"Idiot Paimon!"
"That's a tank!"
Lumine couldn't stand it anymore. She reached out and gently tugged at Paimon's small cape, her face feeling a little hot:
"Be quiet. This is a very tense moment."
"If you keep making noise like this, the driver will be troubled."
Although she herself felt incredibly nostalgic and excited about everything outside the window.
But the caution developed from long-term beatings...
Made her prefer to lower her presence before a big battle arrived.
Sitch, who was concentrating on driving, felt another layer of cold sweat instantly break out on his back when he heard this.
He carefully glanced at King, who was sitting in the passenger seat with his eyes closed in meditation.
He quickly forced out a flattering smile, completely abandoning his usual arrogant demeanor as a Hero Association executive.
Even his voice softened by eight octaves:
"No, no, no, I am not troubled at all!"
"This... uh, this floating little lady is so innocent and charming, she's the best seasoning for a boring journey!"
"Please, don't hold back!"
"The Hero Association needs exactly this kind of energetic talent!"
As he spoke, he fumbled in his suit's inner pocket for a black and gold card embossed with the Hero Association emblem, respectfully handing it backward to the backseat.
"Oh, right, the gourmet building we just passed is one of our association's properties."
"This little lady must not be from City A, right?"
"It's normal to be interested in the local cuisine when you're new here."
"Please accept this privilege card. It allows you to consume anything at any affiliated Hero Association establishment without payment."
"Consider it a small token of my personal regard."
Paimon's eyes lit up instantly, like two small stars.
She zipped over to take the card, holding it in her hands and examining it repeatedly, her eyes curved into crescents, her small face filled with happiness:
"Unlimited free food? And no need to pay? Really? You're such a good person!"
Lumine covered her face, feeling her cheeks flush, and whispered to Paimon, "Paimon, be polite..."
"Oh, it's fine!"
Paimon happily tucked the card into her 'dimensional' little cape:
"This uncle looks very kind, doesn't he, uncle?"
Sitch's mouth twitched violently.
Who are you calling uncle? I'm only 27 this year!
Although he complained internally, he still forced out an incredibly cordial smile on his face:
"Of, of course! As long as the little lady likes it!"
He secretly glanced at the passenger seat again, seeing that King was still meditating with his eyes closed and didn't seem angry, which made him secretly sigh in relief.
Furina was also infected by Paimon's liveliness and chuckled softly.
She slightly tilted her head, looking at the scenery outside the window. The towering buildings and endless stream of vehicles were both strange and novel to her.
"Su...King,"
She spoke softly, with a hint of undetectable trepidation in her voice:
"What is your workplace like?"
"Are those other 'heroes' all as powerful as you?"
King opened his eyes, his gaze calmly fixed on the end of the road ahead.
There, the magnificent silhouette of the Hero Association Headquarters was already visible in the night.
"Rather than strong,"
He carefully chose his words, trying to be objective: "I'd say... absurd."
What he didn't say was that some were absurdly strong, like a certain bald man.
Some were absurdly special, like a certain gay pervert.
"Absurd?"
Furina tilted her head, seemingly interested in this description.
"We're here."
King didn't elaborate, because the special car had already smoothly stopped in front of the futuristic gate of the Hero Association Headquarters.
The car door slid open automatically.
Sitch was the first to jump out, respectfully leading the way for everyone:
"Mr. King, distinguished guests, please."
King got out first, followed gracefully and curiously by Furina, who held her skirt.
Lumine and Paimon followed closely behind.
Before them stood an incredibly magnificent black colossal building.
Its lines were sleek and sharp, illuminated by countless searchlights in the night, making it resemble a steel star fallen to earth.
The entrance was bustling with people, mostly staff in Hero Association uniforms.
Occasionally, figures with various appearances and extraordinary auras hurried past—
These were the other registered heroes.
"Wow..."
Paimon's mouth hung open as she looked up at the towering building:
"So, so tall! It's even bigger than the Opera Epiclese!"
Lumine was also secretly astonished. The scale of this 'organization' seemed no less impressive than any of the Seven Nations of Teyvat.
Furina frowned slightly. Her mind was agile, and as soon as she stepped out, she felt a pervasive tension in the air.
Although people came and went, everyone's face carried more or less solemnity, hurrying as if a huge shadow loomed in their hearts.
This made her think of that 'prophecy' again.
"Mr. King, this way please. The meeting is in the top-floor strategic conference room." Sitch bowed and led the group through the spacious and bright lobby towards the private elevator... 12 hours ago.
Sitch bowed and led the group through the spacious and bright lobby towards the private elevator... 12 hours ago.
Outskirts of City B.
The earth shook violently.
Mountain ranges, like modeling clay kneaded by an invisible giant hand, collapsed and rose in large sections amidst deafening roars and swirling dust.
A colossal claw covered in reddish-brown scales broke through eons of rock layers and pressed onto the earth.
The tips of its claws easily sank into the rock, leaving several deep pits.
Immediately after, came the second colossal claw.
Then, a body so vast it inspired despair—
A body seemingly composed of the mountains themselves, it broke free from the Earth's crust and slowly rose.
Majestic peaks appeared like children's sandcastles before it.
It raised its head, resembling a legendary giant dragon, yet even rougher and more ancient.
Every scale bore the marks of time, and ancient ferns even grew in its crevices.
A pair of dragon eyes Burning with fire, like two setting suns sinking into the earth's core, overlooked the distant human city.
"Roar—!!"
It opened its massive mouth and roared, the airflow transforming into a hurricane, kicking up sand and stones, flattening forests for several kilometers.
"The long slumber... is over!!!"
The violent sound boomed directly in the ears of all living creatures within dozens of miles.
Carrying the accumulation of billions of years.
"Humans... tiny, noisy, crawling like ants across the surface."
"How can they rule the Earth?!"
"This planet was once ruled by a greater, more Ancient Race."
"The deep sea, the underground, the sky... all were hunting grounds for my kin."
"Now, that large lizard in the deep sea and that foolish burrower underground have both fallen..."
The giant dragon's eyes shifted slightly, locking onto the direction of City B.
"It is time for this planet to return to 'orthodoxy'."
"My name is — 'Ancient King'."
"This is the time for the Ancient Race's revival!"
The Ancient King lifted a colossal foot and began to move.
With each step, the earth groaned under the immense weight, leaving meteorite-crater-like footprints, and sending shockwaves far away.
At the military observation post on the outskirts of City B, alarms had long been blaring.
"Target confirmed! Code name 'Ancient King'! Over two hundred meters tall!"
"Energy readings have exceeded the Demon Level peak threshold, rapidly approaching Dragon Level!"
"It's heading towards City B!!"
"All non-combat personnel evacuate immediately! Repeat, evacuate immediately!"
"Where is the rocket force?!"
"Already in position! But our conventional firepower might..."
The command center was in chaos.
Just then, a lazy young female voice, with a hint of impatience, came over the communication channel:
"Just a big lizard, you're all so noisy!"
"Commander over there, lure that nuisance out to the suburbs."
"I'll handle the rest."
As her voice faded, in the distant sky, the cargo door of a high-speed transport plane opened.
A petite green figure, without any landing equipment, stepped directly out from ten thousand meters high, arms crossed.
Wild winds whipped her dark green curly hair and black slit dress.
There was no tension on her face, only an irritable desire to 'finish quickly and go home'.
S-Class Rank 2, Terrible Tornado, has arrived!
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