"Constantine."
A deep, hoarse voice called out to a blood-related family member.
However, the only response to Norton was silence. In that crumbling temple, no one called him 'brother' anymore.
They say the greatest pain is when the heart dies.
To others, he was a cruel king, a ruthless ruler, the supreme dragon king of the Dragon Clan.
He was also the master of bronze and forging, standing at the pinnacle of alchemy, a great existence!
He once used a mountain as a mold, pouring molten bronze, forging a magnificent city that neither humans nor dragons could ever reach.
He once killed metal with fire, then revived it, ultimately forging the 'Seven Deadly Sins,' a symbol of alchemy's peak, capable of killing the dragon king!
He was the King of Bronze and Fire!
But who could know?
In those lonely years, it was the weak, timid brother sitting beside him on the bronze throne, who gave him the most encouragement and support.
In Norton's cruel, golden eyes, a rare expression of confusion, loneliness, and desolation appeared.
He stared blankly at the empty city lit by flames, everything seemed to return to a thousand years ago, to the White Emperor City under the blazing fire.
That day, he howled to the sky, venting his rage and hatred.
He once said, the fate of an abandoned clan was to cross endless ice fields, raise their battle flags again, and return to their homeland.
He also said, death is not to be feared, it is just a long sleep. Before they could devour the world, it was better to rest peacefully than to walk alone. They would wake up again.
But now, Constantine, his brother, would never wake up again.
His brother, forever asleep, will never wait for the day he returns home.
Grief, confusion, loneliness, fear, helplessness, desolation. Countless emotions gathered in his heart, and in the end, they gave birth to anger.
At this moment, Norton seemed to return to calm, yet seemed more extreme.
He walked with heavy steps, dragging the dragon's body that Samson had sacrificed, struggling through the flames, stepping on the melted bronze, moving step by step toward the temple.
In the collapsed ruins, he quickly spotted the cocoon that Constantine had hatched.
But now, it had shriveled and turned yellow, the inside seemed lifeless. Amidst the spreading alchemical poison mist, there was no sound of a heartbeat.
Silent, Norton gazed at the lifeless white cocoon, and many memories flashed through his mind.
Leaving the endless ice plains with his brother, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers to reach this country.
The days spent with Constantine, and the moment of eternal rest in Bronze City, the promise to return to their homeland when they woke up together.
But now, all of it was in vain.
Norton touched the shriveled white cocoon, his hollow gaze filled with brutality: "Is this what they call fate?"
No!
Absolutely not!
Even if the final result cannot be changed, at least… he will choose the path himself!
"Even if ahead lies a road of eternal sleep." Norton carefully ripped apart the cocoon with his strong, scaled claws, revealing the bones inside. His golden eyes, tinted with blood red, opened wide, and he bit into Constantine, devouring him: "I will carve out a path that belongs to us!"
The chilling sounds of tearing and devouring echoed through the ruins.
Soon, Norton, who had devoured Constantine's remains, raised his long neck and let out a deafening roar that shook the heavens.
Roar!!!
The shockwave reverberated, and the nearly collapsing bronze temple shook violently.
His spiked tail whipped like a long whip, creating massive shockwaves.
The last two bronze columns shattered, and the bronze dome above instantly cracked and collapsed. Countless huge debris rained down, burying the white cocoon and stirring up thick clouds of dust.
Then, a long and powerful body stood tall, bursting with unmatched strength.
Undoubtedly, it was the intersection of 'authority' and 'power,' walking over countless white bones, ascending to the cold bronze throne, symbolizing a 'complete' king!
The ancient top predator had awakened, its golden eyes burning with molten gold-like flames.
They resembled two giant searchlights, lighting up the ruins filled with alchemical poison mist, sending waves of searing hot air that crashed around like a tsunami.
The bronze that made up the temple melted, flowing down like a waterfall.
The entire base and bronze city slowly began to melt under the intense heat, the underground water of the lake boiling and sending up clouds of scorching steam.
Such terrifying heat soon made Nono and Chu Zihang, who were fleeing, feel an oppressive pressure closing in from behind.
Without a doubt, the 'Dragon King' was awakening!
"The Bronze City is self-destructing!" Nono stared at the cracks in the corridor walls and the maze-like path that had completely shifted direction. She roughly understood the situation, and her bright eyes darkened slightly. She sighed, "It looks like we won't make it out."
"Don't... give up!" Chu Zihang said with difficulty. "There must be another way out. Contact... Norma."
"I've tried. The only means of communication has already been cut off."
Nono shook her head, picked up the broken black cord, and glanced at her damaged diving suit. She sighed, "Besides, even if we find an exit, without the 'key,' and with the diving suit torn, we can't surface."
After the fierce battle, both her and Chu Zihang's diving suits were severely damaged.
Maybe tired, Nono supported the seriously injured Chu Zihang, leaning against the sealed bronze wall, panting heavily. She looked at him and said, "Interview time, almost dead. Do you have anything else to say? If not, you won't get the chance."
"Go ahead, use my blood." Chu Zihang's face was pale, clearly weakened from blood loss. He weakly said, "Use my diving suit material. That way, at least you can get out."
"What nonsense are you talking about?!" Nono frowned, about to speak but was interrupted.
"Your diving suit is more intact." Chu Zihang paused, taking a breath, then continued, "I can't do it, my suit is too damaged to be repaired."
This was the only way to escape the bronze city — sacrificing one person's diving suit to repair another one that was still relatively intact.
At least with this plan, one person could survive!
"I refuse."
Nono shook her head, serious. "I can't abandon a team member to survive and then carry that burden for the rest of my life."
"I'm the leader here! I make the decisions!"
Chu Zihang raised his voice, but immediately coughed up blood.
"Sorry, I don't listen." Nono said indifferently, "When have you ever seen me follow orders?"
Chu Zihang froze at her words, then let out a bitter smile.
That's true. Nono was famous in Cassel as the Witch, always doing the opposite of what others said. No one could force her into doing something she didn't want.
Caesar couldn't control her, let alone him.
"I promised Caesar I'd bring you back alive." Chu Zihang muttered.
"What does it have to do with me? It's not like I promised you." Nono said, carefully treating his wounds. But with such severe injuries, if not treated, he would probably bleed out soon.
"So, how long do you think we can survive?"
Chu Zihang closed his eyes. He didn't like discussing sad stories.
At that moment, a strange sound suddenly caught their attention.
Could it be the Dragon King chasing after them?!
Nono immediately drew out the nearby Murakumo sword, holding it in front of him, vigilantly staring at the tunnel.
"It's me."
From the darkness, a figure stepped out, removed their diving mask, revealing an elderly face. "I'm glad you two are still alive."
"Professor Manstein?!"
Both Chu Zihang and Nono were stunned by the sudden appearance of the person in the tunnel.
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