Dragon Communion

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Dragon Communion (龙飨)
Alias(es)	Dragon Communion ritual; Dragon Communion path
Affiliation	Church of Dragon Communion; Storm Knight tradition
Occupation/Role	An origin path and ritual through which mortals gain draconic power by offering Dragon Hearts
First Appearance	Mentioned as Lu Mingfei’s objective 1; explained by Melina 6 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First Communion — Agheel’s Heart	18	Lu Mingfei offers Flying Dragon Agheel’s heart at the Church altar and chooses to transform it through the ritual rather than consume it directly.
Dragonification awakened	19	Black scales become manifestable at will; Lu gains greatly heightened senses, physical strength, and an internal flame-like power. The old knight states that the scales originate from Lu’s own bloodline, not from normal Dragon Communion.
Dragonblood Illusory Mark acquired	20	A mark left by a Spirit Knight brands itself onto Lu’s palm, amplifying his Dragon Communion Flame and incantations.
Basic incantations mastered	21	Lu learns Dragonfire, Dragonbite, and Dragonclaw shortly after returning from Fringefolk Hero’s Grave.
Improved Dragonfire mastered	21	Lu learns the Storm Knights’ secret rapid-casting Dragonfire in less than two days. It uses less mana, can be cast repeatedly, and can follow other attacks.
Cross-world flame surge	28	After Lu Mingze unseals Lu’s underlying authority, the Dragon Communion Flame changes from a spark into a raging blaze.
Dragonified combat state	31 32	While wielding Wrath against Norton, Lu’s scales, Golden Eyes, Dragon Communion Flame, and dragon-slaying instinct intensify dramatically.

Background / History

Dragon Communion was created by Dragonlord Placidusax during the civil war between Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons. It allowed ordinary humans to hunt Flying Dragons and eventually became a tradition among the Storm Knights. The ritual is also described as Placidusax’s means of inciting mortals to slaughter Flying Dragons. 15 18

In Limgrave, displaced knights founded the Church of Dragon Communion during the era of the Storm Lord. By Lu Mingfei’s arrival, its bonfire had long gone out, and its traditions were preserved chiefly by the old knight, the last guardian of the Storm Knights. A more active Dragon Communion tradition remains in Caelid, though Scarlet Rot makes the region difficult to reach. 7 12 13

Dragon Communion is recognized as one of the Lands Between’s “origin paths,” alongside powers such as Glintstone sorcery, the Golden Order, flame, and Black Flame. Its practitioners draw upon dangerous power derived from powerful beings and require strong Attunement to sense and wield their source. 26 42

Ritual

Dragon Hearts are harvested from Flying Dragons, descendants of the immortal Ancient Dragons. A heart may be swallowed directly at an altar to make the dragon’s power one’s own, or transformed through the Dragon Communion ritual before being absorbed. 7 17 18

• Dragon Hearts can be enormous, stone-fused organs that retain a faint pulse even after the dragon’s death. 17 18
• Dragon Communion power can be channeled through an illusory mark, allowing dragon-based incantations to be cast. 20 21
• More powerful Flying Dragons can grant high-tier incantations through their hearts; such dragons often rule territories and may possess multiple hearts. 21
• The Dragonblood Illusory Mark strengthens Dragon Communion flame and incantations, and its description frames Dragon Communion as a faith-based power as well as a ritual of consuming hearts. 20

Risks and Limitations

Dragon Communion is a destructive path. The desire for dragon power accumulates over time, eroding reason and twisting the practitioner’s body until they may become inhuman. 7

• Ordinary practitioners may become consumed by their craving for Dragon Hearts, die while hunting dragons, or degenerate into Magma Wyrms. 18
• Strong will can resist the craving only imperfectly; the old knight warns Lu Mingfei never to treat the power as a toy. 18 21
• Basic incantations require preparation, leaving the caster vulnerable during activation. Dragonfire has the longest windup. 21
• Powerful techniques can rapidly consume essence or mana. Lu expends nearly half his remaining essence when using storm power to divide dragonfire. 20
• High-tier Dragon Communion is especially dangerous: the power of stronger Flying Dragons can burn away a weak person’s will immediately. 21

