Black Beast

Kang De stroked the stone wall at the entrance of the cave.

He looked at the mottled stone walls around him, covered in moss and bearing the marks of time and frost. He wiped away the dust and traces of moss, revealing shallow scratches, made by a sharp weapon.

"That mysterious energy... those people were extremely skilled in using mysterious energy; many warriors used light blades that extended from the thrusters on their gauntlets, like this..."

He stretched out his hand, manipulating the power of light within the Divine Ring of Stellar Authority to outline a shimmering armor, from which light blades burst forth.

The Dragon Girl shook her head and said, "There is no record of the Dragon Clan deploying similar energy weapons on a large scale. This is too extravagant. It would be a waste to forge such high-purity elemental crystals into inefficient single-soldier magical melee weapons. Strong individuals who can materialize elements as weapons would also be equipped with more powerful sacred artifacts."

Kang De said softly, "But such an unprecedented new substance has never appeared before, has it?"

In his observation, the weapons used by these mysterious warriors demonstrated a highly sophisticated development and application of mystical elements. The light spikes shooting from their arm armor, the giant axes they wielded and cleaved, the staffs that launched missiles, and the swirling blades in the air—they were of various kinds, bizarre and varied, some of which Kang De had never seen before—but they all shared a common characteristic.

The grip, handle, launcher, and other human-computer interaction parts are made of solid materials such as metal and wood, while the blade is a shimmering, illusory purple light, ethereal, transparent, and beautiful.

Yet it is incredibly sharp and unstoppable.

Even the shields and armor are the same.

The energy shield they had previously discussed with Horus had already been put into practice by these ancient beings. However, their mechanical and engineering skills were clearly far inferior to those of the Transformers, making them unable to achieve portability, shrinking and recombination, or versatility. Nevertheless, the path envisioned by the father and son had been realized by these ancient beings.

This includes small shield generators mounted on the armor.

"If you don't look at their faces, they look like a bunch of Protoss who've gone on Terrazine spree."

Lily couldn't quite grasp the description, but she had already learned a general understanding of the ancient people from Kang De's general description. If they came from an organization, then that organization's exploration and application of mysterious energy was undoubtedly extremely profound.

They not only forged it into armor and equipment, but also used it as their own power in battle. Each of them had a purple light shining in their eyes when fighting, which transformed into wind, fire, ice and lightning, as well as psychic power, tearing apart, dismantling, controlling and annihilating.

"Based on previous observations and experiments, this mysterious energy is extremely corrosive and aggressive to living organisms. These people not only possess the craftsmanship to forge using mysterious elements, but they also directly utilize it in combat..." Lily analyzed, "They may have mastered a secret method to neutralize it."

Kang De nodded slowly.

"The mysterious elements originate from underground. These ancient people, skilled in using these elements and mastering forging techniques, were also active underground countless ages ago. Perhaps we can infer that this dark and deep place, where the sun never shines, likely hides the relics or even the legacy left behind by this organization, including not only an astonishing quantity of mysterious elements, but also methods for safely using them..."

The Dragon Girl glanced at Kang De: "This isn't good news for us... or for you."

The power of the Fire Thief can neutralize the mysterious elements. Kang De already possessed core technology, and monopolies are always the most profitable. The emergence of competitors means that the era of easy profits is over.

Even more critically, the missing dragons seemed to have gotten there ahead of them.

... Wait a moment.

Kang De frowned. "We found this hidden cave Time Flashback, by observing the behavior and traces of ancient people—how did the dragons manage to find their way here?"

The Dragon Girl said calmly, "Who knows? Maybe the dragon clan's secret texts record this place. Maybe some conservative old dragon knows some obscure things from ancient times. Cuixisi, as the grandson of the armory elder, may have heard some rumors and secrets—after all, they're not like me. The entire dragon clan is wary, suspicious, and resistant, afraid that I'll see some top-secret documents and run off with outsiders."

Kang De laughed and said, "What do you mean now? That their worries were quite prescient?"

The Dragon Girl snorted and glanced at him sideways, "You think you're so great? It's clearly because I've been bullied by them since I was little that I'm making them pay. They won't let me see the archives? I'll sneak in and read my fill. Afraid I'll run off with some random guy? I'll pick an ugly and stupid one to run off with..."

