by Zhuang Bifan
Yes, that's it, this is the aura of the Dragon of Destruction, and this is the descendant of the Dragon of Destruction! Lin Li could clearly feel that the destructive aura of the figure before him was exactly the same as that of the Dragon of Destruction in his memory. Although Tutankhamun, who he had seen before, also had powerful abilities, he had never been able to associate Tutankhamun with the Dragon of Destruction. Had Connoris not mentioned it, Lin Li wouldn't have believed that Tutankhamun was a descendant of the Dragon of Destruction.
Chapter 790 - Conversation
Staring at the figure that looked more like the descendant of the Dragon of Destruction than Tutankhamun did, Lin Li did not dare to let his guard down at all. Even though he had barged into the big crack, and seemed to be oblivious to the dangers within, he had already condensed all of his mental strength as if he was laying a big net around him as soon as he entered. Any and all changes would be detected by him. At this moment, he had already converged all of the mana fluctuations within him, and while he seemed to be extremely calm, he was already in the best state for casting. Hence, he could unleash his strongest combat power at any time.
Lin Li was bold but not arrogant. Otherwise, he would have long died during the various near-death experiences that he had had in the past few years in Anril. Back in the Endless World, Lin Li had dealt with the real Dragon of Destruction. Although he had had the Stars of Fury and all seven pieces of the debris of the stars, and also seized the opportunity to strike when the Dragon of Destruction had been weak, it still had been the most difficult and thrilling battle he had had so far. Although he was not facing the actual Dragon of Destruction now, but only a descendant of it, Lin Li was not as invincible as he had been in the Endless World, and he didn't have the Stars of Fury and all seven pieces of the debris of the stars, either. Even the powerhouses of the Sanctuary-realm would be worried and alert when dealing with the prehistoric magical beasts that were above the Legendary-level, let alone Lin Li, a level-23 Legendary-mage.
Lin Li didn't want to be a hero, and although he had some ties with Sendros, their relationship alone was not significant enough for him to put himself in danger for the sake of saving the Darkness Shrine. In fact, if there had been other options, Lin Li would never have put himself in danger by gambling like this. As long as he could get what he wanted, he wouldn't mind letting the beasts out and ruining the Darkness Shrine again.
However, Lin Li was very clear that those beasts that had been sealed for countless years often went back on their word and would say one thing, only to do another. Even though that figure sounded rather nice, Lin Li knew that the beasts would become dominant over him once he released them. How could Tutankhamun's brother possibly talk things out with him calmly? Would he even answer Lin Li's questions? Hence, unless Lin Li didn't want to find out about anything, he definitely had to enter the crack. Besides, even if he didn't release them now, they wouldn't stay in the crack for long according to Sendros' hunch. By then, there would be no need to say anything.
Of course, Lin Li did not think that Tutankhamun's brother would be intimidated by his bravery in barging in and then blurt out everything he knew. Lin Li knew very well that no matter where he was, he would have to show his powers and prove himself to be strong enough in order to assert dominance. Otherwise, he would have to be suppressed by others. He reckoned that Tutankhamun's brother had to know about that too. In order to get an answer from him, Lin Li would probably have to give him something in exchange too. Hence, a battle would definitely be inevitable now that he had barged in.
However, what surprised Lin Li a little was the fact that Tutankhamun's brother, the descendant of the Dragon of Destruction, did not seem to have any intention to attack Lin Li, even though he was surprised to see that he had barged in. Instead, he smiled faintly, and said in a calm tone, "I reckon you've probably guessed my identity. Yes, I am the other son of Azardas, the Dragon of Destruction. I'm Tutankhamun's brother. You may call me Nefa."
Lin Li didn't find his tone hostile, and he even felt that there was a touch of friendliness in his tone. However, that was also precisely why he dared not relax at all. In this world, there were many who pretended to be sincere about being friends and forging a strong friendship while stabbing their friends in the back. Lin Li was no longer a child; hence, he wouldn't believe others easily. Besides, he could tell from the current situation that the conflict between them wouldn't be mediated or solved easily, because he wanted to find out some secrets without releasing Nefa, while Nefa wanted to leave.