Lu Mingfei’s Anomaly

The old knight believes Lu’s mixed human and Ancient Dragon nature may let him undergo Dragon Communion without transforming into a Flying Dragon. He considers the ritual a “return” for Lu rather than theft of draconic power, but still warns that Lu may fall into desire. 15 18

Lu’s black scales are later identified as an expression of his own extraordinary bloodline rather than a standard result of Dragon Communion. By the time he learns the basic incantations, he has displayed no craving for Dragon Hearts, though the old knight continues to consider the power dangerous. 19 21

Abilities & Skills

Dragonfire

Dragonfire summons a phantom dragon head that breathes flame over a wide area. It is suited to groups of enemies but has a lengthy preparation time in its standard form. 21

• Used to clear groups of Demi-Humans in Castleward Tunnel. 23
• Can be employed at close range against durable opponents such as Margit. 25
• The Spirit Knight demonstrates that Dragonfire can be cast repeatedly through a Dragon Communion Mark. 20

Dragonbite

Dragonbite manifests a dragon head to bite a target. It is faster than Dragonfire and best suited to single-target combat. 21

• Lu uses it against Margit, tearing through the Fell Omen’s cloak and biting into his shoulder. 24
• Casting can leave the user vulnerable to counterattack. 24

Dragonclaw

Dragonclaw is one of the three basic Dragon Communion incantations. It is faster to prepare than Dragonfire and is more effective against groups than single opponents. 21

Improved Dragonfire

A secret Storm Knight refinement of Dragonfire that removes the need to summon a dragon head before firing. 21

• Requires little preparation and uses roughly half the mana of standard Dragonfire. 21
• Can be cast repeatedly and chained after other attacks. 21
• Known only within the Storm Knight tradition. 21

Dragonification

Lu Mingfei’s dragonification allows black scales to reappear across his body and accompanies heightened perception, strength, and draconic flame. It is linked to his own bloodline, though awakened during his first Dragon Communion. 18 19

• His senses become capable of detecting distant sights and sounds. 19
• A casual punch can collapse a stone wall. 19
• Under extreme battle conditions, scales can spread across much of his face and body while his Golden Eyes intensify. 31

Related Locations and Items

• Church of Dragon Communion — A ruined Limgrave church on an isolated island beyond Coastal Cave; its altar is used for the ritual. 7 12 18
• Dragon Heart — The offering required to gain a Flying Dragon’s power through Dragon Communion. 17
• Dragonblood Illusory Mark — A red palm-branded mark made in imitation of the Dragon Communion Emblem; strengthens Dragon Communion incantations. 20
• Fringefolk Hero’s Grave — General Oleg’s tomb, where the old knight sends Lu to recover a lost Dragon Communion inheritance. 19
• Lake Agheel — The territory of Flying Dragon Agheel, whose heart becomes Lu’s first Dragon Communion offering. 15 17

Relationships

• Dragonlord Placidusax — Creator of Dragon Communion during the conflict between Ancient Dragons and Flying Dragons. 15 18
• Flying Dragons — Sources of Dragon Hearts; practitioners hunt them to acquire or strengthen incantations. 7 21
• Ancient Dragons — Immortal progenitors of Flying Dragons, associated with rock-like scales, storms, flame, and lightning. 7
• Storm Knights — A knightly order that preserved Dragon Communion as part of its tradition and developed Improved Dragonfire. 15 21
• The Old Knight — Last Storm Knight guardian who warns Lu of Dragon Communion’s dangers, conducts his ritual, and teaches its incantations. 18 21
• Lu Mingfei — An anomalous practitioner whose Ancient Dragon-like bloodline appears to alter the ritual’s effects. 18 19
• Melina — First explains Dragon Communion to Lu and warns that it is a one-way road toward destruction. 6 7
• Ken Kaneki — Compares Dragon Communion with Curseblood, identifying both as dangerous powers requiring Attunement and carrying a risk of losing control. 42

Notable Quotes

“Dragon Communion is a ritual that devours Dragon Hearts.” — Melina 7

“Desire will erode reason, and power will twist the body.” — Melina 7

“But you are different. Dragon blood already flows within you. This is a return, not plunder.” — The old knight 18

“Do not become addicted to the power of Dragon Communion.” — The old knight 21