Kang De angrily retorted, "I warn you not to speak against your conscience!"

Lily nodded and said, "Okay, okay, I misspoke. As long as it doesn't involve women, you're not stupid at all."

"--That's the key point! Look at my face, which is the object of countless girls' affections, and say it again!"

"Okay, okay, I misspoke. You're the most handsome man here."

"..."

"Don't be discouraged, Kang De. From my observation and understanding, all races tend to enjoy the Beauty and the Beast series—ugly, disgusting, filthy, and repulsive men versus noble, elegant, beautiful, delicate, and alluring women. This is because the more intelligent a life form leans towards morality and order, the more likely it is to develop a dark thought of trampling on beauty. It's not just you humans; I'm telling you, elves prefer this kind of thing."

"So don't be discouraged. Even if you're not good-looking, you still have a market. Didn't you win over the Phoenix King? Let me tell you, Dairila is definitely a repressed pervert. I could tell from the moment she ambushed and threatened me on the way to Danfeng Lucerne. When she thinks about you, she must be thinking, 'How could I fall for a human and be subjected to all that by a lowly and filthy human?' and then she feels really good about it."

"And those elves, having heard the rumors about you and the Phoenix King, outwardly wailed like they'd lost their mother, but inwardly they were probably having all sorts of wild thoughts..."

Lily gets quite excited whenever this topic comes up. It's the result of a highly inquisitive dragon scholar's persistent long-term observation of the world's various races—the kind of observation that would give her a +8 bonus to sociology.

She said mysteriously, "It's true, I often go to the elves to gather information, because I believe that the more a race claims to be elegant and noble, the dirtier their hearts are. Sure enough, these elves appear reserved and proud on the surface, but the most widespread stories they spread are about beautiful female elves being slept with dirty and lowly human dwarf beggars, and sometimes it's not just humans, but also..."

"Go away, go away, go away, that's enough!" Kang De shooed her away with disdain. Ever since the Dragon Girl let herself go, she would suddenly appear like a high-speed train, regardless of the occasion or location.

"She did it to help you relax and change your mood, Father."

Horus couldn't help but remind him, "I must say, ever since you experienced the Space-Time Flashback, you've been somewhat absent-minded, just like A Xing."

Kang De remained silent.

Besides Horus, the Parrot, the A Xing, Lily, and Tina also know more or less many of Kang De's secrets, such as his identity Fire Thief and his origins from Earth. Secrets are valuable to share because they can be shared and confided in.

But there was one secret that Kang De subconsciously kept to himself.

Even Horus didn't reveal it.

The Sound of Doomsday heard in the Greiwind Hive...

That grand, vast, and terrifying voice said that everything was already destined.

From that moment on, Kang De felt uneasy, because he discovered that everything was connected. The time travel was not accidental, nor was the journey to the Holy Seal Archipelago. He gained the power of the Fire Thief, traveled between the two worlds, got involved in the Goth-Moon War, got involved in the Africa war, obtained the Crimson Scroll, obtained Tacitus, and listened to the voice of the end times... It was as if an unseen hand was manipulating everything.

After returning to the other world from Earth, strange phenomena occurred one after another. The meteorite that crashed into the elven camp was inexplicable, and the disappearance of the dragon delegation was becoming increasingly complicated. From unheard-of yet terrifying mysterious Element to Time Flashback connecting to past secrets, all of this coincided so much that it made him uneasy, giving him a strange feeling that "the wheel of fate has begun to turn."

Just as Hong San had feared when he learned of this.

"Is this because my lord is blessed with extraordinary fortune and destined to achieve great things, or is there some terrifyingly powerful being with unimaginable strength plotting against you?"

Fate is so frustrating because it leaves us helpless; it's all in the hands of others.

Even when they realize there's a problem, they dare not back down.

Otherwise, who knows what kind of disaster might occur once the irrational, seduced dragon Cuixisi completes its so-called ascension and obtains the legacy of the ancients?

Kang De slowly exhaled.

He wasn't absent-minded.

But... I'm a little tired.

The next moment, a fragrant breeze wafted towards him, and two small hands grabbed his collar. The Dragon Girl in front of him gently tiptoed, her cherry lips moist, her nose high and straight, her eyelashes long and narrow, her beautiful face, which could be described as an ice queen, drew near.