"You actually know that I have seen Tutankhamun before?" Lin Li asked since Nefa didn't seem to have the intention to attack him immediately. However, he didn't put down the Helios' Scepter which still contained plenty of mana that never decreased at all. It seemed that it would be able to cast powerful Legendary-level magic spells anytime.
Nefa didn't seem to care much about Lin Li's attitude, and he still had a smile on his face, though it was unknown if it was genuine or not. He glanced at Lin Li's hand, and said, "Isn't that ring on your finger the Evil Eye Tyrant's magical crystal that is one of the three treasures that Geresco got my brother to safeguard? Since you already have it, you've definitely met Tutankhamun."
Nefa's explanation seemed to be rather reasonable, but Lin Li didn't believe it. He could not have seen the ring on Lin Li's hand through the big crack even with good eyesight. Besides, the Evil Eye Tyrant magical crystal had been made into a ring, and it definitely wouldn't be easily recognized. Lin Li reckoned that Nefa probably had some special connection with Tutankhamun since they were both hatched from the same Dragon Crystal. Even human twins had a telepathic connection, what more the descendants of the Dragon of Destruction.
The first question was answered in a perfunctory manner. Although it was not an important matter, Lin Li was even more certain that the conversation probably wouldn't proceed smoothly. Even if Nefa didn't attack, Lin Li would have to show his prowess if he couldn't get the answers that he wanted.
It was not that Lin Li was arrogant. After all, he still had five pieces of the debris of the stars, and he could even use the Summoning Scroll to summon all of them. By then, Nefa might be the one to be defeated.
However, the conversation had just begun. Since Nefa refused to say anything, Lin Li decided not to ask about such insignificant things. Instead, he exclaimed with a look of derision, "Oh, is that so!?"
Although Lin Li's attitude was not exactly harsh, everyone could tell that it wasn't pleasant. However, Nefa seemed to be completely indifferent and unaffected. He was still smiling and speaking in a tone that was full of evilness and destructive aura, just as if he were just having a casual conversation. He calmly said, "Since you already have the magical crystal of the Evil Eye Tyrant, you must be the one Geresco has selected. Since my brother handed it to you, he should be considered to have completed the agreement with Geresco. Can you tell me how he is now?"
You even know that I've seen him before. How could you not know how he's doing? Although Lin Li was displeased with Nefa's question, he didn't show his emotions. After all, he still had some things to find out from Nefa, and it wouldn't be good to make the situation too tense too early into the conversation. He watched Nefa's actions carefully, and coldly said, "Of course, he's enjoying more freedom in the Blackstone Mountains than you are here."
"Freedom?" Nefa chuckled and shook his head slightly before continuing in disdain, "It's been so many years, but he hasn't grown at all. Despite being the son of the Dragon of Destruction, he's actually willing to stoop so low as to live in the Blackstone Mountains. I really don't know what to say about him."
Actually, Lin Li, too, found it strange that Tutankhamun was guarding the Blackstone Mountains; he was still the mighty son of the Dragon of Destruction, after all, not the adopted son of the Immortal King. Was he really going to stay in the Blackstone Mountains for more than a thousand years just because of the bet with Geresco? That was clearly abnormal.
H
owever, although Lin Li was curious, he did not ask Nefa about it directly. Instead, he gibed in a hostile manner, "In that case, what do you think you should do in order to live up to your status as a descendant of the Dragon of Destruction?" Given Nefa's current predicament, it was obvious what Lin Li meant. At least, Tutankhamun wasn't sealed in a spacetime rift, and was allowed to breathe the fresh air of Anril and enjoy the vast sunlight. Meanwhile, Nefa who continuously called Tutankhamun incompetent could only live in purgatory in this barren world.
Although the remark was sarcastic, Nefa wasn't infuriated, and it was as if he didn't catch the hidden meaning at all. Instead, he answered, "As a descendant of the Dragon Aspect, I ought to dominate the entire world of Anril and stand on the very top to look down on the world beneath me. I shouldn't be one of the ordinary beings."
"Haven't you heard this saying before? The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Be careful not to fall to your death," Lin Li retorted sarcastically. The Dragon Aspect was indeed a supreme existence in the world, but the Dragon of Destruction, Azardas, had been slaughtered twice, that was in both worlds. If it weren't for the death of the Dragon of Destruction, Tutankhamun and Nefa wouldn't have existed, and no one could be sure that he wouldn't have the same fate as his father even if were to become the new Dragon of Destruction.
