In the Bronze City, several Palace lamps burned with a ghostly blue flame.
Inside the empty palace, besides the corridor columns and lamps, there were almost no furnishings, just a giant bronze throne.
The throne itself was nearly fifty meters wide, clearly not made for humans. The weathered copper rust seemed to silently tell the story of time, like a lonely figure standing at the end of the hall, waiting for its master to return.
Snow-white silkworm threads formed a huge cocoon, resembling a giant egg hatching, its powerful heartbeat echoing through the silence.
It was the Dragon King hatching—Constantine, the King of Bronze and Fire, also known as the weak 'younger brother,' who ruled over 'strength.'
Norton had come to this palace again, a divine hall filled with ancient glory and splendor, bloodshed, and hatred.
He walked towards the throne, moving like a true king, exuding an incomparable aura.
The fierce and terrifying dragon body slowly took shape, countless bronze-colored scales growing wildly from the skin, soon covering his entire body.
It was like a finely crafted and magnificent suit of armor, and his blazing golden eyes shone with light, even outshining the palace lamps.
"Brother, you've finally returned."
A voice came from within the giant cocoon, the same voice Norton had heard in his dreams.
Even through the thick white threads, Norton could still sense the sorrow of the creature inside, along with a heartfelt joy and excitement at finally seeing 'brother' again.
"Yes, I've returned," Norton whispered as he caressed the giant cocoon. "Just as we promised, we will cross the wastelands together, raise the burning battle flag, and devour the entire world!"
"Eat me, brother."
Constantine softly said, "Take me back to our homeland, ascend the throne."
"No, it's not time yet, Constantine."
Norton sat back on the throne. Although his body was still small, nowhere near as massive as in his prime, making him seem almost comical, the aura of invincibility and dominance he exuded was unmistakable, reflecting his authority as the King of Bronze and Fire.
"But they have already broken in, brother."
Constantine could sense everything happening inside the Bronze City and spoke with concern, "Samson... He probably won't be able to stop that man. I can sense a familiar mark on him."
"It's Odin, right?" Norton stroked the throne, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes as he quietly said, "No, it's not just him. There's another familiar presence, Constantine."
"Yes, it's the King of Earth and Mountain. He's here too."
Constantine spoke softly, "Brother, quickly devour me. Only then can we escape the fate of the abandoned clan."
"Some say today is the day the King of Bronze and Fire will fall." Norton's gaze seemed to pierce through the grand palace gates. His voice was low and hoarse, tinged with sadness, "I don't believe that, so I want to see if fate can really be changed."
As he spoke, Norton stepped down from the throne and walked toward the enormous white cocoon, placing his hand on it.
The heartbeat inside the cocoon could be felt through the silk, signaling the creature inside was gradually waking. Norton's gaze softened as he quietly spoke, "Constantine, do you remember the story I told you?"
"Brother, what are you doing?"
Constantine's voice suddenly carried a hint of panic.
"Don't worry, Constantine."
Norton, known for his brutality, now only showed endless tenderness in his eyes. "It's just a nap. It will wake up soon."
"Please, brother!"
Constantine had already guessed what Norton was planning, and urgently shouted.
"Don't worry, Constantine, I'm not going to die yet," Norton said softly, allowing his body to be wrapped by the white threads, slowly being consumed. His gaze, however, grew ever more tender.
"Though it's only a part, it's enough. When you wake up again, carry my will and change our tragic fate."
Cassel's research on dragons was still too shallow.
As the Dragon King, he only needed Constantine to consume a part of the bones, briefly gaining complete 'power' and 'authority.'
The rest was to prevent anyone from getting in before Constantine fully revived.
Nono ran down the bronze passage, not daring to stop and rest.
Behind him, the sharp sound of sonic booms mixed with the clear clashing sounds of gold and iron.
The chilling killing intent was like a towering tsunami, as if slowing down even a step would get him swallowed and torn apart.
The deeper he went, the more he could see, with piles of bones stacked on either side. There were even fragments of armor with a Han-style design among them.
Nono involuntarily stopped, picking up a scattered piece of armor to examine.
Clearly, before the bronze city sank to the bottom of the water, a tragic and intense battle had erupted here.
Thinking of this, Nono shivered slightly. The armor and bones scattered here were undoubtedly from humans who had once set out to challenge the gods.
But on their way to the Dragon King's palace, they all encountered unimaginable misfortune, dying instantly.
Boom!
Another violent tremor shook the ground, with dust falling from above.
Nono snapped back to reality, no longer paying attention to the scattered bones and armor, and continued forward toward the flooded passage.
The corridor inside was a maze, with numerous paths leading in every direction. It was clearly designed as a defense against intruders, but thanks to Ye Sheng and Sakatoku Aki's previous exploration, some external water had flowed in.
Now, by observing the direction of the water flow, she could find the correct path.
Soon, she arrived at a spacious area. The water from the corridor had gathered here, forming a deep, eerie blue lake, cold to the bone, its depth unknown.
Nono tilted her head back, shining the helmet's light upwards, and saw a copper ceiling resembling the sky.
A giant tree was depicted on it, growing from the center, its countless branches and petals spreading out like a massive fractal, dizzying to the eyes.
Lowering her gaze, she looked across the lake. At the end of a staircase, like a pathway to the heavens, stood a bronze palace, ancient and enduring, as if spanning through time and history.
In front of the magnificent bronze palace stood two towering statues of snake-faced humanoids, nearly as tall as a ten-story building.
They held sword-axes and iron shields, like the royal guards from ancient times. Even from a distance, they commanded respect and awe, like a pilgrimage that naturally invoked reverence.
Without needing words or any proof, the moment Nono saw the bronze palace, she understood.
That was the divine palace of the King of Bronze and Fire!
It was recorded in the "Ice Sea Fragments" that ancient people, traveling on wooden rafts, had seen the great bronze emperor sitting beneath the sky, and this was surely the place they spoke of.
"The egg of the King of Bronze and Fire... It's probably hidden in that palace!" A bold thought suddenly struck Nono's mind. No matter where the exit was, the primary goal of this mission was to stop the hatching of the King of Bronze and Fire, and this was the perfect opportunity!
She couldn't afford to miss this chance!
In an instant, Nono made up her mind. She stepped into the water and headed for the bronze palace.
Climbing the bronze-made heavenly steps, she advanced towards the palace, but when she stepped onto the final stair, she froze in place.
A man with an Eastern face was sitting on the steps outside the palace. As soon as he saw her, his molten, fiery eyes erupted with a cruel and violent aura, a chilling killing intent that seemed tangible, churning like a tsunami.
"Kneel before me, mortal. I am the King of Bronze and Fire, Norton!"
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