Chapter 181: Ichor of Two Dragons 『 Part 2 』
〜Dragon Raja World〜
Inside the Love Hotel—
"I feel like Dan Feng is going a bit too far,"
Erii wrote in her small notebook.
"Hmm… doesn't it feel like this guy is engaging in a bit of moral blackmail?"
Lu Mingfei weighed his words carefully. He wasn't sure if Erii could comprehend the concept of "moral blackmail"—after all, this girl was as pure and simple as a blank sheet of paper—but after pondering for a long while, he couldn't think of a more appropriate term.
Setting aside the fact that this Dan Feng loved popping up out of nowhere just like Lu Mingze, the crux of the matter was that he was the previous High Elder, the very architect of the Sedition of Imbibitor Lunae.
Yet, in front of Dan Heng, his reincarnation, he didn't show even a flicker of kindness. He kept a stern face the entire time, resorting to violence and threats… Come on, Dan Heng doesn't owe you anything, right?
Lu Mingfei silently roasted him in his heart. Whether the sins of the past life had been atoned for or not, they had nothing to do with the current Dan Heng.
Even if he inherited the power of the High Elder, that was entirely the fault of those meddlesome Preceptors acting on their own accord. Shouldn't the spearhead be turned outward, aiming directly at the Preceptors?
"I hope Dan Heng wins,"
Erii continued to write.
"Same here."
—
「 Dan Feng raised a single hand high, and the myriad acres of water in his grasp transformed into countless long spears, glowing with a jade-green brilliance, descending like a torrential rain capable of drowning the heavens!
It was a rain sharp and keen, like the wrath of a god seeking to overturn the ancient seas—all-encompassing, omnipresent!
Yet, the figure of Dan Heng still charged through the rain.
CLANG—!!
Cloud-Piercer collided violently with the countless water spears, erupting with a sound like shattering gold and cracking jade. When he finally fought his way to Dan Feng, he found his opponent still wearing that expression of breezy indifference, looking completely at ease.
Dan Feng slowly raised his hand, and the Orb of Abysm in his palm instantly erupted with brilliant light.
In a split second, it felt as if the star dome was collapsing and the cloud seas were flowing in reverse. The myriad waters of the ancient ocean surged forth, elevating Dan Feng to a height where he could only be looked up to.
"Sinful prisoner Dan Heng, wilful and solitary, shall suffer eternal damnation!"
Dan Feng looked down upon him coldly. The prison formed by the ocean tides contracted inch by inch toward Dan Heng. Within those emerald waves, several dark dragon shadows prowled, eyeing him with predatory intent.
"You have no road left to escape."
Dan Feng's voice sounded both distant and near, but in the next second, the majestic water dragons within the tide roared out, instantly swallowing the unprepared Dan Heng whole!
The freezing water flooded over his mouth and nose, pouring into his lungs.
Dan Heng kept his eyes open, watching the light above drift further and further away. The water distorted the skylight, making it look like a hazy veil. He sank slowly into the pitch-black depths, where countless voices dispersed and unraveled, flooding into his mind like a thousand threads.
"Sinner Dan Feng, having committed the Ten Unpardonable Sins. In consideration of past merits, granted molting and reincarnation. Banished beyond the civilization, never to return for ten thousand generations."
"Why must you act so wilfully?"
"Hand over the Transmutation Arcanum, and the Preceptors might still spare your life."
"Lord Dan Feng, why did you do this?"
"All of this started because of you."
"…" 」
「 ..... 」
〜One Piece World〜
"That guy called Dan Heng… he lost."
—Luffy's sudden remark instantly quieted the originally boisterous deck.
Zoro wiped the Wado Ichimonji in his hand and let out a cold snort.
"Defeated by his past self, huh… Though losing to a High Elder isn't exactly shameful."
Sanji slowly exhaled a ring of smoke.
"Oi, oi, Mosshead, don't say it so casually. Even if the opponent is a High Elder, it's a 'past' that must be defeated."
"But what happens if he loses? Does Dan Heng really have to submit to Dan Feng's will, leave the Express, and go back to being the High Elder? Then what about Bailu?"
Nami asked with a mix of curiosity and worry.
"Lose? Heh… He's the one who defeated Phantylia alongside General Jing Yuan and Stelle. He won't go down that easily."
Although his tone was light, Sanji's eyes were incredibly serious as he watched the black-haired youth sinking slowly on the screen.
"If I were Dan Heng, the moment I thought about adventuring with Himeko-san, March 7th-chan, Miss Stelle… and so many other lovely ladies, I would stand up no matter what!"
"Huh? Is that really what you're focusing on, Sanji!?"
—
「 No… not yet…
Suddenly, Dan Heng's fingers clenched spasmodically. Countless fragmented sounds were rushing into his mind along with the current.
"From today on, you are a member of the Express."
"Dan Heng, we'll leave the rest to you."
"Chin up, the Warp is about to begin, Pam."
His consciousness gradually cleared. Dan Heng began to wave his arms with all his might, swimming toward the surface. Bubbles escaped from his lips, his lungs burning with pain, but he had to disregard everything, giving his all, stubbornly—
Reaching out his hand toward that sliver of glimmering light above.
"That's right, you are my past, but you… are absolutely not my future!"
The moment his fingertips broke the water's surface, skylight poured down.
Blinding golden light surged forth, instantly obliterating the water dragons. He gripped Cloud-Piercer tightly, launching himself like an arrow from the string—indomitable, fearless, charging straight ahead!
"Obstinate fool!"
Dan Feng gave a low shout, summoning more water dragons to block the incoming assault. But amidst the spray of water filling the air, Dan Heng was like a bird that had flown out of the cage of its own wings, landing lightly behind him.
The sky-filling "wind and rain" ceased abruptly.
Only the sound of the ocean waves remained, surging endlessly in both their ears.
Dan Feng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke slowly: "Then… leave this place. Don't look back."
Having spoken, Dan Feng's figure dissolved into a stream of golden light and vanished.
Dan Heng was momentarily stunned, but he quickly understood the other's intent. He closed his eyes and offered a faint smile.
"Dan Heng, what are you spacing out for?"
Little March leaned in close. Seeing the expression on Dan Heng's face, the girl raised her camera in sheer amazement. "Eh? It's rare to see you smile. Smile again, say cheese~."
Welt asked with concern, "Did you remember something?"
Dan Heng looked up toward the distant, shimmering ancient sea.
"…Just some old memories."
—This time, there was no loneliness in his voice, only a warmth that could not be dissolved. 」
「 ..... 」
〜KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World〜
"Ah~ Dan Feng's cold, ruthless suppression, the way he crushed Dan Heng without a shred of mercy…"
Darkness held her flushed cheeks in her hands. Just thinking about Dan Feng's cold and unfeeling demeanor made her voice tremble, her legs unconsciously pressing together and rubbing.
Megumin rolled her eyes to the side.
"She's starting again, this pervert Crusader…"
"The most exciting part was when Dan Heng was blasted into the water by the dragons!"
Darkness completely ignored her companion's jab, unable to stop herself from hugging her own body.
"That suffocation of being choked by the sinner of a past life, the painful struggle of being drowned by memories… just imagining that sense of despair, I… I…"
Megumin silently raised her staff.
"I propose we use Explosion Magic to shut her up."
Yunyun hurriedly reached out to stop her.
"Don't! Using Explosion Magic inside the town is prohibited! Besides, you can't hurt Darkness, it'll only make her feel good!"
However, as they were speaking, the image on the sky-screen suddenly changed.
"Exodus of the Five Dragons…? What does that mean?"
Kazuma opened his eyes wide in curiosity.
—