"So, do you stop climbing upwards just because you're worried about falling? To the ordinary people, don't you stand at the height where they would look up to? The Sanctuary-realm is probably your goal now, right? As a descendant of the Dragon Aspect, he actually chose to be ordinary and live in the Blackstone Mountains. That's choosing to succ.u.mb and abandon the Soul Brand in his soul that symbolizes the glory of the Dragon Aspect," Nefa said calmly, not infuriated by Lin Li's word at all. It was as if he were just debating with a friend.
However, his behavior made Lin Li secretly keep his guard up. As a descendant of the Dragon of Destruction, Nefa definitely mastered the Laws of destruction and Evilness. Yet, he still pretended to have a good temper, and if weren't for Lin Li's good manners, he would have thought that he had the upper hand.
Chapter 791 - The New Dragon of Destruction
"Yeah, unfortunately, I haven't seen the shadow of the Dragon of Destruction on you," said Lin Li. He wasn't making baseless claims or trying to ridicule Nefa. Although Nefa didn't state his choice, Lin Li could tell that the glory of the Dragon Aspect that Nefa mentioned was probably to inherit everything from the Dragon of Destruction and become the new Dragon of Destruction of Anril. However, the Dragon Aspect was a powerful existence that was comparable to gods. Although Nefa was formidable now, and would be considered a top-notch powerhouse in Anril, he was still far from being on par with the Dragon Aspect. Otherwise, Lin Li wouldn't have dared to barge into the crack, and would have just fled as far as he could.
"If it weren't for my brother who is stubbornly guarding the Blackstone Mountains… It's really frustrating to have a twin brother like him. What do you think?" Nefa shook his head slightly, and seemed to be feeling rather helpless about his younger brother Tutankhamun. However, he also sounded like he was complaining to others about his younger brother's mischievous behavior which he did not take seriously.
Although it seemed to be a casual remark that Nefa said with ease, Lin Li could tell that it obviously meant something more. Lin Li could tell that the words that he had said just now still touched Nefa, and although Nefa didn't say anything more, it was enough to make Lin Li believe that Tutankhamun didn't stay in the Blackstone Mountains simply because of the agreement he had with Geresco. Perhaps he also wanted to stop Nefa from becoming the new Dragon of Destruction.
Although Nefa and Tutankhamun were twins, it did not mean that they had to stay together forever. After all, the two of them had different ambitions. However, Lin Li could vaguely tell from Nefa's words that Nefa hadn't left the Blackstone Mountains entirely for the sake of finding the path to becoming the Dragon of Destruction; another reason could possibly lie with Tutankhamun.
Despite the mention of Tutankhamun, Nefa still remained calm and nonchalant as if he were just complaining about his brother's incompetency. However, Lin Li could sense that Nefa was bothered by it, and it was not out of concern for his incompetent younger brother Tutankhamun, but rather that he was bothered by the fact that Tutankhamun was still living in the Blackstone Mountains. In that case, the reason for Tutankhamun's insistence on staying in the Blackstone Mountains and the item that he was guarding would be rather interesting.
"Since you've passed that test, you must have been to the Throne of Darkness in the Abyss of Tharlen and seen that shadow," Nefa said while Lin Li was making random guesses. He wasn't to blame for being so talkative, since he had been facing nothing but the brutal and bloodthirsty prehistoric magical beasts like Minotaurs for many years. It was rare for him to have someone to talk to.
"Yes, surely the key to you becoming the new Dragon of Destruction…" Lin Li knew that the shadow that Nefa was talking about should refer to the Lord of Darkness. Hence, he answered casually, but he soon remembered that the Lord of Darkness was the projected avatar of the Dragon of Destruction in the Abyss of Tharlen that contained a portion of the Laws of Darkness belonging to the Dragon of Destruction. Could that be what Tutankhamun was guarding?