Then, with a thud, it collided with Kang De's forehead.

The Dragon's Covenant shines brightly.

After a moment, Lily pulled her head back, took a half step back, and frowned, saying, "You look a little tired. Can experiencing Space-Time Flashback also put mental strain on you? Take a rest?"

Kang De composed himself, shook his head, and said, "No, time is of the essence, let's continue the pursuit."

That kind of exhaustion cannot be relieved by physical rest.

Before the Dragon Girl could object or intervene, Kang De had already stepped into the cave.

"Let's go, there's a long way to go."

The probes emitted light, illuminating the path ahead.

Lily instinctively reached out her hand. "Hey!"

A Xing, who was standing next to Kang De, subconsciously followed him inside. She seemed to be sleepwalking. Since entering the underground world, she had become very strange. She didn't even react when Kang De was just touching Lily.

Looking at the two figures retreating, the Dragon Girl scratched her head and sighed, "They're even stranger than me..."

She chased after him.

This narrow passageway was used by people in ancient times, and it was here that battles took place.

Despite the weathering and frost, dense scratches can still be seen on the walls, indicating that the battle that took place here was intense yet restrained, with the ancients using their power cautiously to avoid collapsing the cave.

To keep Kang De in high spirits, Lily kept talking to him casually.

"Didn't you see their facial features clearly?"

"No, they were all wearing helmets or masks. I was outside looking into the cave, and their enemies were pouring out from the depths of the passage. I only saw them fighting wildly inside. The guys at the very back were leaving scratches on the cave entrance wall with their lightsabers..."

"So, they didn't even see what their enemy looked like?"

"Hmm, all I see are wild animals... maybe they're wild animals that live here."

Lily asked, "Is it one of those nameless, terrifying beasts that emerge from the ground?"

"Perhaps," Kang De shook his head. "Judging by their size, they are somewhat similar—quadrupedal, swift, and small—but they face more than just this one type of enemy..."

"All right."

Dragon Girl and Kang De walked side by side. Although it was a passageway, it was still quite wide. Most of the traces of the battle many years ago had disappeared, and only the sound of footsteps echoed in the air, along with the sounds of conversation.

"It's impossible to determine their era from their race or biological origins... which is understandable, given that there's never been any record of this mysterious energy in history, nor of this organization."

Lily paused, then said softly, "It's truly astonishing. This unknown substance, capable of changing the course of history, has slumbered quietly here for countless years, unknown to the outside world. Just how many secrets does our world hold? And why has it emerged now?"

Kang De's gaze flickered for a moment, then the complex expression vanished.

So...

The Dragon Girl turned her head to look at him. "You keep calling it 'mysterious element,' don't you ever consider giving it an official name? If things go smoothly, the naming rights will most likely fall into your hands."

Tiberium, Originium, Honkai Energy, Tek... a whole host of terms flashed through my mind.

Normally, he would definitely launch into a long, detailed list of jokes that no one but the Parrot could understand, and then pick out the most ridiculous one to name this new substance...

But right now, I'm not in the mood.

"I'm too lazy to think about it. Let's just name it after the mage who first discovered this mysterious element— Stella's teacher, the one who's currently in self-isolation."

Kang De casually replied, "If you want the right to name it, you can think of one."

"You seem a bit off," Lily said, stepping in front of him. "Is something on your mind?"

Kang De walked past her. "It's alright, business is more important."

Lily grabbed his arm, her expression turning serious. "Your matter is also part of the main mission. Tracking down Cuixisi and unraveling the secrets of this place depends not only on your Space-Time Flashback experiences but also on your judgment and decisions regarding the situation. Fire Thief, you can't continue like this. You should rest. We've been exploring for almost a whole day, and you haven't slept much these past few days..."

Kang De shook his head and said, "Now is not the time to talk about this."

"If you don't want to confide in me, then use your spatial abilities to leave this godforsaken place right now. Go find your Princess Tina, bury your face in her overdeveloped breasts, and have some fun. Afterwards, lie in her arms, sobbing and being comforted by her. Understand?"

Lily said bluntly, "If she doesn't work, go find another woman, whatever method you choose. You have two hours to pull yourself together..."

Kang De tried to break free of his arms. "Cuixisi..."

