "But since you already think so, I might as well accept it."
"What is your objective?" Schneider asked coldly.
"To gather information," the Water-form replied. "To understand certain truths."
"I persuaded Norton, but not you."
"That's reasonable."
"So I'll be direct."
"Our next destination is Japan."
"There are traces of the White King there."
"Besides the Black King, it's the best research material."
"Time is limited."
"You can't deploy many elites."
"So how about a truce?"
"...The White King?" Schneider paused.
The implications were terrifying.
"I may have said too much," the Water-form said lightly. "But you can research it yourselves."
"The library is well-stocked."
"Use it."
"You stopped the dragon servant and let us take the bone jar."
"Later, you retrieved it with Norton."
"No casualties."
"Now you're here to dissuade us."
"Your stance keeps changing," Schneider said. "Your logic holds, but belief is difficult."
"Those who need to know will know," the Water-form said. "Don't rush."
"See you in Japan."
He tossed the headset back to Morin.
Then collapsed into a puddle of water.
"Instructor, what now?" Morin asked.
"Remain on alert," Schneider said after a long breath. "Do not fire unless attacked."
"I need to consult the Principal."
This operation had already exceeded expectations.
White King.
King of Bronze and Fire.
King of Oceans.
What did it mean?
Were dragons changing?
Or did they simply plan to fight each other first?
If so, hybrids would gladly watch and pick up the scraps.
Anjou stood by his office window, following the operation.
A folding knife flickered in his hand.
Forged from the broken tip of the Ataghan longsword.
An heirloom.
Capable of harming First Generation dragons.
Whenever he played with it, it meant a major decision.
"The White King..." Anjou said into the phone. "The storm is coming."
"Prepare for withdrawal."
"They're excellent."
"They shouldn't die here."
"Time is too short."
"They revived too fast."
"But what if this is a feint?" Schneider asked. "To rampage in the city?"
"The Chinese military is ready," Anjou said calmly. "This world isn't airtight."
"Many nations know."
"The Party can't cover the sky with one hand."
"Compromise is reality."
"In America, money would solve it."
"But this is China."
"Kui Gate."
"The Three Gorges."
"Downstream-hundreds of millions of people."
"This was reconnaissance."
"We were never the main actors."
"...Understood." Schneider gave the order. "Prepare to withdraw."
The second cocoon shattered.
Norton emerged.
Unlike Constantine, he appeared in human form.
A sign of complete control.
"Brother!" Constantine rushed forward.
Their domains didn't clash.
They fused.
With Norton at the core.
Norton paused, then reached out.
An embrace spanning thousands of years.
"Let's go."
One reason Norton cooperated with Morin-
Was Constantine.
If science could truly fix genetic flaws...
Then the curse of First Generation twins devouring each other could end.
He stepped out and saw Samson lying pale from blood loss.
"What did you do to him?!" Norton flew forward in fury.
"Just took a tiny bit of blood," Morin said, pinching his fingers together.
"A tiny bit?" Norton's face said liar.
"Minor issue," Morin said quickly. "No damage to his essence."
"He just needs nutrition."
"It's for research!"
"...We're leaving," Morin continued. "It's time."
"I've fully recovered," Norton said proudly. "There's no need to hide."
"The destination contains remains of the White King," Morin said.
Norton's expression changed instantly.
"Where?"
"Japan," Morin smiled. "The Eastern Isles."
Two real Dragon Kings.
Heading out together.
What kind of surprise-
Or disaster-
Would that bring to Herzog?