After fighting with the Lord of Darkness, Lin Li once suspected that perhaps Tutankhamun set up that test because he wanted to get the portion of the Laws of Darkness that the Lord of Darkness held. However, after he left the Abyss of Tharlen, Tutankhamun didn't make him surrender the Lord of Darkness and the Throne of Darkness. Hence, he got rid of that doubt. However, it now seemed that Tutankhamun had never wanted to be the new Dragon of Destruction, and thus wouldn't be interested in the location of the Lord of Darkness. However, it was different for Nefa.
However, as soon as the idea formed in Lin Li's mind, Nefa shot him a look of amus.e.m.e.nt. "You mean that shadow? Although he holds a portion of Laws of Darkness, it's not important to us. How could the Dragon of Destruction possibly use the nomological power of his core to create a weak shadow? I was just curious about how you managed to deal with the shadow of the Throne of Darkness when you had yet to reach the Legendary-realm."
"You don't have to worry about this. I naturally have my own solutions." Although it was not an important secret, Lin Li still did not reveal it to Nefa, because he didn't know if Nefa was a friend or foe. Another reason was also because he was somewhat dejected about the fact that his conjecture had been refuted.
However, Lin Li also had to admit that Nefa's words did make sense. Although he had no idea why the Dragon of Destruction would leave his projected avatar in the Abyss of Tharlen, the Dragon of Destruction clearly wouldn't be that dumb as to give out some of his core Laws. Since the Lord of Darkness did not hold the core Laws, Tutankhamun and Nefa would have to gain some insight and understanding on their own if they wanted to acquire that portion of Laws. There was no need to care about the Lord of Darkness at all.
Did I make a wrong guess again? Lin Li thought to himself as he shook his head secretly. Since it wasn't the Lord of Darkness, it definitely wouldn't be the Throne of Darkness. Although the Throne of Darkness was created by the Dragon of Destruction, it was just a solidified Darkness Domain. Perhaps it could be considered a strong piece of magical equipment, but it definitely wouldn't become the key to Nefa becoming the new Dragon of Destruction. Besides, it was not necessary to enter the Abyss of Tharlen through Tutankhamun. If Tutankhamun could easily send some people in, Nefa definitely could enter as well given his abilities.
Since it was impossible to obtain any answers from Tutankhamun, he would have no choice but to consider it from Nefa's perspective. As a descendant of the Dragon of Destruction, it seemed logical and right for him to become the new Dragon of Destruction. What exactly did he lack? Lin Li tried to recall the thrilling battle with the Dragon of Destruction in the Endless World. Even though the Dragon of Destruction had been in a weak and feeble state ba
ck then, Lin Li still managed to kill him after having had a close shave with death because he had the Stars of Fury and the debris of the stars.
Lin Li was not looking for similarities between Nefa and the Dragon of Destruction now, but differences between the two of them in terms of nature, and not strength. After linking it with the feelings that the memories of the Dragon of Destruction made him have, Lin Li's eyes suddenly glistened, and a blurry answer slowly became clear.
Although he could feel the aura of Destruction and Evilness coming from Nefa, who seemed to be closer to the Dragon of Destruction than Tutankhamun, that characteristic alone was not enough for him to become the true Dragon of Destruction. He also felt that Nefa seemed to be lacking something, which made him and the Dragon of Destruction feel like two different creatures. In this world, there were not many creatures that mastered the Laws of Destruction and Evilness; why were they unable to reach the level of the Dragon Aspect?
Although Tutankhamun and Nefa were allegedly the sons of the Dragon of Destruction, neither of them was born through the normal breeding methods of the Dragons. However, the Immortal King hatched them from the Dragon of Destruction's magical crystal, and they had inherited the power and Soul Brand of the Dragon of Destruction—but not the actual bloodline of the Dragon of Destruction. It could be said that their current form was not even that of a dragon, but rather that they were somewhat similar to a Dracolich. They could also continuously improve their abilities through learning and enlightenment, but even if they were to really reach the level of the Dragon of Destruction, it wouldn't be feasible for them to become the new Dragon Aspect through the recognition of the World Laws of Anril.
In fact, strictly speaking, Nefa and Tutankhamun had inherited only half of the power of the Dragon of Destruction. Wyrms were physically strong, but their physical strength came from their blood and genetics. Indeed, Nefa needed the blood of the Dragon of Destruction. Only when he inherited the Dragon of Destruction's bloodline would he have the opportunity to become the new Dragon of Destruction of Anril.