"Let that damned dragon die! What are you afraid of? Even if he really ascends to a higher level and becomes a great demon king, causing chaos, so what? Call people to chop him down! It's not like you're the one holding up the sky. Dragon Emperor, your lover Phoenix King, the white-bearded members of the Arcane Council, call them all to chop him down! At worst, we'll just let all the nations share the mysterious elements, so what? You alone possess the technology to neutralize them!"

She got more and more excited as she spoke, poking Kang De's chest and saying, "It's really strange, why are you so good to Goth? Is it because if I gave you a princess, you would wholeheartedly plan for that country? Then why must that mysterious element be exclusively enjoyed by Goth?"

"Wouldn't it be better to have all the countries work together to develop and research this technology? With the core technology in your hands, they'll only have the guts to fawn over you, and their schemes will only be directed at Goth. Only in this way will Goth People understand your worth and your importance. Otherwise, if you painstakingly solve this problem alone and let Goth enjoy all the benefits, what will you do when they've researched, developed, and become powerful enough to have other ideas about you?"

"Don't argue. Let me tell you, I've lived hundreds of years longer than you. I've seen all kinds of people clearly. Forgetting heroes, criticizing heroes, betraying heroes—history is full of such stories. Why would you sow the seeds of future problems and let such things happen?"

Kang De was somewhat irritated by these harsh words. He shook his head and said, "You don't understand."

The goal is to make Goth powerful enough that he can stand on his own without relying on Forbidden Spell for intimidation.

If they develop strange ideas, or even hostility... that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Because...

"What don't I understand? Is it me who doesn't understand, or you?" Lily frowned. "Perhaps I shouldn't be saying this, but I really find it strange. Kang De, you are the Fire Thief, the Fire Thief of this world, not Goth's Fire Thief, do you understand? This..."

"--But I don't want to be a Fire Thief!"

The next moment, Kang De's stern shout echoed through the passageway, even startling A Xing, who instinctively grabbed Kang De's arm.

Lily was first surprised, then bewildered. "You..."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you." Kang De paused for a moment, gently patted A Xing's hand, and then said, "Just pretend I didn't say that."

He walked past the stunned Lily and went straight ahead. A Xing quickly followed, while Dragon Girl stayed behind. It took her a while to come to her senses—she suddenly realized that she still knew too little about Kang De.

She hurriedly caught up and saw A Xing and Kang De standing not far ahead. Kang De was frozen in place, motionless, while A Xing was warily looking around. Dragon Girl felt a chill in her heart.

Kang De has triggered the fourth Time Flashback.

In the past, Lily only had anticipation for this—the anticipation of finding clues, the anticipation of witnessing the legendary events, the anticipation of exploring the past—how romantic and alluring! But now, she also felt a little uneasy.

What Kang De saw in the past may have become a mental burden for him.

What did he see, and what did he connect it to?

The Dragon Girl slowed her pace, quietly waiting for Kang De to finish. Based on the third time, Kang De, with his experience, lasted much longer than the previous two times. But unexpectedly, a few seconds later, Kang De swayed, staggered a few steps and almost fell. His face was pale and his eyes were filled with unprecedented shock.

Lily rushed forward a few steps. "What's wrong? What did you see?"

Clear beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead, and Kang De's gaze shifted from the Dragon Girl's face to the A Xing beside him.

"Fight... it's still fighting, but this time it's very close, right beside me."

He said slowly, "I saw clearly what the enemy they were fighting looked like."

What is it?

Kang De closed his eyes. "The Black Beast."

--What is that?

The thought flashed through Dragon Girl's mind, but she noticed that A Xing's expression also changed suddenly.

Before she could ask any further questions, a red light flashed, and Kang De opened his eyes again. The shock and unease in his eyes had been replaced by a fierce look. He took out a palm-sized button from his pocket. The button emitted a red light and flashed.

Stella warned me that there was a situation upstairs, and that I and Stella should evacuate outside first.

He gave a few instructions, and before he could say more, Horus flew back to his body, transforming into a battle suit that shimmered with a ghostly light. Kang De traversed space and appeared in the fortress on the surface of the upper realm.

Stella burst through the door and whispered, "The news has leaked!"

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PS1: Damn, I had a dream last night that I actually dreamed about the upcoming plot... Although it was a mess, the outline was definitely the general direction of the story. It was amazing.